ALBANY – Of the two priests with Otsego County ties named in “Hidden Disgrace III,” one pleaded guilty to sodomy, but the second was investigated twice and exonerated.
The report, prepared by Lawyers Helping Survivors of Child Sex Abuse and released today, appears to be a compilation of all allegations, whether or not they were proved.
For instance, retired Bishop Howard Hubbard is among the 42 priests listed. In 2004, allegations surfaced that the bishop vehemently denied. The diocese hired an outside law firm to investigate, and it found no “credible evidence” against him.
NEW LISBON – Helen J. Sokolowski, 90, a nurse who moved to Otsego County in 1971 and went into dairy farming with her husband and son, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, at Chestnut Park Rehabilitation & Nursing Center.
Helen was born in New York City, the daughter of Frank and Mary (Cenek) Mahdal on Jan. 17, 1927.
She graduated from St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1948 and shortly after married Leonard Sokolowski on Nov. 7, 1948.
A pair of angel wings hang on the school sign as more than 200 community members gathered at the steps of Morris Central School this evening for a candle light vigil in remembrance of Jacelyn O’Connor. Pastor Brad Keator of the Chenango Christian Church led the gathered in prayers and singing “Amazing Grace”. Friends, family and classmates shared memories of Jacelyn after releasing heart-shaped balloons into the sky. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
OTSEGO COUNTY FAIR – 8 a.m. Gates. Buildings open 10 a.m. Open to 9 p.m. Finale of the Fair. Come for the Demolition Derby, a Horse Show, a Goat Show, a Carnival, and more. Admission, $5. Fair Grounds, 469 Mill St., Morris. Visit www.otsegocountyfair.org for more information.
PADDLE & PULL – 1-3 p.m. Paddle and help OCCA pull remaining Water Chestnuts out of Goodyear Lake. Canoe/Kayaks available. Bring hat, sunscreen, water and expect to get a little wet. Registration preferred. Meet at NYS Fishing Access site, St. Rt. 28, Portlandville. Call (607) 547-4488 or visit occainfo.org/calendar/paddle-pull-goodyear-lake-3/
LAURENS – State Police are looking for information on a 16 year old girl who has been reported missing from the Town of Laurens.
Khailee M. Stoughton, 16, reportedly left home on June 19 and has not returned. According to police, she has made contact by phone and was believed to be traveling between the Oneonta, Morris and Albany areas. She is not believed to have been abducted.
Stoughton is a black female, 5’4″ tall and medium build. She has long brown hair and brown eyes. It is unknown what she was last wearing.
CHICKEN DINNER – 5-7 p.m. Boy and Girl Scouts serve a chicken and biscuit dinner. Price, $9 adult, $5 children. Morris United Methodist Church, 17 Church St., Morris. Info, Harry Graves (607)316-8239
3-D DESIGN WORKSHOP – 10:30 a.m.-Noon. Come tinker with your designs for 3-D printing. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut St., Oneonta. Info, hmloneonta.org/calendar/
MORRIS – A Morris woman was arrested Tuesday evening, charged with stealing religious items from Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, state troopers report.
Amber N. Joy, 32, has been charged with a felony, fourth-degree grand larceny.
Troopers alleged the suspect stole a white altar cloth, several candles and holders and a bowl valued at about $240.
COOPERSTOWN – Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. today for primaries in the 101st Assembly District – the Otsego County towns of Springfield, Middlefield, Westford and Maryland – and also for town races in Richfield and Morris.
In the Oneida-centric 101st, Brian D Miller and Maria E. Kelso are seeking the Republican nomination to succeed Claudia Tenney, who is running for Congress to succeed U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna. Kelso is also primarying for the Reform Party nod.
MORRIS – Three men were killed in an early-morning car accident on State Highway 23 after their vehicle failed to navigate a left curve, State Police said today.
Troopers responded to the scene of the one-car accident at 3:14 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 in Morris. Though the car was on fire when they arrived on the scene, the three victims, Jordan Crandall, 22, Norwich, Christopher Brissette, 22, Sherburne, and Dillon Clemens, 21, Norwich were already deceased inside the vehicle.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but police believe the driver, driving westbound on State Highway 23, failed to navigate a left curve. The car exited into the northbound shoulder, struck several objects and came to rest upside down in a field.
There have been discussions between local authorities to further improve road safety in the area with the addition of security cameras that monitor roads 24 hours a day. This is being suggested in the hope that the police can better observe surrounding areas to identify potentially dangerous drivers before they can cause an accident. Many residents argue that the loss in the community is massive when dangerous drivers slip through the net at early times in the morning. The lives of anyone who is lost in a car accident is tragic. Therefore, understanding the legal support structures that are there should soften the blow to the families that have lost their loved ones.
Loved ones of the deceased have been recommended a guide to compensation solicitors to find and develop a deeper understanding of compensation agreement possibilities going forward.
COOPERSTOWN – A race in the 101st Assembly District – it includes the Otsego County towns of Springfield, Middlefield, Westford and Maryland – will highlight primary elections a week from today.
Primaries are also planned for Richfield and Morris town offices.
The polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
SOUTH NEW BERLIN – A 24-year-old Rhode Island man was killed at the Grand Slam Campground during Saturday evening’s violent storm when a tree limb fell onto his tent, county Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr. announced this afternoon.
Ryan Sutcliffe, Cumberland, R.I., was pronounced dead after a tree limb approximately 4 feet in diameter broke off during the storm, landing on his tent while he was sleeping.
MORRIS – A 20 year old man was arrested after attacking an older man with a pair of pruning shears at his home.
Gerard D. Bourgeois, Morris, was arrested after Sheriffs deputies were dispatched to Bassett Hospital for a 62 year old man with suspicious injuries. Their investigation lead them to Bourgeois, where they learned that he had allegedly assaulted the victim with a pair of pruning shears, causing several lacerations to the head.
MORRIS – Frederick L. Palmer, 74, a steeple jack and master silo builder whose clients included playwright Arthur Miller, passed away Friday, May 20, 2016, following a brief illness.
Fred was born Jan. 3, 1942, to LeRoy and Laura (Eldred) Palmer of Morris, and was brother to Audrey (Dr. Peter) Gregory, Sharon (Charles Esq.) Bosco and James (Gina) Palmer.
Fred graduated from Morris Central School in 1960 where he was a class officer and was active in football, baseball, basketball, and dance club (landing himself a spot on American Band Stand in 1959). Following graduation, Fred served in the Navy as a corpsman until 1965.
Reporter Libby Cudmore, allotsego.com’s Fair Foodie, prepares to dive into a Deep-Fried Pop Tart. (Chris Thorington for allotsego.com)
Yummy!
MORRIS – For some, the Otsego County Fair is all about the rides. For others, the games, the chance to win a giant plush tiger or a ribbon for the best cow.
For me, this week, it’s all about the food. I’ve always been fascinated by fair food, the seemingly endless variety of deep-fried deliciousness, the kind of foods we would never think about eating but for one week a year.
And this week, I will try all of them.
My friend Chris joined me on my inaugural adventure in midway dining. We took a stroll down the food section of the midway, past the games and rides, breathing in the scent of sautéed onions and pulled pork and French fries.
MORRIS – In the wake of the state Court of Appeals’ June 30 decision upholding local fracking bans, Town Board member Marilyn Roveland will make a motion at Tuesday’s town board meeting calling for a ban here.
Advocates for Morris announced her intention in a press release asking ban supporters to attend the meeting and support Roveland. “Your presence and your voices are more important now than ever before,” the release says.
Attorney David Slottje of Ithaca, from the Community Environmental Defense Council, has again offered his services for free to help the town board craft a defensible fracking ban, the Advocates said.
