Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome hosted their annual September
Naturalization Ceremony.
This morning a handful of refugees from Burma and Somalia as
well as other people from Peru and Canada were sworn in as new U.S. citizens.
For one new citizen, Tha Dah Paw, a Burmese refugee,
says she had no country of her own until today.
"Living in America is full of opportunity and freedoms
and human rights. So, I am very excited and happy that I am now an American
citizen. I feel like now I am human," said Tha Dah Paw.
She says the next step for her is to go to college to get a
degree. Fort Stanwix has been hosting naturalization ceremonies since 1998.
The Broadway Theatre League of Utica says it's one of the greatest
honors to have something named for you. That's why it's naming it's
Youth Ambassador Program in honor of Bernadette Eichler, a...
The Herkimer County Legislature
has proclaimed today as a "Day of Reflection and Recognition."
Officials tonight will
remember the four lives taken on March 13th during a shooting spree in...
Many taxpayers across New
York State are voting on their respective school district's budget and board of
education today.
The biggest budget being
voted on in our area is that of the City...
As taxpayers of the Herkimer
School District vote on the school's budget, they'll also decide whether or not
an area library will change its funding structure.
Basloe Library is to approve...
It's day two of the Mark Scheidelman trial. He's the Trenton
Town Supervisor accused of sexually abusing a ten-year-old boy.
The ten-year-old victim took the stand today as did his
13-year-old...
The fate of the Trenton Town
Supervisor is in the hands of an Oneida County jury.
Mark Scheidelman who has
held the elected position for over twenty years is accused of sexually abusing
a...
Many taxpayers across New
York State are voting on their respective school district's budget and board of
education today.
The biggest budget being
voted on in our area is that of the Utica City School District. Utica's Superintendent
Bruce Karam says it's been a unique process for the 2013- 2014 outlook.
On top of the regular
issues faced by the district, like state aid funding, Mr. Karam tells me they
had other factors that affected the upcoming budget.
And that would be the
federal spending cuts known as sequestration as well as a charter school
forming in the school district.
"Whatever is passed
should be the benefit of the children," said May Wallins of Utica.
Like Wallins, taxpayers
are voting yes or no for the school district's budget proposal today. The UCSD
is looking to have a $138 million budget passed that includes 81 positions cut,
49 of them being teachers.
"It was a way for us- the only
way to balance the budget and by law we need a balanced budget," said Superintendent
Karam.
The good news this year
the school district has cut down on spending compared to last year. But, a
growing problem, Mr. Karam says is money coming into the district.
"We have three things
going on. Three major things," explained Karam.
And that is the continuing
problem of the lack of state aid funding.
Second, with federal
spending cuts- the district is losing about $700,000 in federal dollars. And
third, the newly formed charter school will be taking away revenue, basically a
competition school.
"When the student goes
to the charter schools the state aid money that would come to us for the
students will go with the students to the charter schools," said Mr. Karam. And
as a result the school district is losing about $1.8 million in state dollars.
"I think the charter
school will be a real challenge for the school district. I think it won't go
away," said Utica resident, Christine Reister.
And the competition may
continue to be a problem. Mr. Karam says another charter school is expected to
put in an application for the following school year.
As taxpayers of the Herkimer
School District vote on the school's budget, they'll also decide whether or not
an area library will change its funding structure.
Basloe Library is asking
residents to approve them to become a library district, meaning the taxpayers
will vote on the library's budget and its board of trustees.
In return, it will provide
more funding for the library.
"We're looking to get
$270,000 out of this vote. That will restore our funding to where it was five
years ago. This is what it's about- to restore our funding," said Library Director,
Lesley Paul.
The library is currently
funded by the Village of Herkimer. Over the years, officials say the village
had to cut contributions to the library. By becoming a library district,
funding will be coming from the taxpayers within in the school district.
It's day two of the Mark Scheidelman trial. He's the Trenton
Town Supervisor accused of sexually abusing a ten-year-old boy.
The ten-year-old victim took the stand today as did his
13-year-old brother who claims he saw Scheidelman inappropriately touching the
younger boy.
The incident reportedly happened last year on veteran's day
weekend at the victim's uncle's house where Scheidelman also lived.
It was an unplanned weekend at their uncle's house. The
victim and his brothers wanted to spend time with their cousin. Although the
kids didn't have a change of clothes the mom let them go anyway.
The ten-year-old victim checked in with his mom. "He
let me know that they were there and that everyone was safe," said the victim's
mother.
That was Saturday night. It was the car ride home on Monday
when the victim's mother became concerned.
She says the child was upset, but didn't want to talk about
it. The next day the boy spoke up and what came out of his mouth made his mom
go to the police.
The ten-year-old boy took the stand today- he told the jury Scheidelman
went under his clothing and touched his bare genitals.
He says he was sleeping next to Scheidelman. Defense
attorney, George Aney questioned the child asking why he told police and the
grand jury in his initial statement that mark touched him over his clothing.
The ten year old boy said he was embarrassed.
Investigator Todd Grant of the New York State Police
assigned to the Child Advocacy Center also took the stand.
He told the jury that in different crimes police can get all
the information at once, but with children and sex abuse crimes it can be
different.
"A lot of time with children they are so shy and embarrassed
about what happened to them that they give a little bit of information to
start," said Grant.
A recorded conversation between investigator grant and Scheidelman
was also played for the jury Wednesday afternoon.
The prosecution rested and tomorrow the jury is expected to
hear from Scheidelman as he is expected to take the stand Thursday morning.
The fate of the Trenton Town
Supervisor is in the hands of an Oneida County jury.
Mark Scheidelman who has
held the elected position for over twenty years is accused of sexually abusing
a young boy last year.
On Thursday, the jury
heard from Scheidelman as he took the stand. Closing arguments were also made
by the prosecution and defense.
Mr. Scheidelman says he
never inappropriately touched the young boy.
Although the victim claims
the crime happened in Scheidelman's bed, Scheidelman says the boy never slept
next to him.
"I didn't feel
comfortable sleeping with these three boys in my bed. I didn't have a problem with
them sleeping in the room," said Scheidelman.
The 10-year-old victim and
his brothers were at their cousin's house last year on Veteran's Day weekend.
Scheidelman lived in that same house.
Although, Scheidelman says
the boys did sleep in his room, he says the victim never slept in his bed.
As the prosecution and
defense made their closing arguments today, defense attorney George Aney says
the victim's mother has influenced these allegations saying she has an ulterior
motive.
"I get the impression
that Shannon is the one who learned about this and Shannon is the driving force
in this entire prosecution," said Aney.
On the other hand, the prosecution says Scheidelman
inappropriately touched the victim for sexual gratification.
Prosecutor Dawn Lupi says
the children had no motivation to lie.
"What is there to
gain? What? Well let's see. They made a trip up to the police station in Remsen,
they got a trip to the Child Advocacy Center, they were questioned by complete
strangers about sex," explained Lupi.
The jury resumes
deliberation Friday morning at 9 a.m.
