Fatal bus crash, Honesdale assault and more

Posted 9/18/19

Fatality at bus accident

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — On Monday, September 16 at approximately 7:45 a.m., the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Patrol responded to a 911 call of a motor vehicle …

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Fatal bus crash, Honesdale assault and more

Posted

Fatality at bus accident

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — On Monday, September 16 at approximately 7:45 a.m., the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Patrol responded to a 911 call of a motor vehicle accident involving a school bus on State Route 52 at the Liberty/Fallsburg town line.

At the scene, deputies found that a 2007 Lincoln MKX that had been traveling westbound when it crossed the double yellow line and struck a school bus which was going in the opposite direction. The driver of the Lincoln was killed in the impact and pronounced dead at the scene by Sullivan County Coroner Albee Bachman.

The school bus, which is owned Rolling V Bus Corporation of Liberty, had just dropped off all of its passengers in Liberty and was heading to South Fallsburg. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the bus, suffered a minor injury to his left shoulder and was taken by Mobile Medic Ambulance to Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris.
The Loch Sheldrake Fire Department, Liberty Fire Police, NYS DOT and state troopers assisted at the scene. The name of the deceased is being held pending notification of next of kin.

PA work requirement for able-bodied Medicaid recipients

HARRISBURG, PA — Republican Sens. Scott Martin and David G. Argall have introduced a bill that would require able-bodied, non-elderly Medicaid recipients to seek employment or volunteer in the community as a condition of receiving benefits.
Senate Bill 847 would require Medicaid recipients to either work, seek employment, participate in job training programs, or volunteer in their community in order to continue to receive benefits. The approach is similar to requirements already in place for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The bill applies only to able-bodied Medicaid recipients who are capable of working. Exceptions are included for individuals who are under the age of 18 or over the age of 65, disabled, pregnant, receiving mental health or addiction treatment, or are the primary caregiver for someone who is under the age of 6, permanently disabled, or receiving hospice care.

Pennsylvania ranks fourth in the nation in terms of total Medicaid spending, with more than $28 billion devoted to the program each year.

Honesdale man arrested for assault

HONESDALE, PA — John Schariest, 48, has been arrested for assault. Honesdale police say he was arrested after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend at a home on Willow Avenue on September 6. Police responded to the scene just before 12 noon, when Schariest also resisted arrest. He was taken to the Wayne County Correctional Facility and charged with assault and related charges.

It’s not the first time he was arrested for assault this year. In January, Honesdale police also responded to a report of a domestic incident at the house on Willow Avenue and arrested Schariest for assaulting his sister. At the time he was charged with assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. After that arrest he was released on bail.

Monticello, Liberty approach tax limit

ALBANY, NY — The number of cities, counties and villages in New York that are close to reaching their Constitutional Tax Limit (CTL) has more than doubled since 2012, according to a report released recently by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
The CTL is the maximum amount of real property tax a local government can raise in a single year. In 2012, only seven municipalities had used 80 percent or more of their CTL. By 2018, that number had risen to 20, with 10 municipalities exhausting more than 90 percent of their CTL. When CTL is exceeded, the State Comptroller is required to withhold state aid in the amount of the excess.

The villages of Monticello (96 percent), and Liberty (83.1 percent) are among those that have exhausted more than 80 percent of their CTL.

“These 20 local governments are in a challenging financial position and have no room for error,” said DiNapoli. “The municipalities in danger of exceeding their Constitutional Tax Limit must be vigilant about their short- and long-term budgeting. It is critical they take steps to improve their position.”

New York has two primary mechanisms that limit how much a municipality can raise in property taxes. The Property Tax Cap, which is more commonly known, limits year-over-year growth in levy and can be overridden. The CTL limits the total amount of real property taxes a local government can raise in a single year and cannot be overridden.
DiNapoli said, “Running close to the CTL can be a sign of fiscal stress for many local governments.”

fatality, bus, Honesdale assault

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