99 NEWS FOR THURSDAY, 8/26/10

BIG MONEYSHOTS TO LOCAL SCHOOLS FROM "RACE TO THE TOP" UNLIKELY--Potsdam School Superintendent Pat Brady told us yesterday the 700-million-dollars in competitive grant money awarded by the feds to the state will be used to improve the overall education system in New York. He says just how the grant-mandated student and building principal performance evaluation sysrems will be implemented; all administrators know is that local exams and state exams will be weighed by percentages.

HACKETT'S RE-BRANDS, NOW CALLED 'OUTLET CENTER OF OGDENSBURG'--In a statement quoted by numerous local media outlets, the parent company of the struggling store chain, Wisebuys will liquidate current merchandise and replace it with what it calls 'value priced' product.

NEAR-FATAL CHILD ASSAULT SUSPECT STILL FACES CHARGES, DEFENSE MOTION DENIED--Kenneth Durham, accused of shaking and nearly killing toddler Skye Durham earlier this year continues to face felony assault and numerous other charges. St.Lawrence County Court Judge Jerome Richards threw out a request to have the charges dropped, that according to the Ogdensburg Journal.

NORWOOD MAN ACCUSED OF RUNNING ILLEGAL TAXI SERVICE IN POTSDAM--Richard Ham, 54 was arrested Tuesday on counts alleging he operated a taxi service without a license, and did not have the proper insurance to do so. Ham was seen allegedly picking up a passenger in a personal vehicle, and taking a fare. Ham has a license application pending with Village Trustees, who tabled the resolution last week. George Regan, a Trustee who also owns Potsdam Taxi, abstained.

PUMPKIN MILDEW THREATENS HARVEST--Steve VanderMark, research educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of St.Lawrence County, says there are two kinds of mildew threatening cucurbit plants--one is a powdery substance and the other is more down-like. Both compromise the leaves and therefore the plant's food-making ability. Cucurbit plants include all squash, gourds, pumpkins, melons, and cucumbers.