Lindley Town Justice Update: What Happens Next

The New York State Commission On Judicial Conduct issued a statement, saying that Lindley Town Justice Julie Kuck submitted her resignation on December 23.  It went into effect on January 10.  The commission says that the resignation took place after Julie Kuck pleaded guilty to a DWI charge. 

The Lindley Town Justice position is up for a vote in the November elections.  The Lindley Town Clerk has filed a certificate of vacancy, but there will not be a special election.  Steuben County Election Commissioner Vicky Olin says, the normal procedure is for the state court system to appoint a replacement for the rest of the year. 

 

Bus Driver Accused Of Buying A Gun During Bus Run Hours

From NYSP CANANDAIGUA:  On February 3, 2025, the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Canandaigua arrested 57-year-old David L. Ferry of Naples, NY, for Criminal Possession of a Weapon on School Grounds (E Felony) and Endangering the Welfare of a Child (A Misdemeanor).  

Troopers received a complaint-in-progress that Ferry had just purchased a .22 caliber rifle and was observed driving away in a Naples School Bus upon leaving the retail store.  Ontario County Sheriff's Office Deputies found the bus on State Route 247 in the town of Gorham and conducted a traffic stop upon request of the State Police.  Deputies and Troopers discovered the bus was occupied by 12 students. The rifle was secured under a seat in the original package, and there was no ammunition.  Naples Central School officials were notified and responded to the scene.  Ferry was processed at SP Canandaigua and issued appearance tickets for the Gorham Town Court on February 18, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.  

 

There is no indication that Ferry purchased the rifle with the intent of carrying out school violence, and there are no credible threats to Naples Central School, its students, or staff.

 

Lack Of Volunteers And Other Factors Caused Dissolution

The Steuben County Village of Hammondsport Volunteer Ambulance Department is in the process of shutting down.  we asked Steuben County Manager Jack Wheeler why things are harder these days, for volunteers in this line of work.  The county manager says, one big issue these days for volunteer ambulance crews is a lack of new volunteers to take the place of those who are aging. "Many of the volunteer agencies face the problem of new volunteers coming up," he explained. 

"Then too, there is the nature of people's jobs," Wheeler said. "Things just aren't as flexible so that employees can leave for an emergency."   Wheeler also says, another problem in recruiting volunteers is the  excessive number of training hours being imposed on volunteers, thanks to new regulations.

 

Hornell Area Hospital Is Working On Building ICU Rooms

In Hornell, St James Hospital officials announced that they're in the process of building two intensive care rooms at the hospital.  St. James officials say, the addition of ICU care enables St. James to care for patients requiring advanced medical treatment without transferring them to facilities outside the Hornell community. This expansion reflects the mission of the Hospital to provide comprehensive, high-quality healthcare close to home.  “The advancement of ICU care at St. James Hospital is something our community has needed, and we are thrilled to meet that need,” said Wendy Disbrow, President and CEO of St. James Hospital. “Keeping critical care cases local ensures patients receive timely, specialized care while remaining close to their loved ones.”

 

New Rule In The Works About Abortion Pills In New York

Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul has come up with a new rule for pharmacists: when a doctor prescribes an abortion pill, the doctor’s name will not be printed out on the pill bottle label.  The governor says, a doctor in Louisiana was just arrested because his name was on a prescription drug label on a bottle when law enforcement went into a woman’s house to investigate her for having an abortion.

 

Langworthy And Tenney Write A Letter To Hegseth

Steuben County’s two members of Congress, Republicans Nick Langworthy and Claudia Tenney, have sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, asking him to open the Niagara Falls Reserve Station for housing illegal immigrants, until they’re deported.  Tenney and Langworthy both say the ICE facility in Batavia cannot handle the huge numbers of undocumented immigrants.