Press Release Frankfort, NY – 10/03/2025 – My Upstate NY Marketing has announced the addition of a new digital billboard location along Route 5S at the Fairgrounds Exit going to the Herkimer County Fairgrounds. The site, currently in its final stages of development, will soon provide local businesses with another high-visibility advertising opportunity in one of the region’s busiest traffic corridors. With a focus on making this location affordable and competitive in price, a spot on both sides is available for just $300. “With thousands of vehicles passing by this location every day, the new billboard offers businesses a chance to stand out and connect directly with the community,” said Andrew Catello, Owner of My Upstate NY Marketing. “This expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to helping local businesses, big or small, grow through innovative and affordable advertising solutions.” The Herkimer County Fair billboard Location is the latest addition to the family-owned and operated Business's growing digital advertising network across Central New York. In addition to billboard placements, My Upstate NY Marketing provides clients with complimentary social media promotion across its established local platforms, amplifying reach both on the road and online. Local business owners interested in reserving advertising space on the new digital billboard are encouraged to contact My Upstate NY Marketing directly. Contact: My Upstate NY Marketing 📞 (315) 796-1108 🌐 www.myupstateny.com

Hunter, N.Y. —  On Thursday, September 26, at approximately 2:00 p.m., six New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers responded to a report of an injured hiker along Devil’s Path in the Indian Head Wilderness Area. The call came from Jimmy Dolan Notch, located between Indian Head and Twin Mountain, where a 29-year-old hiker had suffered an ankle injury. By 4:30 p.m., Forest Rangers, along with a Greene County Paramedic and Hunter EMT, reached the hiker and determined the injury was unstable and required advanced evacuation. Given the rugged terrain and remote location, Rangers requested assistance from the New York State Police Aviation Unit. Pilots Engle and Maycrink, together with Ranger Lieutenant Gullen and Ranger Thompson, responded by helicopter and conducted a successful hoist rescue. The hiker was safely transported to the base of the mountain, where Hunter EMS took over care and transported the individual to a nearby hospital for further treatment. All responding resources were cleared from the scene by 7:15 p.m. Video of the helicopter hoist rescue has been made available. Sources: https://dec.ny.gov/news/press-releases/2025/10/dec-forest-rangers-week-in-review Sources: https://www.goexploreny.com/post/wilderness-rescue-in-town-of-hunter-injured-hiker-airlifted-from-devil-s-path

For immediate release: September 23, 2025 A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), published in the Annals of Internal Medicine , highlights a dramatic increase in a dangerous type of drug-resistant bacteria called NDM-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE). In a 2022 special report, COVID-19: U.S. Impact on Antimicrobial Resistance , CDC noted that in 2020, there were approximately 12,700 infections and 1,100 deaths in the U.S. due to CRE. The rise in NDM-CRE, documented in the new study, threatens to increase CRE infections and deaths. Between 2019 and 2023, NDM-CRE infections surged by more than 460% in the United States. These infections —including pneumonia, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, and wound infections—are extremely hard to treat and can be deadly. Detection is also challenging, as many clinical laboratories lack the necessary testing capacity. "This sharp rise in NDM-CRE means we face a growing threat that limits our ability to treat some of the most serious bacterial infections," said Danielle Rankin, an epidemiologist in CDC's Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion. "Selecting the right treatment has never been more complicated, so it is vitally important that healthcare providers have access to testing to help them select the proper targeted therapies." What is NDM-CRE? NDM-CRE is part of a group of bacteria known as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), which are resistant to some of the strongest antibiotics available. "NDM" refers to New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase, an enzyme that makes these bacteria resistant to nearly all available antibiotics, leaving few treatment options. Why This Matters: NDM-CRE infections are difficult to treat: There are few effective treatment options for NDM-CRE infections. Because NDM-CRE has historically been uncommon in the United States, healthcare providers might not suspect it when treating patients with CRE infections. This can lead them to pick a treatment that is not effective. NDM-CRE is a serious risk for patients and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality: NDM-producing CRE (NDM-CRE) are resistant to most available antibiotics, and NDM-CRE infections are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. NDM-CRE has the potential to spread quickly: Without appropriate infection prevention and control measures, NDM-CRE can move through healthcare settings and into the community. The exact reasons for the surge are still being studied, but contributing factors may include: Gaps in infection control : Consistent infection control practices - such as hand hygiene, wearing gloves and gown during patient care, and proper cleaning and disinfection - help to prevent bacteria like NDM-CRE from spreading in healthcare settings. Limited testing: Many hospitals and clinics do not have the tools to rapidly detect NDM-CRE infections or the presence of these dangerous germs in patients who aren't yet sick. Delayed identification leads to slower treatment, increased transmission, and missed opportunities for infection control. CDC urges healthcare providers to: Stay Informed: Be aware of the increasing threat of NDM-CRE nationally. Understand your local CRE epidemiology. Test Promptly: Perform testing to identify the type of carbapenemase present to help get your patient effective treatment promptly when a CRE infection is identified. Testing is available in some clinical laboratories and, if unavailable at the clinical level, through public health laboratories. Select treatment carefully: Understand the specific carbapenem resistance mechanism causing the infection to appropriately select antibiotics to manage your patient's NDM-CRE infection. Strengthen prevention: Follow infection prevention and control best practices to protect patients and keep bacteria from spreading in healthcare settings, including wearing a gown and gloves for patient care according to the guidelines for your setting (i.e., Contact Precautions in acute care, Enhanced Barrier Precautions in long-term care). Work with state/local Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Programs to prevent spread. The full report is available: Changes in Carbapenemase-Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales, 2019–2023 . For more information on NDM-CRE and how to prevent its spread, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/cre/about/index.html or https://www.cdc.gov/antimicrobial-resistance-laboratory-networks/php/about/domestic.html .

Through its innovative Restore Fund, Apple has invested in two dozen conservation and regenerative agriculture projects across six continents since 2021 Through a partnership with The Conservation Fund, Apple is helping to protect 14,000 acres of coastal redwood forest in California. Today, Apple announced a new investment in the restoration and sustainable management of a working redwood forest in California, in collaboration with The Conservation Fund. The forest project is part of the company’s expanded Restore Fund initiative, which is now invested in two dozen conservation and regenerative agriculture projects that span six continents. “We’re thrilled to help protect California’s iconic coastal redwoods as part of our growing Restore Fund initiative,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. “Forests are one of the most powerful technologies we have for removing carbon from the atmosphere. Our global investments in nature are leveraging that technology while supporting communities, stimulating local economies, and enhancing biodiversity in ecosystems around the world.” A young redwood sapling grows in the Gualala River Forest. The Restore Fund initiative is designed to scale global investment in nature-based carbon removal. Since launching in 2021 with Goldman Sachs and Conservation International, Apple has expanded the initiative — first in 2023 with the addition of a new fund managed by Climate Asset Management, and again in 2025 with additional direct investments from Apple in nature-based projects in the U.S. and Latin America. Apple suppliers TSMC and Murata have also invested in the fund. Apple’s investments in nature play an important role in the company’s ambitious Apple 2030 goal to be carbon neutral across its entire footprint by the end of this decade. To get there, the company is working to reduce its global emissions by 75 percent compared to 2015, and has so far surpassed 60 percent. In order to balance the remaining emissions, Apple is using credits from high-quality carbon removal projects, prioritizing nature-based solutions due to their scalability and numerous co-benefits. By 2030, the company and its suppliers are aiming to remove 9.6 million metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere each year through projects across the globe. Protecting U.S. Forests With the redwood forest project, Apple has invested in the long-term restoration and sustainable management of the Gualala River Forest in Mendocino County, California. The effort is a partnership with The Conservation Fund, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that buys at-risk forests and other landscapes to safeguard them from degradation. Since 2004, the organization has protected more than 120,000 acres of California forestland in the redwood region. “America’s forests are under immense pressure, with 13 million acres at risk of vanishing by 2050. This is one of the defining conservation challenges of our time,” said Larry Selzer, The Conservation Fund’s president and CEO. “Forests are a cornerstone of rural economies, supporting more than 2 million jobs. Our collaboration with Apple is a powerful model for protecting working forests, and we’re eager to replicate it with partners across the country.” The Gualala River Forest is part of a large stretch of coastal redwood forestland that serves as home to hundreds of wildlife species and as the economic lifeblood for many communities across California’s northern coast. Through the partnership, The Conservation Fund will continue sustainably managing the forest, and Apple will receive the carbon credits generated by the forest’s growth over time. The Conservation Fund regularly measures tree diameter and height in the forest to monitor the amount of carbon stored. The trees selected for measurement are marked, ensuring that the same trees are measured repeatedly over time. Apple has previously partnered with The Conservation Fund to protect over 36,000 acres of working forest in Maine and North Carolina, as part of its commitment to conservation in the United States. In addition to the redwood forest in California, Apple has also invested in a mixed-species temperate rainforest in Washington through its Restore Fund partnership with Climate Asset Management. Conserving Nature Around the World Apple’s commitment to nature extends across the globe. Through the Restore Fund initiative and grants to communities and environmental groups, Apple has invested in and supported dozens of nature-based carbon removal, regenerative agriculture, and innovative conservation projects in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Today, Apple is also announcing new grants to advance conservation efforts in countries around the world. This includes projects with Conservation International to cultivate conservation leaders and build capacity to protect critical ecosystems — such as mangrove forests in India — as well as new support for the Jane Goodall Institute’s global Roots and Shoots program and community-led conservation efforts. And, Apple is supporting a new project with The Nature Conservancy to evaluate the quality of various remote sensing-based tools for monitoring and verifying natural climate solutions projects. The new grants build on Apple’s longstanding work with expert partners and local communities to support innovative conservation efforts. These projects have helped advance conservation research, support sustainable livelihoods, and pilot new approaches to carbon sequestration, modeling, and finance. Through the innovative Restore Fund initiative, Apple supports nature-based carbon removal and regenerative agriculture projects around the world, including this native hardwood working forest in Brazil. Sources: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/09/apple-launches-new-project-to-protect-and-restore-california-redwood-forest/

Shawangunk, N.Y. — State Police have identified the victim of Saturday’s fatal plane crash in Ulster County as 80-year-old Gerald Cotter of Milford, New Jersey. On September 27, 2025, at approximately 2:25 p.m., troopers from the SP Highland barracks responded to reports of a small aircraft crash at the Kobelt/Wallkill Airport in the town of Shawangunk. According to investigators, the single-engine plane went down while attempting to take off and immediately caught fire. Cotter, the pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been notified, and the investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing.

On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at approximately 12:21 p.m., a New York State Trooper assigned to the State Police Wurtsboro barracks was conducting neighborhood interviews in connection with an ongoing investigation near a residence located on Elm Road in the Town of Mamakating. While at the residence, the trooper rang the doorbell and heard a dog inside the home. In preparation for speaking with the occupants, the trooper walked down the front steps and positioned himself behind a nearby vehicle. Upon one of the residents opening the door, the dog exited the residence in an aggressive manner and charged toward the trooper. The trooper was backed into a corner with no viable cover or avenue of retreat. Fearing for his safety, the trooper discharged his issued firearm multiple times, striking the dog. The trooper immediately requested backup, and two additional troopers, as well as a supervisor, responded to the scene. The dog was transported to a nearby veterinary clinic, where it was treated for its injuries. The incident is currently under investigation. Sources: https://troopers.ny.gov/news/trooper-involved-dog-shooting-incident-wurtsboro

On September 27, 2025, at approximately 4:43 p.m., State Police from the New Lebanon barracks responded to the Berkshire Travel Lodge, located at 12703 Route 22 in Canaan, for a report of a physical altercation involving a subject armed with a knife. The investigation, conducted by uniformed members and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, determined that Austin Bell , 32, of Canaan, confronted a 31-year-old male in the parking lot, brandished a pocketknife, and threatened to stab him. A physical altercation followed, during which two neighbors attempted to intervene. Bell then threatened to stab them as well. Troopers arrived to find Bell  with facial injuries sustained during the incident. He was transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital for treatment. The altercation occurred in the presence of two children. On September 28, 2025, Bell was arrested and charged with: Three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th (Class A misdemeanor) Three counts of Menacing 2nd (Class A misdemeanor) Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class A misdemeanor) One count of Aggravated Harassment 2nd (Class A misdemeanor) Bell was arraigned in the Town of New Lebanon Court and remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $4,000 cash bail or $8,000 bond.

September 29, 2025 - Litchfield, NY On September 27, 2025, at approximately 1:40 p.m., New York State Police responded to a report of a motorcycle crash on State Route 51 in the town of Litchfield. A preliminary investigation determined that the operator of a 2024 BMW S1000R motorcycle, Garrett M. Bramer , age 24, of Deansboro, NY, was traveling southbound on State Route 51 at an unsafe speed. Bramer failed to negotiate a turn and subsequently exited the roadway on the east shoulder, where he struck a tree. The motorcycle became fully engulfed in flames upon impact. Bramer was pronounced deceased at the scene. State Police were assisted at the scene by the Ilion Police Department, Air Methods, MOVAC (Mohawk Valley Ambulance Corps Inc.), and the Ilion Fire Department. The investigation remains ongoing. Sources: https://troopers.ny.gov/news/update-state-police-investigate-fatal-crash-litchfield

October 1, 2025 – At 1:00 p.m., the New York State Police Underwater Recovery Team and Aviation Unit will conduct their annual extensive training exercise on the St. Lawrence River near Alexandria Bay. The teams will be setting up at Bonnie Castle, with the exercise expected to conclude around 3:00 p.m. Media representatives and members of the public are welcome to attend and observe the training. The Underwater Recovery Team is tasked with locating evidence, victims, and weapons underwater in support of investigations across New York State. This area provides an ideal training environment to prepare for the demanding missions the team undertakes year-round. This joint training with the State Police Aviation Unit ensures members remain proficient in the specialized skills required for complex recovery operations, enhancing readiness to respond to emergencies.

Utica, N.Y. — An inmate at the Oneida County Correctional Facility has been arrested following an assault on another incarcerated individual earlier this month, according to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol. On September 8, 2025, Road Patrol Deputies responded to the jail for a reported assault. Investigators determined that around 10:00 a.m., 32-year-old Deronn Pool, of Utica, approached another inmate in a housing unit and struck him multiple times in the head and face with a closed fist. The victim suffered a forehead laceration that required medical attention. The case was then turned over to the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Unit for further review. Following the investigation, Pool was arrested on September 25, 2025, and charged with one count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D felony. He was processed at the Law Enforcement Building before being returned to corrections staff to await arraignment in CAP Court later that evening. The Sheriff’s Office Forensic Unit also assisted in the investigation.

Augusta, N.Y. — A Verona man was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday evening in the Town of Augusta, according to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol. Deputies responded to the crash on Huth Sayer Road at approximately 7:09 p.m. on September 28, 2025. Investigators determined that Richard Buryta, 54, was traveling north on a 2013 Victory motorcycle when he failed to negotiate a curve and veered off the eastern side of the roadway. Emergency crews, including the Oriskany Falls Fire Department, Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and Mercy Flight, responded to the scene. Buryta was airlifted to SUNY Upstate Hospital in Syracuse for treatment of his injuries. Clinton Collision provided assistance with towing the motorcycle. The accident remains under investigation by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.

Crown Point, NY — The New York State Police are investigating two related burglary incidents that occurred in Essex County on September 21, 2025, both involving the same group of suspects and the same victim. At approximately 7:58 p.m. , Troopers responded to a residence on Pearl Street in Crown Point  for a reported assault involving a baseball bat. Investigators determined that Haley J. Smith, 21, of Ticonderoga , entered the residence and struck a female victim with a bat, causing injuries. Smith fled the scene in a vehicle with Nazaair Bryan, 26, of Troy , and Zack R. Huntington, 42, of Ticonderoga . The victim was later treated at Moses Ludington Hospital in Ticonderoga  for non-life-threatening injuries. During the course of the investigation, Troopers also learned of a second altercation earlier that same day. Around 8:00 a.m. , two of the suspects — Bryan and Smith — allegedly forced entry into a residence on Elizabeth Street in Moriah , where they physically assaulted the same victim before fleeing. The victim did not report that incident until after the Crown Point assault. Following the investigation, Troopers charged all three suspects in connection with the violent break-ins: Pearl Street Incident (Crown Point): Bryan, Smith, and Huntington were each charged with Burglary 1st degree  and Assault 2nd degree . Smith was additionally charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th degree  for the baseball bat. Elizabeth Street Incident (Moriah): Bryan and Smith were charged with Burglary 1st degree  and Assault 3rd degree . All three suspects were arraigned in Crown Point Town Court  and remanded to the Essex County Jail  pending further court proceedings. The New York State Police were assisted by local law enforcement during the investigation. SOURCES: https://troopers.ny.gov/news/new-york-state-police-are-investigating-two-burglary-complaints-involving-same-individuals