News Staff

A woman in Saratoga County who was driving more than 90 miles per hour in the moments before causing a crash where a woman died, will have to wait two more weeks to learn her punishment. WNYT reports Ashley Donovan was expected to be sentenced for causing the death of Diane Welch back in October 2021. The judge said he received letters from the victim’s family members that they didn’t feel the punishment fit the crime.

A local nonprofit, Gateway House of Peace, is opening up a new Gateway House thrift shop in Ballston Spa. The organization expects to be opening sometime in February. According to WTEN, Gateway House of Peace explains themselves as a donor-funded community home that takes care of residents and their families in their loved ones’ final days of life. The Gateway House thrift shop will be accepting donations soon but not at this time.

A mother and son from Saratoga Springs are accusing of endangering minors across the county. WNYT reports 27 year old
Michael May and his mother, 67 year old Tomassina May would exchange nicotine products and vapes for sexually explicit photos and videos of girls via social media. Tomassina is charged with unlawfully dealing with a child. Her son faces a number of additional felony charges.

“Erasing Face and Spaces: The Legacy of Urban Renewal in Saratoga Springs” will be held on Saturday, January 14, as part of Martin Luther King, Jr. Saratoga Celebration Weekend. WTEN reports the event is free and there is no registration necessary.
The event will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs Public Library.

The Pet Zone, a pet store with a location in Crossgates Mall, deceived New Yorkers into buying sick pets, says New York state’s attorney general. WNYT reports Letitia James says customers were given incomplete medical records to hide pets’ illnesses. The company will pay up to $200,000 to reimburse qualifying customers for medical costs.

A Malta man is in the Saratoga County Jail, facing a felony charge, accused of failing to change his address as required within 10 days. On January 4, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office arrested Cody J. Letourneau, 25, of Malta. According to the sheriff’s office, Letourneau was required to change his address as required within 10 days due to his being a registered sex offender, and did not do so., which constitutes a class E felony.

DEC’s annual tree and shrub spring seedling sale has kicked off at the Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery in Saratoga Springs. The sale is open to the public and runs until May 12. WTEN reports some seedlings sell out fast, so the DEC recommends placing your order by calling (518) 587-1120, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. An invoice will then be sent to you in the mail or by e-mail.

Major Dennis Schager has been named the 38th commander of New York State Police Troop G, which has 24 stations and serves 10 counties, including Saratoga County. He was appointed by Acting Superintendent Steven Nigrelli. Schager has previously worked at the New York State Intelligence Center and graduated from the New York State Police Academy in 1998, and was promoted to captain in 2018.

A New York Attorney General investigation over civil rights violations related to the arrests of Black Lives Matter activists in Saratoga Springs is coming with a hefty price tag and taxpayers are footing the bill – nearly $35,000, according to the legal bills provided by the city. WRGB reports the costs were incurred complying with subpoenas and pulling together materials needed for the probe.

After nearly a month since the outage began, internet service has been restored to the South Glens Falls Central School District. WTEN reports the school district shut down the internet service on December 19 after unauthorized activity was found on their server. Officials said no district information was compromised.