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Lifestyle
Support Rising For 'Generous' Owner Of Capital Region Business Heavily Damaged In Fire Support Rising For 'Generous' Owner Of Capital Region Business Heavily Damaged In Fire
Support Rising For 'Generous' Owner Of Capital Region Business Heavily Damaged In Fire In her most recent Facebook post, Shelly Wojcik asked the community to drop off donations to help those displaced by a residential fire. Now, the Albany County business owner, who runs Shelly’s Cut and Style in Cohoes, is in need of help herself after an apartment fire above her shop in late July 2023 caused thousands of dollars in damage. Though firefighters were able to put out the flames, their efforts sent a cascade of water onto the floors below and into her business, Wojcik’s daughter, Abby Houser, recounted on a GoFundMe. “While emergency responders diffused the fire, customers and…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
School Counselor, Youth Coach In Capital Region Took 'Compromising' Photos Of Child, Police Say School Counselor, Youth Coach In Capital Region Took 'Compromising' Photos Of Child, Police Say
School Counselor, Youth Coach In Capital Region Took 'Compromising' Photos Of Child, Police Say A middle school guidance counselor is among two people from the region who are accused of secretly taking inappropriate photos of a child. Albany County residents Kristy Koldis, age 45, and Joshua White, age 46, both of Latham, were arrested Friday, July 28, after troopers were tipped off that inappropriate pictures of a child were being shared online. Investigators determined that the pair had taken photos of a child without their knowledge while the victim was in “compromising positions,” according to New York State Police. The photos involved in the case were not taken on any school pro…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
25-Year-Old Dies Following Single-Car Crash In Capital Region 25-Year-Old Dies Following Single-Car Crash In Capital Region
25-Year-Old Dies Following Single-Car Crash In Capital Region A 25-year-old man has died following a single-car crash in the region.  Emergency crews in Albany County were called at around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 23, for a crash in the town of New Scotland, on Upper Flat Rock Road. An investigation by New York State Police found that David Loucks, of Schenectady, drove off the roadway and struck a tree. Despite life-saving efforts, Loucks was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said. No other vehicles were involved and there were no additional reports of injuries. State Police said the investigation into the crash is ongoing. 

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Winning $1M Powerball Ticket Sold At Capital Region Convenience Store Winning $1M Powerball Ticket Sold At Capital Region Convenience Store
Winning $1M Powerball Ticket Sold At Capital Region Convenience Store While it wasn’t the jackpot they were hoping for, one lucky player in the region still hit it big in the Powerball drawing held Wednesday, July 19. A second-prize-winning Powerball ticket worth $1 million was sold in Albany County in Latham, at the Cumberland Farms located at 1159 Troy Schenectady Road, New York Lottery announced. The winning ticket matched all five numbers minus the Powerball. Wednesday night’s winning numbers are 7-10-11-13-24 and the Powerball is 24. One winning ticket for the estimated $1.08 billion jackpot was sold in California, at a convenience store in downtown Lo…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Winning $50K Powerball Ticket Sold At Capital Region Supermarket Winning $50K Powerball Ticket Sold At Capital Region Supermarket
Winning $50K Powerball Ticket Sold At Capital Region Supermarket A winning Powerball ticket worth $50,000 was sold at a supermarket in the region, New York Lottery officials announced. The third-prize-winning ticket for the Monday, July 17 drawing was purchased in Albany County in Loudonville, at the Price Chopper located at 475 Albany Shaker Road. It has four matching numbers plus the Powerball. The winning numbers for Monday’s drawing are: 5-8-9-17-41 and the Powerball is 21. With nobody winning the top prize, the jackpot has grown to an estimated $1 billion, with a cash value of $516.8 million. Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, a…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Embattled Builder's Undue Lien Cost Capital Region Homeowner Over $140K, Police Say Embattled Builder's Undue Lien Cost Capital Region Homeowner Over $140K, Police Say
Embattled Builder's Undue Lien Cost Capital Region Homeowner Over $140K, Police Say The owner of a construction company in the region already accused of defrauding his contractors is facing more charges after allegedly placing an undue lien on a homeowner’s property, costing them over $100,000. Albany County resident Aaron Godlewski, age 31, of Altamont, was arrested again Thursday, July 13, following an investigation by Saratoga Springs Police in Saratoga County. According to police, the victim hired Godlewski’s company, Godlewski Builders, to build a home in Saratoga Springs. Earlier Report: Altamont Home Builder Defrauded Multiple Contractors, Police Say The vic…

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
Farmer Killed Alongside Daughter, 2 Others In Capital Region Fire Remembered As 'Kind Soul' Farmer Killed Alongside Daughter, 2 Others In Capital Region Fire Remembered As 'Kind Soul'
Farmer Killed Alongside Daughter, 2 Others In Capital Region Fire Remembered As 'Kind Soul' Tributes are pouring in for a beloved farmer who was killed alongside his 5-year-old daughter in a house fire in the region that also claimed the lives of two others. Albany County resident Arthur Neander Jr., age 35, died early Saturday, July 8, when flames tore through his Town of New Scotland home on Normanskill Road, according to sheriff’s officials. Multiple fire departments responded to the home after a woman called 911 saying she and a child were trapped inside a bedroom and could not open the window because it was blocked by an air conditioning unit. Authorities later confirmed tha…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
'Courageous' 14-Year-Old Sex Abuse Victim Helps Put Capital Region Rapist In Prison 'Courageous' 14-Year-Old Sex Abuse Victim Helps Put Capital Region Rapist In Prison
'Courageous' 14-Year-Old Sex Abuse Victim Helps Put Capital Region Rapist In Prison A 29-year-old man from the region is facing years behind bars after admitting that he sexually abused a minor. Albany County resident William Maguire, of Voorheesville, pleaded guilty to multiple sex crimes in Saratoga County Court on Friday, July 7. Maguire admitted that he forcibly sexually assaulted the 14-year-old victim while they were sleeping at a home in the town of Providence in January 2023. Afterward, he told the victim not to say anything. “The victim courageously reported the assault shortly after it happened and responded to Albany Medical Center where a medical examination w…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Road Rage Shooting: Driver Opens Fire On NY Freeway, Causing Both Cars To Crash, Police Say Road Rage Shooting: Driver Opens Fire On NY Freeway, Causing Both Cars To Crash, Police Say
Road Rage Shooting: Driver Opens Fire On NY Freeway, Causing Both Cars To Crash, Police Say A road rage shooting that sparked a two-vehicle crash on a highway in the region ended with a 32-year-old man in handcuffs. The Albany County incident happened at around 4:20 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, on I-90 in Albany, according to New York State Police. Troopers said Jordan McCullen, of East Nassau in Rensselaer County, was driving his Toyota Camry on the freeway when he got into a road rage altercation with another driver in a Lexus sedan. McCullen reportedly brandished a gun before shooting in the victim’s direction. The cars then crashed into one another, disabling both. There were no r…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Sleeping 23-Year-Old Driver Crashes Into Hudson Valley Creek Sleeping 23-Year-Old Driver Crashes Into Hudson Valley Creek
Sleeping 23-Year-Old Driver Crashes Into Hudson Valley Creek A 23-year-old man who allegedly fell asleep at the wheel of his 2010 Ford SUV ended up having to be rescued from a fast-moving creek. The incident took place in Dutchess County on Monday, July 3 on Route 9G near the intersection of Lasher Road in the town of Red Hook. Red Hook Police said officers responded to a call for help after the driver found himself trapped on the roof of his SUV which was partially submerged in a creek with fast-moving water. Members of the Tivoli Fire Department were able to quickly rescue the trapped driver and he was transported by EMS to Mid Hudson Regional Ho…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Pie King: Owner Of NY Pizzeria Takes First Place At Pizza World Cup Pie King: Owner Of NY Pizzeria Takes First Place At Pizza World Cup
Pie King: Owner Of NY Pizzeria Takes First Place At Pizza World Cup A pizzeria owner in New York is riding high after bringing home the gold from the Pizza World Cup. Albany County’s Anthony Berghela, owner of Romo’s Pizza in Glenmont, took first place in the Traditional American Division at the World Pizza Championship in Naples, Italy on Wednesday, June 21. The largest pizza competition in Italy, the event features pizzaiolos (pizza makers) from over 20 countries who are judged on preparation, taste, bake, and presentation. “Congratulations to Anthony Berghela of Romo's Pizza and Restaurant, who brought home the Pizza World Cup to Albany County!” Count…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Cocaine, Ecstasy, Adderall, Oh My: Drug Dealer From Region Busted Third Time This Year: PD Cocaine, Ecstasy, Adderall, Oh My: Drug Dealer From Region Busted Third Time This Year: PD
Cocaine, Ecstasy, Adderall, Oh My: Drug Dealer From Region Busted Third Time This Year: PD A convicted drug dealer from the region with an “extensive” criminal history has been arrested on felony drug charges for the third time this year. Albany County resident Phillip Harris, age 46, was arrested near his Cohoes home on Wednesday, June 28, during a multi-agency investigation into his alleged drug activity. Officers were gearing up to execute a search warrant at Harris’ Remsen Street apartment when they spotted him inside a vehicle two blocks away, according to Cohoes Police. The driver of the vehicle, Catherina Mayotte, was found to have a suspended driver’s license. Officers …

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by Michael Mashburn