Honesdale man, 90, shoots would-be intruder 

HONESDALE, PA — Police say a 90-year-old Honesdale man shot an intruder after the suspect said he was going to enter the man’s home in the middle of the night. Pennsylvania State Police say they were summoned to the home of William Gabriellini on Butternut Flats Rd.  after a report that a male had tried to force his way into the home.

Police say Adam Gelatt repeatedly banged on the back door at about 3 a.m. Gabriellini went to the door carrying a revolver. Gelatt told the older man that he wanted to come in the house and that he wanted a cigarette. Gabriellini told Gelatt he could not come inside, and Gelatt responded that he was going to enter the home anyway. He then pulled what Gabriellini thought was a gun from his pocket. Gabriellini then raised his gun and shot Gelatt in the leg, before locking the door and calling the police.

When state police arrived they found Gelatt on the back porch with an apparent gunshot wound to the leg. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment and police say he will be charged.

Gelatt is also listed on the Pennsylvania Sex Offender Registry, which says he has been convicted for three offenses.

Monticello woman arrested for domestic stabbing

MONTICELLO, NY — A Monticello woman has been arrested for allegedly stabbing another woman. Monticello police say they responded to a report of a disturbance at a residence on Park Avenue in Monticello at roughly 3 a.m. on January 12.

When they arrived, police found a 26-year-old woman who was bleeding from a wound to her leg. The victim told the officers that Joyce Houseman, 27, had stabbed her twice in the leg with a pair of scissors during a domestic dispute. There was an active order of protection against Houseman at the time.

While officers were interviewing the victim, Housman returned to the scene and was arrested. The victim was transported by Mobile Medic Ambulance to CRMC in Harris for medical treatment, but police said the victim was not cooperative and refused treatment.

Housman was arraigned in the Village of Monticello Justice Court and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail on $100,000 bail, pending further court action.

PA House Dems push voting reform

HARRISBURG, PA — More than a dozen House Democrats on January 14 began seeking support for bills to increase voter turnout, make it easier for citizens to register to vote and to cast a ballot, and restore people’s faith in their elections.

“American democracy started here in 1776, but in 2019 special interests have too much power that should belong to the voters,” House Democratic leader Frank Dermody said. “We have a plan to take Pennsylvania from one of the toughest states in which to vote to one of the easiest for a voter to get registered, get informed and get heard.”

Your Vote Counts includes bills to make it easier to cast a ballot, including Election Day Starts Now, which would allow people to vote up to a month in advance of the scheduled election day at designated locations. This is already is happening in 40 other states.

Your Mailbox is Your Ballot Box would allow everyone to submit their ballot by mail, and every registered voter would be sent a ballot by mail.

Other measures would: allow same-day registration; allow young voters to pre-register at age 16 or 17 and automatically register every qualified citizen interacting with Pennsylvania government agencies to vote, unless the citizen says no.

County program seeks artists

MONTICELLO, NY — The Sullivan County Homegrown Artists Exhibition Program has mounted more than two dozen pieces of art in the hallways of the Sullivan County Government Center, from paintings and photographs to collages and sculptures. But with only two of the eight main hallways decorated thus far, the independent committee overseeing the program is seeking more artwork by Sullivan County artists to display.

“We are seeking to hang flatworks in any medium, created and submitted by Sullivan County residents,” noted Gene Iovine and Mark Pilipski, members of the Exhibition Program Committee. “Take this opportunity to show your artistic ability to a wide audience.”

The committee will consider all submissions, but they reserve the right to determine which will ultimately be displayed. Any works containing or expressing political, religious, racist, vulgar, or sexual content may not be approved for installation.

Complete details are available at www.spiritcrow.com/ArtCouncil. Artists and lovers of art can also follow the exhibition program’s page by searing Sullivan County NY Homegrown Artists on Facebook.