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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

News
Lead-Laced Debris Illegally Dumped At Montgomery Farm, Officials Say Lead-Laced Debris Illegally Dumped At Montgomery Farm, Officials Say
Lead-Laced Debris Illegally Dumped At Montgomery Farm, Officials Say Authorities caught a trucking company illegally dumping contaminated construction debris, including lead materials, at an Orange County farm, officials announced.  The incident happened on Thursday, Jan. 9, when a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officer saw a tri-axle dump truck unloading material at the back of a farm in the town of Montgomery. The property owner was seen grading other piles of material at the site, officials said on Wednesday, Jan. 29.  More Environmental Conservation officers responded to the scene, where they determined that the debris …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Bird Flu Found In Goose At Farm In Hudson Valley: Here's Who Is At Risk Bird Flu Found In Goose At Farm In Hudson Valley: Here's Who Is At Risk
Bird Flu Found In Goose At Farm In Hudson Valley: Here's Who Is At Risk A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, has been confirmed in a wild goose found in Putnam County, health officials announced. The deceased goose was discovered at the end of December at the Farm and Wildlife Center at Green Chimneys in Brewster, which promptly ensured the animal was tested, the Putnam County Department of Health announced on Friday, Jan. 17. While the virus has been spreading globally among wild birds, commercial poultry, and backyard flocks since 2022, the risk to the general public remains low, according to the health department.&n…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Bald Eagle Sightings To Increase In NY: Here's Best Places To Spot America's Bird Bald Eagle Sightings To Increase In NY: Here's Best Places To Spot America's Bird
Bald Eagle Sightings To Increase In NY: Here's Best Places To Spot America's Bird Winter is the best time to see bald eagles in New York, and the Hudson Valley offers some of the top spots for viewing these iconic birds of prey, according to conservation experts. Nature lovers hoping to catch a glimpse of bald eagles soaring through New York skies should head outdoors during the winter months, as December, January, and February are the top times to see these majestic birds, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced in a social media post on Monday, Dec. 23.  This is because bald eagles are most active during the winter, with peak numbers …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Cops ID Pilot, Passenger Killed In I-684 Plane Crash At NY/CT Line Cops ID Pilot, Passenger Killed In I-684 Plane Crash At NY/CT Line
Cops ID Pilot, Passenger Killed In I-684 Plane Crash At NY/CT Line Authorities have released the identities of both the pilot who survived and the passenger who died in a small plane crash that shut down Interstate 684 at the border of Fairfield, CT and Westchester, CT counties for hours. Kalmen Goldberger, 26, of Linden, NJ, had reported engine trouble before the single-engine Tecnam P-2008 went down in the center median of I-684 near Exit 2 in Harrison Thursday, Dec. 12 around 7:15 p.m., officials said. Goldberger survived, however, his passenger, Jacob Yankele Friedman, 32, of the Rockland County hamlet of Monsey, was pronounced dead at the sc…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Massive Wildfire In Hudson Valley Spreads To 600 Acres Massive Wildfire In Hudson Valley Spreads To 600 Acres
Massive Wildfire In Hudson Valley Spreads To 600 Acres A massive wildfire in the Hudson Valley is now 95 percent contained as firefighters continue establishing a control line to try and gain full containment.  The Whitehouse Fire in Ulster County in Denning had grown to 630 areas as of late Monday, Nov. 11. Metzger said Tuesday, Nov. 12, firefighters from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and more than 200 volunteer firefighters from Ulster, Sullivan, and Greene counties continue to work toward full containment. "Burn bans are in effect in every municipality in Ulster County, and outdoor burning is prohibited," Ulst…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Euthanasia Of NY's 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation Euthanasia Of NY's 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation
Euthanasia Of NY's 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation Outrage is swirling after New York wildlife officials seized and later euthanized beloved social media sensation “Peanut” the squirrel. Chemung County resident Mark Longo, of Elmira, took to Instagram Wednesday, Oct 30, telling his 581,000 followers that Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers had seized the animal, which he rescued in 2017 after its mother was struck by a car. “Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness,” he wrote. “To the people who called (DEC), there’s a special place in hell for you.” In a…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Bear Caught On Camera In Hudson Valley: Here's Where Bear Caught On Camera In Hudson Valley: Here's Where
Bear Caught On Camera In Hudson Valley: Here's Where Residents in Northern Westchester, stay bear-aware: one of the massive animals was seen strolling behind a home in the area, officials said.  The bear was seen walking behind a residence in North Salem on Titicus Road near the Baxter Preserve, North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas said in a post on social media. The sighting was captured by a camera used by enthusiasts to take pictures of animals, Lucas said.  "Please take your bird feeders in!" Lucas wrote on social media.  According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, residents can protect themse…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Massive, Parasite-Carrying Snail Found In New York Park Massive, Parasite-Carrying Snail Found In New York Park
Massive, Parasite-Carrying Snail Found In New York Park Although a large, squirrel-sized snail found in a New York park may have looked harmless, it posed enough of a danger to people and the environment that its discovery prompted a police response.  The invasive giant African land snail was discovered within Brooklyn's Prospect Park in early May following a report from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  After it was seen in the park, it was surrendered to the City Parks department in a box, officials said, promoting a response from …

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by Ben Crnic
Lifestyle
Bear Takes Stroll On Porch At Northern Westchester Home: Photos Bear Takes Stroll On Porch At Northern Westchester Home: Photos
Bear Takes Stroll On Porch At Northern Westchester Home: Photos A Northern Westchester resident was lucky enough to get a surprise visit from a black bear at her home.  The bear was seen on the porch of a Bedford residence on Hissarlik Way on Saturday, July 27, according to the home's resident.  In photos of the sighting provided to Daily Voice, the bear is seen approaching the homeowner's glass door and peering inside the home.  Daily Voice According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, those who encounter bears should not approach them and should stay inside or in a safe location until it leaves the ar…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Bear Seen 'Making Beeline' For Garbage Cans In Northern Westchester: Here's Where Bear Seen 'Making Beeline' For Garbage Cans In Northern Westchester: Here's Where
Bear Seen 'Making Beeline' For Garbage Cans In Northern Westchester: Here's Where A hungry bear was seen hunting for trash cans in a Northern Westchester neighborhood, officials said. In an announcement on Monday, July 29, North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas said that several bear sightings had been reported around the town.  Lucas added that the most recent sighting was reported in the area of Yerkes Road. According to Lucas, the bear was "making a beeline to garbage cans left outdoors and especially bird feeders."  "One bear can cover the entire town looking for food," Lucas said.  According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservati…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Aggressive, Hungry Black Bear Returns To NY Home Shortly After Destroying Kitchen Aggressive, Hungry Black Bear Returns To NY Home Shortly After Destroying Kitchen
Aggressive, Hungry Black Bear Returns To NY Home Shortly After Destroying Kitchen An aggressive black bear apparently searching for food destroyed the kitchen of an upstate New York home and then returned to the residence shortly after the break in. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said an officer received a report of the incident in  Washington County on Friday, June 21 in the town of White Creek, located about halfway between Saratoga Springs and Albany. While the officer was at the residence reviewing photos of the bear, the animal returned to the yard and became aggressive.  DEC wildlife experts provided technical …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Person Flips Canoe, Then Pulled From Water In Dramatic Hudson Valley Rescue Person Flips Canoe, Then Pulled From Water In Dramatic Hudson Valley Rescue
Person Flips Canoe, Then Pulled From Water In Dramatic Hudson Valley Rescue A person was rescued from the water after they were found clinging to a kayak in a Hudson Valley pond. The rescue happened in Putnam County at around 2:40 p.m. on Sunday, July 7, when a forest ranger with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation saw a person in the water while patrolling White Pond in the town of Kent.  According to the DEC, the person had rolled their canoe and could not flip it back over. Although they could not swim, they were able to grab a nearby kayak.  The ranger then attached a throw rope to the person in the water and tied it to t…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Several Bear Sightings Reported Throughout This Hudson Valley County: Here's How To Avoid Them Several Bear Sightings Reported Throughout This Hudson Valley County: Here's How To Avoid Them
Several Bear Sightings Reported Throughout This Hudson Valley County: Here's How To Avoid Them Several bear sightings have been reported throughout a Hudson Valley county as they emerge from their winter dens.  The sightings were reported over several days by residents in multiple areas of Putnam County, according to an announcement by the Putnam County SPCA on Tuesday, June 4.  Although the organization did not identify specific areas where the bears were spotted, it did explain that sightings have increased as the bears search for food following their emergence from their winter dens with depleted fat reserves. According to the New York State Department of Environmental …

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by Ben Crnic
Lifestyle
Where's Albert? 11-Foot Gator's Seizure From NY Home Sparks Backlash: 'Kind Of Messed Up' Where's Albert? 11-Foot Gator's Seizure From NY Home Sparks Backlash: 'Kind Of Messed Up'
Where's Albert? 11-Foot Gator's Seizure From NY Home Sparks Backlash: 'Kind Of Messed Up' Where is Albert the alligator? That’s what a New York man and his thousands of supporters are demanding to know after state wildlife officials seized his 11-foot, 750-pound gator from his home. Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers showed up to Tony Cavallaro’s Erie County residence in the town Hamburg on Wednesday, March 13, after learning that he had built an addition to his home and installed an in-ground swimming pool to keep the gator. Officers accused Cavallaro of allowing members of the public, including children, to get into the water and pet Albert while the all…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
57-Year-Old Man Found Dead On Wilderness Trail In Region 57-Year-Old Man Found Dead On Wilderness Trail In Region
57-Year-Old Man Found Dead On Wilderness Trail In Region A 57-year-old man was found dead on a mountain trail in the region after being reported missing by his wife. The incident occurred in Sullivan County around 1 a.m. Tuesday, March 12, in Narrowsburg on the Tusten Mountain Trail. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Ranger Schweider was alerted to a search for the missing man from Queens County in Maspeth who had last been seen two nights earlier by his wife, said DEC officials. The man had left a note saying he was driving to New Jersey to get a part for their furnace. On March 12 at 1 a.m., the man's family p…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
New Update: Bear Killed After Attacking Child In Northern Westchester Tests Negative For Rabies New Update: Bear Killed After Attacking Child In Northern Westchester Tests Negative For Rabies
New Update: Bear Killed After Attacking Child In Northern Westchester Tests Negative For Rabies A bear that was shot and killed after attacking a 7-year-old child in Northern Westchester has tested negative for rabies, officials said.  The Westchester County Department of Health confirmed the results on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 23, a day after the bear's remains were brought in for testing by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  Earlier Report - Latest Update: 7-Year-Old ID'd As Victim Of Bear Attack Outside North Castle Home The male bear was killed by North Castle Police following the attack, which happened on Tuesday, Aug. 22 ju…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Latest Update: 7-Year-Old ID'd As Victim Of Bear Attack Outside Northern Westchester Home Latest Update: 7-Year-Old ID'd As Victim Of Bear Attack Outside Northern Westchester Home
Latest Update: 7-Year-Old ID'd As Victim Of Bear Attack Outside Northern Westchester Home New, updated report: Brand-New Update: Bear Tests Negative For Rabies After Attacking Child In North Castle Authorities have released more details about a bear attack outside of a Northern Westchester residence that left a 7-year-old child hospitalized.  The attack, which happened on Tuesday, Aug. 22 just after 11:15 a.m., occurred outside a North Castle home at 75 Hickory Kingdom Rd., where the boy had been playing in the woods before running into the bear, according to a report by NBC New York.  Earlier Report - New Update: Bear Attacks Child In North Ca…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
New Update: Bear Attacks Child In Northern Westchester New Update: Bear Attacks Child In Northern Westchester
New Update: Bear Attacks Child In Northern Westchester New, updated report: Latest Update: 7-Year-Old ID'd As Victim Of Bear Attack Outside North Castle Home This story has been updated. A child was hospitalized after being attacked by a bear at a Northern Westchester County residence. The rare incident happened on Tuesday, Aug. 22 just after 11:15 a.m., when police in the town of North Castle received a report of the incident at 75 Hickory Kingdom Rd. According to North Castle Police, numerous emergency organizations responded to the scene and treated the child, who was later sent to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Hudson Valley Fisherman On Hook After Making Hundreds Off Illegally Sold Trout, Police Say Hudson Valley Fisherman On Hook After Making Hundreds Off Illegally Sold Trout, Police Say
Hudson Valley Fisherman On Hook After Making Hundreds Off Illegally Sold Trout, Police Say A Hudson Valley man is facing criminal charges after he allegedly made hundreds of dollars by illegally selling wild caught trout. Orange County resident Robert Everett, age 55, of Cuddebackville, was arrested in July 2023 for allegedly violating the state’s Environmental Conservation Law. According to the Orange County DA’s office, Everett sold the trout on multiple dates in May 2023.  When the Department of Environmental Conservation Police executed a search warrant at his Cuddebackville home, they reportedly discovered nearly 40 pounds of trout valued at more than $700. The arrest…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Forest Rangers Rescue Lost Hiker In Hudson Valley After Hours-Long Search Forest Rangers Rescue Lost Hiker In Hudson Valley After Hours-Long Search
Forest Rangers Rescue Lost Hiker In Hudson Valley After Hours-Long Search A lost hiker in the Hudson Valley was rescued by forest rangers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation after a search that took several hours. The incident took place in Ulster County around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, July 31 in the Slide Mountain Wilderness area in the town of Olive. The search began when Forest Ranger Horn overheard radio traffic on the Ulster County 911 channel about a lost hiker with early signs of dementia near Bradkin Road in the Slide Mountain Wilderness, DEC officials said. A 73-year-old had last been seen by her husband while hiking an unmarked tra…

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by Kathy Reakes
Weather
Smoky Skies Ahead: New Yorkers Advised To Prepare For Hazardous Air From Canadian Wildfires Smoky Skies Ahead: New Yorkers Advised To Prepare For Hazardous Air From Canadian Wildfires
Smoky Skies Ahead: New Yorkers Advised To Prepare For Hazardous Air From Canadian Wildfires Click here for a new, updated story: Air Quality To Worsen In Coming Days: Here's How To Check Conditions In Your Area A new air quality forecast predicted a large amount of near-surface smoke that will cover most of the state of New York, according to an announcement by the governor. Gov. Kathy Hochul warned New Yorkers of a potentially thick blanket of smoke expected to cover the state starting Wednesday, June 28 as the Canadian wildfires continue to burn. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s forecast predicts that, due to a cold front entering the no…

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by Sophie Grieser
News
Canadian Wildfires: Poor Air Quality Forces City To Close Schools In Westchester Canadian Wildfires: Poor Air Quality Forces City To Close Schools In Westchester
Canadian Wildfires: Poor Air Quality Forces City To Close Schools In Westchester A blanket of unhealthy air covering much of New York as a result of Canadian wildfires has caused a city in Westchester to close its schools.  Yonkers Public Schools announced that it would be closing all schools on Thursday, June 8 as a result of the poor air quality and the unhealthy conditions in the city.  Related Story - Canadian Wildfires Still Producing Unhealthy Air: Here's How To Check Conditions In Your Area The announcement comes after the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality health advisory for the New York City metro area and lower Hud…

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by Ben Crnic
News
'Unusual Odor' In Hudson Valley Sparks Fears Of Contamination From Chemical Train Derailment 'Unusual Odor' In Hudson Valley Sparks Fears Of Contamination From Chemical Train Derailment
'Unusual Odor' In Hudson Valley Sparks Fears Of Contamination From Chemical Train Derailment This story has been updated. Environmental officials in New York are investigating multiple reports of strange odors in the air, sparking concerns they may be tied to the chemical train derailment in eastern Ohio, about 40 miles north of Pittsburgh, and its subsequent fire. In a statement to Daily Voice on Friday, Feb. 17, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said it is responding to reports in the Hudson Valley of an “unusual odor in the air.” “DEC has not received any reports from regulated emissions sources about releases that could contribute to the odors describe…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
College Student Bitten By Aggressive Animal Believed To Be Coyote In Hudson Valley College Student Bitten By Aggressive Animal Believed To Be Coyote In Hudson Valley
College Student Bitten By Aggressive Animal Believed To Be Coyote In Hudson Valley A student at a Hudson Valley college was bitten by what is believed to be a coyote. The incident took place in Dutchess County at Marist College in the town of Poughkeepsie around midnight on Tuesday, Feb. 7 near Leo Hall, according to the college's office of Safety of Security in a statement to students. Following the incident, the Dutchess County Health Department issued a warning alerting residents, including Marist College students, that an aggressive coyote was spotted on the college campus in the town of Poughkeepsie. It is unknown at this time if the animal is rabid, the department…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
New Details: Body Of Missing 59-Year-Old NY Woman Was Found In Gorge, DEC Reports New Details: Body Of Missing 59-Year-Old NY Woman Was Found In Gorge, DEC Reports
New Details: Body Of Missing 59-Year-Old NY Woman Was Found In Gorge, DEC Reports The body of a 59-year-old New York woman who went missing for days was located in a gorge after her car was found parked at a trailhead, officials reported. Onondaga County resident Susan Mills' body was located in the area of Carpenter Falls, a waterfall located in the Cayuga County town of Niles, police reported on Sunday, Dec. 18. Earlier report - New York Woman Found Dead Days After Reported Missing, Police Say Mills was reported missing on Wednesday, Dec. 14, after she had last been seen leaving her home in Elbridge, a village located about 20 miles from Syracuse, on Monday, Dec.…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Coyote Attacks 2 Local Residents On Walk In Northern Westchester Coyote Attacks 2 Local Residents On Walk In Northern Westchester
Coyote Attacks 2 Local Residents On Walk In Northern Westchester A town in the region is warning residents to be on the lookout for a rabid coyote after two residents were attacked while walking. The incident took place in Northern Westchester on Thursday, Nov. 17 shortly after 5 p.m. in North Salem on Turkey Hill Road. One person was bitten with a puncture wound on their leg. The second person was not injured, North Salem Town Supervisor Warren Lucas said. "The person with the puncture wound is on their way to the hospital likely for rabies shots," Lucas said in a Facebook post. "The presumption is that the coyote is rabid. It attacked the tires of a c…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
'A Beautiful View': Property In Northern Westchester Overlooking Hudson River To Be Preserved 'A Beautiful View': Property In Northern Westchester Overlooking Hudson River To Be Preserved
'A Beautiful View': Property In Northern Westchester Overlooking Hudson River To Be Preserved A scenic property in Northern Westchester that overlooks the Hudson River will now be permanently preserved for the public.  The property, located in Peekskill on Crompond Road (Route 202), was bought by the city from a private owner with the help of the Westchester Land Trust, which sourced donations for the purchase, according to an announcement from the organization from Friday, Nov. 4.  "The preservation of this property ensures that a beautiful view of the City of Peekskill and scenic Hudson River will be preserved forever," Westchester Land Trust President Kara Whelan s…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Brazen Black Bear Kills Miniature Donkey In Upstate NY Brazen Black Bear Kills Miniature Donkey In Upstate NY
Brazen Black Bear Kills Miniature Donkey In Upstate NY A New York woman is mourning the loss of her beloved pet donkey after the animal was killed by a bear. Columbia County resident Laura-Ann Camissa told News10 ABC in Albany that the attack happened sometime overnight Monday, Oct. 3, at her home in the town of Claverack, where she frequently takes in unwanted donkeys. She told the outlet that she last saw the miniature donkey, named Lucy, late Monday night in her pen that she shared with her companion, Ricky, and two other donkeys. Camissa made the horrifying discovery the next morning. Officials with the New York State Department of Envir…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Drought Watch Remains In Effect For These NY Counties Drought Watch Remains In Effect For These NY Counties
Drought Watch Remains In Effect For These NY Counties Drought conditions have improved in New York State since the summer but a drought watch remains in effect in seven counties. The State's Drought Management Task Force updated the drought status to "Normal" from "Drought Watch" for multiple regions including most of upstate New York because of recent rainfall and higher levels of ground and surface water.  "Despite the encouraging hydrological conditions, all New Yorkers are urged to continue reducing unnecessary water waste, fixing leaks, and choosing efficient water fixtures," the New York State Department of Environmental Conservatio…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Tanker With Thousands Of Gallons Of Tar Crashes In Hudson Valley Tanker With Thousands Of Gallons Of Tar Crashes In Hudson Valley
Tanker With Thousands Of Gallons Of Tar Crashes In Hudson Valley A sticky situation was averted when a tanker truck carrying 8,000 gallons of tar overturned on a Hudson Valley roadway. Emergency crews in Ulster County were called just after 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, with reports of an overturned semi-truck with a tanker trailer in the Town of Esopus, at the intersection of Old Post Road and Maple Street. By the time deputies arrived the truck driver, identified as a 58-year-old man from Freehold in Greene County, had extricated himself from the cab, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office said. He was treated by medics at the scene before being transported b…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Harriman State Park Fire Spreads To More Than 12 Acres Before Being Contained Harriman State Park Fire Spreads To More Than 12 Acres Before Being Contained
Harriman State Park Fire Spreads To More Than 12 Acres Before Being Contained A fire that broke out at Harriman State Park last week spread across more than 12 acres before it was contained.  Forest rangers and members of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation responded to the blaze at the portion of the state park in both Rockland and Orange counties located in the town of Ramapo at 6:40 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 15, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reported. The fire had spread to 12 acres by 11 p.m., and rangers began burning a control line to keep it contained to a 34-acre area, officials sa…

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by Nicole Valinote