Author: Josh Durso
Police: Seneca Falls man stole check, cashed it for himself
Police arrested a Seneca Falls man following an incident in December. According to police, Bryan Rugenstein, 57, of Seneca Falls was charged with criminal solicitation and petit larceny after an investigation into…
11-year-old suspended at Red Creek middle school for mask violation: Mother says punishment is too harsh
A Red Creek mother is speaking out after her son’s experience in the Red Creek Central School District. Kelly Teeter reached out to FingerLakes1.com after her son, David, was suspended for not…
COLUMN: Answering questions about landfill revenue, state support of 2025 closure in Seneca Falls
Earlier this week on The Debrief Podcast a discussion about the future of Seneca Meadows in the town of Seneca Falls prompted co-host Ted Baker to pose a question about the Town’s…
Sheriff Kevin Henderson will resign, attorneys for Ontario County say
Sheriff Kevin Henderson will resign. That was the takeaway from a meeting held by the special committee continuing an investigation into issues at the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office during his tenure. The…
Sheriff Henderson says he will not resign after threats of retaliation from elected officials; Undersheriff resigns after probe
Ontario County Sheriff Kevin Henderson says he’s not going anywhere, despite reports circulating over the holiday weekend that his job was under threat. The elected sheriff released a statement on Tuesday, telling…
Pruett’s resignation letter obtained days before leaving Geneva City Council
“I am hereby issuing my resignation from Geneva City Council, Ward 6, becoming effective August 31, 2021.” That’s how the letter authored by Geneva City Councilor John Pruett, which was submitted to…
DEC investigating after massive manure spill at Genoa dairy farm
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating a large manure line leak in Cayuga County. It happened in the town of Genoa, according to the Cayuga County Health Department,…
Geneva City Councilor announces resignation, cites health and unproductive governing body
Geneva City Councilor John Pruett is stepping down. He serves as Sixth Ward city councilor and in a letter to Mayor Steve Valentino, he cited an array of issues and concerns that…
Police working with state, federal partners after prank bomb threat called in to Penn Yan school
First responders have provided new information on the bomb threat that was sent to school officials in Penn Yan earlier this week. On Tuesday around 1:30 p.m. Penn Yan Central School District…
Hochul makes pledge to New Yorkers in first address since Cuomo resignation
Get ready for change. That was the clear message from Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday as she addressed New Yorkers for the first time since Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he…
Local officials stress importance of vaccination as COVID numbers rise
Elected leaders and public health officials in Seneca County are sounding the alarm- calling it a ‘critical time’ for the region in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Vickie Swinehart, who serves…
Cayuga, Ontario, and Wayne join Seneca and Tompkins with ‘substantial’ transmission of COVID, per CDC
The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that cases are on the rise across the Finger Lakes. On Monday, just two counties in the rural Finger Lakes…
Seneca County leaders encourage masking indoors as COVID cases rise again
Officials in Seneca County are urging residents to mask-up as the number of COVID-19 cases rises. Seneca County Board of Supervisor’s Chairman Robert Hayssen issued a statement on Monday, after the county…
Seneca County Health Director Vickie Swinehart leaving post in October
Public health workers throughout the U.S. have been tested over the last 17 months. As the nation’s healthcare system was pushed to its limits during the peak of the COVID-19 public health…
Mama Bear serves as historic landmark, tour guide for Seneca County’s history
Driving by The Three Bears Complex in Ovid it’s clear things have changed. Over the last two decades The Friends of the Three Bears, now led by Phyllis Motil, change has been…
WEEKEND DEBRIEF: Workers leaving jobs, SLPWA criticized, and COVID’s status (podcast)
While primary contests were among the biggest news story of the week in the Finger Lakes- there were plenty of others that made a big splash. On this edition of The Weekend…
