North Country Gazette

Kung Fu Instructor Guilty Of Sex Assaults

North Country Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:27:17 +0000

WESTCHESTER COUNTY—-A Westchester County jury has convicted an internationally known kung fu instructor of sex assault.

Frank DeMaria, 67, of Van Cortlandt Ave., Ossining, was found guilty of three counts of second degree course of sexual conduct against a child, two counts of first degree sexual abuse, all felonies; and four counts of endangering the [...]

DA: Long Beach Councilman Stole Unemployment Funds

North Country Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:19:32 +0000

NASSAU COUNTY—A Long Beach City councilman has been indicted by a grand jury after allegedly stealing more than $14,000 in unemployment compensation by concealing his employment as an elected city official from the state labor department.

In a grand jury indictment handed up Tuesday, Michael Fagen, 55, of Long Beach, has been charged with third [...]

3 Postal Workers Accused Of Thefts

North Country Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:58:18 +0000

NASSAU COUNTY—Three U.S. postal workers have been arrested and charged with stealing more than $4,000 in separate incidents in post offices in Massapequa Park, Hicksville, and Uniondale.

DA Investigators arrested Harold Gutierrez, 49, of Uniondale; Rita Haynes, 56, of Roosevelt; and Lisa Jimenez, 45, of the Bronx and charged them with fourth degree grand larceny [...]

Gunman Killed, Officer Wounded At Middletown Court

North Country Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:52:29 +0000

MIDDLETOWN—A man who had been fined last week for harassing the mayor’s daughter was shot and killed in a gunfight with security officers at Middletown City Court Wednesday morning.

Police said Timothy Mulqueen of Middletown opened fire in the court lobby with a 12-guage shotgun about 9 a.m. Security officers returned fire, killing Mulqueen.

One [...]

Jury: Staten Island Developer Guilty Of Ponzi Scheme

North Country Gazette — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:41:50 +0000

BROOKLYN—Following two weeks of trial, a federal jury in Brooklyn has returned guilty verdicts against Joseph Mazella, the founder and president of the Great Atlantic Group Inc., a Staten-Island based real estate and financial consulting company, on charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.

These charges arose out of the defendant’s operation of [...]

Gang Members Indicted For Middletown Drug Trafficking

North Country Gazette — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:36:51 +0000

NEW YORK—Federal narcotics charges have been lodged against 33 members of a drug trafficking ring operating in and around Middletown.

The ring was allegedly led by Quiane Williams, Curtis Mack and Stephone Herring, who were, along with many other defendants charged Thursday, members of the Bloods, a nationwide gang.

Williamd and another defendant, Joshua Martin, [...]

Let Students Engage Students

North Country Gazette — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:21:42 +0000

INSIDE THE FIRST AMENDMENT

By Charles C. Haynes

First Amendment Center

In a world torn by holy wars and ethnic divides, preparing young people to address differences in faith and belief should be a no-brainer.

After all, history teaches that religious intolerance and hate are often rooted in ignorance and fear.

That’s why it’s disturbing, [...]

Police Investigate Fatal Car/Pedestrian Accident

North Country Gazette — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:38:06 +0000

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY—State Police in Ogdensburg are investigating a fatal car/pedestrian accident Wednesday evening which occurred on State Route 37 in the town of Oswegatchie.

Investigation at the scene revealed that a 2003 GMC pick up, operated by James McDonald Jr, 58, of Ogdensburg was traveling east on State Route 37 about 6:30 p.m. and struck [...]

Salem Explosion Deaths Now Ruled Homicides

North Country Gazette — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:44:51 +0000

SALEM—-Last August, State Police said a spark in a domestic water system located in the basement of a residence at 4383 Route 29 ignited an unexplained discharge of propane causing an explosion on July 13 which resulted in the deaths of six people.

Now State Police are saying that the deaths of the six people [...]

Open Meetings Law Amended Mandating Records Disclosure

North Country Gazette — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:58:39 +0000

Members of the public have on many occasions complained that they cannot fully understand discussions among members of public bodies, even though the discussions occur in public.

In the case of the Chestertown Board of Fire Commissioners, they mumble and talk as low as they can to thwart the public.

For example, a board member [...]

North Country Gazette — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:19:52 +0000

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION FOR

A NEW YORK LIMITED LIABILITY

COMPANY (LLC)

Notice of Formation of Vohra Wound

Physicians of NY, PLLC (“PLLC”).

Articles of Org. filed with Secy. of State

of NY (SSNY) on 11/3/11. Office

location: Westchester County. SSNY

designated as agent of PLLC upon

whom process against it may be

served. SSNY shall [...]

Utica Principal Charged With Child Endangerment

North Country Gazette — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:35:37 +0000

UTICA—The elementary principal at Mt. Markham Elementary School in West Winfield has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child after being accused of using excessive physical force while restraining a third grade student.

State Police in Herkimer arrested James LaFountain, 57, of Hopson St.,Utica.

LaFountain has been placed on administrative leave from his [...]

Police Searching For Missing Petersburg Woman

North Country Gazette — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:38:42 +0000

BRUNSWICK—State Police are searching for Jessica Clyde, 28, of Petersburg who was last seen walking on Rt. 2 in the town of Petersburg near the Weaver Dam approximately 10 a.m. on Monday. UPDATE: 5 p.m. Jessica Clyde has been located and is safe.

Jessica is a white female 5’6” 145 lbs with long blond [...]

Horicon Man’s Dog Classified “Dangerous”

North Country Gazette — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:55:01 +0000

CHESTERTOWN—A mixed breed dog owned by a Horicon man has been deemed a dangerous dog following a hearing Tuesday in Chester Town Court.

Florence Converse of Atateka Drive, Chestertown, had brought the action against Paul Matson of Valentine Pond Road,Adirondack and Colleen Delcore ofAtateka Drive, Chestertown under the state’s Dangerous Dog Law in regard to [...]

Grand Jury: Smithtown Unlawfully Demolished Site

North Country Gazette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:32:28 +0000

SMITHTOWN—A 40-page report issued by a Suffolk Grand Jury is critical of the manner in which the demolition of a commercial parcel inSmithtownoccurred, concluding that certain town employees pressured the parcel’s owner to raze the site in violation of state and local law.

The report determined that a number of legitimate safety issues were created [...]

Head On Crash With Tractor Trailer Claims Life

North Country Gazette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:29:24 +0000

WATERTOWN—A North Country man died Monday afternoon when the car he was operating was struck head on by tractor trailer in a five vehicle accident on State Route 11 in the town of Philadelphia.

Police said that a southbound vehicle operated by Kyle J. Simard, 23, of Starbuck Ave., Watertown, crossed into the northbound lane [...]

Glen Park Man Killed In Watertown Crash

North Country Gazette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:20:43 +0000

WATERTOWN—State Police in Watertown are investigating a one vehicle fatal crash which occurred on Military Road in the Town of Brownville.

At approximately 7:10 a.m., Captain Darrin S. Pitkin, the SP Watertown Zone Commander, discovered a 2004 Ford Mustang approximately 20 feet off the shoulder of County Route 53 (Military Road), and into a wooded [...]

Assembly Considers Cyber-Bullying Bill

North Country Gazette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:46:52 +0000

ALBANY—Assemblywoman Jane Corwin (R,C,I-Clarence) has authored and introduced landmark legislation to create the crime of cyber-bullying.

The measure was prompted after the tragic suicide of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer of Williamsville. Rodemeyer had long been a target of cyber-bullying.

“Bullying is a long-standing problem among school-aged children inNew YorkState, and throughout the nation. With the increasing [...]

Audits Show Pervasive Non-Compliance In Fire Districts

North Country Gazette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:54:29 +0000

ALBANY—The release by the state comptroller’s office of three more audits of fire districts within the state and one fire company continues to document the pervasive non-compliance of state law and failure to insure that proper internal controls exist over financial operations.

Auditors found that the board of fire commissioners in the Westport Fire District [...]

DA: Non-Profit Exec Stole $2.5M From AEI

North Country Gazette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:03:20 +0000

NEW YORK— A former executive with the non-profit Albert Ellis Institute has been indicted for stealing over $2.5 million from the organization.

Jeffrey Bernstein, 62, has been indicted on one count of first degree grand larceny and two counts of first degree money laundering.

According to documents filed in court, Bernstein was the former Director [...]

Erratic Driver Charged With Aggravated DWI

North Country Gazette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:34:30 +0000

QUEENSBURY—A Montana man was arrested Monday afternoon for operating a motor vehicle with three times the legal limit for intoxication.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a cellular 911 call about a vehicle driving erratically on Interstate 87 southbound near exit 23 in the Town of Warrensburg about 3:30 p.m. Monday

A patrol [...]

Pricey License Plate Honors NY Giants

North Country Gazette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:22:34 +0000

ALBANY—-A New York Giants Super Bowl XLVI victory license plate to honor the championship team which defeated the New England Patriots 21 to 17 on Sunday was announced Monday, just hours after the win.

The plate, available for both passenger and commercial vehicles registered in New York, features the NFL Giants’ Big Blue NY logo [...]

Icy Driveway Ditches Propane Truck

North Country Gazette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:31:46 +0000

CHESTERTOWN—-A propane truck slid on an icy driveway off Woodridge Road Monday morning and ended up in a ditch, raising a threat for evacuation of nearby residences when propane began leaking from the truck.

But no one had to be evacuated as firefighters from the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company were able to contain the leaking [...]

Gloversville Trio Faces Felony Pot Charges

North Country Gazette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:13:12 +0000

SCHENECTADY COUNTY—Three Gloversville residents face drug charges after State Police stopped the car in which they were traveling on the NYS Thruway.

State Police stopped a vehicle being operated by Randy Bishop of Gloversville about 9:15 p.m. Saturday for speeding in the town of Princetown, Schenectady County.

A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 5.1 [...]

Resentence Of Ex-Manlius Physician Mirrors First

North Country Gazette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:57:28 +0000

SYRACUSE—-A former physician from Manlius has been resentenced to serve 264 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $865,272 in restitution.

A Syracuse jury had found Rafil Dhafir guilty on 59 federal counts following a four-month jury trial in 2004-2005.

Monday’s rehearing was conducted following a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for [...]