Several local fire departments worked into the early morning hours today fighting a fire that gutted the Bluestone Grill in Hancock. The fire was called in at 10:30 p.m.last night. Crews from Hancock, Deposit, Walton and East Branch responded. There were no injuries, and there was minimal damage to surrounding homes. Deleware County fire investigators are looking into the cause.
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Police arrested a Windsor a man for allegedly stealing nearly $20,000 worth of merchandise from a Conklin business. Broome County deputies arrested 44 year old Greg Rought, who is charged with stealing tools and gift cards from E. Systems Group in Conklin on Aug. 14. Rought was arraigned in Town of Dickinson Court and sent to the Broome County jail. Anyone with any information should call the Sheriff’s Office at 778-2053
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In an effort to promote economic growth, community leaders in Delaware County are proposing a new project at SUNY Delhi to create more business opportunities by recycling waste water. The project would take waste water from the Delhi Waste Water Treatment facility and recycle it through an irrigation system on campus golf course. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined campus and community leaders earlier this week in support of the project. Leaders hope Gillibrand will go to bat for them, as about half of the funding for the $2 million plan is still needed and the project is eligible for federal grants. Construction is anticipated to begin next spring.
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State Police arrested 66 year old Stephen Hay of Sidney Center for DWI with a BAC of .09% following an investigation into a property damage accident on Sherman Hill Road in Franklin. Hay was issued tickets for Town of Franklin Court September 12.
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About 1,200 homeowners, renters and business owners affected by the June floods received checks yesterday to help them repair and rebuild. Gov Cuomo appeared at Herkimer County Community College to give an update on the flood recovery and state funds to assist with that effort. The checks represent $13.6 million in state funds awarded to those affected by the flooding in the Mohawk Valley, Central New York and Niagara County. Additional checks will be issued as more applications are processed.
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US Senator Charles Schumer is trying to make a connection that would bring up to 600 jobs to Delaware County. The jobs would be created at a call center to be built in Hancock. Schumer says he’s pushing for funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For more information, go to scumer.senate.gov.
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A new report on New York’s economy calls the last 10 years a “lost decade” for typical workers, with median wages dropping almost 7 percent for men and about 1 percent for women. The Fiscal Policy Institute said the recovery from the Great Recession shows more underemployment despite the state restoring overall jobs lost in the downturn. The institute said most growth has come in lower-paying businesses like retail and restaurants, while a decline in middle-wage jobs continues, partly from government cuts. The report was based mainly on federal and state labor data.
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Celebrating the end of the summer? Make sure you’re not drinking and driving, or you may end up with a Labor Day ticket. State and local law enforcement agencies have been out in force since Aug. 16 with sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols to deter drunk driving. Law enforcement agencies will also crack down on drivers whose ability is impaired by drugs, both illegal and prescription. Nationally, someone is killed every 51 minutes on average in a drunk-driving crash. The majority of these crashes involve drunk drivers who have nearly twice the legal BAC of .08 or higher.
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Governor Cuomo announced 16 winners, across the state, of a statewide competition to form public-private partneships to prepare high school students for high skill jobs in technology, manufacturing and healthcare. Students can earn an associate degree at no cost. Partnerships include Broome Community College, Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton and United Health Services. For more information, go to governor.ny.gov.
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Governor Cuomo announced that most DOT construction projects in New York state wil be suspended over the Labor Day weekend. The Governor’s “Drivers First” inititatve prioritizes the convenience of motorists and ensures that disruptions are as minimal as possible to motorists. For real time travel information, call 511 or go to 511ny.org