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Entries Tagged as 'warren county'

Those Darn Criminal Tourists

September 5th, 2008 · No Comments · Destination Marketing

I’m glad I’m not the only one paying attention. The Almanack also noted this story in the Post-Star a couple days ago: Officials: Summer arrests fell as tourism floundered

I love that they are monitoring some interesting metrics down there.

Lake George Mayor Robert Blais said the indicators village officials use to gauge the number of visitors all have showed declines as well. Parking meter revenue is off 5 percent; water consumption is down, and revenues from the public boat docks in the village have fallen 30 percent, Blais said.

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A Big Boating Party at Log Bay

August 8th, 2008 · 6 Comments · News

Log Bay - Lake George NYWow, I had no idea that this was going on every year.  I guess it’s just not part of my milieu.  Check out the recent enforcement report for this year’s LAKE GEORGE LOG BAY DAY that happened on July 28, 2008, the emphasis is mine:

NYSDEC Environmental Conservation Officer Lt. Tom Caifa, assigned to the Lake George Park (LGPC) Commission Marine Patrol, reports that there were 26 law enforcement officers on 15 vessels patrolling the Log Bay Day event. The vessels included four DEC Environmental Conservation Police personal watercraft.

Breakdown of Law Enforcement Personnel on the water

  • 10 LGPC Marine Patrol – 8 officers & 2 sergeants
  • 10 DEC Environmental Conservation Officers, 6 officers, 2 Lieutenants, and 2 Investigators
  • 4 Warren County Sheriff Deputies
  • 2 NY State Troopers

It is estimated that approximately 1200 people on 300 to 400 vessels participated in the event.

A total of 23 violations including 2 for reckless operations and 5 for boating while intoxicated, the remainder dealt with navigation law. The patrols also rendered first aid to 6 people, investigated 2 boating accidents, assisted 4 disabled vessels, dealt with 6 fights and participated in one rescue involving a near drowning.

NYSDEC Forest Ranger Lt. John Solan reports that 16 DEC forest rangers, including two Forest Ranger Lieutenants patrolled the state lands along the entire Shelving Rock shoreline, focusing on a 5 acre strip along Log Bay. DEC forest rangers also assisted Washington County Sheriff Deputies with a motor vehicle checkpoint at the intersection of Sly Pond and Shelving Rock Roads.

It is estimated that 275 cars, carrying approximately 1000 people, entered the Shelving Rock area throughout the day.

Forest rangers issued 30 tickets for various offenses including underage possession of alcohol, unlawful possession of marijuana, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and fighting on state land. Forest rangers made two arrests for driving while intoxicated.

Forest Rangers and local emergency response teams also rescued two individuals that were injured when they fell from the Shelving Rock Falls. Dorleen Weslang, 20, of Lake George and a 16 year old male from Lake George were both carried to the top of the falls and then transported by ATVs to ambulances on the Shelving Rock Road. Both were determined to have been drinking at the time of their fall.

Washington County Sheriffs Deputies issued 38 traffic tickets at the road check. Deputies also made 2 arrests for unlawful possession of marijuana and 4 arrests for driving while intoxicated.

Washington County Emergency Services, West Fort Ann Volunteer Fire Department, Fort Ann Emergency Medical Services, Bay Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, and Bay Ridge Emergency Medical Services participated in efforts in the Shelving Rock area.

Now, I’m all for having a good time, but this seems a little excessive.  Is there economic impact surrounding this event?  Is everyone over 21?  Only 5 violations related to boating while intoxicated?  What’s the cost of providing all the law enforcement and fire/rescue coverage?

To bad they didn’t film a Cops episode.

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Adirondack Bushman Charged With Mischief

May 3rd, 2007 · 5 Comments · News

Time to revisit my all-time most popular post.

The Glens Falls Post-Star is reporting that Alan G. Como has plead guilty to felony criminal mischief.

Modern Adirondack Hobo - Alan G ComoThe charge had nothing to do with the litany of home break-ins police believe Alan G. Como committed in the Brant Lake/Beaver Pond area in 2005 and 2006, however.

Instead, the only felony charge prosecutors could pin on him was a felony criminal mischief count that was brought for his cutting down trees on private property to make a hut…

Even though the guy was surrounded by stolen property, and even wearing a pair of pants with the name of one of the burglary victims, local DA Kate Hogan and her office “concluded the criminal mischief count was the only felony that could be successfully prosecuted.” Remember, this guy was caught by sheer luck.

According to Sheriff Larry Cleveland,

“We know he did them but we didn’t have enough evidence to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt,”

“He didn’t leave any evidence behind (at the homes he burglarized). He was very good at it.”

Look, I don’t support what this guy has done, but this story is sounding more like First Blood than a case-study in law-enforcement and prosecution. They are hitting him with a felony count based on the estimated value of a tree. Judge John Hall notes:

“One large tree is worth more than $250,”

Como has disputed the value of the trees and the damage he has caused.

“Ninety percent of the trees I cut down were dead wood,”

When he is sentenced June 13th, he faces up to 4 years in state prison.

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