A Few Clouds 32°
Tag:

Orange County, NY

News
These NY Towns Named Among Safest In Country In New Rankings These NY Towns Named Among Safest In Country In New Rankings
These NY Towns Named Among Safest In Country In New Rankings If you're looking for peace and quiet, you may want to settle down in one of three Hudson Valley towns named among the safest places in the country in new rankings by MoneyGeek.  In their list of the 25 Safest Small Cities and Towns in the US released on Monday, Dec. 16, the personal finance website ranked towns from Westchester, Putnam, and Orange counties among the country's municipalities with the lowest crime numbers.  The following towns were named:  Yorktown, which took No. 6; Carmel, which took No. 7; Wallkill, which took No. 8. In order to make their rankings, Money…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Person Jumps From Bear Mountain Bridge, Divers On Scene: Police Person Jumps From Bear Mountain Bridge, Divers On Scene: Police
Person Jumps From Bear Mountain Bridge, Divers On Scene: Police New York State Police said a person jumped from the Bear Mountain Bridge has not been located.  The incident occurred around 11:15 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 28, near Stony Point in Rockland County. State Police said divers were on the scene searching for the victim but did not divulge if the person was a man or a woman. On the Dutchess County Scanner Feed Facebook page, one person commented that he saw a few people talking with the man, trying to convince him not to jump. After jumping, the man could be seen for a few minutes treading water and then disappeared underwater, …

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
News
Backyard Fossil Jackpot: Ancient Mastodon Jaw Unearthed In Region Backyard Fossil Jackpot: Ancient Mastodon Jaw Unearthed In Region
Backyard Fossil Jackpot: Ancient Mastodon Jaw Unearthed In Region A backyard in New York became the site of a remarkable prehistoric discovery when a homeowner unearthed a complete and well-preserved jaw of a mastodon, an ancient relative of modern elephants. Alongside the jaw, researchers also uncovered a toe bone fragment and a piece of a rib. The discovery began in the Hudson Valley when the Orange County resident noticed two large teeth protruding from the soil beneath a plant near the home in Scotchtown, according to the New York State Museum in a social media post on Tuesday, Dec. 17. After further digging revealed additional teeth, experts from th…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
New Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Airport To Shut Down New Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Airport To Shut Down
New Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Airport To Shut Down Following an incident at a New York airport that disrupted operations, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that federal partners are deploying a state-of-the-art drone detection system to New York State. The announcement follows a significant disruption in Orange County on Friday, Dec. 13, at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, where a drone forced a temporary shutdown of the airport’s runways, delaying flights. State and federal agencies are continuing their investigation into the incident. After that event, Hochul called for additional resources to bolster drone detection and response …

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
Drone Disruption Shuts Down Runways At NY Airport, Prompts Hochul Call For Federal Action Drone Disruption Shuts Down Runways At NY Airport, Prompts Hochul Call For Federal Action
Drone Disruption Shuts Down Runways At NY Airport, Prompts Hochul Call For Federal Action Runways at a Hudson Valley airport were brought to a halt after drone activity disrupted operations for approximately an hour, prompting New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to escalate calls for immediate federal intervention. Click here for a new, updated story: New Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Airport To Shut Down Hochul said the incident happened in Orange County on Friday, Dec. 13, at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor. “This has gone too far,” Hochul stated, addressing growing concerns over unauthorized drones in sensitive airspace. The incident ma…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
$4.4M Medicaid Fraud Scheme: Five Plead Guilty, NY AG Says $4.4M Medicaid Fraud Scheme: Five Plead Guilty, NY AG Says
$4.4M Medicaid Fraud Scheme: Five Plead Guilty, NY AG Says Five Hudson Valley and Capital Region residents and seven transportation companies have admitted to stealing millions from Medicaid. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Thursday, Dec. 5, that five have pleaded guilty to stealing more than $4.4 million from New York’s Medicaid program through fake billing, illegal kickbacks, and engaging in money laundering and other fraudulent schemes to conceal their crimes.  Muhammad Rizwan Khan, 38, Muhammad Usman Khan, 40, and Farhan Khan, 29, all of Orange County, and their related companies pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Dec. 4, in Or…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
These Are Top 10 Richest Locales In New York, These Rankings Say These Are Top 10 Richest Locales In New York, These Rankings Say
These Are Top 10 Richest Locales In New York, These Rankings Say One county accounts for 70 percent of the Top 10 richest municipalities in New York. Nassau County has seven of the top 10. Coupled with a Suffolk County village in the Hamptons, Long Island locales make up eight of the state's richest 10. According to data from New York Demographics, the top 10 wealthiest municipalities, based on average household income, are: Brookville, Nassau County; Population: 2,947; Average Household Income: $617,235 Tuxedo Park, Orange County; Population: 624; Average Household Income: $600,705 Scarsdale, Westchester County; Population: 17…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Hudson Valley Lottery Player Strikes Gold With $500,000 Pick 10 Win Hudson Valley Lottery Player Strikes Gold With $500,000 Pick 10 Win
Hudson Valley Lottery Player Strikes Gold With $500,000 Pick 10 Win The New York Lottery announced that a lucky player in the region has hit the jackpot, winning a top prize of $500,000 in the Sunday, Dec. 1 PICK 10 game. The winning ticket was purchased in Orange County at the Smokes 4 Less store at 59 North Plank Road in Newburgh.  This fortunate win comes from the daily PICK 10 lottery game, where players choose ten numbers from a selection ranging from 1 to 80. The winner correctly chose 10 numbers out of 20 that were drawn to win the top prize. The winning numbers were: Winning numbers were: 01-02-03-04-06-10-11-13-18-20-27-28-29-30-35-…

SHARE

by Daily Voice
Schools
West Point Grad From Region Awarded Rhodes Scholarship West Point Grad From Region Awarded Rhodes Scholarship
West Point Grad From Region Awarded Rhodes Scholarship A West Point grad from the region is one of only 32 students nationwide to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford in the fall of 2025. Orange County resident Shepherd Dzina of Tuxedo Park and three other cadets were awarded the scholarship on Saturday, Nov. 16. Dzina is an economics major currently serving as the Brigade Executive Officer at West Point, managing logistics and operations for over 4,400 cadets. He also leads the Finance Club and conducts research with the Army’s Office of Economics and Manpower Analysis. He has interned with the US International Develop…

SHARE

by Daily Voice
News
Woman Nabbed In $8K Fraudulent Check Case At Hudson Valley Credit Union: Police Woman Nabbed In $8K Fraudulent Check Case At Hudson Valley Credit Union: Police
Woman Nabbed In $8K Fraudulent Check Case At Hudson Valley Credit Union: Police A 20-year-old woman has been charged with two felonies after cashing a fraudulent check worth over $8,000 at a credit union in the region, authorities said.  The investigation began in Putnam County on Friday, Nov. 15, when a deputy took a complaint from an investigator with the Hudson Valley Credit Union about a fraudulent check cashed at the Mahopac branch in Putnam County, according to the Sheriff’s Office. A Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) investigator reviewed surveillance footage and other evidence, which quickly led to authorities identifying Xiomara Ortiz, a 20-year-old …

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
News
Woman From Region Sentenced For Arson Of Residential Building With People Inside Woman From Region Sentenced For Arson Of Residential Building With People Inside
Woman From Region Sentenced For Arson Of Residential Building With People Inside In a significant court ruling, a woman from the region was sentenced to nine years in prison following her conviction for arson of a residential building. According to Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, Dawn Hulse, age 53, of Port Jervis, was sentenced on Wednesday, Nov. 20, to prison time plus an additional five years of supervised release.  This follows her guilty plea in Orange County Court to commit arson at a two-family residence in Port Jervis. Court documents reveal that on Tuesday, Jan. 25, Hulse disabled the smoke detector from the fuse box and barricaded the…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Person Narrowly Escapes Late-Night Apartment Blaze In Region Person Narrowly Escapes Late-Night Apartment Blaze In Region
Person Narrowly Escapes Late-Night Apartment Blaze In Region A late-night fire at an apartment complex in the region saw one individual's narrow escape and left three firefighters needing medical attention as local fire crews battled intense flames. The blaze occurred in Orange County around 10:45 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 39 Kenny Court in Newburgh. According to Mike Neppl, Chief of Staff of Newburgh, firefighters encountered heavy flames billowing from the building's second story.  A rapid response saw a second alarm issued as teams searched for reported individuals trapped inside. One person managed a harrowing escape by jumping from a seco…

SHARE

by Daily Voice
Police & Fire
22-Year-Old Killed In Crash In Region 22-Year-Old Killed In Crash In Region
22-Year-Old Killed In Crash In Region A 22-year-old man was killed and a woman injured followed a crash in the region. The collision occurred in Orange County around 10:50 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16, in Warwick near Pulaski Highway, according to Warwick Police Chief John Rader. The first officers to arrive at the scene began life-saving measures on the man from the village of Florida, Rader said. He was transported to St. Anthony's Hospital in Warwick, where he later died from his injuries. Police have not released the man's identity.  Warwick EMS took a 22-year-old woman who was a passenger in the vehicle to Garnet Health …

SHARE

by Daily Voice
News
New Update: Evacuations Continue As Wildfire Jumps Containment Lines In Region New Update: Evacuations Continue As Wildfire Jumps Containment Lines In Region
New Update: Evacuations Continue As Wildfire Jumps Containment Lines In Region Volunteer evacuations occurred in the Hudson Valley over the weekend due to a 5,000-acre wildfire that expanded winds and caused it to jump one of the firelines. The call to quickly leave the area occurred in Orange County on Saturday, Nov. 16, in the Edgemere Avenue and Wah Ta Wah Park sections of Greenwood Lake.  Earlier report - Hudson Valley Wildfire Prompts Voluntary Evacuations, Shelters Open For Residents, Pets Crews of regional police officers, led by the Town of Warwick and Greenwood Lake Police departments, executed the pre-planned evacuation, which was performed succ…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Wildfire In Region Prompts Voluntary Evacuations, Shelters Open For Residents, Pets Wildfire In Region Prompts Voluntary Evacuations, Shelters Open For Residents, Pets
Wildfire In Region Prompts Voluntary Evacuations, Shelters Open For Residents, Pets A wildfire spreading in the region has prompted voluntary evacuations as state and local agencies in New York work to control the blaze in the Hudson Valley. The fire, originating in Orange County near Jennings Creek and Sterling Forest, has crossed established containment lines, New York State Police said Saturday evening, Nov. 16.  Approximately 40 residences, from 32 to 120 Edgemere Ave., are under a voluntary evacuation order issued by the Town of Warwick Police Department. Residents in need of shelter can go to Greenwood Lake Middle School, which has opened its doors to evacuees a…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
Man Threatens To Kill Reporter, Her Family In NY, Feds Say Man Threatens To Kill Reporter, Her Family In NY, Feds Say
Man Threatens To Kill Reporter, Her Family In NY, Feds Say Anger over an unflattering news article prompted a man to threaten to kill a New York reporter and her family, federal prosecutors alleged. Austin Suman, age 35, now residing in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was charged in Westchester County with making a threat involving an explosive and related charges in White Plains federal court. Prosecutors said Suman contacted a Hudson Valley reporter based in Orange County via Facebook messenger on Friday, Nov. 8, threatening to “end” the woman’s family. He allegedly threatened to blow her house “off its foundation” and used multiple racial slurs. …

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
News
Man Headed To Prison For Sexually Abusing Child In Hudson Valley Man Headed To Prison For Sexually Abusing Child In Hudson Valley
Man Headed To Prison For Sexually Abusing Child In Hudson Valley A man has been sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a child under the age of 13 in the region. Sullivan County resident Anthony Villegas, 49, of Monticello, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in Orange County Court to nine years in prison, followed by 10 years of post-release supervision. According to Orange County District Attorney David Hoolver, Villegas admitted that between June 2010 and April 2011, he engaged in two or more acts of sexual conduct, which included at least one act of sexual intercourse with an individual who was under 13 years old. Hoovler thanked the New York State P…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Business
Save A Lot To Hold Grand Reopening Of Renovated Store In Region Save A Lot To Hold Grand Reopening Of Renovated Store In Region
Save A Lot To Hold Grand Reopening Of Renovated Store In Region Food shoppers will soon be able to cruise the aisles of a newly renovated Save A Lot grocery store in the region. Store officials said the store, located in Orange County at 97 Lake St. in Newburgh, has been fully remodeled to offer the best grocery shopping experience. To celebrate, a grand re-opening event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 16, to allow customers to check out the upgraded look and feel of the grocery store. Store officials said customers will notice a lighter, brighter, easier-to-shop footprint that includes new décor, fresh interior, and expanded inventory.  The manag…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
1 Killed, 1 Hospitalized In Chain-Reaction I-87 Crash 1 Killed, 1 Hospitalized In Chain-Reaction I-87 Crash
1 Killed, 1 Hospitalized In Chain-Reaction I-87 Crash One person was killed and another injured when a Nissan van traveling north on a busy stretch of I-87 rear-ended a bobtail 2016 Freightliner tractor-trailer that was slowed in the right lane of traffic.  The collision occurred in Orange County at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13, in the town of Woodbury. According to New York State Trooper Sgt. Jack Keller, an approaching work zone for line stripping, caused the slow traffic. The collision pushed the tractor-trailer forward and into the rear of a 1997 Freightliner tractor-trailer. The driver of the van was pronounced dead at the scene. …

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Obituaries
Van Ritshie, Beloved MTA Announcer, ‘Voice Of Hudson Valley’ Radio Host, Dies Van Ritshie, Beloved MTA Announcer, ‘Voice Of Hudson Valley’ Radio Host, Dies
Van Ritshie, Beloved MTA Announcer, ‘Voice Of Hudson Valley’ Radio Host, Dies If you’ve ever hopped a train or scanned a radio in these parts, chances are good you’ve heard the velvety smooth voice of Van Ritshie. The longtime Hudson Valley radio host and voiceover artist, whose voice guided MTA commuters for decades, died Sunday, Nov. 3, at a Dutchess County hospice center in Poughkeepsie. He was 80 years old. “The Family of Van Ritshie is sad to announce that ‘The Voice of the Hudson Valley’ has passed on to be with Jesus after a brief illness surrounded by family,” reads his obituary. After earning his communications degree at Queensborough Community College in Q…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
News
Hochul Provides Update On Wildfires In Region Hochul Provides Update On Wildfires In Region
Hochul Provides Update On Wildfires In Region As the wildfires continue to burn across the Hudson Valley, Gov. Kathy Hochul updated what's being done to mitigate and contain them. On Tuesday, Nov. 12, Hochul said a multi-agency response had been deployed to fires in Orange and Ulster counties in close coordination with local fire departments and first responders.  According to Hochul, an aerial investigation shows the Orange County fire named the Jennings Creek/Sterling State Park wildfire in New York and New Jersey now encompasses 5,000 acres, half of which is in New York, and is 10 percent contained in both states. The fire in …

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Online Threat Leads To Increased Security At School In Region Online Threat Leads To Increased Security At School In Region
Online Threat Leads To Increased Security At School In Region Parents and students can expect to see extra police on the campus of a middle school in the region after a threat of violence was made over social media. Enlarged City School District of Middletown Superintendent Amy Creeden said the threat was received late Monday, Nov. 11, in Orange County at Monhagen Middle School in the town of Wallkill. The threat, which Wallkill Police are actively investigating, was made on social media by an unidentified user who created a fake, well-known username in an attempt to gain attention. Creeden said the threat has been shared rapidly by and among students…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Obituaries
18-Year-Old Killed In Wildfire At NY State Park Remembered As HS Baseball Standout 18-Year-Old Killed In Wildfire At NY State Park Remembered As HS Baseball Standout
18-Year-Old Killed In Wildfire At NY State Park Remembered As HS Baseball Standout A teenage New York State Parks and Recreation worker who died battling one of the latest in a rash of wildfires in the region will be honored at a memorial service in his hometown. The blaze broke out in Orange County at Sterling Forest State Park in Tuxedo on Saturday, Nov. 9, and spread into parts of neighboring New Jersey. Rockland County resident Dariel Vasquez, age 18, suffered fatal injuries after a tree fell, according to the New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Vasquez suffered fatal injuries after a tree fell, according to the New York Office of Par…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
18-Year-Old NY State Parks Worker Killed Battling Wildfire 18-Year-Old NY State Parks Worker Killed Battling Wildfire
18-Year-Old NY State Parks Worker Killed Battling Wildfire A teenage New York State Parks and Recreation worker died battling one of the latest in a rash of wildfires in the region. Click here for a new, updated story - 18-Year-Old Killed In Wildfire At Sterling Forest Remembered As HS Baseball Standout The blaze broke out in Orange County at Sterling Forest State Park in Tuxedo on Saturday, Nov. 9, and spread into parts of neighboring New Jersey. He's been identified as 18-year-old Dariel Vasquez, police said. Vasquez suffered fatal injuries after a tree fell, according to the New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Pr…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
ID Released For HS Student Killed In Crash That Critically Injured 3 Others ID Released For HS Student Killed In Crash That Critically Injured 3 Others
ID Released For HS Student Killed In Crash That Critically Injured 3 Others School officials have released the identity of an 18-year-old killed in a crash in the region that critically injured three others. Teen Killed, 3 Critically Injured In Wallkill Crash In Orange County, Middletown High School senior Tifuci "TC" Reid died during the single-vehicle crash at 6:10 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, near 581 Midland Lakes Road in the Town of Wallkill.  "This loss has left us all in shock and sorrow, and words can hardly convey the depth of our grief at this time," Middletown Superintendent of Schools Amy Creeden said in a statement. According to Town of Wall…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Politics
Election 2024: Here's NY County-By-County Breakdown Of Presidential Vote Election 2024: Here's NY County-By-County Breakdown Of Presidential Vote
Election 2024: Here's NY County-By-County Breakdown Of Presidential Vote Overall New York State Vote Election Districts Reporting: 13,077 of 13,357  Kamala Harris (D) 54.64%, 4,328,017 votes Donald Trump (R) 43.26%, 3,426,964 votes Breakdown: Albany County Harris 61.01% 87,849 Trump 36.48% 52,532 Allegany County Trump 71.63% 13,102 Harris 27.65% 5,058 Bronx County Harris 71.25% 244,385 Trump 26.69% 91,542 Broome County Trump 49.34% 42,644 Harris 48.70% 42,093 Cattaraugus County Trump 65.79% 21,936 Harris 32.73% 10,914 Cayuga County Trump 55.83% 19,959 Harris 42.74% 15,278 Chautauqua County T…

SHARE

by Daily Voice
Police & Fire
Teen Killed, 3 Critically Injured In Crash In Region Teen Killed, 3 Critically Injured In Crash In Region
Teen Killed, 3 Critically Injured In Crash In Region A teen was killed, and three others were critically injured in a single-vehicle crash in the region. ID Released For HS Student Killed In Hudson Valley Crash That Left 3 Others Critically Injured The collision occurred in Orange County at 6:10 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, near 581 Midland Lakes Road in Wallkill. According to Wallkill Police Deputy Chief Antonino Spano, when officers responded, they found a vehicle off the roadway into a telephone pole and three occupants inside the car, as well as a victim on the roadway. The vehicle's driver, an 18-year-old Wallkill resident, was suf…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
News
Fire Company Financial Secretary In Region Admits Stealing $17K, DA Says Fire Company Financial Secretary In Region Admits Stealing $17K, DA Says
Fire Company Financial Secretary In Region Admits Stealing $17K, DA Says A financial secretary for a fire company in the region has admitted to stealing more than $17,000 from the department.  Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced on Friday, Nov. 1, that Lynn T. Simpson, age 43, of Wallkill, pled guilty to grand larceny in the Third Degree in connection with the theft of $17,947 from the parade fund of the Washington Heights Fire Company in Middletown.  As part of the plea agreement, Simpson will repay all the stolen money, Hoovler said. The department was scheduled to host a parade in September 2023, which includ…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
5 Capital Region Men Nabbed On Gun Charges, Police Say 5 Capital Region Men Nabbed On Gun Charges, Police Say
5 Capital Region Men Nabbed On Gun Charges, Police Say Five people were charged with allegedly having loaded weapons during a Hudson Valley traffic stop. The incident occurred in Orange County around 3:40 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, in Wallkill. According to Lt. Robert McLymore of the Wallkill Police, the department, along with the New York State Police, performed a vehicle stop at Exit 116 on Route 17, which led to the arrest of five of the five suspects. A subsequent investigation resulted in the recovery of three loaded firearms, McLymore said. Those charged included: Capital Region resident Shawn A. Briggs, age 35, of Troy. …

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
News
Man From Region Admits Sex Abuse Of Child Under 11, Faces 18 Years In Prison, DA Says Man From Region Admits Sex Abuse Of Child Under 11, Faces 18 Years In Prison, DA Says
Man From Region Admits Sex Abuse Of Child Under 11, Faces 18 Years In Prison, DA Says A 73-year-old man has pleaded guilty to sex abuse of a child under the age of 11 for several years. Orange County resident Allan Bressler of Pine Bush made his plea in court on Thursday, Oct. 3, said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. At the time of the plea, the District Attorney’s Office said it would recommend Bressler be sentenced to 18 years in state prison, followed by 10 years of post-release supervision.  At the time that he pleaded guilty, Bressler admitted that between March 2008 and February 2013, in the vicinity of his Pine Bush home, he engaged in two or…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Albany Man Nabbed On Weapons Charges During Stop In Region: Police Albany Man Nabbed On Weapons Charges During Stop In Region: Police
Albany Man Nabbed On Weapons Charges During Stop In Region: Police Five people were nabbed on alleged weapons-related charges during a traffic stop in the region. The incident occurred in Sullivan County at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, on Route 17K in the town of Bloomingburg.  Trooper Steven Nevel said troopers noticed a 2017 GMC Yukon traveling westbound on 17K, violating numerous vehicle and traffic laws. Troopers, with the assistance of the Wallkill Police Department in Orange County, made a traffic stop and identified the driver as Capital Region resident Albert Blowers, age 48, of Rensselaer, Nevel said.  While interviewing Blowers, troop…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes