99 Hits Audio

99 NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, 5/22/13....over 600 National Grid customers are still without power this morning, as the result of thunderstorm activity that blew through the region last night. Turn-on times are still to be assessed; we have seen as late as 5pm.

POTSDAM SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT SAYS TOWN PROPERTY RE-VAL DID NOT AFFECT BUDGET VOTE, “YES” MARGIN OVER 4-TO-1—Potsdam School District taxpayers voted Tuesday with overwhelming support to approve a tax levy hike of 3.99 percent. Pat Brady told 99 News last night after the polls closed the public understands the plight of schools struggling with decreasing aid, and the “Gap Elimination Adjustment,” where districts have been forced to fork over millions of dollars to make up the state's own budget problems. Incumbent Ralph Fuller and newcomers Judith Hinman and Rachael Wallace were elected to board seats.

ALSO ONLINE TODAY....

STEVEN TRIMM, FATHER OF CONVICTED KILLER DUSTIN TRIMM, FREED AFTER POSTING 10-THOUSAND-DOLLARS BAIL YESTERDAY AFTER HIS ARREST ON CHARGES ALLEGING HE PAID A WITNESS TO THE JASON WING MURDER CASE “HUSH MONEY”

STATE, MOHAWKS HAVE DEAL TO RELEASE BACK REVENUE FROM CASINO GAMING

NYPA WILL INVEST 3.7 MILLION DOLLARS TO MOVE A TRANSMISSION LINE FOR A SUBSTATION TO ALLOW ALCOA TO EXPAND

JUNE O'NEILL APPOINTED A SECOND TIME TO CHAIR SUNY POTSDAM COLLEGE COUNCIL

CLARKSON BIOMETRICS EXPERT STEPHANIE SCHUCKERS TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL SUB-COMMITTEES, SAYS BIOMETRIC APPS ON PORTABLE DEVICES ARE NEEDED FOR GLOBAL SECURITY

SUNY CANTON AWARDS DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD TO ACCOUNTANT JOHN GRAY

13-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM RUSSELL ARRESTED ON A FELONY CHARGE ALLEGING HE SENT A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL A PENIS PIC ON FACEBOOK. THE YOUTH WILL BE PETITIONED TO FAMILY COURT

FRANKLIN COUNTY WOMAN WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE CINDER BLOCKS FROM A NEIGHBOR'S HOME FOUNDATION TO MAKE A FIRE PIT, 31-YEAR-OLD CHANTEL SNYDER OF MOIRA CHARGED WITH FELONY AND RELEASED ON A COURT TICKET

OBITUARIES:

Raymond Stafford—82—Norfolk. Services 1pm Saturday at Norfolk United Methodist Church. Calling hours at Buck Funeral Home in Norfolk Saturday from 10am-1pm.

A ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY LEGISLATOR TOOK A HARD SHOT LAST WEEK AT CANCER ACTION AND ITS FOUNDER-PRESIDENT DONALD HASSIG.

HERMON LEGISLATOR FRED MORRILL TOLD THE REST OF THE BOARD IN COMMITTEE THE ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR A PUBLICLY-FUNDED EDUCATION PROGRAM TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS HAS BEEN TARGETING THE LEGISLATURE FOR CRITICISM UNFAIRLY. THE LEGISLATURE HAS REFUSED TO POST INFORMATION ON ITS WEBSITE ABOUT POP'S. HASSIG HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AROUND THE COUNTY TO POST A WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REPORT ABOUT THE SUBSTANCES. HASSIG AND HIS GROUP CLAIM MANY OF THE SUBSTANCES CAUSE CANCER, AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT EAT FOODS THAT COULD BE CONTAMINATED BY THEM. THE GROUP CITES AS A MAIN EXAMPLE THE RESIDUES OF THE MASSENA ALUMINUM INDUSTRY GETTING INTO THE WATER, SOIL, AND AIR; AND PEOPLE ON AKWESASNE HAVING HIGHER CANCER RATES.

MORRILL SAYS THE REPORT LISTS OVER A HUNDRED CANCER-CAUSING SUBSTANCES, BUT HUNDREDS MORE THAT DO NOT, LIKE WOOD DUST--AND HASSIG IGNORES THOSE. MORRILL SAYS HASSIG FOCUSES ONLY ON ONE SMALL TARGET WHEN HIS FOCUS SHOULD BE MUCH LARGER:

THE TOWN OF POTSDAM COUNCIL VOTED 3-TO-2 LAST WEEK TO PUT THE LINK TO THE W-H-O REPORT ON ITS WEBSITE, AT CANCER ACTION'S REQUEST.

99 NEWS FOR MONDAY, 5/20/13

SCHWALLER TO GRADUATES: “DO GOOD AND DO WELL”--That's what soon-to-be-retiring SUNY Potsdam President Dr. John Schwaller told baccalaureate degree recipients in his remarks at Commencement Sunday. Schwaller will step down after more than seven years. He said he will remember the community for its creativity and its discipline. About 750 degrees were awarded Sunday; with master's degree recipients receiving their diplomas Saturday. In Canton, St. Lawrence University awarded about 550 baccalaureates and master's degrees—Psychology was the number-one major for SLU grads this year.

ALSO ONLINE TODAY....

45-YEAR-OLD KEVIN SEIG OF POTSDAM IN “CRITICAL” CONDITION TODAY WITH INJURIES RECEIVED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY THE CSX TRAIN OFF SISSONVILLE ROAD LATE SUNDAY NIGHT.  SEIG WAS AIRLIFTED TO UPSTATE MEDICAL CENTER IN SYRACUSE

FRANKLIN COUNTY MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY WRITING MORE THAN 550 DOLLARS IN BAD CHECKS TO THE POTSDAM IGA, 39-YEAR-OLD SCOTT ST. DENNIS WAS RELEASED ON A COURT TICKET

CANTON WOMAN, 48-YEAR-OLD DEBRA ORMSBEE ARRESTED SATURDAY FOR THE “LEANDRA'S LAW” FELONY FOR ALLEGEDLY DRIVING DRUNK WITH TWO CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE, RELEASED ON A COURT APPEARANCE TICKET

WADDINGTON MAN ALLEGEDLY WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE BECAUSE OF A DWI, ARRESTED FOR AGGRAVATED UNLICENSED OPERATION AS HE WAS PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT OF THE COUNTY 911 CENTER AFTER WORK AS A DISPATCHER LATE FRIDAY

TWO MASSENA MEN ACCUSED OF WORKING TO STEAL A CREDIT CARD FROM A WALLET CONTAINED WITHIN A VEHICLE AND RUN UP MORE THAN 3500 DOLLARS IN PURCHASES WITH IT, 21-YEAR-OLD DAVID MC. DONALD OF PERKINS ROAD AND 24-YEAR-OLD TREVOR DOW OF SOUTH MAIN STREET JAILED SATURDAY