The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan 

Peru, NY, August 31, 2026 – “I enjoy meeting new people. In this business, I meet people from all walks of life. You never experience the same thing in any two places you go,” said Kyle Spear about operating his new business, Spear Septic Service. 

“It took a lot of thought to say, I’m going to do it,” Spear recalls. And do it he did. Since its incorporation in August 2026, Spear Septic Service has purchased a 2001 International truck, a 3,300-gallon tank, a vacuum pump, and a hydrojetter to clean sludge from leach fields and clear line blockages. Spear said, “The truck needed a total rebuild: brakes, exhaust, rear end, paint job, you name it! The tank only needed a paint touchup.” Thankfully, Spear’s step-father, Curtis Smith, gave his time and talents to the rebuild effort. Today, the fully equipped truck is an impressive-looking rig. 

Spear said scheduling has been a big part of running his own business, especially since he’s a full-time employee at the Peru Highway Department. “I’ve got to figure out when I can do jobs and fit it into my family life.” The 2009 Peru High School grad is married with three children. He stated, “I schedule calls for Fridays, evenings and weekends. I don’t have to pay employees, so I can keep my prices reasonable.”  Spear is happy with business since his first call in January and is looking forward to expanding with new equipment. 

Kyle Spear is a friendly man and good communicator. Customers should enjoy doing business with him.

For more information or to make an appointment with Kyle Spear, call 518-569-6974. See his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/Spear-septic-service-61584256390633/

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

Franklin, St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis County Sheriffs join in the lawsuit 

Click here for the Yahoo News story 

PLATTSBURGH, NY August 27, 2026 – Champlain Valley Educational Services (CVES) is proud to announce the appointment of Emily Blair as Principal at the Rise Center for Success. As Principal, Blair will lead and support Life Skills programming focused on helping students build the academic, social, and functional skills they need to achieve greater independence and success. She will work closely with Rise staff, students, families, and component school districts to strengthen opportunities and outcomes for every learner.

Blair brings more than 20 years of experience in education to the Rise leadership team, with a career dedicated to supporting students with diverse learning needs. Her experience as both a special education teacher and district-level administrator has provided her with a strong foundation in instructional leadership, student support services, special education programming, and collaboration with students, families, staff, and school communities.

Blair began her career as an Elementary Special Education Teacher at Northern Adirondack Central School before transitioning to a Secondary Special Education Teacher within the district. She later moved into district leadership, serving as the Director of Pupil Personnel Services, where she provided leadership for special education programs and oversaw a range of services designed to support student success.

She earned a master’s degree in special education from SUNY Plattsburgh and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Pupil Personnel Services from SUNY Plattsburgh at ACC.

“I am delighted to welcome Emily to our CVES Family of Professionals,” Dr. Mark Davey, CVES District Superintendent, said. “Her extensive experience, leadership, and commitment to students will be a tremendous complement to our outstanding Rise team. Emily knows our region well and understands the important work we do in partnership with our component districts and families. We are thrilled to have her at CVES as a new member of our Administrative Team and look forward to all she will bring to Rise.”

“I am truly excited and honored to join the Rise Center as the new Life Skills Principal,” Blair said. “Having worked alongside the dedicated Rise staff for many years, I have witnessed firsthand their commitment to students and excellence in education. I look forward to building on the school’s many successes and partnering with staff, families, and students to create meaningful opportunities for every learner.”

“Emily brings a tremendous combination of experience, compassion, and leadership to the Rise Center for Success,” Executive Director of Special Education, Dr. Matt Slattery said. “She understands the unique strengths and needs of the students we serve, and she has built her career around creating the conditions for students to be successful. Just as importantly, Emily understands that this work is rooted in strong relationships with students, families, staff, and our component school districts. We are excited to welcome her to the CVES leadership team and confident she will make a meaningful difference for our students and the entire Rise community.”

CVES welcomes Blair to the Rise Center for Success leadership team and looks forward to the experience, collaborative leadership, and commitment to students she brings to the role.

(PLATTSBURGH, NY – Aug 28 2026) The Strand Center for the Arts is excited to host “Portrait of a Community,” a group exhibition featuring the works of five local artists excited to share their appreciation for their community through portraits. The five artists who will be presented in this exhibition are Naomi Bradshaw, Kaitlyn Jubert, June Levenson, Shaun O’Connell, and Cynthia Root. Each artist approaches the portrait with a different perspective and medium. 

“We are a group of five portrait artists who have been working together for the past several years. We sit together with our subjects, and then complete the works on our own, using photographs taken during the shared session. The subjects are people in the local community. Each portrait shines as a unique yet integral part of this place we call home. It has been a fascinating endeavor to see each community member portrayed from a different vantage point, and in a totally different style and medium.” 

– Statement compiled by the artists. 

The opening reception for “Portrait of a Community” will be held on Friday, Sept 11 from 5-8pm and this exhibition will be on display until Oct 24. 

Strand Center for the Arts Gallery Hours: 

● Open 1 p.m.—8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday 

● Open 10 a.m.—3 p.m. Saturday 

● Closed Sunday—Tuesday 

During a recent visit to Lake Placid, Gov. Kathy Hochul provided an update on plans to make a bid for a third Olympics in the North Country

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

Click here for the New York Focus story 

August 28, 2026 – Gov. Hochul News Release – Governor Kathy Hochul today granted clemency in the form of a pardon to six individuals. This action recognizes people who have demonstrated remorse, exemplified rehabilitation and displayed a commitment to improving themselves and their communities. After implementing procedural reforms to strengthen the clemency process, Governor Hochul has made a total of 145 grants of clemency during her time in office, which include 125 pardons and 20 commutations.

“As Governor, I remain committed to reforming the clemency process and ensuring each application is thoroughly reviewed and individuals receive timely notifications regarding their case status,” Governor Hochul said. “Today, I am granting clemency to six individuals who have displayed positive changes in their lives and will dedicate themselves to bettering their communities — they earned their second chance through rehabilitation and can now establish their futures once again.”

The Governor’s Office has taken a number of steps to improve transparency and communication in the clemency process. The Executive Clemency Bureau has implemented a policy of sending regular letters to individuals with clemency applications, informing them of their case status, and providing information about how to submit supplemental information in support of their applications. The Governor’s Office also launched an updated online web hub to assist clemency applicants with the application process; this hub includes template clemency application forms to provide prospective applicants with improved guidance about what information to include when they apply.

The Governor also convened a Clemency Advisory Panel composed of impartial experts to assist in advising the Governor on clemency applications. Following recommendations from the Clemency Advisory Panel, Governor Hochul is granting clemency in the form of a pardon to six individuals.

Pardons

Individuals receiving a pardon today have lived crime-free lives for a significant period of time and have made positive contributions to their communities. All pardon recipients continue to be negatively impacted by their criminal conviction(s) despite having successfully served their sentence(s) many years ago. The Governor’s pardons will help alleviate these burdens.

Sae Joon Park, 57, was convicted of Bail Jumping in the Second Degree in 2009 and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree in 2007.

Kile Jackson, 54, was convicted of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree in 1992.

Angela Walder-Tuckett, 62, was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree in 1989.

Heriberto Atiles, 61, was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Loaded Firearm in the Third Degree in 1986.

Keisy Guerrero Mariano, 38, was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree in 2015.

Paul Koopman, 62, was convicted of Driving While Intoxicated in 1995.

The 1990 remarks from Claire Barnett, a member of the Commission on the Adirondacks, continue to ring true today

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story

Ham 

Scalloped potatoes 

Vegetable 

Bread

Dessert 

Served 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., take-out only, at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972. 

All are invited and welcome!

Click here for the Sun Community News story

By John T Ryan 

As of August 28, 2026, traffic is moving the length of Lyons Road. The town closed the road in late July to replace a badly deteriorated culvert.  Contractor Ed Garrow and Sons Inc., the low bidder at $317,205, completed the job faster than expected.  Design, bid specification preparation, any financing, and miscellaneous expenses are in addition to construction costs.

Ron Arnold, who resides on Lyons Road, was among the first to cross the new culvert. He commented, “I saw the Garrow’s truck go by the house with some equipment, so I thought it might be open.”  Rather than driving to and from Plattsburgh via the South Junction Road, Arnold’s been taking a left on the Rock Road to take Route 9, so he’s very happy to see the work completed. 

August 28, 2026 – The Town of Peru Highway Department has announced that at 5 pm the Lyons Road box culvert replacement project will be completed and the road will be re-opened at that time.

Shelby Patrie will spend more than a decade in prison for substantial local drug distribution

Click here for the Sun Community News Story 

By John T Ryan

Deputy Town Supervisor Melvin Irwin chaired this meeting replacing vacationing Supervisor Craig Randall.

The board accepted Steve Imhoff’s resignation as Interim Code Enforcement Officer (CEO). CEO Duane Bibeau has completed his training and testing and is now fully certified. The board thanked Imhoff for his service. 

CEO Report – Added 8/31/26 

• 25 Building Permits issued
• $4,849.25 in fees collected
• Attended Town Board Meeting
• Received 2 Planning Board Applications
• Received 0 Zoning Board Applications
• 20% of time spent on Marina Project
• 51 Certificates of Compliance issued
  • 38 Of which were Permits From 2024-2025
• 97 Inspections completed TOTAL
  • 89 Completed by DB
• Continued inspections/site visits on open permits
• Review of plans for new construction
• Met with applicants on future construction projects
• Phone calls and emails with applicants, engineers and architects for future projects
• Received 0 new official complaints
  • Issued Apparent Violation Notices & continued to work towards resolving all violation complaints
• 25% of time spent on continued classes for required trainings

Water-Sewer-Parks Superintendent Courtney Tetrault reported continued good progress at the Wastewater Treatment Plant project. A supplier provided the wrong electrical panel, and that issue is being addressed. He anticipates the new plant will be operational in October or November. The new filter press for the existing building should arrive in December and be installed in February or March. 

Planning for the water treatment plant upgrade continues. Wetland permits for the test well are part of the process. 

High Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that Clinton County rejected the one salt bid it received. The rejected bid was over 40 percent higher than last year’s price with higher delivery costs a major driver of the increase. He is anxiously awaiting the results of the second bidding.

Farrell said he anticipated that the Lyons Road culvert will be completed by August 29 or soon thereafter.  

Recreation Director Kristen Marino reported that the fall soccer program officially begins on September 7. She still needs two mini-mite coaches, but several parents have volunteered to coach the other teams. 

Historian Helen Nerska reported that the August 15 Open House at Lyon Street School was well-attended. She said some people expressed interest in bringing students to the school, but portable toilets would have to be available. The historian’s office will have a booth at the August 30 Peru Town Market. On September 26, there will be a walking tour of the historic cemetery on North Bend Street behind TD Bank, emphasizing the Revolutionary War veterans buried there. On October 10, the Battle of Valcour interpretative panels are scheduled for installation at Peru Dock. More information will be published on both events. 

Councilman Rick Barber is working to resolve property boundary errors made decades ago involving the town and four or five property owners on School Street. Mr. and Mrs. Seguin, who own one property, explained their position and would like to see the matter resolved at no cost to them because the town evidently made a mistake paving the street’s path. Town Attorney Matt Favro will explore the legal issues and costs. The discussion begins at the 15:14 minute mark and ends at the 25:57 mark of the accompanying video. 

Click here to view the Peru Gazette’s meeting video. 

New funding will help with family preparedness clinics, language access and community-building efforts 

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

The news is not just bad for those making a living in the forest products industry—it should concern everyone who cares about forests.

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

August 26 and August 27, 2026