99 NEWS HEADLINES FOR WEDNESDAY, 4/14/10

TEENS PERISH IN POTSDAM CAMP BLAZE--State Police Investigators based in Massena say the bodies of a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were discovered Tuesday afternoon at a location off County Route 35, after they did not return home from camping overnight. Sources have identified the two teens as Norwood-Norfolk Central School students Dustin Berger and Josh Bean. The investigation of the fire and fatalities continues.

BOAT CHASE ON ST.LAWRENCE RESULTS IN NUMEROUS INJURIES--Two Akwesasne men are hospitalized in Fletcher-Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vermont with injuries sustained when their boat was struck by a Coast Guard vessel near the Seaway International Bridge about 9pm Monday. Police agencies from both sides of the border were chasing the boat; the investigation is ongoing; no names have been released.  Several law enforcement personnel were also hurt in the crash

POTSDAM TOWN COUNCIL REACHES TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH OFFICE WORKERS--The council voted Tuesday in accordance with 'all salient points' in a proposed new deal with Teamsters Local 687. The unit represents about 6 staffers, mostly secretaries and office assistants.  Assessor Kim Bissonette is in the unit until he retires or leaves office.  Supervisor Marie Regan and Town Attorney Frank Cappello say one of the noteworthy changes from the previous deal expiring at the end of last year is giving the council the discretion to set salary based on education and experience, rather than setting the salary with the position.

GRIFFO PUSHES GOLF COURSE CLOSURE-SALE IDEA TO SAVE PARKS--State Senator Joseph Griffo asked Parks Commissioner Carol Ash in a hearing last week whether she has considered selling golf courses that compete with the private sector to generate revenue that could save parks slated for closure. She admitted she had not.  Griffo says a state-owned golf course in Oneida County generated over 1 million dollars over a decade ago when it was sold to a private company.

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