(Canton – Ritchie to Run?) Reports indicate that St. Lawrence County Clerk Patricia Ritchie, who two months ago turned down the notion of seeking the vacant New York State Assembly seat in the St. Lawrence River District, is now giving consideration to running. County Republican Chairwoman Janet Kelly issued a statement yesterday saying they want the party’s members to have a chance to pick a candidate and that there might be a primary runoff in September – meaning at least two possible candidates now, when before there were none. Jefferson County Legislator Phillip Reed is also considering a possible run. Massena police chief Tim Currier is also exploring a possible run for the state office.

(Undated – Assembly Race) Republicans and Democrats are firing off slams today as the battle for the St. Lawrence River Assembly District starts to heat up. Republicans called foul against Assemblyman Ron Canestrari, Chairman of the Democrat Assembly Campaign Committee over a political attack against Republican St. Lawrence County Clerk Patty Ritchie on an Internet blog called “Danger Democrat”. In the blog post, Canestrari accused Ritchie – who has not formally declared her candidacy – of “lying” and being “dishonest and disingenuous.” Canestrari’s Republican counterpart, Josh Fitzpatrick, said today, “It’s pretty obvious that Canestrari is only attacking Ritchie because he and the Democrats are worried about her candidacy because she has a proven record and dedicated honorable public service. Fitzpatrick added that the district is in the North Country, where local residents should decide who will run and that Canestrari should “butt out of North Country business.”

(Massena – Water Levels) A public information session was held last evening in Massena on the proposed changes in the water level regulation plan for Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Most of those in attendance were opposed to new plans forwarded by the International Joint Commission. The International Water Lakes Coalition said the proposed new plan does not bode well for recreational boating and the environment and is worse than the plan that has been in place since 1958. A Massena meeting ten years ago forced the I.J.C. to withdraw its 1998 plan because it did not consider this section of the St. Lawrence River.

(Brasher – Entertainment Meeting) A large crowd, particularly representing labor, came out to support the potential for hundreds of jobs during construction and later during the operation of a proposed giant racetrack and entertainment facility in the Brasher-Massena area. Massena town supervisor Gary Edwards said many of those who spoke also want to see good-paying jobs come out of the new operations. .A second scoping meeting on the project is slated for Monday at 6:30 p.m. at St. Lawrence Central School in Brasher.

(Saranac Lake – Airport) Cape Air made its debut in the North Country yesterday with an official launch of flight services at the Adirondack Airport in Saranac Lake. Cape Air is launching service in Saranac Lake and Plattsburgh first, due to its earlier agreement with the two airports. But Cape Air will also be launching service at Massena, Ogdensburg and Watertown on September 16th. Massena town supervisor Gary Edwards says it appears Cape Air is firm on not starting federally-subsidized service any sooner, while they make sure all arrangements and staffing are in place to operate successfully.

(Ogdensburg – Jurist Dies) A longtime North Country judge has passed away. Former State Supreme Court justice Edmund Shea passed away at the age of 94. Judge Shea served on the bench for more than 40 years in St. Lawrence County. He was also a World War II veteran. For more than four decades, Judge Shea settled hundreds of legal cases and signed many court decisions in civil court that came through the docket in Canton. He was considered an inspiration to many of the judges and lawyers that came before him.

(Potsdam – Upcoming Clarkson Graduation) Nearly 600 Clarkson University students will be granted bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at the 115th commencement ceremonies this coming Sunday. The Mother’s Day weekend will also be marked by the commissioning of United States Army and Air Force ROTC cadets on Saturday. Also receiving honorary degrees and addressing students, families and guests will be Ray Anderson, founder and chairman of Interface Inc., the world’s largest producer of commercial floor coverings; and Sophie Vandebroek, president of the Xerox Innovation Group.

(Bellmont – Accident) One person was injured in a two-car collision in the central Franklin County town of Bellmont. Malone-based state police say 19-year-old Andrew Menke of Brushton was following another driver too closely on County Road 24, when he struck the back end of the auto. Authorities say the other driver, 72-year-old Geraldine Ryan suffered neck injuries in the collision. Menke was ticketed for following too closely.


May 8, 2008

(Ogdensburg – Guilty) An Ogdensburg man has been found guilty of federal drug conspiracy charges, following a trial in U.S. District Court in Syracuse. Officials said yesterday 49-year-old Terry Joe Murray was found guilty of operating a drug conspiracy in St. Lawrence County in 2006, involving crack cocaine and cocaine powder. Murray, who has three previous felony convictions, was found guilty of obtaining cocaine in Syracuse and Rochester and distributing it to customers and other drug dealers in St. Lawrence County. He faces the possibility of a mandatory life term in prison when sentenced on September 29th. Five co- defendants, all from the Heuvelton-Ogdensburg area, previously pled guilty to the narcotics conspiracy.

(Massena – Water Levels) A public information session is scheduled this evening in Massena on the proposed changes in the water level regulation plan for Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Dalton Foster, technical advisor for the International Water Lakes Coalition says the proposed new plan does not bode well for recreational boating and the environment and is worse than the plan that has been in place since 1958. A Massena meeting ten years ago forced the I.J.C. to withdraw its 1998 plan because it did not consider this section of the St. Lawrence River. This Thursday’s meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Quality Inn on West Orvis Street.

(Brasher – Track Meetings) The first of two public meetings is scheduled for tonight to allow a presentation and discussion on the pros and cons of Northland Island Associates’ plans for a proposed new giant race track and related entertainment businesses in the Brasher-Massena area. A scoping session for the track proposal is slated for tonight, then again on May 12th, both at 6:30 p.m. at St. Lawrence Central School in Brasher. The town will continue to take public comment on the scoping document -- available at the Brasher town clerk’s office until May 14th. The document deals with environmental, land use, traffic and other issues.

(Albany – Arson Prevention Week) State officials have declared this week as “Arson Awareness Week” in New York State to raise public awareness about the dangers of arson and other fires set intentionally. But fire officials also want to warn parents of the danger of toylike or novelty lighters. The lighters can be designed to look like animals, miniature cars or doll accessories. Children are more likely to play with these kinds of lighters and start a fire as a result. They say fires started by toylike lighters cause more fires than children playing with matches.

(Ogdensburg – Lotto Winners) The New York State Lottery officially introduced two new millionaires yesterday at a press conference in Ogdensburg. 37-year-old Peter LaPoint, a grocery supervisor in Massena, won his three million dollars on scratch off lottery tickets. He received his winnings in a ceremonial check from the Lottery’s Yolanda Vega. He says money will pay his kids college education... and more.

UNDATED (AP) _ A South Carolina man is headed back home after being brought across the North Country border from Canada to face murder charges. Officials in South Carolina agreed to drop any effort to seek a death penalty for the suspect who fled to Canada after the death of a pawn shop owner. The case against 23-year-old Roger Eugene Shephard involves charges in the June 2006 death of 65-year-old John Bruin. Dropping a possible death sentence was the only way to get Shephard extradited from Canada. Canadian authorities handed over Shephard to U.S. marshals at the Champlain border crossing in northern New York on Tuesday after a two-year legal battle. Shephard had been detained in Montreal within days of Bruin's death in 2006.

LBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ Government reform advocates say they're releasing a list of apparent violators of New York state's campaign finance laws. Civic groups will be in Albany later this morning to release a review of campaign data filed with state Board of Elections. The groups say the information shows potential violations of the $5,000 limit on corporate donations to political campaigns.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ A union representing state workers says New York state is wasting taxpayer money by hiring costly private consultants. The Public Employees Federation is holding a news conference in Albany later this morning to release information on the amount of money the state is spending on private consultants. PEF says the state could save millions by having state employees perform the same work being done by the consultants.