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.
Guerra Arraigned On Misdemeanor Counts
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.
Shen Ice Hockey, Wrestling Teams On Pause Due To COVID
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.
Ballston Spa Receives Brownfield Grant
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.
Saratoga County Agency Wins Housing Grant Money
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced 192 conditional awards totaling $35 million to housing agencies in every region across New York to provide support services and operating funding for at least 1,400 units of supportive housing for homeless persons with special needs, conditions or other challenges. The Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services of Saratoga County received three of those awards.
Kelly Cleared By Panel Of Ethics Allegations
A city panel that considers ethical concerns exonerated Mayor Meg Kelly of a complaint levied by Commissioner of Public Safety Robin Dalton alleging the former publicized her employer. The Daily Gazette reports the Board concluded…” there was no reasonable cause for believing that the subject of the inquiry violated one or more provisions of the Code of Ethics of the City of Saratoga Springs, as alleged by the inquirer.” In a Nov. 10 letter to the board, Dalton accused Kelly of using the mayor’s office to unfairly plug the Charlton School, a private school in Burnt Hills for which Kelly works.
Saratoga ‘Sleeper Creeper’ Has Sentence Cut In Half
The so-called “sleeper creeper,” convicted of breaking into Saratoga Springs homes and watching people sleep, has had his sentence cut in half. Ramiz Hajratalli, reports WNYT, will now serve up to 15 years in state prison for burglarizing homes in 2017. He was sentenced to 30 years but the Supreme Court appellate decision found that excessive since he didn’t touch anyone.
Saratoga County Issues Statement On Gov’s Mask Mandate
Saratoga County has issued a strong reaction to the governor’s mask mandate. WRGB reports it reads, in part, “The Public Health Department and Law Enforcement will not enforce New York State’s misguided and unrealistic mask mandate, which passes the buck to counties to enforce what the Governor herself said just over a week ago is ‘almost impossible’ to enforce.”
The board of supervisors went on to say that under no circumstances will the county enforce the harmful provision that bars school children from taking mask breaks.
SP Clifton Park Arrest Men On Grand Larceny Counts
State Police in Clifton Park arrested 32-year-old Carlos J. Gilmore of Schenectady and 35 year old Donald Daniels Jr. of Ballston Lake on grand larceny and other counts. Authorities say the pair are accused of cashing fraudulent Coinstar receipts at multiple Hannaford Supermarkets around the Capital District. The pair used color copies of an actual Coinstar receipt and turned them in for over $1,000 in cash before the scheme was discovered by an employee.
Man Charged In Connection With Attack Outside Saratoga Bar
A man has been arraigned in connection with the death of Mark French in Saratoga Springs. As WNYT reports, Jordan Garafalo was arraigned today in Saratoga County court, is accused of punching French in the head outside Clancy’s Tavern in Saratoga Springs back in August. French fell, and hit his head on the pavement. He later died. Garafalo was released on $100,000 bond. His brother, James, was charged last week.