WWW.THE-REPORTER.NET
VOLUME 135 — WHOLE 7105
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2018
Congressional Candidate Takes Rhode to Delhi For Meet and Greet Page 5
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DA girls win Class D Page 13
Randy Shepard/The Reporter
Heavy snow toppled this group of trees causing them to fall across Delaware County Highway 37 and pull down NYSEG lines just outside the village of Fleischmanns. Here, a tree removal crew from Nelson Tree Service awaits the “all clear” from NYSEG, to confirm that the power to the lines has been interrupted before moving in to removing the fallen trees.
Winter Storm Riley Causes Power Outages Across Region By Rosie Cunningham DELAWARE COUNTY Mother nature seemed to be on an emotional roller coaster taking area residents along for the ride. On Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures were in the 40s and the sun was shining; on Friday, Delaware County residents woke up to blankets of thick, heavy snow and high winds. On Monday, another winter storm watch was issued for March 7 through Thursday, March 8 and accumulations of seven inches is anticipated. Winter Storm Riley caused
numerous power outages, closings, and significant infrastructure damage in some towns and villages. Although Riley hit hard, the storm ended just as abruptly as it started. According to news weather outlets, areas in the towns Davenport, Stamford, South Kortright and Hobart had more than 20 inches of snow. Jefferson experienced about 30 inches of snow and Cobleskill had 39.3 inches of snow accumulation. Other towns in Schoharie County peaked at 40, according to the Albany bureau of the National See Power Outage page 4
Del. County Veteran Center Move Met With Disappointment By Rosie Cunningham BAINBRIDGE - Director of the Veterans’ Services Agency Charlie Piper opposes the move of the Bainbridge Community Based Outpatient Clinic to Oneonta. He voiced the sentiment on Wednesday at the Delaware County Board of Supervisors meeting and the supervisors fully supported Piper and also disagree with the move. “The Albany Stratton VA Medical Center is considering moving the Bainbridge Community Based Outpatient Clinic to Oneonta, and they gave no reason why. The Bainbridge location is well-used.” Piper added that the Bainbridge community takes pride in the center and many are deeply
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upset by the decision which Piper said was out of the blue. “I was repeatedly told the move was not going to happen,” he said. “Then I was told it would be happening soon, without any discussion or reasoning.” A resolution was made by the board calling on Albany Stratton VA Medical Center to reconsider moving the Bainbridge community based outpatient clinic. The resolution states that the move was instituted with absolutely no input from area veterans and does not take into consideration the needs of those veterans unable to travel longer distances to access services. The current facility owner has passed all inspections conducted by independent VA facility inspection teams and maintains all components of the building in an exemplary manner. The reason for making the move is unknown and the current owner has made it clear he would be willing to expand space if needed and even remove his own chiropractic clinic on site to accommodate the needs of the VA. By moving, the VA is isolating the Delaware County veterans as it pertains to access of healthcare locations without providing some type of transportation arrangement. The county supervisors unanimously voted to keep the Bainbridge Outpatient Clinic in Bainbridge, Chenango County.
A red barn on Mac Dougall Road in Davenport on Friday.
Benjamin Patton/The Reporter
Historic Structure on Roxbury’s Main Street Collapses Sunday No Injuries, Other Property Damage Reported
By Trish Adams Cassie’s Café was full of weekend visitors and locals and the grill was teeming with pancakes, eggs and sausage when the large building next door — 53545 Highway 30 — came toppling down around 9 a.m., its outer wall crashing against the restaurant, startling everyone inside and forcing a speedy evacuation. Within moments, the Roxbury Fire Department, soon joined by some Grand Gorge Volunteer Fire Department colleagues, sprang into action, insuring there were no injuries, cordoning off and securing the site and controlling the traffic on Roxbury’s snowy Main Street. Constable Steve Williamson, Roxbury Supervisor Tom Hynes and Building Inspector Tom Tompkins were also on site to insure public safety and assess the situation. Before noon, NYSEG had neutralized the electrical hazards and the excavating team from Hubbell Companies had leveled the 3500-plus square foot structure into a sad but
Patricia Adams/The Reporter
The walls came crashing down around 9 a.m. Sunday on Roxbury’s Main Street when the structure at 53545 State Highway 30 (known locally as “the pharmacy building”) collapsed under the weight of last week’s heavy, wet snowfall. Although the building was empty, Cassie’s Café — a popular eatery next door — was full of customers at the time and had to be quickly evacuated. Roxbury Fire Department soon had the area cordoned off and Hubbell Companies brought heavy equipment to demolish the wall that fell against the restaurant and any remaining standing timbers. The nearly 100-yearold building was a pile of rubble by early afternoon. contained heap of debris. The property, known infor-
mally as “the pharmacy buildSee Historic Structure page 4
River Walk Presentation, Resignation Tops County Board Agenda By Rosie Cunningham DELHI - A presentation on the Delhi Recreational River Park and Walk and the resignation of Hancock Supervisor Sam Rowe, topped the agenda at the Delaware County Board of Supervisor meeting Wednesday. Longtime Hancock Supervisor Rowe submitted his resignation in a letter read by Chairwoman Tina Mole. Rowe recently earned a promotion with the New York State Department of Transportation and following discussion with the ethics department, it was determined that his position as supervisor would in fact, be a conflict. “I came to this board 17 years ago,” said Mole, the same year as Rowe. “I believe he has always served with great integrity and spoke from the heart. This is a loss for Delaware County, but I wish him well.” Tyson Robb, an environmental technician for the Delaware County Planning Board, led a presentation describing a paved
Rosie Cunningham/The Reporter
Tyson Robb, an environmental technician for the Delaware County Planning Board, led a presentation describing a paved trail along the river in Delhi. trail along the river from Hoyt Park to the parking lot behind the Shire Pub to increase both activity and river access. “Phase I of the project was completed in 2015,” said Robb. Phase I included a boat launch and Phase II involves
paving the trail and curb, and storm water mitigation. The project also includes revegetating the stream bank with native species and adding a fishing pier and snowmobile access. See River Walk page 12