P.m. news Friday 1-25-13
Firefighters from several area companies responded to a fire Thursday afternoon in deposit. The fire was reported at about 2:30 PM at 22 Steam Mill Road in the town of Deposit, with firefighters from Deposit, Windsor, Masonville, Trout Creek Harpursville, Oquaga & Hancock assisting. The fire was extinguished with in a half hour, with damage mainly in the basement; the cause of the fire is under investigation.
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Governor Cuomo laid out ideas on how to give extra help to the upstate economies, in his executive budget proposal earlier this week. Cuomo said that more casinos upstate could only help:
(Cuomo 1-25-13)
Casinos would be located in the Catskill region so as to take advantage of the closeness in location to the downstate population; the influx of city residents to the Catskill casinos would also help other upstate tourist locations.
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The centers for disease control in Atlanta Georgia reported today that new government figures show that flu cases are leveling off nationwide. Flu activity is declining in most regions although still rising in the West. Hospitalizations and deaths spiked again last week, especially among the elderly. The CDC reported that 8 more children have died from the flu, bringing this season’s total pediatric deaths to 37. About 100 children die in an average flu season. New York state health department officials still advise that those who have not yet received a flu vaccine, and who have not suffered with the flu, should still arrange to get a flu shot soon.
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State Police are searching for 17 year-old Brittany LaClair from the village of Prospect in Oneida County. The teen was last seen at her residence on November 21st of last year, she made contact with her mother through a text message on November 23rd, but has not been seen since. Brittany LaClair is described as being 5′ 5″ tall, 150 lbs., with brown hair and hazel eyes, she may be in the company of the father of her 10-month-old child, Joel Barney. Anyone has information her whereabouts are asked to contact State Police at 315- 831-4112.
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The Otsego County Planning Department will be holding a Local Government Training Workshop on March 6th at 5:30 PM at the Meadows Office Complex in Cooperstown. The workshop will include sessions on Storm water Regulation for Local Review Boards and the Siting of Electricity Generating Facilities. Staff of the Department of State, Division of Local Government, will teach the courses. Registration is required by March 4th by calling 547-4225 or at otsegocounty.com/planning.
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The City of Norwich officials announced that the Ice Rink on Borden Avenue has opened for the season. The rink will be open weekdays from 3:00 to 9:00 PM and from 12:00 noon until 9:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays as long as temperatures remain cold. A Community Skate Party is scheduled for February 2nd from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the facility on Borden Avenue in Norwich.
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Police in Ulster County accuse a local man of faking his own kidnapping to extort ransom from his girlfriend. Police accuse 31-year-old Mark Rodriguez of leaving for work in his girlfriend’s car on January 14th, and Rodriguez’s girlfriend received phone calls claiming that he would be killed unless she paid a $2,000 ransom. Rodriguez was arrested on Tuesday and charged with attempted grand larceny. He has been released from jail after posting bail.
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