ny/pa briefs

Hit and run arrest made, burn violations lead to fires and more

What's new in the Upper Delaware region April 15 to April 21

Posted 4/14/21

River Reporter wins eight BNC awards

ONLINE — This year, the New York Press Association hosted its spring conference and Better Newspaper Contest (BNC) Awards online on April 8 and …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in
ny/pa briefs

Hit and run arrest made, burn violations lead to fires and more

What's new in the Upper Delaware region April 15 to April 21

Posted

River Reporter wins eight BNC awards

ONLINE — This year, the New York Press Association hosted its spring conference and Better Newspaper Contest (BNC) Awards online on April 8 and 9.

River Reporter won second place in seven categories: feature story, best special section cover, special sections/niche publications, best special section, best advertising campaign, best small-space ad and best multi-advertiser pages. River Reporter scored a third-place win for best large-space ad.

For a complete list of awards, including comment from the judges, visit www.bit.ly/nypabnc2021.

Arrest made in hit and run 

LIBERTY, NY — Sullivan County law enforcement officials arrested a 34-year-old man named Joseph Maxwell Jr. for his suspected involvement in a hit-and-run incident. Late on April 10, sheriff’s deputies were called to 2642 Rte. 52 in Liberty for a report of a car/pedestrian accident. At the scene, deputies found Dennis Toscano, 60, deceased on the shoulder of the highway. The investigation revealed that the victim was unloading groceries from his car when a motorist struck him and fled the scene. 

Detectives found pieces from a Subaru Legacy at the scene, which led them to arrest Maxwell. 

Maxwell was taken into custody the following evening and officers searched his home on Monday. A Subaru Legacy with a smashed windshield and front end damage was recovered from the garage. Maxwell was charged with the class D felony of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. He has been arraigned and sent to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Wayne County Fair scheduled for 2021

DYBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA — After taking a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wayne County Fair Board of Directors said the end-of-summer tradition is scheduled to return from Friday, August 6 to Saturday, August 14.

The board of directors issued the following statement:

“It is the fair board’s hope that monster trucks, 4H/FFA livestock shows, harness racing, demolition derbies and truck-and-tractor pulls will return to the Dyberry Township fairgrounds this August. The board is optimistic that the continued accelerated vaccination efforts underway across the region will enable the 2021 fair to take place. Currently, the fair is subject to PA Department of Health and U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines that include attendance limitations and safety protocols. The board’s hope is that our patrons, vendors, entertainers, participants and staff can safely continue the nearly 160-year tradition that is the Wayne County Fair.”

Burn ban violations lead to brush fires

MONTICELLO, NY — With departments across the region scrambling to contain 31 brush fires in just the last month, Sullivan County Fire Coordinator John Hauschild is re-emphasizing the fact that a burn ban is in effect through Friday, May 14.

“The snow is gone and temperatures are rising, but vegetation is still dry and easily set aflame by sparks and ash, which is exactly how every one of these brush fires was ignited,” he said. “There is a statewide ban on open burning through mid-May, and I cannot stress enough the need to follow it: no exceptions.”

The ban includes all open burning, like outdoor fires, burn barrels, backyard incinerators and any fire not vented through a stack or chimney. For details on the burn ban, visit the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s website at www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/58519.html.

SBA offers aid for shuttered venues

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced that “more help is here” for local businesses through the Small Business Administration’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program. The program includes a total of over $16 billion in grants for shuttered venues. 

Those who can apply include: live venue operators or promoters; theatrical producers; live performing arts organization operators; relevant museum operators, zoos and aquariums who meet specific criteria; motion picture theater operators; talent representatives; each business entity owned by an eligible entity that also meets the eligibility requirements.

Recipients can use their grants for payroll costs, rent payments, utility payments, worker protection expenditures and more.

Local venue operators can get more information on how to apply at www.SBA.gov. Applicants must have been in operation as of February 29, 2020. A venue or promoter who received a PPP loan on or after December 27, 2020, will have the SVOG reduced by the PPP loan amount.

GOP lawmakers seek to ban transgender girls from girls’ sports

HARRISBURG, PA — Five Republican lawmakers in PA’s House of Representatives have introduced a bill called the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. The bill was drafted in response to the Biden Administration’s executive order requiring schools to allow transgender student-athletes to compete on sports teams that align with their gender identity.

Republicans in Harrisburg say that this order violates Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendment. Their legislation would mandate that public schools must designate their sports teams as either male, female, or coed and prohibit transgender girls and women from participating on all-girls or all-women teams.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration has promised to veto the bill if passed by lawmakers.

“Any legislation designed to deny opportunities to certain children is both disturbing and dangerous,” Wolf’s press secretary Lyndsay Kensinger said. “Trans youth should know that they belong, that they are valued, and that their participation in school activities is welcomed.”

PA, general assembly, ban, transgender, girls, sports, teams, SBA, aid, shuttered venues, burn, ban, fires, wayne county, fair, arrest, hit and run, bnc, awards

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here