Town adopts veterans' exemption
MIDDLETOWN _ The town of Middletown has adopted a Cold War veterans' exemption.
A Cold War veteran refers to a person who was on active duty in the United States armed forces between Sept. 2, 1945, and Dec. 26, 1991, and was discharged under honorable conditions.
Under the law, qualifying residential real property shall be exempt from taxation to the extent of 15 percent of the assessed value of such property, with certain conditions and limitations, according to a media release from the Delaware County Veterans Service Agency.
A qualified owner is a Cold War veteran, the spouse of such veteran or the unremarried spouse of a deceased Cold War veteran, the release said, and the exemption may not apply if the eligible person receives exemptions under other specified laws.
For more information or to apply, visit the Delaware County Veterans Service Agency, 1 Gallant Ave., Delhi, or call 746-2334.
Man charged with timber thefts
A Schoharie County man was arrested earlier this month in connection with several timber thefts in Delaware and Schoharie counties.
Burton L. Maxim, 40, of North Blenheim, was arrested by Department of Environmental Conservation police Aug. 14. He faces the following felony charges:
Third-degree grand larceny. Maxim allegedly stole $18,000 worth of timber from private property in the town of Gilboa.
Third-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Maxim allegedly possessed a log skidder valued at $37,500 that was reported stolen from Meltz Lumber in the city of Hudson in 2005.
First-degree scheme to defraud. Seven different landowners in Schoharie and Delaware counties reported that Maxim stole timber from them or gave them inadequate payment for timber that Maxim harvested, according to the DEC. The exact value of the timber believed involved is estimated in the thousands of dollars.
Maxim was arraigned in Gilboa Town Court and was released to reappear Sept. 11.
The charges stem from a two-year investigation by DEC Investigator Michael Dangler.
Those who may have information about similar timber thefts are encouraged to call the DEC Region 4 law enforcement office in Schenectady at (518) 357-2047.
Oneonta man pleads not guilty to child-sex charge
COOPERSTOWN _ An Oneonta man pleaded not guilty at arraignment Friday to a charge of promoting a sexual performance by a child.
Christopher F. Lyons appeared in Otsego County Court before Judge Brian Burns.
Lyons posted $16,500 bail and is scheduled to return to court Sept. 12.
He was arrested in November and accused of downloading images from the Internet of children engaged in sex with adults, police said at the time.
If a person transmits, sells, offers, trades, or otherwise provides images of a child younger than 17 engaged in sexual activity or lewd exhibition, they are guilty of promoting the sexual performance by a child, according to the state police website.
There were no local children involved, police said.
After being released on bail in November, Lyons was arrested again on drug charges after jail staff found three hydrocodone pills in a box of cigarettes as he was being processed, Otsego County sheriff's deputies said.
Teen arrested after theft
SIDNEY _ A Unadilla teen was arrested Aug. 21, after an investigation into multiple burglaries in the past year in the towns of Unadilla and Sidney, state police at Sidney said.
Derek J. Wright, 18, was charged with one count of second-degree burglary, a class C felony, troopers said.
Wright was charged with allegedly entering an unlocked residence on Martin Brook Road in the village of Unadilla on July 29 and stealing the homeowner's purse from her kitchen table, troopers said.
He was sent to Otsego County jail on $10,000 bail, troopers said.
Troopers are encouraging people to lock their homes and vehicles and report any suspicious activity.
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