Honesdale residents lose home in fire, Aldi partial building collapse

What's new in the Upper Delaware region February 18-24

Posted 2/17/21

Monticello Aldi partial building collapse

MONTICELLO, NY — Over the past weekend, the Aldi grocery store in Monticello closed due to a partial building collapse. A roof leak in the rear of …

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Honesdale residents lose home in fire, Aldi partial building collapse

What's new in the Upper Delaware region February 18-24

Posted

Monticello Aldi partial building collapse

MONTICELLO, NY — Over the past weekend, the Aldi grocery store in Monticello closed due to a partial building collapse. A roof leak in the rear of the building reportedly caused the structural collapse. The nearby Dollar General was evacuated at the time as well.

Code enforcers in Monticello closed the Aldi building for the public’s safety, however, there reportedly was no damage to the portions of the building used by shoppers. No injuries were reported.

Riverkeeper files to intervene in fracking suit

DELAWARE RIVER — The Delaware Riverkeeper Network and its chief executive officer Maya van Rossum recently filed a motion for leave to intervene as defendants in the federal lawsuit filed on January 11 against the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). The complaint was filed by State Sens. Gene Yaw and Lisa Baker, the Pennsylvania Senate Republican Caucus and Damascus Township in Wayne County, to overturn the current de facto moratorium on gas drilling, fracking and related operations in the Delaware River Watershed. Included in the Riverkeeper Network’s motion is a proposed motion to dismiss the complaint that was filed by the Pennsylvania Senate Republicans.

“By filing yet another legal action to force fracking on Pennsylvania communities in areas now protected, Sens. Yaw and Baker are violating their oath to uphold the constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and their duty to protect the health, safety and rights of all Pennsylvanians including future generations,” van Rossum said.

Honesdale residents lose home in fire

HONESDALE, PA — Hal and Shirley Stein—residents of Honesdale and owners of 652 Auto—lost their home in a fire on February 10. According to a GoFundMe page set up by friends and family, “They lost every single possession, and worst of all they lost their pets. The fire took everything. They are the greatest and most generous people we know and they were left with basically the clothes on their back.”

More than $20,000 has been raised through the GoFundMe as of Monday morning. The most recent goal at press time is $25,000.

Delgado selected as ag subcommittee chair

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado (NY-19) has been selected to serve as the Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy and Credit (CEEC). The CEEC Subcommittee oversees all policies relating to commodity exchanges, agricultural credit, rural development, energy and rural electrification.

 “The CEEC Subcommittee focuses on the issues that matter most to communities throughout my rural district—broadband expansion, infrastructure revitalization, renewable energy production, and rural economic development and loan programs,” said Delgado. 

PA physicians disappointed in rollout

HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians collectively have expressed disappointment in Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam’s “misguided allocation changes” to the state’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan, removing primary care providers from the list of those permitted to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. 

“Without sound justification and demonstrating a lack of understanding in the way most Pennsylvanians receive their health care, the administration is making a woeful mistake by cutting out primary care physicians as eligible providers. The order was implemented without consultation with physician stakeholder groups who represent many thousands of primary care physicians across the commonwealth,” according to a release. 

New York closing times extended

NEW YORK STATE — Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on February 14 that—given the continued decline in hospitalization and infection rates throughout New York State—he has signed an executive order extending closing times for bars, restaurants, gyms and fitness centers, casinos, billiards halls, as well as other New York State Liquor Authority-licensed establishments, from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. statewide.

“Hospitalizations and the positivity rate continue to decline, and with the holiday surge now in our rear-view mirror, we must keep taking steps to further reopen the economy safely and responsibly,” Cuomo said.

Inaccurate well info brings penalties

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) executed a consent assessment of civil penalty with Range Resources—an oil and gas operator that owns conventional wells—on Thursday, January 7, in the amount of $294,000 for violations of the 2012 Oil and Gas Act regarding wells ineligible for inactive status listed on its inactive status request to DEP. DEP received Range Resources’ CACP payment on January 8.

“It’s the law: Inactive wells need to be viable for future use. If wells are not viable for future use, then they should be classified as abandoned wells and are required to be plugged,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “DEP is committed to ensuring the safety and health of all Pennsylvanians and will continue to enforce violations of the commonwealth’s environmental protection laws.”

Pike chairman testifies on potential utility rate hike

MILFORD, PA — On February 8, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission [PUC] conducted hearings on Pike County Light & Power’s request to raise its rates for electric and gas.

Pike County Chairman Matt Osterberg made testimony to PUC opposing the proposed increase.  “We [commissioners] firmly object to the rate increases as they are currently proposed,” he said. “We believe the scope of the requested increases are unreasonable to residential and commercial customers and taxpayers, particularly as negative economic impacts of COVID-19 continue to resonate in our rural community.” 

Visit www.riverreporter.com/news for the full statement.

Monticello, Aldi, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Delaware River Basin Commission, Honesdale, fire, Delgado, subcommittee, chair, Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Society, Pennsylvania Chapter, American College of Physicians, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

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