Cobleskill Police Blotter (April 8, 2014)

The Cobleskill Police Department submitted the following press release/police blotter for the last day of March into the first week of April. 

Monday, March 31, 2014

    

     At 2:10 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Tracy A. Lord, 41, of East Worcester, NY, for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 3rd.  She was released and is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on April 15th at 5:00 p.m.

     At 2:15 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Nikki Lord, 20, of Richmondville, NY, on an Arrest Warrant for Criminal Mischief 3rd.  She was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and released on $1000 Bail.  She is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on April 1st at 5:00 p.m.

    

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

     At 12:45 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Dave R. Malivert, 22, of Cobleskill, NY, for Petit Larceny.  He was issued an appearance ticket and released.  He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on April 22nd at 5:00 p.m.      

     At 5:00 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested John Garrow, 23, of Delanson, NY, for Petit Larceny.  He was issued an appearance ticket and released.  He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on April 22nd at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

     At 1:00 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Sam L. Bindier, 23, of Central Valley, NY, for Criminal Possession of Criminal Substance 7th and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana.  He was issued an appearance ticket and released.  He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on April 29th at 5:00 p.m.

    At 5:08 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Andrew D. Benson, 21, of Cobleskill, NY, for DWI, and Operating a motor vehicle with a BAC greater than 0.08%, and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana.  He was released and is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on April 19th at 5:00 p.m. 

Middleburgh NAPA Comes Down in Heap of Rubble

In what was once the historic Oneida Markets grocery store, located on the corner of Baker and Main in the Village of Middleburgh, is now a heap of rubble after construction crews began the process of demolishing the rundown building that has been abandoned by Middleburgh NAPA since the devastating effects of Hurricane Irene in 2011. 

Construction crews sealed off Baker Avenue
as they began the process of tearing the old
NAPA down - Photo Credit: Sheila Donegan

A crowd of residents and passersby gathered to watch the demolition unfold, as for years the vacant eyesore has left much to be desired within the village's buzzing business district, which has seen tremendous expansion and growth in post-flood recovery.

Mayor Avitabile watches on as NAPA reaches
its destined end - Photo Credit: Sheila Donegan

Demolition should be completed by the end of the week, but the space will not be empty for long as Mayor Matthew Avitabile teased on the community's facebook page that out of the building's rubble several store fronts are expected to rise, perhaps within the next year. Middleburgh's NAPA auto parts has since relocated to 158 Wells Avenue. 

State Police Arrest Middleburgh Man Following Domestic Dispute

Earlier this evening State Police stationed in Cobleskill announced the arrest of Jacob I. Armlin, twenty, of Middleburgh for Harassment in the 2nd degree and Coercion in the 2nd degree subsequent to a domestic dispute that occurred on April 1, 2014. 

It is alleged that Mr. Armlin pushed and then physically forced the victim to sign over the title of her vehicle to him while threatening to harm her if she refused his demand. Mr. Armlin was arraigned in the Middleburgh Town Court and remanded to the custody of the Schoharie County Sheriff's Office in lieu of $500 bail or a $1000 bond. 

The suspect is scheduled to reappear in court on April 9, 2014 at 7:00 PM. In addition, according to the State Police press release, Mr. Armlin may possibly face further charges for another domestic dispute with the victim that occurred two days later. 

Charity Basketball Game to Raise Funds for Children with Cancer

The Stamford and Jefferson Fire Departments are working hard to raise money for two local children with cancer. The departments will face off against each other on April 11th at the Stamford High School at 7pm to raise money for Scout Lamport and Bryc Cole. All are invited!

Information from the Schoharie County Fire Wire facebook page.

Savor Schoharie to Raise Money for Flood Recovery

SALT is hosting another push to raise funds for flood victims later this month. The Savor Schoharie meal offers some of the best cuisine of the County in three different locations.

Find out more information about the April 26th event on the Facebook page.

Letter to the Editor: "Rural Myth" That Lowes Was Pushed Out of Cobleskill

Dear Editor:

The Schoharie News recent op-ed piece discussing Schoharie County’s unemployment crisis was important and timely. By repeating a “rural myth,” however, the piece serves to mire the discussion in persistent misinformation. The Editor recounts the reoccurring notion that a Lowes Home Center was not built in Cobleskill because of “inaction and community tension.” Simply repeating something over and over again does not make it true. The unfounded Lowes legend is no exception. What is true is there is absolutely no documentation to support the claim that Lowes’ decision not to invest in a store in Cobleskill was anything other than a reasoned and careful decision made by an experienced corporation after a lengthy analysis of economic conditions and demographic data.

While people like former Cobleskill Supervisor Murray successfully spun the Lowes’s myth to help promote an unnecessary and absurdly expensive water and sewer expansion to Howes Caves and former Mayor Galasso leveraged the same myth as an excuse to attack the most basic of zoning protections, Lowes did not “leave” because of water or sewer issues or onerous zoning regulations. In fact, they didn’t leave at all. They were never here, only exploring one of many siting options in a manner that is consistent with its business model.

Lowes rejects potential sites far more than it finalizes them. For example, In 2011 Lowes decided against building in the populous community of Huntington Station, Long island after it had spent millions to acquire land. (See http://thehuntingtonian.com/2011/11/07/opinion-lowes-demographics-costs-etc/). They did so because they knew the store could not be sustained in even a densely populated location with a declining economy. When Lowes identifies a potentially profitable location it overcomes obstacles far more complex that a small town zoning regulations or the need for a commercial scale septic system. The reality is that building a large home store in an area like Schoharie County with a depressed economy, near zero home growth, high vacancy rates and below average median income (11% living below the poverty level) is not prudent. A visit to the often near empty Lowes store in Oneonta drives this point home. The population density of Oneonta is more than 2,000 people per square mile. The population density of Cobleskill is 110 people per square mile. For Lowes, investing in Cobleskill made absolutely no sense.

What also doesn’t make sense is the absolute lack of a County-wide economic development plan that is informed by sound policy or infused with even the slightest amount of energy and creativity. Schoharie County Economic Development Agency, in particular, continues to grasp at an outdated model that dreams of the large employer or big box store to solve the county’s employment problem, waits like a dejected lover for a manufacturing company to bring its operations back from China and buy the old Interknitting building or falls head over heels for a half-baked business plan and money grab for public funds, in the style of Maranatha.

Economic development in Schoharie County will only be successful when new approaches are embraced like the wide-spread expansion of high speed Internet access to fuel the growth of home-based, entrepreneurial business; non-traditional agricultural markets that benefit small farms, market gardens and boutique farm product production; proactive and aggressive searches within high-tech sectors for small startup business willing to locate in the County; and a serious push for tourism that incorporates progressive community planning, support for eco and agri-tourism and a real effort to resist the bland and off-putting landscape of fast food corridors like Route 7. Finally, the community must throw real energy behind addressing the relatively low number young people with college degrees (nearly 13% lower than the State average) and the uptick in dropout rates (almost 9%). Without an educated workforce we have little to offer.

Alternatively, we could all sit back and hope that Lowes or Home Deport will come to the rescue. If that is the choice, we should be prepared for a long wait and ever-growing unemployment. 

- Bob Nied

Life in Schoharie Contest Winner: Fall Serenity

With more than two hundred and seventy votes cast since Wednesday afternoon, Schoharie News readers have studiously selected Cobleskill resident Cheyla Bevins "Fall Serenity" submission as the victor of our first annual Life in Schoharie Photo Contest. There were nine photographs submitted overall. 

The winning photograph received 36% of votes

Ms. Bevins submission was the only photograph to reach one hundred votes, with Marvin Marsh's "Painted Night" the second closest at fifty-six. She will receive a $20 gift certificate to Cobleskill Wal-Mart for winning the contest, but in reality all of the photos submitted reflect that we are all the true winners for having such a beautiful place to call home.

Third Straight Year With No Tax Increase for Middleburgh Residents

Village of Middleburgh residents are poised to see their taxes hold steady for a third consecutive year, an accomplishment Village Mayor Matthew Avitabile argues has saved homeowners on average $139 since 2012. Avitabile posted an update on the valley community's facebook page earlier this week concerning budgetary figures. 

The proposed 2014-15 public budget, which will be presented to the village board and members of the community on Monday, April 7th at 7:00 pm, contains no tax increase but plenty of additional spending for local projects. 

With additional funds being put aside for local infrastructure (streets, sidewalks) and the Youth Commission, which manages the pools and summer programs, the village's more significant expenditures include a one-time $20,000 allotment to the Fire Department for firehouse repairs and a $2,000 increase in funding for the village's park projects. 

Village Trustees are expected to approve the proposed budget, which came as a result of several workshop meetings, Monday evening. 

Sharon to Host Run 4 The Hills Event to Benefit First Responders

The Sharon Springs community will be hosting their Inaugural Run 4 The Hills event to benefit the Sharon Springs Fire Department and Rescue Squad on Saturday May 3rd, which will kick off at 9:00 am sharp that morning. The cost of registration is $25 and is available only on online until April 15th, 2014 or until the race reaches its capacity of 150 participants. 

If there are still available slots open after online registration closes, organizers may consider the possibility of opening up last minute or race day registration options for interested runners. The cost of these alternatives would be dropped down to $20 per runner, but would not include the Inaugural Run 4 The Hills event tee.

Runners will be able to pick up their packets either on Friday, May 2nd at The American Hotel, located on 192 Main Street in the Village of Sharon Springs, between 3 and 5 pm, or the morning of the race from 7:30 until 8:30 am. Packets will neither be held nor mailed to runners who don't check in by 8:30 am race day.

For more updates and information on the Sharon Springs run/walk event, you can like them on facebook or follow their tweets on twitter.

Opinion: Schoharie's Unsustainable Unemployment Crisis

We really don't need to make any case to back up the title of this op-ed piece, as the New York State Department of Labor did that for us in last month's statewide unemployment report that showed Schoharie County is not only at the bottom of our region in terms of employment, but also the entire state.

Facing an uphill battle to address the county's staggering 9.2% rate of unemployment, which accounts for roughly 1,400 local residents out of work, Schoharie County has actually seen the number of employed citizens decline by roughly one hundred compared to the same time last year, with little to no workable solutions to resolve the problem. 

Wherein lies the crux of the situation: Schoharie's long-term working goal to stimulate job growth has publicly relied on luring in an interested entity to either lease or purchase the long-vacant Guilford Mills property in Cobleskill, in hopes of reclaiming hundreds of jobs that were lost in the facility's closure almost thirteen years ago.

Meanwhile, we have watched the $5.3 million partially publicly funded Maranatha Fitness Center rise and fall in the Town of Richmondville, while just a few miles down the road on Route 7 government inaction and community tension contributed to Lowes deciding not to build a store near the existing Wal-Mart supercenter. 

In the end, with our past economic failures hanging over the county's head, our lone salvation to over a decade of chronic economic stagnation may be the proposed Howe Caverns casino, which has split our county's electors and electorate in half since the issue first erupted in February.

However, besides publicly approving the concept of a local casino in their March meeting, the Board of Supervisors can do little but hope New York State chooses Schoharie over Saratoga, and that we reap the economic benefits of expanded gambling while not suffering under the tag-along societal repercussions.

One more alarming factoid from last month's unemployment report: the number of people without work in Schoharie County declined from 1,800 to 1,400 since last year without any corresponding increase in employment, which means either able bodied workers have moved elsewhere in search of jobs, or our neighbors have simply given up.

Either way, something must be done to address what is truly an unsustainable unemployment crisis in this county. We don't have the answers to this, and quite frankly no one might, but maintaining the status quo on economic growth is flat out unacceptable any longer. 

Local Mayors, SALT Join Forces to Recognize Impact of National Service

Schoharie, NY – On April 1, Schoharie Area Long Term (SALT) along with local leaders joined more than 1,750 mayors and town supervisors across the country in a day of recognition to highlight the impact of national service on local challenges. 

SALT and local leaders, including Mayor Avitabile of Middleburgh and Mayor Borst of Schoharie hosted a luncheon and press conference at the Middleburgh Reformed Church, 178 River Street, Middleburgh.  At the event SALT AmeriCorps VISTA members were recognized and thanked for their commitment to national service and the local recovery effort.

Local officials, members of SALT and long-time
volunteers enjoyed a "thank you" lunch as well

The nation’s mayors and town supervisors are increasingly turning to national service and volunteerism as a cost-effective strategy to address city challenges at a time of fiscal constraint.  Currently, eight AmeriCorps members serve in Schoharie County, proving vital support to residents by assisting with ongoing flood recovery efforts. Since 2012, over 23 AmeriCorps VISTA members have served with SALT in this capacity. While serving in the Schoharie Valley, they have assisted with volunteer recruitment and management, construction management, fund development, grant research and writing, marketing and special events, business and community development, and technology services. 

In addition, VISTA members have helped to leverage over $238,000 in cash and over $640,000 of in-kind resources for the recovery effort. They have also recruited and coordinated over 5,200 volunteers, helped to organize over 20 special events, and submitted over 35 grant applications.  “The VISTA members have significantly increased our overall capacity to assist with recovery in SALT’s coverage area. It is our distinct honor to have been awarded this AmeriCorps VISTA grant.”  SALT Executive Director, Sarah Goodrich stated.  “We especially appreciate our VISTA volunteers for their commitment to the mission, their dedication to our daily work, and for the many varied gifts they bring to our team. Congratulations and thank you to all of our VISTA members for their outstanding service to our community!” 

Furthermore, committed long term volunteers were recognized for their dedication to rebuilding our community. Cathleen Berry, Jim Czebiniak, Bill Kinisky, Jim Lord, Dr. Rev. Carlton Shepard, and Michael Vamvas were among those recognized for their long-term service to the recovery effort.    

SALT also kicked off a spring volunteer recruitment campaign for ongoing recovery work and to build up a pool of volunteers who will be ready to serve Schoharie County in the event of a future emergency or disaster. All of these volunteer opportunities will help move Schoharie County toward a community that is resilient, vibrant, and fully recovered.  To sign up today visit SALTRecovery.org/Volunteer, email: volunteer@SALTRecovery.org or call 518-390-8828.

Dylan Thompson Named March's Young Motivator of the Month

The Young Motivators of Schoharie County and this month's sponsor, the Donna Lavigne Agency, announced Dylan Thompson as March's Young Motivator of the month in a press release issued Wednesday morning.  

Dylan with his family

Dylan, 13, is a very active member in Scouts where he has been a part of fundraisers and various activities. Dylan has also helped out at his church's luncheons and dinners, volunteering to do whatever task he is asked to do. Recently, he helped a neighbor with an errand that she was not able to do at the time. Dylan is a community oriented young man.....a true motivator.

To nominate a Young Motivator, you may e-mail youngmotivatorsschoco@gmail.com or message the group on facebook. Nyssa Roennpagel was previously named Young Motivator of the Month in February. 

Letter to the Editor: Resident Questions County's Reversal on Casino

Dear Editor,

I was wondering what kind of pitch the representatives from Howe Caverns gave the supervisors for them to make a complete 360 and vote "yes" for a casino. They voted "no" just last month. 

Could it be that the main player in the game is Chris Tague? He wears many hats in Schoharie County. Mr. Tague is General Manager of Cobleskill Stone and also the representative and spokesman for Howe Caverns. Another hat he wears is for the Republican Party of Schoharie County. He is the Vice Chairman.

That concerns this taxpayer very much as the Republicans hold a majority on the board. It just might be a conflict of interest. I hate to say it, but it looks like the Good Ole Boys are at it again. 

Jerry Fiore

Life in Schoharie Photo Contest Submissions

We have nine beautiful photographs to consider from across Schoharie County in our first "Life in Schoharie Photo Contest." The winner will be determined by which submission receives the most votes from our readership by Saturday noontime and they will receive a $20 gift certificate to Wal-Mart. The poll is located on the right-hand sidebar of the website. 

Good luck to all of our submissions and thank you for participating!

                                         "Musher"

Vic DiSanto, Middleburgh

                                          "Snowplow"

Courtney Roberts, Seward

                                         "Brothers"

Bruce Oska, Cobleskill

                                          "Irene"

Ken Hubert

                                          "Snowy Waters"

Stephanie Smith, Jefferson

                                         "Fall Serenity" 

Cheyla Bevins, Cobleskill

                                           "Web Action"

Gary Ovitt, Sloansville

                                          "Painted Night"

Melvin Marsh

                                           "Rolling Hills"

Da-lai Wu

Local Law Enforcement Talk Down Troubled Carlisle Woman in Standoff

At approximately 11:15 am Tuesday morning, local State Police and the Schoharie County Sheriff's Office received calls concerning the welfare of a woman residing on Route 20 in the Town of Carlisle. Law enforcement personnel from both agencies responded, with State Police arriving first.

Upon their arrival on scene officers learned that the middle aged woman had poured gasoline through out the house and that she was located in the cellar, where she preceded to pour gasoline on herself as well. She was alone in the residence. 

Troopers and Deputies attempted to talk her into coming outside the residence, but she refused and then threatened to harm herself. Recognizing the potential for an explosion and fire, it was requested that fire and rescue squads be dispatched to the scene. 

Schoharie County 911 Dispatchers activated the Carlisle, Central Bridge and Esperance Fire Departments to respond, whereupon Central Bridge Fire Chief Scott Johnson assumed fire command. Chief Johnson would request additional support from the Sharon Springs and Cobleskill departments, in addition to the Sharon Springs Rescue Squad and County Fire Coordinators. 

As the situation continued to deteriorate, State Police requested the presence of negotiators and a Mobile Response Team to be brought on scene, where after hours of a contentious standoff, the woman exited her house around 2:30 PM and was transported by the Rural Metro Ambulance to Ellis Hospital for evaluation. 

Praising the work of law enforcement and emergency responders on scene, Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond stated that, "what started out in a dangerous situation ended with no injuries due to the excellent cooperation of all responders."

Middleburgh to Host Spring 2014 Wildflower Fundraiser

The Village of Middleburgh is pleased to announce that the wildflower project will be continued and expanded in 2014. This year we are fortunate to have assistance from Catholic Charities, which is providing volunteer manpower to help with preparation of the wildflower plots and expansion of new plots. Several homeowners have also graciously volunteered their front lawns for private participation in this project.

Photo Credit: Bill Morton

In addition, we are also excited to announce a new facet of our flower project involving the establishment of a rose garden. Two volunteers, Laura and Bill Milak have eagerly offered their services to oversee the development of a rose garden in the Timothy Murphy Park across the Schoharie Creek. Both are master gardeners and have been involved with the Schenectady Rose Garden for years, considered the second most prestigious rose garden in the United States.

Residents of Middleburgh are welcomed to participate. Homeowners with property along River Street and Main Street are encouraged to establish a patch of wildflowers in their front yards to create a visible expansion of the project. Lastly, all those that have a connection with Middleburgh are encouraged to donate to the project. Any money would go a long way towards the success of the wildflower project and the rose garden. Please send any checks to the Village Hall, PO Box 789, Middleburgh NY 12122.

Poll: 7% View County Board Favorably

Schoharie County residents are a varied lot politically, with many ideas and ideologies that together form one of the more complex governing systems in Upstate New York. However, if there is one thing they do agree on, it's that they view the county  Board of Supervisors unfavorably by a wide margin. 

According to the latest survey of roughly one-hundred and fifty Schoharie News readers, only seven percent of those participating (or just eleven people overall) view the county board favorably compared to 81% of those who hold an unfavorable viewpoint, with the remaining 11% currently undecided. 

Although the public's lack of confidence in the county board should worry local legislators, on the bright side their approval rating is up slightly over last October's paltry 4% showing in the midst of the Fitzmaurice Report's controversial release. 

13 Years Later: County Still Looking to Find Buyer for Guilford Mills

Before closing in November of 2001, the Guilford Mills building on Mineral Springs Road in Cobleskill, New York was home to more than 500 jobs. Since closing on the eighth of that month, those jobs have not been replaced, and the building has sat vacant.

The plant, and the parcel of land on which it sits, is owned by Schoharie County. This means that, at least for the time being, it is fully the county’s responsibility to find new businesses to occupy the space. To this point, the county has found little success on this front. The most recent possibility came last year when Butternuts Beer and Ale, a company based west of Schoharie County in Garratsville, New York, expressed interest in turning the facility into a brewery. However, the deal fell through when Butternuts failed to meet certain purchase deadlines and, on October 15 of 2013, the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors voted not to extend the Butternuts purchase contract.

Stewart’s Shops was rumored to show interest in the building to open a creamery. According to Schoharie County treasurer Bill Cherry, though, Stewart’s has yet to formally express interest. Cherry did say that both he and the Schoharie County realtor have been in talks with Stewart’s Shops.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, the property was used as a temporary home for some of the County facilities that had been damaged in the flood. Notably, the Schoharie County Department of Motor Vehicles used the facility for a short time. Since the parcel is owned by the County, it is entirely possible that it could be used for County purposes in the long term, but Cherry said that the County’s mission is for the building to be occupied by a private sector firm.

The likely cause of Schoharie County’s difficulty in marketing the building is its size. When Guilford Mills operated the complex, the 460,000 square foot building was used in the production of consumer fabrics, an industry which Guilford exited in 2001 to focus on the performance textiles and automotive market. It is unlikely, Cherry says, that Schoharie County will find another company in need of that much space, or willing to invest the three million asking price.

To combat this, the County is considering subdividing the property into sections of around 100,000 square feet or less. According to Cherry, this size industrial space makes the building much more marketable, although it would require the interest of multiple companies to fill. Cherry also said it is possible, once the entire building is occupied, that the County could sell the parcel to an outside investor.

“Our goal is to create new jobs in Schoharie County,” said Cherry of the plant. The goal number Cherry quoted was the 500 lost on Guilford Mills’ closing, whether they all come from one company or segmented from different companies. As we approach the thirteen year mark for the building being unoccupied, Schoharie County residents are left to wonder if the building will ever again be home to any jobs at all.

Cobleskill Police Blotter (April 1, 2014)

The Cobleskill Police Department submitted the following press release concerning recent arrests by their officers in the Village of Cobleskill:

Monday, March 24, 2014

    

    At 4:18 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Kurtis E. Jansen, 17, of Arkville, NY, for Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 5th and Petit Larceny.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and remanded to the Schoharie County Jail on $1000 Bail / $2000 Bond.  He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on March 25th at 5:00 p.m.

     At 10:38 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Brandon R. Morrow, 19, of Cobleskill, NY, for Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and remanded to the Schoharie County Jail on $1000 Bail / $2000 Bond.  He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on March 25th at 5:00 p.m. 

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

    At 7:45 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Nathan J. Maxwell for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of Motor Vehicle 2nd.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and released.  He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on April 8th at 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

     At 3:20 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Keegan Davies, 28, of Cobleskill, NY, for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana.  He was issued an appearance ticket and released.  He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on April 22nd at 5:00 p.m.  

Thursday, March 27, 2014

     At 10:16 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Zachary Veley, 17, of Cobleskill, NY, for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana.  He was issued an appearance ticket and released.  He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on April 22nd at 5:00 p.m.

   

Friday, March 28, 2014

     At 10:16 p.m. Cobleskill Police issued a summons to Michael Macri, 18, of Eastchester, NY, for Possession of Alcohol by a person under the age of 21. He was released and is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on April 22nd at 5:00 p.m.

           

Sunday, March 30, 2014

    At 12:25 a.m. Cobleskill Police issued a summons to Schuyler Broadwell, 19, of Sprakers, NY, for Possession of Alcohol by a person under the age of 21. He was released and is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on April 22nd at 5:00 p.m.

           

     At 2:40 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Robert J. Ambroz, 41, of Cobleskill, NY, for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana and Open Container.  He was issued an appearance ticket and released. He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on April 29th at 5:00 p.m.

Sheriff Desmond Backs Howe Caverns Casino

Cobleskill, NY – Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond on Monday afternoon announced his support for the proposed casino to be sited at Howe Caverns.

“I believe a casino in Schoharie County would have no real impact on our public safety,” Desmond said.

“In fact, I believe that providing more jobs and opportunity for our residents would deter crime that otherwise occur in a tough economy,” Desmond continued.

Desmond also stated that he would welcome working with casino management to help develop a comprehensive plan for the overall security at the casino, all its adjacent properties and the County as a whole.

“I would welcome a strong partnership with the casino management and security team to ensure a safe environment for residents and visitors to our County,” Desmond said.

Desmond, who also served as former Supervisor of the Town of Sharon, mentioned that a casino would also bring a much needed to boost to the local economy.

“I know that specifically in the Town of Sharon and the Village of Sharon Springs there are many good ideas and proposals for economic growth and this could help jumpstart those plans as well as others throughout the county,” Desmond said.

Additionally, Desmond referred to the effect flooding had on the area in 2011 and how creating a tourist destination could help rejuvenate the county.

“I saw first-hand the devastation caused by the flooding in Schoharie County.  It was not only devastation of property, but of morale and spirit as well. The plan to create a world class entertainment destination could be the turnaround that Schoharie County needs,” Desmond concluded.