(Syracuse, NY – Sept. 26, 2011) On Sept. 25 Candace R. Curby, 29, of 526 Bryant Ave., Syracuse was arrested by the New York State Police – Syracuse for Driving While Intoxicated after she was stopped for a seat belt violation on the Thruway.

Curby was found to have a BAC of .11 percent.

She was released to appear in the Town of Salina court Oct. 13 at 5 p.m.

(Town of Salina, NY – Sept. 23, 2011) Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh reports that detectives are investigating the assault of a Salina juvenile.

Sheriff’s Detectives are investigating the assault of a Salina juvenile who reported that he was assaulted during the early morning hours of Sept. 22. The victim told detectives he was alone at his home, located on Endres Drive off of Brewerton Road, when he was assaulted.

The victim stated that he was sleeping when the suspect, described to be an adult white or Hispanic male, began assaulting him. After the suspect left the victim’s residence, the victim responded to a relative’s residence. The victim suffered serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital where he is currently being treated.

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives by calling the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division at 435-3081.

(North Syracuse, NY – Sept. 15, 2011) State Police in North Syracuse conducted an Underage ID enforcement detail in the Towns of Salina, Cicero, and Clay including the Village of North Syracuse – Onondaga County.

As part of the initiative 19 Restaurant Tavern/Bars and 10 retail establishments serving or selling alcohol within this area were checked for their compliance with the laws of the State of New York relative to prohibiting sales of alcohol to persons under the age of twenty-one.

The following premises were checked:

Pilot Truck Stop                          Tully’s Restaurant

107 Seventh North St               311 Seventh North St

Liverpool, NY 13088                   Liverpool, NY 13088

Carnegie Cafe                           Sunshine Sunoco

400 Seventh North St               507 Seventh North St

Liverpool, NY 13088                  Liverpool, NY 13088

Hess Inc                                    Kinney’s Drug Store

1079 Seventh North St             437 Electronics Pkwy

Liverpool, NY 13088                  Liverpool, NY 13088

Apple Spirits                              Comfort Inn Bar

1021 Beverly St                         6701 Buckley Rd

Liverpool, NY 13088                   Liverpool, NY 13088

Jim’s Fish Fry                              Strike’n Spare

1248 Wolf St                              1777 Brewerton Rd

Syracuse, NY 13208                   Mattydale, NY 13211

Mac’s                                          Pacific Asian Restaurant

1799 Brewerton Rd                    Lemoyne Ave

Mattydale, NY 13211                  Mattydale, NY 13211

Town Tavern                               Cam-Nel Pub

2119 Brewerton Rd                    2227 Brewerton Rd

MattyDale, NY 13211                  Mattydale, NY 13211

Iron Horse Saloon                      Rite-Aid Drug Store

2721 Brewerton Rd                    2616 Brewerton Rd

Mattydale, NY 13211                  Mattydale, NY 13211

Home Base                                 Woody’s Jerkwater

2803 Brewerton Rd                     2803 Brewerton Rd

Mattydale, NY 13211                   Mattydale, NY 13211

Zebb’s Restaurant                      The Clam Bar

Brewerton Rd                              3914 Brewerton Rd

Mattydale, NY 13211                   North Syracuse, NY

Hess Express                              Applebee’s Restaurant

711 South Main St                      5628 South Main St

North Syracuse, NY 13212          North Syracuse, NY 13212

Liberty Gas Station                     Mug Shots

200 South Main St                      608 North Main St

North Syracuse, NY 13212          North Syracuse, NY 13212

Tully’s Restaurant                        Buffalo Wild Wings

7838 Brewerton Rd                     5671 East Circle Dr

Cicero, NY 13039                         Cicero, NY 13039

Coppertop Tavern                        Hess Gas Station

7777 Brewerton Rd                     7961 Brewerton Rd

North Syracuse, NY 13212          Cicero, NY 13039

Wegmans Grocery Store

7952 Brewerton Rd

Cicero, NY 13039

As a result of the operation, ALL of the locations were in compliance of the laws pertaining to the sale of alcohol to a person under the age of 21.  No arrests were made.

News from New York State Department of Transportation

ALBANY, NY (09/15/2011)(readMedia) New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald announced that the department is moving forward with plans to prohibit commercial vehicles from using Onondaga Lake Parkway, which is Route 370 between I-81 and the Village of Liverpool, Town of Salina. Commercial traffic will be directed instead to Old Liverpool Road, also in the Town of Salina.

“Banning all commercial vehicles from the Onondaga Lake Parkway strengthens our already aggressive efforts to prevent over-height vehicle crashes into the low-clearance CSX railroad bridge over the roadway,” Commissioner McDonald said. “This prohibition, combined with a series of other traffic safety initiatives, is aimed at making the Onondaga Lake Parkway as safe as possible.”

Tractor trailers and vehicles more than 10 feet, nine inches high already are banned from traveling the parkway. NYSDOT is extending the ban to all commercial vehicles following the completion of a traffic safety study that recommended it.

The report concluded that because the majority of vehicles more than 10 feet, nine inches in height are commercial vehicles, excluding all commercial vehicles from the Onondaga Lake Parkway will reduce the potential number of impacts to the CSX Railroad bridge by motorists who may be unaware of their vehicles’ dimensions. Under the ban, motorists driving commercial vehicles will no longer be able to legally travel Onondaga Lake Parkway and will have to use alternate routes, such as Old Liverpool Road, to reach their destinations.

NYSDOT accepted public comments on the ban proposal earlier this summer. The ban will be implemented and enforced once highway signs about it are installed later this fall.

In addition to the commercial vehicle restriction, NYSDOT has installed improved signs on I-81 and other area roads directing travelers to the bus and train station. NYSDOT also is in the process of installing an over-height vehicle detection and warning system on the parkway so that the drivers of vehicles too tall for the bridge can stop before reaching it. The installation is expected to be completed by the end of this construction season.

A double-decker coach bus crashed into the CSX railroad bridge last September, killing four people and injuring others. The driver has been charged with criminally negligent homicide.

Since last fall, the State Department of Transportation has taken a variety of steps to improve traffic safety on the Parkway and ensure that the drivers of over-height vehicles are aware of the bridge:

A 30 mile-per-hour speed limit was extended from the Village of Liverpool 900 feet to the east to slow traffic near various park entrances;

Electronic signs showing vehicular speeds have been used at different locations to discourage aggressive driving;

Local police agencies, including the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department, have stepped up traffic enforcement on the highway at NYSDOT’s request;

Centerline rumble strips, or audible roadway delineators, were installed in May between the eastbound and westbound lanes to alert drivers when they are in danger of crossing into the opposing highway travel lane;

NYSDOT crews early this spring removed brush and trees to make the bridge and the signs leading up to it more visible. There are seven signs eastbound and 13 signs westbound that warn of the low bridge and its 10-foot-nine-inch clearance, including three in each direction within three-quarters of a mile of the bridge, three of them with flashing beacons;

“Low bridge Ahead” pavement markings were installed in May in advance of the CSX bridge in both directions to augment the many highway signs; and

A closed-circuit camera was installed to feed into the regional Traffic Management Center to monitor activities near the bridge. Two additional cameras are scheduled to be installed this year.

(Aug. 19, 2011) Assemblyman Sam Roberts (D,WF-Syracuse), a key sponsor of legislation creating the Greater Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (Chapter 463 of 2011), announced its signing into law by the governor. An unpaid eleven-member regional board will oversee the new authority which includes Syracuse Hancock International Airport. Hancock Airport was previously controlled by the Syracuse Mayor and was, up until now, the only major airport in the state not operated by an authority.

“Allowing Syracuse Hancock International Airport to increase its competitive edge will not only help reduce airport operating costs, but also has the potential to boost Central New York’s economy by attracting new services and airlines in the future,” said Roberts.

Out of the eleven regional board members, seven are appointed by the Syracuse Mayor and one appointed by each the Onondaga County executive, the DeWitt Town Board and the East Syracuse-Minoa School District. The North Syracuse Central School District and the town boards of Salina, Cicero and Clay each take turns appointing the last member.

Monroe County Airport Authority, established in 1989, is an example of an airport authority benefiting a community. Since then, it has been able to deliver nationally-recognized affordability by bringing increased competition from low-cost carriers, such as AirTran Airways, to airports like the Greater Rochester International Airport (GRIA). Additionally, the average air fare at the GRIA has dropped more than $100 since 1995, as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“An adjusted focus on our air transportation facilities along with stronger local input from the new regional board will provide a great service for Central New York, yielding better decisions to benefit the entire region rather than a single municipality.” Roberts concluded.

(Town of Salina, NY – Aug. 11, 2011) Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh reports that a 15-year-old boy accused of starting the fire that destroyed a Town of Salina concession stand and pavilion has been charged with fourth-degree arson.

On Aug. 30, 2010 at approximately 2:30 a.m., the Hinsdale and Mattydale Fire Departments responded to the Town of Salina’s Burnham Park where a pavilion was engulfed in flames. The pavilion was destroyed and a nearby concession stand was heavily damaged by the fire.

Onondaga County Fire Investigators were called to investigate the fire and ultimately determined the cause to be arson. Working with fire investigators, Sheriff’s detectives launched a criminal investigation.

Detectives were able to develop information that led to the identity of a 15 year old boy who is alleged to have used a cigarette to start a fire in a garbage can that was secured to the side of the pavilion.

The cost of the damage was reported to exceed $49,000. The teen was charged on July 29, 2011, and was issued an appearance ticket to appear in Onondaga County Family Court.

(Town of Salina, NY – Aug. 11, 2011) Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh reports that deputies are investigating an early morning motorcycle crash that claimed the life of a Liverpool man.

This morning at approximately 2:12 am, Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a motorcycle crash just north of Commerce Boulevard where a 2010 Yamaha motorcycle, operated by Rafael Lopez, (38), of 4763 Norstar Boulevard, crashed into a utility pole.

Deputies investigating the crash report that Lopez was traveling west on Vine Street when he failed to negotiate a curve and lost control of his motorcycle. Lopez crossed over the eastbound lane and continued off the south end of the road where he stuck a utility pole. Lopez was ejected from his motorcycle and was thrown approximately 125 feet.

A passing motorist pulled up on the crash shortly after it occurred and immediately called 911. Rescue crews responded to the scene, where Lopez was pronounced dead.

Vine Street, between Commerce Boulevard and Henry Clay Boulevard was closed to all traffic while members of the Sheriff’s Accident Investigation Team processed the scene. No other vehicles were involved in the crash and speed is believed to have been a contributing factor.

(Syracuse, NY – July 31, 2011) On July 29 Shawn T. Graser, 23, of 10417 Route 31, Clyde, NY was arrested by the New York State Police – Syracuse for fourth-degree Criminal Possession of Marijuana after he was stopped for an equipment violation on the Thruway.

Graser was found to be in possession of over six ounces of marijuana. He was released to appear in the Town of Salina court on Aug. 10 at 5 p.m.

(Town of Salina, NY – July 3, 2011) Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh reports that a Liverpool man has been charged starting a fire in his apartment.

Joshua Smith (27), of 25 Candlelight Circle, building 25, apartment A, was charged early Saturday morning with first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree arson in connection with the fire that broke out in his apartment on Friday evening July 1.

On July 1 just before 11 p.m. a fire in Smith’s apartment, forced residents to evacuate their apartments while firefighters from the Liverpool and Moyers Corners Fire Departments responded to extinguish the blaze.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene along with fire investigators who quickly determined the fire to be arson. During an interview, Smith told deputies that he had started the fire and was taken into custody without incident.

Smith was arraigned in the Town of Salina Court where he was ordered to be held at the Onondaga County Justice Center without bail, pending a mental examination.

Smith is scheduled to return to court on July 7.

Reckless endangerment is a class D felony and arson in the 2nd degree is a class B felony.

(Syracuse, NY – June 9, 2011) Assemblyman Sam Roberts (D,WF-Syracuse), a key sponsor of legislation that would create the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (A.2166-A), is urging the governor to sign this important bill into law. The bill has already passed the Assembly and Senate.

“A more efficient, better-run airport will give us a competitive advantage in attracting business and travel to our area, paving the way for economic development and job creation for families in Central New York.”

The regional board would be comprised of eleven unpaid members. Out of the eleven members seven would be appointed by the Syracuse Mayor and one would be appointed by each the Onondaga County executive, the DeWitt Town Board and the East Syracuse-Minoa School District. The North Syracuse Central School District and the town boards of Salina, Cicero and Clay would each take turns appointing the last member.

Airports serving other Upstate New York cities currently benefit from similar models. An example would be the Monroe County Airport Authority, established in 1989. Since then, it has been able to deliver nationally-recognized affordability by bringing increased competition from low-cost carriers, such as AirTran Airways, to airports like the Greater Rochester International Airport (GRIA). Additionally, the average air fare at the GRIA has dropped more than $100 since 1995, as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“The new authority would enhance the airport’s ability to stimulate economic growth through efficiency, helping bring Central New York into the new economy,” Roberts concluded.