99 NEWS HEADLINES FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15TH, 2009

RUSSELL MAN ACCUSED OF ANIMAL CRUELTY, FACES MORE CHARGES--Sheriff's Deputies arrested 68-year-old Frederick Gladle of Given Road in Russell on eight counts of State Ag and Markets Law alleging he failed to provide proper sustenance, water, and shelter to a horse, four goats, and three pigs he allegedly kept in a stock trailer on his property. Gladle was released to appear in Town Court. Gladle was arrested in December and September on similar counts; Undersheriff Scott Bonno says those charges are still pending.

PLEA DEAL FOR PUBLIC OFFICIAL ACCUSED IN O'BURG SHOCK INCIDENT--Karl Bender, Deputy County Superintendent of Highways, was allowed to plead down from Endangering the Welfare of a Child, to a lesser count of Second Degree Harassment in City Court Tuesday. Bender was one of three people who allegedly participated in the application of an electric dog collar to a 16-year-old boy's private parts, and paying the teen 10 dollars per 'zap'. Bender was given a conditional discharge, and 270 dollars in fines and fees.

BURN BAN BACK ON--County Legislature Chairman Greg Paquin signed an order yesterday starting the ban at 7pm Tuesday until 7pm Sunday, the 19th. Ground conditions have again become dry enough to increase the danger of grass and brush fires. A violation of the ban is a class B misdemeanor.

BIG OBAMA BUCKS FOR ROAD WORK--20 million dollars in stimulus funding is headed to the North Country from a statewide pool of 34 million. 816 jobs are expected to be created.