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Spears Jury Verdict: Guilty of Depraved Murder in the Second Degree.

Posted on March 2, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. From the Office of the District Attorney. March 2, 2015:

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Lacey Spears (DOB 10/16/87) of 247 Travis Road, Scottsville, Kentucky was convicted after a jury trial to the count in the indictment charging her with:

one count of Depraved Murder in the Second Degree, a class “A” Felony,

relating to the death of her 5 year old son, Garnett-Paul Spears, who was declared dead at Westchester Medical Center on January 23, 2014.

“Throughout his five years, Garnett Spears was forced to suffer through repeated hospitalizations, unneeded surgical procedures and ultimately poisoning with salt, all at the hands of the one person who should have been his ultimate protector: his mother. Using the child’s “illnesses” to self aggrandize herself, her actions directly lead to her son’s tortured death. We will continue to ensure that his mother is held accountable and that justice for Garnett Spears will be served in his memory,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

On January 19^th 2014, Garnett Spears was transferred to WMC from NyackHospital in RocklandCounty by Medivac helicopter when without any medical explanation his sodium level rose from 144 to 182 meq/L, – milliequivalents per liter – an extremely dangerous level of sodium.

The normal range of serum sodium in the blood is 135-145 meq/L.

The child’s diagnosis was acute hypernatremia.

The defendant provided the medical staff with a medical history for her son, including extensive medical visits, hospitalizations and invasive surgical procedures. This history coupled with an unexplained rise in his sodium levels at NyackHospital prompted the doctors at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the WMC to suspect Lacey Spears of harming her son prompting their call to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

Based on the CPS call and referral to law enforcement, an investigation immediately commenced.

Investigators focused on the child’s recent history and actions of the defendant:

Friday, January 17th, 2014, the defendant brought the victim to NyackHospital reporting seizure activity and he is admitted to rule out seizures.

Sunday January 19^th 2014 at 10:08 p.m. the victim is airlifted to WestchesterMedicalCenter and admitted.

Tuesday January 21^st2014, at 7:15 a.m. the code bell goes off. Medical staff respond. The child is on his back, unresponsive, and barely breathing, both pupils were blown, he was pale gray in color.

At 11:57 a.m. the head of the Hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit calls in a Child Protective Services report to the State Central Register.

At 12:00 p.m. an EEG showed electro cerebral silence.

Thursday, January 23, 2014, Garnett Spears is declared deceased.

Search warrants were executed on the Spears’ residence. During the case evidence relating to the child’s condition was recovered including feeding bags containing extraordinary amounts of sodium.

On June 17th, 2014 the defendant has an indictment against her unsealed charging her with the murder.

Sentencing will be on April 8th, 2015.

The defendant faces a maximum sentence of twenty five years to life in prison.

Second Deputy District Attorney Patricia Murphy, Chief of the Superior Court Trial Division, Assistant District Attorney Doreen Lloyd, Chief of the Child Abuse Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Christine Hatfield, Deputy Chief of the Child Abuse Bureau are prosecuting the case.

PAUL FEINER: MY NIGHT PLOWING SNOW–AND OBSERVATIONS ON SNOW REMOVAL

Posted on March 1, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE FEINER SNOW REPORT. By Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner. March 1, 10 P.M. E.S.T.:

I spent a few hours with our highway crew tonight observing the snow removal operation. Larry MacDonald, a hard working and dedicated foreman with our highway department took me on a tour of snow removal operations around town.

Later in the evening I rode the larger highway truck that is used to keep our roads passable. Larry rose up the ranks to become foreman –has been working for the town for 25 years. And, will be retiring in August. He’s a terrific employee who really cares about the town.

I learned a lot from Larry and have a greater appreciation for the work that our public works team does, thanks to our dialogue tonight.

The roads were slippery when I started out -around 6 PM. Mr. MacDonald indicated that he thought this was the 7th weekend of snow storms.

“Roads get slippery when the weather keeps changing–melting and freezing conditions.” He mentioned that it’s important to salt the roads immediately after plowing the roads.

“We salted the roads beginning in the early afternoon today. And, the plowing started in the early evening. If we salt the roads and immediately plow after the salting we waste money since the plowing gets rid of the salt. About 30 trucks/vehicles were assigned to the snow clearing operation —32 square miles or 130 miles of roads. We clear the major roads first and than clear the secondary roads–takes about 5-6 hours to clear the entire town of snow. The major roads will be cleared more frequently.”

The big problem we experienced: obstructions. We drove down Ridge Road in Hartsdale. ‘There was a Con Ed obstruction that our vehicle had to go around. A plate on the road. If we did not go around the plate the plate would have moved and there would be a hole in the ground from the gas leak.

Another problem: We saw people push snow back on the road immediately after we cleared the road of snow. Not only does this create slippery road conditions quickly but drivers have to be on the lookout for residents who are in the middle of the road -throwing the snow back in the road. Slows down the operation. We stopped the vehicle on Rockledge to allow an elderly woman, with a cane, to cross the street. Our drivers have to be careful- obstructions and people.

During the evening we observed a car stuck on Secor Road. The foreman I drove with blocked the road with his car and encouraged the motorist to back up. By blocking the road the driver did not have to worry about hitting someone. We don’t push cars that are stuck.

We were in a neighborhood in town with lots of cars parked on both sides of the road–a big highway plow truck was not able to get through the bend in the road.

The highway truck driver was very angry –the road obstructions not only make it difficult to clear streets but it slows down the entire snow clearing operation. We need to do a better job of enforcing our no parking on roads ordinance -especially during snow storms. Sections of the town where cars are parked on both sides of the street: Fieldstone, Rockledge, Fairview.

If cars are parked on the road while our plows are passing by – there is a risk that if the truck goes over some ice and skids – the cars on the road could be damaged. After most snow storms we receive complaints from residents of broken mailboxes. The mailboxes are usually on town right of ways –we repair the broken mailboxes.

A highlight of the evening was my visit to the Theodore Young Community Center –which was being used as a warming center. The gym was in use –with lots of people enjoying the recreational activities. It’s nice to see that the community center is used by so many people –even during snow storm.

Towards the end of the evening I experienced riding in a 1979 Mack truck (a much bigger vehicle). The plow truck ride was very bumpy and uncomfortable. We have 4 trucks still in operation from 1979. Tonight some of our newer trucks experienced some problems. 2 flat tires…one of our trucks had to be towed back to the highway garage. Our repair shop will repair each of the vehicles. It costs $262,000 to replace a truck. And, we try keeping our vehicles in use as long as possible to save you money.

A special thank you to Public Works Commissioner Victor Carosi and his deputy, Richard Fon, for arranging for tonights tour. And, a special thanks to Pat Richards for also meeting up us. Pat is one of the most dedicated employees of the town–she will be retiring later this month.

We anticipate that garbage collection WILL be ON for tomorrow Monday. We’re basing this on weather forecasts. If circumstances change we will issue an advisory.

PAUL FEINER

Greenburgh Town Supervisor

914 438 1343

Senor Go-Go–Minnie Minoso

Posted on March 1, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Bull Allen March 2, 2015:

Minnie Minoso, the great Chicago White Sox outfielder who was the spirit of the great White Sox teams of the 1950s died Sunday. Essentially a forgotten man. No one on the Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee has saw fit to put this great ballplayer into the Hall of Fame. However, he now has this poem which I wrote tonight. I remember you Minnie, you and Enos Slaughter the great old St. Louis Cardinal showed me how baseball should be played and a profession should be practiced. Minnie was a ballplayer’s ballplayer.

Senor Go Go

Minnie Minoso

He first caught eyes of fans in the caverns of grand Cleveland Muncipal Stadium,

Racing madly across great expanses of the largest outfield in the Senior Circuit

Cutting off drives in the forever gaps of The Tribe’s Prairie condominium.

He was coal black, broad-shouldered, catching GAPPERS because he had no quit.

Big sweeping swing natural as an Eagle’s deadly dive

His promise to The Tribe was dealt by mad trader Lane to the South Side

Where he made confines of sweltering Old Comiskey Park come alive.

The kid from Cuba had so many names they called him Minnie, graceful as his stride.

He turned staid Pale Hose into the Go Go Sox

Seasoning with flash, dash, grit and hope.

After he came, they would steal games with a swipe of a bag, bunt shocks

Most feared in the new Hitless Wonders Lineup he’d deliver with timely “Rope.”

Spray hitter to all fields with big black bat, he’d make a single an automatic double

Fearing no arm he’d light out with blinding speed, melting down fiercest competitors

He had menace at the plate, even I at 11 years of age could tell here comes trouble.

Minnie Minoso was special. He led.Making mediocre great; great better, winners.

He was the Senior Circuit’s Wille Mays fans came to see.

You did not want him on third base in a tie game in the lates in the shadows of the day

A threat to steal anytime, fans awaited dash, launch to the plate, ballet fadeaway

The cloud of dust the suspension of muscular body airborne– cobra backstop sweep!

SAFE! The arbiter would signal. Cloud of dust rose, white in blazing Southside sun.

Catcher and skipper would argue. Minnie would always beat pitcher’s gun.

Hitting .300 for nine years, valiantly chasing the General Motors of baseball in thrilling races of the day

He saved a franchise, the Black DiMaggio showing there was no color in ball just great play.

The Commander, Bob Elson painted excitement in the Midwest night on WCFL.

WGN’s Jack Brickhouse’s “Hey, Hey” on Minnie’s homers on WGN, spun turnstile,

Filling both decks to see coal-faced Go-Go express roar down baselines pell-mell

He Gathered steam like the Broadway Limited rolling past Comiskey Park’s rightfield pavilion with style.

Last refuge from the New York Cubans in the old Negro Leagues, Minnie came to the Bigs sound.

A star from the start. Fans sweltering in the hot wind blowing through the Romanesque arches

Talked Number 9 – the Number I always associated with “The Big Hitter” to pitch around.

The guy who could take Whitey Ford and Early Wynn out. Get you off to a start or end it in the bleachers.

The palace at 15^th and Shields is no more. The dash and determination of the Great Minoso–

Ghosts of greatness of the Romanesque Palace haunting the fans with his statue in the rotunda.

Those who saw him play, remember his abandon, his hustle, his espiritu.

Minnie Minoso made all he played with better, something every worker anywhere can engender.

Nelson Fox. Luis Aparicio. Jim Riviera, Jim Landis, Bubba Philips, Sherm Lollar, Torgy Torgeson

You and Minnie live on in the beautiful box of Old Comiskey Park where the grandstand shadows

Steamed in the 90 degree nightcaps, when Minnie sliding in tied or won it in fashion,

Saved one for Billy Pierce, Dick Donovan with a dazzler down in the corner shadow

GOVERNOR CUOMO –GIVING MILLIONS EVERY WEEK TO BUSINESS AND SPECIAL INTERESTS –AGAIN CUTS THE DISABLED BUDGET AGAIN.

Posted on March 1, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti (92ND District,Greenburgh) March 1, 2015:

“The Governor’s budget is a disaster for people with special needs,” said Assemblyman Tom Abinanti following a Joint Budget Hearing on Mental Hygiene.

“The proposed $31 million cut in the OPWDD budget comes at a time when today’s needs are not being met and there will soon be even more people needing help.”

(Last year, WPCNR reported the Governor wanted to cut over $300 Million from the OPWDD, but was forced to restore it due to concentrated opposition by the legislature after concentrated protest by parents, advocates and service organizations who care for the disabled..)

Abinanti expressed concern that OPWDD had to be represented by a Deputy Commissioner because for quite some time OPWDD hasn’t had a commissioner to advocate for the department.

Abinanti noted that there is no new money proposed for residential services even though the Deputy Commissioner admitted that there are about 11,000 people who now need or will soon need housing. The Deputy Commissioner stated that there were about 6,500 people on a housing waiting list with some 5,000 more registered for future housing. She explained that the department was concentrating on providing housing in emergency situations.

“We are properly closing down large institutions – saving some $60 million – but the money should be reinvested in community residences, not used to subsidize other parts of the state budget,” said Abinanti.

“The executive budget is a further cutback of already insufficient help for people who need it,” said the Westchester Assemblyman.