99 NEWS HEADLINES FOR WEDNESDAY, 4/8/09

POTSDAM SCHOOL BOARD CONSIDERS ONE-HALF PERCENT LEVY HIKE--The Board of Education was informed by Superintendent Pat Brady Tuesday 685-thousand dollars in potential state aid loss, the 'deficit reduction assessment,' will not occur because of Federal stimulus money to the State. Most cuts in the previous draft budgets for next year were restored. Brady asked for a custodial position to be added. The one-half percent levy hike would mean an average tax bill hike of 4 dollars with STAR, and 8 dollars without, 2 dollars senior STAR for a property assessed at 70-thousand dollars.

COUNTY EMPLOYEE SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY FOR ALLEGED DOG COLLAR INCIDENT--43-year-old Karl Bender of Ogdensburg, Deputy St. Lawrence County Highway Superintendent, is charged along with 36-year-old Crystal Amo and 27-year-old Zachary Amo of Ogdensburg with Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Bender and Zachary Amo allegedly used an electric dog collar to shock the genitals of a 16-year-old boy while his mother did nothing to stop them. All three were released on court tickets. The Watertown Daily Times says Bender has been suspended 30 days without pay pending further action.

POTSDAM ANIMAL SHELTER NOT IN TOP 10 FOR ZOOTOO MAKEOVER CONTEST--Potsdam made it into the top 20 for the web site's million-dollar animal shelter makeover contest. The Jefferson County ASPCA, however did make into the top 10. Potsdam won 5-thousand dollars in cash from the web site; that will go toward a 750-thousand dollar renovation and expansion project.

POTSDAM FRAT CHARGED WITH GIVING UNDERAGE GIRLS ALCOHOL--Zeta Nu was ticketed by Potsdam Police recently for two counts of Unlawfully Dealing with a Child, alleging they served two underage females at its house on Main Street. Police were alerted to the incident after one of the girls became ill and an ambulance call was made to the Clarkson University campus.

AUBERTINE:"VERY MUCH SO, SOUR GRAPES"--48th Senate District Representative Darrel Aubertine says one thing Republicans aren't admitting to, is that they blew their chance to have input on the Executive Budget early in the process, in the form of 20-day amendments that could have been made while the GOP was still in power.

ALSO ONLINE TODAY....TURBETT PICKED FOR DANC BOARD....DAMON HALL TARGETED FOR ARTS CENTER...AND MORE!

OBITUARIES:

Allen D. Pike, aka 'Piker'--Norwood resident. Celebration of Life Services Thursday afternoon at 5 at the American Legion in Winthrop. Calling hours at Hammill Funeral Home, Winthrop today 2-4pm and 7-9pm, and Thursday 2-4pm with prayer service at 4.