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Niskayuna, NY

NY National Guard Members Killed In Triple-Fatal Crash Return Home; Funerals Set NY National Guard Members Killed In Triple-Fatal Crash Return Home; Funerals Set
NY National Guard Members Killed In Triple-Fatal Crash Return Home; Funerals Set Two New York National Guard members killed in a helicopter crash on the US-Mexico border that claimed three lives received a hero’s welcome in their hometowns. The remains of Casey Frankoski and John Grassia arrived at Albany County’s Army aviation facility in Latham at around 3 p.m. Monday, March 18. Gov. Kathy Hochul and other local leaders stood in silence as flag-draped caskets carrying the 28-year-old Frankoski and 30-year-old Grassia were loaded into waiting hearses. Earlier Report: National Guard Solider From NY ID'd As Sole Survivor Of Triple-Fatal Crash “The service and sa…
'Groomer' Admits Filming 12-Year-Old Girl In Bathroom, Buying Her Sex Toy: Capital Region DA 'Groomer' Admits Filming 12-Year-Old Girl In Bathroom, Buying Her Sex Toy: Capital Region DA
'Groomer' Admits Filming 12-Year-Old Girl In Bathroom, Buying Her Sex Toy: Capital Region DA A man from the region has confessed to secretly filming a 12-year-old girl in the bathroom and engaging in other “grooming” behaviors, prosecutors said. Schenectady County resident Ramar Martin, of Niskayuna, pleaded guilty to felony unlawful surveillance in Schenectady County Court on Monday, March 11. According to prosecutors, Niskayuna Police began investigating when the young victim, who is known to Martin, came forward with several disturbing accusations against the man, including that he had purchased her a sex toy and lingerie. The girl told police that Martin also spoke to her whil…
Fence Builder Ghosts Several Capital Region Homeowners After Taking Thousands, Police Say Fence Builder Ghosts Several Capital Region Homeowners After Taking Thousands, Police Say
Fence Builder Ghosts Several Capital Region Homeowners After Taking Thousands, Police Say The owner of a fence building company is accused of taking thousands of dollars from area homeowners for jobs that were never completed. Schenectady County resident James Butler, age 30, of Glenville, was arrested on Friday, Feb. 23 on a felony charge of grand larceny. Glenville Police said Butler, who owns and operates “Trust a Fence,” accepted over $7,000 from a Glenville homeowner to purchase fencing material. However, the job was never finished. An investigation found several similar claims that are being investigated by the Scotia, Colonie, Guilderland, and Niskayuna police department…
Capital Region Man Admits Storing Child Porn On USB Flash Drive Capital Region Man Admits Storing Child Porn On USB Flash Drive
Capital Region Man Admits Storing Child Porn On USB Flash Drive A 40-year-old man from the region could spend decades behind bars for having child pornography. Schenectady County resident Aaron Griesche, of Niskayuna, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in Albany federal court on Thursday, Jan. 11. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, Griesche admitted to storing illicit images of children on a USB flash drive that was found in his home in July 2021. He confessed to purchasing the memory stick online and then transferring videos depicting child sex abuse from the internet to the device. The case was investigated b…
ShopRite To Close 5 NY Locations: Here's Rundown ShopRite To Close 5 NY Locations: Here's Rundown
ShopRite To Close 5 NY Locations: Here's Rundown Supermarket chain ShopRite is closing five stores in New York. The closures, scheduled for early December, are all in the Capital Region, according to a report by Winsight Grocery Business: Albany, Colonie, Niskayuna, Slingerlands, and North Greenbush. The closures are due to underperforming sales, the report said. ShopRite, which launched in the mid-1940s, has stores in six states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.  Earlier report - Rite Aid Announces 20 NY Stores Slated For Closure After Declaring Bankruptcy Click here to rea…
Cold Case Confession: NY Man Admits Stabbing Woman To Death 29 Years Later, Police Say Cold Case Confession: NY Man Admits Stabbing Woman To Death 29 Years Later, Police Say
Cold Case Confession: NY Man Admits Stabbing Woman To Death 29 Years Later, Police Say Nearly 30 years after a woman was found stabbed to death inside her home, a New York man has confessed to her murder following a DNA breakthrough. Schenectady County resident Stephen Smerk, age 51, of Niskayuna, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the November 1994 killing of Robin Lawrence in Springfield, Virginia, police announced Monday, Sept. 11. The 37-year-old mother was found dead from multiple stab wounds three days after the killing, on Nov. 20, 1994, according to police. Her 2-year-old daughter was also found in the home days later, unharmed. Investigators devel…
Cold Case: Capital Region Man Confesses To Grisly 1994 Murder, Police Say Cold Case: Capital Region Man Confesses To Grisly 1994 Murder, Police Say
Cold Case: Capital Region Man Confesses To Grisly 1994 Murder, Police Say A 51-year-old man from the region has been arrested in a Virginia homicide, cracking a 29-year cold case, authorities announced. Schenectady County resident Stephen Smerk, of Niskayuna, is facing second-degree manslaughter in the Nov. 20, 1994 death of 37-year-old Robin Lawrence, who was found dead in a Springfield, Virginia home, Fairfax County police said. Smerk is believed to have stabbed Lawrence inside of her home, when he was 22 years old, authorities said. In 1994, a DNA profile was developed; however, at the time there was no match in any system for the recovered DNA. In the …
Cook It Yourself: New Eatery In Capital Region With Unique Model Cited For 'Outstanding' Food Cook It Yourself: New Eatery In Capital Region With Unique Model Cited For 'Outstanding' Food
Cook It Yourself: New Eatery In Capital Region With Unique Model Cited For 'Outstanding' Food A new restaurant in the region that lets diners don the chef hat is earning high praise days after opening. Schenectady County eatery Volcano Asian BBQ and Hot Pot, located in Niskayuna at 2309 Nott Street, held its soft opening on Thursday, Aug. 3. “Get ready to ignite your taste buds and embrace the sizzle and simmer of VOLCANO Asian BBQ and Hot Pot!” the company said on Facebook. Under the direction of owner Briana Lin, the restaurant offers up a unique “hot pot” dining experience in which customers prepare their own meals right at their table. Think fondue but with broth instead of ch…
Former Student Teacher Raped 16-Year-Old From Capital Region, Jury Finds Former Student Teacher Raped 16-Year-Old From Capital Region, Jury Finds
Former Student Teacher Raped 16-Year-Old From Capital Region, Jury Finds A former student teacher in the region is facing years in prison after raping an underage girl. Nikos Assimakopoulos, age 25, of Albany, was convicted of rape and other charges by a Schenectady County jury on Friday, July 28, following a four-day trial. According to prosecutors, Assimakopoulos began messaging the 16-year-old victim on social media in November 2019, while he worked as a student teacher at Catholic Central High School in Troy. At the time, he was 21 years old and pursuing a degree in English education from the College of Saint Rose. The two eventually met in Niskayuna and r…
Body Of Missing 63-Year-Old Found In Capital Region River Body Of Missing 63-Year-Old Found In Capital Region River
Body Of Missing 63-Year-Old Found In Capital Region River The search for a missing 63-year-old man from the region ended in tragedy when he was found dead in a local river. Emergency crews in Schenectady County recovered a body in the Mohawk River in Niskayuna on Thursday, May 25, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. The body was determined to be that of Gary Clemons, of Scotia, who hadn’t been seen since Monday, May 22. He was reported missing two days later. Search crews later found Clemons’ vehicle near the Schenectady Yacht Club, near where his boat was docked, deputies said. An autopsy will be done to determine an official ca…
41-Year-Old's Body Pulled From River In Capital Region 41-Year-Old's Body Pulled From River In Capital Region
41-Year-Old's Body Pulled From River In Capital Region The search for a missing 41-year-old man has ended in tragedy after his body was pulled from a river in the region. Emergency crews in Rensselaer County were called just after 4 p.m. Saturday, April 1, with reports that a kayaker had spotted a body floating in the Mohawk River, near Lions Park in Niskayuna, according to State Police. A short time later, members of the Niskayuna police and fire departments responded to the scene, where they recovered the man’s body. On Monday, April 3, troopers identified the man as 41-year-old Kevin White, of the Village of Canajoharie in Montgomery County…
Drunk Driver Admits Causing Wrong-Way Crash In Region That Killed 'Glue To Our Families' Drunk Driver Admits Causing Wrong-Way Crash In Region That Killed 'Glue To Our Families'
Drunk Driver Admits Causing Wrong-Way Crash In Region That Killed 'Glue To Our Families' More than a year after a 68-year-old woman was killed in a wrong-way crash in the region by a drunk driver, the man responsible has admitted fault. Mark Brodie, age 63, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to a host of charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide, in Schenectady County Court on Thursday, Feb. 9, in the death of Denise Guthinger. Prosecutors said Brodie got behind the wheel on Oct. 29, 2021 after drinking alcohol and taking several controlled substances, including xanax and oxycodone. Shortly after 6 p.m., while driving in the Town of Niskayuna, he crossed the center line of…
Ex-Husband Breaks In, Attacks Woman's New BF With Wine Bottle In Capital Region, Police Say Ex-Husband Breaks In, Attacks Woman's New BF With Wine Bottle In Capital Region, Police Say
Ex-Husband Breaks In, Attacks Woman's New BF With Wine Bottle In Capital Region, Police Say An angry ex-husband is accused of breaking into a woman’s home in the region and assaulting her new boyfriend, authorities said. Emergency crews in Saratoga County were called just before 1 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, with reports of an assault at a home in Ballston Spa, located on Victory Circle, according to Ballston Spa Police. Investigators determined that William Ferrara, age 34, of Niskayuna, had entered the home without permission and assaulted his ex-wife’s new boyfriend with a wine bottle before fleeing the scene. The victim suffered injuries to the back of his head and body. He was t…
NY Engineer Sentenced For Stealing GE's Trade Secrets To Benefit China NY Engineer Sentenced For Stealing GE's Trade Secrets To Benefit China
NY Engineer Sentenced For Stealing GE's Trade Secrets To Benefit China A New York engineer is heading to federal prison for conspiring to steal General Electric’s trade secrets to benefit the Chinese government. Schenectady County resident Xiaoqing Zheng, age 59, of Niskayuna, was sentenced to two years behind bars in federal court in Albany on Tuesday, Jan. 3. It followed his March 2022 conviction on a charge of conspiracy to commit economic espionage. After a four-week trial, the jury either acquitted Zheng, or could not reach a unanimous verdict, on 11 other charges. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, Zheng worked at GE Po…
Former Marine From Hudson Valley Dies At Age 46 Former Marine From Hudson Valley Dies At Age 46
Former Marine From Hudson Valley Dies At Age 46 A Hudson Valley native and former Marine who died at the age of 46 is being remembered for his giving heart and love for his family. Putnam County resident Russell Oubina, of Mahopac, died on Saturday, Oct. 8, according to his obituary.  Oubina was born in the Schenectady County town of Niskayuna and graduated from Mahopac High School in 1994.  He then earned a degree from the University of San Diego and served in the Marine Corps from 2000 to 2012, his obituary reads.  Oubina was later the owner and chief executive officer of Semper Fi Courier Services, LLC in Ma…
Traffic Stop Leads To Felony Drug Charges For Capital District Man Traffic Stop Leads To Felony Drug Charges For Capital District Man
Traffic Stop Leads To Felony Drug Charges For Capital District Man A traffic stop in the Capital District ended with a man jailed on felony drug charges, authorities said. State Police in Saratoga County stopped William Boyd, age 38, of Niskayuna, at around 9:40 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29, on I-87 in the town of Moreau. Troopers had initially stopped Boyd for violating vehicle and traffic laws, police said. During their interaction, however, troopers determined that he was in possession of a large quantity of cocaine, according to police. Boyd was arrested on felony charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was arraigned at the Moreau Town …
Moose On Loose In Capital District Moose On Loose In Capital District
Moose On Loose In Capital District Officials are warning the public after several moose sightings in Schenectady County, CBS6 in Albany reports. The animal has been spotted multiple times along the Mohawk River, including the area of Providence and Hillside avenues in Niskayuna, the outlet reports. Residents are warned not to feed or approach the moose should they come across it. The Department of Environment Conservation (DEC) said sightings or concerns can be reported to the Unified Communications Center at 518-630-0911. Carrying the distinction of being the largest land mammal in New York, moose can weigh up to 1,200 po…
New Restaurant In Region Draws Comparisons To 'Cheers' New Restaurant In Region Draws Comparisons To 'Cheers'
New Restaurant In Region Draws Comparisons To 'Cheers' A new restaurant in the region is already seeing praise from online reviews, drawing comparisons to the popular television series "Cheers." Schenectady County eatery The Broken Inn opened in March at 2209 Nott St. in Niskayuna. The restaurant's menu includes a selection of sandwiches, such as a Garden Veggie Wrap, Grilled Cheese and Ham, along with the Scott's Turkey Club. Guests can also order from the brunch menu, which includes Eggs Benedict, Stuffed French Toast, and more. The restaurant has been praised for its sandwiches and selection of drinks offered at the bar. "Small place…