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THIS WEEK Warrensburg ....................2 Thurman ........................4-5 Opinion ..........................6 Letters............................8-9 Calendar ........................10 Sports ............................17 Outdoor ..........................18 Election Previews ............20-22 Classified........................23
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October 31, 2009
Talking shop
Sports
Vote
Historian and logger describes logging of a bygone era.
A photo medley of the games of the past week.
Full previews on the elections in your region.
Page 17 Page 2
Family and friends honor fallen soldier
Pages 20-22
Candidates sparring for town offices
Release balloons in remembrance of Monroe By Lindsay Yandon lindsay@denpubs.com CHESTERTOWN — Under rainy skies Saturday evening, friends and family of local fallen soldier Pfc. Jeremiah Monroe gathered in his honor at the Panther Mountain House, sharing both grief and pleasant memories of bygone days. The family of Monroe organized a balloon release to pay tribute to the local hero's sacrifice, and to remember his character and the affect he had on all of their lives. “It’s been just over a month since we lost Jeremiah and we wanted to do this in remembrance of him,” said Monroe’s cousin Nikki Monroe. When living at home, Monroe frequented the Panther Mountain House, making it the logical place for people to gather. “This was his spot,” remarked a friend of Monroe’s at Saturday’s event. Jeremiah Monroe, 31, was killed Sept. 17 while on patrol duty in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He had attended North Warren Central School and was laid to rest on Sept. 29 at Underwood Cemetery in Adirondack after a funeral procession — 300 vehicles long — from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Chestertown. Hundreds of people from near and far had stood roadside in his memory — to pay solemn tribute to the first local soldier who had been killed in combat since the Korean War.
See MONROE, page 3
The proliferation of election signs in the region attest to the heightened level of competition for town offices this year. Voters go to the polls Tuesday to chose between a relatively large number of candidates for various town offices. Signs depicted are just off state Rte. 9 at Exit 23 of the Northway as motorists approach Warrensburg. Photo by John Lustyik
By Thom Randall thom@denpubs.com WARRENSBURG — With the backdrop of looming county deficits, stretched budgets and a clash of political philosophies, the upcoming general elections in Warren County are lively this year, as a large number of posi-
tions in town governments are contended. Competition is most heated in Lake George, where the supervisor post is up for grabs and five candidates are vying for two Town Board seats. Councilman Frank McCoy, trained and anointed by retiring Supervisor Lou Tessier, is facing former town Su-
pervisor Dennis L. Dickinson (D), a professional engineer. Crocitto (R,Ic), councilman since 2002, is challenged by former Town Board member George McGowan (C), Fran Heinrich (R), Janie Green (D) and Marisa Muratori, a former Lake George village trustee who is temporarily
See ELECTIONS, page 16
Thurman town taxes to plunge 28 percent, while town retains cash cushion By Thom Randall thom@denpubs.com ATHOL — Taxpayers in Thurman will be experiencing a dramatic decrease in town taxes this January due to new prevailing financial management, town government officials said Tuesday. According to a 2010 preliminary town budget crafted Oct. 20, Thurman taxpayers are likely to have a 2010 tax rate of $3.34 per thousand of assessed valuation, a 28.3 percent reduction of the 2009 tax rate of $4.66 per thousand. The 2010 total of the highway and general fund appropriations minus revenues and unexpended fund balance leaves $515,960 to
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increase, but carved it down in mid-November to a 25 percent increase, which in retrospect was a totally unnecessary hike. When asked earlier this year about the excess money in town coffers, Haskell countered that the budget troubles began after he left office in November, 2008. Lawrence “Red” Pitkin, who was chosen as supervisor after Haskell resigned, said the board has taken steps to balance the budget and reduce taxes. He said the town had taken an unexpended 2008 balance and applied it to lower taxes. Of the town’s $540,000 in surplus funds, the board recently withdrew about $175,000
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