On April 23, 2015, former SUNY Oswego professor Dr. Warren Weinstein was killed in an United States counterterrorism operation, the White House announced Wednesday.

According to an email sent out to students and staff of the university, Dr. Weinstein left Oswego in 1979 to work with U.S. aid for people in developing countries.  He was abducted more than three and a half years ago in Pakistan, and it is reported that he was inadvertently killed during a U.S. operation in the area.

In a statement made by SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley, she expressed Weinstein’s devotion and character, saying, “Dr. Weinstein devoted his life to making the world a better place. He left us to serve others in some of the world’s most impoverished and troubled regions. His life was an inspiration that will not die. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and colleagues.”

Dr. Weinstein’s wife also made a statement in which she stated that the ultimate blame belongs to those that abducted him, saying, “the cowardly actions of those who took Warren captive and ultimately to the place and time of his death are not in keeping with Islam and they will have to face their God to answer for their actions.”

The White House and President Obama have since issued statements regarding their sorrows towards the situation and Dr. Weinstein’s family.

Oswego Fire Department responded after a house on 110 W. Bridge Street went up in flames.

Authorities say the fire had many layers, and because it was such a big home with several rooms, it was initially difficult for the firefighters.  Despite this however, they were still able to prevent neighboring houses too much damage while ensuring the overall structure of the home stayed in tact.

Assistant Fire Chief Jon Chawgo applauded the efforts of the crew, saying “Our personnel did an excellent job knocking down the fire and protecting the neighboring structures. The house did sustain moderate damage, but is not considered a total loss and should be able to be repaired.”

The house is assumed to belong to college students, but nobody was home at the time of the incident.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Five SUNY Oswego students will receive the 2015 SUNY Chancellor Award for Student Excellence, which is the highest student recognition through the statewide university system.

These students are said to be active in academics, leadership, community service, campus involvement, arts and career-long achievement.

The five students from Oswego who won the award are Dianora DeMarco, Joshua Drake, David Owens, Eyub Yegen, and WTOP-10’s very own Chief Meterologist Molly Matott.

Each student represents Oswego campus through their many forms of involvement and dedication to growing internally and helping the school flourish as a whole.

For more information on each winner, as well as comments from each person, follow the link: http://www.oswego.edu/news/index.php/site/news_story/student_chancellors_awards_2015

As Bridge Street Run 2015 comes into the horizon, Oswego County dealt with a heroin arrest on Thursday, February 26.

Investigators with the Oswego County Drug Task Force stopped 23-year-old Eugene J. Gibbs on St. Rt. 481 north of County Route 57 in the City of Oswego.  The investigation resulted in a warrant being issued, and authorities recovered 8.2 grams of heroin.

Gibbs was arrested and charged with 3rd Degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with the intent to sell, and 4th Degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Gibbs is a resident of Utica, New York, but authorities believe he was attempting to sell the drugs in Oswego.  The heroin had a street value of $5,500.

He is scheduled to to return to Oswego to Court on March 3, 2015.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact investigators at 315-349-8222 or email drugtipline@oswegocounty.com.

OSWEGO – Two Oswego women have been charged with multiple felonies Tuesday after a police investigation uncovered them selling drugs illegally.

The first woman, Robin L. Holcomb, 26, of 36 Dublin Street, was caught selling oxycodone and alprazolam pills to an undercover officer, with some of the drugs being sold withing 1,000 feet of school grounds.

Holcomb faces charges on two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance on school grounds, fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, and fifth-degree criminal possession with intent to sell.

Oswego police also arrested Amy E. Davis, 33, of Byer Road. Davis is charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

OSWEGO – A student at SUNY Oswego is suing the state over injuries from a hazing incident at a fraternity house last year.

Liam McDonald was pledging on Oct. 8 in the Sigma Gamma fraternity when he was hazed, resulting in a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding from injuries to his chest and abdomen. There is no information as to what activity McDonald was doing to cause the injury.

The lawsuit accuses the state of negligence, since SUNY Oswego had approved Sigma Gamma, located at 110 W. Bridge St., as a registered fraternity. The lawsuit states that the college “assisted Sigma Gamma with issues related to recruitment activities, new member activites, risk management, and conduct.”

Both McDonald and his lawyer, William Ryan of Albany, gave no public comment, and McDonald’s mother, Judith McDonald, said her son’s lawyer told her to not publically discuss the case. On the other side, spokeswoman Julie Blissert said that SUNY Oswego officials don’t make comments on matters of lawsuits.

SUNY Oswego holds training sessions with the sole purpose to help recognize hazing, how to respond as a bystander or a victim, and how to create bonding activities that wouldn’t be considered hazing. Any hazing allegations that are reported to the college are investigated by SUNY Oswego’s police and through the disciplinary system.

As the saying goes, better late than never.

On Thursday, United States Senator for New York Charles Schumer said the Army Corps of Engineers approved the dredging of sediment in the Oswego Harbor. The project, scheduled to start on June 1st, has been long overdue as the last dredging took place in 2008.According to Army Corps Officials, the harbor is supposed to be dredged every 3-4 years.

Approximately 72,000 cubic yards of sediment will need to be dredged.  This process is used to counter the affects of sedimentation in channels of water, which in time can fill and render important waterways useless.  The harbor will be returned to an optimal depth after the removal of the deposited sediments, for shipping and leisure purposes.

Senator Schumer, says the dredging will give a boost to the local economy, commercial barges, family boaters and fishing charters in the harbor.  The Port of Oswego says it puts more than $1 billion into the local economy each year.  Other improvements that have already been made to improve rail access to the port are expected to increase capacity by 50 percent.

The Port of Oswego is the only deep water port on the U.S. shores of Lake Ontario, receiving large shipments of soy, corn, wheat and aluminum.

For the 4th consecutive year, students at SUNY Oswego will get the chance to test their knowledge about one of the country’s most significant events of the 19th Century.

The 4th annual Oswego War of 1812 Symposium will be held from Friday, April 4th to Sunday, April 6th.  The symposium will be held at the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center, located at 26 East First Street, in Oswego.

All SUNY Oswego students are encouraged to participate in the War of 1812 research paper competition.  Paper topics may pertain to any part of the War of 1812.  No specific length is required, although they must be able to be presented on for at least 10 minutes.

The Symposium won’t just be limited to research paper presentations, however.  A total of twelve historian speakers will give their insight on the War of 1812. Some include historian and author, Dianne Graves, archaeologist and professor, Timothy Abel, as well as the Superintendent of Fort Ontario State Historic Site, Paul Lear.

Those who wish to present their submitted research papers can do so on Friday, April 4th.  Students presenting at the symposium will also have a chance to win $150.  Papers must be submitted by March 24.

Anyone with questions regarding the research papers may contact Dr. Weyhing at richard.weyhing@oswego.edu.

For more information on the symposium and how to register, go to http://visitoswegocounty.com/historical-info/war-of-1812/war-of-1812-symposium/

FULTON – The CNY Arts Center will host a drumming workshop in collaboration with the Society for New Music on March 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. The workshop is open to everyone, and the center recommends people to bring any hand percussion instruments that they own.

Diane Jones, the main presenter of the event, is a composer, as well as a percussionist for the SU Brazilian Ensemble Samba Laranja. She also hosted a show on WCNY-FM, Central New York’s Classic Radio Station, and has performed with Mélomanie, The Relâche Ensemble, The Da Capo Chamber Players and Flautet.

“We are honored to host Diane Jones and to have had Cheryl Wilkins-Mitchell share this wonderful opportunity with us,” said executive director Nancy Fox. “We hope everyone will seize the chance for an afternoon of drumming fun!”

The event is being held in the CNY Arts Center, located on 357 State Street. The workshop will cost a modest fee, and pre-registration is encouraged.

For additional information, please visit www.CNYArtsCenter.com or call 315-592-3373.

A Baldwinsville teenager charged with second-degree murder claims the victim ran into a kitchen knife he was holding in his hand.

Anthony J. Miller, a 46-year-old Granby man, was killed on Super Bowl Sunday when four teenagers attempted to rob his mobile home.

Michael Celi, 17, of 9 McHarrie St, along with Glenwood E. Carr, 16, of 610 Lamson Road; and Zachary M. Scott, 19, of 7645 Van Buren Road are charged with burglary and murder.

According to court documents, Celi told state police in an interview Sunday that, “After the Super Bowl on Feb. 2, using their mother’s white car, Celi’s brother took him, Zach Scott and Carr to Miller’s house. When Celi and Carr entered the home, Miller attacked Carr, punching and hitting him. Celi was armed with a kitchen knife he had brought from home.

State troopers say, “Mr. Celi stated Miller ran into the knife while he had it in his hand,”

The knife penetrated Miller’s chest or stomach causing him to fall on his back. Celi told troopers that Miller pulled the knife out of him and Celi punched Miller in the face.

Carr took a glass bong from Miller’s house, Celi told troopers.

Miller was killed. He was found Feb. 3 in his mobile home by friends.

As of 9:30 this morning SUNY Oswego has cancelled all afternoon classes due to inclement weather.  This entails all classes that begin at or after noon anywhere on the SUNY Oswego campus.

Heavy snowfall and blowing snow combined with frigid temperatures have prompted the school to take this action. Safety is the main concern for students and faculty as they head from building to building for class, as well as for those faculty and students who commute to the campus.

Visibility is limited and walkways are barely identifiable all across campus and Oswego as a whole.  Campus officials are making efforts to clear the snow as quickly as possible, but with some reservation, as to protect themselves and students in the low visibility conditions.

The National Weather Service is calling for a 100% chance for Lake Effect Snow all across Oswego and has issued warnings out all across Central New York.  The snow is expected to continue into tonight with a slight tapering off in the later evening.  Accumulation is expected to reach 3-5 inches, and temperatures are ranging from, 5-10 degrees.  With winds out of the Southwest at 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 30 mph the temperature feels more like a frigid -3 degrees.

Take a look at what walking around campus is really like with this short clip.

Walk Around SUNY Oswego

Congressman Richard Hanna has received unanimous support from the Oswego County Republican Committee from Congressional District NY-22 on Thursday night.  Hanna has served as a member of Congress since 2011, and represents the eastern half of Oswego County.

Oswego County Republican Chairman Michael C. Backus expressed his support for the Congressman.   “Congressman Hanna has been an independent voice for Oswego County since he was redistricted into our area, and I am thankful that he is carrying on the legacy of John McHugh and many others who went to Washington to solve problems and fight for Oswego County,” he said.

But the spotlight wasn’t just on the Congressman.  At the meeting, Oswego County Sheriff Reuel Todd announced he would be seeking re-election this November.

“There are few individuals in elected office the quality of Sheriff Todd. He is a fighter for Oswego County and the beliefs we hold dear,” said Backus.

Sheriff Todd has served as Oswego County sheriff since 1999.

A man who forcibly raped a woman in the Village of Phoenix in July of 2005 has been convicted.  Joseph A. Stefanovich was sentenced to 20 years in state  prison by Oswego County Court Judge James Metcalf, for Rape in the First Degree.  Stefanovich will also receive five years’ post-release supervision.  The conviction pertains to an allegation that Stefanovich grabbed the victim from behind, put her in a chokehold, and dragged her into a wooded area where the offense was committed.

Stefanovich was linked to the case due to a DNA sample from a 2006 case.  The DNA was on profile due to a prior sexual offense conviction.

At trial, Stefanovich claimed that his DNA appeared in the rape kit because he had a consensual encounter with the victim on the day of the offense.  He told the jury that another person must have raped her later that same day.

The victim testified that she did not know Stefanovich and had never engaged in consensual intercourse with him.

District Attorney Gregory Oakes, the prosecutor of the case, stated that he wanted to commend the victim for having the “strength to come forward and the courage to testify at trial. Our community is now safe from this predator because of her bravery and fortitude. It was an honor to stand up and fight for her in court.”

Snow on snow on snow; Oswego County residents sure have seen and felt their fair share of it this year.  It delays plans, freezes bones, and even tells a story.

A Byrne Dairy in the town of Hastings was robbed by two 17 year olds, forceful enough to steal what they wanted, but not smart enough to cover their tracks. Literally.

Oswego County sheriff’s deputies tracked the culprits’ footprints through the snow back to 116 Roxbury Estates, a trailer park not too far from the held up Byrne Dairy.

Frank J. Burt and Jeremy L. Champney, both 17, have been charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery and fourth-degree conspiracy.

Robbery in the first degree is the taking of anything of value by the use of force or intimidation. Second-degree robbery is the taking of anything of value and the offender intentionally inflicts serious bodily injury. Champney was also charged with resisting arrest.

No reports on what exactly was stolen have been released, but deputies have returned the stolen property from the Byrne Dairy.

The Hansel and Gretel duo will be arraigned in town court within the coming weeks.