99 NEWS HEADLINES FOR SATURDAY, 12/19/09

STATE SEEKS NEW, INNOVATIVE WAYS TO RAID YOUR WALLET, RUSSELL SAYS--Addie Russell, 118th Assembly District representative told those gathered for a constituent forum at SUNY Canton Thursday the Executive Branch has gone so far as to examine volunteer fire and rescue squads for violations, solely to collect fines that would go toward the budget deficit.

IMPROPERLY-DISCARDED WOODSTOVE ASHES CAUSE OF CHASE MILLS FIRE--Investigators say crews did an excellent job with a fast response to keep flames confined to the front porch of a residence on County Route 14, the home of Susan LaValley and Family Friday afternoon. Two firefighters and an EMS tech received minor injuries. Waddington Fire and Rescue were the lead department on the scene with mutual aid from Madrid and Louisville, standbys from Lisbon and Morley. Trucks were out from about 10am 'til 12 Noon.

THINK BEFORE YOU HAVE THAT 'CHRISTMAS CHEER'--St.Lawrence County Traffic Safety Program Information Specialist Mary Davison says buzzed driving is drunk driving. She says by the time someone feels buzzed after consuming alcohol, it is too late to drive safely. One problem is that an experienced drinker will take more alcohol to feel the buzz, which means the driver could be well-impaired by the time he or she feels they've had enough. A reminder that DWI is .08; DWAI .05 percent blood-alcohol content.

ST.LAWRENCE COUNTY HAS HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT IN REGION, BY FAR--The State Labor Department posted 9.2 percent for November, half a point higher than the second-highest, Jefferson County. The State average is 10 percent.