An unknown man claiming to have a weapon robbed the Citizens Bank at the Weibel Avenue Hannaford Supermarket on the afternoon of Sunday, March 16.

The investigation, to this point, indicates that a single white male with a medium build approached one of the tellers at the bank and handed over a note indicating the robber had a weapon and demanded the teller to hand over money. The teller complied and the suspect left the area with an undetermined amount of cash. The suspect was last seen leaving the Hannaford Store by the north entrance.

The suspect is described as a white male with a medium build, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall with a brown mustache and possibly a scar or other abnormality on his lower lip. He was last seen wearing a red hooded sweatshirt under a brown jacket, tan pants with work boots and wearing a large pair of sunglasses.

Anyone with information regarding this robbery is asked to contact Saratoga Springs police at 584-1800.

Paterson takes office

On Monday, March 17, David Paterson was officially sworn in as New York's governor. His rise to governor in the wake of Eliot Spitzer's resignation makes him the states first black governor as well as its first blind governor.

Paterson becomes New York's 55th governor and has stated that he looks to get right to work on the state budget before the April 1 deadline.

On his first day in office he signed five bills into law. These bills aim to enhance subway track safety, boost the Green Thumb Environmental Program, encourage corporate blood drives, and improve the Health Research Science Board.

Saratoga Springs Police Department to provide security at racino

As of March 20, the Saratoga Springs Police Department will be expected to provide security at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.

Previously, city police had patrolled the exterior grounds, while state troopers answered all police calls inside in the 90,000-square-foot racino and harness track.

Saratoga Gaming and Raceway along with eight other racinos across New York lost state trooper protection to Operation IMPACT, which is a state wide initiative that places troopers in some of the states most violent areas outside of New York City.

Over the four years that troopers policed the racino they made 180 arrests. The Saratoga Springs police already respond to an average of 90 emergency calls a year for situations involving larcenies, noise ordinance violations, domestic abuse and DWIs.

Accused abuser worked in school

The former bus driver who was charged with abusing three boys who attend school in the Saratoga Springs School District previously worked as a substitute within the district.

Douglas Conrad, 35, of 151 Jefferson St., Saratoga Springs, was a substitute teacher's aid for three days in 2002 at Maple Avenue Middle School.

He was recently charged with second-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child, both class A misdemeanors, for an incident that occurred in 2002.  He was accused in February and March of this year of two counts of forcible touching against three male students. 

When Conrad was hired by the school district in 2004, he did not indicate that he had previously worked in the district. 

He resigned from the position as bus driver in February, and police are still investigating the issue. 

Retired guidance counselor pleads not guilty in sexual abuse case

A 67-year-old man pleaded not guilty at Saratoga County Court on Tuesday in a case involving accusations of sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy at the Saratoga YMCA last November.

According to court documents, Thomas A. Filion of 26 Elizabeth Lane, Saratoga Springs, was charged with a felony count of sexual assault and misdemeanor counts of unlawful imprisonment, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child.

Filion, a retired school guidance counselor, is accused of keeping he boy from exiting a shower stall and placing his hands on the boy's genitals.

Bail was set at $10,000 cash or bond. 

$52 million sewer bond passes

The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors has passed a measure that will provide $52 million to renovate and expand the county sewer plant.

Prior to the bill passing, both Saratoga Springs supervisors voted against the bond, sighting that the cost will fall unfairly on the city.

The project will increase the capacity of the plant from 21.3 million gallons per day of processed waste to 43 million gallons.

On top of upgrading the existing treatment plant facilities the bond will also allow for the reconstruction of existing administration, laboratory and maintenance operation areas.