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July 4, 2009
Artifacts
Congrats!
Thurman
Museum of Local History ready to re-open.
North Warren grads are looking forward to the future.
Smokey Greene will perform for Fourth of July entertainment.
Page 3
Train is carrying the load of boosting the economy
Page 5
Page 13
WCS grads advised to pursue their dreams by seizing opportunities
By Jon Alexander denpubs@denpubs.com NORTH CREEK — As Warren County officials probed methods of abandoning the county-funded railroad project, the contracted rail operator — Upper Hudson River Railroad Inc., which officials have routinely criticized — was defended this week by its manager. Upper Hudson General Manager Cliff Wellz contended that his company has diligently fulfilled their contractual obligations and that the contract with Warren County all but destroys any profit-making potential. “I just don't believe that people have seen what is going on here,” Wellz said. “We are obligated to make at-least five runs per week to Riverside Station and back, from the first week of July to the first week of September, which we have faithfully done.” Wellz said that UHRR is responsible for all track maintenance, as well as maintenance of buildings and energy bills. “We spend up to $100,000 a year just taking care of everything,” Wellz said. According to Wellz, approximately 125,000 people have ridden the train over the last five years. And although a "snow train" or a North Creek-Saratoga line may be doomed, the summer tourist train is a reliable contributor to the local economy. “Odds are that about 9,000 riders of Thomas
By Thom Randall thom@denpubs.com
At the conclusion of Friday’s commencement ceremonies, new Warrensburg Central graduate Chris Carlson (center) encourages audience participation in the singing of the school’s Alma Mater. Among the graduates are (front, left to right): Dakota Fuller, Justin Sabattis, Noah Davis, Nick Connor, Dan Haller, (second row): Josh Baird, Richard Bonk, Chris Carlson, James Chapel, and Brian Cleavland. Photo by Kim Ladd/Lifescapes Photography
See TRAIN, page 15
Village looks to tame Americade rabble By Jon Alexander denpubs@denpubs.com QUEENSBURY — Lake George officials are fed up with young rabble-rousers interfering with the annual Americade bike rally. And to combat the impending influx of “destructive youth,” the village may require bars to close early and are asking for en even greater police presence. “Some things happened this year that were out of the norm,” Lake George Village Mayor Bob Blais said this week. “We are seeing things that take away from the family atmosphere and what we want Lake George to be.”
DIVORCE MEDIATION
According to Blais, local youth — not registered Americaders — are flooding to the village to see the “show” of bikes and people. They are clustering outside of bars and on Canada Street, resulting in vandalism and fights. Warren County Sheriff’s Department officials said that arrests were down around five percent relative to previous years. “I got more email this year than ever from people saying that they will not be returning,” he said. “The people coming in for the excitement have no redeeming value whatsoever to the community.”
See AMERICADE, page 10
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By Thom Randall thom@denpubs.com WARRENSBURG — Michael A. Kelly, 59, business manager of the Warrensburg Central School District for more than three decades, was arrested Thursday on felony charges he illegally changed documents describing his health care benefits to be paid by the school. Police said Kelly altered his employment agreement
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with Warrensburg Central to state that he received 100 percent insurance coverage in his retirement rather than the 91 percent he had actually negotiated with the District. Police say Kelly wrote the initials “R.M.” beside the change he made to appear that former Superintendent of Schools Roger McQuain had endorsed the change. Arraigned in the Warrensburg Town Court June 24
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WARRENSBURG — Garbed in blue and gold graduation gowns, the 63 soon-tobe graduates of Warrensburg Central School listened intently to Warren County Attorney Paul Dusek as he spoke with positivism about their future. One of Warren County’s top officials and a 1973 alumnus of the school, Dusek was guest speaker at the graduation ceremonies held Friday for the Class of 2009. While graduates might be wary of their prospects due to the economic turbulence, the future was no less certain when Dusek graduated, he told the students and parents filling the vast school gymnasium. “It’s a reality that the economic times are tough, but
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