The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Troy

Cox Guilty of Second Degree Murder of a Child

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Submitted by the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office
Following a nearly two-week long trial, a Rensselaer County Court Jury on Wednesday, April 27, convicted 42-year old Kevin Cox on two counts of Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Assault in the First Degree. The charges stem from the February 11, 2020 death of six-year-old Davonte Paul of Lansingburgh. 

District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly confirmed that according to the evidence, Davonte was found after a 911 call by his mother stating that he had drowned in the bath tub, although no water was found in the child’s lungs.

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Cox Guilty of Second Degree Murder of a Child

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Submitted by the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office

Following a nearly two-week long trial, a Rensselaer County Court Jury on Wednesday, April 27, convicted 42-year old Kevin Cox on two counts of Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Assault in the First Degree. The charges stem from the February 11, 2020 death of six-year-old Davonte Paul of Lansingburgh.

District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly confirmed that according to the evidence, Davonte was found after a 911 call by his mother stating that he had drowned in the bath tub, although no water was found in the child’s lungs.

“As proven at trial, Cox punished the child by forcing him to sit outside on a snow covered deck on a blisteringly cold February night. Cox left Davonte outside for hours which directly caused his death. This was a heartbreaking case and I applaud the jurors who sat through the difficult testimony and viewed evidence of the death of this child,” said District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly.

Cox will be sentenced on May 18 before County Court Judge Debra Young and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

The Uncle Sam Parking Garage Will Come Down

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by Doug la Rocque
The Troy Planning Commission is expected to hear plans within the next couple of months to take down the Uncle Sam parking Garage in Troy, located adjacent to the Troy Atrium between Third and Fourth Streets. The garage has been closed for more than a year, when chunks of concrete started falling. Troy City Council President Carmella Mantello tells The Eastwick Press she has requested the Planning Commission ensure that landscaping and trees be planted around the site and that the aftermath of the demolition be kept clean and safe while plans are made to redevelop the former garage location.

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Uncle Sam Parking Garage Coming Down

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A long time stable in Troy, now closed because it has fallen into disrepair , the Uncle Same Parking Garage is slated to be torn down within the next couple of months, according to City Council President Carmella Mantello. Large concrete portions of the structure starting falling down when the garage was used by the NYS Labor Department for parking when they had offices in the Troy Atrium.

Ms. Mantello does not have a problem with the structure being demolished, what concerns her is that it becomes just a large hole in the ground in the middle of the city. The Council President tells The Eastwick Press “I have requested the planning commission (director) ensure landscaping, trees and that the location is clean and safe while they put together their plans to redevelop the site. Also I don’t want it to sit idle and a hole at the gateway of the city and the bond should be the developer present a plan before the planning commission within one year.”

Troy Winter Lighting Festival

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The Arts Center of the Capital Region, the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Troy BID are thrilled to announce Troy Glo, a dazzling new winter lighting festival opening the night of the 40th annual Victorian Stroll. The size and sophistication of the artwork is expected to draw an estimated 25,000 visitors from the Capital Region and beyond over the course of a month. Creative development for Troy Glo will be managed by The Arts Center of the Capital Region.

The Arts Center is seeking artists to design temporary public light art installations at various locations in Downtown Troy. With creative and artistic support from an experienced artist and curator, a team of five artists will be commissioned to design a series of temporary light art pieces throughout the Downtown shopping and dining district.

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HVCC No Cost Summer Courses for HS Students 

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Submitted by Hudson Valley Community College

Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) will offer more than 50 college-level courses for rising high school juniors and seniors this summer with an added incentive: tuition and fees will be completely funded through a college scholarship, and textbooks will be provided at no cost for students. The scholarship offer covers up to eight credits.

The same incentive was offered last year, and nearly 1,000 students from around the Capital Region took advantage of the opportunity.

“We want to do everything in our power to make our summer College in the High School courses even more accessible,” said President Roger Ramsammy. “By offering a full scholarship on tuition and providing open educational resources or free textbooks, we are offering an incredible opportunity for students to get a jump start on their college career while still in high school.”

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Hasselwander Indicted on Murder and Strangulation Charges

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Remanded Back to Jail Without Bail

by Doug La Rocque
22-year-old Ian Hasselwander was arraigned Tuesday afternoon, March 15, in Rensselaer County Court before Judge Jennifer Sober on one count of Murder in the 2nd Degree and one count of Strangulation in the 1st Degree. Hasselwander pled not guilty to both counts. Judge Sober set April 29 as the tentative date for further proceedings and remanded Hasselwander back to the Rensselaer County Jail without bail until such time. Hasselwander was arrested by the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office on March 4 in connection with the disappearance and subsequent death of 20-year-old Morgan Bates of Eagle Bridge.

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Woelfersheim Pleas to Multiple Crimes

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Submitted by the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office

District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly announced today that Matthew Woelfersheim, 45, of Schaghticoke pled guilty in Rensselaer County Court before the Honorable Jennifer G. Sober to Arson in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony, along with Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree, a Class E Felony, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree and Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated,

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Wreaths Across America Stops By HVCC

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Article submitted by HVCC and Wreaths Across America

Known as the longest veterans’ parade in the country, Wreaths Across America made a stop at Hudson Valley Community College on Tuesday, December 14, for a special ceremony honoring veterans and service members of the United States Armed Forces and their families. 

Wreaths Across America is a national organization with a mission to remember our fallen U.S. service members, honor those who serve and teach children

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A Glimmer of Hope for Route 7 Traffic

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by Doug La Rocque

If you have ever traveled NYS Route 7 (Hoosick Road) during rush hour or on weekends, you have probably had a few not so pleasant words about the traffic situation. It is often backed up so it takes many turns of a traffic light to proceed, exiting and entering the road can be quite the challenge and is sometimes a nightmare for emergency vehicles. Traffic was a major topic of discussion for the Brunswick Planning Board when they deliberated the new Aldi, Hannaford and

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