WSSV News

The village of Saranac Lake is currently in a head-to-head competition to be the “Strongest Town” in North America. According to the Daily Enterprise, it’s facing off against Valemount, British Columbia, Canada in the first bracket of a tournament based on finding a community as an example of good urban planning. Strong Towns is a nonprofit media organization that reduce reliance on vehicles; create dense, walkable communities with housing flexibility; and promote transparency in local governmental accounting.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit recently arrested 37 year old Douglas B. Wiliams of Halfmoon and charged him with felony second-degree assault. The Saratogian reports Williams is accused of striking and injuring a child less than seven years of age in the Town of Halfmoon on Feb. 17. He is due back in the Halfmoon Town Court in April.

Firefighters from multiple agencies responded to a house fire in Rexford early Sunday morning. WRGB reports the call came in right around 3:30 a.m. for a fire at 189 Sugar Hill Road. A firefighter at the scene said the fire was put out within an hour or so.
The Red Cross is assisting three adults and three children. No word as yet on a cause.

A warning as we head into the spring season. WNYT reports the CDC says Babesiosis, a tick-borne disease that can be fatal in rare cases, is becoming more prevalent in the Northeast. It can be more severe than Lyme Disease.
Symptoms include fever, chills, sweats, headaches, body aches, nausea, fatigue or muscle and joint pain.

Saratoga Spring’s new Homelessness Task Force voted Thursday night that the shelter they are looking to create will provide year-round help. WRGB reports they also discussed if the city should create a low barrier shelter, or if they should instead keep the code blue shelter running in warmer months. Low barrier shelters have fewer restrictions on who can enter to seek help, which caused concern because it would go up right next to a school on Williams Street.

On Thursday, local medical care organization Nearcare announced that it will be closing its doors, according to WTEN. For the last 40 years, the organization – formerly known as Caritas – provided free support to those living with severe or terminal illness in Warren, Washington and northern Saratoga counties, as well as their families.

A Ballston Spa man is wanted in connection to vandalism costing more than $13,000 in damages to a building in Glenville. WNYT reports 36 year old contractor Adam Sipe was caught on surveillance using equipment with pallet forks, when he caused damage to the building. Sipe owns and operates Sipe N Sons Construction and faces felony criminal mischief, police said.

Saratoga County Sheriff Michael H. Zurlo announced Saratoga County police agencies and STOP DWI coordinators will take part in special efforts to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving. The Saratogian reports the statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign (HVEC) efforts start Thursday and will continue through March 19.

You’ll see some changes next time you pay your admission at the Saratoga Race Course. NYRA announced Wednesday there will only be one admission price for all fans, beginning with this summer meet. WNYT reports it will eliminate the two-tiered structure of clubhouse and grandstand admission. Daily admission will be $7 when purchased at least 24 hours in advance. Day of admission will be $10.

Overall, Saratoga Springs Mayor Ron Kim said the Spa City has been weathering the storm rather well. WNYT spoke with Kim Tuesday evening and he said his public works department had been doing a great job and that residents had been cooperating by moving their cars. . The mayor was concerned that whipping winds could create more outages overnight, but overall, he said, his city was prepared for more than it got.