(Herkimer, NY- Aug. 9, 2011) Herkimer County HealthNet presented checks to five municipalities and organizations in Herkimer County for playground, park, and trail development and enhancement projects.  The grants were funded by the New York State Department of Health’s Creating Healthy Places to Live, work and Play grant.  The awards are as follows.

*Village of Frankfort – Operation Playground Safe Move-Hilltop Park - $6,500

*Herkimer Area Resource Center – Having Accessible Recreation in the Community - $6,000

*Village of Ilion – Safe Playgrounds - $5,064

*Town of Russia – Get Fit Program - $4,304

*Village of Dolgeville – Salisbury-Dolgeville Greenway (Main Street to Spencer Street) - $11,950

Herkimer County HealthNet is a New York State Department of Health Funded Rural Health Network that administers the Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work and Play grant.  Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work and Play focuses on preventing obesity and Type 2 Diabetes by supporting environmental changes in Herkimer County.

In an effort to save money related to health care costs and productivity losses, Creating Healthy Places contractors such as Herkimer County HealthNet are working to prevent obesity and Type 2 Diabetes by working on projects and promoting messages that aim to increase good nutrition and physical activity.

Herkimer County HealthNet is still offering municipalities and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations playground surface material that was purchased early this spring and is offering it to organizations who want to improve their playgrounds.  The material is on a first come, first serve basis, and organizations will only have to pay for the shipping and handling costs.  Those organizations interested are encouraged to contact Herkimer County HealthNet at (315) 867-1499.

Herkimer County HealthNet’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of individuals who live, work, play, and learn in Herkimer County.

(Herkimer, NY – June 22, 2011) State Police in Herkimer are investigating the death of a Forestport man who died this afternoon while aiding a motorist who was involved in a motor vehicle accident on Wheelertown Road in the Town of Russia, Herkimer County.

The victim, Nelson E. Leigh Jr, 32, had stopped to offer assistance to a motorist, Brittney Prosser, 19, also of Forestport. Prosser had driven her vehicle off the west shoulder of Wheelertown Road, and had collided with a utility pole. The utility pole collapsed as a result of the collision and brought down power lines.

While Leigh was providing assistance to the motorist, who had exited the vehicle, he made contact with one of the live power lines, and fell to the ground unresponsive. Leigh was transported by ambulance to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Utica where he was pronounced dead.

The New York State Police were assisted at the scene by the Remsen Fire Department, Prospect Ambulance and National Grid crews.

(March 3, 2011) We ask our readers to bear with us at this time as we are experiencing technical difficulties with our online edition.

We will make every effort to bring the news to you with or without photos in a timely manner and will work diligently to correct the problems.

Thank you for your patience,

Herkimer County Courier Staff

(Town of Russia, NY – Feb. 8, 2011) State Police in Remsen arrested 18 year old Shauna M. Wilcox from Shaffer Road in the Town of Russia in Herkimer County after receiving a complaint that she stole $40 from her mother.

Wilcox also was in violation of an Order of Protection that stated she was not to commit any criminal offense against her mother.

Wilcox was arrested for Petit Larceny for stealing the money and for Criminal Contempt 2nd for violating an Order of Protection by committing the Petit larceny.

Wilcox was arraigned in the Town of Newport court and released on her own recognizance to appear in the Town of Russia court on February 9, 2011 at 7:00 pm.

ALBANY, NY (03/23/2010)(readMedia)– The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently announced that seven campgrounds and two day-use areas in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks will not open in 2010. The actions are necessary in order to achieve the agency’s 2010-11 savings target and to help address the state’s historic fiscal crisis.

The facilities were selected based upon usage rates over previous years and proximity to other camping facilities.

DEC will continue to maintain 45 other campgrounds with approximately 5,900 campsites and five day-use areas in New York’s Adirondack and Catskill Parks. The facilities that will not open in 2010 are:

Adirondacks

• Tioga Point, Raquette Lake, Hamilton County.
• Sharp Bridge, North Hudson, Essex County.
• Taylor Pond, Long Lake, Hamilton County.
• Poplar Point, Arietta, Hamilton County.
• Caroga Lake, Caroga, Fulton County.
• Hinckley Day Use Area, Russia, Herkimer County.
• Scaroon Manor Day Use Area, Schroon, Essex County.

Catskills

• Devil’s Tombstone, Hunter, Greene County.
• Bear Spring Mountain, Walton, Delaware County.

Individuals who have made reservations for the 2010 season at these campgrounds will be contacted about making alternative camping reservations or will be provided with a refund.

Each of the selected campgrounds has other DEC campgrounds nearby. Alternate locations include Forked Lake (near Tigoa Point), Lincoln Pond and Paradox Lake (near Sharp Bridge), Buck Pond (near Taylor Pond), Point Comfort (near Poplar Point and Caroga), Northampton Beach (near Caroga), Little Sand Point (near Caroga), North-South Lake (near Devil’s Tombstone) and Beaverkill (near Bear Spring Mountain).

A map and a list of all DEC campgrounds are available at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7825.html. A list of day-use areas is available at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7771.html.