Gutekunst death labeled suicide

HIGHLAND LAKE, NY — The body of 58-year-old Wurtsboro businessman Charles Gutekunst was recovered from Highland Lake on the evening of July 24 by the Highland Lake Fire Department and Sullivan County dive squad. Gutekunst was co-owner, with his wife Barbara, of Wurtsboro’s G-Mart, and chairman of the Town of Highland planning board.

Early Monday afternoon, the well-known township official went rowing on Highland Lake. Relatives later observed his empty boat and contacted the Highland Lake Fire Department. Around 7:00 p.m., Gutekunst’s body was retrieved from the water not far from the boat.

“The autopsy revealed death caused by asphyxiation, consistent with drowning,” said NY State Police Senior Investigator, Michael Orrego. Orrego confirmed that Gutekunst was wearing ankle weights at the time of ihs death. “The investigation has mostly been concluded, and we’re satisfied that there was no foul play and no crime committed,” added Orrego.

Former Shohola teacher convicted of indecent assault

MILFORD, PA — A former Shohola Elementary School teacher was convicted on July 19 by a Milford jury of molesting two third-graders who were in his class in 1997 and 1998. Fifty-nine-year-old Thomas Harvey Matthews was found guilty of multiple counts including aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors. The girls testified that Matthews had them sit on his lap, sometimes when movies were being shown to the class, and he put his hand under their clothing.

Mathews faces a minimum of five years in prison, with a maximum of more than 100 years.

Pennsylvania State Police began investigating the case six years ago, when a relative of one of the girls filed a complaint. Six months later, when the complaint was made known to Delaware Valley School District officials, Thomas resigned and moved to Virginia.

He was extradited from Virginia back to PA in June 2005.

15 Main gets another 30 days

NARROWSBURG, NY — The Tusten Planning Board once again declined to grant the restaurant 15 Main a permanent special use permit. Instead, the Santanas, owners of the restaurant, have been granted another 30-day permit.

Chairman of the planning board Ed Jackson said that the board is not happy with the septic, and has turned over all the relevant information to the town engineer for review. The board is still waiting to hear from the engineer before making a decision.

The Santanas’ lawyer, Brian Edwards, said his clients would be willing to install a second septic tank if that were necessary.

At least one member of the board disagreed with Jackson: Jack Lang, who said he has been pumping out the existing septic tank for 30 years and never had a problem with it. He believes that, at most, the tank would have to be pumped more often. Lang also expressed resistance to the idea of tearing up the street to put in a new system.

Abuse victims protected against unfair insurance practices

HARRISBURG, PA — Legislation that will protect victims of domestic abuse from certain unfair insurance practices has been signed into law. Under the new law, Act 78 of 2006, authored by Rep. George Kenney (R-Philadelphia/Montgomery), an insurance company may not refuse to pay losses to a victim of abuse because the loss is caused by an intentional act of an insured person, or for other limitations on coverage that the insurance commissioner determines unreasonably restrict a victim’s ability to recoup losses. The law prevents situations in which jointly owned property of a victim of abuse is damaged or destroyed by the abuser, and is not covered by insurance because the person who damaged the property also owns it.

Funding to adapt housing units for disabled

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — The Rural Sullivan Housing Corporation of Sullivan County will receive $200,000 in state aid that has been made available through the state’s Access to Homes program. The program, created by a bill authored by Senator John Bonacic (R/I/C - Mount Hope), is designed to assist low- and moderate-income persons with disabilities and disabled veterans in modifying their own homes to accommodate their special needs.

“Persons with disabilities must overcome tremendous challenges that others often take for granted, even simple tasks such as the ability to reside in one’s own home,” said Senator Bonacic, who is chairman of the Senate Housing, Construction, and Community Development Committee. “This funding is critical to cover the costs of making housing units accessible to disabled individuals.”

The grant will make possible accessibility modifications to 16 housing units.

Hinchey prompts EPA to continue waste pickup

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) has received a commitment from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to continue its pickup of flood-related, household hazardous waste resulting from flooding in Sullivan County.

The EPA had considered phasing out the cleanup program this week, but said it will continue the pickups through at least August 14 as the result of Hinchey’s appeal.

Sullivan County Legislature Chairman Christopher Cunningham had reached out to Hinchey for help after learning that the EPA was closing down three centers it had set up in the county earlier to collect hazardous waste.

Items that EPA will pick up include batteries, paint and workshop supplies, cleaning and pool supplies, lawn and gardening products, pesticides, thermometers and thermostats, automotive products, fluorescent light bulbs, explosives and ammunition, gasoline, oil, and solvents and other hazardous chemicals.

To schedule an EPA pickup, Sullivan County residents should call 800/462-6553 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.