Broadband investment for NY 

ALBANY, NY — Gov. Kathy Hochul, U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced on March 29 that New York State will receive $100 million in federal funding from the U.S. Treasury Department through the American Rescue Plan to expand high-speed internet. This is the largest targeted investment in affordable housing connectivity in the nation, according to a press release from Hochuls’ office. New York estimates this funding will allow them to connect 100,000 homes and families to affordable, high-speed internet across the state.

Cannabis restrictions lifted for Mid-Hudson region

STATEWIDE, NY — On March 28, the Second Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals modified an injunction that prevented cannabis licenses from being granted in five regions of the state. The modified injunction preserves a restriction against licenses being granted in the Finger Lakes, but allows licenses to be granted in Central New York, Western New York, the Mid-Hudson Region (including Sullivan County) and in Brooklyn. Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement that she was pleased with the decision, and that “For the first time, New Yorkers in nearly every region of the state will have access to safer, high-quality, adult-use cannabis products.”

Fatal crash claims two in Cochecton

COCHECTON, NY — James Card, 34, from Beach Lake, PA, and Edward Sykes, 24, from North Branch, were pronounced deceased at the scene of a two-vehicle crash on State Route 97 in the Town of Cochecton on March 27. State troopers from the Liberty barracks responded to the crash at approximately 3:45 p.m., and a preliminary investigation revealed a 2008 Audi A4 operated by Card was traveling southbound when it was involved in a head-on collision with a 2020 Hyundai Elantra traveling northbound operated by Sykes. The cause of the crash is under investigation. State police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or observed either of the vehicles prior to the crash, to call the New York State Police at 845/344-5300 and reference SJS (Spectrum Justice System) number 11344581.

Deer-parts investigation successful

UPPER DELAWARE RIVER VALLEY — Law enforcement officials have determined that deer parts found along the waterways of Pennsylvania came from a New York taxidermist conducting work on a deer harvested in Pennsylvania. Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Conservation Officer Glen Parker assisted with the investigation and issued tickets to the taxidermist and the Pennsylvania hunter who imported the deer for violations of New York’s chronic wasting disease (CWD) regulations, while Pennsylvania law enforcement officers addressed the illegal dumping. CWD is an untreatable disease of the brain and nervous system that kills deer species. Bringing hunter-killed deer, elk, moose or caribou carcasses into New York is illegal and increases the risk of spreading CWD.

Apply for Lumberland’s Hometown Heroes

LUMBERLAND, NY — The Town of Lumberland has opened applications for its Hometown Heroes program. The program honors men and women from the Town of Lumberland who have served or are currently serving in the United States armed forces. Banners are placed in the hamlet of Glen Spey on Proctor Road and on County Road 31, and will include the service person’s name, branch of service, era or the war in which they served, and a photograph of him or her in military uniform or veteran service organization attire. For more information, see the Town of Lumberland website at www.townoflumberland.org or call Laurie Terry at 845/856-8660, ext. 7 or Michele DeGroat at 845/856-8600, ext. 6. 

Public health insurance renewals approaching

ALBANY, NY — The New York State Department of Health announced on March 23 that beginning this spring and continuing through spring 2024, more than nine million New Yorkers enrolled in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan will need to renew their health insurance. Enrollees in these public health insurance programs have not had to renew their coverage since early 2020 due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency continuous coverage requirements. However, the December 2022 federal Consolidated Appropriations Act included new rules ending the continuous coverage requirements starting in spring 2023.

Renewal notices will be sent on a rolling basis and renewal deadlines will be based on the enrollees’ enrollment end dates and will range from June 30 through May 31, 2024. Consumers are encouraged to renew by the 15th of the month.

Missing person sought in Forestburgh

FORESTBURGH, NY — Law enforcement officials are looking for Harold Hoyd, who went missing on March 30 in the early morning in the woods off Galligan Road; Hoyd has not been found as of Monday, April 3. Hoyd is described as a 6 ft. 3 in. male, approximately 175 lbs., with brown hair, blue eyes, tattoos and ear gauges; he is reportedly wearing camo pants, a black hooded sweatshirt and a red/maroon jacket. Anyone with information abut Hoyd is requested to contact the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office at 845/794-7100 or Hope Alive 845 at 845/866-0442.

Hancock case leads to lockdown, early dismissal

HANCOCK, NY — On March 28, at approximately 8:32 a.m., Hancock Central School officials were contacted by the New York State Police regarding an ongoing investigation involving the parent or guardian of a student. Officials decided to put the school into lockdown for a period between 8:50 and 9:50 a.m.; later in the day, after receiving additional information, officials decided to implement an early dismissal plan and to cancel after-school activities. The 1:45 p.m. early dismissal was announced at approximately 12:40 p.m. The police investigation was peacefully resolved with the suspect’s apprehension in the evening of March 28, according to Hancock Central School officials. 

Sullivan County conducting ag district applications, review

MONTICELLO, NY — From April 1-30, Sullivan County will accept applications to include viable agricultural land into Agricultural District 1 (which includes lands in the towns of Bethel, Callicoon, Cochecton, Delaware, Fremont, Forestburgh, Liberty, Thompson and Tusten) and District 4 (which includes lands in the towns of Bethel, Highland, Fallsburg, Forestburgh, Liberty, Lumberland, Mamakating, Neversink, Rockland, Thompson and Tusten, and the villages of Bloomingburg and Wurtsboro).

At the same time, the county will conduct its eight-year review of Agricultural District 4. All landowners who are currently enrolled in Sullivan County’s Agricultural District 4 will be contacted by mail with a worksheet form to be completed and returned by April 30. During the review process, landowners can elect to have their land remain in the district, remove their land from the district, or request to add land to the district; landowners who want their land to remain in an agricultural district do not need to take any action during the eight-year review, but land can only be removed through the eight-year review process.

Property owners who wish to be included in either agricultural district, or who have questions about agricultural districts in general, should contact Melinda Meddaugh, staff support for the Sullivan County Agricultural and Protection Board, at 845/292-6180, ext. 116 or email mm2592@cornell.edu.

Northeast PA’s ‘remarkable woman’ heads to nationals

WILKES-BARRE, PA — Wayne County’s own Kim Erickson has won WBRE’s Remarkable Women of NEPA competition and is off to Los Angeles, CA to vie for Nexstar Media’s nationwide Woman of the Year award.

She chose the Wayne County Historical Society as the charity to receive the $1,000 prize. The historical society’s executive director Carol Dunn nominated Erickson for the competition.

“You can’t do anything unless your community is just as remarkable as the person that thinks up the ideas,” Erickson said after being announced the winner. She’s known throughout Wayne County for thinking up many memorable fundraising efforts over the years, like filling a dump truck full of pennies, creating a mile-long string of nickels and organizing a night of bingo with prizes sourced from people’s extra Christmas presents.

“If you have a dream and idea, just go with it,” she said as advice to other women. “The crazier, the funner, the better it is.”