By DIANE VALDEN
HUDSON—Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy William Newton arrested Duane Thompson, 29, of Copake in connection with the burglary of the Quick Mart/Green Street Deli at 67 Green Street, Hudson, Wednesday, January 17 at 1:40 p.m.
At about 4:24 a.m., January 17, the Sheriff’s Office was notified of a burglary alarm at the Quick Mart, according to a press release from Columbia County Sheriff Donald Krapf.
The alarm was reported coming from a motion detector inside the store. An arriving Sheriff’s Office patrol discovered a large glass window in the front of the building had been broken. Upon further investigation deputies found that someone had entered the store and removed items from inside.
Members of the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Branch responded to the location to assist the patrol unit.
Sheriff’s investigators requested and executed a search warrant at Bliss Towers, 41 North Second Street in Hudson. Mr. Thompson was allegedly found to be inside the apartment along with proceeds from the burglary.
He was arrested and taken to the Sheriff’s Office to be processed for third degree burglary, second degree criminal mischief and grand larceny (all felonies of the NYS Penal Law).
Mr. Thompson was arraigned before Greenport Justice John Porreca, who sent him to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $1 bail. He was scheduled to appear in the City of Hudson Court at a later date.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this investigation by the United States Marshals Service and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.
Valatie
Volunteers from the Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross provided immediate emergency aid to five people after a fire Thursday, January 18 on County Route 21B in Valatie, Columbia County.
The Red Cross provided financial assistance which can be used for necessities such as shelter, food, and clothing to five adults. Volunteers also offered health services and comfort kits containing personal care items. In the coming days, Red Cross staff and volunteers will remain available to help those affected by the fire as they navigate the road to recovery.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com
Friends, family, fellow police officers and government officials look on in silence as pallbearers carry the flag-draped casket of Hudson Police Senior Sergeant Christopher Filli into Holy Trinity/St. Mary’s Parish on East Allen Street in Hudson for a Mass of Christian Burial, January 18. Sr. Sgt. Filli, 50, died of a medical emergency while on duty in the City of Hudson, January 12. Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay final respects. Photo by Lance Wheeler
County Drug Court conducts graduation
HUDSON—Drug Treatment Court graduation day December 15 brought celebratory energy to the Columbia County Courthouse—particularly this one, the first in nearly three years due to the Covid pandemic.
Under the supervision of Columbia County Judge Jonathan D. Nichols (before his retirement) and resource coordinator, Gwendolyn Avent, Treatment Court provides a second chance for individuals struggling with the disease of addiction. Making a choice is the first hurdle: serve jail time or commit to an intensive, invasive monitoring program for several months, sometimes longer, to assist in their recovery and grow emotionally, psychologically and spiritually in the process.
According to a press release, Ms. Avent coordinates her efforts with a support team comprised of Twin County Recovery Services, Greener Pathways, Columbia County Department of Social Services, Columbia County Mental Health, Reach Center, Columbia County Probation Department, Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, Columbia County Public Defender’s Office, and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. Together the members of this team guide and support the participants through a system of sanctions and rewards for their behavior, helping to influence the participant’s development to become positive role models of society.
Often, the choice to complete this program may be the most difficult endeavor of the participants’ lives.
Providing validation and encouragement to the graduates, Nathan and Nate shared their personal stories of participating in and graduating from Treatment Court.
“The art of understanding allowed me to not only understand others but also understand myself,” graduate Adrianne said in the release. Their message was clear: the hard work of Treatment Court is worth it because they are now thriving in life, no longer just surviving. “I am always one bad decision away from losing it all. It is a daily reprieve,” Nathan said in the release. Both Nathan and Nate are now paying it forward and actively supporting others who are striving to learn how to love themselves and navigate a better life, removed from the disease of addiction. Congratulations goes to all graduates including Danielle, Scott, Adam, Daniel and Anthony. They are truly inspiring and proof of all that is possible with one good choice, according to the release.
