99 NEWS HEADLINES FOR THURSDAY, 1/22/09

POTSDAM TRUSTEES CREDIT FIREFIGHTERS WITH WISE DECISION ON FIRE TRUCK--The Board voted Tuesday to reject all bids on a new ladder truck, and to start the process over. The Potsdam Volunteer Fire Department was looking at a new truck in Harrisburg, PA. Fire Chief David Mc.Gregor and Village Administrator Mike Weil suggested the resolution based on flaws found in an examination of the truck, and the fact it took four months to get questions answered. Weil says a new truck would been 77-thousand dollars over projections, wile the used truck in Pennsylvania would have been 110-thousand dollars more.

POTSDAM TEACHERS SAY 'NO' TO GIVEBACKS--The Potsdam Teachers' Association, the union representing Potsdam Central School teachers, recently told the Board of Education it will not sit down to work out concessions toward saving money in next year's budget. The Courier-Observer quotes union President Tony Vaccaro as saying teachers are in the same situation as the rest of working class Americans; they are in no position to give money or benefits back. The Board is looking at ways to fill a possible 1.3-million-dollar budget shortfall next year; based on a state aid loss of 685-thousand dollars and rising expenses.

FATAL CRASH-BOMBAY--State Police say 81-year-old Margaret Steen of Bombay was killed when the car she was driving out of St. Joseph's Church parking lot was broadsided by a milk tanker on Franklin County Route 4 Tuesday morning. The tanker truck was driven by 36-year-old Jeffrey Miller of Nicholville. The State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit is involved with the investigation; no tickets have been filed at this time.

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