MyABC50: Local News

New Faces run for seats on Watertown City Council

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:46:20 -0400

Watertown (WTNY) -- Unlike two years ago, there will be political outsiders challenging for two seats for Watertown City Council.

Twenty seven year old Cody Horbacz is a resident of West Ten Eyck Street and is among the two new candidates for council. Horbacz says one of the things he would like to see done is a revitalization of the city in a cultural sense. He plans on officially kicking off his campaign with an event in Watertown on June 1.

The other new candidate is also a 27 year old city resident. Jasmine Borregine is among those currently trying to convince the council to remove fluoride from the water supply.

Incumbents Jeff Smith and Teresa Macaluso have already announced their intentions to seek reelection.

Winning Powerball Ticket sold in Ogdensburg

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:41:00 -0400

Ogdensburg (WTNY) -- While it may not have been the big jackpot, someone in the North Country didn't do too badly with the recent Powerball drawing this week.

Lottery officials say a $2 million winning Powerball ticket was sold at the Kinney Drugs in Ogdensburg. The most recent drawing had a jackpot of $40 million.

There is no word on who the winning ticket may belong to.

Boy Scouts to allow openly gay members

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:50:00 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – The Boy Scouts of America will allow for gay members, the national organization determined on Thursday.

More than 60 percent of the organization’s 1,400-member national council approved the measure, according to CNN.

The ban will remain in effect for Scouts’ leaders, however.

For a complete report, visit CNN’s website.

Fire causes minimum damage at Miller's Meat Market in Watson

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:35:33 -0400

Watson(WWTI) -- Lowville Firefighters responded to a report of a fire at Miller's meat Market in the Town of Watson shortly after 9:00 Thursday morning.

According to fire officials the blaze started as a grease fire in a smoker machine used to smoke meat. An employee was taken to the hospital. Jared Martin was treated for smoke inhalation.

The Market sustained minimum damage and some contents were lost as a result of the fire.

Soldier accused of video taping female cadets in the shower at West Point now at Fort Drum

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:24:00 -0400

Fort Drum (WTNY) -- The Army is dealing with another sex-related scandal.

Sergeant First Class Michael McClendon is facing charges for allegedly videotaping female cadets in the showers at West Point. It's the latest in a series of embarrassing sex scandals involving U.S. military members that has left some lawmakers in Washington wondering if they have to be the ones to push legislation that would force the Pentagon to properly handle sex crimes.

McClendon has been transferred out of West Point and taken to Ft. Drum pending an internal investigation.

Monsignor McCarthy has Watertown City Fire Truck named after him

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:20:27 -0400

Watertown (WTNY) -- The longtime chaplain of the Watertown City Fire Department has been honored with a fire truck that will now have his namesake.

The fire department recently named it's rescue truck the R.J. McCarthy, in honor Monsignor Robert McCarthy. He has been with the department for over 30 years and the truck in question is the most active in the fleet. The naming of fire trucks is a tradition that dates back over 150 years.

The public is invited to stop by the Emma Flower Taylor Fire Station on South Massey St. to view the newly named truck.

Bill Owens want to stop border fees

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:16:00 -0400

(WTNY) -- North Country Congressman Bill Owens is touting a legislative amendment that would halt the possibility of any border fees for land travel.

The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday passed an amendment introduced by Owens that would halt the proposed study of a border fee. The proposal was included in a budget request by the Department of Homeland Security. The fee in question would be for those traveling by motor vehicle and could hamper cross border travel between the U.S. in Canada.

The amendment will be included in the bill when it comes to the floor of the House for a vote later this year.

FBI shoots and kills man being questioned in connection with the Boston bombing

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:34:52 -0400

Orlando (WSYR-TV) – A Florida man being questioned by the FBI over an alleged relationship with the accused Boston bombers was shot and killed Wednesday during what the FBI called a "violent confrontation" with authorities.

ABC News reports that the man, identified as Ibragim Todashev, was being interviewed by a special agent.

The FBI said in a statement that he was being interviewed "in connection with the Boston Marathon bombing investigation when a violent confrontation was initiated by the subject."

"During the confrontation, the individual was killed and the agent sustained non-life threatening injuries," the FBI said.

The FBI said that the incident is under review.

Dustin Trimm's father accused of trying to bribe a witness

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:42:29 -0400

(WTNY) -- The bizarre case of Dustin Trimm took another turn on Tuesday with the arrest of his father.

He's accused of trying to bribe a witness in his son's case. Sixty four year old Steven Trimm was arrested on a warrant from St. Lawrence County Court. The elder Trimm is alleged to have tried to bribe Robert McConnell, offering him $1500 for not testifying in his son's case. He is charged with bribing a witness, fifth degree conspiracy, and fourth degree criminal solicitation.

He was ordered held without bail.

Dustin Trimm is awaiting sentencing for the shooting death of Jason Wing back in 2010. He has pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter.

Most local School Budgets pass

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:36:36 -0400

(WTNY) -- Tuesday's school budget votes in the North Country yielded mostly passed budgets.

The one exception was in the financially troubled General Brown School District. The school's budget received 806 yes votes to 580 no votes, but because the budget exceeded the state's tax cap, a 60 percent supermajority was needed to pass the budget. It fell short by a few percentage points. The school board will meet next week to determine what to do next. That could mean putting the same budget up for vote the second time, putting up a revised budget, or setting up a contingency budget. The last option would include a number of program and personnel cuts.

In the City of Watertown, the budget passed by a tally of 403-73. Beth Linderman was voted onto the School Board.

Oklahoma Tornado: How to donate to help the victims

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:29:31 -0400

(WSYR-TV) – Both the Red Cross and Salvation Army are taking donations to help the victims of Monday's devastating tornado in Oklahoma.

You can donate to the Red Cross response in the following ways:
- Visit redcross.org
- Call 1-800-REDCROSS
- Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation

You can donate to the Salvation Army in the following ways:
- Visit their website
- Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY
- Text "STORM" to 80888 to make $10 donation

Aviary at the Zoo finally set to come down

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:23:08 -0400

Watertown (WTNY) -- The aviary at the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park has only a few days left.

It was learned during Monday night's Council meeting that work on tearing down the aviary will begin this week, and it should take only a couple of days to bring down the structure completely. The plan is to replace the aviary with an outdoor pavilion to be used by the zoo.

Several years ago, members of the Council tried to save the aviary, which they consider to be a historic part of the park, after zoo officials requested it be torn down due to disrepair. However, it was determined that the costs involved would make preserving the structure impractical.

Do you have 'lost money' waiting to be claimed? Search the state's unclaimed funds website

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:12:50 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - NewsChannel 9 is helping you hunt down your unclaimed funds that the state is holding on to.

The state comptroller's office is holding on to $12 billion in "lost money." You could have a check just waiting to be claimed.

Find if you have any unclaimed funds: Click here to search for lost money on the comptroller's website.

You can also call 1-800-221-9311, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

You may have "lost," "abandoned," or "unclaimed" funds from old bank accounts, insurance policies, utility accounts, investments, or other sources.

When accounts become inactive, they’re turned over to the state which holds on to the money until you claim it.

Fort Drum man rescued by an off duty Sheriff's Deputy

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:18:37 -0400

Sackets Harbor (WTNY) -- A Ft. Drum man was hospitalized after being rescued by an off duty sheriff's deputy over the weekend.

The Sheriff's Department says it received a report just before 4:00am Saturday morning of a man who had fallen over a cliff along the waterway behind General Smith Drive and Pike St. in the Village of Sackets Harbor.

Firefighter and off duty deputy Travis Alcombrack responded with his own boat and was able to locate the subject huddled on some rocks along the water's edge.

Twenty four year old Lane Reeder was taken to Samaritan Medical Center to be treated for mild hypothermia.

Another vehicle stolen and set on fire

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:11:00 -0400

Leray (WTNY) -- Police in Jefferson County are investigating yet another vehicle theft and fire.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department says they responded to the scene of a suspicious vehicle fire that occurred just after midnight on Sunday on Virginia Smith Drive in the Town of LeRay. The vehicle had been stolen from a nearby location on Rt. 11. Witnesses say they saw a white male getting out of the vehicle while it appeared to be on fire. Police also found a bicycle that was recovered from the side of Rt. 11 and is confirmed to have been stolen from a shed only a few residences away from the stolen vehicle location.

The person of interest being sought is described as a white male, between 5'9" and 6 feet tall, with close cut, dark hair. He was last seen wearing khaki shirts, dark colored sneakers, dark colored gloves, and no shirt. He was seen running into the wooded area adjacent to the Wood Creek Apartments. Anyone with any further information is asked to call police at 786-2601.

Police have not said if they believe this case is related to two similar ones that are investigated by State Police dating back to the previous weekend.

Potsdam man hit by train listed in Crtical Condition

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:00:14 -0400

Potsdam (WWTI) -- Police in St. Lawrence County are investigating a train - pedestrian accident that occurred on the the CSX rail line just off the Sissinville Road in the Town of Potsdam.

At approximately 10pm Sunday evening, the Sheriff's Office received a call of a possible train - pedestrian accident. Sheriff Deputies responded to the scene with the assistance of the Potsdam Police Department. Police discovered 45 year old Kevin P. Seig, Pleasant Valley Rd., Potsdam, on the railroad bed near the train with severe head and internal injuries after being struck by a CSX locomotive.

Seig was transported by Potsdam Rescue to the Potsdam Airport where Seig was air lifted by helicopter by Lifenet to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse where he is listed in critical condition.

CSX officials were on scene for approximately 4 hours assisting with the investigation before the train was released.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Sheriff Detectives and Deputies were assisted at the scene by Potsdam Fire and Rescue Departments and the NYS Police.

Wine & Dine: Grilled Chicken Cordon Bleu

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:30:00 -0400

Grilled Chicken Cordon Blue

Ingredients:
Splitting chicken breasts in half allows them to cook faster on the grill. This is an easy way to jazz up plain old chicken. Rather than stuff the
chicken with ham and cheese (the classic Cordon Blue), you top the chicken with it after turning, like a cheeseburger. This can also be done
in a hot skillet, for the same amount of time.
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 tablespoon white or red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
4 large thin slices baked ham
4 thin slices swiss cheese

Instructions:
Butterfly each chicken breast by halving it horizontally, but leaving one side attached, so that it opens into a large thin cutlet.
Whisk together the mustard, oil, lemon vinegar and thyme. On a plate coat the chicken with the marinade, stacking the breasts as they are coated.
Let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes to 3 hours covered and chilled.
Discard the marinade and grill the opened chicken breasts over hot coals for 5 minutes. Turn and top each with a slice of ham and Swiss. Cook
another 5 minutes

Serves 4

Drug raid results in arrest for Watertown teen

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:12:00 -0400

Watertown (WWTI) -- Several area Police agencies raided an apartment at 211 South Meadow St. in Watertown shortly after 5:00 Thursday morning.

Police seized 21 bags of heroin valued at $450, 6 grams of bulk heroin valued at $1,500, 14 grams of powdered cocaine valued at $1,400, $3,700 in cash as well as other assorted drug paraphernalia.

Arrested at the home was 17 year old Drew Schroy. Schroy was charged with 2 counts of Criminal Possession of of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd degree, a class B felony. Schroy is scheduled to be arraigned in City Court and is being held at the Jefferson County Public Safety Building.

Also arrested at scene was 19 year old Miguel Paredes of Bronx, NY. Paredes was charged with 1 count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Police say he had a Stun Gun in his possession.

The investigation is on going.

Agencies involved in the raid were:
The Metro-Jeff Drug Task Force
Jefferson County SRT and K-9
Watertown City Police Entry Team
Watertown Police ID Unit

ATV accident takes the life of a Barnes Corners man

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:45:19 -0400

Harrisburg, NY (WTNY) -- New York State Police are investigating an ATV accident in Lewis County that left an elderly man dead.

Police say the accident occurred on the Cobb Rd. in the Town of Harrisburg. At around 3 pm Wednesday police were dispatched to the scene after a report of an unconscious and unresponsive 75 year old male. Police say earlier in the day, 75 year old William Snyder of Barnes Corners was backing his ATV on a sloped area of private land when the vehicle tipped over onto it's left side. The Snyder was ejected and later found by a family friend. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Traffic delays expected next week on Coffeen St. in Watertown

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:32:00 -0400

Watertown (WWTI) -- Repairs to the Railroad Crossing on Coffeen St will temporarily close a portion of Watertown's busiest Streets next week.

On Tuesday, May 21st, CSX will begin the repairs to the Crossing located between Bellew Ave. and Massey St. That portion of Coffeen Street is expected to remain closed while the repairs are made. CSX expects the project to take 2 or 3 days to finish. During that time, traffic will be directed to Arsenal Street.

Local traffic and access to businesses located in the work zone will remain open.