Around the Neighborhood - Gilboa/Conesville News by Dorothy Pickett

We got just a little January weather break this past week. Then on Sunday evening the wind began and a snow squall hit here in Flat Creek. For a little while there was no way I could see across the road as I looked out the front window. It was a good time to watch my BILLS play. What a fourth quarter nail biter that was with quarterback Josh Allen making a touchdown with only seconds to go. It ended with BILLS team player Bosa intercepting the play from the Jaguars. With that it was then two knee downs with the game ending. I was totally thrilled and I know fellow correspondent Ginny was too.  Next Sunday there is another BILLS game. I am sure you know who I will be rooting for.

If you get a little bored staying put, you need only to visit The Treasure Barn located on Rte. 30 outside of Middleburgh. Look for the sign and open flag. Lacy Haskin has an amazing number of wonderful items from delicious fudge to special gifts, clothing, quilts, signs and so much more. Hours are Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-3pm.    

I was sorry to learn that Louise Mudge and Jerry Raider have passed away. Louise’s celebration of life will be held in the Spring. Jerry Raider’s calling hours are Saturday, January 17, 1-3pm at Miller Funeral Home in Roxbury. Condolences to both families with the loss of their loved ones. 

Conesville Town Historian Kim wanted everyone to know that she is earnestly working on the 250th anniversary celebration. The event date is September 26, 2026. It will be a joint event with the Town of Conesville, Conesville Fire Department, and the Conesville Historical Society. The reason for such an early notification is that they will need some help, ideas, and if you know of any vendors etc. who would be interested in joining on that day.  Vendor spaces are $20 and benefit the Fire Department. They are also looking for historical reenactors and artisan demonstrations. There will be a parade so needing your help to let organizations know ahead of time would help as well.  Follow my column for more information on this celebration. If you would like to know in advance how much Kim and the CHS are planning for this event call Kim at 607-435-3258.

Pastor Dawn Richards will hold a 3:00pm Prayer, Tea and Fellowship at the parsonage in Stamford on January 21. Pastor Dawn pastors several churches including Gilboa Methodist Church. All are welcome to attend. 

The Flat Creek Baptist Church meeting will be held this coming Sunday after worship service. My error in last week’s column. There will be a time for fellowship before the meeting with desserts and coffee. 

Through January and February, the news about our two towns becomes very quiet like other small communities. I thought it would be a good reason to go Back in Time. I dug out my late hubby Vernon Pickett’s Great Grandmother Libby Teater’s diaries and went to the year 1936, ninety years ago. Erniel Briggs lived at Valley View Farm as did my hubby, who, during that year, would have been three years old. (another story) Living there were Vern’s great grandmother Libby, grandmother Bessie Cleaveland and her sister Ora Bel. Erniel was the hired man who milked the cows and worked the farm. He fell in love with Ora Bel and got engaged.   Sadly, Ora Bel passed away at age 19 of pneumonia and a tumor on the brain at Albany Med. She made Erniel promise her he would stay at Valley View Farm and watch over her mother Libby. Erniel lived up to that promise, never married and remained on the farm until his passing.  Here are some excerpts about Erniel in Grandma Teter’s diary.

Back in Time: January 21 Erniel picked up milk and went with Everett (I am thinking it was Everett Fancher) while Vernon (my Vern’s father) and Sidney (I believe Sidney Rogers) are getting ready to cut ice on Floyd’s pond. (Floyd and Sate Gordon’s home is my home. The lake is still here where ice was cut.)  On January 22nd, Erniel is cutting ice on the pond. In the middle of the night the town called for him to plow snow. He met the men at Gilboa. January 23, the snow is blowing something terrible and Erniel is still on the snowplow. Tonight, the wind is blowing a living gale Erniel stayed to Gilboa. January 24. It is a terrible day. Erniel is still on the snowplow.  The milk did not go today. The mail came twice. Erniel stayed to Newell’s (Newell Millers farm off Rte. 30 heading to Grand Gorge.) Newell was Town Superintendent or Supervisor at that time.  Finally, on the 25th Erniel came back to the farm. Erniel worked very hard on the farm.  Of course I did not get to know him until 1957. He was loved by my Vern, our two daughters and myself. The girls called him Uncle Erniel. They would go to the barn hand in hand and after chores, across the road they would come hand in hand. He was the best babysitter. There are so many stories in Libby’s diaries. Every hour was precious time for them. They all worked hard to make a living. However, there was always enough food on the table during their three meals a day.  It is amazing the way she spells some words which take a while to decipher. I learned a lot about Vern’s family history through reading these diaries along with Vern’s stories he would often tell me.  A lot more than my own family’s history.  Libby passed in 1953 and wrote in her diary until about two days before she passed away. 

Gilboa’s Town Board Organizational meeting was held Monday evening with Supervisor Alicia Terry at the helm. She began with the Pledge to the flag followed by roll call. All resolutions were read, followed by a motion and then a vote and all in favor with no one opposing. The rest of the meeting on the agenda ensued and the meeting was adjourned around 7:30pm.

Birthdays: January 17 Heidi Pickett, January 22 Nancy O’Hara.  Both of you, enjoy your special day Blessed in the Lord. 

Prayer Concerns: My sister Barbara, John Bubach, and others who may be ill at this writing. 

Gilboa/Conesville Central School: January 19 no school Martin Luther King Day. January 20-23 Regents Exams.   

Upcoming Events: Sunken City Cider Friday, Jan. 16 Cidery hours are extended 3-9pm with Trivia Think & Sip 7-9pm and the Reservoir Food Truck available. Saturday Yoga 11am-12noon, Live Music with ¼ of the way to St. Patrick’s Day you can enjoy music from the Black Mountain Symphony 3-6pm. Cousin Maine Lobster Food Truck available. Saturday, January 18th Paint & Sip 1-3pm Tickets available on website. The reservoir food truck available

Sunday Worship Services:

Gilboa Methodist: 9:00am located on 990V Gilboa 

Flat Creek Baptist: Flat Creek Road, 9:30am Sunday School, 10:30am worship service with coffee and fellowship following the service.  

Conesville United Methodist Chapel: First and Third Sunday of the month 4:00pm Route 990V.

Got News? E-mail pickee@midtel.net

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Heated Feud Almost Melts Ice Rink

By Joshua Walther

SCHOHARIE - The future of the community ice rink in Fox Creek Park laid in the balance last Tuesday as an argument between Town Councilperson Floyd Guernsey III and Village Mayor Colleen Henry reached its boiling point.

The argument began in early January, when Mr. Guernsey was offering to build and maintain the Fox Creek ice rink. While watering the ice late at night, he used an RV to keep warm, which was plugged into the outlets of the park and used the Village’s electricity to power a fan.

After receiving several calls from concerned residents and different Village agencies that said the RV was breaking the no parking overnight rule, Mayor Henry sent an email that thanked him for his service to the community, but asked to “be mindful” of his RV parking.

Outraged by what he viewed as a “disturbing” correspondence, Mr. Guernsey fell into a chain of angrily threatening to both close the ice rink and go public with the email on social media. 

When he further devolved into vulgarities, Mayor Henry blocked him, prompting him to come to the Village Board meeting on Tuesday, where both parties enlightened the rest of the trustees on what happened.

“I feel very hurt and not appreciated,” Mr. Guernsey began, noting how the email approach was cold and distant compared to talking in person. “I build this rink because of the kids and the community, and I’m willing to give this all up because of you, and that makes me want to puke.”

Mayor Henry specified that she didn’t want to drive out his service, saying “I’m not asking you to stop maintaining it. We do appreciate what you do, but please be mindful of the rules.”

However, when the mayor incredulously asked if Mr. Guernsey believed himself to be above the rules, he demanded that he should be, and said that the Village should change their parking times in Fox Creek or allow him free access whenever he needed it.

Most of the room took his side as well. Diana Bell Jackson of the Schoharie Promotional Association was in attendance, who said “We don’t condone Floyd’s tone, but we sponsor the ice rink, and we would like to see this resolved to keep that service however we can.”

Trustee Jeff Palmer agreed, noting “We all say things in the heat of the moment that we don’t mean. Considering the service he does, I think there’s bigger problems out there than giving him permission.”

With the rest of the Board in agreement, Mr. Guernsey was given free access to the park, and Mayor Henry asked that any public inquiries about the RV should be redirected so that he can answer them. Both parties briefly gave their apologies before moving on to other business.

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Gilboa Officials Get Organized for the New Year

By Liz Page

GILBOA – The town of Gilboa may have set a record for the shortest reorganizational meeting, as they went down the list of official appointments and designations on Monday, with little fanfare. Supervisor Alicia Terry noted the town justice books were audited by the town board with no significant findings or concerns.

With that noted, Terry moved a resolution extending gratitude to Lynn Hait, town justice for the town of Jefferson, who agreed to fill in and was appointed by the state Unified Court System to serve the 11-month vacancy created by the early retirement of Dave Lapinel as town justice.

Mike Faulkner was elected the new town justice. The books were audited so he can start with a clean slate.

The resolution cited Hait's decades of experience as a town justice and his willingness to serve the town of Gilboa. He brought with him an in-depth understanding of the system necessary to operate a successful town court and has a long history of ensuring justice was fairly and equitably applied to the cases that came before him. 

He found a path forward for matters that to some may have seemed immoveable. His knowledge of records and procedures was invaluable to assisting the Court Clerk in closing old files and ensuring new files are appropriately maintained. He set a new standard for the role of town justice in the town of Gilboa, including sharing his joke of the day.

"Now therefore be it resolved that the Gilboa Town Board by the adoption of this resolution, extends its gratitude to the Hon. Lynn Hait for his service to the town of Gilboa as Town Justice, and, be it further resolved, that a certified copy  of this resolution will be given to him as a token of appreciation for his service to the town of Gilboa".

The town board will hold its monthly meeting on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Gilboa Town Hall. 

A partial listing of the official appointments and designations are, as follow: Mountain Eagle, official newspaper; Wayne Bank and NBT, official depositories; mileage reimbursement 72.5 cents per mile; submission of monthly reports by the highway superintendent, code enforcement officer, planning board, town supervisor and deputy code enforcement officer. They reinstated the town's hiring procedure, approved the salaries and hourly rates of employees and appointees; purchasing,  investment and procurement policies.

They also established the policy for controlled substances and alcohol and testing of employees.

Appointments included: Joseph Moore Jr., dog control officer; Mary Wyckoff, deputy town clerk/collector/registrar/records management officer; Dorothy Picket, deputy supervisor; Matthew Cammer, deputy highway superintendent; Janette Reynolds, town historian; George Wilson, assessor chairman; Mark Powell, planning board chairman; Joanne Darcy Crum, town attorney; Brian Caron as CEO, floodplain administrator and fire inspector and Pat Buel, CPA as town bookkeeper. 

Motions were passed to approve Mary Wyckoff as deputy tax collector and registrar; Cindy Buel as court clerk; Sinzia Reese as the planning board secretary; Pat Buel as town bookkeeper and establishing the subdivision fee at $25 per lot and authorization for the town clerk and highway superintendent to attend their respective schools.

Members of the Assessment Review Board included Jenn Warner, Susan Morkaut and Sandy Hempstead. Planning Board members include Cindy Buel, Christopher Albano, Daniel Wright, Patricia Coleman and Mark Powell. Elsa Gonzalez is the alternate member.

Board members approved adoption of the Schoharie County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update.

Taxpayers will be charged a $20 fee for insufficient funds and the tax collector will refund any overpayments above $10.01.

No one spoke during the privilege of the floor and there was a brief discussion that the town attorney has sent a letter to the engineer and the company doing the work on the salt/sand shed. She is asking that the project be restarted immediately.

An audit by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets found the facilities for animal control to be sufficient for the town.

Supervisor Terry also noted that anyone doing any computer work for the town is now required to undergo cyber security training. A training is coming up in the near future.

In her report she said more work is still to be done on Flat Creek Road.

The next meeting will be held February 9 at 6:30 p.m..

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Jefferson Town Board Organizes for the New Year

By Liz Page

JEFFERSON  – Members of Jefferson Town Board went down the list of official appointments and designations to start the new year last Thursday, with few changes. They also heard a proposal from Eric Schwartz, representing Oorah, Inc.  to have a cross walk across state Route 10 at Castle Mountain Road. They were discouraged to note that someone has been stealing the recyclable bottles from a pair of barrels designated to raise money for Jefferson Heritage Day.

Among the official appointments were the Mountain Eagle Newspaper as official newspaper and Wayne Bank as the official depository. Mike West will remain the town attorney, Olivia Eppich the youth coordinator, Erin House, the water commissioner, Chris Twyble as dog control officer and deputy highway commissioner. Bonnie Dailey was appointed town historian, Don VanValkenburgh the daily water tester, the Evening Star as official bookkeeper.

Meetings will continue on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. with  the warrants reviewed by the board at 6:30 p.m..

The town supervisor will remain as budget officer and service officer. Vanessa Irwin will be the water bill collector, Rich Irwin was appointed code enforcement officer. Mark Los was reappointed as chairman of the Assessment Review Board, Ken Cole as deputy town supervisor and as the delegate to the Catskill Revitalization Corporation. Sarrah Abbatine is the planning board chairman , Valeri Darcie was appointed to a five-year seat on the planning board and Catherine Jonker will serve as the alternate member to the planning board and as secretary. Mileage for official town business will be paid at 73.5 cents per mile.

Eric Schwartz was present to ask the town board to install a cross walk across Route 10 at Castle Mountain Road. He said there is a great deal of pedestrian traffic for Camp Oorah's Boys Division over the summer months. The town board approved a motion to send it on to the state Department of Transportation, which will do a survey and determine if the crosswalk is appropriate. They will also mark it with the proper signage. The request will be passed on to DOT.

In his report, Rich Irwin said the town did not have to pay for the updated Uniform Building Codes over the past five years, due to the pandemic. However, the town will now have to pay $1,547 to get an updated copy of the state building codes. They opted to pay for three years, rather than a higher annual rate.

The Home Town Heroes banners will be offered for purchase to families and others who wish to honor someone who has served in the military.

The shed used for recycling will be placed for bid as is, with the winning bidder asked to remove it within 30 days. The bids will be opened at the March meeting of the town board. Three people have shown interest in the  8 x 8 shed at this point, prompting the town to offer it for bid. 

Discussion about the thieves taking the recyclable bottles from the barrels at the town parking lot indicated board members are discouraged that someone "would stoop that low" to steal the bottles from a local organization. 

Highway Superintendent Ray Hendrickson reported that the town highway crew has been out plowing and sanding almost daily.

Town board members went into an executive session to discuss possible litigation with no action resulting.

The next meeting will be held February 12 at 7 p.m..

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M'burgh Village Hopes to Add B'ball Court to Park

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh village officials are hoping to transform an old skating rink into a new basketball court in Badgley Park.

At the January village board meeting, Trustee Amanda Fernandez detailed some of the plans for the park.

The plans for Badgley Park include: : remove curbing from rink and refurbish surface for basketball court. The village will replace hoops and restripe the court. 

Currently the village is looking into the complexity of curbing jobs to see if DPW can handle or if they should defer to a contractor. The curb may be three feet deep and officials have to determine whether the curb is attached to the inner pavement.

Trustee Fernandez said solar picnic tables (courtesy of SEEC) will be placed at the park in the spring. "We are also looking into planting additional trees and potentially adding a small low impact playground in the grassy area."

The cost cannot be determined until the village can do the curb work. DPW members dig down to see if it is attached to the asphalt.

*   *   *

In other action, board members:

* Appointed the following people to the joint zoning boards of appeals: Kip Pangman, through January 6, 2031 and Melanie Laraway, through January 6, 2027. The village shares the ZBA with the town.

* Increased the water redemption rate from $21.26 to $24.56 and lowered the sewer redemption rate from $115.30 to $111.80.

* Heard Mayor Tim Knight say he is revising the employee handbook.

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M'burgh Village May Apply for Grant for EV Charging Station

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh Village officials may decide next month to apply for a New York State Department Department of Environmental Conservation grant for electric vehicle charging stations in the village.

The grant application is due on February 27.  There would be a 10 percent local match. The proposal was discussed by the village grants committee in November and January  and has been discussed by the village board. The maximum grant amount is capped at $125,000.

The Village is in the process of securing quotes for this project, which will determine how much it seeks as part of any grant application if officials choose to move forward.

If approved, the EV recharging station will probably be placed by the Depot at the corner of Wells and Maple avenues. Officials said the location  is close enough for motorists to walk downtown to shop or eat while their vehicle is charging. Other areas were considered but some had to be dismissed because they were in the floodplain. 

In December, Village attorney Fred Mauhs noted that when drivers of EV vehicles get off the Thruway onto Route 145 in Catskill, it is "a desert" for charging stations.

The state is providing $5 million for charging stations. The stations would be level 3 providing quicker charges. It would cost the village about $800 a year for electricity and other requirements. The village would have to maintain the stations for at least 10 years.

Board members were in favor of applying for the grant.

The stations would be one more thing the village has that other villages do not, Trustee Bob Tinker said in December. He felt stations would probably be used a  lot. There are already surveillance cameras at the Depot.

In January, DPW superintendent Cole Keyser questioned the location  of the charging station by the depot.

He said it was less likely for people to walk to the business district of the village if they were placed there. He thought a location behind Stewart's would be preferable but it was noted that some of the area is in the flood plain.

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Schoharie County Submits Public Comment to DEC Biosolids Policy Urging Caution and Regulatory Oversight

SCHOHARIE— This week, Schoharie County submitted public comment on the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Draft DMM Program Policy 7a. The following statement was provided on January 10, 2026.

Schoharie County submits this comment to express concern with the DEC’s current approach to biosolids recycling and land application, particularly as it relates to agricultural lands. While the County recognizes the stated nutrient and soil amendment benefits of biosolids, substantial scientific evidence indicates that biosolids commonly contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and heavy metals, including but not limited to cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic. Existing wastewater treatment and biosolids processing technologies do not reliably or fully remove these contaminants.

Peer-reviewed research[1] has demonstrated that PFAS and certain heavy metals are persistent, bioaccumulative, and mobile in agricultural systems. When biosolids are land-applied, these contaminants accumulate in soils, can be taken up by crops, and may migrate into surface and groundwater. Repeated applications increase contaminant loading over time, raising long-term risks to food safety, drinking water supplies, livestock health, and farm viability. 

Schoharie County’s agricultural economy depends on soil integrity, water quality, and consumer confidence in the safety of agricultural products - as do many counties across New York. The current regulatory framework governing biosolids does not adequately account for long-term persistence, or bioaccumulation of PFAS and heavy metals nor does it address how to adequately test and mitigate for these contaminants. In the absence of enforceable, health-based standards and comprehensive monitoring requirements for these contaminants, land application of biosolids cannot be considered sufficiently protective of environmental resources or agricultural systems. 

The County urges the DEC to reevaluate its biosolids policies using a precautionary, science-based approach. Specifically, biosolids should not be promoted or approved for agricultural land application unless PFAS and heavy metals can be effectively removed, or unless strict contaminant limits, transparent testing, and long-term monitoring are required and enforced.

Protecting agricultural soils is essential to the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of Schoharie County and New York State. Regulatory decisions regarding biosolids must reflect current scientific understanding and prioritize the protection of farmland, water resources, and public health.

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SCS Looking to Add New PA System, Boiler Conversion

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - In addition to a budget and school board candidates on their ballot, Schoharie school district voters are likely to see a proposition to install a new PA system in the high school and a fuel conversion for the boilers.

Superintendent David Blanchard spoke to school board members late last month about the needs that were revealed in a building condition survey. Most of the issues are up to date in the five-year survey though two are fairly urgent and cannot wait.

District officials will be getting costs for the replacement of the PA system in the high school and a conversion of the fuel system to propane and place a resolution on the ballot in May, Mr. Blanchard said.

Officials said there are funds in the capital reserve account and the work will most likely not require additional tax levy.

The current fuel oil tanks are in the ground and are more than 20 years old, Mr. Blanchard said. In the project, the tanks would be removed and the boilers would be converted to propane.

The replacement of the PA and bell system is sorely needed and very important to the campus, officials said.

*   *   *

In other action, board members:

* Heard student representative Madelyn Bruno say that students brought up the issue of the heat in the auditorium during the Christmas concert last month when one student passed out and others were light headed.

Mr. Blanchard explained that it was the stage lights that were an issue making students feel hot.  There was nothing unusual according to the music department. The temperature controls in the space are working appropriately. The people in the audience were comfortable according to the reports he received. 

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Two Face Drug Charges After Traffic Stop in M'burgh

MIDDLEBURGH - New York State Police arrested Michelle Pickett, 51, and Steven Noxon, 41, both of Middleburgh, on December 16, 2025, after a traffic stop on Route 145. The arrests were made by the Troop G Community Stabilization Unit after receiving information about suspicious activity linked to the sale of illicit drugs at a home in Middleburgh.

During the investigation, authorities discovered a large amount of narcotics, cash, packaging materials, and a digital scale on the suspects and in the vehicle, police said  All items were seized. Both individuals were processed at SP Cobleskill and arraigned at the Schoharie County Centralized Arraignment Part Court, where they were remanded to the Schoharie County Correctional Facility without bail.

Ms. Pickett and Mr. Noxon face charges of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class "A" felony, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class "B" felony, and second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, a class "A" misdemeanor. Mr. Noxon was also charged with a Vehicle and Traffic Law violation, according to police.

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Conesville Closes on Bond for New $334K Plow Truck

Conesville Town Supervisor Bill Federice presided over the Jan. 13 board meeting. Photo by Chris English.

By Chris English

CONESVILLE — The Town of Conesville had a successful closing recently on the $334,025 bond that is paying for the town's new 2025 Western Star plow truck and its equipment, Town Supervisor Bill Federice announced at the Tuesday, Jan. 13 board meeting.

"We did get it and everything is in place and we're good to go," he said of the closing. The bond will be repaid over six years, with a payment of interest only due in the first year and then payments of interest and principal in years two through six.

In other news from the Jan. 13 meeting, a 2025 year-end report from town Code Enforcement Officer Robert Giordano prompted some comments from Federice on the promising state of real estate in Conesville.

According to Giordano's summary of 2025 Code Enforcement activity, there were 35 building permits issued last year, 19 property reports prepared, eight Certificates of Completion, eight Certificates of Occupancy, four Emergency Responses, one threat of physical violence and one Compliance Order.

"Conesville and Gilboa are really hot right now in the real estate market," said Federice on hearing the numbers on building permits and certificates of completion and occupancy. "And according to a report I saw recently, Schoharie County house prices are up 22 percent over the last two years. Housing is short and when supply is short, prices go up."

Federice said after the meeting that an issue regarding a potentially dangerous school bus stop at 973 State Route 990V will now be handled by the Gilboa-Conesville Central School District.  A house at the location previously had no school-age children and thus no bus stop, but it now has school-age children and a stop.

A resolution drafted by the town but not voted on states that the bus stop has no visibility until about 100 feet from the stop. "The current speed limit of 55 MPH and the short sight distance of the school bus stop is hazardous to students, bus drivers and motorists," it read. The resolution asks the New York Department of Transportation to install appropriate signage warning motorists of the upcoming stop.

During the Jan. 13 town meeting, Councilman Carl Fancher said he has written to NYDOT and got a response that the agency will do a study of the bus stop and inform him of the results.

Town Historian Kim Young reported that plans for Conesville's celebration of the nation's 250th Birthday on Sept. 19 of this year continue to go well. She said that a Jan. 12 meeting of the 250th Committee drew nine attendees, which she said was a good turnout.

Among the many activities being planned are blacksmith and other demonstrations, a vintage baseball game, a parade and others. Young added that she and others are hoping to put out a publication fairly soon that touches on town history related to the 250th celebration. She added in her report that she recently purchased a sign for the East Conesville Cemetery and submitted a voucher to Town Clerk Carrie Sutton for reimbursement.

Highway Superintendent Ward Apgar reported that he and his crew plowed snow 14 times during December and treated roads with sand and other material 18 times. They also spent a few days cleaning up brush and trees downed and blown around during storms. Apgar, board members and the audience also welcomed new Highway Department employee Bryan Catrini.

During his county report, Federice _ who is also Chairman of the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors _ commented on the continuing high cost of electricity and all the various fees included in electric bills. He added that he feels the problem is being partly fueled by the state's mandates on electric vehicles and other requirements.

Federice also remarked on the tremendous growth of Artificial Intelligence and its electricity requirements.

"I've read that all the huge data centers and everything else that goes with AI will double the amount of electricity used in the U.S.," he said.

The Conesville Board also approved the 2025 Town Court Justice audit at the Jan. 13 meeting. 

The board held a reorganizational meeting on Friday, Jan. 2, during which Federice, the Councilmen, Sutton and others took their oaths of office for 2026. In all, there were 28 resolutions approved by the board, setting this year's sewer and water fees, salaries for various positions and many other matters.

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Four Corrections Officers Graduate

Left to right: Deputy M. Kodra, Deputy M. Gray, Deputy M. Bernhardt, Deputy A. Gray, Deputy T. Quigley, Sgt. B. Baker, Sheriff Fancher

SCHOHARIE — Schoharie County Sheriff Albro W. Fancher proudly announced the recent graduation of four Corrections Officers from the Basic Course for Corrections Officers at the Zone Five Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy. 

The Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office congratulates Correction Officer Graduates:

Deputy Matthew Kodra, Defensive Tactics Award

Deputy Matthew Bernhardt, Firearms Award

Deputy Alicia Gray, Squad Leader

Deputy Timothy Quigley, Class Leader & Academics Award

These officers successfully completed the comprehensive training program designed to prepare them for the complex duties within a modern correctional facility. The extensive curriculum included practical and theoretical instruction in critical areas such as:

De-escalation and Crisis Management,

Facility Security and Procedures Mastery,

Inmate Rights and Correctional Law,

Physical Training and Defensive Tactics.

Congratulations to all of you on your accomplishments. Special thanks to the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office for the information.

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