News Staff

$20.8 million is being awarded to 17 projects that incorporate green storm water infrastructure, as well as implement energy and water efficiency measures in New York. Among them, the Saratoga County Sewer District No. 1 – $2,000,000 to reduce energy consumption at their Wastewater Treatment Plant through biogas production created by new digesters.

The last day of classes before the holiday break was cancelled in the Ballston Spa Central School District due to a significant increase in positive COVID-19 cases among students. According to WNYT, the district anticipates reopening on Jan. 3. They ask families to continue to report any positive cases to COVIDReport@bscsd.org. They say they will issue and update on their status next week.

A man pleaded guilty in a deadly Fourth of July boating accident on Saratoga Lake. WNYT reports Blake Heflin was operating the boat that hit and killed 20-year-old Ian Gerber. He was charged with criminally negligent homicide, but pleaded guilty Friday to a reduced charge of misdemeanor assault. Police say Heflin was intoxicated when he hit Gerber, who had jumped off Heflin’s moving boat.

State Police in Clifton Park are warning citizens of a scam that preys on grandparents after receiving multiple calls on what is known as the “Grandparent Scam” or “Family Emergency Scam”. These scams usually involve someone calling to claim that someone’s grandchild or other relative has been arrested and a bail bondsman needs to be paid immediately. Another scam currently used attempts to convince the victim that a relative was involved in a serious accident and money is needed for medical payments.

With nine days left until the state’s deadline, the town of Moreau in Saratoga County is the latest in Upstate New York to decide it will opt-out of on-site consumption and retail sales of marijuana. WTEN reports Moreau is opting-out not because they are against it, rather, for the fact the town board is unsure what the Office of Cannabis Management’s rules and regulations will be.

Gov. Hochul is focusing on home testing kits, and keeping kids in the classroom after winter break. WNYT reports it comes as New York state hit another record of nearly 29,000 new COVID infections in one day. That’s five records in six days. Hochul said the state has ordered five million new testing kits due by New Year’s Eve, and those testing kits will help keep vaccinated kids in school, even after they’re exposed.

Saratoga county’s daily updates will include different kinds of COVID numbers. According to WRGB, Hospitalizations, new cases, and deaths won’t be included in the daily updates the county sends out. Instead, The new approach will focus on six new data types. Many of them report averages, and some look at the capital district as a whole instead of the county specifically.

Samantha Guerra, the Republican candidate for Saratoga Springs City Council charged with altering petitions, appeared in court Tuesday. WNYT reports Guerra was arraigned on two new misdemeanor charges. However, a judge dismissed previous charges against her. Guerra pleaded not guilty to the new charges.

The Shenendehowa ice hockey and wrestling teams have been placed on pause through Dec. 27 due to positive COVID-19 tests within the programs. The wrestling program has postponed its dual meet versus Shaker on Dec. 22 and canceled a trip to the Bethlehem, Pa., Holiday Classic on Dec. 28 and 29. Shenendehowa ice hockey’s Dec. 22 contest versus rival Saratoga Springs was also postponed.

The Village of Ballston Spa was awarded a $153,000 competitive grant from the New York Department of State Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Program for a BOA Nomination Plan. The Saratogian reports the village intends to develop a plan for a 176-acre area encompassing a substantial portion of the downtown center along state Route 50, and two adjacent water bodies.