Construction crews are currently in the process of improving the look and safety of the southern entranceway to the city of Saratoga Springs.

Earlier this month, crews began working on a stretch of South Broadway between West Circular Street and West Fenlon Street. Work on the roadway will continue until its completion in the fall, but construction will stop during the racing season.

Improvements will include re-paving the southern section of Broadway, a new drainage system and new curbs along sidewalks. There will also be the addition of a right-hand turn lane on Ballston Avenue at Route 50. The lane will allow for drivers heading east to turn south onto South Broadway.

While construction takes place, traffic will be shifted from one side of the road to the other. The project will cost $1.85 million. Money for the project will be allocated  through a combination of federal, state and local money. The city is responsible for five percent of the cost.

Driver gets 6 years in fatal hit-and-run

The man who hit a Moreau woman and tried to cover up the accident was sentenced to six years in a state prison on Monday.

Paul Kollias, 51, of 12 Old Bend Road, Fort Edward, hit Karen White Eldred as she was crossing Route 9 in Moreau around 9:25 p.m. on June 17, 2007. The force of impact from the collision knocked Eldred back 100 feet and broke many of her bones. She died 11 days later at Albany Medical Center.

Kollias pled guilty to the charge of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident in January. He is said to have hid the car at home in his garage before contacting a body shop near Fonda.

Kollias then asked an employee at the body shop to come and tow his car away at night. The body shop employee found his request suspicious and contacted police.

In November a new state law came into effect that makes fleeing the scene of a fatal accident a crime punishable by up to 15 years in state prison. However, the law wasn't in effect at the time of Kollias' accident.

Peterson Group receives bid to design a new county animal shelter

Local Saratoga County architects the Peterson Group have been contracted to design a new county animal shelter.

The group, which had the lowest bid of the three finalists, was selected by a three-member buildings and rounds sub-committee. Peterson Group’s proposal included a 27,000 square-foot building that will include all the options asked for by shelter Director Dan Butler. The price tag on the new facility is $5 million.

The matter will now be forwarded to the Law and Finance Committee, who must approve the project before it is sent to the Board of Supervisors to receive final approval for the contract. The building could be in use by late 2009.

AMD gets $45M incentive from state

The state budget's $1 billion upstate revitalization program will include $45 million for infrastructure improvements at Luther Forrest Technology Park.

The AMD has until mid-2009 to decide whether it will commit to building a plant at Luther Forest. Recently, company officials announced they are looking at January 2009 as a date for construction to begin.

On Wednesday the state legislature approved a $121.7 billion state budget. Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer had unveiled a $1 billion upstate revitalization program to be included in the budget. Gov. David Paterson trimmed that number to $700 million. It is believed that commitments to a range of upstate programs will bring spending back to the $1 billion mark.

Saratoga County school district receives $213M in state aid

Saratoga County schools will be receiving a $213 million increase in education funding thanks to the new state budget that includes a $1.8 billion increase in education aid

School districts throughout Saratoga County can expect to receive between $6,500 and $8,000 in state aid per pupil. Taxpayers in Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs school districts vote on a new school budget on May 20.

Schuylerville woman knew of child’s abuse

The abuse which eventually led to the death of an infant child allegedly was witnessed by the child's mother.

Alicia Lewie, 22, of Schuylerville, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder last week.

Prosecutors allege that she had witnessed roommate Michael D. Flint Jr. "bite and shake" the child, but continued to leave the baby in his care.

Lewie could face up to 15 years in a state prison if convicted of second-degree manslaughter. Flint, 22, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges last week.