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NYSP News Release – The New York State Police will crack down on impaired and reckless driving during Super Bowl weekend. The special STOP-DWI enforcement campaign, funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, will include increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints to deter, identify, and arrest impaired drivers, as well as underage drinker enforcement. The enforcement initiative runs from Friday, February 10, 2023, through Monday, February 13, 2023.

New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli said, “Make the winning decision on Super Bowl weekend and don’t get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking. Those celebrating the big game this weekend should do so safely-game plan ahead or drive sober. Safety is our top priority, and we will be increasing patrols and expanding sobriety checkpoints to identify drunk and impaired drivers and to help prevent senseless tragedies. The message is simple, don’t drink and drive!”

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the number of drinking and driving fatalities, too many lives are still being lost because of crashes caused by impaired drivers. During the 2022 Super Bowl campaign, State Police arrested 189 people for impaired driving and issued 10, 975 total tickets.
During this enforcement period, drivers can expect a number of sobriety checkpoints and DWI patrols. Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of the operation. The CITE vehicles allow Troopers to more easily identify motorists who are using handheld devices while driving. These vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

Drivers should also remember to “move over” for stopped emergency and hazard vehicles stopped on the side of the road when they travel New York roadways.
An impaired driving conviction carries a maximum fine of $10,000, up to 7 years in prison and license revocation.

If you are hosting, you’re the team captain! Designate a responsible driver now to help your guests get home safely:
•    Ask all of your guests to designate their sober drivers in advance or help them arrange ridesharing with sober drivers. If you don’t drink, offer to drive guests home.
•    Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
•    Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter—this is a good time to serve coffee and dessert.
•    Sign up online for a ridesharing service or keep the phone numbers of local cab companies on hand and take the keys away from any guests who are thinking of driving after drinking.
•    The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation “Have a Plan” mobile app, is available for Apple, Droid and Windows smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi service and program a designated driver list. It also provides information on DWI laws and penalties, and a way to even report a suspected impaired driver.
•    Remember, if you serve a guest alcohol and he or she gets in a crash that night, you could be held liable.
•    If an underage person drinks and drives, the parent or guardian can be legally liable for any damage, injury or death caused by the underage driver.

Crews responded to the fire around 3 a.m. Saturday

Click here for the MYNBC5 report 

At least three people have fallen through the ice, two have died, since Thursday

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“For instance, the county’s current budget, which was passed in December, would have an instant $1.7 million hole in it.”

Click here for the Press-Republican story 

“This is a significant milestone because if the hydrogen hub were to be selected and funded, it would create the potential for a hydrogen train, produced in New York State, to one day service the Northeast Corridor.”

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Northway’s emergency call system from Warren to Clinton counties being decommissioned

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$665K raised, including $113K by NYS employees

United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. has completed its 2023 Fundraising Campaign to help support high-priority health and human service programs in Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties. The annual campaign is conducted primarily during the fall months and concludes in February of each year. This year’s campaign raised a total of $665,000.00, which includes proceeds from special events and also includes projections of pending results from businesses and individuals not yet received but anticipated. John Bernardi, President & CEO, said, “we are so delighted to deliver this exciting news to our three-county region. It is once again a testament to the generosity and caring nature of the North Country. It was very challenging this year and we are proud of what we have been able to achieve. It was a valiant team effort among campaign team volunteers, United Way staff and employee campaign representatives, but most of all, it was the generosity of businesses, organizations and individuals that made it successful. I am always so impressed to see how people in our region come together for their friends and neighbors.” Campaign team members include Todd McCarthy (Co-Chair: Clinton County), James Monty (Co-Chair: Essex County), Amy Collin (Co-Chair: Franklin County), Monticia Prather, Chris Mazzella, Sandra Young-Brady, Sue LeBlanc-Durocher, Lee Rivers, DaleAnne Wolter, Tony Searing, Gerry Morrow, Ryan Lee, Hannah Provost, Jody Carpenter, Shay Prentiss and staff members Holly Lafountain, Jennifer Desrocher, Nikki Buck, Meghan Weeden, Wendy Baker, Tracy Repas and Bernardi.

The State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA), a campaign for state employees that runs parallel to the United Way campaign, also wrapped up recently and raised a total of $113,099.00, which is included in the campaign total. A regional committee of state employees, chaired by Bill Ferguson of Empire State Development, conducts the annual fund-raising campaign in state facilities across the region.    

The mission of United Way, which serves Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties, is to be a leader in community partnership building and to increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another. The funds raised from this campaign will be allocated to local community partner agencies based on donor designations and agency applications for additional funds to support high-priority health and human service programs. A committee of community members will review requests for undesignated funds and recommend to the board of directors the awarding of grants based on prioritized community needs throughout the region. Chris Mazzella, Chair of the United Way Board of Directors, said, “Funds stay local and go toward supporting critical services for our friends and neighbors here in the North Country.” Last year, the health and human service network supported by United Way provided service to nearly eighty thousand people throughout Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties.

SARANAC LAKE — A first grade field trip to the Ice Palace on Wednesday could have ended disastrously if it weren’t for the quick actions of a teacher leading the trip.

Click here for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise story 

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Faculty Association News Release 2/10/23

Clinton Community College’s teaching and non-teaching faculty have been without a salary increase for six years, and attempts to negotiate have been unsuccessful since 2017. 

In October 2022, the College Board was informed that the Faculty Association (FA) sought mediation, resolution, and progress toward a fair and equitable contract.  Currently, the College and FA are at an impasse.  The FA has determined that “no progress” toward a fair and equitable wage is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees (BOT). 

Therefore, effective immediately, until a formal agreement with wage increases is signed, all members of the FA will work only to the exact terms of their employment contract. All extra work that is done without additional compensation has ceased. 

The Faculty’s enthusiastic instruction and stellar service in support of our students who are enrolled at Clinton Community College will continue to be the benchmark of our commitment to students who are enrolled at Clinton Community College. 

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Free program offers information about AED use, fire safety, narcan administration, Stop the Bleed and more

PLATTSBURGH, NY (02/08/2023) —  “Staying Alive: Responding to Emergencies” is a free community event planned for Saturday, February 18 at the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The health and information fair will be held on the first floor of the hospital’s Main Campus auditorium.

The event will feature displays, exhibits and information from the CVPH Clinical Education team, Alliance for Positive Health, EMT of CVPH and the Plattsburgh Fire Department.  Topics include providing assistance to someone choking, in need of CPR or having a stroke; fire and safety prevention; using an AED; administering Narcan; using Stop the Bleed principles and caring for yourself in an emergency.

“We’ve come together to share important information – specifically for people with little or no medical background.  Emergencies can happen at any time, anywhere, to anyone. Having some basic knowledge can make a difference while you wait for medical help to arrive. Our goal is to provide practical, useful information,” explained Shana Riel, CVPH Clinical Education Coordinator.

Participants are encouraged to use CVPH’s Main Entrance. Masking requirements remain in place.

Northern St. Lawrence-Northern Franklin-Southern Franklin-
Western Clinton-Western Essex-
Including the cities of Massena, Norfolk, Fort Covington, Malone,
Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Dannemora, Ellenburg, Lake Placid, 
and Newcomb
331 AM EST Thu Feb 9 2023

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EST
FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Northern St. Lawrence, Northern Franklin, Southern 
  Franklin, Western Clinton and Western Essex Counties.

* WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to noon EST Friday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. 
  Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may 
  result.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The highest gusts are expected during
  Friday predawn into late morning hours.

Click here for the Mountain Lake PBS story 

On a daily basis, taxis bring migrants from the bus stop in Plattsburgh to Roxham Road in Champlain

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Tuesday, February 21, 2023, 6:45 pm, Lake Forest Senior Living Retirement Community, 8 Lake Forest Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12903

Admission is Free

Please join the Clinton County Historical Association (CCHA) on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, 6:45 pm, at the Lake Forest Senior Living Retirement Community, for a presentation on Clinton County’s Redford Glass heritage.    

The presentation will take participants back to a period more than 200 years ago to learn about the short-lived history of the Redford Glass Company.  Although the company was in business for only 20 years they produced products that demonstrated unique skilled craftsmanship that survive to this day.  By the end of the presentation participants will see how the Company, that was once famous and esteemed for its crown glass windowpanes, has become synonymous with unique and priceless glassware. The presentation is free and open to the public.