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The Daily Mail Copyright 2019, Columbia-Greene Media Volume 227, No. 216
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After the battle How Gettysburg changed American culture Inside, A7
The nation’s fourth-oldest newspaper • Serving Greene County since 1792
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019
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Police investigate canine abduction
nFORECAST WEATHER FOR HUDSON/CA TODAY TONIGHT
SAT
Windy and cooler
Clear and colder
Mostly sunny
HIGH 55
LOW 30
53 33
Complete weather, A2
n SPORTS
Titans Section IX champions Taconic Hills won the Section IX Class C field hockey championship for the second straight year PAGE B1
n REGION
By Sarah Trafton Columbia-Greene Media
ACRA — State police are investigating a bizarre case of dognapping Thursday and are urging anyone with information to come forward. Meanwhile, the dog’s owner, Thomas O’Brien, of Acra, is heartbroken over his missing companion Rex. The black chihuahua-bulldog mix was allegedly stolen
from O’Brien during an early morning walk on Wednesday, his mother, Jeanette Ricucci said Thursday. O’Brien was walking Rex at about 2:30 a.m. on Joseph Chadderon Road when the dog spooked and broke loose from his collar, Ricucci said. Her son gave chase and was trying to catch up with the dog, Ricucci said. At about the same time, a
tan Buick stopped in the road, she said. The driver got out of the car. “[O’Brien] was screaming at him,” Ricucci said, referring to the driver. “[The driver] gave him the finger and took off [with the dog].” O’Brien was unable to get a clear view of the license plate number on the vehicle but he described the man as tall with See DOG A2
Contributed photo
Thomas O’Brien of Acra with his dog Rex. Rex was stolen as O’Brien walked the dog early Thursday morning.
Twin Counties split on economic performance By Massarah Mikati Johnson News Service
ALBANY — Unemployment rates continue to fare relatively well in counties across New York state, according to data released Thursday by the Department of Labor. For the second year in the row, Columbia County’s 2.8%
unemployment rate is the lowest in the state. In a separate study by SmartAsset, Columbia County scored in the top 10 of financially healthy counties in New York, based on its residents’ poverty rates, bankruptcies and debt. But Greene County was not as successful, according to
the SmartAsset report, ranking 43rd among all New York counties. F. Michael Tucker, president of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, said while the data from the Department of Labor is positive, there are still some issues behind the numbers to
look at. “It also reflects the fact that the growing service economy in the county is creating lower-paying jobs, as opposed to some of the manufacturing jobs that have been lost,” Tucker said. With so many people working, he added, employers in
the area may have a harder time finding qualified candidates for jobs they need filled — especially because nearly 40% of Columbia County’s workforce works outside the county. Underemployment is another issue to look out for, See SPLIT A2
Walk to turn tide on ALS More than 1,800 walkers gathered at the Walkway Across the River to raise awareness of ALS PAGE A6
n THE SCENE
Dream weavers at Bridge St. All-student cast to perform “River of Dreams” at Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill PAGE A8
VFW Catskill gets grant for renovations By Sarah Trafton Columbia-Greene Media
n INDEX Region Opinion State/Nation Obituaries Sports Classified Comics/Advice
A3 A4 A5 A5 B1 B4-B5 B7-B8
On the web www.HudsonValley360.com Twitter Follow: @CatskillDailyMail Facebook www.facebook.com/ CatskillDailyMail/ File photo
In this March 16, 2018, file photo, Catskill legislators present the Catskill VFW Post the Wayne C. Speenburgh Greene County Legislature Grant to improve outdoor lighting. Pictured from left: Legislator Kevin Lennon; Legislator Matthew Luvera; and Chuck Holtz, Lisa Borgen and Kathy Holtz from the VFW; and Legislator Michael Bulich. The Catskill Post received another grant Thursday to repaint the interior of the building and do basement renovations.
CATSKILL — Call it a Veterans Day gift from one depot to another. Volunteers from The Home Depot’s Team Depot program will be sprucing up the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 774 on Main Street in Catskill next week, the company announced Thursday. Team Depot is granting the Catskill VFW $5,000 in gift cards to complete an interior painting project and do renovations to the basement lounge, said Trustee Jason Borgen, an officer of the post. “The building dates back to after the Civil War,” Borgen said. “It is has been a VFW since the 1920s. It will be nice to spruce the place up a little bit and attract some younger members.” The VFW boasts just under 100 members, Borgen said, and is one of two VFW posts in
Greene County. The second is located in Windham. “There are eight American Legions in the county but only two have buildings, in Greenville and Athens,” Borgen said. “It is nice getting grant programs to fix up these buildings.” Volunteers from the Catskill store will be coming to help paint Nov. 7, Borgen said. “We’re also doing some work in the basement lounge,” he said. “We’re putting a new drop ceiling in and some carpeting. I recently put a dehumidifier/AC unit so it will be nicer in the warm weather down there.” The VFW post is a gathering place for local veterans to gather Monday through Saturdays from 2 p.m. until about 8 or 9 p.m., Borgen said. On Saturdays, meals are available for the veterans, See VFW A2