State Police are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed several Superior Storage units in Richmondville off I-88 Friday.
They have not yet released the name of a man located in one of the units after the flames were extinguished.
Smoke from the 4am fire closed down Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, which was downwind from the fire and traffic was detoured around the Route 7/I-88 scene for hours.
About 50 firefighters from multiple departments, including Richmondville, Summit, and Cobleskill responded to the active fire, with others on standby,, returning Saturday morning for a rekindle.
State Police and Schoharie County Sheriff’s Deputies were also a ...

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The Town of Sharon has named veteran—and Sharon Springs Central School grad—Ken Kelly—as its new justice.
Mr. Kelly will replace justice and former Schoharie County Sheriff and town supervisor, Tony Desmond, who died October 23.
Mr. Kelly will be attending classes in December and will take over for Carlisle Richard Smith, who’s been filling in in the post.
Mr. Kelly is an Air Force veteran, serving 22 years, before retiring from the service in 2017 and going to work as a Target engineer.
He grew up in Sharon and introducing himself to the Sharon Town Board, pointed out that Councilman Dave Cross used to be his bus driver.
Before Mr. Desmond’s death, Mr. Kel ...

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With word that Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has been offered the role of United Nations ambassador by President-elect Donald Trump, Assemblyman Chris Tague said Monday he’s considering a run for her seat.
Congresswoman Stefanik, who like Assemblyman Tague, was re-elected last Tuesday would need to be confirmed by the United States Senate, before resigning and opening up her seat.
Under New York State law, Governor Kathy Hochul would have have 10 days to call a special election, though Assemblyman Tague, who’s also Schoharie County GOP chair, said it’s likely the election wouldn’t be held until late April or even June.
Should he run–he’s still deciding–and win, Governor H ...

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The Town of Seward’s election mailing urging a “yes” vote on making the highway superintendent an appointed—rather than elected—position and a “no” vote on the state’s Proposal 1 is being investigated by the State Board of Elections Enforcement Bureau.
The mailings and “vote yes” signs were paid for and distributed by the Town of Seward, prompting complaints to the Attorney General’s and Comptroller’s Offices.
Monday, they drew a standing-room-only crowd to the Town Board meeting as Councilwoman Wendy Adams Rosa answered criticism and took responsibility for the wording on Prop 1, which claimed “if passed, [it] will codify certain rights in the NYS Constitution. One of those wo ...

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The large Taco Bell sign in Cobleskill remains in place, at least for now.
The village Zoning Board of Appeals tabled their decision on interpreting resident Nancy Van Deusen’s application that the sign is too big, has letters that are too large, and is too close to Main Street.
About 30 packed themselves into the village planning office for the ZBA hearing Thursday night, almost all of them agreeing with Ms. Van Deusen. (See related story in this week’s Times-Journal.)
However, Terresa Bakner, attorney for Taco Bell owner Hospitality Syracuse, refuted Ms. Van Deusen’s complaint point-by-point, concluding that the ZBA has no jurisdiction, and even if considering the app ...

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