PA primary hands Clinton victory

PENNSYLVANIA — Senator Hillary Clinton’s victory in the Pennsylvania primary, with a ten-point lead over Senator Barack Obama in the election on April 22, means that Clinton will not drop out of the race as some Democrats have been urging her to do in recent weeks.

Clinton continued to show solid strength among woman, blue-collar workers and seniors, although Obama did manage to cut into the 20 point lead Clinton had in the polls when campaigning began in the state six weeks ago.

The contest now moves to the primaries in Indiana and North Carolina on May 6.

Most analysts agree that, however, that in the contest to gain pledged delegates, Clinton would need miraculous results in the remaining primaries to overtake Obama’s more than 150 delegate lead. Clinton’s real chance of winning the primary is to convince a large majority of the nation’s remaining unledged super-delegates to throw their support to her.

Charles Penna, former supervisor of Mamakating, dies

MAMAKATING, NY — Charles Penna, who served four years as the town supervisor of Mamakating, died on April 16 at the age of 65. The cause of death was cancer.

Penna was a lifelong resident of the State of New York, serving for 28 years as foreman at the Mamakating Highway Department before his stint as supervisor. Other public service locally included serving on the John S. Burke High School Parents Association, membership in the Italian-American Club and serving as a coach with the Mamakating Little League. He also served two tours with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam.

Following his death, State Senator John Bonacic said of Penna, “Agree with him or not, Charlie’s integrity was beyond reproach and his love for the people of Mamakating was undeniable.”

Penna, a Republican, was replaced as supervisor by Democrat Robert Fiore, who was elected to the position last November.

Freiermuth resigns from Damascus board

DAMASCUS, PA — Arthur “Jim” Freiermuth resigned his position as supervisor on the Damascus Township board, effective April 3. He gave his health as the reason for the resignation. Freiermuth was in the first year of his four-year term.

The Damascus Township Board has asked residents to nominate a replacement. A public meeting will be held soon to give residents an opportunity to present the names of possible replacements, according to Jeff Dexter, chairman of the township board.

His replacement will serve out the remaining year of Freiermuth’s term. Anyone replacing him permanently will have to be on the ballot this November to finish the remaining three years of his term, said Cindy Furman, director of the Wayne County Election Board. Freiermuth was to complete his term in 2011.

Remains of one missing fisherman recovered

UPPER DELAWARE RIVER VALLEY — The body of Timothy Panella was recovered from the waters of the Delaware River near Walpack Bend within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on Saturday, April 19. A park visitor made the discovery at approximately 1:00 p.m. and called the Monroe County Control Center, who in turn contacted the National Park Service.

Panella and his friends, Ronald Priest and Richard Skoland of Morris County, NJ, were on an afternoon fishing trip on April 3 when their boat overturned in the Delaware River just south of the Dingmans Ferry Bridge. Priest made it to shore, but Skoland was still missing at press time.

County democratic chairman dies

MONTICELLO, NY — Tim Hill, a leading political figure in Sullivan County, died on April 20, after a battle with cancer. He was 53 years old.

For 23 years, Hill served as a commissioner on the county board of elections, and was also chairman of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee.

Hill was a hard-charging political being who was not afraid to make waves. In 2003, he sued the Sullivan County Legislature for eliminating two clerk positions in the Board of Elections Office. He lost that battle, but that did not stop him from forcefully voicing his opinion in the future.

He was a strong critic of officials in Albany who were responsible for certifying new voting machines for the state, and who were finally forced to act when the federal government brought a lawsuit.

Before getting into politics, Hill owned a bar called the Village Inn, in Woodridge.

For obituary, see page 8.

High risk of brush fires leads to burn ban in Wayne County

WAYNE COUNTY, PA — A number of municipalities in Wayne County have now issued burn bans in response to a heightened risk of brush fires following several weeks of dry weather. Areas that have issued burn bans are Palmyra Township, Hawley Borough, Salem Township, Honesdale Borough and Bethany Borough.

Open burning is defined as the ignition and subsequent burning of any combustible material out-of-doors in either a burn barrel (screened or unscreened), fire ring or on the ground. The burn ban does not include barbeque pits or other cooking devices.

Among the brush fires that firemen have responded to recently was a blaze that spread rapidly over two acres just off Owego Turnpike last Saturday, April 19. Approximately 30 firefighters responded.

According to Hawley Fire Chief Eugene E. Krause, fire conditions are probably the worst they have been in years.