Oswego Daily News

Rep. Dan Maffei announced today (April 10) that the Palermo Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $90,801 grant in Round 21 of the FY2012 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program which is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency.

At Tuesday night’s school board meeting, Superintendent Bill Crist presented a “smoother” version of his 2013-14 spending plan. Under the state’s “smoothing” plan, the district can defer for the 2013-14 school year Employee Retirement System contributions of $738,000. That allows the district to reduce the tax rate and not have to consider as many staff reductions. The board will vote on the tentative budget on April 24.

Residents of the villages of Sandy Creek and Lacona are being advised by the Oswego County Health Department to boil all water used for drinking and cooking due to a water main break in the municipal water system. Officials said the water system lost pressure this morning, April 9, increasing the chances that untreated water and harmful microbes could enter the system.

Harborfest brings back the traditional cash 50/50 raffle in 2013 after a one year absence, but with a new twist. In 2013, there will be three winners of three separate drawings. For 2013, people will spend just $3 but get three tickets with chances to win in each of three different drawings.

At its meeting Monday night, the Common Council approved a new labor agreement with the Service Employees International Union, Local 200-United. The old pact expired on Dec. 31, 2010. The council authorized Mayor Tom Gillen to enter into a six-year extension agreement, effective Jan. 1, 2011, and expiring on Dec. 31, 2016.

Today (April 8), as her family and friends looked on, the Badge of Honor Association and the New York State Police dedicated a sign in Oswego County in honor of fallen trooper Amanda Anna. Her sign has been placed at the site where she crashed on County Route 37, approximately one mile west of State Route 11 in the town of Hastings.

She started out with the county in 1972, 41 years ago. But she is best known in her role as executive director of the Youth Bureau for the past 25 years. “I can’t imagine not coming to work. I absolutely love what I do,” she said recently.

Assemblyman Will Barclay tonight (April 5) argued against the New York SAFE Act at Syracuse University. He and John Lott, a political commentator and author of “More Guns, Less Crime,” questioned the law’s effectiveness at increasing public safety.

Two search warrants that were carried out in the city of Oswego led to the recovery of crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and U.S. currency. A third search warrant was performed at a residence in the city of Fulton and resulted in the recovery of approximately 10 grams of both powder and crack cocaine.