A pretrial conference Thursday for a police investigator accused of stealing over $9,600 from the Herkimer Police Department evidence room resulted in no plea bargain and raised questions as to the possibility of additional charges being brought in the case.

A pretrial conference Thursday for a police investigator accused of stealing over $9,600 from the Herkimer Police Department evidence room resulted in no plea bargain and raised questions as to the possibility of additional charges being brought in the case.
The 18-year department veteran Robert Risi is already facing charges of felony grand larceny, misdemeanor petit larceny, as well as two counts of misdemeanor official misconduct.
“No offer was extended by my office for any resolution,” District Attorney John Crandall said after the conference, “As of right now, it seems to be headed to trial.”

A $50,000 state grant announced Wednesday is being utilized to establish a Revolving Loan/Grant program to assist small businesses in Herkimer County.
Aimed at commercial, industrial, manufacturing as well as agricultural businesses with 10 employees or less, funds will be used for projects of up to $6,000.
Applicants will be eligible for $2,000 in grant form and a $2,000 matching loan, with a 2-percent interest rate repayable over 24 months, while providing up to $2,000 of their own equity or capital.

Dairy farmers in New York state and across the country are facing an economic crisis that looms ever larger as time goes on.
A decrease of demand, combined with the slow but steady rise of imported dairy products from countries like Australia and New Zealand added to the abundance of milk and milk products already produced in country and the rising cost of production have caused the prices paid to dairy farmers to plummet to well below $12 per hundredweight in recent months.

The Herkimer County Legislature on Wednesday voted 10-5 to table a decision that would have accepted a settlement to return a tax-foreclosed property to its owners.
Previously approved by Properties Committee members, the settlement from owners John and Charlene Coughlin, of the town of Frankfort, offered $10,000 above the amount required to reimburse the county for delinquent taxes, interest, penalties and fees — totaling $21,029 as of June 11, 2009, related to the parcel seized in 2007 through In Rem foreclosure action.

The Herkimer Area Resource Center, Folts Homes and the village of Herkimer are gearing up for a grand celebration on July 11, as for the first time, they combine their efforts to bring a festival and celebration to the local community.