An Albany man has been charged with third-degree assault in connection to a fight that left 20-year-old Daniel McKenna in a coma.

McKenna, a student at the University at Albany, and Michael Myrick, 32, of Albany had a dispute on Feb. 10 outside Cagney’s Bar on Central Avenue.

Police are still searching for the man who inflicted the blow that led to McKenna’s injury.

Mayor bails out builder

Mayor Scott Johnson bailed out builder James McLagan of Mechanicville this past week.

McLagan has been accused of bilking property owners in Saratoga County.

J. McLagan Builders has been in business for more than 20 years. It is alleged McLagan took money from property owners and did not complete construction of the homes.

Johnson paid $15,000 bail in the Stillwater case and $1,000 bail in the city case.

Schuylerville student diagnosed with MRSA

A student at Schuylerville High School was diagnosed with MRSA this past week.

This was the latest case methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in area schools during this school year. MRSA is a skin-infecting disease.

Washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm water and wiping down exercise equipment are key ways to prevent the staph infection.

Clifton Park duo dupe elderly man

Michele Marcucci, 34, and Lori Pierce, 33, of 205 Verbeck Lane, Clifton Park, face felony grand larceny charges after cheating an 80-year-old man out of at least $54,000.

The three started as casual acquaintances, but over time the relationship grew into a friendship. State Police allege the duo convinced their elderly victim of a fraudulent story involving kidnapping, extortion and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.

The man gave the women money between late October and early January, believing Marcucci would be hurt if the bikers’ ransom demands weren’t met. Police said Marcucci was never in any danger, and the Hells Angels had nothing to do with the case.

Marcucci is also charged with felony criminal possession of a forged instrument. Police allege she passed forged checks belonging to the victim at a Key Bank.

Marcucci and Pierce appeared in Clifton Park Town Court on Wednesday, Feb. 20, and were both released on bail. They are scheduled to return to court on Feb. 27.

City bonds $4.5 million for capital projects

The Saratoga City Council voted four to one in favor to bond more than $4.5 million for the 2008 capital program at the councils meeting on Tuesday night.

The money being borrowed will be used toward 18 capital projects around the city, including improvements to the city’s storm water system, improvements at both of the city’s fire stations, and the construction of new sanitary sewers along Jefferson Street, as well as numerous other projects that will take place throughout the city. 

The proposed Public Safety facility was the only project in the 2008 capital program that did not have its funds bonded.  The council plans on bonding funds for the Public Safety facility at a later date.

Commissioner Kenneth Ivins also announced that this year’s July 4th celebration will be called “Saratoga’s All American Celebration,” and will feature fireworks on the evening.  More details will be forthcoming.

Several Citizens took advantage of the public comment time in order to voice their concerns about the possible loss of the Railroad Place Price Chopper.  They cited concerns on behalf of store patrons and the entire community as a whole.

The Council will reconvene on Tuesday, March, 4, at 7 p.m.

Teen flown to Albany Med after accident

A 17-year-old Moreau teen was taken to Albany Medical Center on Wed., February 20 after the car she was a passenger in rolled-over.

It was reported Ariell Brady was the only one of the four teens in the car not wearing their seat belt.

Kyle France, 18, of Moreau was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.

The two other teen passengers in the car were treated for minor injuries at local hospitals.

Fire at local pizzaria still not known

The cause of a fire the burned down a pizza shop in Ballston Spa is still under investigatin.

The fire occurred on Thursday, Feb. 14 on Rowland Street.

It was reported that the fire is not considered suspicious and is not seen as arson.

Village firefighters are waiting for samples from the fire scene to the state lab. It will likely be a few more weeks before they have the results.