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.