99 NEWS HEADLINES FOR THURSDAY, 12/31/09...something we're following...a fire on Gouverneur St. in Canton; details to be released later today..

FORT DRUM SOLDIER ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED MASSENA TEEN SEX CRIME--26-year-old Jaquin Barreras was arrested by State Police on a count of second degree rape, a felony alleging he had relations with a 14-year-old girl Tuesday in his pick-up at a location off Highland Road. A Courier-Observer report says Barreras told investigators the girl did not reveal her true age, that he was told by her father. Barreras was arraigned and jailed on 10-thousand dollars cash bail or 20-thousand dollars bond.

FELONY WEAPON INCIDENT IN MASSENA--Village Police arrested 23-year-old Jeffrey Weisbrod of Beach Street early this morning after a report of an altercation. Weisbrod allegedly possessed an assault rifle in the style of a Chinese SKS, with a 30-round magazine, bayonet, pistol grip, and folding stock. Weisbrod is not allowed to have a weapon by law because of his criminal record. He was charged with three felony counts of weapon possession and held for an arraignment later today.

MASSENA MOTEL SHUT DOWN BY CODE ENFORCEMENT AFTER FATAL FIRE--Numerous violations were found in the Hillside Motel during an inspection after a fire that damaged several apartments. One apartment, in which resident Melanie Jones was killed was extensively damaged. A cooking fire on the stove spread to the walls. County Fire Investigator Brian Sullivan told the Watertown Daily Times the fire could have gone on for hours and not been detected, because many smoke detectors in the building did not have batteries.

ALSO ONLINE TODAY....COUNTY ROUTE 15 FIRE TUESDAY NIGHT CAUSED BY SELF-CLEANING OVEN; HOME OF AMY AND SHAWN MC.DONALD NOT INSURED...COUNTY OFFICIALS COMPLAIN ABOUT LOGGING REQUIREMENT...