Jim Gardner’s first impulse on hearing his wife scream at the sight of a big black bear in their yard was to shoot it — with his camera.

BERNE — A Berne resident called 9-1-1 Wednesday morning after seeing an upside-down plane in a field behind his house on the Berne-Altamont Road, according to State Police who determined the plane’s pilot, its only occupant, was unharmed.

A leak in the low-level outlet in the Myosotis Lake Dam in Rensselaerville has gotten worse recently, prompting the town to partner with the Huyck Preserve, which owns the dam, to pursue a short-term solution. 

RENSSELAERVILLE — Last year, Tara McCormick-Hostash had an inspiration.

After directing “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Guggenheim Theater, she looked out over the lawn of the Hilltown Commons and thought, “This beautiful green slope would be perfect to stage ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’”

Tanja Morse, 71, faces 41 charges related to animal cruelty after authorities seized 22 dogs, 15 horses, one cow, and several varieties of birds, all of which were kept without proper nourishment in “deplorable conditions,” according to Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple.

KNOX — Only 21 people voted in the Conservative primary for Knox highway superintendent but Joshua Gebe beat incumbent Matthew Schanz with 57 percent of the vote.

At his home near Warners Lake in Berne, Tom Nagengast built a scaled-down replica of the old Lobdell Mill, where he and many other residents spent time as children. 

Rensselaerville Supervisor John Dolce has been looking into the viability of creating a new park dedicated to Jeffrey Bogue — who left the town $830,000 when he died — at the site of the town’s former landfill, a 53-acre property. 

The event will be held at Two Rock Ranch in Berne on June 21 from 3  until 7 p.m., featuring music, food, and an appearance from New York State Ag Commissioner Richard Ball. 

Members of the Knox Conservative Party can cast their ballots on Primary Day — June 24 — or during the early-voting period from June 14 through June 22.