10 overdose deaths in 45 days and more

What's new in the Upper Delaware region May 12 to 18

Posted 5/11/22

10 overdose deaths in 45 days

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County had 10 overdose deaths in the 45 days prior to May 5, according to coroner Albee Bockman, who spoke at a public safety …

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10 overdose deaths in 45 days and more

What's new in the Upper Delaware region May 12 to 18

Posted

10 overdose deaths in 45 days

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County had 10 overdose deaths in the 45 days prior to May 5, according to coroner Albee Bockman, who spoke at a public safety committee meeting of the Sullivan County Legislature. The coroner’s office had been dispatched to 21 deaths in the month of April, had performed nine autopsies and found five to be the result of overdose; 37 percent of that month’s deaths were the result of overdoses. Already in May there had been three overdose-related deaths in the county.

Lifeguards wanted in Honesdale

HONESDALE, NY — Honesdale Borough Council is accepting applications for the positions of seasonal lifeguard and pool personnel at the Honesdale Area Poo. The pool season is from mid-May to Labor Day. Applications are available from the borough website at honesdaleborough.com or for pickup at 958 Main St. in Honesdale.

Facing a nationwide shortage of lifeguards, the Honesdale parks and recreation commission and the borough council will offer a one-time $150 bonus to guards who work a minimum of eight weeks this season. The pool was closed until July 21 during the 2021 season, owing to a shortage of lifeguards; see bit.ly/RR-honesdale-pool-2021 for more on that story.

Pine Grove Road open

BETHEL, NY — Bethel town supervisor Daniel Sturm and highway superintendent Robert Bonnaci announced the reopening of Pine Grove Road on May 5. A portion of Pine Grove Road between Mountain Lakes/Lakeview Drive and Lakeshore Drive has been closed since September 2, 2019 owing to damage from tropical storm Ida. Repairs on the road have been fully funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Sturm.

Billy’s Law passes codes committee

ALBANY, NY — Bill S8181, “Billy’s Law,” passed through the state Senate codes committee on May 4, and was committed to the finance committee; it needs thereafter to go to the Senate and the Assembly floors for a vote. Sponsored by Sen. Mike Martucci, Billy’s Law responds to the death of Forestburgh firefighter William “Billy” Steinberg by authorizing bail and pre-trial detention for felony arsons; for more on this story, visit bit.ly/RR-martucci-billys-law.

“My thoughts are with Billy’s family today, as they have been every day since their tragic loss, and I look forward to continuing the push on their behalf to get Billy’s Law to the Senate floor for a full vote,” said Martucci.

No more spongy moth

HARRISBURG, PA — In an effort to protect wildlife habitats against spongy moth, the Pennsylvania Game Commission plans to spray more than 62,000 acres of state game lands this spring. Spraying will occur on 27 different state game lands—62,934 acres in all—and will begin as soon as leaf-out occurs and spongy moth egg masses hatch, likely in May. The game commission plans to spray 2,926 acres of state land in Pike County, and none in Wayne County.

Rain reduces New York apple harvest

ALBANY, NY — New York’s total utilized apple crop in 2021 totaled 1.33 billion pounds, down four percent from 2020, according to Donnie Fike, state statistician of the USDA’s NASS (National Agricultural Statistics Service) New York field office. Apple-bearing acreage was estimated at 44,000, unchanged from the previous year. The average yield was 30,500 pounds per acre, down 1,000 pounds from the previous year.

In New York, heavy rains in September hindered fresh harvest and may have contributed to a lower yield and an increase in the amount allocated to processing. Of the total utilized crop, 753 million pounds were for the fresh market and 576 million pounds were for processing. The value of the crop totaled $345 million, up five percent from the previous season, with an average annual price of 25.9 cents per pound.

Colleges now can’t withhold transcripts

ALBANY, NY — Gov. Kathy Hochul on May 4 signed legislation that prohibits colleges from withholding a student’s transcript because of unpaid debts. It also forbids charging individuals who owe debts a higher fee to obtain their own transcript. This legislation ensures that students can access their transcript when necessary, a statement read, so that they may continue their education or find a job.

More women in DEC, park staff

ALBANY, NY — The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation have joined state police and other police departments across the country by committing to the “30x30 Pledge” to add more women to the ranks of environmental conservation police officers, forest rangers and park police officers.

The decision was announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul on May 6.

River clean-up grants awarded

UPPER DELAWARE REGION — The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) voted on May 5 to award a combined $4,431.13 to the Towns of Deerpark and Lumberland through its 2022 River and Shoreline Cleanup grants. Deerpark will focus efforts on the Hawk’s Nest area of the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway / New York State Route 97, a much-photographed winding hillside route that offers sweeping views from 200 feet above the river. Lumberland will hire a contractor for $1,100 to collect trash every other week during the summer along the town’s river banks from Camp Tel-Yehudah to the Mongaup River Access at the Deerpark border.

Correction

The news brief “BESIDE Cabins withdraws plans for Bethel” in last week’s edition of the River Reporter indicated incorrectly that the Bethel Town Board met on April 25. It met on April 27.

overdose, opioid crisis, Honesdale Borough Council, lifeguard, Pine Grove Road, Billy's Law, William Steinberg, spongy moth, apple crop, DEC, parks, BESIDE Cabins

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