The Hamilton County Federation of Sportsmen Inc. is sponsoring a Coyote Contest in Hamilton County through the end of coyote hunting season on March of 2011.

Registration forms are available at Ace Hardware in Inlet, Hoss’s Country Corner in Long Lake, Pumpkin Mountain Gun Shop in Blue Mountain Lake and NAPA in Speculator.

Each month $150 is awarded to the largest coyote weighed in.

At season’s end, whoever brings in the heaviest single coyote throughout the duration of the contest will win $250 and whoever has the highest total weight of coyote will receive $250.

In March, $100 gift certificates will be awarded from each of the businesses participating as weigh stations.

The November winners were Russell (Doc) Ryder of Long Lake and Roy Tracey of Indian Lake who tied with coyotes weighing 42 pounds.

The December winner was Billy Witts of Northville who weighed in with a 33 pound coyote.

Senator Betty Little has been appointed to serve as chair for the state senate’s Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Committee in the upcoming legislative term in Albany.

She will also serve as a member of the Senate Finance Committee and will continue to chair the Local Government Committee.

“Tourism is a critically important economic driver in the North Country, so I’m pleased to have this opportunity to advocate for our region,” Little said. Continue reading →

Adirondack Bank earned a four-star rating and was placed on BauerFinancial, Inc.’s Recommended Bank Report for the 16th consecutive quarter.

A Four-Star Excellent rating indicates that the Bank is a financial institution which is safe, financially sound, and is operating well above its regulatory capital requirements.

BauerFinancial, Inc. is an independent research firm which rates financial institutions utilizing a complex formula of criteria factoring in current and historical data. Continue reading →

The Old Forge Library has announced that entries for the Annual Poetry and Illustration Contest will be accepted from February 1 through March 1.

The theme this year is, “Things Remembered.” Students in grades K-12 and adults throughout the Mid-York Library System region which includes Herkimer, Madison and Oneida counties, and the Town of Inlet are eligible to enter the contest.

Winners will be announced and prizes awarded during the Opening Exhibit and Reception on Tuesday, March 22. The winners will have an opportunity to read or discuss their work at the reception.

All entries will be on exhibit in the library wing during April and May.

More information is available by calling the library at (315) 369-6008.

Paula Roy and Star Livingstone, Instructors for the Poetry Workshops (Missing is Melissa Macdonald)..

Poetry and Illustration Workshops with an instructional element will be offered to students in grades K-12 and adults prior to the Old Forge Library’s annual Poetry and Illustration Contest deadline of March 1.

Poetry Workshops will be held Saturday, January 29, from 10 a.m. to noon. Star Livingstone will instruct the adult workshop. Melissa Macdonald will work with K-6 students, and Paula Roy with grades 7-12.

Illustration Workshops for students will be held Saturday, February 5 from 10 a.m to 12:30 p.m. for grades K-6 with instructor Karen Beck, and grades 7-12 with instructor Mitch Lee.

From left, Susan Freese, Karen Beck and Mitch Lee, Instructors for the Illustration Workshops.

An adult workshop will be led by Susan Freese from 12:30 to 3 p.m.

Walk-ins for the workshops are welcome however pre-registration is preferred by calling the library at (315) 369-6008.