Bankers say loan volume is rising in Sullivan County

ROCK HILL, NY — Bank officials from around Sullivan County indicated that they are seeing an increase in the volume of local business loans at the Spring Into Action Power Breakfast and Bankers Forum on April 29.

The meeting, sponsored by the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development and Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce, focused on the impact of commercial lending on the Sullivan County business community.

“We are accepting new loan applications from many different industries, and that is a sign that things are getting better in Sullivan County,” said Glenn Sutherland, President/CEO of Catskill Hudson Bank. And Jeff Bank’s president/CEO Wayne Zanetti said, “Jeff Bank is experiencing a revitalization of business loans. This is just what Sullivan County needs to come out of this financial crisis.”

Paterson requests Interior to reverse Indian casino decision

ALBANY, NY — Governor David A. Paterson has sent a letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, urging him to reverse a Bush Administration policy blocking casino development in Sullivan County. The policy, issued by former Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, prohibited Indian tribes from taking off-reservation land into trust for gaming purposes, which is a necessary step for New York’s Indian Nations to acquire land in Sullivan County to build casinos.

The letter said in part, “Sullivan County’s extremely depressed economy desperately needs this kind of economic development, which will create jobs and additional investment associated with the kind of tourism industry that this policy change would create.”

A variety of local officials supported Paterson’s action, including Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and chairman of the Sullivan County Legislature Jonathan Rouis.

Citizens’ group opposes proposed flooding regulations

UPPER DELAWARE RIVER VALLEY — The Group of Thirteen, made up of owners of riverfront property on the Delaware River, has issued a statement expressing concern about new regulations that may be implemented throughout the Delaware River floodplain by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC).

The group argues that the regulations do not consider financial impacts on individual property owners or any plan to mitigate hardship, including a funding scheme. Among the provisions objected to by the group is one that would require property owners to raise their houses 18 inches over the 100-year flood level, plus 25 percent.

Hinchey meets with head of US Geological Survey on stream gages

WASHINGTON, DC — In an effort to prevent the discontinuation of stream gages across New York, including the Delaware River, that provide valuable flood forecasting and warning information, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) has met with U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Director Suzette Kimball, whose agency manages the gages.

After meeting with Kimball, Hinchey said, “I… am pleased to learn that she is working hard to find ways to maintain the dozens of streamgages that are currently in operation across New York.”

In the past, the USGS has had partners in funding the gages, some of which have announced their intention to drop out of the program—among them the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, which funded the Delaware gages. During the meeting, Hinchey vowed to fight for increased funding for USGS so the agency is not dependent on funding from other agencies to run the stream gages.

Drugs found in Dingmans

DINGMANS FERRY, PA — A police search of the home of John McManus, 36, of Dingmans Ferry, turned up one ounce of cocaine, 360 bags of heroin, 76 grams of marijuana and 300 Ecstasy, morphine and hydrocodone pills. The Pike County Drug Task Force and state police who conducted the search also discovered a variety of drug paraphernalia and cash: $20,328 genuine and $2,160 counterfeit. There were four counterfeit drivers licenses as well.

McManus has been charged with several felony drug charges and a misdemeanor, identity theft. He did not meet bail, which was set at $500,000, and was sent to Pike County Jail.

Deerpark receives UDC grant check

NARROWSBURG, NY — The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) presented a check for $8,125 to the Town of Deerpark on April 27, representing its share of a $75,000 Community Projects State Grant funding program that Senator John J. Bonacic secured for the UDC’s eight New York State member towns.

The grant enabled the Town of Deerpark to undertake a series of improvements at the new Sparrowbush Firemen’s Park and Picnic Area located near the intersection of State Routes 97 and 42 in the hamlet of Sparrowbush.

Tasks included enhancing the pathway around the park with benches, picnic tables, exercise and fitness trail equipment, dog waste stations, ornamental trees and floral plantings. The town expended a total of $9,289.49 on this project.

Since fiscal year 2000, Senator Bonacic has secured $290,000 for the eight river valley towns through contracts administered by the Upper Delaware Council and the New York State Department of Economic Development.