RISK OF GRASS AND BRUSH FIRES “EXTREMELY HIGH”--St. Lawrence County Deputy Coordinator for Public Fire Safety and Education Joe lacks says ground conditions are tinder-dry, with the unseasonable warm temperatures and the lack of rainfall. He says careless disposal of smoking materials and natural phenomena such as lightning strikes start the majority of ground fires that can go down into the roots of vegetation, and burn hundreds of acres over the course of days or even weeks if unchecked. Lacks also says open trash burning is illegal at all times, and open brush burning is banned in New York until at least May 14, so doing either is "downright stupid."  Lacks says a good soaking rain of several inches is needed to reduce the risk.  

ALL-TIME RECORD HIGH FOR MARCH BROKEN IN POTSDAM—Certified Military Storm Spotter Rick O'Hanlon had a high of 81 degrees on Sisson Street Wednesday—the fourth day in a row of a record high for the date, and beating the all-time March high of 67, set on March 21^st, 1976.

ALSO ONLINE TODAY....

ASSEMBLYWOMAN ADDIE RUSSELL SAYS SHE SUPPORTED TIER VI PENSION PLAN BECAUSE IT WAS THE BEST COMPROMISE THE LEGISLATURE COULD GET

TWO DOWNSTATE MEN CHARGED WITH POT POSSESSION AFTER NEARLY 8 OUNCES WAS FOUND IN THEIR VEHICLE AFTER A CANTON TRAFFIC STOP MONDAY MORNING....20-YEAR-OLD ERIC NOBLE OF NEWBURGH AND 18-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM JIMINEZ OF BRONX—BOTH SUNY CANTON STUDENTS CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANORS AND RELEASED ON COURT TICKETS

POTSDAM L-D-C BOARD DISSOLVES; POTSDAM C-D-C NOW HANDLES MICROENTERPRISE LOANS AND L-D-C IS OBSOLETE

OBITUARIES:

Larry Ramsay—63—Potsdam. Services private, no calling hours. Arrangements are with Seymour Funeral Home, Potsdam.