2025 at 3:07 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A veterinarian determined that both birds had been mutilated and drained of blood NY — A grisly find floating in a Hudson Valley lake has authorities looking for answers Warning: The image at the end of this article may be disturbing for some readers to view The Putnam County SPCA Law Enforcement Division says that they were notified by Town of Kent police on April 4 near the intersection of Route 52 and Route 311 police say that one rooster and one pigeon were found inside the bag along with two objects wrapped in yarn with several pins stuck in them The Putnam County SPCA asks that anyone with information about this incident contact them at 845-520-6915 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates Authorities in Putnam County are investigating a disturbing case of animal cruelty after two dead birds were found mutilated and drained of blood in a floating garbage bag on Lake Carmel The bag was found floating in Lake Carmel near the intersection of Route 52 and Route 311 the gruesome discovery was reported by Town of Kent Police around 8:14 p.m Officers responding to the area found a large black trash bag floating in the lake investigators found the bodies of a rooster and a pigeon Also discovered were two objects wrapped in yarn with multiple pins stuck in them along with other unspecified items that raised concern The bird carcasses were transported to a veterinarian for examination Officials say both animals had been mutilated and were found to have been drained of blood The Putnam County SPCA Law Enforcement Division is urging anyone with information to come forward If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below) so we can assist you in troubleshooting the issue Fire crews rushed to a serious crash scene in Putnam County after a vehicle rolled over The incident happened in Lake Carmel on Monday the Lake Carmel Fire Department announced on Tuesday Responding fire crews confirmed that a vehicle rolled over and began stabilizing it Photos released by the department on social media show that the windshield was removed during the crash response More information about injuries and the exact location was not immediately available 2024 at 11:23 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Overnight Saturday the Carmel Fire Department responded to a mutual aid request for a fire at a home on Marion Way in Lake Carmel NY — A tragic loss of life has been reported following a house fire in a quiet Putnam County lakeside neighborhood and two others were taken to area hospitals with injuries The Carmel Fire Department's Rescue Engine 12-2-2 and Tanker 12-4-1 were the first to arrive on the scene The department said that despite challenging conditions they immediately started a search for the trapped residents They were able to locate and remove the residents and hand them over to EMS teams for urgent care Firefighters were assisted by mutual aid agencies and the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services "We extend our deepest condolences to the family affected by this heartbreaking event," the Carmel Fire Department said "Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this incredibly difficult time." The identity of the person who lost their life and the conditions of the injured residents have not yet been released The fire is still under investigation by local authorities In the days after a tragic house fire that left a man dead in the Hudson Valley a community is making sure his family gets what they need to start their rebuilding process The blaze resulted in the death of Joseph Hunt at a Lake Carmel residence at 16 Marion Way and ended up fully engulfing the home while two other residents were hospitalized Now, in the days following the tragedy, the family has organized a GoFundMe campaign to collect donations to help them get back what was lost in the blaze The funds will also go toward bringing awareness to the neurological disease CADASIL the immobility resulting from this disease contributed greatly to his passing," the fundraiser's organizers wrote "We feel he may have had a different outcome in this tragedy if it weren't for CADASIL It is our mission to fight for continued research on a disease we know so little about."  community members have also reached out to the family and given them supplies such as clothes insurance will cover the home and other tangible items lost by the family but the rebuilding process is likely to be "a long will help us donate to CADASIL research and provide some relief to our grieving family," they added the fundraiser had already collected over $9,000 out of a $30,000 goal Those interested in donating can do so by clicking here.  The fire is still under investigation by authorities A longtime firefighter and US Navy veteran who dedicated a half-century to serving his Hudson Valley community has died a lifelong member of the Lake Carmel Volunteer Fire Department in Putnam County Hill grew up in The Bronx before spending the majority of his life in Lake Carmel Hill served in the US Navy from 1955 to 1961 before continuing a lifetime of service through the Lake Carmel Volunteer Fire Department where he was honored with the Fifty Year Service Award and also served in the Putnam County Fire Police He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years Click here to read Hill's full obituary.  A visitation for Hill will be held from 3 p.m 5 at the Balsamo-Cordovano Funeral Home in Carmel at 15 Church St at Our Lady of the Lakes in Kent on Noonan Drive Authorities in a Hudson Valley town are cracking down on illegal activities after receiving reports of a planned ATV and vehicle race on a frozen lake The Carmel Police Department in Putnam County issued a stern advisory on Friday emphasizing that such events are unsanctioned Police also noted that no frozen body of water in the town has been deemed safe for such use adding to the potential dangers of the planned event the Carmel Police Department will deploy additional officers to patrol areas around local waterways Officers will enforce state and local laws pertaining to ATVs with potential consequences including tickets Parents or guardians of minors operating ATVs may also be held accountable for any violations Town officials reminded residents that Chapter 55 of the Carmel Town Code restricts the use of vehicles on frozen lakes or any other bodies of water within the town "Please ride safely in legally designated areas only," the department said A wrestling legend will be appearing in person at area ShopRite stores as the Hulkster has been lining up appearances all around the Hudson Valley to promote his new Real American Beer Events are being advertised as a chance to meet the iconic wrestling superstar is an iconic American professional wrestler Hogan became a global wrestling sensation in the 1980s particularly with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF signature "Hulkamania" catchphrase and heroic character made him one of the most recognizable athletes of all time His wrestling career spanned several decades including six WWE World Heavyweight Championships Hogan also gained fame for his stints in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and TNA Wrestling Hogan appeared in movies such as Rocky III and starred in his own reality show Hogan is widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers in history and a key figure in the popularization of professional wrestling in mainstream culture Hulk Hogan's Real American Beer is a light lager co-founded by the WWE legend Hulk Hogan the beer is crafted with 100% North American ingredients and boasts a 4.2% alcohol by volume (ABV) becoming available in approximately 20 states and now coming to New York. In January 2025 Real American Beer entered into a multi-year partnership with WWE featuring its branding on the ring mat corners during episodes of "Monday Night Raw," which debuted on Netflix Hulk Hogan kicking off the launch of Real American Beer at ShopRite Poughkeepsie, NY at 18 Winslow Gate Road on Tuesday, March 4 from 5 to 6:30 pm with an exclusive meet and greet according to Dutchess Beer Distributors According to a posting in the Lake Carmel Community Facebook group, Hulk Hogan will be at the ShopRite in Carmel (184 Route 52, Carmel, NY) on Wednesday, March 5 from 12:30pm til 2:30pm with a meet and greet and a wrestling ring set up right in the store! more info here After the Carmel stop, Hulk Hogan is confirmed for ShopRite at 99 Hawkins Dr, in Montgomery, NY according to a Facebook posting by Tenacious Tyler who posted a picture of the banner hanging in the Montgomery ShopRite store that has Hulk Hogan scheduled March 5 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm Gallery Credit: Karolyi Wrestling legend will be appearing in person at area ShopRite stores.\nRead More Hulk Hogan kicking off the launch of Real American Beer at ShopRite Poughkeepsie, NY at 18 Winslow Gate Road on Tuesday, March 4 from 5 to 6:30 pm with an exclusive meet and greet according to Dutchess Beer Distributors According to a posting in the Lake Carmel Community Facebook group, Hulk Hogan will be at the ShopRite in Carmel (184 Route 52, Carmel, NY) on Wednesday, March 5 from 12:30pm til 2:30pm with a meet and greet and a wrestling ring set up right in the store! more info here After the Carmel stop, Hulk Hogan is confirmed for ShopRite at 99 Hawkins Dr, in Montgomery, NY according to a Facebook posting by Tenacious Tyler who posted a picture of the banner hanging in the Montgomery ShopRite store that has Hulk Hogan scheduled March 5 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm brother.🇺🇸🍻\n\nShopRite of Carmel\nShopRite of Poughkeepsie-Fairview\nShopRite\nHulk Hogan A suspect is in custody following a chase through multiple counties in the Hudson Valley that involved several collisions with police vehicles and was prompted by an assault The incident began in Putnam County at around 10:30 a.m when a domestic assault was reported on Stoneleigh Avenue in Carmel when a domestic assault was reported on Stoneleigh Avenue in Carmel along with units from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office later identified as 47-year-old Noel Mendez NJ fleeing the scene in a white U-Haul van Police said the suspect struck multiple police and civilian vehicles as he fled through Putnam The chase ended when Mendez was arrested by the New York State Police in Putnam Valley The investigation remains ongoing and is being conducted by Carmel Police Detectives in conjunction with partner law enforcement agencies Additional updates will be released as they become available as a major $30 million construction project near a Hudson Valley high school is expected to impact traffic for nearly two years Construction will impact Fair Street in Carmel until Summer 2026 which began in the Putnam County town of Carmel in September will widen Fair Street from Simpson Road to Route 52 and create a new turning lane to make it easier to enter and exit the Carmel High School parking lot The work is expected to continue through summer 2026 Carmel Central School District officials said in an announcement on Friday Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne acknowledged the challenges ahead but emphasized the project’s long-term benefits “I’m not going to pretend this project will be easy,” Byrne said “But it is essential for public safety and to make sure this road is sound for future generations.”  Commissioner of the county’s Department of Public Works urged drivers to remain cautious while navigating the active construction zone which will include steel plates in some areas that could pose a hazard school officials are optimistic about the end result “The construction will create challenges traffic-wise the sidewalks and an additional turning lane will greatly benefit our school and community especially in terms of student safety,” said Carmel High School Principal Brian Piazza Supervisor of Transportation for Carmel Central School District said communication with the county would be critical to keeping school buses on schedule “When the state DOT was working on Route 311 they sent us emails every week telling us what to expect,” Klenotiz said “That was extremely helpful because it let us plan our routes accordingly Check back to Daily Voice for updates on the construction process A vehicle pursuit that began on Interstate 84 led to a temporary hold-in-place at a Hudson Valley high school as a precautionary measure and also resulted in the arrest of an Orange County man 8 when a man was reported to be on the highway on I-84 West near I-684 trying to stop cars When a Sheriff's Deputy and a New York State Trooper arrived at the location the man got in a vehicle parked nearby and began driving away according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office 34-year-old New Windsor resident Ian Assad Morgan led authorities on a chase beginning on the westbound lanes of I-84 before moving onto the eastbound lanes He then once again moved to the westbound lanes and avoided spike strips set up to stop him Morgan then left the highway at Route 311 where he continued on local roads through Patterson and into Carmel where he eventually stopped after hitting a Carmel Police vehicle on Route 6 just south of Baldwin Lane in Mahopac Morgan was taken into custody at that point Carmel High School implemented a temporary hold-in-place to ensure the safety of students and staff The measure was taken "out of an abundance of caution," according to Carmel Police The hold-in-place order was lifted after law enforcement apprehended Morgan Authorities confirmed that there is no danger to the public The investigation into the incident is ongoing A fire completely consumed a vehicle on Interstate 84 in the Hudson Valley The blaze happened in Putnam County on Wednesday when a vehicle caught on fire on I-84 in Kent according to the Lake Carmel Fire Department Fire crews rushed to the scene and were able to put the flames out No injuries were reported and the incident was safely brought under control "Remember to keep an eye on your vehicle’s condition to help prevent incidents like this," the department said in a social media post on Thursday Firefighters in a Putnam County town were kept busy with blazes at a condominium complex and residence on the same night Carmel firefighters responded to a chimney fire on Kelly Ridge Road The fires happened in Carmel on Saturday night the town's fire department said on Tuesday The first occurred at the Kings Grant Condominiums where a cooking fire began in an appliance crews were able to contain the flames to the appliance and prevent further damage The second incident happened at a home on Kelly Ridge Road Crews battled it for an hour before returning to service A section of road in Putnam County has reopened following a police investigation into a death Part of Hughson Road in Carmel is closed for a death investigation Hughson Road in the town of Carmel was closed from Stoneleigh Avenue to Cross Road as authorities investigated a death Michael Bodo said they were conducting a "death investigation" at the scene There is no sign of criminal conduct and no public safety concern for those in the area More information has not yet been released Add Lake Zurich to the list of Lake County boys basketball teams with the recent hot hands the Bears have won 8 of their last 11 to sit at 10-9 overall and 3-3 in North Suburban Conference action Lake Zurich beat NSC foe Warren in Gurnee by a point and Palatine at home by 14 points in recent action The Bears have not let a team score 50 points in their past 5 games has allowed the team to play its best basketball of the season Tyler Olson and Evan Peterson are a pair of players who have helped with Lake Zurich’s turnaround Olson scored in double figures three times in a recent 5-game stretch “Tyler has far exceeded expectations and keeps on improving and becoming more confident,” Coughlin said “He had to step into a more significant role in the starting lineup with the departure of Anton Strelnikov and has excelled.” roughly 2:1 assists to turnovers) has been instrumental as well while also playing 31 minutes a game and guarding the opponents’ best perimeter player,” he said Kain Kretschmar leads the team in scoring (14 points to go with 4 rebounds a game) while Connor Strauss averages 10 points and 5 rebounds Antioch update: Senior Jason Lee averages almost a double-double (10 points and 9 rebounds) 4-2 Northern Lake County) had a thrilling 43-42 win against Geneva at the Chicago Clark Martin Luther King shootout when junior Zach Kavich drained a 3 as time expired Lee and junior Cooper Marabella (team leader in 3-point field-goal percentage) each had 9 points in the triumph “Cooper has tremendously improved his defense to go along with his versatile offensive skill set,” coach Sean Connor said Connor noted senior Jack Majerowski “was an absolute warrior against Geneva,” he said “His impact on the floor is rarely seen on the stat sheet.” Carmel update: The Corsairs played in the Wheaton Warrenville South MLK shootout and went 1-2 “but had a good showing and played tough,” coach Mike Wasielewski said but has gone 7-4 since Christmas break to move to 7-13 overall (0-4 East Suburban Catholic) Grant update: The Bulldogs continue to have the red-hot hand in Lake County winners of 7 in a row and 11 of their last 13 games to move to 12-6 overall and 5-1 in Northern Lake County action Grant is tied with Grayslake Central for first place in the NLCC The two teams meet again in February at Grayslake (Grant won the first meeting in Fox Lake) The guard trio of Damarrion Smith (14 points per game) Braylon Gray (13 points) and Charles Schlicht (13 points) lead Grant in scoring and each averages around 5 rebounds a game “They have become a strong trio of guards,” coach Wayne Bosworth said Bosworth added that while 4-year varsity veteran Braylon Gray always will be the leader and tone-setter for the Bulldogs also have excelled since team MVP and returning all-conference pick Landon Enters was lost for the season in December due to injury “Damarrion and Charles have done a great job stepping into larger roles and have become very strong players in this conference,” he said Bosworth also lauded the work of Matt Leclear Grayslake Central update: After that loss in Fox Lake to Grant in NLCC play Central racked up recent road wins against Wauconda and Libertyville and lost to Maine South at the Geneva MLK to sit at 12-6 overall leads the Rams in assists (5) and steals (2) while Chris Jaimes leads Central in scoring (16 points) Coach Brian Centella also had high praise for Aayan Siddiqui and junior starters Cole Halverson and Alex Granville “Aayan has been a steady presence,” he said “He has made timely shots and has improved defensively and with his rebounding Cole and Alex have improved throughout the season and both had great games against Libertyville.” Grayslake North update: Two key factors in the Knights’ upswing this year have been Tyler Morgan (4.3 rebounds second on team) and Brady Ballentine (15 points against Harvard) “Tyler has made winning plays in some of our best wins,” coach Josh Feinzimer said “He has improved in every major statistical category and is a great leader for us Brady has been our most improved player and has settled into a starting role as a senior.” tied for third after a recent win against Antioch) is limiting teams to 46 points per game Jayden Hunt leads the Knights in scoring (16 points) and assists (4 per game) and is approaching a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio Uros Mitrovic averages 14 points and shoots a team-high 36% from 3 while also posting a team-best 5.5 rebounds per game Lakes update: Jason Klimas (team-high 12.4 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game) was all-tournament at the Eagles-hosted Martin Luther King tournament 3-3 Northern Lake County) have been boosted of late by the play of Brenden Ward and Carson Norris “Brenden has stayed ready all year for his opportunity,” coach Chris Snyder said he is willing to do whatever is needed and has never hung his head.” Norris had a season-high 12 points on MLK Day Monday “Carson is getting more confident on the court,” Snyder said “He brings great effort every day and has fought through some tough stretches Dorian Pullen averages a team-high 3.5 assists per game for the Eagles (6-12 Mundelein update: Coach Matt Badgley noted the Mustangs had good recent wins against Addison Trail and Lake Forest Badgley added Evan Salvador has been consistent throughout the season Derek Bishop remains out after being injured in mid-December “We are beat up and sick — therefore inconsistent,” Badgley said 4-2 North Suburban) have 5 players averaging double digits in scoring paced by Aidan Bardic at 12.9 per game (and a team-high 4.2 assists) Atticus Richmond leads the team in rebounding at 9.2 per game “Atticus has stepped up since the Wheeling holiday tournament,” coach Will Benson said “His rebounding and assist numbers have gone up and his overall defense and intensity has gone to another level.” Liam Curtin averages 10 points and 5 rebounds “Liam has been very consistent all year,” Benson said Stevenson went 2-1 at the Wheaton Warrenville South MLK event WW South by 7 and losing to Waubonsie Valley by 11 The Patriots have won 3 of their last 4 games Vernon Hills update: Daniel Odhiambo had 14 points and 10 rebounds in a recent nonconference game against Hoffman Estates He’s the Cougars’ leading rebounder at 7.5 per game Brady Larsen had a notable recent streak where he made a 3 in 5 consecutive games 3-3 Central Suburban North) in scoring at 13.5 points per game Junior point guard Jeremy Zamost logged 12 points against Hoffman 9 against Highland Park and had 8 in a key league win over Maine West including a 4-for-4 effort from the foul line late that helped seal the win “Jeremy pretty much has to play all 32 minutes,” coach Matt McCarty said “He gives full effort and loves to compete.” Juniors Graham Lis and Nolan Brettner are also making their presence felt “Graham gives us a left off the bench with his 3-point shooting ability,” McCarty said “He loves basketball and is always in the gym working on his shooting He has a high basketball IQ and gives us a great lift off the bench.” Warren update: Sophomore standout Jaxson Davis leads the Blue Devils in both scoring (21.7 per game) and assists (5.9 per game) Jack Wolf also has been a big factor for Warren (12-5 is second in rebounding and third in scoring,” Warren coach Zack Ryan pointed out Wauconda update: The Bulldogs recorded recent wins against Round Lake and Lakes to move to 4-16 overall (1-5 NLCC) Wauconda went 1-2 at the Lakes MLK event where Tony Salemi was named to the all-tournament team (16.7 points Alex Ortega averaged 8.7 points during the Lakes residency leads the Bulldogs in scoring (14.9 points) followed by sophomore Leo Brinias (8.8 points) and Ortega (8.5 points) sophomore Austin Carlsen and junior Khalil Roberson also have had a presence on the stat sheet for the Bulldogs who has moved into a starting spot of late “CJ shows up with a positive attitude ready to work,” Wauconda coach Ty Weidner said “He doesn’t do the ‘flashy,’ but he is a coach’s dream and understands what we are trying to accomplish with no complaints He’s the definition of what coaches love to see out of their seniors.” “We have had multiple people tell us how dangerous we will and can be down the road.” 2024 at 10:57 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}There is good news NY — The Kent Brush Fire is contained and controlled but Putnam officials caution that the wildfire danger hasn't passed In response to the ongoing threat of wildfires due to severely dry conditions Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne has implemented a temporary burn ban The ban was announced on Tuesday at a press conference held at the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services following the recent Kent Brush Fire that burned 33 acres over six days "Even though we had some light drizzle last night our region remains under a high fire danger rating from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)," said County Executive Byrne "The conditions we’re facing are extremely dry and we’ve already seen the consequences with numerous brush fires including the Kent Brush Fire right here at home proactive step to prevent further fires from starting and to protect our community." required a large response from over 10 different fire agencies and was successfully contained and controlled thanks to the tireless efforts of local firefighters and first responders (For a full list of all responding agencies "I want to extend our gratitude to the Kent Fire Department and all of our neighboring towns local fire departments that came in and helped get this under control and keep our residents safe," said Kent Town Supervisor Jamie McGlasson "We are grateful for the bravery and teamwork shown by our local fire departments The work they did to stop this fire from spreading further was outstanding," said Bureau of Emergency Servies Commissioner Bob Lipton Conditions are still primed for fires to spread rapidly." which mandates a temporary burn ban across Putnam County This ban prohibits all forms of open burning — including campfires It does NOT include contained gas or coal cooking fires Byrne emphasized that the ban is necessary given the ongoing risk of wildfires and urged residents to comply for their own safety "We understand that with the holiday weekend and cooler weather finally here that individuals may want to gather outdoors and enjoy a bonfire But the conditions are still extremely dangerous," Byrne said "We need everyone’s cooperation to avoid unnecessary risks Until we get consistent rainfall that soaks the ground and improves conditions Sheriff McConville emphasized that his office will be working to ensure compliance with the ban noting that violations could result in penalties and we are prepared to enforce the ban if needed to protect public safety The Executive Order will initially last for five days with the possibility of renewal depending on weather conditions Byrne assured residents that this is a temporary measure and the County will lift the ban as soon as it is safe to do so For updates and more information about the burn ban residents are encouraged to visit the county’s official website and follow Putnam County’s social media channels Watch the full press conference here a report of a Brush Fire in Kent 899 Golf Ridge Rd 10/26/2024 00:09hrs CALLER SAW A BRUSH FIRE NYS Forest Rangers reported Fire has impact thirty-three (33) acres to include ground fire Fire has NOT spread since end of shift 10/28 fire is 100 percent contained and 98 percent controlled This press release was produced by the Putnam County Government The views expressed here are the author’s own A van blaze slowed traffic on Interstate 84 at the border of Putnam and Dutchess counties The fire happened on Interstate 84 near the Putnam and Dutchess border when a van caught on fire on Interstate 84 in Kent Crews were able to put out the blaze after around 30 minutes The incident caused traffic delays on the interstate during the response A school threat led to a delayed start for a district in the Hudson Valley administrators were notified of a "possible non-specific threat made by an individual" in the Carmel High School community This information was immediately shared with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office so that it could be investigated according to a statement by the Carmel Central School District "This threat was not directly related to Carmel High School or any district school but was a statement made on a group chat on Discord regarding a school threat," the district said Out of what it called "an abundance of caution," Carmel CSD and the Putnam County Sheriff's Office decided to place the Carmel Central School District Schools on a two-hour Delay The Putnam County Sheriff's Office has determined this threat as unsubstantiated and gave Carmel Central School District clearance to open all schools there will be increased police presence at schools to ease any anxiety students may have about this concern," the district said in its statement "We appreciate your understanding and patience as we strive make sure our schools and students are safe every day." A major brush fire over at least a dozen acres in the Hudson Valley produced smoke that spread across the New York border into Connecticut 26 in Putnam County in the area of Route 301 and East Boyds Road in the town of Kent and was finally contained late in the day on Sunday crews observed a large fire on the mountain and immediately requested mutual aid from neighboring departments Responding crews located the large brushfire of approximately 5 to 6 acres at the old Sedgewood Club Hotel on Golf Ridge Road and terrain caused the blaze to then spread to about 7 acres NYS DEC Forest Rangers and NYC DEP Police Aviation assisted at the scene with resources including water drops by helicopter Responders continued to work throughout the day and into the night on a fire line to prevent further spread "As of this evening the fire has been contained," the Kent Fire Department said Sunday evening 28 to "fully extinguish any hot spots," the Kent FD said noting that there is no danger to the public or property The following departments responded to the scene Several fire and police departments are battling a large brush fire near a country club in the Hudson Valley The fire began in the area of Golf Ridge Road and China Circle Court in Kent.  The fire began in Putnam County on Thursday in the area of Golf Ridge Road and China Circle Court near the Sedgewood Club golf course in the town of Kent the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services announced around 12:45 p.m Several departments are now operating at the scene of the fire A Department of Environmental Protection helicopter is also circling the skies over the blaze providing images from the air More information about the blaze has not yet been released According to the New York State Department of Environmental Protection Putnam County has been placed under a "high" risk of fire danger since Wednesday New Update: A 28-year-old Hudson Valley man who went missing after last being seen boarding a train in Northern Westchester has been found safe the Carmel Police Department in Putnam County said that Bekim Gjonbalaj was found in good health after last being seen boarding a train at the Croton Falls Train Station in the town of North Salem on Thursday More information about where Gjonbalaj was found was not released Original Report: Authorities in the Hudson Valley are asking for the public's help in finding a man who was last seen boarding a train in Northern Westchester was last seen boarding a train at the Croton Falls Train Station in the town of North Salem on Thursday the Carmel Police Department in Putnam County announced on Monday Gjonbalaj is described as 5-foot-11 and 260 pounds He was last seen wearing black shorts and a black sweatshirt while carrying a black backpack Anyone with information regarding Gjonbalaj's whereabouts is asked to contact the Carmel Police Department at 845-628-1300 Click the Facebook icon below to share this story Receive unfettered access to our digital content including our Examiner+ bonus content newsletter and get other perks like free tickets to local performing arts complimentary advertising for your favorite local charity either observed and verified directly by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources A local business owner and her dog have two Carmel police officers to thank for rescuing them after a sudden storm recently left them stranded on Lake Mahopac police officers Vincent Serio and Anthony Bambach were assigned Marine Patrol on Lake Mahopac when at approximately 5:30 p.m the officers were conducting a check of the lake when they heard someone in the water in apparent distress owner of the Freight House Café in Mahopac She told police the storm created heavy waves knocking her and her dog off the board and into the lake “All of a sudden the skies opened up with crazy winds and crazy waves like I have never seen before on the lake,” Massaro told Examiner Media Monday As Massaro tried to get her dog back onto the paddle board another wave hit them and the board pushed upward hitting her in the head and causing her to get trapped under water for a brief time The board then traveled away from her and she lost it in the water she was stranded near the rocky shore of Canopus Island who noted she was very familiar with the lake said she didn’t know what happened to Syska and Ciano at the time and told Vigliotti Massaro said they were all wearing life vests Massaro told police several boats passed by but did not hear her cries for help Serio and Bambach did hear her screams and responded to the area Serio cut the engine on his boat and threw Massaro a line into the water Bambach grabbed the dog by the handle of its life vest and hoisted him into the boat The officers then led Massaro to the stern of the boat and assisted her to safety Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/ We'd love for you to support our work by joining as a free, partial access subscriber, or by registering as a full access member. Members get full access to all of our content, and receive a variety of bonus perks like free show tickets. Learn more here. Copyright © 2025 The Examiner News KENT – A man died after saving his two grandchildren from a fire that gutted a Lake Carmel home on Tuesday night The fire broke out in a house on Scarsdale Road in Lake Carmel with reports of someone trapped inside. Jintu Zheng 65, was found inside the burning home and taken to Putnam Hospital Center The two grandchildren were found outside the house and were taken to Westchester Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening Zheng appears to have helped his grandchildren get out of the house through a window The children were injured while being thrown out of a window according to 911 radio dispatch transmissions Crime: A young teacher was found dead 33 years ago. Why did police reopen case? Prisons: New York is closing six facilities. What will it mean for local economies? Governor: Here's everything you need to know about who's running Lake Carmel firefighters and Kent police went into the house to look for Zheng as smoke billowed out of the windows and flames engulfed the home They found him and passed him out a back window where he was taken to a waiting ambulance and rushed to the hospital One Kent police officer was treated at Putnam Hospital Center for smoke inhalation water had to be trucked in on tanker trucks The Putnam County Fire Investigation Team was called to the scene and is trying to determine what caused the blaze Putnam County Sheriff's Office and state police also responded Matt Spillane covers breaking news throughout the Hudson Valley. Follow him on Twitter @MattSpillane. Check out our latest subscription offers here.