A snapshot of Airnow.gov’s smoke map shows a plume of smoke covering much of the east coast. Each colored dot represents an air quality monitoring station.
An EPA diagram showing the size of fine particles.
The sun, as seen from the Saratoga TODAY office in Saratoga Springs on the morning of July 15. (Aidan Cahill)
Summer in Upstate New York is known for many types of fires.
Campfires for roasting marshmallows, bonfires for spending time with friends and fires on the grill for making savory food.
But while these fires bring joy, some don’t.
On Tuesday, July 14, Saratoga County woke up to hazy skies and a yellow tint in the air. The next day the haze was worse, and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality alert for most of New York including the Capital Region.
The haze and drop in air quality are due to a smoke plume spreading across Noth America from the Arctic Circle in the north to as far as North Carolina and the Texas-Oklahoma border in the south.
The smoke is coming from a series of wildfires across Canada’s interior. These fires, while separate events, stretch from Canada’s border with Minnesota all the way up to the far reaches of Canada in the Northwest Territories. As of time of writing, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre lists 837 active fires across Canada with over 2 million hectares burned this year.
Of these fires, 531 are listed as out of control monitored — meaning the fire is being observed and but suppression actions aren’t being taken, 189 are out of control, 42 have been held to a certain area and 75 are under control.
The fires aren’t just in Canada however as two blazes in Minnesota, the Bear Trap and Thumb fires in Superior National Forest have jumped the border. As of publication there are a total of 48 large fires in the United States.
These fires have had a noticeable impact on the Capital Region. Beyond just the hazy sky and orange sun, the air quality in Ballston Spa noticeably dropped, going from moderate air quality throughout most of Tuesday to unhealthy for sensitive groups on Wednesday.
Outside the Capital Region, several parts of New York, several areas to the south in Germantown, and the City reported unhealthy levels as did Upstate cities like Rochester and Buffalo.
Driving the drop in air quality is the presence of fine particle matter in the air. Of concern to health experts are particles 2.5 microns or smaller which can include organic material, by products of combustion and metals. Exposure to these particles has been linked to deaths in those with pre-existing conditions, non-fatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeats, and respiratory issues, according to the EPA.
Those with pre-existing conditions are advised to limit their time outdoors during drops in air quality.
“Given the heightened air pollution levels we are seeing in parts of the state, the New York State Department of Health recommends that New Yorkers limit strenuous outdoor activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “People who are especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants, including the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as heart disease or asthma, should avoid spending time outdoors, if possible. Those who experience symptoms or have symptoms that worsen should consider consulting their personal physician.”
Smoke from wildfires in Canada has become a recuring part of summer in Upstate New York. Last year smoke from wildfires in Quebec led to similar warnings across the state.
A Moreau man has been indicted on 26 criminal charges after he allegedly assaulted a victim multiple times over a five-month stretch in 2025.
Mark Sabo, 60, of Moreau is alleged to have repeatedly subjected the victim to multiple assaults between August and December 25. The assaults took place in a residence on Reynolds Road.
According to Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby, over that period, Sabo allegedly used several different implements including a blow torch, power drill, knife, and fire poker. In addition, Sabo is alleged to have repeatedly held a gun to the victim’s head and at one point fired the weapon to demonstrate that the weapon was loaded.
“This indictment reflects the seriousness of the allegations and the extraordinary work of the investigators and prosecutors who brought this case before the Grand Jury,” said Eby. “I commend the members of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and my office for their commitment to pursuing justice on behalf of the victim.”
Of the 26 charges, only five of them came at the time of the arrest. Of those five charges, two were related to the alleged five ounces of cocaine found on Sabo at the time of his arrest, one charge was for assault, one was for menacing and one was for possession of a weapon.
The remaining 21 charges, made after Sabo was arrested, include several additional counts of assault, weapons possession, sexual abuse, criminal mischief, weapons possession, harassment and drug-related offenses.
Thus far, Sabo has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He is due back in court on July 16.
Hundreds of people witnessed a ceremony to swear in 10 new citizens on July 4.
On a site where freedom was secured for all nearly 250 years ago, 10 people swore allegiance to the United States in a citizenship ceremony at the Saratoga National Historical Park in Stillwater.
The ceremony took place on July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence going into effect. The 10 people sworn in hailed from Bangladesh, Canada, China, Guyana and India. The ceremony was witnessed by a crowd of hundreds who filled out the tents, sidewalks, and grasses surrounding the ceremony.
The ceremony featured a performance of the Star Spangled Banner and other traditional American patriotic songs by the Racing City Chorus and a reading of the Declaration of Independence by a park volunteer clad in period accurate regalia.
The citizenship oath was administered by Citizenship and Immigration Services Albany Field Office Director Gwynne Dinolfo. Other speakers included Park Superintendent Leslie Morlock and Assemblymember Carrie Woerner who spoke about her own family’s experience coming the United States from Germany and finding their own version of the American Dream.
Woerner also commended the citizens on their journey, noting the hardship of leaving behind the familiar to seek a better life.
“You came here with your talents your hopes, your dreams, and your energies to join us in making sure that this nation remains a place of opportunity, that the values of liberty and justice for all, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness remain values that future generations hold here,” Woerner said.
The 2026 ceremony marks the 23rd annual ceremony held at Saratoga National Historical Park. Over that time 400 citizens have been sworn in.
While the most notable contribution of Saratoga County to the American story may be the battles that took place here, it’s not where our contributions end.
Saratoga County has been home to some of the most influential Americans to ever live, people who contributed to our shared success in numerous wars, and blazed trails that have been followed by millions of Americans.
While the battle may have ended on October 7, 1777, our story didn’t. Here are some events, people and innovations that shaped the history of this nation from Sea to Shining Sea.
1780 – Saratoga I is Launched Less than three years after the Battle of Saratoga, Saratoga’s name would be placed on a U.S. Navy warship for the first time. The Saratoga I was a 68 ft, 150-ton sloop armed with 16 nine-pound cannons and two four-pound cannons. It had a crew of 86 personnel and was launched from Philadelphia on April 10, 1780. During its career the ship was responsible for capturing or recapturing 12 British or American ships. She was lost on March 18,1781 and was the first of six ships to bear her name.
These ships include a Corvette launched in 1814 which saw action in the Battle of Plattsburgh, a sloop of war which saw constant decommissioning and recommissioning from the time it was launched in 1842 to when it was sold for scrap in 1907, a cruiser which was renamed three times, and two aircraft carriers — the first of which deserves its own entry on this timeline.
The First ship to bear Saratoga’s name served for only a year but managed to capture 12 ships (Courtesy of US Navy Heritage Command)
1802- Gideon Putnam Builds what becomes Grand Union Hotel- One of the most prominent features of Saratoga County is the mineral springs. World renowned for their health benefits, the springs brought thousands of visitors, including prominent aristocrats and world leaders, to Saratoga County — specifically Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa. While it’s true that Ballston Spa was the first to take advantage of this, building two hotels in 1792, Saratoga Springs would have more staying power.
The first to take advantage of this was Gideon Putnam who built what would become the Grand Union Hotel in 1802 in the vicinity of the Congress Spring. Putnam would lay out much of what would become Saratoga Springs, tubing and connecting its springs. Putnam was in the process of building Congress Hall when he died in 1812.
While the opening of a hotel may seem like a trivial event in the broad story of the American mosaic, its impact can be seen both in what Saratoga became and the places it inspired. The list of famous figures to visit Saratoga Springs and their significance on American history could go on for pages, and the legacy of Saratoga Springs can be seen in the places named for it in Utah, Nebraska, California and Disney World. And, yes, the paper does regularly get calls from people thinking we are in Utah or California.
1819- Abner Doubleday is Born in Ballston Spa- As legend goes, baseball was created by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, New York in 1839. This story is based on the 1907 Mills Commission report which was largely influenced by Abner Graves’ testimony.
While the story has been refuted due to the fact that Doubleday’s diaries make no mention of baseball, he never claimed to invent baseball and would have been in his plebe year at West Point when the story is supposed to have happened, what is true is that Doubleday had a pretty remarkable life, even without inventing baseball.
Doubleday was the second-in-command at Fort Sumpter at the very start of the Civil War and fired the first shots of the Union Army. Doubleday commanded troops throughout the conflict in many notable battles. His most famous moment came in the Battle of Gettysburg when he took command of I Corpe and repelled a numerically superior force. Throughout his career, Doubleday is reported to have ordered baseball bats and balls for his troops because he believed sports were a good way to build unit cohesion.
While Cooperstown may be the birthplace of Doubleday’s myth, the man himself was born in Ballston Spa.
Baseball or no baseball, Abner Doubleday’s story is still worth telling, and that story began in Ballston Spa. (Courtesy of Library of Congress)
1825- Erie Canal Completed- The Second of the two Canals in Saratoga County, the Erie Canal was completed in 1925 with the ceremonial dumping of water from Lake Erie into New York Harbor on November 4, 1825. The canal’s completion would fundamentally shape New York and connect New York City to Midwest markets in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. It drastically reduced the cost of transporting goods, meaning that agricultural products made in those Midwest states could be shipped to New York.
The cost of transporting a ton of goods from Lake Erie to New York City went from $100 to $9, and freight traffic surpassed that of the Mississippi River. This prosperity propelled New York to become the largest port in the country within five years and led to the boom in cities such as Syracuse, Utica, and Rochester.
Saratoga’s connection to this route can be seen in the southern part of the county in Halfmoon and Waterford. Originally the Erie Canal bypassed the Cohoes Falls through a series of locks in Cohoes before crossing the Mohawk River at the Lower Mohawk Aqueduct in Halfmoon — today the site of the Crecent Bridge. In 1918, new locks to facilitate barge traffic were completed which bypassed the Cohoes Falls to the north in Waterford.
Canal Boats transit the Lower Mohawk Aqueduct in the Town of Halfmoon (Courtesy of CPH Library Local History).
1841- Saratoga Springs Resident Solomon Northup is Kidnapped into Slavery – In April 1841, Solomon Northup, a free Black man living in Saratoga Springs and working various jobs was enticed by two circus men to travel with them to Washington, DC as a traveling musician.
In Washington, Northup was drugged and kidnapped into slavery beginning a 12-year ordeal. Northrup was held in slavery in Louisiana under the name Platt Hamilton. In 1842 Northup was sold to plantation owner Edwin Epps for $1,500, where he would remain in bondage until 1853. Northup’s ordeal ended after Epps hired a Canadian Carpenter by the name of Samuel Bass. Bass in June 1852 managed to get two letters to William Perry and Cephas Parker who were friends of Northup in Saratoga. The two men contacted Northup’s wife and an attorney named Henry Bliss Northup whose relatives had at one point owned his father.
Henry Northup soon gathered documents to show that Solomon Northup was a free man and in bondage in Louisiana and received permission from New York Governor Washington Hunt to travel to Louisiana and rescue Northup in accordance with New York law. Henry Northup first went to DC to receive the backing of the Secretary of War and one of Louisiana’s senators. He contacted Bass in Louisiana who instructed him on where to find Solomon Northup and successfully freed him on January 3, 1853. That year Solomon Northrup and David Wilson would publish a book “Twelve Years a Slave,” which recounted his time in bondage. In 2013, the book was adapted into a movie which was nominated for 315 awards and won 145 of them — including three Academy Awards.
12 years a Slave Solomon Northup, as depicted in Twelve Years a Slave
1861- Malta Man is First Union Officer Killed in Civil War- The first officer to give his life in support of the Union cause was a man from Malta — Elmer Ellsworth. Ellsworth was born in Malta in 1837, grew up in Mechanicville and made his way to Illinois in 1854. Ellsworth, who had a fascination with all things military history, formed a militia company based on the French Zouave Regiment. The Company was known for its discipline and soon grabbed the attention of a Springfield lawyer by the name of Abraham Lincoln. The two became close friends with Ellsworth working in Lincoln’s law office as a clerk and participating in his 1860 presidential campaign.
When war broke out, Ellsworth returned to New York and recruited a 1,100-man unit, the 11th New York Infantry Regiment. Known as the “Fire Zouaves” due to its heavy recruitment of New York City firefighters, this unit was tasked on May 24, 1861, with crossing the Potomac River to seize Alexandria, VA. After the city was secure, Ellsworth went to a hotel to take down a Confederate flag that flew over it. While he was carrying down the captured flag, Ellsworth was shot and killed by the hotel owner, James Jackson. Jackson was then immediately killed by one of Ellsworth’s men who later received the Medal of Honor for this action.
Ellsworth’s death became an early rallying cry for the Union cause. His body lay in State in the White House before being buried in Mechanicville. Spurred by his death, another regiment, the 44th New York, was formed with the nickname “Ellsworth’s Avengers.”
1863- Thoroughbred Racing Begins at Saratoga- The so-called “Mecca of American horse racing” got its start mere weeks after the battle of Gettysburg. At the time, horseracing wasn’t new in Saratoga Springs as harness racing had been going on since 1847 at the Saratoga Trotting Course. In August 1863, the track would see something new to the Spa City and put its place on the map for the next 166 years: thoroughbred racing.
On August 3, 1863 — a month to the day after the Civil War’s turning point — the Irish born bare-knuckle boxer John “Old Smoke” Morrissey held the first thoroughbred race in Saratoga Springs at the Trotting Course. While the number of horses was limited, the crowd wasn’t, with 15,000 people attending. The next year Morrissey along with Leonard Jerome, John Hunter and William Travers would build the Saratoga Race Course as the Trotting Course was deemed to be too small for their operations.
Morrissey’s race paid off for the city. Already a resort town with its spas and springs, Saratoga Springs became a hub of gambling and horse racing for years to come. In 2024 with its normal home down for maintenance, the Belmont Stakes were held in Saratoga Springs, adding a jewel to the Saratoga Race Course’s history of excellence.
1885- Ulysses S. Grant Dies in Moreau – While Ellsworth and Doubleday may have commanded troops when the Civil War began, it was Ulysses S. Grant who commanded its conclusion. And as the two Saratoga County born officers started their stories Upstate, Grant would end his here — both literally and figuratively.
Dying of throat cancer, the former 18th president and General of the Army made his way to a cottage on Mt. McGregor in the Town of Moreau in June 1885. The cottage was owned by a friend of his who offered it as a quiet respite to spend his finals days. It was here where Grant finished his memoirs on July 18, 1885, and died on July 23. His body would be transported to New York City where it lies in a grand tomb in Upper Manhattan.
1925- USS Saratoga (CV-3) Launched- The fifth ship to carry the name Saratoga, the USS Saratoga (CV-3) had arguably the most interesting service run of the six “Saras.” She was originally designed and laid down to be a battle cruiser, but post-World War 1 naval limitations forced Navy planners to find a new role for her. That new role was to become one of the Navy’s first fast aircraft carriers. Launched in 1925 and commissioned in 1927, the Saratoga helped the Navy develop its tactics and train aircrews in the leadup to World War 2. She was in San Diego when Pearl Harbor was attacked and sortied to Pearl Harbor shortly after. In January 1942, she was struck by a torpedo and missed the Battle of Midway due to subsequent repairs.
The ship would take part in the invasion of Guadalcanal and the subsequent Battle of the Eastern Solomons, sinking a light carrier in the process. Throughout 1943 and 44, she would take part in several campaigns throughout the Central and South Pacific, striking targets and providing air cover to invasions. In February 1945, Saratoga was providing air cover for the invasion of Iwo Jima when she was struck by five bombs and three aircraft. After repairs in Washington, she spent the rest of the war as a training ship.
At war’s end, Saratoga was used to ferry troops home from the Pacific theater as part of Operation Magic Carpet. She ended up transporting 29,204 personnel, the most of any ship. When she retired from service, aircraft had completed 98,549 carrier landings on her deck, the most of any ship at the time. Her end would come in 1946 when she was sunk by the second of two atomic bombs during Operation Crossroads.
The USS Saratoga served for nearly 20 years and was one of the US Navy’s first modern carriers
1945- Malta Test Site Begins Operations-
In order to test rocket rockets seized from the Germans in World War II and develop our own capabilities, the nation turned to Saratoga. In 1945, General Electric established the Malta Rocket Test Station to test rocket engines, fuels and other weapons for the military. At the site, rockets would be held in the gantries and tested prior to flight tests elsewhere the United States. Rockets tested at the site included the Bumper, Vanguard Vega, Discoverer, Centaur, Polaris and Skybolt rockets. In 1964, GE sold the site to the New York State Energy Research Authority and later the Wright-Malta Company.
The site continued to test ordinance for the US Army when Global Foundries took over the site as part of their technology campus making semi-conductors.
1955- Kesselring Site begins Operations. It’s not just the USS Saratoga that ties Saratoga County to nukes and the navy. While initially built as a test site for nuclear reactors, it was quickly transformed into a training center and research facility to assist sailors and officers training for duty on-board nuclear-powered Navy ships. Over 50,000 sailors have trained at the site, including future President Jimmy Carter. The site is still in operation today, training sailors on the S8G nuclear reactor in use on Ohio Class Submarines.
Saratoga Springs Police Chief Tyler McIntosh speaks during a press conference announcing the results of Operation Fast Track ( Courtesy of the Department of Justice)
The US Department of Justice has announced a major drug bust that led to the arrest of 83 individuals across Washington, Warren and Saratoga Counties.
The bust, dubbed “Operation Fast Track” seized 2,100 counterfeit pills, 1,100 fentanyl pills, 125 grams of methamphetamine, 510 grams of crack cocaine, 569 grams of cocaine, 2,00 grams of fentanyl & heroin, more than 500 lbs. of marijuana and 8 firearms across three counties.
Of the 83 defendants, 18 are being charged at the federal level while 65 are being prosecuted at the county level. The operation was carried out by several agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration New York Enforcement Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, New York State Police, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Saratoga Springs Police Department.
In Saratoga Springs alone, investigators were able to seize 60 grams of fentanyl, 47 grams of crack cocaine, 123 grams of powder cocaine, 600 pills containing analog benzodiazepines and methamphetamine, 300 pressed pills containing fentanyl, counterfeit Adderall, Ecstasy pills, and crystal methamphetamine, according to a press release put out by the Saratoga Springs Police Department.
In addition, Saratoga Springs Police arrested six people on felony drug charges, 14 on drug positions, and two individuals on outstanding warrants.
“The Saratoga Springs Police Department remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who seek to profit from the distribution of dangerous narcotics,” Saratoga Springs Police Chief Tyler McIntosh said in a statement. “Together, we will continue to disrupt drug trafficking networks and protect the communities we serve.”
Of the 18 defendants being charged at the federal level, court records show that at least six of the individuals were charged for actions that took place in Saratoga County. Those six are as follows:
• Joshua Allen: three counts of distribution of controlled substance.
• Kelly Jacobs and Christopher Belle: conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
• Shamik Miley: Distribution of controlled substance.
• Sean Phillips: Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
• Patricio Tornez-Solano: illegal reentry of an alien.
Of the five cases, court records show that at least three of them emerged from investigations or arrests by the Saratoga Springs Police Department. The documents also gave some insight into how police uncovered the various alleged illegal acts.
In the case of Jacobs and Belle, the two were arrested after New York State Police stopped their vehicle on a traffic infraction on I-87 and allegedly found over two pounds of fentanyl in the back seat of the car.
In the case of Miley, the court documents state that the evidence came from a confidential informant who was provided by police with recording equipment and marked bills to facilitate a drug buy. That case recovered over 27 grams of cocaine. Video of his arrest was later posted online by the Saratoga Police Department.
Phillips, meanwhile, was arrested by the DEA after he allegedly used the dark web to purchase illegal drugs in the Town of Greenfield. According to court documents, the DEA executed a search warrant and found 400 bromazepam pills and crystal meth.
“The arrests of 83 individuals, removal of eight firearms, and the seizure of two kilos of fentanyl and heroin, along with thousands of counterfeit pills, some of which contained fentanyl and bromazepam, and other dangerous narcotics represent far more than enforcement statistics. They represent lives protected and communities made safer,” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “The growing presence of counterfeit pills containing substances like bromazepam, often mixed with fentanyl, continues to pose an extraordinary threat to public safety, potentially turning a single pill into a fatal dose. Every pill removed from our streets is one less opportunity for tragedy. This operation demonstrates the power of partnership and our unwavering commitment to identifying, targeting, and dismantling those individuals and drug trafficking organizations that profit from poisoning our communities.”
Six members of a family have been found dead after a welfare check in the City of Mechanicville.
The deaths were discovered on June 23, 2026, on Harris Avenue in the City of Mechanicville. Police said that they were dispatched to the residence around 6:20 p.m. to conduct a welfare check after neighbors said they hadn’t seen the residents for days. Inside, officers discovered four children and two adults dead inside the home.
“Based on the information currently available, we do not believe there is any ongoing risk to the public,” a statement by the Mechanicville Police Department said.
The six people who died were identified as
• Amy Steadman 64
• Sarah Myers, 44
• Haper Harmon, 13
• Hudson Harmon, 11
• Gavin Harmon, 10
• Gracelynn Harmon, 10
Steadman was the mother of Myers and the grandmother of the four children who died. The bodies were found in her apartment. Myers and her children are reported to have lived in the same complex but in a different unit.
Police said that they are treating this as a criminal investigation pending the completion of the autopsies. There is no indication that additional individuals were involved in the incident, nor is there any known threat to the public at this time. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Mechanicville Police Department.
“This is a tragic incident that has deeply affected our community,” The Police Department said. “Our thoughts are with the family members, friends, and all those impacted by this loss.”
In response to the incident, the Mechanicville City School District announced that counseling services would be made available to any students who needed them.
This is a developing story; additional updates will be made in the online version of this story.
A homeless man arrested in April in the death of homeless man has pleaded not guilty to 2nd degree murder and two charges of tampering with evidence.
Kyle Baker, 52, was arrested on April 14, 2026, on West Avenue in Saratoga Springs after allegedly stabbing John C. “Clay” Williamson to death. Police said at the time that the stabbing was the result of an argument the two men had over $100.
According to Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby, Baker is alleged to have repeatedly stabbed Williamson in the back and neck, severing Williamson’s carotid artery. After the incident, Baker allegedly attempted to hide blood-stained clothing behind a nearby Stewart’s Shop, leading to the additional charges.
Baker was indicted by a grand jury on the three charges and arraigned in Saratoga County Court on June 22. Bail was denied the judge and Baker was remanded back into custody. He is next due in court on July 13.
“This indictment reflects the extensive work performed by law enforcement and prosecutors during the investigation of these allegations,” Eby said in a statement. “My office will continue to work diligently as we prepare for trial, with a steadfast focus on seeking justice for John Williamson and his family. We are grateful for the professionalism and dedication shown by our law enforcement partners throughout this investigation.”
State Police said that they seized 300 pounds of cannabis in traffic stop in the Town of Malta (Courtesy of NYSP)
On June 17, 2026, State Police assigned to the Trooper G Community Stabilization Unit, in partnership with the United States Border Patrol, arrested Tyler Thompson, 41, of Schenectady, NY, for Criminal Possession of Cannabis 1st, a class “D” felony, and vehicle and traffic law violations.
On June 17, 2026, at about 10:53 a.m. Troopers stopped a vehicle on Interstate 87 Northway in Malta for a vehicle and traffic law violation. The driver was identified as Thompson.During the investigation and with the assistance of State Police K9 “J,” approximately 300 pounds of cannabis were located in the vehicle.
Thompsonwas arrested and transported to SP Saratoga for processing. He was arraigned at the Malta Town Court and released on his own recognizance.
The Saratoga Springs Police have arrested an individual after he allegedly struck an acquaintance of his in the head with a hammer and caused a standoff with police.
Chance Barger, 30, of Schenectady was arrested and charged with felony 2nd degree assault, felony 3rd degree assault, felony aggravated family offense, misdemeanor criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and misdemeanor 4th degree criminal mischief.
Officers were dispatched to a home on Thoroughbred Drive on June 19 at 5:35 p.m., according to the Saratoga Springs Police Department. On scene, officers found the victim outside the home who reported that Barger allegedly struck him with a hammer and was still inside the home.
Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, however Barger refused to communicate with officers, prompting the deployment of the Saratoga Springs Police Department’s Special Response Team and Drone Unit.
Shortly after the deployment of the drone, officers were able to enter the home and take Barger into custody without further incident.
“The incident was resolved safely in large part due to the patience and de-escalation efforts made by officers and supervisors on scene, as well as the capabilities provided by the Drone Unit and Special Response Team,” The Police Department said in a statement. “These specialized resources play a critical role in safely resolving incidents that have the potential to become dangerous for both the public and responding officers.”
Barger was arraigned in City Court and remanded into custody pending further proceedings.
The victim was transported to Albany Medical Center for treatment but has since been released.
A ceremonial ribbon is cut in a ceremony honoring the Clifton Park Halfmoon Emergency Corps’ 75th anniversary (Aidan Cahill)
The busiest EMS agency in Saratoga County is celebrating 75 years of service to the community.
The Clifton Park Halfmoon Emergency Corps celebrated it’s 75th anniversary in a small ceremony conducted on June 22. The ceremony featured a ribbon cutting and presentation of awards by several elected officials.
The agency covers three municipalities within Saratoga County — Clifton Park, Halfmoon and Mechanicville, and runs around 8,600 calls a year accounting for 25% of all EMS calls in the County, according to Executive Director Keith Collins.
While the organization is planning a large gala in September but worked with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce to hold a smaller ceremony closer to when the organization was formally incorporated.
During the June 22 ceremony, the organization was presented with the Empire Award by New York State Senator James Tedisco (R-44) who represents all the area covered by the Emergency Corps.
“You are the best insurance company in the world, cost wise, service wise,” Tedisco said. “You make the difference in people not being injured seriously or losing their life. When they go to bed here in our community, they understand when there’s an emergency, whether it’s in the vehicle, whether they’re home, whether they’ve been in the backyard, you are going to be there to service them in the most important thing that they need, and that is protecting their family and them individually.”
Similar sentiments were expressed by Halfmoon Supervisor Kevin Tollisen Clifton Park Supervisor Philip Barrett. Barrett specifically highlighted the organization’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic 2020.
“This organization didn’t step back, they stepped forward and made sure that Clifton Park, Halfmoon, and beyond were taken care of professionally,” Barrett said. “You did everything necessary to make sure that you could continue to provide the great coverage.”
While the organization may be the busiest EMS agency in the county, its origins are humbler. Collins said that five community members started Clifton Park Halfmoon Emergency Corps to formalize patient transport to local hospitals. While some fire local fire districts had “rescue squads” to handle patient care, the organization was unique in its independent focus on emergency care.
The organization was formally incorporated on June 19, 1951 and has been evolving ever since. Collins, who first joined in 1991 as a volunteer EMT, said that when he joined the agency, they ran around 1000 calls a year and was comprised of mostly volunteers. However, when Clifton Park began a large population increase in the late 90s, the organization began hiring more paid personnel and expanding it’s facilities, including their current headquarters which was built in 1997.
Today the organization runs around 8,600 calls a year and comprises 88 paid staff members.
One of the things Collins highlighted as driving their success is the cooperation with local leaders and the outreach done by the organization into the local community.
“We invested long ago in a program to untraditional for EMS to get out and do outreach, so we do proceeds, we do defensive driving, we do an EpiPen familiarization course, Safe City, and of course CPR,” Collins said. “We are ingrained in this community, and we want to stay here. We invest in them because they invest in us.”
