Whispers of rimfire in the night

TOWN OF HIGHLAND, NY — On December 4, Department of Environmental Conservation Lt. Michael Buckley, environmental conservation officer (ECO) Ricky Wood, K9 C.J. and ECO Glen Parker completed an investigation into an illegally harvested deer in the Town of Highland.

The officers received a call a day earlier from a local resident who witnessed a deer being loaded into the bed of a pickup truck. The witness obtained a license plate number and shared it with ECOs. The officers interviewed the subject, who admitted to shooting a deer with a rimfire rifle several hours after sunset the previous night. The ECOs also determined through the investigation that the same hunter took two other deer during the bow season without a bowhunting privilege.

The officers seized all three deer and charged the subject with illegally taking three deer, taking two deer during the bow season without a bowhunting privilege, hunting with rimfire ammunition, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a residence, hunting game at night, failing to tag deer as required, and failing to report his harvest.

NYSP issues 32,900 tickets

ALBANY, NY — The New York State Police issued 32,934 tickets and arrested 453 people for impaired driving during the National DWI Crackdown, according to a press release from Gov. Kathy Hochul. The crackdown started on December 14, 2022, and continued through New Year’s Day on Sunday, January 1. Troopers arrested 453 people for DWI and investigated 4,417 accidents. Those accidents resulted in 528 injured people and eight fatalities.

Neversink Watershed Management Plan to begin public hearings

NEVERSINK, NY — Sullivan County, Friends of the Upper Delaware River (FUDR), Trout Unlimited (TU) and a number of conservation partners are developing a Neversink Watershed Management Plan (NWMP). The NWMP will evaluate impacts to the watershed from existing and planned development and other land uses, flooding concerns, water quality/quantity issues, recreational opportunities, and how the river system contributes to local economic needs and interests.

A series of community education and outreach meetings has been planned for 2023.  There will be a mix of in-person and virtual meetings. The first meeting, which will address the contents and importance of a watershed management plan as well as the benefits they provide in addressing regional watershed issues, will occur virtually on Wednesday, January 18 at 6 pm; visit www.fudr.org/neversinkwmp to register and for more information.

A strategic plan for the Catskills

CATSKILL PARK, NY — The Catskill Strategic Planning advisory group (CAG) has submitted its final report on promoting sustainable recreation in the Catskill Forest Preserve to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) commissioner Basil Seggos. Seggos and DEC experts are reviewing the final report as the agency continues its efforts to promote sustainable use of the preserve while supporting communities in the region and throughout the Catskill Park, according to a DEC press release. The final report and summaries of CAG meetings are available on the DEC CAG webpage at dec.ny.gov/lands/122227.html.

Casey diagnosed with cancer

WASHINGTON, DC — Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement regarding his health following a diagnosis of prostrate cancer. “While this news came as a shock, I can report that I have an excellent prognosis, as well as the benefit of exceptional medical care and the unwavering support of my family. In the coming months, I will undergo surgery, after which I am expected to make a full recovery. I am confident that my recommended course of treatment will allow me to continue my service in the 118th Congress with minimal disruption, and I look forward to the work ahead,” he said.

Spend your holiday gift cards

ALBANY, NY — New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is urging New Yorkers to make sure they spend any gift cards they received this holiday season. Unused gift card balances can eventually be turned over to his Office of Unclaimed Funds (OUF), which took in a record $48 million from them in 2022.

A new law went into effect on December 10, 2022, that allowed the expiration date for gift cards to increase from five years to nine after the card was issued or after the date on which funds were last loaded. The law also prohibited many fees.

Despite the change in law, the state abandoned-property law remains unchanged, DiNapoli said—gift cards and certificates owed to New York residents, or to unknown owners but issued by an entity incorporated in New York, are deemed abandoned and reportable to the OUF after five years of inactivity, regardless of expiration date.

Rozzi elected speaker of PA House

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania House Republican leaders congratulated Rep. Mark Rozzi (I-Berks) on his election to Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Rozzi was elected to be Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of representatives by a bipartisan vote of 115-85. Upon being elected, Rozzi pledged to become an Independent and caucus with neither party in the House.

“We want to congratulate Rep. Mark Rozzi, Pennsylvania’s first Independent Speaker of the House, on his election. Reflecting the realities of an evenly divided chamber, it is imperative we have a truly independent voice to conduct House business and manage the House floor,” said Republican leaders in a statement following the election.

Toll hike on PA turnpike

HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) reminds drivers that a toll increase approved last year will take effect across the highway system on January 8 at 12:01 am. The PTC approved a five-percent increase for E-ZPass and Toll By Plate customers on Aug. 2, 2022.

The PTC also reminds drivers that Act 112—a measure signed into law on Nov. 3, 2022—is now in effect. It enables the PTC to work with PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to suspend motor-vehicle registrations of owners with four or more overdue Toll By Plate invoices or $250 or more in unpaid tolls or outstanding toll invoices. Before Act 112, registration suspensions required a higher threshold of six past-due toll invoices or $500 or more in unpaid tolls.

Funding for Sullivan County biking and walking

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County is getting $100,000 to develop a biking/walking plan, state officials have announced. “In order to boost our health ranking and make our communities more attractive and vibrant, we asked the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to consider us for a Climate Smart Communities grant, and I’m delighted that they agreed to fund the creation of a bicycle/pedestrian plan,” Sullivan County planning commissioner Freda Eisenberg said.

The plan will focus on improving the safety, comfort and convenience of walking and biking paths in local downtowns and along major transportation corridors. Particular attention will be paid to connecting people to work, school, shopping and essential services destinations; ensuring access for people with disabilities; seeking guidance from underserved and disadvantaged communities; and creating alternative modes of transportation that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Child care assistance legislation passed

ALBANY, NY — On December 31, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill that will allow local social-service districts the option of giving families up to 24 months of eligibility for child care assistance, beyond the current 12-month requirement (The bill was sponsored in the Assembly by Jennifer Lunsford and in the Senate by Jessica Ramos.) Current administrative parameters require that families receiving child care assistance recertify their eligibility every 12 months, a time-intensive process that results in delayed payments to child care providers and interruptions in child care, a press release stated.

Effective immediately, the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) may promulgate necessary rules and regulations to implement the law, and may do so before the effective date, which is 180 days after the bill becomes law. Advocates, parents and providers are urging OCFS to exercise its authority to swiftly implement the bill and approve requests to extend eligibility to 24-month periods without delay.

New leaders for Sullivan’s drug task force in 2023

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County’s Drug Task Force enters 2023 with new additions to its “pillar” structure. Each pillar represents a key strategy and focus of the task force.

Acting District Attorney Brian Conaty will co-chair the Drug Task Force with Wendy Brown, deputy commissioner of health and human services, now that former DA Meagan Galligan has become a state judge. The law enforcement pillar will continue to be led by Sheriff Michael Schiff and co-chaired by Liberty police chief Steve D’Agata. A new veterans pillar (representing the Sullivan County Veterans Service Agency, Action Towards Independence’s Vet 2 Vet program and the Hudson Valley VA, as well as interested members of the community) will be led by Ryan Fuller and Carl LoFaro.

Correction

In the article, “The business of healthcare,” published in the River Reporter January 5-11 edition, the affiliation of some of the panel members was incorrectly identified in the picture caption and text. Ashima Butler, Steven Kelley and Keith Edwards are all affiliated with Ellenville Regional Hospital.