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Valley News
March 14, 2020
suncommunitynews.com
• EDITION •
Two seats open on Boquet Valley School Board
Gov. Cuomo waives cost of coronavirus testing in NYS Emergency disaster declaration supports public health response
Election petitions available at District Office in Westport By Kim Dedam STAFF WRITER
WESTPORT| Two three-year term seats on the Boquet Valley Central School Board will open for election this year. The seats were each one-year terms won by Dina Garvey and Sarah Kullman in elections last January. The school announced the open seats in a news release on the Boquet Valley Central School web page. Petitions for School Board elections are available at the District Office, located at the Lake View campus, 25 Cisco St. in Westport. Candidates interested in running for an open seat on the board must be a U.S. citizen; at least 18 years old; qualified to vote in the school district and able to read and write. See BOARD » pg. 3
By Kim Dedam STAFF WRITER
These Willsboro fans showed up to cheer on their favorite Warriors at the Section VII/Class D championship game March 7 at the Plattsburgh State Field House. For more on this game and others, see our sports page and go to suncommunitynews.com/sports. Photo by Jill Lobdell
WARRIORS, PATRIOTS FALL IN SECTIONAL FINALS
Three teams fall in semis By Keith Lobdell SPORTS EDITOR
PLATTSBURGH | After Stephen Leibeck’s three banked in with 1:10 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Section VII/Class D final to give Willsboro a 39-35 lead over Schroon Lake, something clicked
inside Andrew Pelkey. On the next possession, Pelkey drove the ball to the basket, scored and converted on a three point play to cut the lead to 39-38 before grabbing the rebound off the next Willsboro possession and going coast to coast for the game-winner in a 40-39 win for the Wildcats over the Warriors. For Willsboro fans, the 2020 trip to the Plattsburgh State Field House must have felt a lot like the 2019 experience against
Wells, with a key three-pointer hit late but a game layup leading to a tough, one-point loss. Regan A rnold f inished with 14 points, while Stephen Leibeck also had a big game for the Warriors, scoring 12 points. Hunter King added eight points and four assists, while Jared Ball had five points and four rebounds. Nick Reithel added two rebonds, while Brennon Farney had two assists and two blocks. See FINALS » pg. 12
ELIZABETHTOWN |New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo directed the state Department of Financial Services (DFS) to require health insurance companies to waive costs for coronavirus testing. Issued March 2, the directive stands for New York residents with Medicaid coverage. New York residents will not have any co-pay for testing related to COVID-19, the illness caused by a new coronavirus first found in Wuhan, China. There is currently no vaccine to slow the spread of the virus. But last Saturday, Cuomo also declared a disaster emergency to help local and public health leaders more effectively contain its spread. The governor already signed a $40 million emergency management authorization to confront COVID-19. See TESTING » pg. 10
Supervisors speak out on budget Essex County has concerns over Medicaid, taxes, environment By Tim Rowland STAFF WRITER
TICONDEROGA | When issues as diverse as Medicaid, the environment and vacation rentals dominate the conversation, it almost goes without saying that the source of the discussion is another of the governor’s fiscal 2021 budget briefings.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s lieutenants have fanned out across the state hitting the highlights and gathering reactions to the executive budget that will be submitted on April 1. Last Wednesday David Valesky, deputy commissioner of agriculture and markets was in Lake Placid, delivering a budget presentation and listening to local citizens and elected officials. Of particular concern to Essex County supervisors was the state’s Medicaid Redesign Team, which is charged with finding $2.5 billion worth of savings in a program that is in part responsible for the state’s $6 billion budget shortfall. See BUDGET » pg. 8
David Valesky, deputy commissioner of agriculture and markets, highlights Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive budget. Photo by Tim Rowland
Glens Falls man died hiking Dix Mtn. Andrew Nichols, 21, suffered a medical event while climbing By Kim Dedam STAFF WRITER
Andrew Nichols shared many photos from his hiking and skiing adventures via social media, including a winter trek last November, here on a snowy trail at Nye Mountain. Photo/Facebook
3609 Essex Road, Willsboro, NY • (518) 963-8612 • Fax: (518) 963-4583 MEAT Ahi Frozen Tuna Steaks (8 oz. Frozen)................................ $8.49 lb. Wild Caught Skinless Haddock Fillets (1 lb. Bags Frozen) $5.99 Bag Boneless Rib Eye Steaks...................................................... $9.99 lb. Hofmann Natural Casing German Frankfurters ............... $5.99 lb. Corned Beef cut from the meat case.................................. $5.99 lb. Also Pre-Packaged Corned Beef Available for St. Patrick’s Day
KEENE |A Glens Falls man died last weekend while hiking Dix Mountain. State Police in Ray Brook report that Andrew S. Nichols, 21, of Glens Falls experienced a medical event and succumbed while he was hiking March 1. Police reports said an autopsy was performed by Dr. Cara Soper on March 3 at the University of Vermont Healthcare Network, Champlain Valley Physician’s Hospital in Plattsburgh. But the final cause and manner of death have not
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been determined, police said, pending toxicology and histology reports. Nichols was hiking with a partner and had set out Sunday morning to summit Dix when he experienced a medical emergency. On snowshoes, the pair were traversing trails covered in deep snow. The call for rescue came in at approximately 7:25 p.m., according to State Police Troop B Spokeswoman Trooper Jennifer Fleishman. The report alerted State Police to a “hiker in distress” on Dix trails in the Town of Keene. Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers responded and found Nichols had succumbed. “On March 2, Nichols’ body was removed to Marcy Field where Essex County Coroner Jay Heald pronounced him deceased at approximately 8:15 a.m.,” State Police said. See NICHOLS » pg. 7