Environment

Authorities charge deer poachers across NY

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010, 5:19pm

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York conservation officials say they've charged 137 people with more than 250 misdemeanors and violations in a crackdown on illegally hunting deer at night with lights.

Department of Environmental Conservation investigators who staked out rural areas over the course of seven weeks reported 10 deer killed after lights were used to immobilize them, a crime that carries penalties up to $2,000 and a year in jail. In another 79 cases of deer jacking, hunters didn't kill an animal.

Some hunters face related charges like carrying a loaded gun in a vehicle, shooting over a public highway or shooting within 500 feet of a residence.

The DEC says Thursday about half the charges involve incidents in northern New York, with others in the greater Albany area and Catskills, central and western New York and on Long Island.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Boil water alert in Coxsackie

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Monday, October 18th, 2010, 9:09am

Authorities in the Village of Coxsackie are citing high iron content in the testing of village water. It has issued a "boil water" alert for all village water customers until further notice.

Under that order, boil water for at least two minutes, according to the deputy clerk of the village.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Boil water alert lifted for most of Greene County

Submitted by Sophia Sofferman, WNYT Web Producer

Monday, October 11th, 2010, 11:39am

Boil water orders in the villages of Catskill and Coxsackie have been lifted. However, Coxsackie officials say Scheller Park residents should still boil their water until further notice.

The alert was lifted Sunday.

The alert was caused by high levels of turbidity at the water filter plant after the high volume of water runoff from the recent rain storms.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Boil water alert for Coxsackie

Submitted by Sophia Sofferman, WNYT Web Producer

Thursday, October 7th, 2010, 2:13pm

Due to a water main break on Routes 81 and 9W, there is a boil water advisory for all residents in the Village of Coxsackie.

According to the Chief Water Plant Operator Ken Cymealisty, the advisory will most likely stay in effect until Saturday or Sunday.

The plant is waiting on lab results of the water from Adirondack Environmental out of Albany.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Boil water alert still in effect

Submitted by Sophia Sofferman, WNYT Web Producer

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010, 1:51pm

A boil water alert is still in effect for the Village of Catskill.

Due to the high volume of water runoff from the recent rain storms, high levels of turbidity have occurred at the water filter plant.

Officials are telling Catskill water users not to drink the water without boiling it first for at least one minute, then let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Only boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and food preparation until further notice, McGrath said.

For more information, contact the Village of Catskill Water Dept. at 943-5505 or 943-3830. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available at the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Confirmed cases of destructive beetle in Greene County

Submitted by Sophia Sofferman, WNYT Web Producer

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010, 4:52pm

The Emerald Ash Borer has been confirmed in Greene County. It is one of the seven counties in New York with confirmed cases.

"It is quickly becoming evident that the Emerald Ash Borer, which was first detected in New York State last year, is more widespread than originally hoped," said Commissioner Patrick Hooker.

"It is no surprise that we are finding this pest in other counties, but it is our intent to try and slow the human spread of this pest by expanding the quarantine area and regulating the movement of firewood and ash wood and nursery products in those areas. We look to our fellow New Yorkers to assist in this effort and follow the quarantine orders in the respective areas."

EAB is a small but destructive beetle that infests and kills North American ash tree species, including green, white, black, and blue ash. The first detection of EAB in New York was in the Town of Randolph, Cattaraugus County in June 2009.

View Comments | Post a Comment

State officials issue air quality advisory as heat rises

Submitted by Sophia Sofferman, WNYT Web Producer

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010, 8:55am

(AP) - The state Department of Environmental Conservation and Health Department have issued an air quality advisory for the whole state today until 11 p.m.

The advisory warns that ground-level ozone is expected to be high because of the heat wave this week. The poor air quality could lead to respiratory problems, especially for young children, those who exercise outdoors, and people with asthma. Going indoors will usually reduce your exposure.

At the State Fair in Syracuse, temperatures around 90 this week have sent a number of people to the fairground infirmary. It was senior citizen's day yesterday and several fairgoers fainted in the heat.

Fair officials say 75 people were treated at the fair infirmary on Monday and 20 of them were taken to Syracuse hospitals for follow-up. Most of the medical calls at the fair for the past two days have been related to the heat and humidity.

View Comments | Post a Comment