Title: BYAA meeting scheduled

Title: Carthage man charged with DWI

A 31 year old Carthage man was charged with DWI. Carthage Police report that Billy Mono was charged following a traffic stop on West End Avenue. He was additionally charged with consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle, inadequate taillights, & refusal to submit to a breath test. All charges are returnable to Village of Carthage Court at a later date.

Title: Hamlin featured in Sports Illustrated issue

Remsen’s Erin Hamlin is once again featured in a national sports publication. Erin is shown in a 2-page photo in a special Olympic edition of Sports Illustrated. The section is on pages 42 & 43 of the March 10^th issue that features the luge & skeleton competitions. Erin, who is the 2009 World Cup Champion, placed 16^th in the luge competition at the Olympics & has already announced she will make a run at the 2014 Olympics in Russia.

Title: Boonville man charged with aggravated harassment

A 56 year old Boonville man was arrested for aggravated harassment 2^nd degree & stalking 4^th degree. Boonville Police report that Vincent Szewczyk was charged stemming from several incidents that occurred between January & March of this year at a residence on Sunset Drive & at a business on Route 12 in Boonville. Szewczyk allegedly made several harassing phone calls & texts to his estranged girlfriend & harassed her at her place of employment. Szewczyk was arraigned in Town of Steuben Court, where he posted $1,000 cash bail & was released.

Title: Hoffman announces run for Congress

A Lake Placid Republican has announced another run for Congress. Doug Hoffman announced last night that he will make another run at the 23^rd Congressional seat, currently held by Democrat Bill Owens. Hoffman lost to Owens in November in a special election held to replace John McHugh, who had resigned to become Secretary of the Army.

Title: Lewis Legislators oppose farm bill

The Lewis County Board of Legislators has voiced their opposition to a controversial farm bill making it‘s way through the State Legislature. Legislators voted 10-0 at their March meeting to voice their opposition to the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act, which would require farmers to pay their hired hands overtime & unemployment insurance. Opponents of the measure have stated that if the bill is passed, it would put a number of farms out of business. The county board also voted unanimously to oppose a new 4.7% state tax on gross revenues for industrial development agencies, nearly $1 billion in proposed state taxes & funding cuts to hospitals, nursing homes, & home care agencies, as well as a proposed redirection of $1 million from the Snowmobile Trail Maintenance Fund to the General Fund.

Title: Woman pleads guilty to drug & burglary charges

A 31 year old former Croghan woman was in Lewis County Court to answer charges stemming from an unattended death of a Croghan man in April of 2009. Shannon Larkins pled guilty to charges of burglary 3^rd degree, criminal sale of a controlled substance 3^rd degree, & tampering with physical evidence in connection to the death of Randy Slawson Jr. Sentencing was scheduled for May 10^th. Also in Lewis County Court, 21 year old Hannah Gaut pled guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance 7^th degree & DWI & was sentenced to 1 year conditional discharge, $2,000 fine, 100 hours of community service, $190 in court fees, & 6 month suspension of her driver‘s license. 49 year old Royal Nuffer of 3^rd Road had his case of 2 counts of criminal contempt 1^st degree & 1 count of stalking 4^th degree adjourned until Friday. 34 year old Walter Martin of Lowville had his case of 2 counts of criminal diversion of prescription medication & 1 count of criminal sale of a controlled substance 5^th degree adjourned until April 9^th. 25 year old Shawn Pignone of the Murphy Road pled guilty to criminal mischief 4^th degree & will be sentenced March 26^th. 19 year old Emilie Potter of the Swiernicki Road pled guilty to petit larceny & will also be sentenced March 26^th.

Title: Sugar producers get break from state

As Maple Season in New York State kicks into high gear, maple producers received some good news from Albany. The State Senate passed a measure unanimously that states that all sugarhouses & other maple production facilities be defined as agricultural buildings under the State Building Code. Some producers in the state were forced to build their sugarhouses to comply with commercial building codes, which are more restrictive, when they were unable to obtain an agricultural building permit. The bill also allows public assembly in sugar houses, which is not allowed under the current law, which hinders tourism efforts.

Title: Kindergarten registrations at Remsen School scheduled

Registration for Kindergarten students at Remsen Central School has been scheduled for March 17^th in the Elementary School Main Office from 9-6. To be eligible for registration, a child must be 5 years old by December 1^st. If your child will be attending school in the fall, contact the school receptionist at 831-3797, ext. 223 & provide the child‘s name & date of birth, parents‘ names, mailing address, & phone number. Parents are asked to bring the child‘s birth certificate & immunization record to the registration. It is not necessary for the child to attend.

Title: 5 injured in 1-vehicle accident

5 people were injured in a 1-vehicle rollover accident that occurred at around 7:46 p.m. Friday night on the Number 3 Road in the Town of Lowville. Lewis County Sheriff’s Deputies report that a vehicle driven by 30 year old Shannon Bigda of Copenhagen was traveling northwesterly when she skidded & swerved, striking a snow bank. The vehicle then went off the roadway & rolled over several times. A passenger in the vehicle, identified as 36 year old Kristopher Ballou of Copenhagen, was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt & was ejected from the vehicle. All 5 occupants of the vehicle, comprising of 3 adults & 2 children, were taken to Lewis County General Hospital for treatment of injuries. Assisting at the scene were Lowville Firemen, Lewis County Search & Rescue, Turin Ambulance, & Kafline‘s Towing. Deputies report that the investigation is continuing & charges are anticipated against the driver.

Title: Record turnout at Heart Run/Walk

A record was set at Saturday’s America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk at Utica College. Organizers report that 8,740 walkers & runners attended the event, which was the most in history. $1,125,032 was raised through the efforts of those that attended to combat heart disease. Sunny skies & comfortable temperatures helped to make for an enjoyable day.

Title: Watertown woman ticketed following accident

A 40 year old Watertown woman was ticketed following a 2-vehicle personal injury accident that occurred at around 9:15 a.m. Friday morning on State Route 26 in the Town of Denmark. Lewis County Sheriff‘s Deputies report that a southbound vehicle driven by Linda Chouinard went around a New York State DOT snowplow & blower that was plowing snow when she partially entered the northbound lane & struck an oncoming vehicle driven by 42 year old Joseph Tupper of Lowville nearly head-on. Chouinard was taken to Lewis County General Hospital by Lewis County Search & Rescue for treatment of minor injuries. She was ticketed for failure to keep right, returnable to Town of Denmark Court at a later date.

Title: Castorland man arrested for rape & child endangerment

An 18 year old Castorland man was arrested for rape 2^nd degree & endangering the welfare of a child. Lewis County Sheriff‘s Deputies report that Jeremiah Townsend was charged after he allegedly engaged in intercourse with a female under the age of 15 beginning in December 2009 in the Town of Lowville. Townsend was arraigned in Town of Lowville Court & was remanded to the Lewis County Jail on $900 cash bail to await further court action.