HUDSON–The Columbia County Board of Supervisors presented three certificates of recognition at its meeting Wednesday, April 13, with one of them going to the Hudson High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team for its outstanding season.
The team stayed undefeated through the regular season and the state post-season 2015-16 championships until it met Olean in the semi-finals in Glens Falls, March 11. Along the way, the Bluehawks won the Class B titles for Section Two and Region Two.
Board Chairman Matt Murell (R- Stockport), via the certificate, proclaimed the team’s accomplishment “historic basketball as a victory for all of Columbia County.”
Team members and their coaches stood on the stage, as supervisors William Hughes, Jr., (D-Hudson, 4th Ward) and Richard Scalera (D-Hudson, 5th Ward) congratulated them. Mr. Hughes noted, “I have had the pleasure of seeing some of these young men grow up.” Mr. Scalera read the citation on the certificate. Several times during the presentation and spectators stood and clapped.
The team members included seniors Shamar Daniels, Daniel Folds and Zachary Hedgepeth; juniors Mike Alert, Tyler Dellavechia, Dante Garrido, Kieaonie Ivey, Kimedrick Murphy and Ellis Richardson; sophomores Jeremy Ramirez, Matthew Sweet and Willie Walker; and Freshman Justin Oliveras.
The certificate also recognized coaches Shawn Briscoe and Tyrone Hedgepeth for their “fantastic job,” “through hard work and dedication,” and creating not only a winning team but also “spirit in the Hudson community as a whole.” In addition, Mr. Hughes called attention to Mr. Hedgepeth’s service as a supervisor at the City of Hudson’s Department of Youth.
The other two certificates recognized Dean Knox, county director of engineering, and the late Stanford Jay Card.
Mr. Knox was recognized for his role in replacing the bridge over Hollowville Creek. This construction, according to the certificate, was completed in 2014 on time and under budget, and it received the American Public Works Association “Project of the Year” award last year for structures costing less than $5 million. Supervisor Ron Knott (R-Stuyvesant) presented the certificate to Mr. Knox.
Mr. Card (May 18, 1923-February 12, 2016) was honored for his decades of public service. Positions he held included supervisor for the Town of Claverack, vice president of the Claverack School Board, assessor, tax collector, Civil Service commissioner, and fireman. He attended Philmont schools. Supervisor Kippy Wiegelt (R-Claverack) presented the certificate to Mr. Card’s family.
Also at the meeting:
• Supervisors authorized the director of the county’s Pine Haven Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility to hire two full-time nurse aides, one part time LPN, two part time cooks, and one part time food service worker
• The purchase of a new, 11-passenger bus, for $50,749 to transport veterans to necessary appointments was approved. The bus will have capacity for one passenger in a wheel chair
• The board requested that the state increase funding for the defense of indigent clients in all counties. A bill to do so is before the state legislature. County Public Defender Robert Linville advocated this resolution at the board’s Public Services Committee meeting March 17. Since last fall, five counties have requested that state support. The other 57 counties, including Columbia, have to come up with the money themselves. This, Mr. Linville said, puts these 57 counties at a “disadvantage.”
The next full county Board of Supervisors meeting will be Wednesday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the county office building, 401 State Street.
