Three bartenders accused of serving minors

WEST CARTHAGE — State police said Thursday that three bartenders were charged Saturday night in an undercover operation designed to check compliance with the state's legal drinking age.

Cited with unlawfully dealing with a child and prohibited sales of alcoholic beverages to minors are:

■ Megan L. Keddy, 25, Carthage, at Keddy's Bar, Bridge Street, West Carthage.

■ Geraldine M. Kowalczyk, 51, West Carthage, at Tom & Gerri's, Route 3, town of Champion.

■ James L. Watson, 40, Herrings, at the Herrings Inn.

They were issued tickets for court appearances at later dates.

Investigator Thomas Elthorp said a team of eight officers and an underage woman were involved in the visits to five taverns, the other two being the Wicked Wench in West Carthage and O'Larry's Pub, Great Bend. No offenders were found at the latter two locations.

At the Herrings Inn, undercover officers saw a woman go behind the bar to hide something that was found to be a pipe containing marijuana, he said. Deborah J. Hawk, 38, Carthage, was cited with unlawful possession of marijuana.

Referrals naming Keddy's, Tom & Gerri's and the Herrings Inn will be filed with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control board, he said.