Written testimony at casino hearings

ALBANY, NY — Senator John Bonacic’s standing Senate Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development will be hearing oral testimony mostly from invited witnesses at upcoming hearings in Albany and Monticello.

Others should call to schedule time. However, written testimony may be submitted until 5:00 p.m. on March 25 and should be addressed to Michael Avella, First Assistant Counsel to the Majority, Room 430, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12247. Call 518/455-3181 for schedule information.

Hearings are scheduled on February 28, in Albany, at the Legislative Office Building, Hearing Room A, at 11:00 a.m., and on March 3, in Monticello, at 11:00 a.m. at the Sullivan County Government Center.

Firefighters can’t save motor sports store

WHITE MILLS, PA — Rusty Palmer, a motor sports store on Route 6 near Honesdale, PA, was destroyed by fire early Tuesday morning, February 21.

Twenty-five fire departments were called to the scene of the 1:51 a.m. blaze.

The White Mills Fire chief Kenny Batzel said that about 200 firefighters battled the blaze. Trucks came from Wayne, Pike and Lackawanna counties as well as companies from Sullivan County.

Sullivan companies included Lava, Cochecton, and Lake Huntington. Companies from Narrowsburg, Kenoza Lake, Callicoon and Yulan were on standby.

“The fire started somewhere in the rear of the building, in the oil or tire rooms,” Batzel said.

The two-story sports store sold motorcycles, ATV, snowmobiles and personal watercraft and provided parts and service.

Palmer, who was in Florida attending the Daytona 500, flew back as soon as he was reached. He plans to rebuild the store.

“It’s probably the biggest fire in White Mills in the history of the fire department,” Batzel said.

State spies deer from the sky

HARRISBURG, PA — An infrared camera-equipped plane has begun flying over 250,000 acres of state forestland to obtain better information on white-tailed deer populations, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) reported last week.

Operating from Tunkhannock, in Wyoming County, a crew and a specially equipped plane of Vision Air Research Inc. of Boise, Idaho, began flying on February 13 over the first selected section of Delaware State Forest in Pike County.

DCNR and the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) are seeking an accurate estimate of the number of deer living in state forest tracts and game lands. State officials say they hopefully will replace opinion and hearsay with more scientific information. By combining this data with information about the conditions of local habitat, officials will be in a much better position to determine deer densities for specific areas.

PA departments get fire grants

HARRISBURG, PA — The Westfall Township Volunteer Fire Department in Pike County and the Equinunk Volunteer Fire Company and the Hamlin Fire and Rescue Company in Wayne County were among 31 fire companies to share in $3.3 million in federal fire grants, which were announced on February 17.

Funding is made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Office of Homeland Security and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Westfall was granted $140,535, Equinunk received $135,675 and Hamlin was awarded $62,758, All three grants were slated for operations and firefighter safety.

Candidates for Honesdale judge

HONESDALE, PA — Two candidates have announced their intentions to run in the May primary election for the position of magisterial district judge for the area including Honesdale, Bethany and Berlin, Cherry Ridge and Texas townships.

Four-term incumbent Bonnie Lewis will be opposed Theodore J. Mikulak, who is a Honesdale businessman.

The primary election is scheduled for May 17.

Hanofee announces for Sullivan treasurer

LIBERTY, NY — Liberty Town Councilman Democrat Sean Hanofee has announced his candidacy for the office of Sullivan County Treasurer.

Hanofee is a two-term incumbent on the Liberty board and served as the district coordinator for the late Assemblyman Jacob Gunther and incumbent Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther for eight years.

Bonacic announces storm aid payout

ALBANY, NY — State Senator John Bonacic announced this week that New York State will release some $470,000 in state and federal aid to localities in Sullivan County that suffered extensive damage in severe August and September 2004 storms.

The seven towns and the amounts to be funded include Neversink, $72,546.81; Rockland, $135,920.49; Highland, $89,310,65; Tusten, $137,466.58; Delaware, $7,180.92; Callicoon, $7,683.45 and Liberty, $21,234.20.

Pike sponsors tax break discussion

MILFORD, PA — Pike County property owners could receive hundreds of dollars in property tax refunds and reductions, but only if they file for the special relief by March 1, according to a statement from the county commissioners.

Tax breaks are related to Pennsylvania’s new gaming legislation, Act 72, and the relief filing under the Homestead Exclusion program is a one-time only offering.

For more information and forms, contact the Pike County Assessor’s Office at 570/296-5936. Additional information is also available at the state Department of Education website at pde.state.pa.us/proptax.