Wayne commissioners foggy about power line

HONESDALE, PA -When a member of the local press asked whether the Wayne County Commissioners were against the proposed New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI), the commissioners weren’t clear what the project involved.

“I read something about it in the papers,” said chairman Tony Herzog.

After discussing the electric powerline project with members of the press who were present at the commissioners’ weekly meeting, the county clerk produced a three-volume copy of NYRI’s application to the New York Public Service Commission. The county had received it last Friday.

The commissioners decided to oppose the power line on the railroad right-of-way in the Delaware River Valley, but would not comment on the route down the Millennium Pipeline. “It’s not in Wayne County, so it doesn’t involve us,” said commissioner Donald Olsommer.

Olsommer said he supported the power line since New York City needed electric power. He finally agreed to oppose the Delaware River route.

- Tom Kane

Two River Junction burns to the ground

LACKAWAXEN, PA — The building housing a deli and bait and gun shop in Lackawaxen burned to the ground early on the morning of Saturday, June 3. The blaze was believed to have started in the deli and spread to the other stores. The building, which was owned by Charley and Dimitri Zaimes, was located within 100 yards of the Lackawaxen fire company. The fire forced the closure of three businesses.

A full investigation by state police fire marshals is underway. As of now, the cause of the fire is listed as “unknown”, but a news organization has reported that “marshals may be suspicious concerning the origin of the fire.”

Anyone information about fire is asked to call the PA state police at 570-226-5718

Fly fisherman drowns at Junction Pool

ROSCOE, NY — Justin Everrett, a 44-year-old New Jersey man, drowned about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 3 in Junction Pool after he fell while wading across the pool. He and four friends had been fly fishing at the pool.

According to the state police, the waters of the Willowemoc and Beaverkill rivers, which meet at the pool, create a whirlpool effect that has dug a pit there. In addition, according to Senior Investigator Mike Orrego, Everrett was wearing chest waders, which filled up with water “like wearing an anchor.” When Everrett fell, the combination of the current and the filled waders apparently proved too much for him. His friends saw him go under, come back up once and yell for help, and go down again before they could get to him to help him.

Members of the Sullivan County dive team, volunteer ambulance corps and New York State troopers responded to the scene. After Everrett’s body was retrieved from the pool, CPR was administered, but with no effect. He was pronounced dead at Catskill Regional Medical Center at 6:28 p.m.

Grant deadline for fire, ambulance companies nears

PENNSYLVANIA, PA — The deadline for applications for the 2005-06 Volunteer Fire Company/Volunteer Ambulance Service grant program is June 9. The program, created by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to boost public safety and ease the burdens faced by the Commonwealth’s many volunteer emergency response organizations, will allocate $22 million for fire company grants and $3 million for ambulance service grants. Applications must be filed online at www.osfc.state.pa.us.

Grants range from $2,500 to no more than $15,000 per volunteer fire company applicant, or no more than $10,000 per volunteer ambulance service, unless the application is comprised of two groups that had previously merged. Projects initiated after July 1, 2005 and completed prior to disbursement of grant program funds may be considered as eligible projects for the current grant year.

Last year, 2,760 volunteer organizations took advantage of the program.

Woodloch founder dies

SCRANTON, PA — Harry Kiesendahl, founder of Woodloch Pines Resort, died at CMC Hospital on Monday, June 5. He was 80.

After returning from service in World War II, Kiesendahl opened two ice cream parlors on Long Island, but found the work was taking too much time away from his family life. He moved to the Poconos and opened Woodloch Pines as a 40-room boarding house, so that he could work side by side with his family. The resort now has 350 rooms and 900 employees.

Kiesendahl was also active in community life, participating on the boards of Wayne County Memorial Hospital, the PA Tourism & Lodging Association and the Governor’s Small Business Advisory Council. In many organizations he took a leadership role, and was past president of the Hawley Bank and past chairman of the board of the Mountain Laurel Center for the Performing Arts.

Weight-limit signs near Woodstone taken down

BETHEL, NY — A lawsuit has been filed in state Supreme Court by Woodstone Lakes Development and The Eagle Habitat and Open Space Foundation, which owns adjoining land, to force the town of Bethel to take down signs indicating a 10-ton limit for access roads to Woodstone’s Chapin Estates. The signs had been posted on Moscoe Road, which approaches the area from Route 55, and Town Road 62 and Pine Grove Road in Smallwood.

Highway superintendent Bernie Cohen had erected the signs in response to complaints about damage being done to the roads by heavy trucks traveling to and from the Chapin Estates. Woodstone and its fellow litigants argued that the signs interfered with their private property rights, and that proper channels had not been followed in obtaining authority to put them up.

Although the signs were taken down, according to Town Supervisor Harold Russell Cohen had been within his rights in putting them up as long as they were temporary.