Letter to the Editor: Time for a Shakeup in Local Media

Dear editor,

As much as your publication seems mainly hinging on arrest reports and poor editorials, at least you publish letters sent to you. How many people in this county have seen their letters to the Times Journal thrown away and never published?

While we're talking about the oldest paper in the county, how many times do people need to get yelled at by their editor? The amount of business owners, public officials, and regular ol' people that she's cursed out has probably exceeded the subscription base. Well, at least she gets good pictures of people's behinds and half-filled parking lots from events. Makes you wonder what secret she has on old Jim anyway?

The Gazette doesn't seem to do much around here. The Mountain Eagle is useless. Any satirical crap from disgraced former kleptocrats is a joke (and not the way ol' Dan or any young former members of the Planning Department wants it to be).

So we the people of the county are seriously underserved. Maybe the Schoharie News can pick up its game. Maybe we can do something about corruption and local products. Maybe we should, considering not much is working now.

Richard "Halliburton"
Summit

Vote in Our New Poll: Affects of Gas Prices and Fracking

Make sure to vote in our new poll regarding the effects of falling gas prices, mainly due to fracking on your opinion of the practice.

Poll: Most See County as Corrupt

Readers believe by an overwhelming margin that corruption is still embedded in local government. In fact, a quarter believe that corruption today has surpassed even the levels under Cassandra Ethington several years ago.

Do You Think That Corruption Has been Removed from County Government?
Virtually all of it 2% - 3
 Mostly 10% - 17
 No 63% - 107
 It's worse than ever 25% - 42
 169 total

Middleburgh Man Arrested for Controlled Substance, Trespassing, and Harassment

State Police in Cobleskill arrested a Middleburgh man and charged him with multiple offenses including a drug charge following a complaint of harassment in the Village of Middleburgh.

Troopers arrested Noel Ortiz age 37 of Middleburgh and charged him with Trespass, Harassment 2nd and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th following a complaint on January 6, 2015. Ortiz was charged after he allegedly threatened another man following an argument. During the arrest it was determined that Ortiz was in possession of a controlled substance. Ortiz was released on an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of Middleburgh Court on January 14, 2015 at 7:00 pm.

Ortiz was arrested for heroin possession and driving with a suspended license in December.

Cobleskill Man Arrested for Trespassing, Harassment

State Police in Cobleskill arrested a Cobleskill man following a domestic incident that occurred in the Town of Seward.

Troopers arrested Zachary W. Boggs age 41 of Cobleskill and charged him with Criminal Trespass 2nd and Harassment 2nd following a domestic incident. It was alleged that Boggs entered a residence without permission where he then made verbal threats to a female subject. Boggs was arraigned in the Town of Cobleskill Court where an Order of Protection was issued. Boggs was then released to appear in the Town of Seward Court on January 14, 2015 at 7:00pm.
 

Conesville Woman Arrested for Welfare Fraud

Sheriff's Deputies arrested Kimmarie Uhalde OF Conesville, NY for the class D felony of welfare fraud in the 3rd degree and the Class A Misdemeanor of offering a false instrument for filing in the 2nd degree. The arrest follows an investigation by the Schoharie County Department of Social Services Fraud Unit and the Schoharie County Sheriff's Office. The defendant was arrested and arraigned in the Village of Schoharie Court and Released to reappear on January 26th, 2015.

Letter to the Editor: Lape a Poor Choice for Chair

Dear Editor,
Congratulations, or should I say condolences to Dick Lape on becoming Chairman of the Board. I see the voting went right along party lines, guess I shouldn't be surprised. But one has to wonder if the best person was chosen for the job or did Mr. Lape just have more friends on the board? Another reason why this taxpayer does not have any faith in this board. This just proves to me that they all put their political parties first and the people of the county second. I am intrigued by the new Chairman's comment. His number one priority is to protect the health and safety of our residents. Does that mean he is against the land grabbing pipeline companies that want to take our land and ravage our county to bury 30 inch pipes in the ground to transport volatile gas somewhere else? I'd say that might be a health and safety issue to all of us. Will Mr. Lape back up his words and stand up and fight for the people or will he remain silent like Senator Seward and Schoharie's favorite son Assemblyman Lopez? Again, I am not surprised, but unfortunately this is the way career politician's work. Why take a stance or come out strong against anything that might affect your future political endeavors. After all, the rich people behind the pipeline companies might want to donate money to campaigns down the road. If a political office is not in one's future, there could always be a job. We all see who John Faso is working for. He tried to become a career politician, but he couldn't make it. However, I'm sure he is being well compensated by the Constitution Pipeline.

Thank you,
Jerry Fiore
Summit, NY

Temperatures to Fall Below Zero Wednesday Night

For the first time of the winter, all of the County will be plunged well below zero. The temperature forecasts for the different communities differ but the National Weather Service is reporting the following highs and lows:

Middleburgh: 11/-11
Schoharie: 16/-6
Cobleskill: 15/-7
Sharon: 13/-9
Jefferson: 13/-8

Keep it tuned to our always updated weather page for more info.

Wind Chill Warning Until 10am Thursday

Below is from the National Weather Service. Keep it tuned to our always updated weather page for more info.

...Wind chill warning in effect from 5 PM Wednesday to 10 am EST Thursday...

The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a wind chill warning...which is in effect from 5 PM Wednesday to 10 am EST Thursday. The wind chill watch is no longer in effect.

* Locations...southern Adirondacks...Lake George Saratoga region...eastern Catskills...Berkshires...and southern Green Mountains of Vermont.

* Hazard types...dangerously cold wind chills.

* Wind chill values...as low as 40 degrees below zero.

* Timing...Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.

* Impacts...the combination of brutally cold temperatures and brisk northwesterly winds will combine to create dangerously cold conditions for exposed skin.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A wind chill warning means the combination of very cold air and strong winds will create dangerously low wind chill values. This will result in frost bite and lead to hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

Sharon Man Arrested for McDonald's Theft

Palatine – Earlier this evening the State Police charged a 54-year-old man with stealing items from a patron at an area McDonald’s.

Roberto J. Acosta, 10/31/60, of 209 Main Street, Sharon Springs, NY was charged with one count of petit larceny this evening after surveillance video showed him leaving a Town of Palatine McDonald’s with another person’s backpack. Acosta initially made off with an iPad, iPhone, $200 in cash, and clothing before troopers were able to track him down on his cell phone. Acosta eventually turned himself him at the State Police barracks in Fonda without incident.

Acosta was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled for arraignment in the Palatine Town Court on January 15 at 6:00 p.m.

Cobleskill Police Blotter

The Cobleskill Village Police arrested Frank Madl Jr., 33, of Cobleskill on charges of thirddegree aggravated unlicensed operation. He was arraigned and released to return to court on January 13.

The Cobleskill Village Police arrested Joseph Raymer, 23, of Berne on charges of third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation. He was arraigned and released to return to court ton January 13. Wednesday, December 31

The Cobleskill Village Police arrested Benjamin Urrey, 27, of Cobleskill on charges of thirddegree aggravated unlicensed operation. He was arraigned and released after paying $400 bail to return to court on January 13.

Congressman Gibson to Retire at End of Term

Just entering into his third term this month, Congressman Chris Gibson has decided to not run for another. Gibson won last month with 65% of the vote over Sean Eldridge. There was no immediate statement why Gibson decided to do so.

Chair, Vice Chair Votes Totals Largely Fall on Party Lines

The voting for Chair and Vice Chair was largely a partisan affair today. Richmondville Supervisor Dick Lape received the vote of all ten Republicans (Amber Bleau is a registered Conservative that caucuses with the Republicans) on the County Board while Fulton Supervisor and former Chair Phil Skowfoe received six, all Democrats.

Chair
10- Lape (Richmondville): Lape, Bill Smith, Vroman, Jordan, Federice, VanGlad, VanWormer, McAllister, Bradt, Bleau
6- Skowfoe (Fulton): Milone, Shawn Smith, Buzon, Manko, Barbic, Skowfoe

Vice Chair
9- Bradt (Carlisle): Lape, Bill Smith, Jordan, Federice, VanGlad, VanWormer, McAllister, Bradt, Bleau
6- Skowfoe (Fulton): Milone, Shawn Smith, Buzon, Manko, Barbic, Skowfoe
1- Bill Smith (Broome): Harold Vroman

Lape Elected New Chair, Bradt Vice Chair

Richmondville Supervisor Richard Lape has just been elected the new Chairman of the Schoharie Board of Supervisors at today's organizational meeting. Larry Bradt of Carlisle was voted Vice Chair. We will report more as more comes out of the meeting

Vote in Our Poll: Corruption in Schoharie County

Vote in the poll on our sidebar and weigh in on whether or not corruption has been removed from the County government.

Letter to the Editor: Continue Fighting the Pipeline

Dear Editor, Neighbors and Friends,

The long awaited decision from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission concerning the approval of the Constitution Pipeline comes as no surprise to many. For those of us at the local levels of government that did everything humanly possible to prevent this pipeline from running through our county, the decision is extremely disheartening. Our county board of supervisors, unfortunately, was fragmented on the issue, thus causing each town to find its own way. Our representatives at the next levels of government supported the entire concept and without their resistance the task of stopping the pipeline approval became monumental.

Our residents who are to be directly impacted by the pipeline routing understandably, will suffer devaluation of their properties as well as the constant worry that setbacks are not sufficient to insure safety in case of any compromise. Over the last 18 months I have witnessed many groups accept grant funding from representatives of Constitution and many of our land owners have signed off on easements and accepted the one time payout. For those land owners who have resisted, Constitution is now showing its true colors by mailing letters of intimidation to them. It is truly unfortunate that our county has in the past and is currently feeling the bullying powers of Big Energy because of the lack of unity among its residents and representatives.

It is extremely important for everyone to know that the effort to defeat this pipeline being placed in Schoharie County soil continues and the general public once again will be given the opportunity to voice its opinion at the upcoming public hearings to be held by DEC January 12, 2015 in Binghamton; January 13, 2015 in Oneonta and January 14, 2015 in Cobleskill at SUNY Cobleskill - Bouck Hall Theater at 6:00 PM. DEC must decide if it will issue the necessary permits for the pipeline to be built after evaluating what its possible effects will have on aquifers, ground water, storm water runoff, spring thaws and streams.

The DEC has just announced that it will prohibit hydrofracking in New York, because the Health Department has advised them that it will be quite awhile before the issue of health threats is fully researched and understood. All the dangers of leaks and pollutants in fracking also exist for gas pipelines near water sources. The people of Schoharie are so dependent on having safe, clean water and they need to let the DEC know that the issue of pipeline health impacts on water supplies also needs to be researched and understood. If people can’t make the meetings they can email their concerns to dec.sm.constitution@dec.ny.gov

Unfortunately, our nations’ economy has taken its toll on many households causing families to participate in projects of this nature, which normally they would not have. But, the fact remains that we all must fear the county becoming a corridor for pipelines carrying a product which the major portion of will be exported at our expense. Let us be reminded that there has always been strength in numbers and if we are to protect our landscape, environment and way of life, a coordinated effort between county residents and elected officials must be accomplished.

Gene Milone,
Schoharie Town Supervisor

Poll: Howe Caverns Proposal Was Flawed

Schoharie News readers believe by a small margin that the proposal prepared by Howe Caverns for a casino project was heavily flawed.

Why Do You Think NYS Rejected the Howe Caverns Casino?

Politics as usual 36% - 106
Howe Caverns' proposal had major flaws 36% - 107
Schenectady had better proposal 8% - 23 
All of the above 18% - 53 
Other don't know 2% - 7 
292 total

Winter Weather Advisory Issued for Schoharie County

The National Weather service has issued this warning:

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 2 AM EST SUNDAY... * LOCATIONS...THE EASTERN CATSKILLS...SCHOHARIE VALLEY...GREATER CAPITAL REGION...NORTHERN AND CENTRAL TACONICS...SCHOHARIE VALLEY...HELDERBERGS...AND THE EASTERN MOHAWK VALLEY. * HAZARD TYPES...ACCUMULATING SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN.

Make sure to keep up on the weather at our always updated weather page.

DWI Arrest in Middleburgh

State Police in Cobleskill arrest man for DWI in the Town of Middleburgh following a traffic stop.

Troopers in Cobleskill arrested Carl E. Vanburen age 49 of Preston Hollow New York for Driving While Intoxicated following a traffic stop on State Route 145 in the Town of Middleburgh. Vanburen was initially stopped for multiple traffic infractions; further investigation led to the DWI charge. Vanburen was released on traffic tickets returnable to the Town of Middleburgh Court on January 21, 2015 at 7:00 pm.

Esperance Man Arrested for Harassment, Criminal Contempt

State Police in Cobleskill arrested an Esperance man for multiple charges following a domestic incident in the Town of Esperance.

Photo: NYSP

Troopers in Cobleskill arrested Roger E. Sulem age 36 following a domestic incident in the Town of Esperance. Sulem was charged with Harassment 2nd and Criminal Contempt 2nd following a complaint where it was alleged that he threatened to strike a female during an argument. During the investigation Troopers determined that there was an active Order of Protection in place. Sulem was arraigned where he was released on his own recognizance to appear in the Town of Esperance Court on January 7, 2015 at 7:00 pm.