Faso criticizes Trump’s Helsinki remarks

WASHINGTON, DC — In a news conference on July 16, in an appearance with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump sided with Putin over U.S. Intelligence Agencies. Asked if he believed the Russian president interfered in the 2016 election, Trump said, “President Putin says it’s not Russia. I don’t see any reason why it would be.” That response and the news conference in general brought sharp responses from Democrats and some Republics.

Congressman John Faso, who is running for re-election in the New York 19th Congressional District, released a statement after the press conference. It said, “I do not agree with the approach taken by President Trump at today’s press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin is no friend to the United States. There is no credibility to Putin’s denials, especially in light of the public evidence and our own U.S. intelligence reports. We know the Russians meddled in our elections and we must continue our sanctions and diplomatic pressure against Putin’s actions.”

Delgado claims lead over Faso

KINGSTON, NY — Democrat Antonio Delgado, who is running against Republican John Faso for his seat in Congress, announced the results of a new poll released by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which said, “Delgado has a 7-point head-to-head lead against the incumbent Republican John Faso in NY-19, showing Delgado in a strong position at the start of the general election campaign to defeat John Faso, who is ranked as one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents in the country.”

The poll was the topic of an article by Bridget Bowman in Roll Call, which said, “Forty-five percent of those surveyed viewed Delgado favorably, compared to 30% who had a favorable view of Faso. Trump’s job approval rating was at 39 percent, while 53% of those surveyed disapproved.

“Delgado had the largest war chest of the seven Democrats who ran in the primary, and he outraised Faso in a few fundraising periods. He has particularly focused on Faso’s vote last year for the GOP plan to repeal much of the 2010 healthcare law.”

The district in the Catskills and Hudson Valley went for President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, and then to President Donald Trump in 2016; Trump won the race by seven points.

Dunmore man convicted for allowing 11-year-old daughter to drive

HONESDALE, PA — A Wayne County Jury on July 12 convicted Sean Hannon, 49, of Dunmore, of six charges related to allowing his 11-year-old daughter to drive a vehicle from Lackawanna County to Wayne County.

Wayne County District Attorney, Patrick L. Robinson, said that the evidence at trial showed that the defendant allowed his daughter to drive approximately 10 miles. The defendant’s eight-year-old son was a passenger. 

The defendant directed his daughter’s driving, which eventually resulted in her running up under a pine tree. The defendant’s blood alcohol level was .228%. Hannon tried to extricate the vehicle from the pine tree branches but was prevented from doing so by a passerby who grabbed the vehicle keys from the ignition. During the wild ride from Lackawanna County to Wayne County, the daughter reportedly drove erratically, swerving, running a stop sign, and running a vehicle coming from the opposite direction into a ditch.

Man arrested for illegal dumping

LIBERTY, NY — On Saturday July 7, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Patrol was called to Barton Road in the Town of Liberty regarding a dumping complaint. Deputies found construction debris that has been tossed on the side of the road. The subsequent investigation led deputies to the Village of Monticello, where they arrested Stacey U. Gaston, age 50, on July 10.

Gaston was charged with the misdemeanor of illegal dumping under the town code and released on an appearance ticket returnable in the Town of Liberty Court on July 24.

Undersheriff Eric Chaboty said, “Put your garbage where it belongs. We will track you down if you dump illegally.”

This is the second dumping on Barton Road this year. In May, the sheriff’s patrol was called to investigate a different dumping complaint on Barton Road. At the location, deputies met with Town Supervisor Brian Rourke, who pointed out where several bags of garbage had been thrown. The deputies examined the scene and gathered evidence, which led them to a residence at #6 Carrier Street in the Village of Liberty. After interviewing the occupants, the deputies arrested Deborah E. Male, 66, and Larigo J. Male, 17, for illegal dumping.