Johnson was arrested after he started his girlfriend’s residence on fire after a domestic dispute.  The girlfriend was able to put the fire out before extensive damage was done to the residence.  The residence is located on Pine Ave in the Village of Sylvan Beach.

Johnson was arraigned in the Town of Vienna court and remanded to the Oneida County Jail on $20, 000 bail.  He is scheduled to appear in the Village of Sylvan Beach court on 05/06/10.

“We are thrilled to be a very small part of a very big movie,” said Mike Bova, publisher of M3P Media, LLC.

According to promoters, the film stars mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano as Mallory Kane, a young, tough, beautiful freelance covert operative. She is hired out by her handler, Kenneth, to various global entities to perform jobs that governments can’t authorize and heads of state would rather not know about. For all her looks and youth, Mallory is still the best in her field, and her skills are in constant demand.

After a mission to rescue a hostage in Barcelona, Kenneth quickly dispatches Mallory on another mission to Dublin. There she partners with another operative, the suave and debonair Paul. When the operation goes awry and Mallory finds she has been double-crossed, she needs to use all of her skills, tricks and abilities to escape an international manhunt, make it back to the United States, protect her family and exact revenge on those that have betrayed her.

According to information on IMDb.com, producers have signed actors Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Ewen McGregor and Channing Tatum, to name a few.

Knockout, which is filming now, is being directed by Steven Soderbergh, who also directed “Erin Brockovich” and “Ocean’s Eleven.”

The movie is expected to be released sometime next year.

Cobey was arrested subsequent to a vehicle and traffic stop in the Town of Vienna.  He was determined to be driving while intoxicated and his 13 year old son was a passenger in the vehicle at the time.

Cobey was arraigned in the Town of Vienna court and remanded to the Oneida County Jail on $2500 cash/ $2500 bond and is scheduled to reappear in court on Jan. 28 at 2:00 p.m.

Also arrested was Mistie L. Wickham, age 40, of the same address. Wickham was charged with Criminal Contempt in the 2nd degree after it was determined that she violated the provisions of an order of protection that was in place on Cobey’s son’s behalf.

She was released on an appearance ticket and is to appear in the Town of Vienna court on Jan. 26 at 4:30 p.m.

“This was a community-wide effort, and we want everyone to come and celebrate this remarkable achievement with us,” said John Hobika, Jr., the 2009 Campaign Chair.

The event kicks off at 5:00PM and includes great food, lots of recognition, music from Monk Rowe, and a special performance by Danceworks.

The event is open to the entire public and attendees can call 733-4691 ext 223 for reservations. The cost is $15 and can be paid at the door

One male is described as being 5′10 to 6′ tall with broad shoulders wearing a dark colored hoody and was armed with a hand gun and the other male suspect possibly with a crow bar. The victims gave the perpetrators some cash and some collector coins.

The males then left on foot in an unknown direction and may have been picked up by a vehicle.

If anyone has information regarding this case is asked to contact the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Oneida at (315) 366-6046.

At this time a group of residents along Lakeshore Drive have posted a reward of $1,000 for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for these burglaries.

Anyone with information can contact the State Police at 762-4441.

Caption: Pictured are Carmella Montello of the state Canal Authority, Senator David Valesky (D,WF-Oneida) Sylvan Beach Trustee William Shaughnessy, Sylvan Beach Mayor Rick Stewart, Assemblyman Dave Townsend (R,WF-Sylvan Beach) and Sylvan Beach Trustee Joe Clements.

(Sylvan Beach, NY Oct 30, 2009) A project to restore Sylvan Beach’s beach front to the way it was just 30 years ago has taken several years of planning and collaboration between local, state and federal agencies. But the restoration has begun and the people involved in its planning gathered in Sylvan Beach to throw out the first shovels of sand to celebrate.

Assemblyman David Townsend said “this is more than just a pile of sand. It serves as years of hard work between village, town, state and federal government. It’s a project to rebuild Sylvan Beach beach.”

Townsend said the project began several years ago when he was approached on how to get Sylvan Beach back.

Village Clerk Wanda Durant had discovered a photo of the beachfront that was taken in 1975. Village trustees and then Mayor Tom Statkewicz were surprised at how much of the beachfront had eroded over the years, Durant said.

“This is the selling point of the Beach,” Townsend said. “The Canal Authority has sand. We can just come out and get it. Not.”

Although the Canal Corporation dredges the sand from Oneida Lake, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Army Corps of Engineers first had to check the sand to insure its safety for the public.

“It’s a long, long process,” Townsend said.

Townsend thanked Carmella Montello of the Canal Authority, the DEC, the Army Corp of Engineers, the village of Sylvan Beach and the town of Vienna for getting this project off the ground.

“This has been a labor of love,” Townsend said.

Montello said the Canal Authority needed the DEC and the Army Corps approval before 60, 000 cubic yards of sand can be brought onto the beach. She said it’s not just sand for recreation but for flood mitigation. She thanked the village trustees for involving the Canal Authority and showing them where the beach’s shoreline used to be.

“We were happy to partner with them and make sure they had everything they needed,” Montello said.

Village Administrator Joe Benedict said engineering studies have been done and surveying of 120 to 140 feet of shoreline – depending on the water level – from just behind Pfohl’s Beach House to 19^th Avenue or about 15 blocks has been designated as beach restoration. Grant money, secured by Townsend and Senator David Valesky in the amount of $43,000 paid for engineering and surveying costs. About $14,000 remains.

The village has applied for a $690,000 New York State Department of Coastal Resources grant through the Local Water Revitalization Program. Benedict said it will cost all of that to complete the project. With the grant, Benedict said the entire project will take about one to two years; without it the restoration will take the village 10 years.

“And there’s constant maintenance,” Benedict said. “We lose 1.2 feet per year of beach front to erosion. We’ve been losing that every year for the past 90 years.”

About 4,500 truckloads of sand will be hauled from a Cove Road location where the Canal Authority places sand it dredges from the lake. Benedict said the village and town do not have the resources to move it so if the grant is secured, the work will be outsourced.

A turbidity curtain has been placed within the area of sand fill. Benedict said they will do as much work as they can until winter, remove the curtain, put it back in the spring and begin work again until the summer season. The summer season will not be interrupted and people who enjoy the beach during that time will still be able to do so.

Photo by Margo Frink

Caption: I tried to muster up a smile from Brandy when I took this photo. This is the best I could get out of her. It was taken at Durhamville Day in August of this year.

The world lost one great lady this week. Brandyann Phelps, town of Vienna historian, author of several books, reporter and columnist died near her daughter and grandchildren in Morgan City, La. Thursday Oct. 29. She was 63 years old.

I first met Brandy about two years ago when I attended a Vienna Town Board meeting. I was reporting on the meeting, as was she. We sat at this little table together with our recorders and notebooks spread out on the small space exclusively for reporters. She talked pretty much through the entire meeting, which gave new meaning to the phrase “southern hospitality.” But I liked her right from the beginning. She was personable and down to earth, all the qualities I find endearing in a person.

I became familiar with her Murray Brook Frog, the weekly column she wrote for several publications. Many of her columns can be found on this web site. Just recently the Frog celebrated its 100^th birthday. She’s also the author of an historical novel “Brandy of the Bayou,” and two historical books, “Sylvan Beach and the Rock,” and “Around Sylvan Beach.”

Brandy thoroughly enjoyed Vienna town history and made it a personal mission to preserve as much of that as possible. She was proud of her roots there.

Over the past couple of years I read everyone of her columns and upon reading them I could almost picture her delving over books and trampling through cemeteries to learn as much about the people as she could to educate herself and then share that history with the world. It’s a painstaking job but time and time again she told me her reward was sharing that information. Her latest mission was to have “Sophie’s Cemetery” restored and began a fund so that someday that will be possible. Nicol Baker, Vienna town supervisor told me the town of Vienna is collecting contributions in Brandy’s memory for this fund. I think Brandy would have liked that.

Brandy was also thrilled to report to me when the town was given space in a church to house a museum for all of its history. Nicol told me the town would also like to dedicate that museum in Brandy’s honor. Brandy would have been honored by this I’m sure.

A memorial service will be held for Brandy on Monday Nov. 1 at 1:30 p.m. at Vienna Town Hall. Friends and family of Brandy are invited to come and share their grief and stories with the town. Nicol said that Brandy has been an asset to the town and hearing of her death has devastated them. “We are still in shock,” she said.

I am so glad I got to know Brandy, if only for just a short time. Our relationship began as professional but it didn’t take long before we ended our conversations with, “love ya.” She had a kind heart and never a mean word for anyone. I’m going to miss her but I know she’s ok because she told me that when the Lord called her she would be ready. Her faith was a big part of who she was and helped her through any tough times. I learned that about her early on.

Brandy was born Sept. 1, 1946. She called North Bay home but for many years she lived in Berwick, La. She leaves behind her lifetime partner Garry R. White of Camden; a daughter Tawney White of Morgan City, La.; two grandchildren, Monique and Mario also from Louisiana; a daughter, Arika of Berwick, La. and many, many friends who loved her.

On the news the other night they showed a plain cross some folks erected out in the middle of the desert to honor our brave soldiers fallen in battle. It’s on public land, but it’s been there for many years, however now some guy has come along and said it must be removed because of separation of church and state.

From atop the magnificent granite and marble Washington Monument, completed in 1888, one can easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles ‘Enfant …a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the north.  The Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west. The Washington Monument is the tallest building in Washington, D.C. and no other building shall ever be taller. On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument facing the heavens, where no one ever sees them; two words are written: Laus Deo, which is Latin for “Praise be to God.”

You may ask what about separation of church and state? The Constitution of the United States does not contain that phrase and never has. The Constitution backs freedom of religion by stating the government shall not designate a state religion. 

We are “One Nation, Under God,” built on faith and for many the cross symbolizes that faith. Are we to give up the reminders of our faith because one or two disagree? I say no, let the dissenters put up their symbol and leave other people alone.

I came across another bit of silliness I thought may tickle your funny bone. As you know the incumbent is always on the top row in the voting machine, which is difficult for some of us little people to see and reach. It seems that one year, in the town of Vienna the supervisor took the matter into his own hands and bought stools for everyone. The folks in the opposing party put up a real fuss, still remembered years later by some. They said it gave an unfair advantage to the incumbents, I guess they were counting on the “low” votes.

When you read this I’ll be at my home in Louisiana for health reasons. I’ve been very ill and need tests that are too expensive for my pocket book, I don’t have any insurance. I plan to go to the charity hospital there to find out what is wrong and get better if I can; then I will come “home” to you all. I hope you will remember me in your prayers.

Have a good week and God Bless. ©

The Murray Brook Frog is written by Brandyann Phelps, author and Historian for the Town of Vienna.