Mid Hudson Times Jun. 28 2017

T IMES NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION FIRST-PLACE AWARD FOR GENERAL EXCELLENCE, 2016 MID HUDSON Vol. 29, No 26 3 JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2017 The Class of 2017 Inside Three young men appeared in Newburgh City Court last week to answer to charges of second-degree homicide in the killing of a 63-year-old man. Raul Diaz-Martinez was killed with a single gunshot to the head on June 21. Diaz-Martinez was found inside a basement apartment at 168 Chambers Street and pronounced dead at the scene. Dejiore Fox, 21, Tyrees Canigan, 16, and Omarrio Morrison, 25, were charged with second-degree murder. All three pleaded not guilty in Newburgh City Court last week. They were remanded to Orange County Jail without bail. ONE DOLLAR Umps walk off the field Page 40 SERVING NEWBURGH AND NEW WINDSOR Three arrests in Chambers Street homicide By SHANTAL RILEY [email protected] 3 The trio is scheduled to appear in front of city court Justice Peter Kulkin on June 27. The homicide took place very near to the corner of Chambers and South streets - the same area that police described as the territorial center of the “Southside Gang” in a press release on a gang bust Continued on page 3 The long blue line City Democratic Committee endorses council candidates By SHANTAL RILEY [email protected] The Newburgh Free Academy Class of 2017 makes its way towards Academy Field last Thursday for the annual graduation ceremony. Story, photos on page 20. A list of graduates appears on pages 28-29. WWW.MIDHUDSONTIMES.COM The City of Newburgh Democratic Committee has endorsed four candidates to run for open seats on the Newburgh City Council. The four seats are in each of the city’s four wards. Incumbent city Councilwoman Karen Mejia was endorsed to represent Ward 1. Mejia was elected to the position in 2013. Nancy Colas, owner of Simple Gifts and Goodies, was chosen in Ward 2; Anthony Grice, community schools coordinator for the Newburgh school district, was endorsed for Ward 3; and Patty Sofokles, owner of Sofokles Tax Service, was endorsed in Ward 4. Councilwoman Cindy Holmes is seeking reelection in Ward 4. Councilwoman Genie Abrams and longtime Councilwoman Regina Angelo, who has served on the city council for decades, have declined to run. Other Democratic candidates running for council seats so far include city planning board member Ramona Monteverde, Radee Anglin and former Continued on page 2