This will look like old news to you, but to me, it’s a case of “making amends”.  This photo, and a few more inside with the story, came from a recent dedication in Palermo of a bench and play equipment in honor of Erin Maxwell.  I was out of town that day and could not cover the event, so the organizer asked Susan Lanty, who had taken some pictures there, to share some with us.  She did, but I never saw them, until Wednesday night.

The monorail and bench you see in the photo above will be dedicated Saturday at noon in honor of Erin Maxwell, the Palermo girl who died a little more than a year ago.  Her stepbrother is headed for state prison for 25 years (pending appeal) for her murder and Erin’s father and stepmother are serving jail terms for endangering her welfare.  But a group of people determined not to let Erin be forgotten worked with a local Eagle Scout candidate to put this project together.

Judges denies defense lawyer’s motion to set aside the jury’s verdict. He sentenced Alan Jones to the maximum for causing the death of Erin Maxwell last summer. The defense vows to file an appeal with a higher court.

BREAKING NEWS: Alan Jones will hear his fate another day. Judge Walter Hafner this morning agreed to adjourn Jones’ sentencing until later this month.

The trial that unfortunately put Palermo in the public eye for two weeks also cost the town and its taxpayers nearly $3,000.

Put another way, the trial cost each of Palermo’s 3,600 residents about 80 cents.

The legislation, to be introduced in the US Senate, is aimed at creating a federal program to assist areas such as Oswego County in hiring additional social service workers for child protection. The legislation is inspired by Erin Maxwell.

Schumer’s plan would provide federal grants to social services agencies so they can hire enough caseworkers to handle suspected cases of abuse or neglect. Schumer’s press release notes, “Despite three reports of abuse referred to the Oswego Country Department of Social Services and their knowledge of the deplorable living conditions, no effort was made to remove Erin from her home or adequately monitor her situation.”

Lynn and Lindsey Maxwell will fight the appeal of their convictions from their jail cells.

Oswego County Court Judge Walter Hafner Wednesday said no to a request from their lawyer, Sal Lanza, to allow the Maxwells to remain free on bail during their appeal.

Monica Hart worked with Lynn Maxwell at Seneca Hill Manor nursing home near Minetto. They were friendly. They used to talk on breaks to smoke a cigarette.

“She used to say she hated Erin,” Hart said of her talks with Lynn Maxwell about life at home.

“Hope you’re happy,” one shouted at Lindsey Maxwell. “You’re alive, she’s dead,” shouted another at Lynn Maxwell.

Lanza then began yelling above the noise of the crowd. “Go home to your trailers,” he taunted. “Go home and collect your welfare checks.”

“The Learners,” Chip Kidd’s mix of office comedy and self-discovery novel, will be the Oswego Reading Initiative selection for summer 2010 reading by the SUNY Oswego campus community.

When news of the devastating earthquake in Haiti reached Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Middle School, staff members at the school knew they wanted to do something to help the victims of the natural disaster. Ryan Cobb, Dean of Students at the Middle School asked staff for their input and together they came up with an idea for a [...]

Happy New Year to all of our readers in the tri-county region!
While our Richland facility is closed until April, the society is still active with Friday afternoon hours at the Barclay Court House in Pulaski (2nd floor over DMV, 2pm until 5) or by appointment. We got off to a rocky start following our [...]