790 WTNY Headlines

Military Cuts Include Possible BRAC

2012-01-27T09:41:00.002-05:00

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is defending proposed deep cuts in military spending. Panetta calls it the "right approach" in an era of soaring deficits and budgetary constraints. In a Pentagon news briefing, Panetta outlined proposals to slash military spending by roughly 487-billion dollars over the next ten years. He said the U.S. is at a "strategic turning point" after a decade of war and large increases in defense spending.
Panetta stressed the U.S. military will be smaller and leaner, but more agile, versatile and technologically advanced. The cuts will spell significant reductions in the number of U.S. troops and the closure of some domestic military bases. Specific numbers will be included in the annual budget blueprint that President Obama will send Congress next month.

Redistricting Plan Draws Criticism

2012-01-27T09:41:00.001-05:00

Could the tri-county area soon be represented by a total of five members of the New York State Assembly. That is the plan outlined in the proposed redistricting map released by the legislative task force in charge of the once a decade process released on Thursday. The biggest change locally would be in the parts of the area represented currently by Republican Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush. Blankenbush would loose all of St. Lawrence County, with the exception of the Town of Pitcairn. In Jefferson County, he would lose Henderson, Adams, Ellisburg and Hounsfield Henderson, Adams and Ellisburg would become part of the district currently represented by Oswego County Republican Will Barclay. Hounsfield would become part of the district, currently represented by Democratic Assemblywoman Addie Russell. Blankenbush in turn, would gain parts of Oswego and Oneida Counties. The areas of St. Lawrence lost to Blankenbush would become part of the district represented by Assemblyman Marc Butler and Assemblywoman Janet Duprey. Russell's district was left unchanged for the most part. The two local State Senate Districts represented by Republicans Patty Ritchie and Joe Griffo only had minor tweaks.The new district has led to claims of gerrymandering by good government groups. Governor Andrew Cuomo has called the new maps unacceptable and has threatened a veto.

New York Primary May Matter

2012-01-27T09:40:00.001-05:00

By the time New York Republicans get to vote in the state's primary on April 24, their votes weren't expected to matter much. It was thought that Mitt Romney would have the nomination in his pocket before then. But Newt Gingrich's win in South Carolina last week changed all that. With polls tightening in next week's primary in Florida, it appears that New York might be very much in play for needed delegates after all.

Pentagon Budget Cuts Coming

2012-01-26T11:28:00.001-05:00

A new Pentagon budget is expected to be outlined today by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey. They're expected to call for 487-billion dollars in spending cuts over the next decade. More than half of those cuts would come during the next five years. Specific details won't come until President Obama rolls out his budget next month, but broad strokes include reducing the number of men and women in uniform and canceling or dialing back some weapons programs.

Unemployment Numbers For December

2012-01-26T11:27:00.002-05:00

The latest unemployment figures from the New York State Labor Department show the jobless rate locally hovering right around 10%. The numbers for December were released this week. Jefferson County recorded an unemployment rate of 10.1% for the month. That's up from 9.4% in November, but down from 10.3% a year ago. Lewis County's rate was 9.9%, down a percentage point from a year ago. St. Lawrence County's unemployment rate is an even 10%, also down from December 2010. The statewide average for the month was an even 8%.

New Database Unveiled

2012-01-26T11:26:00.002-05:00

Federal officials have unveiled a new online database to protect members of the military from scams, with a former business at the Salmon Run Mall serving as the catalyst for it. You may remember SmartBuy, which shut it's doors back in the spring of 2010. The business was the subject of a New York State Attorney General's investigation for tricking soldiers to sign up for a high interest loan for electronic equipment. A settlement was eventually reached with the business. The Repeat Offenders Against Military Database will track completed enforcement actions against companies and individuals who repeatedly scam military personnel.

Seaway Trail Names New Director

2012-01-26T11:26:00.001-05:00

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail has named an interim director following the death this week of it's President and CEO. Teressa Mitchell passed away Tuesday. Chuck Krupke will take over the duties. He is a Pulaski area businessman who has been associated with the organization since 1986 and has served as Chairman of the Board of Seaway Trail Inc. The Seaway Trail is a non for profit organization that promotes travel and tourism along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway Trail.

Anti-Tobacco Groups Angry Over Proposed Cuts

2012-01-26T11:25:00.002-05:00

Anti-tobacco groups in New York are upset with Governor Andrew Cuomo over proposed funding cuts for their initiatives. Cuomo has proposed cutting tobacco control spending by five-million dollars in the coming fiscal year, reducing it to a total of 36-million dollars. Officials with groups such as the NYS Smokers' Quitline are lobbying state legislators to get the money restored, saying such cuts means the state can't afford public service announcements to encourage people to quit smoking.

Delay In Release Of District Lines Maps

2012-01-26T11:25:00.001-05:00

The much-talked maps showing new district lines for the state Assembly and Senate have had their release delayed. The maps were expected to be released to the public Wednesday, but that didn't happen, and now the chances that they will be released today are also slim. Negotiations are reportedly ongoing between the Cuomo administration, Assembly Democrats and Senate Republicans regarding the district lines.

Schneiderman Picked By Obama For Mortgage Probe

2012-01-26T11:24:00.000-05:00

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has been tapped by President Obama to head up a new task force regarding the mortgage meltdown. Schneiderman's office has confirmed he has been asked to co-chair a presidential task force that will try to uncover the causes of the mortgage crisis in the U.S.. He says his office will continue to work to hold those responsible for the economic crisis accountable and hopefully give some meaningful relief to homeowners.

Dexter Man Charged With Rape

2012-01-25T11:09:00.002-05:00

A Dexter man is charged with raping a teenage girl. State Police arrested 45 year old Alfred Heise Tuesday on charges of first degree rape, endangering the welfare of a child, and resisting arrest. Heise is alleged to have forcibly raped a 14 year old girl in Dexter on two separate occasions last year. Police responded to Heise's place of employment, at which point he allegedly fled the business and went into a heavy wooded area just north of Route 12 between Murrock Circle and Wayside Drive in the Town of Pamelia. Heise was taken into custody. He was ordered held in the Jefferson County Jail on $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond.

Hammond Students Brings Explosive To School

2012-01-25T11:08:00.002-05:00

A student at Hammond Central School is charged with bringing a homemade explosive devise in school as well as two knives. School officials called state police after the homemade devise was found in a gym locker on Tuesday. The school first heard about the situation from other students. Upon the discovery, the school was locked down for about an hour yesterday afternoon. Police say they recovered a test tube containing black powder and a fuse. A machete and a hunting knife were also recovered. The student, whose name has not been released because of his age, was charged with third degree criminal possession of a weapon. Authorities don't believe students were in any immediate danger.

Goley Murder Trial Underway

2012-01-25T11:08:00.001-05:00

Opening statements were made and testimony is underway in the murder trial of Krista Goley. The Watertown woman is accused of stabbing her 21 year old boyfriend, Timothy Rolland, to death during a September 2010 incident at an apartment on East Lynde St. The prosecution is alleging that Goley planned the murder while the defense is countering with a self defense argument. Police officials on the stand Tuesday stated Goley admitted to the stabbing when initially questioned, but also claimed it was in defense of herself and that she didn't mean to do it. She is charged with second degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child, and perjury.

Audit Says Village Residents Paid Too Much On Taxes

2012-01-25T11:06:00.003-05:00

Residents in the Village of Alexandria Bay were overtaxed according to an audit by the New York State Comptroller's Office. The report by Tom DiNapoli says the village's recent tax levy was "excessive and unnecessary", levying about a million dollars for taxes. This despite the village having a fund balance of about $2.3 million. The village says it is working with the comptroller's office to fix the problems outlined in the report, which included bad bookeeping

Push Continues For Expanded DNA Databank In NY

2012-01-25T11:06:00.001-05:00

A renewed push is in the works for an expansion of New York's DNA database. Law enforcement officials and crime victim advocates from around the state joined forces this week to push for such an expansion, saying it would lead to the solving of more crimes and possible preventions of others. A measure is expected to be discussed by lawmakers in Albany that would require DNA samples from everyone convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony in New York State. Governor Cuomo called for such an expansion as part of his State of the State address.

NY Lawmaker Wants To Make Cheating On SAT A Crime

2012-01-25T11:05:00.000-05:00

A New York lawmaker wants to crack down on those who cheat on their SATs or other college entrance exam. Republican State Senator Kenneth LaValle has drafted a bill that would make cheating on such tests a felony punishable by prison terms. The move comes after a SAT cheating scandal on LaValle's native Long Island gained world-wide attention. The scheme involved former students accepting thousands of dollars to pose as current high school students and take the SAT tests for them.

Poll Shows New Yorkers Like Obama Over Anyone Else

2012-01-25T11:04:00.000-05:00

A Time Warner/Marist poll shows New Yorkers prefer President Obama in November over any Republican candidate. The poll shows 58% of New York state residents are for Obama while his closest competitor, Mitt Romney, gets 35%. The poll also shows 46% of New York state residents believe President Obama is doing an excellent or good job. Twenty-six percent rate his performance as fair while 28% say he is doing poorly.

Goley Begins Today

2012-01-24T10:50:00.001-05:00

The murder trial of Krista Goley is scheduled to begin this morning in Jefferson County Court. The twenty six year old Watertown woman is accused of stabbing boyfriend Timohty Rolland to death during an incident September 2010 at her home on East Lynde St. Goley is facing counts of second degree murder, as well as criminal possession of a weapon, and perjury. The defense is expected to go with self defense on the part of Goley. The jury was seated on Monday and opening statements are scheduled for this morning.

Oxley Juror Spooked By Nightmates, Will Stay on Panel

2012-01-24T10:49:00.002-05:00

As if the Wayne Oxley murder case couldn't get more bizarre, the dreams of a juror made their way into the trial on Monday. One of the jurors told Judge Jerome Richards that she had a nightmare over the weekend that Oxley was chasing her with a baseball bat. Prosecutors allege that Oxley beat Bernard Tricky Jr. to death with a baseball bat at an Ogdensburg home in August 2005. Oxley's attorney asked that the juror be dismissed, but that motion was denied and testimony continued. The bat in question was submitted into evidence during Monday's proceedings.

PDA's Targeted By Drum Officials

2012-01-24T10:49:00.001-05:00

Public displays of affection have become the focus of a Ft. Drum official, who has publicly clarified what is and is not acceptable under military guidelines. Lt. Col. Graham Stone had an article published recently in the Mountaineer, outlining the PDA guidelines. This after several officials have witnessed uniformed soldiers violating the rules. To be clear, those wearing the uniform are barred from publicly holding hands and kissing. There are some exceptions, including modest displays allowed at welcome home ceremonies and weddings.

Finance Deal Paves Way For Expansion of Destiny Mall

2012-01-24T10:48:00.001-05:00

A 400-million-dollar financing deal will allow the owners of Syracuse's Destiny USA Mall to complete an expansion. The Syracuse Industrial Development Agency helped arrange the funding, which had run into problems over liability for potential environmental cleanup costs. The agency brokered a deal with the mall's developer, Pyramid Companies, to provide insurance that will allow the expansion to be completed this spring.

Hundreds Descend On State Capitol To Rally Against Hydrofracking

2012-01-24T10:47:00.002-05:00

A broad coalition of groups are calling on lawmakers in Albany to reject any potential plans for hydrofracking. Over 600 people representing a variety of interests rallied at the State Capitol Monday against the controversial procedure for gas drilling. Governor Andrew Cuomo has said he wants to get a variety of information on the procedure before deciding whether to push for any plans regarding hydrofracking in the Empire State. Opponents of the procedure say it will ruin public water supplies throughout the state and have a huge negative environmental impact.

Report: NY Lawmakers Could Get Pay Increase

2012-01-24T10:47:00.001-05:00

Pay raises might be in the cards for state lawmakers. The "New York Post" reports while no discussions have been held among legislative leaders and Governor Andrew Cuomo about pay hikes, the governor is likely to "look favorably" at an increase if he gets what he wants out of his budget proposal from lawmakers in Albany. Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says it's unfair that lawmakers, along with statewide elected officials, haven't had a raise since 1999. However, he concedes that legislators have to get rid of their reputation for dysfunction in Albany before any pay increase is likely.

Kris Joseph scored 17 points to lead Syracuse to a 60-53 road win over Cincinnati. Scoop Jardine added 13 points and six assists for the Orange, who

2012-01-24T10:46:00.000-05:00

Kris Joseph scored 17 points to lead Syracuse to a 60-53 road win over Cincinnati. Scoop Jardine added 13 points and six assists for the Orange, who moved to 8-and-1 in Big East play and 21-and-1 overall. Earlier yesterday, Syracuse fell to fourth in this week's ESPN/"USA Today" top-25 poll after suffering its first loss of the season Saturday at Notre Dame.

Drug Bust In Watertown This Morning

2012-01-23T10:07:00.001-05:00

A Watertown man is in custody after police executed a search warrant at his home on Gotham Street this morning at approximately 5:20 am. Found at the residence of Michael McLean, 27, were 24 bags of heroin valued at $700, $1,038 in cash, drug paraphernalia, and a small amount of powdered cocaine. McLean was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. He was sent to the Jefferson County Jail pending arraignment in city court.

Fire Destorys Garage in Watertown

2012-01-23T09:11:00.003-05:00

A fire in Watertown last night destroyed a garage and damaged an apartment complex on Michigan Avenue. The fire broke out at about 7:30 pm at the Mountaineer Estates apartment complex. Luckily noone was injured and crews were able to put out the fire before it spread too far into the apartment complex. Six people were forced to evacuate the apartments and take shelter with the American Red Cross overnight. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

Two Fatal Snowmobile Accidents in Lewis County

2012-01-23T09:09:00.001-05:00

It was a tragic weekend for snowmobiling in Lewis County, as two riders were killed in separate accidents. On Krager Road in West Turin Saturday morning Edward Kohles, 56, lost control of his snowmobile and was ejected before he was struck by another snowmobile heading in the opposite direction. He was pronounced dead at the scene. In the second accident early Sunday morning, Daniel Leonard, 34, lost control of his vehicle while negotiating a curve, before being ejected and striking a tree. He was also pronounced dead at the scene.

City Council Works On Getting Library Open on Sundays

2012-01-23T09:08:00.001-05:00

Good news for local bookworms; the Flower Memorial Library may soon be open on Sundays. According to the Watertown Daily Times, city council members met with library board members last week to discuss getting the library open for four hours on Sundays. The only problem is that the city employee's union says forcing the staff to work on a rotating schedule would breach their labor contract. The city council has been pushing for the library to be open seven days a week for over a year now, but the union has yet to change their stance.

Owens Open To Changes To SOPA Bill

2012-01-23T09:07:00.000-05:00

Congressman Bill Owens is helping to re-tool the Stop Online Piracy Act. Owens, a sponsor of the legislation that was tabled last week after widespread backlash, said in a statement that he is confident appropriate changes will be made to the bill. He also says the bill would help save American jobs, and that he welcomes changes to the legislation.

Schumer and Gillibrand Want Crackdown on Syria

2012-01-23T09:06:00.001-05:00

New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are looking to crackdown on Syria. They say Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has brutally violated the human rights of his own people killing thousands of citizen protesters. Schumer and Gillibrand are introducing a bill called the Syrian Human Rights Accountability Act. The bill would ban officials in Syria tied with Assad's regime from traveling or doing business with the United States. It would also ban the sale of weapons or technology to Syria.

Gas Prices Steady...For Now

2012-01-23T09:01:00.001-05:00

Bad news for commuters, the price of gas is rising. Gas prices have been holding steady for the last 24 hours, but they are still headed up. Right now, the average price for a regular gallon of gas is $3.68 in Watertown. That's the same price drivers were paying yesterday, but it's up five cents from last week. Nationally, drivers are paying $3.38 on average.

'Mark's Law' Approved By Senate Committee

2012-01-23T08:58:00.001-05:00

The Mark's Law Bill is closer to becoming a law after being approved by a Senate committee. The bill, which was introduced by State Senator Patty Ritchie, would increase the maximum charge for killing an on-duty first responder to first degree murder. The bill is named for Mark Davis, an EMT who was shot to death while responding to a call in Cape Vincent in 2009. The current maximum charge is second degree murder.

Fine Accuser Drops Charges

2012-01-21T08:20:00.002-05:00

One of Bernie Fine's accusers has dropped their lawsuit against the former SU coach. The attorney for former Copenhagen resident Zach Tomaselli says hes dropping a civil lawsuit filed in Pittsburgh. This comes after Tomaselli told the Syracuse Post Standard that he altered emails from Syracuse Police before forwarding them to media outlets, in order to strengthen his story. Tomaselli still maintains his allegations are valid.

Watertown Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

2012-01-21T08:19:00.000-05:00

A Watertown man was arrested Thursday by city police on child pornography charges. Joshua Lifton, 31, was charged with promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child and possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child. It's alleged Mr. Lifton possessed multiple videos of sexual conduct by a child less than 16-years old, that he obtained from the limewire.com file sharing site in April 2008. Lifton was arraigned in city court and released pending grand jury action.

Community Bank Buys Local HSBC Branches

2012-01-21T08:18:00.001-05:00

Community Bank of Syracuse has reached an agreement to acquire 19 HSBC branches from First Niagra Bank, and that includes some north country branches. The HSBC branches in Watertown on Washington and Arsenal Streets, in addition to branches in Adams, Alexandria Bay, and Lowville were also included. The deal is expected to be completed by June.

Fatal Accident at Whiteface Mountain

2012-01-21T08:17:00.000-05:00

A Long Island man is dead after a fatal skiing accident at Whiteface Mountain Friday morning. Daniel McGovern, 25, was skiing with his family at approximately 10:30 am when he lost control and went off the trail, colliding with several trees. State Police say McGovern was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Life saving measures taken by Ski Patrol on the scene were unsuccessful.

Former Cape Vincent Town Clerk Sentenced

2012-01-21T08:16:00.000-05:00

A former Town Clerk for Cape Vincent has been sentenced after stealing nearly $30,000 from the Town. Jeri Mason was sentenced Friday in Jefferson County Court by Judge Kim Martusewicz to five years probation. Mason avoided jail-time by paying back the full amount of the theft. She had plead guilty in October to Defrauding the Government and Official Misconduct.

Tupper Lake Ski Resort Given Green Light

2012-01-21T07:49:00.000-05:00

A 700-unit Ski resort has been given the green light in Tupper Lake. The Adirondack Park Agency on Friday voted and approved the issuing of permits for the project, which is expected to cost $260 million and take 15 years to complete.

Cuomo Announces Federal Grants For Disaster Relief

2012-01-21T07:48:00.000-05:00

New York State is set to receive millions of dollars in disaster relief funds to help the state recover from Tropical Storms Irene and Lee. Cuomo says the Empire State will get over $93-million dollars to help pay for disaster relief, restoration of infrastructure, and economic revitalization for counties hit hard by the storms. The governor says New York State had disaster declarations issued in 48 of its 60 counties last year, due mostly from the two devastating storms.

Fatal Crash In Lewis County

2012-01-20T10:18:00.001-05:00

A Lewis County man is dead following a one vehicle crash that occurred early Thursday morning. State Police say 64 year old Charles Burdick of Lyons Falls was traveling south on State Rt. 12d in the Town of West Turin just before 7 am Thursday when he went off the right side of the road for an unknown reason and struck a guard rail and then a ditch. The vehicle came to rest with Burdick partially ejected. Burdick was freed by emergency crews and pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the accident is still under investigation and anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call New York State Police in Lowville at 376-6513.

Watertown Man Sentenced For Tax Evasion

2012-01-20T10:17:00.000-05:00

A Watertown man has been sentenced on federal tax evasion charges. Forty five year old Alton Sharlow was in sentenced in U.S. District Court in Syracuse on Thursday for evasion of personal income tax and willful failure to pay over tax. Sharlow was the owner and operator of Janco Management, a commercial floor cleaning business in Watertown. From 2004 through 2006, Sharlow received cash payments from several clients for cleaning services, and intentionally underreported gross receipts to the amount of over $393,000. He was sentenced to three years probation, six months home confinement, and was also ordered to pay restitution.

Report: Senate GOP Has Five To One Cash Edge Over Dems

2012-01-20T10:16:00.002-05:00

A new report shows Senate Republicans in Albany have a massive edge over their Democratic counterparts when it comes to money raised. An analysis from NYPIRG shows that when combining the cash balances of incumbent candidates along with the central committees and subtract any debt, Republicans have a five to one advantage in terms of money available. The report finds the Senate GOP has over 15-million dollars on hand compared to over three-million-dollars for the Democrats. Some Senate Democrats have said they figured they would be out-raised but will still be victorious at the polls come Election Day.

Syracuse Chiefs Could Buy Alliance Bank Stadium

2012-01-20T10:16:00.001-05:00

The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals may be mulling an offer too good to refuse. The team is being offered Alliance Bank Stadium for just two-point-eight-million dollars, ten-percent of what the stadium cost to build 15 years ago. The ball club also has the option to continue a lease for another eleven years. The team has been given until the end of next year to exercise the purchase option.

Taxpayers Foot Bill For Buffalo Teacher Facelifts

2012-01-20T10:15:00.001-05:00

Tax dollars are being spent to give public school teachers cosmetic surgeries. The "Syracuse Post-Standard" reports procedures ranging from botox to liposuction are part of the teachers' contracts in Buffalo. Teachers are taking advantage of the perk too enjoying nine-million dollars worth of plastic surgeries each year. The newspaper says the benefit has actually been available since the 1970s originally designed to cover reconstructive surgery for accident victims.

Cuomo Biography To Be Penned By VF Contributing Edito

2012-01-20T10:14:00.000-05:00

The life and times of Governor Andrew Cuomo may soon be coming to a book store near you. Vanity Fair contributing editor Michael Shnayerson has been tabbed to write "The Son Also Rises," which the publishing group says will "offer an exhaustive, detailed look at the New York State governor's life." No word on when the book will be released.

Council Passes Dog Law

2012-01-19T11:42:00.000-05:00

Overshadowed by the Corriveau decision during Tuesday night's meeting was the passing of a dog law by the City Council. The law would ban dogs from most public events in the City of Watertown, including the Farmer's Market. That's where a two year old child was attacked by a dog last summer, leading to the new ordinance. The vote was 4-1 with Councilman Jeff Smith voting against it. Smith felt the law may be an overreach by the city government to what may end up being an isolated incident. The law bans dogs from the market, as well as sporting events on city property, the July 4th celebrations at Thompson Park, and the Jefferson County Fair. It would also ban dogs from within 20 feet of any city owned swimming pool or playground equipment.

Graham Hopes For Different Resolution In Corriveau Matter

2012-01-19T11:41:00.002-05:00

There is still support for embattled Watertown City Manager Mary Corriveau on the City Council. Mayor Jeff Graham said on his online blog that he hopes cooler heads will prevail and that differences between the two sides can be worked out. Both Graham and Councilwoman Teresa Macaluso voted against Tuesday night's resolution to not renew Corriveau's contract when it expires April 30

Crash Injures Two

2012-01-19T11:40:00.000-05:00

Two people were injured following a crash involving two vehicles in the Town of Adams Wednesday. State Police say it happened at around 2 pm at the intersection of the Fauller and Caird Roads at . A dump truck being driven by 48 year old William Matejcik of Calcium failed to stop at the intersection and slammed into a truck driven by 25 year old Daniel Grandjean of Rodman. Grandjean and a passenger and mother, 47 year old Connie Grandjean, were injured and hospitalized. There injuries not said to be life threatening. Authorities believe faulty brakes on the dump truck led to the crash.

Oxley Trial Underway

2012-01-19T11:39:00.002-05:00

Opening statements finally got underway Wednesday in St. Lawrence County Court. Wayne Oxley stands accused of beating Bernard Tricky Jr. to death with a baseball bat at the victim's Ogdensburg home back in August 2005. A previous murder conviction was thrown out with a new trial ordered. That second trial ended with a hung jury. The trial will resume with testimony Friday morning per the order of the judge. The delay for today stems from a juror that continues to be sick. That juror was in attendance Wednesday.

Price Chopper Issues Voluntary Recall For Taco Cheese

2012-01-19T11:39:00.001-05:00

Price Chopper is issuing a voluntary recall for cheese. The product is the company's own brand, Coyote Joe's Shredded Taco Cheese in 16 ounce packages. There could be shredded plastic fragments in the cheese. The product was sold by Price Chopper between January 4 and 17. Information is available on the supermarket website, PriceChopper.com.

Former Senate Majority Leader Facing New Corruption Charges

2012-01-19T11:38:00.001-05:00

Former New York State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. has been slapped with new corruption charges. Federal prosecutors say Espada made false statements, including under-reporting his salary, on government forms related to the non-profit health clinic he ran in the Bronx. Espada and his son are scheduled to go on trial in March on a variety of corruption charges related to allegations that they used money from the health clinic to pay for personal expenses. He was defeated for his state Senate seat in 2010 after the corruption allegations were made public.

Occupy Syracuse Forces Miss Deadline For Leaving South Salina Street

2012-01-19T11:37:00.000-05:00

Occupy Syracuse forces missed an 8 a.m. Wednesday deadline to leave their South Salina Street encampment, but the city says they still have to go. The original ultimatum was issued Tuesday by Mayor Stephanie Miner and Fire Chief Mark McLees after health and safety issues were discovered at the camp. The mayor last night told "The Post Standard" nothing has changed. She says occupiers were never told they'd be evicted, only that they had a day to remove their materials. Many of the protestors promise to stay even if authorities remove all of their supplies and shelters.

Corriveau's Contract Will Not Be Renewed

2012-01-18T10:15:00.002-05:00

The Watertown City Council took sudden action last night in essentially firing City Manager Mary Corriveau. Corriveau's contract was set to expire April 30, and the council voted on a last minute resolution to not renew the contract at that time. Watertown City Councilman Jeff Smith was among those who voted yes on the resolution. He said there were several reasons for the dismissal, but would not go into specifics, calling it a "personnel manner". Smith said the decision had to be made last night because the council is required to give the manager 90 days notice. Otherwise, she would be paid a large severance package. Smith says there are plans on this point on how to go about hiring a new manager. The final vote was 3-2 in favor of dismissing Corriveau. Voting in favor were Smith, Councilman Joe Butler Jr., and Councilwoman Roxanne Burns. Voting against the resolution were Mayor Jeff Graham and Councilwoman Teresa Macaluso.

O'Berg Manager Fired

2012-01-18T10:14:00.000-05:00

It was not a good night for city managers in the North Country. The Ogdensburg City Council Tuesday night voted to fire it's manager, Art Sciorra. The move is not a surprise since Sciorra has been under fire for months since it was learned that a family lived in a city owned home for several years rent and tax free. Sciorra has been blamed by some city officials for the blunder, although Sciorra maintains he should not take full blame. After threatening to sue the city, the council last night voted to give him a severance package. In return Sciorra will drop the suit.

Cuomo Unveils 2012-2013 Budget

2012-01-18T10:13:00.001-05:00

Governor Cuomo has unveiled his budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Cuomo's 132-point-five-billion dollar budget for 2012-2013 lowers overall spending slightly while closing a three-point-five-billion dollar budget gap. Education is a top priority to Cuomo, and schools will receive a four percent increase in state aid, up to over 20-billion dollars overall. Many local school districts saw their aid increase no where near that number. The increase in aid is also tied to schools developing a new teacher-evaluation system plan by January of 2013, with the governor saying bluntly "no evaluation, no money, period."

Cuomo Budget Changes Pension System

2012-01-18T10:12:00.000-05:00

Governor Cuomo's proposed budget changes the pension system in New York, a move that is likely to be fought by some unions. Under the governor's plan, a new pension tier called Tier Six would be created for new employees that would require them to make increased contributions to their pension. In addition, new employees would have the option to sign up for a defined contribution plan similar to a 401(k), and the retirement age would be increased from 62 to 65. The PEF and CSEA unions have already come out against Tier Six, calling it "misguided" and "an assault on the middle class and a cheap shot at public employees."

Some Boost In Local School Aid

2012-01-18T10:11:00.000-05:00

The governor's budget package did yield some good news for most local schools. A majority saw a boost in school aid, although not as much as education officials had hoped. The Watertown City School District will see a $373,000 boost in aid from the current budget. Indian River and Carthage received the largest boosts in aid. Indian River will get an additional $1.9 million while Carthage will see $1.07 million. Sackets Harbor will get less aid, down $191,000 from the current budget.

Syracuse Driver Receives 29th Traffic Citatio

2012-01-18T10:10:00.000-05:00

Some people should probably stick to using public transportation. That's likely the way police agencies feel about a Syracuse man who's just received his 29th traffic ticket. Twenty-seven-year-old John Piraino was pulled over by Oswego County Sheriff's deputies this week after he was spotted passing cars on the crest of a hill in a no-passing zone. Piranio, who's now charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, was driving with a suspended license the result of previous convictions.

Cuomo Releases Budget Proposal Today

2012-01-17T10:06:00.002-05:00

Governor Andrew Cuomo is likely to follow through on his tough-talk about getting serious regarding teacher evaluations in the Empire State. Multiple reports say Cuomo is set to tie increases in aid to schools around the state with a plan to upgrade teacher evaluations as part of his new state budget set to be unveiled today. Cuomo previously reached an agreement with lawmakers in Albany to increase overall education spending by four percent, but he's reportedly looking to tie that increase to a new teacher evaluation system. The governor has said New York could lose 700-million dollars in federal aid if it doesn't revamp its teacher evaluation process. Cuomo is also expected to outline pension reform as part of his budget address.

Dog Law Vote Tonight

2012-01-17T10:03:00.002-05:00

The City of Watertown is likely to have a dog law on the books before the night is over. The city council scheduled to meet this evening in council chambers. On the agenda is the proposed law that would ban dogs from most public events here in the city. The proposed law comes following a vicious dog attack on a two year old child last summer at the farmer's market. Also at tonight's agenda, the council is scheduled to vote on a resolution that will increase the contributions for health insurance by new city employees by 25%. The meeting gets underway at 7 pm.

Oxley Trial Delayed One Day

2012-01-17T10:02:00.003-05:00

Opening statements were scheduled for today in St. Lawrence County Court for the Wayne Oxley murder trial A sick juror has caused the one day postponement of the trial. A jury was selected last week for the trial, which is expected to last about two months. Oxley is accused of beating Bernard Tricky Jr. to death with a baseball bat in 2005. The first trial led to a murder conviction against Oxley, but that was thrown out on appeal with the appellate court ordering a second trial. That second trial led to a hung jury.

Lowville Man Charged With Assault

2012-01-17T10:02:00.001-05:00

A Lowville man is facing charges in connection with an assault in Herkimer County. Forty one year old Jeffrey Jordan is alleged to have beaten a woman at a cabin he owned in the Town of Webb Saturday evening. The victim called 911 and was treated at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Utica for a broken eye socket and other minor bruises and lacerations. Jordan was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in New Hartford for treatment of minor injuries before being released into the custody of State Police. Jordan is charged with second degree assault and was ordered held in the Herkimer County Jail on $35,000 cash bail or $70,000 bond.

Ritchie Wants Hearing on Cable Disputes

2012-01-17T10:01:00.000-05:00

Several ongoing disputes between networks and cable and satellite TV providers has gotten the attention of one local lawmaker. North County State Senator Patty Ritchie is requesting a hearing on TV blackouts. One of the cases she is citing is the recent dispute between Time Warner Cable and the MSG Network, that has left New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Knicks games blacked out to local subscribers. Ritchie says consumers are being denied services they are paying for. She has written to the Chair of the Senate's Energy and Telecommunications Committee asking him to convene a hearing on the matter.

Syracuse Rolls Over Pitt

2012-01-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

The top-ranked Syracuse men's basketball team run their record to a perfect 20-and-0, with a 71-to-63 victory over the Pitt Panthers. Guard Dion Waiters poured in 16 points coming off the bench, and Scoop Jardine added 12 along with ten assists. Syracuse moved to 7-and-0 in the Big East. Next up, a Saturday night showdown against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Man Injured In Snowmobile Crash

2012-01-16T10:06:00.000-05:00

The first big snowfall of the season meant the snowmobilers were out this weekend. And with them the increased possibility of accidents. That was the case Saturday when one person was sent to the hospital after striking a tree in Lewis County. Sheriff's deputies say 21 year old Gage Dirisio of Jordan, NY was operating his snowmobile on the Olin Rd. in the Town of Montague Saturday night when he went into a ditch and was ejected. Dirisio then struck a tree. He was taken to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse where he was last listed in fair condition.

Four Injured In Rt. 342 Crash

2012-01-16T10:05:00.000-05:00

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department investigated a two vehicle accident over the weekend in the Town of LeRay. It happened on Route 342 at around 11 am Saturday morning. A total of four people were taken to the hospital. No serious injuries were reported. The crash shut down a section of Route 342 for about an hour Saturday.

Winter Returns....For A Little Bit

2012-01-16T10:04:00.002-05:00

This is a traditional January in the North County. The mild winter we had quickly came to an end late last week with ice on Thursday and then heavy snow Friday. In a 24 hour period, Watertown received over a foot of snow. Those cleaning up Saturday morning were met with cold temperatures, with highs only reaching the teens over the weekend and lows going well below zero. The good news is a thaw is on the way. Rain is in the forecast Tuesday with highs near 40. That's before snow and cold returns later in the week.

Accuser Says He Made Up Claims Against Fine

2012-01-16T10:04:00.001-05:00

One of those to accuse former Syracuse University coach Bernie Fine of molestation, is now saying he made it up. Floyd VanHooser lived with Fine when he was a kid and is now serving a life sentence in jail. VanHooser sent a letter to the Syracuse Post Standard saying he made up the accusations to get back at Fine for not helping him hire a lawyer to fight his legal issues. Fine hasn't been charged in connection with any of the allegations he is facing.

Syracuse Preparing For Pittsburgh

2012-01-16T10:03:00.000-05:00

The number-one ranked Syracuse Men's basketball team is at home tonight, scheduled to take on Pittsburgh. The Orange are coming off a weekend win against the Providence Friars 78 to 55. Syracuse is undefeated this season, with 19 wins and no losses, including six wins in the Big East. Tonight's game is set for 7:30 p.m.

Winter strikes with a vengance

2012-01-14T08:36:00.001-05:00

The much awaited return of winter roared into the North Country yesterday morning. A snow storm closed schools and wreacked havoc on roadways throughout the Tri-county region causing numerous accidents. The wintry weather also knocked out power to nearly 14,000 people in the area. As of 8 a.m., the number is down to around 1,000 people mostly in St. Lawrence county. One of the more serious accidents occurred when a Town of Watertown snowplow overturned while clearing a road. The accident happened on East Gotham Street on Friday afternon. The plow went into a ditch and turned over. No injuries were reported in the accident.

Watertown man sentenced to 11 years for drug possession

2012-01-14T08:34:00.000-05:00

A Watertown man was sentenced to 11 years in prison after possessing $30,000 worth of cocaine. Henry Jimenez, 26, was sentenced in Jefferson County Court Jimenez was arrested after a traffic stop in February 2010 when police found ten ounces of powder cocaine in his Mercedes. Jimenez was convicted in November for three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Castorland man charged with rape

2012-01-14T08:32:00.001-05:00

Lewis County Sheriff's Deputies arrested an eighteen year old Castorland man Thursday for rape in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child. Derek Melnitz was charged after an investigation into alleged sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 15 on New Year's Day. Mellnitz was arraigned in the Village of Lowville Court pending grand jury action.

Crow hazing in Watertown resumes Monday

2012-01-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

The City of Watertown is going to continue its crow hazing program next week. The hazing is slated to start up from January 16-18. The program is aimed at dispersing and relocating the 30,000 crows that roost in the city. The control methods will last from dusk until dawn on those three days. Persons can report crow activities via phone at (800)243-1462 or online at www.airportwildlife.com/crow.php

Canton woman accused of embezzling $50K

2012-01-14T08:16:00.002-05:00

A thirty-five year old canton woman is facing multiple charges after allegedly embezzling nearly $50,000 from her employer. St. Lawrence County Sheriff's arrested Angela McCormick after an investigation of more than a year. McCormick is charged with grand larceny and falsifying business records. The crime allegedly took place between January 2008 and September 2009. The incident was reported by the manager of Premier Paging and Wireless of Morley. McCormick allegedly used a Paypal account and double paid herself and wrote company checks to herself while changing the company books. She was released to the supervision of probation.

DEC asking for public's health in monitoring deer illness

2012-01-14T08:16:00.001-05:00

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking the public's assistance in reporting any instances of deer acting sick or abnormally. The DEC is investigating cases of deer that have died from unknown causes. Anyone who sees a white-tailed deer that is acting abnormally or died without being hit by a vehicle is asked to report the animal to the nearest regional office or forest ranger. Recently, DEC officials identified a deer in Warren County died from an uncommon bacterial disease.

State Tax Collections Trail Projections Through First Three Quarters

2012-01-14T08:14:00.001-05:00

New York State tax collections trailed projections through the first three quarters of the 2011-2012 fiscal year. That's according to a cash report out by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli who says tax collections were more than 230-million-dollars below the most recent estimates. DiNapoli says while tax collections grew nearly nine-percent in 2011 from 2010, the growth was achieved largely from April and has slowed since. DiNapoli says the report shows the state must continue to monitor spending and revenue closely for the remainder of the fiscal year. He also believes the tax code actions recently taken to address the state deficit will help both this year and next.

State Senators Blocking Bids To Raise County Sales Taxes

2012-01-14T08:13:00.001-05:00

State senators in Albany are shutting down proposals by officials from different counties around the state regarding potential sales tax increases. Lawmakers in at least four counties tell the "Times Union" they've approached Republican senators about increasing county sales taxes but have been rebuffed. County leaders say they are told senators on both sides of the aisle are trying to stand by the pledge of "no new taxes" and have told them an increase would not make it through Senate chambers. State law, however, says the Legislature has to give counties permission to raise sales taxes above three percent.

Winter Returns.....With a Vengance

2012-01-13T09:54:00.003-05:00

Expect another round of winter weather this Friday. A day after parts of the North Country dealt with freezing rain and ice, another weather system is making it's way through the area today. Here in Jefferson County and the Watertown area, it started out as rain early this morning before turning into all snow. That snow will continue through tomorrow morning. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Jefferson and Oswego Counties through 4 am Saturday. Several schools are dismissing early and numerous accidents have been reported on local roads. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department has issued a "travel advisory" until further notice. The Lewis County Sheriff's Department has issued a "No Unnecessary Travel" order.

Serious Accident On St. Rt. 126

2012-01-13T09:53:00.003-05:00

Several people reportedly injured following a multi-vehicle accident that took place on State Rt. 126, also known at State St. Hill in the Town of Watertown this morning. The accident was reported at around 7:50 am. Emergency Dispatch reports stated that several vehicles were involved and the initial scene included entrapment. That section of the road was closed for about an hour this morning.

Dexter Man Killed In Car/Pedestrian Accident

2012-01-13T09:53:00.001-05:00

A Dexter man is dead following a car-pedestrian accident that occurred Thursday evening in the Town of Hounsfield. Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies say 68 year old Daniel Spencer was standing in the driving lane of State Route 180 at around 6:15 pm Thursday when he was struck by a vehicle operated by 42 year old Ann Goutremout of Cicero. The investigation into the accident is continuing.

Police Officer Punched By Suspect

2012-01-13T09:52:00.001-05:00

A Watertown police officer was allegedly assaulted while trying to make an arrest Thursday afternoon. Police say Officer William Rafferty was responding to a complaint of shoplifting at the Family Dollar on Arsenal St. at around 1 pm. The suspect is alleged to have punched Rafferty and then fleeing. He was later apprehended in the J.B. Wise Parking lot. Charged with second degree arrest, petit larceny, and resisting arrest is 22 year old Dominique Coleman of Watertown. Rafferty was not seriously hurt in the scuffle.

Car Slams Into House Following Crash

2012-01-13T09:51:00.000-05:00

No serious injuries were reported following a two vehicle accident that saw one of the vehicle hit a home on Mill St. Thursday afternoon. Police say 64 year old Linda Rogers was trying to avoid an car coming of Highland Ave and was sideswiped by the vehicle driven by Suzanne Gillette. Rogers then lost control and hit the home at 843 Mill Street. The accident shut down Mill St. for about a half hour.

SPCA Names New Director

2012-01-13T09:50:00.000-05:00

There is a new Executive Director of the Jefferson County SPCA. Doug Marlow was named to the post Thursday and will begin his new job January 23. He is the organization's fourth Executive Director in two years. Marlow is the currently works as an official with the Community Health Center of the North Country. He will replace Peggy Hinz who was fired in October. Hinz has since filed suit against the SPCA.

State Gets 20K Comments On Hydrofracking Issue

2012-01-13T09:49:00.000-05:00

State officials now have some serious reading to do to get the public's input on the controversial issue of hydrofracking. State environmental officials took in over 20,000 public comments on the topic by the Wednesday deadline. Officials are pondering a draft of the state's environmental impact statement and proposed regulations that would govern the hydrofracking of natural gas should it be approved. Environmental groups have asked the state to do another round of public review and take a closer look at the procedure.

Messy Winter Weather With Ice North Of Watertown

2012-01-12T10:59:00.000-05:00

A messy bag of winter weather expected in the area during the next 48 hours. That according to the National Weather Service which has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the area from now through 7 pm Friday. Snow, sleet, freezing rain expected in parts of the area during that time, including the northern half of Jefferson County and far northern Lewis County. That's where we are seeing many school closings and delays this morning. Here in the city, rain is just expected in Watertown through the day with highs in the upper 30's. Both counties have a travel advisory in place until further notice.

State AG Wants Legislation In Fight Against Prescription Drug Abuse

2012-01-12T10:58:00.000-05:00

New York's attorney general continues to try and attack what he calls the prescription drug abuse "crisis" in the Empire State. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is calling for legislation that would require doctors and pharmacists to check a statewide online database reviewing patients' prescription history before writing and filling new prescriptions. Schneiderman says prescription drug abuse is reaching "epidemic proportions" across the country, and more needs to be done to help increase detection of prescription fraud.

IDA Backs Off On PILOT Idea

2012-01-12T10:57:00.000-05:00

The Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency is backing away from the idea of forcing local taxing jurisdictions to accept pilot tax breaks given to developers. After the proposal was first floated by the organization, a push back by some local government leaders led the JCIDA to reconsider. State law allows local development agencies to force taxing jurisdictions to accept the tax deals, although it is a provision that is rarely used.

Seven Jurors Seated In Oxley Trial

2012-01-12T10:56:00.002-05:00

Seven jurors have been seated in the upcoming Wayne Oxley murder trial in St. Lawrence County. Jury selection is scheduled to continue today in Canton. Oxley is alleged to have murdered Bernard Tricky Jr. with a baseball bat in a 2005 incident in Ogdensburg. Oxley is facing trial for the third time. A previous murder conviction was thrown out, with a retrial ordered by an appellate court. That second trial ended with a hung jury. Prospective jurors have been told that the trial could last up to two months.

Another Arrest in Lowville Vehicle Larceny Case

2012-01-12T10:55:00.001-05:00

Another arrest has been made in connection with a series of car break ins that occurred in the Village of Lowville during the holidays. The village police department has charged 19 year old Bradley Cook, an inmate of the Lewis County Jail, with three counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, five counts of petit larceny, three counts of sixth degree conspiracy, two counts of fifth degree criminal possession of stolen property, and one count of third degree burglary. Cook was being held on $25000 bail on two previous charges and returned to the jail with an additional $7500 bail to await grand jury action. Three others have also been arrested in connection with the string of vehicle larcenies. Cash and other items were taken according to police.

NYSUT Blames Race To The Top Issues On State Education Department

2012-01-12T10:54:00.000-05:00

The New York State United Teachers are pointing fingers at state education leaders when it comes to issues with Race to the Top funds. NYSUT officials say they disagree with Governor Andrew Cuomo's suggestion that 2010 Race to the Top legislation did nothing more than shield poor teachers from being tossed out while abandoning children. Officials say the shortcomings with the program lie with the State Education Department, who they say have not made any moves to realistically come up with teacher evaluation plans that would allow Race to the Top funds to be implemented in districts around the state.

Cuomo Wants Misdemeanor Offenders To Add DNA To Database

2012-01-11T10:12:00.001-05:00

A new initiative from Governor Andrew Cuomo would bring a large addition to the state's DNA database. As part of his State-of-the-State address, Cuomo wants everyone who is convicted of a crime in the Empire State, even fare beaters, to be forced to give a DNA sample to police to be added to the database. Currently, only those convicted of felonies and some misdemeanors are required to give samples of their DNA to authorities. The governor says such an expansion would help lead to less suffering by crime victims while also helping exonerate those falsely charged.

Jury Selection Underway In Oxley Trial

2012-01-11T10:10:00.000-05:00

Potential jurors in the Wayne Oxley murder trial are being told that it could last up to two months. About 150 potential jurors were called to St. Lawrence County court Tuesday, with about half dismissed. Jury selection will continue today. Oxley is alleged to have murdered Bernard Tricky Jr. with a baseball bat in a 2005 incident in Ogdensburg. Oxley is facing trial for the third time. A previous murder conviction was thrown out, with a retrial ordered by an appellate court. That second trial ended with a hung jury. Oxley has maintained his innocence, and reportedly will take the stand in his own defense.

Hydrofracking Groups Make Their Pitch In Albany

2012-01-11T10:09:00.003-05:00

Supporters and opponents of hydrofracking have gathered in Albany to make their voices heard about the controversial procedure. Today is the deadline to offer comments to the Department of Environmental Conservation on proposals to conduct hydraulic fracturing in the Empire State. Environmental leaders and more than a few politicians are asking Governor Andrew Cuomo to stop any possibility of hydrofracking in the state, saying the need to drill for natural gas will come at too heavy a price for the environment and state waterways.

New York State Given Warning On Federal Funding For Schools

2012-01-11T10:09:00.002-05:00

New York State has been warned: overhaul teacher evaluations and develop a student data-tracking system or risk losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has warned state officials he will pull the funding unless New York meets the goals it set to accomplish when it applied for the money through the Race to the Top program. Duncan says New York has made significant progress, but has yet to adopt a system to evaluate teachers and principals or put in place a database to track student records across school districts.

Ritchie to Governor: More School Funding for NNY

2012-01-11T10:07:00.003-05:00

As the state anxiously awaits the proposed budget put together by Governor Cuomo, there is a push to make sure that the North Country gets it's fair share of school aid this year. That has been the complaint of many districts, who say the formula used by New York is flawed, leaving many of the more rural, less well off districts out in the cold. That is a concern shared by North Country State Senator Patty Ritchie. She recently joined with 14 other Republican State Senators in sending a letter to Governor Cuomo urging him to change the way the state doles out the school cash this year. The state of New York's public school system was the subject of criticism by the governor during his state of the state address last week.

Phone Service Restored In Parts of Jefferson County

2012-01-11T10:07:00.001-05:00

Phone service for some residents in Jefferson County was interrupted for a period of time Tuesday afternoon. TDS phone lines went down, leaving residents in Cape Vincent, Chaumont, and Dexter without service beginning late in the morning. Service was fully restored later in the afternoon. Local fire departments were manned in case of emergency.

Herrings Man Charged With Animal Cruelty

2012-01-10T10:49:00.000-05:00

A Jefferson County man is facing animal cruelty charges following a domestic incident with his wife. Forty six year old William Baker of Herrings is alleged to have been involved in a fight with his spouse at a home on State Rt. 3 at around 7:30 pm Monday when he allegedly struck a family dog with his fist, threw a glass bottle at the animal, and smashed a wine glass over the pet. He is charged with torturing or injuring an animal. Baker was also subsequently charged with second degree criminal contempt for violating a court order of protection issued to the wife.

Oxley Trial Pt III Begins Today

2012-01-10T10:45:00.001-05:00

It's deja vu all over again in St. Lawrence County Court. For the third time, Wayne Oxley will be put on trial in connection with the death of an Ogdensburg man nearly seven years ago. Oxley is accused of beating Bernard Trickey Junior to death with a baseball bat in a 2005 incident. Oxley's first trial resulted in a conviction, but that was later overturned on appeal. A second trial occurred, but ended with a hung jury. Oxley has maintained his innocence. Already the costliest case in the county's history, jury selection is scheduled to get underway today.

Several Local Governments Go Over Tax Cap

2012-01-10T10:44:00.000-05:00

A recent audit by New York State Comptroller shows that 43 municipalities in the state exceeded the recently enacted 2% property cap inappropriately. In most cases though, it seemed to be an honest mistake on the part of those local governments who say they are dealing with a complicated tax formula. There were several local governments included in those 43 municipalities, including Alexandria, Pamelia, Theresa, and Croghan. Tom DiNapoli says his office is working with those municipalities to take corrective action.

Mayor Comments on Crow Problem

2012-01-10T10:40:00.000-05:00

As crow hazing operations begin once again here in the City of Watertown, residents are growing increasingly frustrated with the nuisance birds, who have been using parts of town of roost during the winter months for the past several years. Watertown Mayor Jeff Graham says he has heard his fair share of complaints regarding the birds. He says that while the city is taking a lead role to try to drive them out of town, there is also action residents can take as well, using air horns to try to drive the birds away from your property. The mayor doesn't foresee the city using firearms to get rid the birds anytime soon. Representatives from Loomacres Wildlife Management will conduct the latest round of hazing tonight and Wednesday night.