The sentencing of convicted murderer Ganesh Ramsaran of South New Berlin has been scheduled for October 31st in Chenango County Court. Ramsaran was convicted last Tuesday of 2nd degree murder in connection with the December 2012 killing of his wife, Jennifer. Ramsaran could face 25 years to life in state prison.
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The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 42-year-old Mark Barrett of Smithville for Felony DWI, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a motor vehicle and Moving from lane Unsafely. Barrett was charged following an accident on State Highway 235 in the Town of Coventry, where he is accused of swerving off of the road, striking a guide rail, crashing in a creek & fleeing the scene of the crash. Barrett was arraigned in the Town of Coventry Court and ordered to the Chenango County Jail on $5000 bail and $10,000 Bond, he faces action in Coventry Town Court at a later date.
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The Chenango County Sheriffs department 28 year old Jared Smith of New Berlin was arrested for violation of unlawfully growing of Cannabis. Smith was charged following a complaint of marihuana plants growing in the backyard of a residence in the Village of New Berlin, following a complaint from an area business. Smith was processed and released on an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of New Berlin Court at a later date.
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Governor Cuomo announced New York State has been awarded a $22.4 million “GEAR UP” grant by the U.S. Department of Education, to help low-income and at-risk students receive college preparation beginning in 7th grade through high school. Participating school districts will have the opportunity to prepare students through the Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools program, which includes training science, technology, engineering and math careers, targeted to at-risk, disadvantaged students.
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U.S. Representative Richard Hanna announced a $120,000 grant for the Decker School of Nursing at Binghamton University. The money will be applied toward the study of mental health, with an emphasis on training to meet the needs of 16 to 25 year olds. Another emphasis will be placed on rural and other vulnerable populations. In New York State, suicide is the leading cause of injury or death for children ages 10 to 14. Around 200,000 children live with serious mental health conditions.
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U.S. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand called on the federal Department of Justice to allow the state to begin part of its medical marijuana program early to treat children with forms of epilepsy and other seizure disorders. State health officials, at the request of Governor Cuomo, asked the federal government for permission to begin receiving the drug from out-of-state manufacturers even before the formal state program begins.
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Former New York Governor George Pataki is indicating he may run for president. Pataki, who served for 3 terms from 1995 to 2006, met recently with David Koch, the billionaire businessman and GOP backer. Pataki was a relatively unknown state lawmaker when he beat 3 term Governor Mario Cuomo in 1994. He easily won reelection in 1998 and 2002, but endured slumping popularity ratings in his final term, and chose to not run again.
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State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued a consumer alert about a scam targeting school districts across New York & 21 other states. The scam involves a bogus company named Scholastic School Supply mailing phony invoices to school districts in the hope of receiving payments without rendering goods or services. 5 upstate district contacted the Attorney General’s Office to file complaints. School districts are encouraged to file a complaint at 800-771-7755 or ag.ny.gov.