Happy Birthday to us! Now in our THIRD YEAR! Town Meeting Dates ZBA 1st Thursday 7:30 PM Town Board 2nd Monday 8 PM Planning Board 3rd Thursday 7 PM Welcome to the "Good Old Daze"

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NOTE: This is the "old" home page of PrebleNY.com. I could have reorganized this site or I could have just swept it under the rug. Obviously I've done the latter. Navigating the old site is as easy as it was before with one caveat. If you click on the "HOME" link on any of the pages it will NOT bring you back here, instead it will take you to the NEW home page. Use your browsers BACK button instead. This is a "feature" and I will not be changing it.

This site has gone through a recent reorganization (4/13/03) and you may have problems finding things that were on this site, an alternative source is:

"The Internet Archive, working with Alexa Internet , has created the Wayback Machine . The Wayback Machine makes it possible to surf more than 10 billion pages stored in the Internet Archive's web archive."

Our entire site has been archived many times there and is available here. The most recent archive as of this writing (4/13/03) was June 22, 2002 and is available here.

Thank You
Frank Hogg 4/13/03

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Fran Casullo appointed new town justice for Cortlandville (no link)

Flying J founder dies in plane crash!
Jay Call, 62, the founder of Flying J, died Saturday along with his two passengers when a private jet he was piloting crashed in southern Idaho. See page 2 of Tuesday's Post Standard. 3/18/03 (There is no link)

2002 ~ The Year In Review
Supervisor Pitman gets high marks!
2/10/03 Frank Hogg

What to do about Wal-Mart?
with a link to a Time Magazine story on Wal-Mart. Frank Hogg 1/4/03

Note: The Cortland Standard is now reporting on Preble.

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Why does Doug Staley work for Preble? 12/30/02 Frank Hogg

How Snow Makers Work from HowStuffWorks 12/24/02

The Staley Conspiracy, Smoking Gun FOUND!
Doug Staley should be fired and Peter Knapp should resign!
12/16/02 FH

The Case Against Doug Staley

12/5/02 Notice:
I realized it would be better to interview Doug Staley and possibly others before listing the story so you would have both sides. This may take some time because of the hollidays.

I expect to have the report of the 12/5/02 ZBA public hearing on the Shirley B&B and meeting up over this week end.

The case for and against a Bread & Breakfast
($50,000 Grant available) FH 12/2/02

Wal-Mart wants Flying J location
11/15/02 Syracuse Post Standard

ZBA Considering Bed and Breakfast at the south end of Tully Lake on Song Lake Crossing. Marilyn Stoker first brought this up at the 9/19/02 Planning Board meeting.
11/7/02 FH

Prop #1 DEFEATED! 11/5/02 FH

Town Board Meeting Report
10/14/02 Frank Hogg

This Summer in Preble.
A report of the last three Town Board Meetings and other stuff. FH 10/13/02

What's a "PongSat"?

Diesel fuel exhaust likely to cause cancer-US EPA
Forbes/Reuters, 09.03.02, 3:33 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. environmental regulators in a new report Tuesday formally classified for the first time diesel exhaust from trucks and buses as likely to cause cancer in humans.

It could have been Preble... 8/16/2002 Virginia Taxpayers shell out $8,900,000.00 to fix the bridge Flying J broke!

Repairs to bridge hurt church. 8/28/02

Woman killed at Flying J.8/20/02

New Consent Order Issued for Flying J 7/15/2000

The travel center dumps its effluent, or treated wastewater, into Duncan Run. 7/8/00

The Flying J Travel Center at Clearbrook is working to resolve its septic problems. 9/10/99

Second Truck Stop at Clearbrook concerns people 3/30/00

Truckers can back up traffic for at least 15 minutes... 10/25/00

If we had (a land use plan, Flying J) wouldn’t have happened... 2/3/00

50 other stories from The Winchester Star about the troublesome Clearbrook Flying J

There but for the grace of God...

The coming water crisis
US News Cover Story 8/12/02
By Marianne Lavelle and Joshua Kurlantzick

Preble to revise master plan.
Rezone for commercial development and add an
Aquifer Protection District

Committee to be appointed at next town board meeting to study the issues. FH 8/5/02
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Buy Dehydrated Water
But first...
Read the FAQ

Preble Three Board Workshop... "To Review The Master Plan"
The Town, Planning and ZBA boards will meet next Monday July 29th at 7:30 PM to discuss the Master Plan. This is the town laws and codes. Presumably this discussion will be on ways to clarify and strengthen those laws and codes. This is open to the public to observe but not to give comment. There is no story yet, but check back later for more... 7/23/02

Thoughts on the upcoming workshop to discuss the 'Master Plan'
Barbara A. Frier, Past ZBA member 7/24/02

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On a personal note...
Over the weekend I experienced a very odd occurrence at my home that I will be sharing with you shortly.
You won't want to miss it.
7/23/02 Developing...

NEW FUN AND DYNAMIC SPANISH CLASS FOR TODDLERS!!! Sponsored by: Tully Parks & Recreation Open to all Tully School District Residents

Where was Cortland's BDC/IDA when this deal went down?
NY Times 7/18/02

Flying J told no way by town
Salina planning board rejects company's proposal for a travel plaza on Route 57.
The Post Standard July 12, 2002
By Pam Greene

Are Mac users smarter?
From MSNBC which is co-owned by Microsoft, a company that makes a vastly inferior OS called Windows. (I couldn't resist that ) As a Mac user since 1984 (I have several Macs) I found this article amusing and thought I would share it with you. FH 7/12/2

NATURAL RESOURCES
CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
Nitrate: Health Effects in Drinking Water
by
Margaret McCasland, Nancy M. Trautmann, and Keith S. Porter
Center for Environmental Research
and
Robert J. Wagenet
Dept. of Agronomy
Cornell University

Water Contamination from Factory Farms
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are a major source of water pollution and drinking water contamination...
Sierra Club (Posted here 7/11/02)
CAFO information from the NY DEC web site.

Aid for Farmers Helps Butterflies Too By CAROL KAESUK YOON 7/9/2 Free Subscription required

Dung-Powered Homes
Britain's first dung-fired power station... SkyNews 7/7/2

India patents cow urine for medicinal use
By IndiaExpress Bureau 7/3/2

Some Alabama Residents Swear By Manure Tea
(Words fail me. FH 7/1/2)

What Can I Do If There Is A Problem With My Drinking Water?
EPA Information on Bottled Water 7/1/2

Suits Say Wal-Mart Forces Workers to Toil Off the Clock By STEVEN GREENHOUSE 6/25/02 Free Subscription required

Some more information for your consideration.. IS YOUR WELL-WATER SAFE?  "Older children and adults can also develop health problems from nitrates, which keep their blood from carrying enough oxygen. People with sever heart or lung disease may be at increased risk of being hurt by nitrates. Pregnant women who drink nitrate-contaminated well water may be more likely to have miscarriages. In animals, nitrates can cause thyroid problems, miscarriages, and other illnesses." http://www.alamance-nc.com/healthed/wellwater.htm Study links cancer, nitrates "Iowa women who drink nitrate-polluted water have a higher risk of bladder cancer, a University of Iowa study found." http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c4788996/14398232.html Children's Health - Juvenile Diabetes "The NIEHS is now exploring the possibility of expanding this study to assay well-water for the presence of nitrates as a possible risk factor in developing juvenile diabetes." http://www.niehs.nih.gov/external/resinits/ri-26.htm >>>FLASH<<< >>Updated 6/11/2<< >>Updated 6/13/2<< IS PREBLE'S DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATED? Preble Supervisor Betty Pitman and board member Linette Currie said at Monday night's town board meeting. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children should NOT drink the water until it is tested and proven safe. EVERYBODY should have his or her water tested immediately! Drink bottled water until you know if it is safe to drink your own! Click for More! FH 6/13/02

Whosoever Blesses Them
The intifada and its defenders.
by Larry Miller, a contributing humorist to The Daily Standard and a writer, actor, and comedian living in Los Angeles.
(This article has been floating around the Internet and is quite interesting. It was discussed on a recent Dennis Miller show on HBO. It puts the conflict in the middle east into perspective. I found it very interesting. FH 6/5/2)

"No Further Action" will be taken on the Knapp appeal.
Town Board Meeting Report 5/14/02 Frank Hogg

Wal-Mart World. A story from the May 20th issue of Newsweek via MSNBC
By Richard Ernsberger Jr. NEWSWEEK INTERNATIONAL

How retailers can deal with Wal Mart
Aeon to Freeze Hiring for One Year, Brace for Wal-Mart Battle
By Miki Anzai, Junko Fujita, Masumi Suga and Mikako Nakajima 04/30/02

Dean Smith's Planning Board FAILS to provide citizen's wells protection! 5/1/2 Frank Hogg
Dean Smith passes permit that FAILS to provide adequate protection to residential wells around the Song Mountain well. It is now up to the ZBA to add these required protections for the residential wells or Song Mountain's future will be in doubt

How Wal-Mart is Remaking our World
Jim Hightower, Hightower Lowdown
April 26, 2002 (Thanks to Fark.com for the link.)

An overview of the appeal process in New York.
(And other Knapp comments) Frank Hogg 4/16/02

The Town Appeals Rumsey, amazing what Preble will do for a Knapp!
Frank Hogg 4/15/02

Quick and preliminary report of the 4/8/2 Town Board Meeting.
Lawsuit and fire lanes FH 4/8/2

Another Stunning Defeat for the Town Board! BUT, a big win for the people of Preble! Thanks to Judge Rumsey for upholding our laws and thanks to our lawyer for his untiring work in winning this. Judge Rumsey found there was 'no rational basis' for the Town Board to rezone the Knapp land and he has overturned it. Is it over now? After wasting tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars is the Town Board going to waste more? Is the Town Board going to continue to divide the town on this and other one-sided issues? Only time will tell. I hope with the new board and two new members we have seen the last of this type of thing. Frank Hogg 4/4/2 Here is the complete text of the ruling.

Super Flash!!! Runway to be installed in or near Preble!!! I received a copy of a memo from Major General Finnius G. Tobias, USAF 'Office of Emergency Duality Preparedness'(OEDP) about the militaries intent to install an 'Emergency Off-Site Runway'(EOSR) in the Tully valley near Preble. No reason was given for the need or use for such a runway or who in the military ordered it. No phone or contact info beyond my confidential source is available. The memo seems to indicate a long (perhaps 10,000 feet or so) runway running north and south on the west side of Route 81 between 81 and 281. The plans indicate removing part of 281 from Song Lake road to 81 and redirecting 281 vehicular traffic over Song Lake Road to Song Lake Crossing and then reconnecting to 281 on the east side of 81. My guess is they would have to improve those roads to handle the load. If you look at the map you can plainly see that 10,000 feet from Song Lake crossing south would take the runway through the town and cut through Preble Road near the town hall. There was a mention in the memo about relocating some historic buildings but nothing specific. Also there was no mention of how traffic would be redirected around the cut off Preble Road. There was also no indication of how much space would be needed on the sides of the runway or where hangers and other support buildings needed to support the installation would be. For more information on this subject click HERE. Frank Hogg 4/1/2 PS. While this information is of major concern to many people I do want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy spring and happy first day of April.

FLASH!
The Cortland Standard is getting ready to seriously consider possibly getting someone to maybe think about making a call to Wal-Mart.
Frank Hogg 3/26/02

Dear Republican National Comittee:
The Republican Committee in Cortland County is a dismal failure!
I don’t know what they do at their meetings but one thing is sure…
they haven’t done enough to elect Republicans!
Frank Hogg 3/18/02.

Post Standard account of the Wal-Mart Story,
Cortland Standard scooped . . . Again!
Frank Hogg 3/18/02

Super Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club Coming to Cortland County?
And East Syracuse? 3/12/02 Frank Hogg

Charlotte Morgan Exonerated!!! Commissioner Bahou admits her mistake, apologizes to Morgan Frank Hogg 3/11/02 see previous article Preble election Commissioner Charlotte Morgan has been reprimanded for her actions at the 2001 election Frank Hogg 1/14/02 (Draft)

• Linda Hartsock tells a whopper, gets caught, gets mad, gets rude, and hangs up! Frank Hogg 11/7/01
  UPDATE: 1/16/02 Includes three page document that Linda Hartsock read and then gave to the Planning Board at the 3/22/01 public hearing. Further proof!

The Knapp Rezone. Some thoughts Frank Hogg 1/14/02 (Draft)

400 Protest Flying J coming to Salina
Flying J's Mike Miller shows what he is made of
Frank Hogg 1/14/02 (Draft)

Preble election Commissioner Charlotte Morgan has been reprimanded for her actions at the 2001 election
Frank Hogg 1/14/02 (Draft)

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Stan Kogut exonerated! Don Armstrong, Town Attorney, confirmed that the Preble zoning map is wrong! Stan Kogut’s property is, was and always has been zoned residential. Stan had taken a lot of heat from people who thought he did not have the right to complain. See that story here. Now we wonder what other mistakes are on the zoning map?? Frank Hogg 1/10/02 (Back from vacation, more stories coming.)

Is Cortland County legislator Max Stoker guilty of perjury?
Is Max Stoker, the man who likes to call others liars, a liar himself? 12/17/01

Cortland County Legislator Max Stoker accuses his constituents of being terrorists.
Listen to the tape of him in his own words 12/17/01

I'll do it now that you asked! But I won't be responsible for the outcome. I have been asked to allow snow for Christmas and I have decided to allow it. However I may not be able to make it stop once I let it start. My powers are limited despite what you may think. Frank Hogg 11/17/01

Millis shuts up Brennan!
Former councilman Jim Millis tells outgoing councilman Anne Brennan to shut up and she does!
Whod-a-thunk-it! 12/11/01

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I take full responsibility for my actions! For the last month we have been experiencing mild snow free weather and it is my responsibility. As I stated here a month ago, I have been fully prepared for winter far in advance of its occurrence, a condition heretofore unheard of in the annuals of human history. The snow gods are so shocked by my accomplishment that they are confused and are off their timetable. They don't know when winter is supposed to start because they depended on my not being ready and now they don't know what to do. I plan on continuing to remain ready and even check my snow equipment regularly. I have even made fine adjustments and trial runs to further confuse them. I don't know how long I can hold them off but I am using all my significant skills and cunning to keep them in a state of confusion. If I am successful we will have a winter free of snow. However, it is very strenuous and takes all of my strength, both mental and physical but it is a small sacrifice to make for my neighbors and friends. No thanks are necessary. I know you all worship me for my efforts in this regard but please there is no need to shower me with gifts etc. Your admiration is all I require. A free cup of coffee wouldn't hurt though, perhaps a donut? Frank Hogg 11/26/01

11/13/01 The town board dropped several dumbshells* at the meeting Monday night. Unfortunately I'll be busy and won't be able to get the details out to you right away. I'll get to it as soon as possible so check back. A brief synopsis of Monday night's town board meeting. . . Said NO to giving Tully $900 for ambulance service to the north end of Preble and YES to giving themselves a 25% raise! Heard evidence that rezoning was not necessary for the Knapp's and their own attorney stated that doing so may cause litigation and then they voted to do it anyway. Guaranteeing litigation, delays for the Knapp's and unnecessary expense for the taxpayers. A whole lot of people are scratching their heads over this one. Heard a dissertation from Ed Jenny about the sad happenings in our town. I'll have that here later. * A 'Dumbshell' is a bombshell from. . .

2001 Election results and preliminary comments 11/12/01

The Cortland Standard stopped reporting on Preble... Why?
PrebleNY.com is now your only source for news about Preble NY!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead

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