LATHAM, NY – Major Dennis Schager, Commander of Troop G, led a memorial service today at the Troop G Headquarters in Latham. The ceremony was held to honor the memory of fallen officers and to support the families they left behind.
During the event, Major Schager emphasized that the fallen heroes are not forgotten and remain an integral part of the State Police family and the esteemed long grey line. The State Police used their Facebook page to reflect on the significance of the ceremony and to reaffirm their commitment to remembering their lost colleagues.
- Andover woman hit with fentanyl charge after lab results return
NY woman charged after lab confirms fentanyl possession in Wellsville arrest
Wellsville, NY – A 30-year-old Andover woman has been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance after laboratory results confirmed she was in possession of fentanyl during a prior arrest in the village, police said.
Nichole R. Lee was arrested Tuesday by the Wellsville Police Department and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
The charge stems from an incident that occurred December 11 on South Main Street. According to police, Lee was taken into custody at that time on separate charges, and suspected narcotics were seized.
Authorities said lab testing later confirmed the substance was fentanyl, leading to the additional charge.
Lee was processed, issued an appearance ticket and released. She is scheduled to appear in Wellsville Village Court on March 17 at 4:30 p.m.
The case follows the completion of forensic testing tied to the December arrest.
Key Points
- Nichole R. Lee, 30, of Andover was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree
- The charge stems from a December 11 incident on South Main Street
- Lab results confirmed the substance in question was fentanyl
- Freedom woman picked up on warrant after skipping court
Freedom woman jailed after missing court on petit larceny charge
Wellsville, NY – A 37-year-old Freedom woman was taken into custody Tuesday after police located her on a village street in connection with a bench warrant tied to a prior petit larceny case.
Rachel M. Sebree was arrested after officers acted on a bench warrant issued by the Wellsville Village Court. The warrant stemmed from her failure to appear in court on January 13 for a previously filed petit larceny charge, according to the Wellsville Police Department.
Sebree was located on South Broad Street and taken into custody without incident.
Following her arrest, Sebree was transported to the Allegany County Jail, where she is being held pending arraignment in CAP Court.
Police said Sebree is scheduled to appear in Wellsville Village Court at a later date in connection with the underlying charge.
A missed court date on a prior theft case has now landed a Freedom woman behind bars.
Key Points
- Rachel M. Sebree, 37, was arrested on a bench warrant issued by Wellsville Village Court
- The warrant was issued after she failed to appear on January 13 for a petit larceny charge
- Sebree was taken to the Allegany County Jail pending arraignment in CAP Court
- No Risk to Water Supply After Dead Geese with Suspected Avian Flu Found at Monmouth County Reservior
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — New Jersey environmental officials are monitoring an active outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as H5N1, following reports of sick and dead birds at multiple locations across the state, including Monmouth and Gloucester counties.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) confirmed that avian influenza has been circulating in wild birds throughout all 21 counties and continues to be tracked by NJDEP Fish & Wildlife in coordination with federal partners.
At the Swimming River Reservoir in Monmouth County, more than 100 Canada geese have reportedly died in what officials suspect is part of the broader H5N1 outbreak.
In Gloucester County, hazmat crews responded Tuesday morning to Alcyon Lake in Pitman after reports of dozens of sick and dead geese. Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management officials estimated between 50 and 75 dead birds at that site, though no final count has been released.
DEP: Outbreak Primarily an Animal Health Issue
In a public advisory, NJDEP Fish & Wildlife said the ongoing outbreak is primarily an animal health issue and currently poses a low risk to the general public. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has similarly stated that the current strain circulating in wild birds presents limited risk to human health.
Officials noted that while HPAI can infect humans in rare circumstances, transmission typically involves prolonged, unprotected contact with infected birds.
Typical symptoms observed in birds include:
- Diarrhea
- Nasal discharge
- Coughing or sneezing
- Neurological symptoms such as incoordination
- Sudden death without visible warning signs
Residents who encounter groups of five or more sick or dead birds are urged to report findings through the state’s Wild Bird Disease Reporting Form.
Drinking Water Supply Not Impacted
Concerns have also been raised about the Swimming River Reservoir, which supplies treated drinking water to approximately 300,000 residents in eastern Monmouth County, including Middletown, Red Bank, Holmdel, and Colts Neck.
New Jersey American Water, which manages the reservoir, operates continuous monitoring and conventional water treatment systems that include disinfection processes effective at neutralizing influenza viruses.
State officials say there is no documented risk to the public drinking water supply.
Public health authorities emphasize that municipal treatment processes are designed to remove or inactivate viruses and other pathogens. There is no evidence that avian influenza spreads through properly treated drinking water.
Precautions for Residents
Officials advise residents to:
- Avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds
- Keep pets away from wildlife carcasses
- Report clusters of bird deaths to NJ Fish & Wildlife
- Consume only properly cooked poultry and pasteurized dairy products
State officials also confirmed that as of today, no human cases linked to this outbreak have been reported in New Jersey.
- FDNY crews pull victim from Queensboro Bridge anchorage in confined space rescue
FDNY crews navigate bridge interior to reach trapped victim
NEW YORK, NY – Firefighters entered a bridge anchorage space roughly 50 feet from its entrance on the Queensboro Bridge and brought a trapped individual to safety during a confined space rescue operation late Monday night.
The rescue unfolded at approximately 8:50 p.m. when members of Rescue Company 1, along with other FDNY units and officers from the New York City Police Department, responded to the bridge linking Manhattan and Queens. The victim was located about 50 feet inside one of the bridge’s anchorages, a restricted structural area not open to the public.
Fire crews used rope rescue systems and coordinated communication to reach the individual inside the confined structure. The operation required members to maneuver within a limited-access environment while maintaining safety protocols designed for high-risk rescues.
Officials said the victim was successfully removed from the anchorage and brought out of the structure without reported complications during the extraction. The condition of the individual was not immediately released.
The response involved specialized equipment and training associated with confined space and technical rescue incidents. Such operations require coordination between multiple units and partner agencies due to structural constraints and potential hazards within bridge infrastructure.
The Queensboro Bridge, also known as the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, is one of the city’s major East River crossings and includes internal anchorage chambers that support its suspension system. Access to these areas is typically restricted to authorized personnel.
The incident remains under review, and no additional details were provided regarding how the individual entered the anchorage.
Key Points
- FDNY Rescue Company 1 responded to a confined space rescue on the Queensboro Bridge Monday night
- The victim was located approximately 50 feet inside a bridge anchorage
- Firefighters used rope rescue equipment to remove the individual safely
- Over 100 Canadanian geese found dead at Monmouth reservoir amid suspected bird flu outbreak
MIDDLETOWN, NJ – Wildlife officials are investigating a mass die-off of more than 100 Canada geese at the Swimming River Reservoir in Monmouth County, believed to be linked to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) spreading across New Jersey.
Residents near the reservoir began reporting dead and dying geese over the past week, with drone footage showing visibly sick birds spinning in circles and tilting their heads — neurological symptoms consistent with the bird flu strain that has devastated waterfowl populations nationwide. Officials have since confirmed similar cases in other counties, including Mercer, where a recent outbreak in Allentown tested positive for the same virus.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Department of Agriculture are monitoring the situation closely. Authorities say at least two bald eagles in the area are also believed to have died from the virus.
Officials warn residents to avoid contact with sick birds
Health officials stress that the current outbreak poses little to no risk to humans and does not affect the region’s drinking water supply. Still, the public is urged not to touch or handle any dead or sick birds and to keep pets away from the shoreline and affected parks.
Some township parks and reservoirs have been temporarily closed as cleanup and testing continue. Wildlife crews are collecting carcasses for analysis to confirm the scope of the infection.
Key points:
- More than 100 dead or dying geese found at the Swimming River Reservoir in Middletown.
- Officials suspect highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) as the cause.
- Residents warned to avoid handling sick or dead birds and keep pets away.
Bird flu continues to spread across New Jersey
The H5N1 avian influenza strain has been detected in several wild bird populations across the state in recent months, raising concerns about its impact on native species, particularly raptors that feed on infected waterfowl. The virus, which spreads rapidly among migratory birds, has led to similar die-offs in neighboring states and remains under federal surveillance.
State officials say they will continue tracking wildlife health data and coordinating with federal partners to contain the outbreak. For now, residents are urged to report unusual bird deaths to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.
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Wildlife authorities are urging vigilance as the avian flu continues to spread across New Jersey.