Top Stories Headline News
	Contents This Issue's Index
	Editorials Editorials Columns Letters
	Arts & Leisure Reviews & Schedules
	Outdoors Fishing/Hunting Outdoor Magazine
	Sports Local Scores & Standings
	Food Recipes for culinary delights
	Bridges Bridges of the Upper Delaware
	Back Issues
	Search
	Links
	Commerce Sponsors
	Classified Ads Find it here
	Staff Pages
	Masthead
	Design Studio
	Subscriptions Get your copy delivered

Five towns get "zero" grants

MONTICELLO — Five Sullivan County towns that reduced their tax levies in 1999 will each be receiving a $10,000 reward grant from Sullivan County.

Tax cuts in Callicoon, Fremont, Liberty, Lumberland and Mamakating ranged from .09 percent to 2.68 percent.

The grants must be used for enhancement of economic development or tourism and may not be used for general budget support.

Six Sullivan villages, which have different fiscal years, are also eligible.

Three year-old drowns

CLARYVILLE — A three-year-old boy, whose name was not released by state police, died April 23 after falling into a pond near his County Route 19 home.

The boy, who reportedly was unsupervised for about 15 minutes, was found by his father who rushed him to a neighbor’s home to call for help.

The child died at Westchester Medical Center where he had been airlifted following the Thursday accident.

Bomb threat clears

Delaware Valley

WESTFALL — Aftershocks of the April 20 school shootings in Colorado translated into incidents at schools around the nation later in the week, including an April 23 bomb threat at Delaware Valley.

A threatening note and a suspicious package found in the school led to the evacuation of 1,700 high school and middle school students on Friday morning.

The note warned of a bomb set for 11:30 a.m.

A bomb squad disposed of the package, which was found to contain no explosives. School was dismissed early at 1:15 p.m.

Reward offered for

fire information

HASBROUCK — According to Town of Fallsburg Police, a $5000 reward has been authorized for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person or persons involved in setting an April 6 fire at the McGraw Lumber Company in Hasbrouck.

A town and state police investigation of the suspicious blaze is continuing and persons with confidential information can contact police at 914/434-4422 or 914/292-6600.

Manchester approves borrowing

EQUINUNK — Manchester Township supervisors earlier this month approved a local ordinance allowing for $100,000 in borrowing to fund purchase of new road maintenance equipment.

The money is being provided by a ten-year note at 4.72 percent interest from the Honesdale National Bank. It will fund the purchase of up to two used dump trucks and a backhoe. Manchester will also retire an earlier note, which funded purchase of a road grader.

Board questions land use call

SPARROWBUSH — The Deerpark Town Board has decided to review a controversial town planning board decision that would allow a fuel supply company to relocate.

The move by the Deerpark Oil Company was approved by planners, but the town board is now asking for a review by an outside attorney and the zoning board of appeals.

The oil company move is opposed by many residents living near the proposed Darraugh Lane location, and the town board decision to appeal prompted a confrontation between a town board member and an oil company owner earlier this month.

Jeff Clune, 25, who operates the oil business with his father, was cited for harassment after Councilman Paul Hamilton charged that Clune threatened him following an April 5 meeting.

Police called in at ECS

ELDRED – Three sheriff’s department deputies stood watch in the halls at Eldred Central School (ECS) Wednesday morning and a new sign-in procedure greeting visitors at the school entrance.

ECS District Superintendent Candance Mazur said the deputies were there in response to reports that reached administrators of student threats of a disturbance at the high school campus on April 28. She said the officers likely would remain on duty throughout the day.

Administrators called in parents of students said to be involved and meetings were ongoing during the morning.

Classes went on as usual. Mazur said that while there was no real evidence of any reason for concern, because of recent events in Colorado, the school district needed to take all possible precaution and "err on the side of safety."

Rabies clinics scheduled

RIVER VALLEY — A series of rabies clinics have been scheduled across Sullivan County this spring.

The dates and locations in the river valley include: May 5 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Cochecton Town Hall in Lake Huntington; May 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lumberland Firehouse in Glen Spey; May 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Narrowsburg Firehouse; June 16 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Highland Town Hall in Eldred

Clinics are being conducted by the Kaaterskill Animal League and most require a donation. Pets should be at least three months old and caged or on leashes.

For more information about rabies, contact Sullivan County Public Health Nursing at 914/292-0100, ext. 1.

Bridge closure detour announced

WHITE LAKE — The New York State Department of Transportation has announced that Route 17B will be closed between Dr. Duggan Road and the White Lake Road in the Town of Bethel between May 3 and May 7.

Detours will be provided for both east and westbound traffic as the Lemons Creek Bridge is replaced with a box culvert.

John Bernas Construction Inc. has contracted to complete the $222,222 project by May 31.

Keystone seeks Pike bond backing

MILFORD — Supporters of the proposed Keystone Center for the Performing Arts are asking Pike Commissioners to guarantee $12 million in bonds for the project.

The Lehman Township project has already been approved for $17.5 million in state funding and has performance commitments from the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia symphony orchestras.

The commissioners reportedly have been asked to make a decision by the end of April.

Community Services to move in May

LIBERTY — The Sullivan County Department of Community Services will be transferring operations to new quarters on Infirmary Road next month.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new location, the renovated former county infirmary, is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on April 29.

Programs will begin operations at the new site on May 4 and no program appointments will be scheduled on May 3 as staff moves to the new quarters. For more information, call 914/292-8770.

DVCS approves 5.1% budget increase

FREMONT – After weeks of struggling with an extensive wish list and limited funds, the Delaware Valley School board finalized their 1999-2000 budget. The new budget of $5,908,738 reflects a 5.1% increase over last year.

According to Business Manager Betsy McKean, the largest portion of the increase is in the program component area. This includes curriculum development and improvements in training for teachers, specifically to meet the new Regents standards. Budget increases are also due in part to the standard contractual increases.