Kathy Reakes

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kreakes@dailyvoice.com

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Kathy Reaks has worked as a reporter in the local news business since 1984, starting as a news clerk and working her way up. She spent 17 years at Florida Today in Melbourne, Florida as a general assignment reporter, crime reporter, entertainment reporter and restaurant critic. She worked four years at Hometown News as a general assignment reporter, then another two years at Spacecoast Daily in Cocoa Beach, Florida. She attended Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Florida.

Kathy Reakes's Contributions

Woman Dies In East Islip House Fire Woman Dies In East Islip House Fire
Woman Dies In East Islip House Fire Click here for an updated story: ID Released For Woman Killed In East Islip House Fire A woman died in an early morning East Islip house fire, while five others were able to escape. The fire started around 2:12 a.m., Friday, Sept. 27, at the home at 3 Washington Ave., said the Suffolk County Police. Police said the five other residents of the home were able to escape unharmed. Detectives do not believe the cause of the fire is suspicious, police said. At least six fire departments responded to help battle the blaze including Islip Terrace, East Islip, Central Islip, Islip, Brentwood,…
ID Released For 93-Year-Old Stamford Homicide Victim ID Released For 93-Year-Old Stamford Homicide Victim
ID Released For 93-Year-Old Stamford Homicide Victim Police have identified a 93-year-old woman whose death has been ruled a homicide. Isabella Mehner was found dead at the bottom of a staircase leading into the basement of her Cove Road home in Stamford on Wednesday, Sept. 24, said Stamford Police Lt. Michael Noto.  With the assistance of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, it was determined that the injuries Mehner sustained were not consistent with a fall down the stairs, he said. "This case is being investigated as a homicide," said Noto. The victim lived alone at her single-family residence. Family member…
Northern Westchester Lawn Sign Thief Nabbed By Police Northern Westchester Lawn Sign Thief Nabbed By Police
Northern Westchester Lawn Sign Thief Nabbed By Police A lawn sign thief turned himself in to police after an investigation pointed the finger at the Northern Westchester resident. The case of the disappearing signs began on Monday, Sept. 16, when the Bedford Police Department received a complaint of 12 stolen lawn signs from around town, said Bedford Police Lt. Andrew M Bellantone. The signs were informational about an upcoming possible residential cell tower in town, police said. In the following days, the department received more complaints from other associations regarding their signs being stolen, Bellantone said. Following an …
Bridgeport Woman Paid Travel Agent $6,600 With Checks From Blocked Account, Police Say Bridgeport Woman Paid Travel Agent $6,600 With Checks From Blocked Account, Police Say
Bridgeport Woman Paid Travel Agent $6,600 With Checks From Blocked Account, Police Say A Bridgeport woman has been arrested on a warrant for allegedly paying her travel agent in checks from a frozen/blocked account. Regina Salcedo, 60, was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 25, on a warrant for in regards to issuing the two checks, said Milford Police. “Salcedo is accused of issuing two checks from a ‘frozen/blocked’ bank account to a Milford travel agent totaling over $6,600 in October 2018, leaving the victim responsible for returned check fees and unpaid travel bookings,” police said in a press release. Salcedo was charged with two counts of issuing a bad check and released on …
Wanted Violent Felon Nabbed Following Chase, Struggle In Spring Valley, Police Say Wanted Violent Felon Nabbed Following Chase, Struggle In Spring Valley, Police Say
Wanted Violent Felon Nabbed Following Chase, Struggle In Spring Valley, Police Say A man on parole for a violent felony who was wanted for absconding parole was nabbed after a brief struggle with police in Rockland.  Alex Sostre, 52, of Spring Valley, was arrested around 2:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 26, after a Spring Valley officer on patrol at the Transit Center noticed a man walking in the parking lot, said Officer Matthew Galli. Sostre, who attempted to flee when he saw the officer, was captured after a brief foot pursuit and struggle, police said. In 2014, Sostre was sentenced to five years in prison after admitting to slashing a man with a knife during a fight a…
Ex-Fire Chief From Hudson Valley Dies of 9/11-Related Illness Ex-Fire Chief From Hudson Valley Dies of 9/11-Related Illness
Ex-Fire Chief From Hudson Valley Dies of 9/11-Related Illness The ex-chief of the Pine Bush Fire Department and a former New York City Fire Department firefighter, has died from 9/11 related injuries at the age of 65. Richard “Ricky” John Tanagretta died on Tuesday, Sept. 24, surrounded by his family, said his obituary. Tanagretta worked as an FDNY firefighter for 26 years. He was also an instructor for the New York State and Orange County Fire Academies, mentoring many generations of first responders.   He was a past chief of the Pine Bush Volunteer Fire Department, where he was a member for 27 years, touching the lives of many.  Th…
Fleeing Burglary Suspects Nabbed In Westchester, Police Say Fleeing Burglary Suspects Nabbed In Westchester, Police Say
Fleeing Burglary Suspects Nabbed In Westchester, Police Say Three burglary suspects arrested as they attempted to flee from police on the Hutchinson River Parkway are being held without bail at the Westchester County Jail. The three were nabbed around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, after the Rye Brook Police Department broadcast a description of a vehicle wanted in connection with a burglary that had just occurred in the village, said Kieran O'Leary, spokesman for the Westchester County Police. County Police patrol officers began to check the Hutchinson River Parkway and an officer located the vehicle in the vicinity of Wilmot Road in New Rochelle, O'…
Motorcyclist Severely Injures Leg After Losing Control In Area, Police Say Motorcyclist Severely Injures Leg After Losing Control In Area, Police Say
Motorcyclist Severely Injures Leg After Losing Control In Area, Police Say A motorcycle rider received serious injuries to his leg after losing control of his vehicle and plowing into a guide rail in Tuxedo. The crash took place around 12:12 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26, when New York State Park Police Units responded to a report of a motorcycle accident on County Route 106 in the Town of Tuxedo, said Dan Keefe, spokesman for the state Office of Parks and Recreation.  Upon arrival at the scene, park police found that a 26-year-old man had lost control of his motorcycle, and slide into a guide rail on the shoulder of the roadway, Keefe said. The man sustained a c…
93-Year-Old Woman Found Dead At Bottom Of Staircase Victim Of Homicide, Stamford Police Say 93-Year-Old Woman Found Dead At Bottom Of Staircase Victim Of Homicide, Stamford Police Say
93-Year-Old Woman Found Dead At Bottom Of Staircase Victim Of Homicide, Stamford Police Say A 93-year-old woman found dead at the bottom of a staircase is being considered the victim of a homicide. The woman was found Wednesday, Sept. 25, after concerned family members who could not reach the woman went to her Cove Road home they discovered the victim at the bottom of the basement stairs, said Stamford Police Lt. Michael Noto. With the assistance of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, it was determined that the injuries the victim sustained are not consistent with a fall down the stairs, he added. "This case is being investigated as a homicide," Noto sai…
Reported Plane Crash In Northern Westchester Turns Out To Be Seaplane Landing Reported Plane Crash In Northern Westchester Turns Out To Be Seaplane Landing
Reported Plane Crash In Northern Westchester Turns Out To Be Seaplane Landing A frenzy of first responders, including dive teams and swift boats, were quickly getting ready to help any survivors of a reported plane crash in the Hudson River when they learned the plane might not have crashed. The incident took place around 2:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26, when officials began to receive calls that the plane had landed in the water off the coast of Croton-on-Hudson near Croton Yacht Club and that two people were on top. But just as crews were set to go, word came that it was a seaplane that had landed and then took off again after sitting for a while, said Kieran O'Leary…
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