All Over Albany

Town lines streets for return of fallen soldier, horse puncher gets 30 days, alleged indoor pot farm busted in Delmar, local outbreak of Bieber Fever traced to hair

Residents of Nassau lined the Rensselaer County town's streets yesterday for the motorcade carrying the body of soldier Derek Farley, who was killed in Afghanistan while trying to defuse a bomb. Said one sign: "Ssgt Derek Farley, Everyone's Son." [YNN] [TU] [Troy Record]

The father of Colonie soldier Amy Seyboth-Tirador -- who the military says died in Iraq from a self-inflicted gunshot (an assertion her family has disputed) -- says he and Seyboth-Tirador's husband had her body exhumed in May so famed medical examiner Michael Baden could perform a second autopsy. Seyboth-Tirador's mother said yesterday she didn't play a role in the exhumation and the secrecy made her suspicious. The Army said yesterday Seyboth-Tirador's death was ruled a suicide and her case is closed. [TU] [YNN] [YNN]

The search for Abel Jimenez, the man State Police allege dragged a trooper with his pickup truck last week in Washington County, has widened to include part of Rensselaer County. The police have been using dozens of officers, dogs, helicopters and an airplane in the hunt for the undocumented immigrant. There's now a $1000 reward for information. [Troy Record] [Post-Star] [TU]

The Saratoga County sheriff's office says sergeant Brent Dupras has been suspended after he was arrested for allegedly breaking into a former ladyfriend's house in Halfmoon. Fox23 reports the Dupras had been charged with harassment several years ago, but the charges were dropped. Say's the man's attorney: "Mr Dupras has a story to tell and he's looking forward to telling it." [TU] [Post-Star] [Fox23] [WTEN]

The man Saratoga Springs police say punched a police horse on Caroline Street pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 days in jail. [Fox23] [Saratogian]

State police say they busted three men for alleging running a marijuana growing operation in a Delmar warehouse, down the road from Bethlehem Central High School. They say the crop was potentially worth $500,000. [TU] [CBS6]

The owner of the former Saratoga Winners was convicted of insurance fraud related to the fire that burned down the club -- but he was acquitted of the arson charge. [TU] [Troy Record]

State Senate Democratic candidates Sue Savage (running against Hugh Farley) and Joanne Yepsen (running against Roy McDonald) announced yesterday that, if elected, they would not support Pedro Espada as majority leader in the chamber. [TU]

The Saratoga Springs city council voted to a hire a law firm to fight the efforts of the Saratoga Citizen group's efforts to get a referendum on the city's form of government on the ballot this November. [TU]

Colonie's EMS chief -- who's been at odds with the town supervisor -- is retiring. [TU]

The Albany common council is pushing the Jennings administration to hire someone to oversee the city's diversity hiring efforts. [TU]

A few local hospitals are touting their emergency departments as having shorter wait times. [TU]

The director of the Schenectady central library says work will start this year on a $2.6 million expansion of the building. [TU]

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is offering re-locating GlobalFoundries employees info on school districts, betting at The Track and... driving in the snow. [Saratogian]

Jack's Diner in Albany has reopened. [Tablehopping]

Said Stephanie VanNess, winner of the teen division at year's ice cream eating contest at The Track: "I saw all the guys and I was like, I can dominate them." [Saratogian]

The local outbreak of Bieber Fever seems mostly related to the hair. [Daily Gazette]