99 NEWS HEADLINES FOR THURSDAY, 10/8/09

AUBERTINE:POWERLESS OVER HIGHER LICENSE FEES--State Senator Darrel Aubertine told a forum in Canton Monday higher hunting license fees were implemented at the agency level by the DEC, not legislatively. Members of the audience called the higher fees 'taxation without representation'. Aubertine says he's OK with higher fees if they go into what the State says it will. Higher ATV and snowmobile licensing and registration fees wernt into the General Fund. Aubertine says there is every indication the higher DEC fees will go toward conservation and game preservation and not be looted.

DEATH FROM PICKUP ACCIDENT RESULTS IN MANSLAUGHTER, OTHER SERIOUS CHARGES FOR GOUVERNEUR MAN--30-year-old Michael Lewis of Austin St. faces a count of felony Vehicular Manslaughter, and serious drug and alcohol-related driving counts in connection with a July 18th accident on Garrison Road that claimed the life of a passenger, his grandmother 70-year-old Irene Layboult of Pitcairn who died the next day. Lewis was arraigned before a Fowler justice and released to probation supervision until future court dates.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SAYS ATMOSPHERE IN ALBANY IMPROVING, BUT SLOWLY--Malcom Smith told 99 News Monday in Canton he believes once the Legislature gets a hold of spending, morale will get better. Governor Paterson ordered 500 million more dollars in cuts for the current fiscal year.

WINTHROP COUPLE ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED POT, PEYOTE GROWING OPERATION--State Police say 42-year-old Steven Shatraw and his wife 26-year-old Denise Shatraw of Buckton Road allegedly had pot and mushrooms growing in their bedroom with the help of lights, irrigation, and heat. The couple was released on court appearance tickets.