The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Stephentown

Monday Fires Destroy Two Buildings

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by Doug La Rocque

Stephentown firefighters were called out on Monday evening, April 4, to battle flames at an unoccupied structure at 345 West Road. The first units on the scene reported the building to be fully engulfed in flames and called for mutual aid from Berlin and Lebanon Valley, while the Hancock Fire Department was placed on standby. According to Sidewinder Photography on the scene, firefighters had to lay a significant amount of hose from the water source to battle the flames. 

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Mrs. Kent Honored as Principal of the Year

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Submitted by BCS Communications

Congratulations to Berlin Elementary School Principal Mrs. Tracy Kent, who was awarded the 2022 Principal of the Year honor by the Greater Capital Region Principal Center and the Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA).

The Principal of the Year award recognizes a principal for exemplary leadership qualities (highlighted by the unique challenges of the pandemic) who has made a difference in the lives of their students.

Tracy Kent has been in the field of education for 29 years. For 18 of those years Tracy was a classroom teacher. She transitioned into administration 11 years ago and has spent the last eight years as the principal of Berlin Elementary School.

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Joseph N. Haneke – Obituary

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Stephentown – Hello neighbors in Stephentown. I would like to inform you of the passing of my wonderful husband, Joseph Haneke, who died at home on April 1, 2022.

In the short time that we have been here we have been so blessed by living in this beautiful Stephentown, the only Stephentown in the whole world. I would like to give many thanks to the wonderful Stephentown EMTs, who came to our home to assist my disabled husband. [Read more…] about Joseph N. Haneke – Obituary

Hasselwander Indicted on Murder and Strangulation Charges

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Remanded Back to Jail Without Bail

by Doug La Rocque
22-year-old Ian Hasselwander was arraigned Tuesday afternoon, March 15, in Rensselaer County Court before Judge Jennifer Sober on one count of Murder in the 2nd Degree and one count of Strangulation in the 1st Degree. Hasselwander pled not guilty to both counts. Judge Sober set April 29 as the tentative date for further proceedings and remanded Hasselwander back to the Rensselaer County Jail without bail until such time. Hasselwander was arrested by the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office on March 4 in connection with the disappearance and subsequent death of 20-year-old Morgan Bates of Eagle Bridge.

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Arrest Made in Bates Murder

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by Doug La Rocque

The Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office on Friday evening, March 4, announced the arrest of 22-year-old Ian J. Hasselwander of Petersburgh for the disappearance and death of 20-year-old Morgan Bates of Eagle Bridge. Bates was reported missing on Tuesday, February 22, with sightings reported early that morning in both Eagle Bridge and Petersburgh. Her body was subsequently located on Sunday, February 27 in a remote area of the Cherry Plain State Park near Black River Road.

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Arrest Made in Bates Murder

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by Doug La Rocque

The Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office on Friday evening, March 4, announced the arrest of 22-year-old Ian J. Hasselwander of Petersburgh for the disappearance and death of 20- year-old Morgan Bates of Eagle Bridge. Bates was reported missing on Tuesday, February 22, with sightings reported early that morning in both Eagle Bridge and Petersburgh. Her body was subsequently located on Sunday, February 27 in a remote area of the Cherry Plain State Park near Black River Road.

Hasselwander now faces four felony counts, including Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, Strangulation in the First Degree and Concealment of a Human Corpse. He was arraigned in Troy City Court before the Honorable Judge Maier and remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail without bail.

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Woman’s Body Found in Cherry Plain State Park

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Death Considered Suspicious

by Doug La Rocque

Here is the statement on the discovery from the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office: “The Office confirms the body of an unidentified female has been located in the area of Cherry Plain State Park, under suspicious circumstances, on Sunday, February 27. 

The victim’s identity will be released following an autopsy, which will be scheduled for later this week. There are no further details at this time. Updates on this investigation will be provided as information becomes available.”

Missing Woman

Coincidently, law enforcement has been looking for a missing woman, perhaps seen about a week ago in the Petersburgh area. At this time, there is no official connection between this search and the discovery of the body in Stephentown.

This is all the information that the Sheriff’s Office as been able to release as we near press time. Any further developments will be posted on our website and social media (Facebook, Instagram) accounts. 

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Stephentown House Heavily Damaged By Fire

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by Doug La Rocque

Stephentown Firefighters were called out in the early morning hours on Tuesday, December 14, to battle a structure fire at 116 Knapps Road, just east of the NYS Routes 43 and 22 intersection. According to Rensselaer County Director of Public Safety Jay Wilson, the Knapps awoke to find a fire in the wall near a wood stove. They managed to escape safely, but

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Man Seriously Burned in Fire

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by Doug La Rocque with input from Sidewinder Photography

Shortly after 8 am on Friday morning, November 26, Stephentown firefighters were called to 4835 South Stephentown Road for a structure at Rainbow Ridge Farms. On arrival, Chief David Corlew reported the building to be fully involved and called for mutual aid from the neighboring Tsatsawassa and New Lebanon Fire companies. They also found 59-year-old Hanley Palmer in the driveway, badly burned. He was

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