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Highland, NY

Police & Fire
32-Year-Old Man Accused Of Selling Cocaine, Prescription Meds In Putnam 32-Year-Old Man Accused Of Selling Cocaine, Prescription Meds In Putnam
32-Year-Old Man Accused Of Selling Cocaine, Prescription Meds In Putnam A 32-year-old man from the region faces a long list of charges for selling cocaine and prescription medication in the Hudson Valley, authorities announced.  Ulster County resident Kevin Lamastro of Highland was arrested on Saturday, Sept. 21 on an outstanding warrant related to his alleged sale of narcotics in Putnam County, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday, Sept. 24.  According to the Sheriff's Office, in 2023, an investigator with the Narcotics Enforcement Unit learned that Lamastro was allegedly involved in the sale of cocaine and prescription medica…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Hudson Valley Mom Charged With Letting Son, 10, Get 'Real' Tattoo, Police Say Hudson Valley Mom Charged With Letting Son, 10, Get 'Real' Tattoo, Police Say
Hudson Valley Mom Charged With Letting Son, 10, Get 'Real' Tattoo, Police Say A Hudson Valley mom has been charged with allegedly allowing her 10-year-old son to get a permanent tattoo. Ulster County resident Crystal Thomas, age 33, of Highland, was arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 4, said the town of Lloyd Police. According to Chief James Janso, of the town of Lloyd, Thomas allowed her juvenile child to get a large permanent ink tattoo on his body at a hotel in Lloyd. State law prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from getting a tattoo, regardless of parental consent. Thomas was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and released on an appearance …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
47-Year-Old Drowns During Family Outing In Region 47-Year-Old Drowns During Family Outing In Region
47-Year-Old Drowns During Family Outing In Region A man from the region drowned while attempting to swim across a river while on an outing with his family. The incident took place in Sullivan County around 1;30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 3, in the Delaware River at the Landers Minisink Campground in the town of Highland. According to Trooper Steven Nevel, Long Island resident Ricardo Ismalej Xujar, age 47, of Flanders in Suffolk County, was at the campground with family and friends for the holiday weekend.  Xujar entered the river at approximately 1:30 p.m. and attempted to swim across when he became fatigued and went under the …

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by Kathy Reakes
Obituaries
Northern Westchester Native Praised As 'Hard-Working' Registered Nurse Dies At Age 42 Northern Westchester Native Praised As 'Hard-Working' Registered Nurse Dies At Age 42
Northern Westchester Native Praised As 'Hard-Working' Registered Nurse Dies At Age 42 A Hudson Valley woman who died at the age of 42 is being remembered as a hard-working registered nurse. Dutchess County resident Jennifer Lynn Pinto, of Wappingers Falls, died at her home on Friday, Aug. 26, according to her obituary. She was born in Mount Kisco and graduated from Roy C. Ketcham High School in Wappingers Falls. She also graduated with a degree in nursing from Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, her obituary said.  "She worked as registered nurse at Wingate at Ulster in Highland," her obituary reads. "She was a hard worker and enjoyed reading." Pint…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Drunk, Pickaxe-Wielding Man Breaks Into Residence In Region, Attacks Homeowner, Cops Say Drunk, Pickaxe-Wielding Man Breaks Into Residence In Region, Attacks Homeowner, Cops Say
Drunk, Pickaxe-Wielding Man Breaks Into Residence In Region, Attacks Homeowner, Cops Say A homeowner in the region is no doubt shaken up, but otherwise okay after police said a drunk man wielding a pickaxe broke into his home and attacked him. Authorities in Sullivan County were called just before 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, with reports of an assault and attempted robbery at a home in Bethel, located on Mohawk Trail. State Police determined that the 38-year-old suspect, Daniel Desseauve, of Highland in Ulster County, approached the home carrying a pickaxe and pushed the front door open. Once inside, he began swinging the ax at the homeowner, according to police. The victim was …

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
Former Town Supervisor In Hudson Valley Who Was Longtime Designer For IBM Dies Former Town Supervisor In Hudson Valley Who Was Longtime Designer For IBM Dies
Former Town Supervisor In Hudson Valley Who Was Longtime Designer For IBM Dies A former supervisor of a Hudson Valley town who was a longtime mechanical designer for IBM has died. Louis Foscaldi, a resident of Highland, New York, and Vero Beach, Florida, died on Wednesday, July 20 at age 91, according to his obituary.  He was born in the Bronx and was a graduate of DeWitt Clinton High School. Foscaldi served in the United States Marine Corps from 1952 through 1954, his obituary said.  He went on to study mechanical engineering and work at IBM as a mechanical designer until 1991. He was also elected and served two terms as the supervisor of the Town of Llo…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
Motorcyclist Driving In 'Unsafe Manner' Injured After Crashing In Hudson Valley, Police Say Motorcyclist Driving In 'Unsafe Manner' Injured After Crashing In Hudson Valley, Police Say
Motorcyclist Driving In 'Unsafe Manner' Injured After Crashing In Hudson Valley, Police Say A 56-year-old motorcyclist from the Hudson Valley was driving “in an unsafe manner” when he lost control and crashed into a parked vehicle, authorities said. The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office said the Highland resident was operating his bike on Vineyard Avenue in the Town of Lloyd when he wrecked just after midnight Tuesday, July 12. Deputies found the man lying on a sidewalk. A preliminary investigation found that he had crashed into the hood and windshield of the parked vehicle before he was ejected from his bike, police said. The man was initially taken to MidHudson Regional Hospital…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Employee Nabbed Using Cell Phone To Take Photo Under Woman's Dress In Hudson Valley, Police Say Employee Nabbed Using Cell Phone To Take Photo Under Woman's Dress In Hudson Valley, Police Say
Employee Nabbed Using Cell Phone To Take Photo Under Woman's Dress In Hudson Valley, Police Say A store employee was arrested for allegedly taking a picture under a female customer's dress as she shopped at a supermarket in the Hudson Valley. The incident took place in Ulster County at the Hannaford Store in Highland at 3650 Route 9W on Saturday, May 21, according to police. Marcello Richter, age 22, of Kingston, was arrested by the town of Lloyd police after the woman, who was shopping at the Hannaford Store, told the store manager he had taken a picture under her dress, said Chief James Janso, of the Lloyd Police. According to Janso, the employee followed a customer down an ai…

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by Kathy Reakes
Real Estate
In-Depth New York Times Profile Cites Hudson Valley Hamlet's 'Feel-Good' Spirit In-Depth New York Times Profile Cites Hudson Valley Hamlet's 'Feel-Good' Spirit
In-Depth New York Times Profile Cites Hudson Valley Hamlet's 'Feel-Good' Spirit A new in-depth report from The New York Times has described the "feel-good" spirit of a Hudson Valley municipality that has seen a population increase over the past few years. The news outlet reported that the Ulster County hamlet of Highland has received a population boost during the COVID-19 pandemic as New Yorkers moved out of New York City seeking more space. The profile shares a variety of insights into the price of homes, the schools, and the history of the hamlet.  The Times also spoke with residents and people who work in Highland. "You have the beautiful views, the fantastic…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Ex-Area Cop Admits To Protecting Prostitution Rings In Exchange For Sex Ex-Area Cop Admits To Protecting Prostitution Rings In Exchange For Sex
Ex-Area Cop Admits To Protecting Prostitution Rings In Exchange For Sex A former police officer in the Hudson Valley has admitted to providing protection to a pair of Queens-based sex trafficking rings in exchange for sexual favors. The ex-cop in Putnam County, Wayne Peiffer, was a member of the Village of Brewster Police Department. He's a resident of the Ulster County hamlet of Highland. The 48-year-old Peiffer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and conspiracy to commit bribery in violation of the Travel Act in federal court in Brooklyn on Friday, April 8.  Peiffer was charged for his role in protecting the two prostitution busin…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Cashless Tolling Starts At Bridge In Hudson Valley Cashless Tolling Starts At Bridge In Hudson Valley
Cashless Tolling Starts At Bridge In Hudson Valley A new cashless tolling option has been implemented for drivers traveling on a busy Hudson Valley bridge that connects Dutchess and Ulster counties. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday, March 1 that the Mid-Hudson Bridge connecting Highland in Ulster County and Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County has become the latest in the region to go cashless. Related story - New Cashless Tolls Coming To Westchester: Here's When, Where Motorists will no longer have to wait at the gate to pay or scan their E-Z Pass. Instead, sensors will read the car’s EZ-Pass, or a photo will be taken and …

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Café That Opened Just Before Start Of Pandemic To Permanently Close COVID-19: Hudson Valley Café That Opened Just Before Start Of Pandemic To Permanently Close
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Café That Opened Just Before Start Of Pandemic To Permanently Close A café that opened in the Hudson Valley just months before the COVID-19 pandemic began will soon permanently close. The owners of the Trolley Stop Café in Highland, a hamlet of Ulster County, said in a Facebook post on Monday, Dec. 6, that after two years in business, they will close by mid-January. The café is located at 58 Vineyard Ave. "Having opened only a few months before the Global COVID-19 Pandemic was unfortunate and made things hard for us," the announcement reads. "We made it through the pandemic but find ourselves in a world that has changed. Food and material prices are skyroc…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
NY State Police Issue Alert For Phone Scam Where Caller Poses As Trooper NY State Police Issue Alert For Phone Scam Where Caller Poses As Trooper
NY State Police Issue Alert For Phone Scam Where Caller Poses As Trooper New York State Police have issued a warning about a recent phone scam where callers pretend to be state troopers.  Police said many of the calls centered on the Highland area in Ulster County. The callers would pretend to be state troopers and say that charges are pending against the person they called. They would then request money or bank information, police said. "Neither the state police, nor any agency authorized by it, will ever solicit for money or ask for personal information over the phone," State Police said.  Anyone who receives these calls is advised to report detail…

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by Nicole Valinote
Business
Hudson Valley Restaurant Closes After Nearly Three Decades In Business Hudson Valley Restaurant Closes After Nearly Three Decades In Business
Hudson Valley Restaurant Closes After Nearly Three Decades In Business A Hudson Valley restaurant has officially closed its doors after 28 years in business. The owners of The Would, located in Ulster County, announced on Monday, Sept. 6, that the restaurant had closed. "The Would is officially closed," owners shared in a Facebook post. "Thank you all for the support through the years. We are grateful for the many catered parties, weddings and special events that have done. To our regulars thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the kind words and support through the years." The restaurant was located at 120 North Road in Highland. It was owned by Claire …

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
State Police Recover Two Drowning Victims In Separate Incidents In Region State Police Recover Two Drowning Victims In Separate Incidents In Region
State Police Recover Two Drowning Victims In Separate Incidents In Region State Police responded to two separate drownings over the weekend in the region. Both bodies were recovered in Sullivan County. The first incident took place around 10:35 p.m., Saturday, June 26, when state police responded to State Route 97 in the town of Highland for a possible drowning on the Delaware River, said Trooper Steven Nevel.  The initial investigation indicates that Louis Pellot, age 31 of Brooklyn, entered the water from a campsite and became fatigued and was seen struggling in the water.  He went under the water and was not seen. Pellot’s body was recovered by members of t…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Man Has Been Missing For Weeks After Walking Out Of Hospital In Area Man Has Been Missing For Weeks After Walking Out Of Hospital In Area
Man Has Been Missing For Weeks After Walking Out Of Hospital In Area Celebrities and acting professionals are seeking the public’s assistance in tracking down a songwriter, actor, and playwright who has been missing for weeks after walking out of a Hudson Valley hospital. Andy Nieman, age 48, was last seen at approximately 9 p.m. on May 21 at the MidHudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, where he was reportedly seeking psychiatric care and left less than 24 hours after being admitted for treatment. According to Neiman’s family, a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, has bipolar disorder and was wearing only his green hospital scrubs…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Alert Issued For Man Wanted In Area Alert Issued For Man Wanted In Area
Alert Issued For Man Wanted In Area Know him? An alert was issued by New York State Police investigators in the Hudson Valley on Wednesday, June 2 for a man who was busted with hundreds of waxed envelopes containing heroin. Peter Williams, age 34, is wanted in Orange County by the New York State Police Troop F in Middletown following his arrest for third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance during a traffic stop in Ramapo. Police said that after being stopped by New York State Police troopers, it was determined that Williams was driving with a suspended license and was in possession of 500 waxed envelopes st…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Hudson Valley Woman Wins Top Prize On $1M NY Lottery Payout Bonus Ticket Hudson Valley Woman Wins Top Prize On $1M NY Lottery Payout Bonus Ticket
Hudson Valley Woman Wins Top Prize On $1M NY Lottery Payout Bonus Ticket A Hudson Valley woman received a million-dollar gift from a neighbor who handed her a winning lottery ticket that was purchased in the area. Ulster County resident Donna Croshier, of Highland, has claimed her $1,000,000 top prize on the $1,000,000 Payout Bonus scratch-off ticket, the New York Lottery announced. According to Croshier, the ticket “was a gift from my neighbor” after it was purchased at the Hannaford in Bridge View Plaza on Route 9W in Highland. Officials said that Croshier selected to receive her million-dollar prize in a lump sum that came out to $598,920 after taxes and wit…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: These Hudson Valley School Districts Had Most Cases This Fall COVID-19: These Hudson Valley School Districts Had Most Cases This Fall
Covid-19: These Hudson Valley School Districts Had Most Cases This Fall With students set to return to the classroom - whether fully in-person or partially remote - this week, school districts will once again come face to face with the COVID-19 pandemic they battled for four months. In New York, the state has been monitoring school districts’ progress in combating the virus, posting daily data updates on how many teachers, staff members, and students have tested positive for COVID-19 since classes resumed in September. On Wednesday, Sept. 9, the state launched the New York State COVID-19 Schools “Report Card,” which requires districts to send data to the Depart…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Here's When Early Voting Starts In New York Here's When Early Voting Starts In New York
Here's When Early Voting Starts In New York With a record number of people expected to head to the polls next month on Election Day, New Yorkers can get a jump start and vote early beginning this weekend. Early voting in New York begins on Saturday, Oct. 24, allowing any registered voter to vote at certain sites within their own county. Early voting lasts through Sunday, Nov. 1. Voters that may have requested or turned in an absentee ballot can still vote in person in New York, with the in-person vote being the only one that counts. Anyone who votes early cannot vote on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early polling locations in th…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: SUNY New Paltz Students Test Positive After Pickup Basketball Games, Some Quarantined COVID-19: SUNY New Paltz Students Test Positive After Pickup Basketball Games, Some Quarantined
Covid-19: SUNY New Paltz Students Test Positive After Pickup Basketball Games, Some Quarantined Two more students have tested positive for COVID-19 following off-campus pickup basketball games among SUNY New Paltz students that's put administrators on edge and led to the quarantine of 12 students, bringing the total number of positive cases up to three.  According to the college's website, the two students tested positive for the virus this week -- and one has already recovered.  The two students were reportedly in contact with the first SUNY New Paltz COVID case, which was announced by the college on Thursday, Aug. 27.  The first student to test positive had reportedl…

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by Christina Coulter
Police & Fire
Alert Issued For Fugitive From Justice Wanted In Hudson Valley Alert Issued For Fugitive From Justice Wanted In Hudson Valley
Alert Issued For Fugitive From Justice Wanted In Hudson Valley An alert has been issued for a fugitive from justice who is wanted in the Hudson Valley after failing to make a court appearance. New York State Police detectives in Highland are attempting to locate 29-year-old Jason Pease, a fugitive from justice from the state of Kentucky who is wanted for criminal impersonation in Ulster County. Police said that following his arrest, Pease failed to appear in Ulster County Court and a Superior Court bench warrant was issued for his arrest. Pease was described as being 5-foot-9, weighing 145 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with information…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Woman Wanted After Being Stopped In Stolen Vehicle In Area Woman Wanted After Being Stopped In Stolen Vehicle In Area
Woman Wanted After Being Stopped In Stolen Vehicle In Area Know her? A Hudson Valley woman is wanted by New York State Police investigators after being arrested and charged with criminal possession of stolen property last year when she was busted by troopers in a stolen car. An alert was issued for 31-year-old Amy Cornielle, who is wanted by investigators in Highland after she was a passenger in a vehicle at approximately 1 a.m. on Dec. 8 last year, which had been reported stolen out of Monroe County. Cornielle later failed to return to court in Gardiner and a bench warrant was issued for her arrest. She is wanted on a charge of third-degree crim…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
12 Nabbed In Hudson Valley Drug Trafficking Ring Bust, State AG Says 12 Nabbed In Hudson Valley Drug Trafficking Ring Bust, State AG Says
12 Nabbed In Hudson Valley Drug Trafficking Ring Bust, State AG Says A dozen people are facing a host of charges for operating a drug distribution ring out of the Hudson Valley. Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced this week that a 110-count indictment charging 12 members of a narcotics trafficking ring operating in Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties has been unsealed. They are accused of selling thousands of prescription pills, including oxycodone, amphetamine, diazepam, clonazepam, and buprenorphine to dozens of customers each day. The indictment alleges that several members of the drug ring focused on the purchase and resale of prescription…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man, 27, Facing Felony Charges Of Rape, Sex Abuse, State Police Say Man, 27, Facing Felony Charges Of Rape, Sex Abuse, State Police Say
Man, 27, Facing Felony Charges Of Rape, Sex Abuse, State Police Say A New York State Police investigation led to the arrest of a 27-year-old man who allegedly raped and sexually abused his victim. Brittin Caffrey of Gardiner was arrested following an investigation by troopers in Highland and the New York State Police Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit. The investigation was launched following a complaint of sexual assault in Gardiner. 
Caffrey was arrested and charged with felony counts of rape and sexual abuse.  Following his arraignment in the Town of Gardiner Justice Court, Caffrey was remanded to the Ulster County Jail without bail. No future…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Westchester Man Accused Of Stealing Produce From Popular Upstate Pick-Your-Own Farm Westchester Man Accused Of Stealing Produce From Popular Upstate Pick-Your-Own Farm
Westchester Man Accused Of Stealing Produce From Popular Upstate Pick-Your-Own Farm A 60-year-old Westchester man was arrested for stealing produce from a popular pick-your-own farm in Ulster County. Louis Balbona of Scarsdale was arrested Tuesday, Oct. 9, and charged with petit larceny after allegedly stealing more than $130 in produce from Dubois Farms in Highland, said Town of Lloyd Police Lt. James Janso. Balbona was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 16.

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Body Of Bridge Jumper Pulled From Hudson River Body Of Bridge Jumper Pulled From Hudson River
Body Of Bridge Jumper Pulled From Hudson River The body of a 53-year-old woman who jumped from the Mid-Hudson Bridge between Highland and Poughkeepsie was pulled from the Hudson River on Monday afternoon after a two-and-a-half hour search, authorities said. The woman, whose name has not yet been released, was a resident of Marlboro in Ulster County, Town of Lloyd Police said. The woman jumped from the south side of the bridge at around 12:05 p.m. After a coordinated search with numerous police agencies, her body was located and recovered by the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit on the east side of the Hudson River near Hyde …

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Man Charged With Extorting Women Under 21 In Hudson Valley Man Charged With Extorting Women Under 21 In Hudson Valley
Man Charged With Extorting Women Under 21 In Hudson Valley An Orange County man is facing multiple charges after allegedly extorting several underage female victims, giving them alcohol and attempting to extort them, according to state police. An investigation by New York State Police detectives led to the arrest of Wallkill resident Kenneth Ralph, 23, this week, who allegedly met his female victims - all under the age of 21 - on social media, provided them alcohol then attempted to extort money from them. The investigation was conducted by State Police in Highland, the New York State Police Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit, SUNY New Paltz Univer…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Been There? Hudson Valley Resort Named One Of World's Top Family Hotspots Been There? Hudson Valley Resort Named One Of World's Top Family Hotspots
Been There? Hudson Valley Resort Named One Of World's Top Family Hotspots Are you looking for the largest Easter Egg hunt in the Hudson Valley? Unlimited horseback riding? Mini bowling? Or, has the long winter got you down, and you can use a ride down an 85-foot indoor slide? If you are planning a school field trip or weekend family getaways, Rocking Horse Ranch may an ideal destination. It was named the nation's No. 2 family hotel in the U.S. by TripAdvisor in this survey. Rocking Horse also was ranked the  No. 9 destination in the world by TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor's "Top 25 Hotels for Families" list is part of its annual Travelers' Choice Awards wh…

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by Jon Craig
News
Seen Him? 48-Year-Old 'Avid Hiker' Goes Missing In Hudson Valley Seen Him? 48-Year-Old 'Avid Hiker' Goes Missing In Hudson Valley
Seen Him? 48-Year-Old 'Avid Hiker' Goes Missing In Hudson Valley Have you seen him? A 48-year-old Hudson Valley man has gone missing and State Police in the Highland barracks are asking the public's help in locating him. Nacom J. Romero of New Paltz is a white Hispanic male, standing 5-foot-8, weighing 180 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.  Romero was last seen at his residence on Route 32 during the first week of December 2017, police said. Romero is an avid hiker and outdoorsman who likes to frequent areas along Wallkill River in New Paltz and Rondout River in Rosendale. Any persons with information regarding his whereabouts are asked to contac…

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by Daily Voice
News
Seen Him? Hudson Valley Sex Abuse Suspect On The Loose Seen Him? Hudson Valley Sex Abuse Suspect On The Loose
Seen Him? Hudson Valley Sex Abuse Suspect On The Loose State Police troopers are on the lookout for a Hudson Valley man wanted for sending lewd photos of himself to an unwanted third party and possessing child pornography on his cell phone. New York State Police from Troop F in Highland issued an alert this week regarding 32-year-old Joseph Sucato, who is wanted on multiple charges that include first-degree sexual abuse, endangering the welfare of a child and possessing a sexual performance by a child. Police said that Sucato is wanted following an investigation that determined he sent pictures to an unwanted person of himself performing a lewd…

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by Zak Failla