99 NEWS FOR 5/13/11

CREATING POTSDAM TOWN-WIDE POLICE FORCE COULD CAUSE UNION NEGOTIATING PROBLEMS--Police coverage in the event of dissolution was brought up as a joint village-town study committee starts looking options with services. Committee member Mark Lee told the group it's important to remember if the coverage area of what is now village police changes, the entire collective bargaining agreement is back on the table.

SIX SUNY POTSDAM STUDENTS ROUNDED UP IN SEMESTER'S END DRUG RAID--The St.Lawrence County Drug Task Force arrested the following on felony drug sale charges: 20-year-old Steven Mc.Donough, 22-year-old Jesse Moore, 21-year-old Terrance Brown, 20-year-old Scott Lewis, and 20-year-old Matthew Loibi. Arrested for felony marijuana sale was 19-year-old Saad Bennani. Police seized cocaine, marijuana, alleged pot-growing equipment, oxycodone, scales, and cash. The group was arraigned and released to probation supervision. The Task Force had help from the Sheriff's department, SUNY Police, Potsdam Police, and Federal agents.

NORTH LAWRENCE DAIRY REPORTEDLY SOLD TO UPSTATE NIAGARA CO-OP--Teamster's Local 687 President Brian Hammond told the Courier-Observer Healthy Food Holdings has sold the plant to the Buffalo-based dairy co-operative. Yogurt is expected to be manufactured at North Lawrence; the number of employees is not known yet.

NOON-HOUR CHEMICAL SPILL CLEARS OUT CLARKSON BUILDING--A quantity of styrene was released at the Center for Advanced Materials Processing yesterday by an employee, who Clarkson says followed proper spill protocols. The building was evacuated. Potsdam Fire and Potsdam Rescue, Potsdam Police and Parishville Rescue responded. One employee was taken to Canton-Potsdam Hospital as a precaution. Clarkson is in post-commencement break, there were no classes interrupted.

POTSDAM TOWN COUNCIL APPROVES GRANT APPLICATION FOR HOUSING REHAB DOLLARS, BUT NOT WITHOUT CRITICISM--Councilmember Judith Rich said Tuesday 60-thousand dollars out of a 400-thousand-dollar grant, should it be awarded, seems to be steep for administrative costs running the program. Supervisor Marie Regan and Clerk Cindy Goliber say that is the maximum amount for administration; much of that goes into individual housing rehab projects as that portion of the grant runs out. The hope is the grant will rehabilitate 12 residences for income-eligible homeowners, about half the number on a waiting list.

OGDENSBURG DRUG SWEEP NETS THREE--City Police narcos and the county Drug Task Force arrested 19-year-old Ronald Redmond III, 22-year-old Robert Pike, and 22-year-old Cassandra Premo Thursday on felony counts alleging they trafficked in oxycodone and crack cocaine...Premo for crack, the other two for oxy. All three were arraigned and released on to probation until future court dates.

MALONE MAN ARRESTED IN ST.LAWRENCE COUNTY LAST WEEK FOR POT, ARRESTED AGAIN THIS WEEK FOR POT IN FRANKLIN COUNTY--39-year-old Robbie Grant, caught last week in Dekalb allegedly transporting over a pound of weed, was arrested in Brighton for unlawful possesion after he was caught with a small amount of ganja. Grant was released on a court appearance ticket. The Brighton charge is a violation with less weight than a misdemeanor; the Dekalb charge is a felony.