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July 4, 2009
A Denton Publication
No fly zone
Citizen
Good kids
A lawsuit is looming over float plane access in the Adks.
Minerva is proud to announce their citizen of the year for 2009.
Local children awarded for promoting a tobacco free lifestyle.
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New housing construction continues to fall
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Toddler gives family a fright after wandering into woods
By Jon Alexander denpubs@denpubs.com
By Jon Alexander
QUEENSBURY — Construction of new buildings has all but stalled and Warren County revenue streams are evaporating because of the trend. According to Warren County Department of Fire Prevention and Building Code Administrator Karen Putney inspections of new buildings is down 16 percent compared to the same time period last year. Also, the county department has issued 23 percent fewer occupancy permits, she said. “This is a hit to our revenue stream which we can’t do anything about,” Putney told county supervisors this week. Over the last several months, supervisors have demanded that department heads reduce their operating budgets — including two dozen position eliminations — in order to reduce a $6.3 million budgetary deficit for fiscal year 2010. According to Warren County Board of Supervisors Chairman Fred Monroe, if left untouched, county taxpayers would be required to shoulder a 17 percent property tax increase. New construction isn’t the only housing market indicator to take a turn for the worse in recent weeks. Home sales are down nearly 150 parcels per month compared to last year, according to Warren County Department of Real Property Services Director Mike Swan. In Johnsburg alone, mortgage tax revenue is down over 50 percent relative to 2008.
denpubs@denpubs.com NORTH CREEK — Barefoot and bearing a few scratches, 3-year-old Everett Parker stood by a brook recently. But fundamentally, he was no worse for wear. It was 12:48 p.m. and he had been alone in the woods for nearly three hours. His father Todd Parker talked this week about the ordeal the family had endured. "Everett knows of the snowmobile trails behind the house," said Parker. "He made a direct route through the woods on them." This past Mother's Day, Everett wandered off into a densely-wooded area behind his family's home, sparking a frantic three-hour search through woods and water. "We realized he was gone and we started running through the woods yelling his name," his mother Lee Ann Parker said. "I felt a little better when I realized that our dog Grady was missing too." Everett is the youngest of the Parker's children, and though only a toddler, very familiar with the many swamps, streams and trails behind the Peaceful Valley Road home, she said. Within minutes, Lee Ann called 911 as Todd circled the wooded parcel on
See MISSING, page 5
Everret Parker and golden retriever Grady gaze into the woods behind the family home this week. Last month, the two took a walk in these woods prompting a massive search effort for the three-year old Johnsburg resident.
Train is carrying the load of boosting the economy
Teens from across U.S. headed here in outreach to fix up homes By Thom Randall thom@denpubs.com
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 atleast 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
See TRAIN, page 5
WARRENSBURG — Hundreds of teenagers from across the nation participating in a Christian mission outreach are arriving over the next several weeks to volunteer their time sprucing up homes and other buildings, and the organization is now seeking additional projects to undertake. Also, the group will be conducting a day camp from July 6 through Aug. 5 for children ages 4 to 11, to be held from noon to 3 p.m. weekdays at the Bakers Mills Wesleyan Church off state Rte. 8. Children from all over northern Warren County are welcome to attend. The nationwide Christian organization YouthWorks, based in Minneapolis, is sending about 70 teenagers each week to the southern Adirondacks for six one-week mission trips over the summer as an outreach to help out those in need as well as provide recreational and spiritual enrichment opportunities, according to YouthWorks coordinator LeAnn Mansur. The first mission group arrived last Sunday. The teens, from all over the nation, will be tackling some light fix-up, yard work and
painting projects, while they experience the culture of the region, Mansur said. Elderly homeowners, or those of modest means or special needs, are encouraged to call Mansur at (517) 740-6246 with potential projects. The organization has a full slate of outdoor light construction projects, but those with indoor projects like interior painting, are urged to call to apply for help. Plus, YouthWorks has been working with the locally based North Country Ministry on lining up projects to undertake, Mansur said. The visiting teenagers will be spending nights in the basement of Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Warrensburg, then spending their days working, mixed with time off for recreational pursuits, Mansur said. Some of the teens will be working on the home improvement projects, and others will be working at the Kids Club day camp as well as visiting seniors at the Tri-County Nursing Home in North Creek. The southern Adirondacks YouthWorks mission is one of 70 destinations across the nation for this outreach program, Mansur said. “We’re really excited to whole-heartedly serve the community, helping the lives of area residents,” she said. “And for the teens participating, it’s a huge learning experience.”