99 NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, 8/8/12

FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW A “FISHCAP” PARTNER—St. Lawrence County Chamber Executive Pat Mc. Keown said last week the neighboring county to the east has joined onto the Chamber's fishing-tourism promotion efforts. She said “...we have things in common...we're both large, we're poor, and have no hope—that's what we're providing. They have trout—we don't, and they also have a beautiful ski mountain—we don't.” “FISHCAP” has a booth at the Franklin County Fair in Malone this week.

POTSDAM ASSAULT SUSPECT POSTS BAIL, BUT IS NOT FREE FOR LONG--25-year-old Mohammed Bourhouat, who allegedly attacked another man with a sword posted bail Monday night, but was arrested again Tuesday on warrants alleging he violated pre-sentencing conditions on a previous felony DWI. Bourhouat was arraigned a second time and jailed on higher bail

WINTHROP MAN REMAINS “CRITICAL” TODAY WITH INJURIES FROM MOTORCYCLE-DEER ACCIDENT IN LAWRENCE—State Police in Massena say 63-year-old Donald Bell received head and leg injuries after the cycle he was operating hit a deer on County Route 54 Monday evening. The accident ejected both Bell and his passenger—62-year-old Debbie Bell. Donald Bell was airlifted from a spot near the scene to Fletcher-Allen Health Care in Burlington, VT. Debbie Bell was not hurt as seriously and was transported by Tri-Town Rescue to Canton-Potsdam Hospital.

GRIFFO ON “BATH SALTS”: LAWS ARE BETTER THAN REGULATIONS—State Senator Joe Griffo unveiled legislation Tuesday that would make possession, sale, and trafficking of the fake drugs criminal offenses. The bill was announced about the same time the Cuomo Administration announced Health Department regs that would make similar behaviors violations.

VOTE ON TAX CAP OVER-RIDE HEARING NOT UNANIMOUS—St. Lawrence County Legislators voted Monday 11-4 to hold a hearing August 27^th at 7pm to take input on a possible over-ride of the state-mandated cap. Kevin Acres of Madrid, a conservative Republican, was the only Legislator to speak up before the hearing, said he would vote no because “higher taxes are against my principles,” and that “high taxes take money from productive citizens and re-distribute it to those who provide little incentive to grow your business”. The votes against the hearing were bi-partisan; also against were Democrat Greg Paquin of Massena, and fellow Republicans Mark Akins of Lisbon and Dan Parker of Potsdam.