{"headline18"/}Dems elect officers
ONEONTA _ The Otsego County Democratic Committee elected new officers at a meeting Wednesday. Ed Lentz was elected chairman.
The election took place during the OCDC's organizational meeting at campaign headquarters at 11 Elm St., Oneonta.
Other officers elected are Vice-Chairman Rich Murphy, Secretary Sally Barlow and Treasurer Janet Potter.
Lentz, who represents New Lisbon, had been vice-chairman under outgoing Chairman Ben Friedell. He is a lawyer and a part-time farmer.
Murphy represents the town of Oneonta and is also a member of the Otsego County Board of Representatives. Barlow represents Milford and had previously served as secretary. Potter represents the city of Oneonta and is a college administrator and librarian.
The Otsego County Democratic Committee is an official committee of the New York State Democratic Party. For more information about the OCDC, visit www.otsegodemocrats.com or call 263 5425.
{"headline18"/}Fire damages home
BOVINA _ A Thursday night fire in Bovina heavily damaged the second home of a New York City resident, a Delaware County fire official said.
The fire at the Ford Road home of Thomas Keller, 61, started in the cellar, James Olmstead, a Delaware County fire investigator, said. Keller was at home at the time and called the fire in at 8:22 p.m. from a neighbor's residence, Olmstead said. The fire left the house uninhabitable, the fire official said, he was not sure where Keller was staying. The cause is still under investigation but it appears to be accidental, Olmstead said.
Departments from Delancey, Andes and Delhi assisted the Bovina Fire Department, he said.
Andes also assisted on a Friday morning rekindle, he said. There were about 40 firefighters at the Thursday fire and there were no injuries, he said.
{"headline18"/}Banned books event
ONEONTA _ Hartwick College students will be reading passages today from currently or previously banned books.
The readings from 5 to 6 p.m. in Stack Lounge in Dewar Hall are in observance of the American Library Association's Banned Book Week.
The event is free and participation is open to the public. Participants may bring a banned book or select one from a table in the lounge.
Books banned or challenged since 1990 include Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn," John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," and the Harry Potter series. An additional 100 titles are listed at the ALA website, www.ala.org.
The readings are sponsored by the Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society.
{"headline18"/}Nine pot plants seized
SPRINGFIELD _ A Springfield man was arrested Friday on marijuana charges, Otsego deputies said.
Martin A. Tracy, 42, was charged with unlawfully growing of cannabis by an unlicensed person, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, deputies said.
Deputies seized nine plants and about one-quarter of an ounce of marijuana at this residence, deputies said. He was issued a ticket to appear in court next month, deputies said.
{"headline18"/}Gas moratorium urged
Schoharie Valley Watch has joined the Otsego County Conservation Association, Riverkeeper, the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society and Catskill Mountainkeeper in calling for an immediate moratorium on all gas drilling permits issued by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
The Schoharie group wants a moratorium in effect until state regulators and local governments can assess the risks of horizontal drilling and chemical- related "hydrofracing" on rural communities and complete a comprehensive environmental impact study.
SVW has sent a letter to Gov. Paterson asking for his support of a moratorium, according to Bob Nied, co-director.
He said SVW is also calling on local municipalities to evaluate drilling requests carefully and review all issues of permitting, site plan review, zoning compliance and to seek expert assistance when conducting a State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) analysis of drilling impacts.
SVW formed a few years ago in response to the unsafe condition of the Gilboa Dam.
{"headline18"/}Drug charges lodged
CHERRY VALLEY _ A Cherry Valley man was arrested on Thursday after probation officers found drugs in his former home during an unannounced visit, Otsego deputies said.
Zachary R. White, 20, was arrested for two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, deputies said.
Probation officers found Adderall, a prescription medication, and trace amounts of cocaine in the bedroom of his former Springfield residence in June, deputies said.
He was issued an appearance ticket on that charge, which carries a maximum one-year sentence, deputies said.
The probation department will be filing a violation of probation charge, on which he faces up to one year in jail, deputies said.
