News

July 2014 was a cooler than average month punctuated with above average precipitation thanks to a brief but violent storm, according to Bill Gregway, local observer for the National Weather Service. The average temperature last month was 1.8 degrees below normal. Total precipitation was 2.78 inches above average, due to the July 8 wind and rain storm.

The Oswego County Solid Waste Department reminds residents that new operating hours for the solid waste transfer stations took effect July 1. The change in schedule does not affect the household hazardous waste collection facility at the Bristol Hill Landfill. The new schedule was implemented in order to save costs and was developed after an extensive review of traffic, waste and recyclables hauled to the five transfer stations.

Union employees of St. Luke Health Services in Oswego and Michaud Nursing Home in Fulton staged an informational picket in front of St. Luke this afternoon (August 1) to protest the lack of a new labor contract. 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East represents around 150 of the approximately 250 workers. 1199 represents service employees only at the healthcare facility. Contract talks began in April and the collective bargaining agreement was extended for one month in June. The contract extension expired July 31.

Oswego Fire Department units were dispatched to a structure fire at 2:46 p.m. today (Aug. 1) at 183 W. Fifth St. Initial reports were of a man trapped on a roof and black smoke coming from the house. Crews rescued the occupant off of the roof immediately and assisted him to the ground with a ladder.

The Oswego County Health Department will conduct aerial spraying of the Big Bay / Toad Harbor Swamp on the north shore of Oneida Lake and near the village of Central Square as planned today Friday, Aug. 1 between 6 and 9 p.m. The area to be sprayed includes about 10,000 acres within these boundaries: U.S. Route 11 in Central Square to the west, NYS Route 49 to the north, up to but not including the village of Constantia to the east; and the shoreline of Oneida Lake to the south.

A confession allegedly made to state police by one of the teenagers accused of robbing and killing a Granby man can be used as evidence in a jury trial. In his decision, Judge Donald Todd said, “The court finds the defendant made his statements voluntarily and they were obtained in a manner that did not violate his state or federal constitutional rights.”