Police warn Wayne residents of rabid fox

WHITE MILLS, PA — After two days of searching, Pennsylvania State Police on May 31 had yet to locate what is believed to be a rabid gray fox, which has attacked a woman and several household pets, in the vicinity of Charles Street and Route 6.

First reports came on May 29 after a dog was attacked and injured. The fox reportedly also lunged at a woman entering her car and chased another family’s pet to the residence door, where it ran headlong into the door.

Anyone seeing the suspicious animal is advised to avoid it and call Wayne County 911.

Eldred voters will get a second budget vote

ELDRED, NY — Saying that they did not believe that the May 17, 40-vote defeat of the district’s $12,460,853 budget was decided by a representative percentage of electorate, the Eldred Central School Board of Education on May 26 decided to place the budget before the voters a second time.

A second failed proposition on the May ballot, for the purchase of security cameras for district buses, has been withdrawn, Superintendent Dr. Ivan Katz said.

Should the proposed budget fail in a second vote, an $11,622,007 contingency budget would be enacted. It would require $831,000 in program cuts and is a 4.51 percent over curent spending.

The budget vote will take place at the MacKenzie Elementary School in Glen Spey, between 11:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on June 21.

Attorney returns DPW property

MONTICELLO, NY — The Sullivan County Attorney’s office internal investigation regarding retired Division of Public Works Commissioner Peter Lilholt and three of his subordinates continued last week as Lilholt’s attorney reportedly returned several pieces of DPW equipment which Lilholt was said to have borrowed.

Attorney Michael McGuire was said to have returned a power washer, a welding unit, a tent and some other unspecified items. Several other pieces of portable radio and Global Position System equipment were reportedly returned earlier.

Lilholt retired abruptly on February 25, on the same date that Deputy Commissioner Phil Nicoletti, Senior Fiscal Officer Amy Winters and Parks and Recreation Director Richard Caraluzzo were placed on administrative leave.

Jersey official predicts more flooding

TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey’s environmental protection commissioner is predicting more Delaware River flooding in future.

Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell reportedly guaranteed additional flooding in his May 26 testimony before a task force appointed by acting Governor Richard J. Codey to study the flooding.

Campbell cited upstream development and global warming as likely causes for additional flood problems. The task force will hold public meetings in the four New Jersey counties most impacted by April flooding.

Pegasus drops power system application

ALBANY, NY — Project opponents say that documents from the network operator of New York State’s electric power transmission system reveal problems with project planning for a controversial DC power transmission line, which had been proposed along the former Norfolk-Southern rail right of way in the Upper Delaware.

Documents from the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) indicate that the Pegasus Transmission Company Ltd., Niagara Reinforcement Project, was recently dropped from a queue of projects awaiting system review after a “material change” was made to the request.

Pegasus originally filed with the NYISO for a 1,200-megawatt project in August of 2001, two years before the project was revealed locally and renewing the application could be another lengthy process. Pegasus principal, Richard Muddiman said last week he was unaware of any issues with the NYISO and indicated the company’s plans remain unchanged.

State sales tax drops

ALBANY, NY — Start checking your receipts this week because New York’s sales tax is being cut by a quarter-percent on June 1.

The state’s new four-percent rate, combined with Sullivan County’s 3.5 percent rate, means that purchases in the county should not be taxed above 7.5 percent.

Looking for people and organizations to help

MILFORD, PA — The United Way of Pike County is looking for tax-exempt, non-profit agencies that might benefit from volunteers’ efforts in the fifth annual Day of Caring.

The Day of Caring this year will be Saturday, September 10. If you are interested in volunteering or your eligible group could benefit, contact United Way by calling 570/296-9980 or 888/306-6963, by emailing uwpc@ptd.net or visiting.unitedwaypike.org.

Last year over 200 volunteers assisted 18 agencies in completing 19 projects.

Agri-business park project wins federal funding

SYRACUSE, NY — The Sullivan County Division of Planning and Community Development will receive a $175,000 Rural Business Enterprise grant for the development of a meat processing facility in Liberty, NY, federal authorities announced on May 19.

The grant is part of a national earmark for projects located in Rural Area Economic Partnership (REAP) Zones.

The project was selected with some 83 applicants in 29 states that will receive approximately $15.4 million in grants and loans for business development and job creation.

The plant will be the only USDA approved slaughterhouse in a 50- mile radius. The facility is expected to be operational in a year and, within three years, will be able to process up to 4,000 animals.