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 Firefighters rushed to a Hudson Valley apartment complex after an electric scooter caught fire inside a second-floor unit happened at the Slatewood Apartments in Wallkill The fire broke out on the evening of Thursday at the Slatewood Apartments in the Town of Wallkill according to the Mechanicstown Fire Company Crews arrived to find an electric scooter burning inside the apartment Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames but not before the fire and sprinkler system caused damage to two units—the fire-damaged apartment and the one below and the Orange County Fire Investigators Office GOSHEN—A grand jury has handed up three indictments against a former City of Middletown Fire Department lieutenant a former Mechanicstown firefighter and 17 others in what officials say was a pair of drug rings one that sold cocaine and the other that sold pills made from fentanyl The indictments are the product of Operation Bread, White and Blues, which prosecutors said came from the groups referring to the money as bread, the cocaine as white and the blue-colored pills as blueberries as they sold the drugs in Orange County and elsewhere. Police arrested the groups on Feb A handful of lower-level defendants took early guilty pleas Friday's indictments mark the start of county court proceedings in the trafficking cases One indictment charges former Middletown fire lieutenant Paul Smith as well as multiple drug sale and possession counts Mechanicstown volunteer firefighter Robert Dunham faces counts including first- and second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and multiple felony drug possession counts Both men also face two counts each of second- and fourth-degree conspiracy with one count each related to the cocaine and fentanyl pills second- and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and other drug charges in the pill case Michel and eight other defendants face second- and fourth-degree conspiracy charges The indictment charges that Michel was the main supplier of the pills which were made to look like oxycodone pills Each defendant on that indictment is charged with acting together and with Smith and Dunham to distribute drugs The third indictment charges that Marquis Gamble of Nyack with operating as a major trafficker and with supplying cocaine to the conspiracy While Smith is not charged on the third indictment it says that Smith's roles as to distribute cocaine to the other conspirators "so that it could be sold by members of self-professed outlaw motorcycle clubs." The Gamble indictment charges seven others with second- and fourth-degree conspiracy including attempted first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance of Spring Valley also faces drug charges including first-degree criminal sale of possession of a controlled substance Former police officer John Beltempo faces drug charges and a felony count of criminal possession of a firearm No information about the gun is included in the indictment are mentioned as part of each of the two conspiracies outlined in the companion indictments All three indictments outline a series of acts undertaken by the suspects including intercepted phone calls and handoffs of items descriptions that suggest the actions were captured by surveillance and wiretaps who was the fire department training officer and often the highest-ranking person on duty held meetings of fellow bikers involved in the drug activity at Middletown's central firehouse The City of Middletown is undertaking numerous measures to improve security and prevent any future issues at the firehouse Most of the defendants will be arraigned on Monday and Tuesday in Orange County Court in front of Judge Craig Brown For logistical reasons unrelated to the case Prosecutors Kerry Kolek and Neal Eriksen asked Brown to set bail at $1 million cash or $3 million bond citing the potential 25 years to life Michel faces if convicted of the top count including a 2009 federal drug conspiracy for which he served a sentence of six and a half years Visit The Times Herald-Record, Middletown, N.Y. at www.recordonline.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. TOWN OF WALLKILL — The sign greets you as you pull into Station No Walk behind the firehouse and miniature cars and trucks kick up dust clouds as they whiz around a large dirt oval as their operators look down from a wooden platform "This oval is a symbol," Mechanicstown firefighter Dominick Guardino says Mechanicstown is low on volunteers — just 30 active members So the department is taking an unusual step: it's getting into the remote-control-car-racing business The fire company has built a track that will be open to the public every weekend racing their own cars and showcasing their fire equipment hosting firehouse tours and ridealongs haven't helped slow the decline in membership "Fire services need to think outside the box," Guardino says District Fire Commissioner Lee Williams said some commissioners were skeptical of the idea at first He scoffs at the notion that the fire company is straying from its primary business: fire protection "The business of the Mechanicstown Fire District is to provide the best fire protection for our residents," Williams says The fire company spent $500 toward the track's construction; the rest came from donations Guardino says they wouldn't have been able to build the track without them The fire district did not put up any money for the project Racers will be charged $15 for the first class they enter The company hopes to host a full season of racing next year Officials say about 20 people had been arrested as of Tuesday morning in a drug ring run by a Middletown have been charged with operating as a major trafficker They and the other defendants have been charged with second-degree conspiracy Smith has been employed by the city of Middletown Fire Department since March 2002 and in 2017 was paid $103,145 New York State Police and agents from the FBI and DEA staged raids in Orange and Rockland counties to make arrests six of the defendants were arraigned on felony complaints Assistant District Attorney Neal Eriksen told Judge Craig Brown that the defendants conspired to sell oxycodone 30 milligram tablets “which were Michel profited in excess of $70,000 in a six-month period outlining one of the statutory requirements of the major trafficker charge Smith and Gamble are expected to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon One of the men arraigned at midday was Dominick Guardino chief of the Mechanicstown Fire Department Eriksen told the judge that Guardino obtained pills on occasion while in his department-issued vehicle 62; and Samuel Marino were also arraigned on conspiracy charges Dunham also faces Class A felony drug sale charges Their charges relate to distribution of cocaine Judge Brown set bail at $1 million cash or $3 million bond for Michel and Dunham; at $500,000 cash or $1.5 million bond for Joel Gamble who has a prior felony drug conviction; at $100,000 cash or $300,000 bond for Marino; at $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond for Guardino; and at $25,000 cash or $75,000 bond for Thomas At least five people were hurt during a wrong-way crash on an exit ramp in the Hudson Valley According to the Mechanicstown Fire Company two cars collided head-on Saturday night on the Route 17 exit ramp 121E One of the drivers drove the wrong way on the exit ramp in Wallkill Five people were injured and taken to Orange Regional Medical Center At least five people were hurt during a wrong-way crash on an exit ramp in the Hudson Valley.\nRead More has been embraced by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 17 retiring from JP Plastic as well as a successful business owner and truck driver He overcame illiteracy and was a wonderful provider for his family He is preceded in death by his mother Virginia Matics Kempf Dayton and father He is survived by the love of his life Sheila Williams; sister He was extremely proud of his grandchildren Tyler Ramsey of Toronto; 8 great grandchildren; his nieces and nephews Bobbi (Tim) Martin of Florida and Carl (Kirk) Tovvy of Michigan We would like to extend our gratitude to all of the staff of Carroll Health Care and Community Hospice for all the warmth and kindness they have shown to him and our family We are so overwhelmed by their compassion during this difficult time A celebration of life is scheduled for Saturday OH 44615 at 1:00 PM with Pastor Harold Barber officiating Send condolences online at www.everhart-bovefuneralhomes.com Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Ohio | https://www.morningjournalnews.com | 308 Maple Street said members of the Mechanicstown Fire Company are a family They've been through hard times before and will do what they need to do to move on from the latest crisis the Mechanicstown Fire District's board chairman was occasionally at a loss for words in his office Wednesday morning while talking about two of the fire department's members who were rounded up in a massive drug ring sweep on Tuesday The firefighters learned between 9 and 10 a.m Tuesday that Chief of Special Operations Dominick Guardino and volunteer firefighter Robert "Bob" Dunham were among the 29 people charged in connection with two drug rings that officials said trafficked fentanyl and cocaine in Orange County The Mechanicstown firefighters were "shocked," he said Police charged Guardino on Tuesday with conspiring to obtain and sell drugs Prosecutors in Orange County Court said he used his department-issued vehicle while obtaining pills Law enforcement officials characterized Guardino as a "street level" pill dealer was charged with second-degree conspiracy and four counts of second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance The two drug rings that were the subject of the multi-agency bust were separate but connected by Dunham and Middletown Fire Department Lt McClintock hopes people will not look down on the entire department because of the alleged actions of two people Middletown officials hope for the same when it comes to the perception of their fire department in light of Smith's arrest especially since police do not suspect other firefighters of wrongdoing That's our job here," McClintock said of the 92-year-old department "We've always been here for our community and will always be here in the community." Asked what the way forward is for the department "I'm not sure there is a good answer for that," he said The way forward for Middletown might start with a directive from Mayor Joe DeStefano setting rules for public access at the Central Firehouse Smith is accused of holding drug-related meetings and making deals from inside the firehouse on East Main Street DeStefano said he was told that Smith once held a meeting in the firehouse involving 18 biker-club members wearing their gang's colors The mayor plans to meet with the city attorney this week to outline potential measures at the firehouse to track who comes in and out of the busy firehouse DeStefano met with reporters at Orange Regional Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon He was at the hospital with a family member but felt it was important to continue talking to the public during this turbulent time DeStefano said he feels a responsibility to get to the bottom of how Smith was allegedly able to conduct his illicit business at the firehouse seemingly undetected by city officials DeStefano said the city has to get to work on regaining the community's confidence "If I was a resident of the City of Middletown I would be pretty (ticked) off," DeStefano said "And I'm a resident of the City of Middletown and I'm pretty (ticked) off." GOSHEN — One of the four at-large defendants in Tuesday’s big drug sweep turned himself in to authorities Wednesday morning surrendered to state police with his lawyer Kavanaugh was arraigned in Orange County Court by Judge William DeProspo and jailed on $20,000 bail or $60,000 bond He is charged with second-degree conspiracy Kavanaugh is one of more than two dozen defendants in the case which prosecutors say involved two drug rings linked by defendants Paul Smith Smith is a paid Middletown City Fire lieutenant and Dunham a volunteer firefighter with the Mechanicstown Fire Department in the Town of Wallkill Police are still seeking three defendants charged with second-degree conspiracy: Gary Caldwell A Hudson Valley fireman is accused of sexually exploiting three 13-year-olds Jonathan Weiss a/k/a “Ian_Jameson” was arrested on Thursday for allegedly communicating with three different underage victims online and directing them to take sexually explicit images and send them to him “Jonathan Weiss’s alleged crimes are abhorrent and predatory Weiss allegedly sexually exploited three 13-year-olds," Manhattan U.S The 29-year-old from Middletown was charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor each carrying a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison Weiss joined the Mechanicstown Fire Company in 2015 according to the fire department's Facebook "The Mechanicstown Fire District has recently learned about the arrest of one of its members The individual is removed from service until the criminal charges are addressed in accordance with law and is presently prohibited from responding to emergencies or being on the premises Once such charges are fully adjudicated and his guilt or innocence is determined the Board of Fire Commissioners will evaluate whether or not his services will be accepted he will not be serving as a volunteer," a spokesperson from the fire department told Hudson Valley Post “Jonathan Weiss allegedly posed as a minor and directed his teenage victims to take and send sexually explicit photographs to him through Snapchat It is horrific for anyone to prey on our most vulnerable," HSI Special Agent in Charge Peter C According to the complaint filed yesterday in White Plains federal court Weiss a/k/a “Ian_Jameson,” posed as a minor and communicated online via Snapchat with 13-year-old girls He allegeldy directed them to send sexually explicit photographs to him and threatened the minors if they didn't send more nude photos There may be more victims of this alleged conduct contact Homeland Security Investigations through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2423 or by completing its online tip form Both are staffed around-the-clock by investigators Hearing-impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196 A Hudson Valley fireman is accused of sexually exploiting three 13-year-olds.\nRead More GOSHEN — The man who prosecutors say supplied fentanyl pills to a drug ring centered around a pair of firefighters has pleaded guilty to conspiracy The Orange County District Attorney's Office said Garry Michel colored and stamped to look like oxycodone but actually contained the synthetic opioid fentanyl to the drug conspiracy headed by Paul Smith Smith was a lieutenant with the Middletown Fire Department and Dunham was a volunteer firefighter with Mechanicstown police and prosecutors busted 26 people in connection with a pair of conspiracies that trafficked the pills and cocaine in and around Orange County dubbing the six-month investigation "Operation Bread White and Blues." Michel was the last defendant to plead guilty in the case and faces up to 12½ to 25 years in prison when he’s sentenced on May 18 Michel also agreed to forfeit $181,842 in illegal drug proceeds That will bring the total of forfeitures recovered in the case to $553,468 two and a half pounds of cocaine and 1,300 fentanyl pills Smith and Dunham are still awaiting sentencing The case also led to the arrest of Department of Environmental Protection police Sgt Prosecutors say Marinelli manufactured “dozens of handguns and assault rifles including at least one fully automatic assault rifle,” and sold them to people who were legally barred from possessing them according to a news release from District Attorney David Hoovler Marinelli is due back in Orange County Court on Dec GOSHEN - Prosecutors announced that one of the main players in a pair of drug conspiracies one of which centered around a firehouse, has been sentenced to nine to 18 years in prison.  pleaded guilty in the case in April 2019 to first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and second-degree conspiracy according to District Attorney David Hoovler Judge Craig Brown sentenced Dunham to nine years on the drug-sake charge plus post-release supervision; and a concurrent six to 18 years for conspiracy.  Prosecutors said that indictments arose from “Operation Bread, White and Blues,” an investigation which primarily targeted suspected members of self-professed “outlaw” motorcycle clubs which sold cocaine and a group that sold narcotic pills which they claimed contained oxycodone but which actually contained fentanyl.   Prosecutors said Dunham and or Paul Smith of Port Jervis, were involved in both conspiracies Smith is awaiting sentence. Smith was a paid lieutenant with the City of Middletown Fire Department and Dunham was a volunteer with the Mechanicstown Fire Department.  Mugshots: Arrests in Middletown drug ring More: Drug charges against fire Lt. Smith shock Middletown officials More: Ex-firefighter pleads guilty in major drug-ring case Dunham admitted to selling more than two ounces of cocaine in October 2018.  While most of the lower level codefendants in the case have long since been sentenced prosecutors waited until the rest of the case was done before sentencing Dunham and Smith, as well as Garry Michel of the Town of Wallkill. Prosecutors say Michel supplied the fentanyl pills.  Prosecutors said that when New York State Police and the FBI executed search warrants the day of the arrests 25 handguns, multiple rifles, 10 vehicles, two motorcycles, more than 2.5 pounds of cocaine and 1,300 fentanyl pills.  More: Orange DA offers insight into how major drug bust came about More: Firefighters indicted in major drug-trafficking ring cases Photos: 29 charged in drug ring based at Middletown firehouse “This defendant was involved in large-level narcotics sales conspired with others to profit from the potentially lethal substances they were distributing in our County and epitomizes the exact type of offender who is deserving of a lengthy prison sentence,” Hoovler said in a news release “As fatal overdoses in Orange County have risen a clear message must be sent that narcotics trafficking is destroying the fabric of our society killing our residents and must be fought at every level.”  The site of a once beloved Hudson Valley restaurant was suspiciously destroyed by a raging fire firefighters from the Hudson Valley responded to fire at the old Rusty Nail on Dunning Road in Wallkill First responders were met with the former restaurant building fully engulfed in flames The Mechanicstown Fire Company used two deck guns to start attacking the place Goshen's tower ladder was also put to work The building was first a Mechanicstown Station depot for the New York The restaurant has been closed for years and the building has been vacant so sad it ever closed down in the first place," Cynthia Johnson wrote in the comment section on the Mechanicstown Fire Company's Facebook post about the fire The fire is being investigated by the Orange County fire investigation team and New York State Police The site of a once beloved Hudson Valley restaurant was suspiciously destroyed by a raging fire.\nRead More The building was first a Mechanicstown Station depot for the New York GOSHEN — A little more than two weeks after law enforcement officials broke up of a pair of drug-trafficking rings they say were led in part by a paid Middletown fire lieutenant and a volunteer Mechanicstown firefighter defendants began pleading guilty on Wednesday to felony conspiracy counts The four defendants who pleaded guilty in Orange County Court were among the more than two dozen arrested Feb White and Blues” fentanyl pill and cocaine rings but they weren’t among the men officials say were at the top rungs of the dual enterprises An Orange County grand jury continues to weigh charges against the other people charged in the cases of the Town of Wallkill; and Marquis Gamble Police charged each of them with operating as a major trafficker and characterized them as profiteers of the Town of Wallkill; Salvatore DiStefano each acknowledged that Michel was the supplier and that they knew the aim of the conspiracy was to possess DiStefano and DelRosso to get substance-abuse treatment as part of their plea deals they’ll be sentenced only on the lower count to which they pleaded guilty chief of the volunteer Mechanicstown Fire Department pleaded guilty to reduced counts of fourth-degree conspiracy was involved in both the fentanyl and the cocaine rings and he faces high-level drug sale and conspiracy charges Senior Assistant District Attorney Kerry Kolek told the judge prosecutors will recommend a sentence of six months in jail and five years of probation for Guardino as he continues the substance-abuse treatment program Kolek told the judge prosecutors have records related to Guardino’s medical history his enrollment in treatment and documentation of numerous awards from his years with the fire department and his actions as a firefighter responding to New York City after the Sept DelRosso and Pierson each pleaded guilty to second- and fourth-degree conspiracy Kolek and Assistant District Attorney Neil Eriksen took no position as to what sentence should be imposed on DiStefano 13 phone conversation with Michel involving the drug conspiracy He has been held in Orange County Jail on bail and Brown ordered him released after his plea DelRosso admitted that she spoke with Michel by phone on Dec and that on the same date Michel placed an item in a vehicle for her at an address in Walker Valley “In almost any conspiracy prosecution there are varying levels of culpability and my office must weigh offering different plea agreements based on factors including each individual defendant’s level of participation in the criminal scheme,” said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler “While any agreement to possess or sell narcotics must be punished particularly those involving the potentially lethal narcotic fentanyl we recognize that some lower members of these types of narcotic distribution conspiracies sell narcotics at a level primarily designed to support their own substance abuse habits Mandating substance-abuse treatment for these types of offenders is both crucial and just.” White and Blues” that police and prosecutors can go after higher-level and more sophisticated dealers who insulate themselves by using intermediaries He said that while his office also focuses on drug-abuse prevention they also must “make it a priority to attack the supply of narcotics by seeking severe sanctions against higher level narcotics dealers.” The defendants who pleaded guilty on Wednesday are free awaiting sentence and a June 27 court return date Town of Wallkill: fourth- and fifth-degree conspiracy (felony misdemeanor); recommendation of six months in jail Westtown: second- and fourth-degree conspiracy felonies; open plea; released to interim (intensive supervision) probation pending sentence Middletown: second- and fourth-degree conspiracy felonies; open plea; free pending sentence Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More For three local firefighters to be charged in an elaborate drug ring is shocking everybody else is dealing with this situation I'm sure there's other things we're going to find out about this investigation," said Town of Wallkill Supervisor Ed Diana.   The Wallkill Town Supervisor says he doesn't have more details on Mechanicstown firefighter Robert Dunham yet but one of the department's chiefs Dominick Guardino is on personal leave and the company fire vehicle he allegedly used in drug runs has been taken back.  "One or two bad apples in the bunch does not reflect at all on the Mechanicstown's fire department," Diana said.   Investigators says the Burnt Pistons Motorcycle Club President John Beltempo used to be a Town of Wallkill police officer and was once a member of the Sheriff's Department.  "Aside from being a uniformed deputy at some point in time I do believe he was an investigator that worked on the warrant squad which executed warrants that were issued by Orange County Court," said Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois.   The Orange County Sheriff says Beltempo worked there in the 90s before he took office and that while his alleged drug ring participation doesn't impact the Sheriff's Office he had skills that may have benefitted trafficking operations.  "Without a doubt he probably used some of that training in his illegal activities," DuBois said.   The head of the Chingaling Motorcycle Club George Thomas MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown school board voted unanimously Thursday night to re-name Mechanicstown Elementary School in honor of the late Willie Carter who was a principal at the school for more than 20 years and who was a legend in the community for his work with kids and for his work as a golf pro "School is a feeling," to help kids develop their talents The motion to re-name the school — which will now be William A Carter Elementary — was sponsored by board members John Perrino and Roy Paul people loved him back," Paul said in a statement "If you were fortunate enough to cross paths with him I'm sure you are better person today because of it Let us remember him for his great works and deeds and for his everlasting love for God A terrifying-looking accident involving multiple cars and a tractor-trailer shut down Interstate-84 in the Hudson Valley for hours Monday The crash happened Monday around 10:15 a.m. at mile maker 28 near exit 5 on Interstate 84 in Maybrook. According to Orange and Rockland County Fire Interstate 84 was shut down near the accident with traffic backed up for about 6 miles Traffic was diverted off side roads in the Maybrook and Montgomery area A number of Orange County emergency responders arrived on the scene including a hazardous materials team to clean up a large fuel leak, the New Jersey Herald Reports Officials say only one person suffered an injury Orange and Rockland County Fire reports the injury is a broken leg with everyone else involved in the accident reporting no injuries We will continue to update this story if more information becomes available A terrifying looking accident involving multiple cars and a tractor-trailer shut down Interstate-84 in the Hudson Valley for hours Monday.\nRead More The crash happened Monday around 10:15 a.m. at mile maker 28 near exit 5 on Interstate 84 in Maybrook. According to Orange and Rockland County Fire A number of Orange County emergency responders arrived on the scene including a hazardous materials team to clean up a large fuel leak, the New Jersey Herald Reports. Officials say only one person suffered an injury. Orange and Rockland County Fire reports the injury is a broken leg with everyone else involved in the accident reporting no injuries. We will continue to update this story if more information becomes available. MIDDLETOWN — President Barack Obama beamed into Mechanicstown Elementary School Tuesday, challenging fifth-graders to always work hard and never give up. But the students in teacher Matt Kelly's classroom already knew the high expectations for this school year before Obama even uttered a word. Minutes before the president's speech, Kelly asked students about their goals for the year, what they need, what they can do to accomplish those goals and how he could help. Students said they'd try their best. They wouldn't give up. They have pride in themselves. Those were the same themes Obama hit in his 15-minute pep talk to students across the country. In his speech, Obama reminded schoolchildren that they have a responsibility to their families, their country, but most of all, to themselves. "But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world," he said, "and none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed." That's a challenge Troy Collins is eager to accept. The 10-year-old from Middletown was inspired by Obama's words and is now emboldened to see his education to the end. Collins' response is why Kelly aired the speech, which stirred controversy with some conservative groups, worried that Obama would be using the talk for political means. "It's good to give the kids a boost of positive reinforcement," Kelly said. "That's what the speech was about. It wasn't political." Those messages especially resonated at the Middletown elementary school, which last month was removed from a state list of schools in need of improvement. The school's success is an example of what can happen when students, parents, teachers and administrators collaborate. After the speech, Kelly signed his name in red ink on a sheet of paper listing what he will do to help students achieve their goals. Then, one by one, his students lifted themselves out of their chairs, and etched their names onto a big sheet of paper, listing what they will do. "Now you're going to hold me to my contract," Kelly told his student, "and I will hold you to yours." MIDDLETOWN — The Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council of Orange County recently honored the winners in its 22nd poster contest. The contest theme was "Ask Me, See Me, Be Me, I'm Alcohol and Drug Free." Grand prize — English: Luke Stremouchow, 11th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES — Career and Technical Education (CTEC) Grand prize — Spanish: Rebecca Falcon, 11th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES — CTEC First place — grades 1-3: Reaghan Duval, third grade, Goshen Intermediate School First place — grades 4-6: Micayla R. Brugellis, fifth grade, Goshen Intermediate School First place — grades 7-9: Michael Walker, ninth grade, John A. Flannery High School Second place — grades 1-3: Sanjana Shashikumar, third grade, Pine Tree Elementary Second place — grades 4-6: Jacki Clark, fourth grade, Goshen Intermediate School Second place — grades 7-9: Christina Zelenoy, eighth grade, Goshen Monroe-Woodbury Middle School Third place — grades 1-3: Rachel Hirschkind, second grade, Pine Tree Elementary Third place — grades 4-6: Omar Romero, fifth grade, Goshen Intermediate School Third place — grades 7-9: Sarah Blitz, eighth grade, Monroe-Woodbury Middle School Jeremy Caban, second grade, Mechanicstown Elementary School Kenny Coote-Golston, third grade, Goshen Intermediate School John Hipsman, third grade, Chester Elementary School Hudson Kiefer, third grade, Goshen Intermediate School Olga Luksha, second grade, Chester Elementary School Eve Mulleady, third grade, Goshen Intermediate School Erin Grace Quirke, third grade, Chester Elementary School Victoria Schmidt, third grade, Goshen Intermediate School Quentin Solano, third grade, Pine Tree Elementary School Jamie Wong, third grade, Goshen Intermediate School Alexis DeFreece, fifth grade, Mechanicstown Elementary School Tess Ferguson, fifth grade, Goshen Intermediate School Kaiya Danielle Harris, fourth grade, Mechanicstown Elementary School Charlotte Martindale, fifth grade, Goshen Intermediate School Jose Patrocinio, fourth grade, Gardnertown Fundamental Magnet School Giavonna Rodriguez, fourth grade, Mechanicstown Elementary School Megan Milagros Skarkas, fifth grade, Pine Tree Elementary School Rachel Stein, sixth grade, Bishop Dunn Memorial School Tess Stepakoff, sixth grade, Bishop Dunn Memorial School Lauren Troxel, sixth grade, Washingtonville Middle School Brandon Hann, ninth grade, John A. Flannery High School Amna Iftikhar, eighth grade, Monroe-Woodbury Middle School Steven Ingram, seventh grade, St. Joseph School Mariah Malone, eighth grade, Monroe-Woodbury Middle School Liz Mann, ninth grade, John A. Flannery High School Alexandra Ogut, eighth grade, Monroe-Woodbury Middle School Ashlee Pintos, eighth grade, Monroe-Woodbury Middle School Mackenzie Randall, eighth grade, West Point Middle School Joe Stein, eighth grade, Most Precious Blood School Maggie Stillman, eighth grade, Bishop Dunn Memorial School Honorable mention — Orange-Ulster BOCES Special Education: Austin Edwards and Sarah Marren, seventh grade First place — grades 10-12: Jodi Zwart, 11th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES CTEC Second place — grades 10-12: Devon Hayden, 11th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES CTEC Third place — grades 10-12: Tiffany Scopino, 11th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES CTEC Marley DiazdelValle, 11th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES CTEC Amanda Irace, 12th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES CTEC Staci Kerdesky, 11th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES CTEC Jesse Wyble, 10th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES CTEC Sarah Goebler, 11th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES CTEC Desmond Johnson, 11th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES CTEC Christina Navarro, 11th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES CTEC Jessica Hoare, 11th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES CTEC Michael J. Jones, 11th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES CTEC Shelby Petro, 11th grade, Orange-Ulster BOCES CTEC MECHANICSTOWN, N.Y. — By way of a demonstration, Dominick Guardino drives about a mile from his Mechanicstown home, and he releases six homing pigeons from the box in the bed of his pickup truck. The birds soar upward above the mall parking lot, circle for a minute or two, and — in the unerring way of nature — they wing toward home. Guardino has been raising pigeons for 20 years, and racing them for the past five. The sport of pigeon racing is growing. According to the American Racing Pigeon Union, one of two large accrediting groups, there are 15,000 registered lofts in the U.S. and about a million fliers — the people involved — worldwide. Guardino became interested in birds at age 15, growing up in Richmond Hills in Queens. But it was after he moved to Orange County that he really got hooked on racing pigeons, and he joined the Newburgh-based Mid Valley Racing Club. "It's a backyard sport," Guardino says. "You can be here waiting for your birds, and still get your yard work done." He and his nephew have started their own Web site, www.pigeonelite.com, offering advice to would-be fliers. Saturdays are race days. The night before, members bring their birds to the club. On Saturday morning, a truck takes the birds to a designated starting place, and they're liberated. The liberator calls the club president, who notifies all fliers that the race has started. When the birds come home, the flier uses a clock that reads the time off an electronic chip attached to the bird's leg. The club's computer figures out the bird's speed, and the fastest flight wins. Mid Valley members mostly compete among themselves and nearby clubs, says Mid Valley race secretary Carmine DeRoss. Although big races can boast prize money in the tens of thousands, the local clubs race for pride and fun. "You've got to be a dedicated person to it, because there's animals involved, and it takes time," DeRoss says. A few times a week, Guardino treks 75 or more miles from home to set his birds loose for training. Sometimes, they beat him home. They'll be waiting at the coop behind his house. The theory is that a homing pigeon finds home via an internal "sun clock" and the ability to detect magnetic fields. "No one knows exactly how they do it," Guardino says. He has his own theory about these birds, which mate for life. "The most I see is, the love of the loft, the love of their mate, the love of their children." TOWN OF WALLKILL — Laura Garza's relatives are tired, and they are frustrated. Sunday marked the third day they assisted police, fire and emergency officials in the search for the 25-year-old Brooklyn woman, missing since leaving a Manhattan nightclub Dec. 3. Meanwhile, Michael Mele, the convicted sex offender last seen with Garza, sits in an Orange County Jail cell under 24-hour surveillance. He is 23. Nicolas Garza's disappointment is not only because his sister remains missing, but little evidence of her has been discovered, either. "No personal belongings, anything that identified her," Nicolas Garza said outside the Mechanicstown fire station Sunday afternoon. "We're very frustrated; I don't know what we're going to do." While search teams walked from Middletown to Newburgh along Interstate 84 Sunday, Garza's relatives focused on the area around the intersection of East Main Street and Dunning Road, about a mile from Mele's apartment at the Regency Club. The stretch of East Main Street between Dunning and Schutt roads is closed to all but local traffic as the East Main Street bridge is being replaced. Laura Garza's cousin, Federico Gil, said police told the family that Mele, currently locked up on a probation violation, won't be charged with any additional crimes yet. "At the moment, they're waiting to see if more evidence comes in," Gil said. Since last Friday, the routine for the Garza family has been the same: assist with the search during the day, put up missing fliers of Laura at night — one flier was pasted to the window of the Quiznos sandwich shop Mele owns in Middletown. Sleep is difficult: three, maybe four hours a night. "The weather is not the problem," another brother, Ivan, said. "It's the light." After their Sunday search along East Main Street yielded little, the Garza family went to an undisclosed location to rest, while state police continued the search until sunset. But Monday morning, they will be out again, searching for Laura. Mechanicstown, NY (May 1, 2025) – A crash involving reported injuries disrupted traffic late Thursday morning on NY 211 eastbound at the intersection with Dunning Rd in the hamlet of Mechanicstown. The incident occurred around 11:01 a.m. and caused the right shoulder of the roadway to be blocked as emergency personnel responded. Emergency services arrived on scene quickly and began treating individuals involved in the collision. At least one person sustained injuries and was transported to a nearby medical facility for evaluation. Others were assessed on-site, though the total number of people involved and the full extent of injuries have not yet been confirmed by officials. The crash occurred near one of Mechanicstown’s busiest commercial corridors, with NY 211 serving as a key route through Orange County. Authorities temporarily blocked the right shoulder to accommodate medical crews and tow vehicles, but through traffic remained partially open during the response. Law enforcement is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. Contributing factors such as traffic congestion, signal timing, or driver error are being considered. We extend our thoughts and well wishes to the injured and hope for their speedy recovery. NY 211 is a heavily traveled east-west route through Orange County, connecting Middletown, Mechanicstown, and Wallkill. With its blend of retail centers, intersections, and residential turn-offs, the stretch near Dunning Rd is especially susceptible to mid-day crashes involving turning vehicles or lane changes. According to 2024 state traffic data, this corridor has seen a rise in injury-related crashes, many occurring at or near intersections. Inconsistent spacing between signals, congestion near shopping plazas, and visibility issues often contribute to these collisions. While some crashes result in only property damage, even low-speed impacts on busy roads like NY 211 can cause soft-tissue injuries or back and neck trauma, particularly when seatbelts or airbags are involved. Prompt medical evaluation and legal documentation are essential for victims seeking to protect their health and rights. If you or a loved one was injured in the crash at NY 211 and Dunning Rd, Local Accident Reports is here to help. We connect victims of roadway collisions with trusted medical providers, legal advocates, and recovery resources tailored to Orange County residents. 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