The Society of Professional Journalists last week announced the winners of its 2019 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for excellence in journalism.

The editor and co-publisher of The Altamont Enterprise, Melissa Hale-Spencer, was shocked to have won an award for editorial writing. 

ALBANY COUNTY — Albany County corrections officer Ryan M. Lawson was charged on Wednesday with falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor.

The Albany County Sheriff’s office had put out a release earlier this week, saying an unnamed employee had had a lit firework tossed into his living room on Saturday night.

These local students were named to the Dean’s List at RIT for the spring 2020 semester, each with a grade-point average of 3.4 or higher:
 

— Brian Herzog of Slingerlands, majoring in computer engineering;

— Samantha Smith of Delmar, majoring in biotechnology and molecular bioscience;

These local students were named to the Spring 2020 Dean’s List at The College of Saint Rose, comprised of students with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher:
 

— Raina Briggs of Delmar;

— Elaina Brown of Altamont;

— Ethan Lawrence of Voorheesville;

— Anne Lin of Slingerlands;

These local students were named to the dean’s list from their college or university for the spring 2020 semester:
 

— Peyton Legg of Altamont, majoring in political science at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina, with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher;

GUILDERLAND — “My childhood friend had COVID. You saved her life. No words can express my gratitude.”

The Capital Region begins Phase 4 on Wednesday but large malls, gyms, and amusement parks are not allowed to open.

“Productions are currently seeking lower-density areas that can provide more flexibility and safety, and we can definitely do that here in Albany,” said Discover Albany Film Commissioner Deb Goedeke.

ALBANY COUNTY — For the first time, food and refreshment vendors will be able to sell their products along the nine-mile stretch of the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail through food trucks, carts, or temporary stands.

Requests for proposals are due back on July 10.

ALBANY COUNTY — Cornell Cooperative Extension is offering free courses on parenting through videoconferencing.