The autopsy has been completed in the death of a 29 year old Lewis County man who was allegedly killed by his own father. Lewis County Sheriff's Investigators report that Lyle Devoy Jr. was killed following an argument with his father, 56 year old Lyle Devoy Sr. According to the autopsy results, Devoy Jr. died of a single gunshot wound to the upper right torso. Investigators report that the father & son were in the middle of an argument on Stillwater Road in the Town of Watson on Sunday night when Devoy Sr. allegedly fired a single shot from a 20 gauge shotgun at his son. Devoy Sr. is charged with murder 2nd degree & is currently in the Lewis County Jail, he's reportedly has waived his right to a preliminary hearing & the case has now been moved to Lewis County Court, where it will likely go before a grand jury.
A 27 year old Croghan man is facing a charge of harassment 2nd degree. Lowville Police report that Eric Fowler was charged with allegedly threatening to punch another person. He will answer the charge in Village of Lowville Court.
A 29 year old Carthage woman is facing a charge in the City of Watertown. City Police report that Eliesha Miner was charged with petit larceny for allegedly stealing $12.50 in merchandise from the Family Dollar store. She will answer the charge May 21st in City Court.
Most of the military's civilian workforce will be required to take 11 unpaid leave days this year as part of an effort to save money in the face of mandatory budget cuts. Pentagon officials announced this week that most workers will be required to take one unpaid day a week between July 8th and September 30th, which is the end of this fiscal year. These furloughs will save the Defense Department an estimated $1.8 billion and affect more than 600,000 civilian workers. Planners had initially considered requiring 22 days of unpaid leave. Some workers deemed essential will not be subject to the unpaid leave, such as civilian workers deployed in a combat zone and shipyard workers, because they provide maintenance for nuclear-powered ships. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the Pentagon has already cut back on training and deployments, which are doing serious harm to military readiness. The Air Force has or will soon stop flying about one-third of its combat squadrons in the active forces. The Navy and Marine Corps are cutting back on training and deployments.
The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that the threshold for DWI be lowered from the current .08% blood alcohol content to .05%. The National Transportation Safety Board says that lower standard has been shown to substantially reduce highway deaths in other countries & could save about 500 to 800 lives each year. While the NTSB does not create regulations, it can influence policy. In 2000, the federal government required that states enact a .08% Blood/Alcohol Content or lose federal highway construction funds.
Governor Cuomo announced that expanded outdoor smoke-free areas will be in effect within state parks and historic sites for the 2013 peak summer season. The full list of designated no-smoking areas is available on State Parks' website at www.nysparks.com. No smoking areas will be designated by signage at outdoor locations where smoking is prohibited. Even with the new regulations, there will remain many appropriate areas including most campsites, open air picnic areas, parking areas and undeveloped areas within the 330,000-acre state park system for those who wish to smoke in a manner that does not violate the concerns of the majority of the public. Smoking is already prohibited inside all buildings within state parks and historic sites.
