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SCCC to sponsor computer
technology expo

LOCH SHELDRAKE — Representatives of major national computer and software companies will join regional vendors in a two-day program at Sullivan County Community College (SCCC) this spring.

David Cooper, director of Workforce Development and Education, said Apple Computer and Microsoft have already agreed to attend the April 28-29 event and their appearance will likely prompt competitors to come as well.

Microsoft will also use the event to introduce a new software product, "Office 2000," which will be simultaneous released here and on the West Coast on April 29.

TRR named by Thompson

MONTICELLO — Reorganizing for the new year last month, the Town of Thompson Town Board selected The River Reporter as its official alternate newspaper for 1999.

In addition to being one of Sullivan County's official newspapers, TRR is also the official paper for the towns of Bethel, Cochecton, Highland, Lumberland, Tusten and the Delaware Valley and Narrowsburg school districts.

Arrest made in bomb threat

LIVINGSTON MANOR — State police on February 3 arrested an unidentified 13-year-old Livingston Manor Central School student in connection with a February 2 bomb threat, prior to an evening basketball game.

Troopers Daniel Tompkins and Robert Hafele developed information leading to the arrest with assistance from high school principal Debra Lynker.

The boy was charged with misdemeanor falsely reporting an incident and aggravated harassment, and released to his parents' custody pending a future Family Court appearance.

FEMA schedules Y2K workshops

WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) later this month will stage a nationwide series of 10 regional workshops for "Y2K Preparation and Consequence Management."

The workshops will provide forums for discussion of initial Y2K compliance assessments, potential consequences of computer disruptions, and coordinations of agency responses.

Workshops will be held in New York City on February 23-24 and in Philadelphia on February 25-26.

For more information use FEMA's fax-on-demand system at 202/646-FEMA, the FEMA website at www.fema.gov, or the FEMA Radio Network at 800/323-5248.

Erk to seek reelection

HONESDALE — Wayne County Auditor Anna Louise Erk has announced her intention to seek re-election.

Erk is a Milanville farmer, lifelong Wayne County resident and a former secretary of the Wayne County Republican Committee.

Grossingers sold at auction

NEW YORK CITY — Grossingers resort hotel was sold at auction in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on February 4 for $6 million.

Grossinger Associates, the winning bidder, includes Louis Cappelli and members of the Rechler family of Westchester County. The new owners plan a top-notch golf resort and spa at the Liberty property.

Sullivan County will collect some $800,000 in back taxes with the completed sale.

The new owners reportedly gave no indication of when the resort will reopen.

State figures rank Sullivan high in violent crime

ALBANY — Statistics from the State Division of Criminal Justice Services have placed Sullivan County second in the incidence of violent crimes per-capita, among the 57 counties outside New York City.

The figures include numbers for murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults.

Orange County ranked 13th and Ulster County came eighth on the list.

Sullivan officials say the statistics, based on year-round population while ignoring the seasonal population influx, are flawed.

But Sullivan County Sheriff Dan Hogue last week characterized the status of crime in Sullivan as "status-quo, but we've still got 150 to 165 inmates in the jail and that's high for a county of 72,000 persons."

Hogue said juvenile crime is probably the biggest problem, including criminal mischief and burglaries.

WalMart settles erosion complaint

HONESDALE — WalMart has agreed to pay a $25,000 civil penalty and contribute $75,000 to area environmental projects to settle state charges of soil erosion during construction of their Route 6 store in Texas Township.

The Department of Environmental Protection and the Wayne Conservation District had cited the nation's largest retailer for creating erosion sediment in the Lackawaxen River during last year's construction.

WalMart will also cover $2,800 in conservation district legal costs.

Ridge budget looks good for Pike

HARRISBURG — Governor Tom Ridge's proposed 1999-2000 budget would bring new money for Pike County schools, libraries and tourism promotion.

The $18.6 billion budget has $64 million for low-income student programs, $20 million for children's health insurance and $32 million for libraries.

Delaware Valley would see a five-percent, $239,000 increase under the plan, while Wallenpaupack Area Schools would get an additional $29,200.

The Pike County Public Library would see its aid more than double to $126,000 and $9.5 million would be allocated to tourism agencies like the Pocono Mountain Vacation Bureau.

Lower gas prices unlikely

ALBANY — New York gasoline prices would be more competitive with those in neighboring states if a bill proposed by Assembly Republicans is approved.

New York's gasoline prices are amongst the highest in the nation.

Joel Miller of Poughkeepsie wants to combine the five existing fuel taxes and cut the total by ten percent, saving motorists an estimated $150 million annually.

Success for the bill, which has been proposed since 1997, is thought to be unlikely since it has no Democratic sponsor in the Democrat-controlled Assembly.

Holiday Mountain costs

MONTICELLO — Thompson officials are again trying to find someone to take over or share the costs of running the Holiday Mountain Ski Area.

The town board last week reportedly discussed closing the ski area to avoid continuing losses.

The town-owned facility has lost more than $3 million in the last ten years and municipal finance officials have repeatedly recommended shared county or state ownership.

County officials, since Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini's days on the county board, have traditionally balked at the idea of taking over the facility.