Top 5 Schoharie County News Stories of 2013

SCHOHARIE - In a little less then twelve hours 2013 will be over and a new year will commence, which from my perspective, will hopefully be as news filled as the previous twelve (four for the Schoharie News) months have been. As such, a run-down of the top five Schoharie County news stories in no particular order.

Drugs & Crime

From numerous heroin busts in the Village of Cobleskill to marijuana eradication efforts by the Sheriff's Department, clamping down on the sale and production of illegal drugs has been a priority of local law enforcement. In addition to drug enforcement, local police have dealt with the Oorah burglary in Jefferson, the child abuse case in Gallupville and the arrest of a Middleburgh man on weapons charges.

Maranatha

The Village of Richmondville's cut off of the $5.3 million partially publicly funded facility's electric in early September has led to one report after another detailing the once promising project's failure to meet its debt obligations from day one, which resulted in a notice of foreclosure just two weeks ago. A notable side-story has been a New York City investor Da-Lai Wu's fluid interest in obtaining the facility.

"The Report"

In a process that originates back to early 2012, the long-awaited Fitzmaurice Report was released into two sections this past fall, which detailed the rise of the now-suspended Personnel Director Cassandra Ethington's control over the Public Health Department. The fallout has resulted in several members of the County Board losing re-election, former Public Health Director Asante Shipp-Hilts resignation and adjustments to personnel in the Public Works Department.

Sharon Growth

Mayor Doug Plummer said it best when he told the Schoharie News that "the possibilities for Sharon Springs are endless." From hosting festivals that have brought thousands from around the country into the community to watching small businesses spring up and down Main Street, and soon the construction of a Dollar General on Route 20, the growth and success of Sharon Springs has been nothing short of inspiring to the rest of Schoharie County.

SAFE Act

From countywide condemnations to rallies in opposition, no issue has resulted in a more united Schoharie County politically than Governor Andrew Cuomo's infamous gun control measure, the SAFE Act. Democrat and Republican Supervisors alike on the County Board have supported two separate motions spelling out the county's opposition to both its enactment and use of Schoharie County's seal, name or offices in efforts to enforce the unpopular law.