PLATTSBURGH — 2024 was a tumultuous year indeed with many ups and downs and interesting stories unfolding in the North Country over the past 12 months.
Here are some of the highlights of the year from the dates they appeared in the Press-Republican.
JANUARY
2 — Hilary Harwood and Michael Krieger, from Willsboro, have welcomed their daughter, MJ Krieger, into the world as The University of Vermont Health Network-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital’s first baby of 2024.
MJ was born one week early at 7:58 a.m. New Year’s Day weighing in at 7 pounds, 5 ounces and measuring 20 inches.
4 — Town of Beekmantown Supervisor Norm Davis has resigned from office due to health concerns.
He has been replaced by longtime Town Councilor Sharron Garden who was appointed to the position at Tuesday night’s town organizational meeting.
She will serve for one year. “I agreed to do this so the town can move forward smoothly,” Garden, who served on the Town Board for 17 years, said.
“My main concern is the town and not politics. It was brought to me that this might be the best thing for the town.”
5 — A new history project that officials hope will be a major attraction to the region was damaged by vandals recently.
The Battlefield Memorial Gateway, on Route 9 in the Town of Plattsburgh just south of the City of Plattsburgh, was damaged by an automobile running recklessly across fields that are part of the project.
Thick tire tracks can be seen in several areas of the project with some coming perilously close to the brand-new Purple Heart monument.
6 — Mark Henry (R-Area 3, Chazy) was sworn in for another term as Clinton County Legislature chairman as the legislature re-organizes for another year. Also, in the City of Plattsburgh, Jacob Avery (D-Ward 2) and David Monette (D-Ward 5) are sworn in as new members of the city’s Common Council.
In the Town of Plattsburgh, Supervisor Michael Cashman is sworn in for another term.
10 – In shocking news, Clinton Community College announced a relocation plan that will move its campus to SUNY Plattsburgh by the 2025-2026 academic year.
“Clinton Community College is much more than just a place with buildings because its defining core are the academic programs and its mission and purpose. We are committed to ensuring that every step we take is thoughtful, inclusive, and geared toward strengthening our institution for future generations,” CCC President John Kowal said in a statement.
“By working closely with our faculty and staff, students, alumni, community members, and our key partners at the county and state level, we will develop a sustainable strategy that enriches the educational experience we offer. Together, we will navigate these changes with a spirit of unity and a focus on securing a vibrant future for our college.”
20 — Two Plattsburgh men pled guilty to manslaughter in connection with the stabbing of Kenneth Darrah at AuSable Chasm last year.
Michael J. Rougeau, 49, and Michael A. Nastasia, 31, both entered pleas of guilty to manslaughter in the first degree, a class B felony. The men said under oath that the killing was motivated by their shared belief that Darrah, 37, was a “snitch” who had provided police with incriminating information about their friends and relatives.
New York State Police found Darrah’s body on the north bank of the AuSable River underneath the AuSable Chasm Bridge in Chesterfield in the early hours of March 20, 2023. He was killed the previous night.
23 — Essex County District Attorney Kristy Sprague, 52, said she will run for Essex County Judge in November.
Current Judge Richard Meyer will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 this year, creating a vacancy at the position on Dec. 31 and the need for this election.
24 — Gov. Kathy Hochul visited the Olympic Sports Complex at Mount Van Hoevenberg to speak about her $233 billion executive budget proposal and to highlight budget items specific to the North Country, including funding for the Adirondack Rail Trail, housing, climate resiliency, infrastructure, former Olympic venue improvements and more.
The speech was part of a broader statewide tour to push for her funding priorities as the state Legislature begins work on the state budget.
Hochul announced that the state will invest $13.1 million from the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act to support the ongoing construction of the Adirondack Rail Trail and the restoration of the Saranac Lake Depot. Around $10 million of this $13 million is from existing state commitments to funding the trail. It includes an additional $3 million for renovation of the Saranac Lake Union Depot.
27 — Stewart’s Shops is named Business of the Year by the North Country Chamber of Commerce at the chamber’s annual awards dinner. Also racking up awards were Matt Boire, president of CDC Real Estate Inc. as Businessperson of the Year and Black Brook General Store as Small Business of the Year.
Twinstate Technologies was given the chamber’s Trailblazer award.
FEBRUARY
2 – Breeze Airways is expanding its offerings of flights locally.
Breeze said its service at Vermont’s Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport kicked off with a seasonal flight to Tampa, Florida on Wednesday.
Following that inaugural flight, the airline wasted no time in announcing the addition of two direct flights to Orlando, Fla. and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., set to begin on Feb. 14 and May 23, respectively.
3 — City of Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquest will not seek re-election in 2024.
Rosenquest broke the news to the crowd at the annual North Country Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City, Town and County breakfast address.
Rosenquest, 48, said he wanted to spend more time with his family.
7 — Democrat Wendell Hughes, a Clinton County legislator, said he is running for City of Plattsburgh mayor.
Hughes, a retired corrections officer of more than 30 years, has represented the Area 8 district, which covers parts of the City and Town of Plattsburgh, since November of 2020.
8 — Wendell Hughes’ decision to run for City of Plattsburgh mayor has inspired Councilors Jeff Moore and Elizabeth Gibbs to seek re-election this fall.
As recently as last week, Moore (D-Ward 6) and Gibbs (D-Ward 3), who joined the council together in 2019 and then won re-election in 2021, were not planning to run for another term.
When they heard Hughes would be running for mayor, though, the two changed their minds.
10 — Two correction officers were attacked in separate incidents last week, both during a pat frisk for contraband at Upstate Correctional Facility, the officer’s union said.
An inmate suddenly spun and punched an officer in the nose and mouth, the officer’s union said.
Four officers in the yard immediately grabbed the inmate in a body hold and forced him to the ground. Handcuffs were applied and the inmate was brought to his feet and escorted out of the yard, the union said.
The injured officer sustained abrasions to his nose, lip, hand and knee. He remained on duty after being treated by facility medical personnel.
A second officer sustained a minor leg injury helping subdue the inmate.
The 23-year-old inmate was placed in a Special Housing Unit following the attack, the union said.
He is serving a seven-year sentence after being convicted in Queens County for first-degree assault in 2023.
The second assault occurred on Friday, Feb. 2.
13 — A potential major incident was avoided as area police stopped a Plattsburgh man heavily armed and headed for his former employer.
Police apprehended Robert Thibodeau, 52, of Plattsburgh after receiving a call from a relative of his that he was on his way to University of Vermont Health Network — Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh and believed to be in possession of loaded firearms.
16 — Attorney Paula Collins announced that she is running for the congressional seat currently held by Elise Stefanik, setting up a Democratic primary between herself and Democrat Steven Holden.
Collins, a cannabis tax attorney who made her announcement outside the Elevate ADK cannabis dispensary in Saranac Lake, lives and works in Manhattan and recently purchased property in Rensselaer County.
17 — After years of planning and several public presentations, the voters in the Boquet Valley Central School District have spoken by soundly defeating a proposal for a new school by a count of 1,008 no votes to 372 yes votes.
22 — A Massachusetts man was sentenced to 16 years in prison Thursday in Clinton County Court for raping a local woman in 2021.
Michael A. Ramos-Perez was given his sentence by Clinton County Judge William Favreau after pleading to a first-degree rape charge.
23 — The annual Saranac Lake Winter Carnival once again draws thousands of visitors to its parade and famous ice castle on the shores of Lake Flower.
27 — Dan Lennon stepped down from his position as Clinton County assistant district attorney to commit to his candidacy for City of Plattsburgh mayor. He recognizes he is taking a risk in doing so.
“I knew this going into it, but I think the city needs it,” he said.
“I was disheartened to see what the city’s outlook was before I entered the race, and I felt obligated to enter the race.”
28 — Clinton County Sheriff’s Department officers rescued 49 dogs from an animal rescue operation in Beekmantown after deplorable living conditions for the animals were discovered.
“It’s a horrible situation,” Clinton County Sheriff David Favro said at a news conference outside the Clinton County Jail Tuesday.
“It’s very sad. Pets are supposed to bring joy and pleasure to all of us and to have them just boxed up in a cage, stuffed in there like that and treated that way is just not acceptable.”
The animals were temporarily housed in empty cells at the county jail.
MARCH
7 — The operator of an animal rescue operation that had 49 dogs removed from its location last week due to poor conditions has been formally charged.
Hilary A. Davis, 57, operator of A Canine Gem in Beekmantown, is now facing more than 50 charges including six felonies and 48 misdemeanor counts.
8 — A former mayor of the City of Plattsburgh will be seeking his old job this year.
Donald Kasprzak, who served as mayor from 2006 to 2014, accepted the City Republican Party nomination Thursday and will seek the city’s top job again.
“I’m very honored that the Republican Party nominated me to be their candidate for the City of Plattsburgh mayor position,” Kasprzak said.
12 – Bill Meyers of Casella Waste Management, was named the United Way of the Adirondack Region’s Citizen of the Year at their annual dinner.
“He is kind, he never looks for any kind of recognition, he is very humble, the epitome of humility, very generous, as generous as you can get, he’s engaged with numerous organizations across our region, numerous causes across the region, he is a mentor to many young people, whether they work in the company that he leads or whether they are other young people that need a wonderful mentor, he’s a devoted family man to his wife and two children,” was the way United Way Director John Bernardi described Meyers.
14 — The operator of local animal rescue A Canine Gem, which had 49 dogs seized from its facility Feb. 26 due to alleged poor conditions, has formally agreed to surrender the animals into the custody and care of the Peru Elmore SPCA.
Hilary A. Davis, 57, sitting in Beekmantown Justice Court, said her decision to do so was made “in good faith” as the proceedings against her continue.
16 — Bob Frenyea was named as Irishman of the Year by the North Country Chamber of Commerce at the annual St. Patrick’s Day breakfast in Plattsburgh.
Frenyea has the perfect resume that one would want in their North Country Chamber of Commerce Irishperson of the Year selection. He’s been involved with the chamber, helped area veterans, served on many community boards, been a successful businessman and is a devoted family man.
23 — Robert Thibodeau, the man suspected of attempting to bring firearms to CVPH in Plattsburgh and use them on the staff there last month, is facing 11 counts in court stemming from that incident.
According to court documents, the 11 counts he is facing break down into: three counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree; one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree; three counts of criminal possession of a firearm; one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree; and three counts of unlawful possession of an ammunition feeding device.
26 — One of the two men who pled guilty to manslaughter in January for the death of Kenneth Darrah at AuSable Chasm last year was sentenced in Essex County Court.
Michael J. Rougeau, 49, of Plattsburgh, was handed down a 25-year determinate sentence with a 5-year post release supervision by Judge Richard Meyer for his connection to Darrah’s murder.
The other man connected to Darrah’s murder, Michael A. Nastasia, 31, had his sentencing postponed to April 22 after he requested a different attorney from his current one, Marc Zuckerman.
This was a “horrific, disgusting act on your part,” Meyer told Rougeau before handing down the sentence.
“As much as I tried to, I can’t find a reason for doing this to another human being.”
29 – Two people were found dead under the snow in a remote area near the Canadian border Monday.
The individuals were identified as Abdoulaye Ndoye and Ndongo Sarry, both 25 and both from Dakar, Sengal.
State Police said that around noon on Monday, March 25, a Border Patrol agent and K9 Connie were conducting a routine search in the woods off Eddy Road for any criminal activity.
K9 Connie alerted over a black backpack and a snow-covered mound. Under the snow was a deceased male, police said.
K9 Connie continued to search the area and alerted over another snow-covered mound where another deceased male was found.
APRIL
2 — A Port Henry man was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound on Lincoln Pond Road early Monday morning.
William E. Ball, 40, of Port Henry was found dead in his vehicle at 4829 Lincoln Pond Road at about 5:31 a.m., police said.
State Police said their preliminary investigation determined an altercation occurred on Lincoln Pond Road in the town of Elizabethtown, resulting in a shooting and the suspect fleeing into the adjacent woods.
3 — A Brooklyn man has been charged with murder after he allegedly shot a Port Henry man during a dispute on the Lincoln Pond Road early Monday morning.
Qwavon M. Harris, 28, of Brooklyn was arraigned in Elizabethtown Town Court Tuesday afternoon and charged with felony second-degree murder and two counts of misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapon.
Harris was located at the Stewart’s Shop in Elizabethtown by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department later Monday morning and taken into custody before being turned over to State Police.
6 — Hotels and businesses in the Plattsburgh area are ready and waiting for the potential massive influx of visitors looking to catch a glimpse of the total solar eclipse on Monday.
Preparation for this celestial event began well over a year ago.
“So we’ve been working with the businesses in the community for about a year or so. They are well aware of what to expect with the influx,” Kristy Kennedy, North Country Chamber of Commerce vice president of marketing, operations and business development, said.
Almost all major hotel chains in the Plattsburgh area will be at capacity the weekend leading up to the eclipse on Monday afternoon.
8 —The 2024 total solar eclipse was met with peace and harmony Monday afternoon as thousands of people in the region embraced the moment the skies turned dark together.
“I loved it,” Hank Cutler of Cherry Hill, N.J. said moments after the three-and-a-half minute period of totality ended.
Cutler, 68, drove to Syracuse first and then Rochester hoping to catch the best viewing place, but cloudy weather there turned him northward to Plattsburgh Monday morning.
The amateur astronomer set up his elaborate camera equipment in Trinity Park in Downtown Plattsburgh along with hundreds of others Monday afternoon.
He said it was everything he expected and hoped for.
“Thank you, Plattsburgh,” he said with a big smile.
11 — After months of anticipation, Jersey Mike’s Subs has finally opened its doors in the Town of Plattsburgh.
In celebration of the opening at 114 Consumer Square, franchise owners James Liotta and Macky Liotta held a fundraiser to support Clinton Community College.
13 — Outgoing Democratic Mayor Chris Rosenquest is hoping to remain active in City of Plattsburgh politics when his term is up at the end of the year.
Rosenquest, 48, who announced he would not seek re-election as mayor this November so he could spend more time with his family, has instead opted to run for the Ward 3 Common Council seat.
16 — A man was found dead near a house fire on Burnt Hill Road early Sunday morning. He died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to State Police, firefighters and police were called to a structure fire with possible entrapment at 596 Burnt Hill Road around 3 a.m.
It was believed that the owner was still inside the home and firefighters and State Police troopers attempted to make it inside the residence to search, but could not do so.
Firefighters were able to put the fire out and make it inside the home along with State Police investigators and New York State Fire Investigators. They found the home vacant.
While they were investigating the fire, troopers were called to a home at 634 Burnt Hill Road, just a few houses away, for a call of an unresponsive man in a woodshed.
Troopers found a man with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said.
The man was identified as Jason A. Kitterle, 50, of Cadyville.
25 — The Clinton County Fair will be a bit earlier this summer and it will feature a hot new country artist as its headline performer.
“We saw last year that he was getting pretty hot so we booked him,” Clinton County Fair Manager Mike Perrotte, said about Warren Zeiders, the new country star that will be performing at the Fair Grounds on July 11.
“We hit it just right.”
30 — Three correction officers were seriously injured, with one stabbed in the face, in an altercation with an inmate at Clinton Correctional Facility recently.
According to the New York State Correction Officers Police Benevolent Association, the union representing correction officers, a convicted murderer stabbed an officer twice, once in the shoulder and once in the face, with a makeshift weapon at the maximum security correctional facility on April 19.
Two other officers were also injured during the attack and were also transported to the hospital for treatment.
MAY
2 — The Press-Republican was honored with four awards in the 2023 New York Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.
The results included:
• Second Place for Coverage of Religion to Press-Republican Staff Writer Robin Caudell for her area faith coverage
• Second Place for Best News or Feature Series Press-Republican Staff Writer Robin Caudell for her coverage of the reunion of local heart donor Dalton Criss’ transplant recipient with his family.
• Second Place for Best Spot News Photo for Press-Republican Staff Writer Ben Rowe for his photo of convicted murderer Vincent Abrams in the courtroom during sentencing.
• Third Place for Best Sports Feature Photo for Contributing Photographer Joey La-Franca’s photo of Saranac Central School high jump athlete Grace Damiani’s celebratory leap of joy.
4 – Hilary A. Davis, operator of animal rescue A Canine Gem, from which 49 dogs were seized in February due to alleged poor conditions, was arraigned on additional charges in Beekmantown Justice Court Wednesday.
Davis, 57, was charged with three counts of animal cruelty, all misdemeanors; one count of false advertising, a misdemeanor; and one count of first-degree scheme to defraud, a felony.
Davis, now represented by defense attorney Nicholas Evanovich of LaMarche Safranko Law in Plattsburgh, pleaded not guilty to all charges Wednesday and was released on her own recognizance.
In March, Davis was also charged with four counts of second-degree forgery, class D felonies; two counts of second- degree possession of a forged instrument, also class D felonies; and 48 counts of torturing or injuring animals/ failure to provide sustenance, class A misdemeanors.
8 — A man accused of running over another man at an area truck stop last year was convicted of second-degree manslaughter Monday.
A jury in Clinton County Court before Judge Keith Bruno rendered the verdict on Thomas E. Lance, 38, of Albany.
Lance was charged for running over Wayne H. Haupt, 53, of Albany at a truck stop off Exit 36 of the Adirondack Northway off Route 22 at around 8:20 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2023.
Haupt died after he was hit by a vehicle and the doctor performing the autopsy ruled the death a homicide.
8 – After nearly 37 years under Pyramid Corp., the Champlain Centre Mall is now under a new flag.
Pacific Retail Capital Partners, a leading retail real estate development, investment, management and advisory firm out of Southern California, has taken over the mall.
“We are pleased to join Pacific Retail’s team,” Lisa Getty, general manager of Champlain Centre, said.
“Their proven track record and commitment to building upon the center’s strong foundation and delivering an exceptional experience for shoppers set the stage for ongoing success and satisfaction for all who visit Champlain Centre.”
14 — Passenger train service on Amtrak between Saratoga Springs and Montreal will reportedly be suspended between May 20 and June 29 as repairs to the rail line are being done.
The disruption comes as an unpleasant surprise to local officials at the start of the summer travel season.
“If this will fully resolve the CN track conditions exacerbated by heat that resulted in shutdown last summer, then it will be understandable and worth it to put things right and avoid a summer long repeat,” North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said.
“Unfortunately, living up to the expression about what a way to run a railroad, Amtrak has stonewalled all stakeholders and our federal officials so we are awaiting further details and assurances.”
17 — The 12th season of North Country Honor Flight kicks off Saturday as Flights 52 and 53 will transport 30 veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit their war memorial monuments.
“We’ve been waiting all winter for this and everyone is excited to get going again and we are going to have a great day,” North Country Honor Flight Executive Director Barrie Finnegan said.
18 — City of Plattsburgh councilors unanimously voted down a measure Thursday night that would have allowed Mayor Chris Rosenquest to sign and submit an application for a $2.5 million state grant to redevelop a vacant downtown property.
The property in question is located at 2 Brinkerhoff St. and the city previously said the owner of it, White Rainbow LLC, hoped to convert the building there into a 10-room boutique hotel and restaurant with the help of an Empire State Development Restore NY Communities Initiative grant.
23 — Budgets in all school districts in Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties except St. Regis in Franklin County, were approved by voters Tuesday.
The results were positive for all districts that met the state’s 2-percent tax levy cap as well as the two districts that did not meet the cap.
Both Schroon Lake and Keene in Essex County needed at least a 60-percent supermajority of voters to approve their budgets.
The budget was approved in Keene by a count of 167 to 103 for a 61.85 percentage, and in Schroon Lake, voters approved the spending plan 158 to 89 for a 62.6 percent.
23 — The Clinton Community College Board of Trustees has appointed Ken Knelly administrator in charge following John Kowal’s resignation as president Wednesday.
Knelly is leaving his current role as chief of staff at SUNY Plattsburgh after his appointment takes effect Thursday, May 23.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Knelly told the Press-Republican Wednesday.
“I really believe in higher education and I believe that having the full range of higher education available to the residents of Clinton County is critical. It’s why I’m doing it.”
Knelly also previously held the position of special adviser to SUNY for Clinton Community College’s transition and relocation to SUNY Plattsburgh’s campus.
30 — Police have confirmed that the woman who was found dead in the trunk of a vehicle at a local car rental business Tuesday was the victim of a homicide.
State Police said Wednesday that Lisa A. Dashnaw, 57, died of strangulation.
The cause of death was determined by an autopsy performed by Dr. Michael Sikirica at Glens Falls Hospital in Warren County Wednesday morning.
Dashnaw was found in the trunk of a vehicle at the Enterprise car rental business at the corner of Military Turnpike and Route 3 in the Town of Plattsburgh Tuesday afternoon, police said.
JUNE
1 — Police say the husband of a Peru woman, who was found dead in the trunk of a car Tuesday, has been arrested and charged in connection with her death.
Scott A. Tyrell, 58, of Peru was arraigned in Peru Town Court Friday afternoon and charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse after Lisa A. Dashnaw (Tyrell), 57, was found dead in the trunk of a vehicle at a local car rental business Tuesday.
State Police said Friday that on Tuesday, May 28, they responded to Enterprise Rent a Car at the intersection of State Route 3 and Military Turnpike in the Town of Plattsburgh. A trooper, who was on scene for an uninvolved complaint, was advised by Enterprise employees of an overdue rental car that was reclaimed under suspicious circumstances, police said.
4 — Though his first novel is on bookstore shelves and he’s almost finished the outline of a sequel, Chris Mele likes to tell people that he’s an “accidental” novelist.
“When I started it, it was kind of a lark almost. I had this half-cooked short story idea and it involved a former reporter,” he said. “The more I added to his backstory, I was kind of, ‘Oh, there’s a lot here, this isn’t a short story anymore.’”
Mele has spent the last 40 years as a reporter and editor, working for two years at the Enterprise in the late 1980s and the Plattsburgh Press-Republican from 1988-92. He’s now a deputy editor on the breaking news team at the New York Times and spent time at newsrooms in the Hudson Valley and as executive editor of The Pocono Record in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. His debut foray into fiction, “Goodwill’s Secrets,” hit bookstores earlier this month.
5 — City of Plattsburgh mayoral candidate Daniel Lennon is vowing to stay in the race despite an ongoing criminal investigation by the New York State Police against him.
As it stands, Lennon, a Democrat, will be facing off against fellow Democrat Wendell Hughes in the primary election later this month.
“I can assure you I am running,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, just pushing ahead through June 25 for the primary and then hopefully Nov. 5 if the Democratic voters of the City of Plattsburgh so choose to make me their candidate in the general election as well.”
Lennon, 29, was placed on paid administrative leave from his job as an assistant DA by Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie last month.
No details of what the investigation was covering were released.
8 — Lake Placid resident Amy Quinn has dropped out of the race for Essex County judge to take a seat on the New York State Court of Claims.
Quinn’s departure from the contest leaves just Republican Kristy Sprague in the running for county judge, but Democrats expect to field a replacement candidate.
12 — For 42 years, James McKenna has guided Adirondack tourism.
Now, the Lake Placid resident is stepping down from the helm of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) to enter a new era in his life.
13 — It was talked about for weeks, months, even years, and when it hit, it hit big.
The total solar eclipse of April 8 turned out to be a major benefit for the region in so many ways.
After studying the impact, the North Country Chamber of Commerce said Monday that about 50,000 people visited the region for the eclipse from all 50 states and beyond.
The chamber estimates that the economic impact of the eclipse was conservatively put at $2.1 million in direct spending, factoring in credit card sales, lodging usage, sales tax revenue, and travel patterns.
21 — Medisca’s new 60,000 square-foot pharmaceutical repackaging and distribution facility in the Town of Plattsburgh is the “largest project” the company has undertaken in its 35-year history.
“Ultimately, the new facility will more than double our repacking and distribution capabilities for the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany and the emerging markets,” Tony Dos Santos, who founded Medisca with Maria Zaccardo, said at the facility’s grand opening ceremony Thursday.
25 — During NY-21 Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s visit to Plattsburgh Thursday, she addressed local and national level topics with the media, including reports that former President Donald Trump is considering her as his running mate this November.
“I’m honored to have my name in the mix for consideration for vice president,” Stefanik (R-Schuylerville) told reporters after a grand opening ceremony and tour of Medisca’s new pharmaceutical repackaging and distribution facility in the Town of Plattsburgh.
“I’m proud to be President Trump’s strongest ally in the United States Congress. I was the first member of Congress to endorse his election in 2024 and I have proven results here. I’m focused, as always, on doing my job as the representative for NY-21 and the House Republican conference chair, and really bringing the concerns of my district to the highest level.”
27 — Wendell Hughes defeated Daniel Lennon in Tuesday’s City of Plattsburgh Democratic Party mayoral primary.
Following a recount of the results Wednesday, Hughes, a Clinton County legislator, had a 555 to 395 advantage over Lennon, a local attorney, with all voting districts reporting.
29 — Carl Heastie, speaker of the New York state Assembly, spoke on Thursday about Olympic Regional Development Authority funding, congestion pricing and short-term vacation rentals during a tour of the Lake Placid Olympic Center with Assemblyman Billy Jones.
“(Jones) just wanted me to come and see the state’s investment over the years to refurbish this classic place,” Heastie said. “It’s just great to see and to know that this was the place where it all happened. I feel very nostalgic.”
JULY
2 — People visit the North Country for a variety of reasons whether it be the lakes, the mountains, the fall foliage or the peace and serenity, but they also come for other attractions.
And one of them is the Michigan, the regional food delicacy that consists of a hot dog on a steamed bun covered with a spicy meat sauce and accompanied with or without onions and some bright yellow mustard.
“It absolutely does bring people here,” Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman said at a news conference Monday morning kicking off Michigan Month in the North Country.
3 — The Clinton County Legislature’s Airport Committee will consider three bids to offer air service out of Plattsburgh International Airport this fall.
The bids are part of the federal Essential Air Service program that helps connect smaller airports to larger markets through federal subsidies.
Contour Airlines, Boutique Airlines and Breeze Airways all submitted bids, PBG Airport Director Chris Kreig said.
Contour Airlines is the incumbent and has operated as Plattsburgh International’s Alternate EAS carrier since July of 2022, offering 12 weekly trips to Philadelphia on a 30-passenger jet, with two round trips available five days a week.
4 – A massive crowd in Downtown Plattsburgh celebrated the nation’s birthday on the Fourth of July by attending a parade that marched down City Hall Place in bright sunshine., Residents also enjoyed Fourth of July festivities in Ticonderoga and Rouses Point as well as many other North Country communities.
9 — By land and sea, members of the community gathered for the annual Plattsburgh Mayor’s Cup Regatta and Festival Saturday with regatta racing, food, music, games, a sand castle competition and more.
Now in its 47th year, the Mayor’s Cup Regatta includes competitive races in three divisions – Jib and Main, Racing and Multihull with prizes for all divisions.
12 — Although most flooded roads in Essex County had reopened by noon Thursday, tropical storm Beryl spread damage throughout the area when it arrived Wednesday evening.
The BridgeView Harbour Marina and Dockside Cafe in Port Henry were both closed after a tree fell on power lines near the marina early Thursday morning. Part of the marina’s access road also washed out.
“The lake in Port Henry and around the marina is full of logs, leaves, and debris as the streams and brooks continue to roar,” marina co-owner Gabe Jaquish said online.
“We’re doing our best to remove the big stuff, but be extremely cautious if you decide to risk a ride on the water. (Harbour Lane) is still washed out and we are working to restore it to be usable for Friday. Please limit traffic in and out of the marina while we make repairs.”
The Garrison Gym near the waterfront in Port Henry was also closed after it filled with mud from the storm.
The Port Henry Champ Beach and Campground were shuttered after parts of the beach and some campsites washed out.
State and town highway crews have been working non-stop since the storm hit, along with fire and emergency services departments.
17 — A new location for the Plattsburgh Greyhound Bus terminal has local officials concerned.
“The county’s concern is that use of that space is supposed to be for the county buses,” Clinton County Legislature Chairman Mark Henry (R-Area 3, Chazy) said.
“There’s an emergency egress and ingress right there for that building should an emergency occur, and we could have the tying up of the traffic on the street, and I don’t know how much room those big buses take up or if we can even get an emergency vehicle down through there.”
19 — Clinton County will turn to a local education system to run the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and vault it toward a higher level of training opportunities.
“I think this is going to be a giant step forward,” Clinton County Legislature Chairman Mark Henry (R-Area 3, Chazy) said.
“We’re talking about basically the same mission in the sense of training and producing a highly trained workforce, and we want to make sure that the folks that go there receive top-notch training so they can enter the workforce.”
27 — Helping families of children with complex care needs is top of mind for Shawn and Kelsey Neri.
The Dannemora couple say that legislation currently pending in the New York legislature would not only help them care for their own daughter but would help a number of other New York families in need.
In late 2022, the Neris’ 2-year-old daughter Cali was diagnosed with encephalitis caused by Powassan Virus from a tick bite.
The condition has left the toddler with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, which brings severely limited mobility and motor skills, as well as neurogenic bladder dysfunction, drug resistant epilepsy and a number of other disabilities.
31 — Town of Peru Supervisor Brandy McDonald will be stepping down from his duties on Aug. 11.
Former Lake Placid Mayor Craig Randall is expected to be appointed to take his place for the remaining 16 months of the term.
“We are selling our house and moving to (the City of) Plattsburgh so I am going to give up my supervisor’s seat since I won’t be living in the town,” McDonald said.
“It just makes sense for my wife and I to downsize.”
AUGUST
6 — In a dramatic attempt to get the Greyhound bus stop in the City of Plattsburgh moved, David Souliere IV sat down in front of the bus Monday morning, blocking its path.
“This isn’t who we are,” Souliere said.
“This isn’t right and it shouldn’t go on for one more day.”
Souliere, who is the City of Plattsburgh Republican Party Committee chairman and the Clinton County Republican Board of Elections commissioner, said he was acting as a private citizen to get the Greyhound stop moved.
13 — With editing of the film “Lucy and the Lake Monster” shot here complete, it’s time for a world premiere.
The public show is at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8 at the Strand Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh.
The film follows the story of a little girl who believes in Champ, the Lake Champlain monster, but is ridiculed by some in her small town and bullied by rogue Champ hunters until the creature finally surfaces and saves her.
14 — The Champlain Hudson Power Express, a major cross-border energy project on Lake Champlain, took a big step forward this week on its way to aid both the U.S. and Canada as they seek to produce and transport clean, renewable energy.
Evidence of the project can be seen from the shores of the picturesque Village of Rouses Point in northern Clinton County.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our journey to bring clean, renewable energy to New York City,” Transmission Developers CEO Justin Sauber said.
“The commencement of the marine installation works in Lake Champlain is yet another example of how the tireless efforts of so many over the past decade are coming to fruition as this remarkable project marches forward to 2026.
16 — An out-of-state developer is proposing a 257-site campground development for the Town of Dannemora’s Chazy Lake and residents say it could have lasting negative impacts if built.
According to an application filed with the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) recently, the Chazy Lake RV Park and Campground would consist of 231 recreational vehicle (RV) sites and 26 tent sites all accessed through Route 374 and would be open 24/7 from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
The project proposes the development of amenities such as a check-in area, clubhouse with a camp store, bathrooms, laundry, covered seating, dog park, mini golf, outdoor game area, playground, communal areas with fire pits including an area on the lake shore and walking trails for use by guests and the public.
17 — A Saranac Lake woman is facing 17 years to life in prison after she pleaded guilty to the August 2023 murder of an Indian Lake man, her son-in-law, on Tuesday.
Ann M. Favro, 58, of Saranac Lake, was charged with killing David J. Chenier, 32, on Aug. 12 last year after New York State Police discovered his body at a home on Big Brook Road following a report of shots fired that evening.
Earlier this week, she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, a felony, before Hamilton County Court Judge Michael Smrtic. Favro’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 9.
20 — Until now, the history of the Michigan hot dog has remained somewhat of a mystery.
There have been rumors, myths and stories passed down from generation to generation on how the popular delicacy made its way to the North Country decades ago, but actual written, researched and recorded accounts of its past have been scarce.
In his recently released book “Two With, Buried” — named after a common phrase that indicates someone wants a Michigan hot dog with the onions buried under the sauce — author Daniel Ladue, through interviews with some of the North Country’s most knowledgeable Michigan aficionados, helps piece together the complex biography of the famous hot dog creation.
24 — Longtime Press-Republican executive Scott Bresett has been promoted to general manager of the newspaper.
Bresett, 48, fills the day-today leadership role previously held by recently departed publisher Lamiaa Aly Elshafay.
Bresett has worked at the P-R for 25 years in a variety of roles. That doesn’t include the five years as a youth carrier in his native Keeseville.
27 — The founder of the world-renowned Center for the Study of Canada and Institute on Quebec Studies program at SUNY Plattsburgh, Richard Beach, has passed away.
Beach died in Naples, Fla. on Aug. 21 with his family by his side. He was 83.
SEPTEMBER
4 — Two suspects are in custody following a Tuesday morning shooting in the City of Plattsburgh that left one person dead.
According to Plattsburgh City Police, Chazz Johnson, 24, and Erica Colon, 21, both of Plattsburgh, were arrested after Markus Dixon, 31, also of Plattsburgh, was found shot three times in the chest area near 137 Cornelia St. around 2:23 a.m. Tuesday.
At a news conference at the Plattsburgh City Police station Tuesday afternoon, Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie said Dixon received treatment on location after being found, was then transported to the University of Vermont Healthcare Network at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
5 — The City of Plattsburgh is offering a solution to the Downtown bus stop issue that would utilize the former Farmer’s Market location in the Durkee Street parking lot.
Mayor Chris Rosenquest said the new location that he is calling the “Downtown Transportation Center” can serve as a hub for regional bus services such as FlixBus, which operates as Greyhound, and Trailways.
7 — City of Plattsburgh Police Chief Peter Mitchell has left the position, opting to retire.
Mitchell submitted his paperwork for retirement to the city this week with his last official day being Sept. 20.
Monday, Sept. 9 will mark Mitchell’s 25th year of service with the department, making him the longest standing member of the department.
11 — The 26th Annual Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration starts today and ends on Sunday.
1814 Commemoration Inc. organizers are presenting standard fare and new twists on old favorites.
The Crab Island Ceremony will be held 11 a.m. at the Battlefield Gateway Memorial Park on Sunset Dr. in Plattsburgh. (See Schedule on Page A3).
“For the first time, we’re going to be doing a ceremony at Fort Brown,” Tom Donahue, president, said.
13 — Longtime Press-Republican advertising sales representative Sandy O’Brien has been named Advertising Sales Manager for the P-R.
O’Brien, 66, has been with the P-R since 1992, meeting customer needs in print and digital advertising for businesses and agencies of all sizes.
Many of her original clients are still loyal to the P-R, and O’Brien has developed long-lasting relationships with them.
14 — The Albany man convicted of running over another man and causing his death, was sentenced to 20 years-to-life in prison Friday.
Clinton County Court Judge Keith Bruno sentenced Thomas Lance as a persistent felony offender for running over Wayne Haupt, Sr. with a pickup truck on Sept. 6, 2023 at the Northway Exit 36 Mobil Truck Stop in the Town of Plattsburgh.
Lance, 39, of Albany, who has had multiple criminal convictions on his record, had worked for Haupt, 53, who was also from Albany.
17 — In a surprise move, the man accused of killing a Peru woman and leaving her body in the trunk of a rental car for two months, pleaded guilty in court Monday.
Scott A. Tyrell, 58, of Peru, was in court Monday for a felony hearing, but instead offered to plead guilty to second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse before Clinton County Court Judge Keith Bruno.
Tyrell faces a minimum sentence of 15 years-to-life and a maximum sentence of 25-years-to-life in prison.
18 — After a few years of dreaming and planning, the inaugural Michigan Fest will kick off next year in Plattsburgh.
The hope is that it will develop and grow into a major celebration of a region-wide delicacy that will bring people to the area by the thousands.
“The Michigan isn’t just a hot dog, it’s a point of pride for our community, and whether you like yours buried or you claim to know what the best Michigan spot is in town, there is one thing that we can all agree on and that is that the Town of Plattsburgh is home of the Michigan,” Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman said at a news conference Tuesday.
25 — The first case of West Nile virus this season has been confirmed in Clinton County.
A person, over the age of 50 who resides in Chazy, began experiencing symptoms consistent with West Nile virus on Sept. 1, and was subsequently hospitalized, according to the Clinton County Health Department.
That person is now recovering.
“We hope for a full recovery to health for this person, and our thoughts are with the family,” Clinton County Legislature Chairman Mark Henry (R-Area 3, Chazy) said.
OCTOBER
2 — Stewart’s Shops, the popular convenience store seen in communities across the North Country, is growing in a big way.
Stewart’s has agreed to purchase the Jolley Associates convenience store chain and S.B. Collins, including its heating oil business Clarence Brown of St. Albans, Vt.
The acquisition, which requires federal regulatory approval, is expected to close by the end of 2024. Terms of the deal remain confidential, a news release said.
The transaction includes the purchase of 45 Jolley stores including five in New York, two in New Hampshire and 38 locations in Vermont.
4 — The final flights for the 2024 North Country Honor Flight season will take off on Saturday amidst plenty to celebrate about the program.
The day will feature once again, “Thunder in the Burgh,” a pack of motorcycles and emergency vehicles escorting the worthy veterans to the send-off ceremony and then to Plattsburgh International Airport for their journey.
It will be the last Thunder in the Burgh organized by the original architect, Lloyd Provost, who will be passing his duties on after Saturday.
5 — A Tupper Lake man who was involved in a tense six hour standoff with law enforcement at the Tupper Lake Stewart’s Shops in January 2023 was sentenced to three years in prison on Wednesday.
David Payrot, 45, pleaded guilty to making a terroristic threat, a felony, before Franklin County Judge Craig Carriero in July.
Franklin County District Attorney Elizabeth Crawford said his sentence includes three years in state prison followed by three years of post-release supervision.
“I feel like it is an appropriate sentence,” she said.
8 — It’s not every day that a local business celebrates its 100th birthday, and Chazy Orchards did it up with a big hometown party on Saturday.
More than 1,000 guests from all over the North Country packed an open house under bright sunny skies, perfect for apple picking.
There were packing house tours, live music, free cider and doughnuts and the opportunity to wander through the orchard trees filling small tote bags with fresh McIntosh and Cortland apples.
The orchard also unveiled their newest product, Century Cider, a hard cider drink celebrating the orchard’s 100 years in business. Supplies were sold out in a few hours.
17 — Figures for the second quarter of the year show that the total eclipse in April has helped boost Clinton County occupancy tax receipts by more than $31,000.
The figure might not be as high as some would have liked, but the event is still seen as a success.
“I would have thought that it might be higher, but more is better than less when it comes to occupancy tax so it’s a good thing,” Clinton County Legislature Chairman Mark Henry (R-Area 3, Chazy) said.
18 — A Saranac Lake woman has been sentenced to 17 years to life in prison for the murder of an Indian Lake man, her son-inlaw, in August 2023.
Ann M. Favro, 58, of Saranac Lake, was charged with killing David J. Chenier, 32, on Aug. 12 last year after New York State Police discovered his body at a home on Big Brook Road following a report of shots fired that evening.
After she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, a felony, in August, she was sentenced before Hamilton County Court Judge Michael Smrtic last week. Favro will be eligible for parole in 17 years.
23 — The Clinton County Legislature is hoping that the state can do something about a stretch of the Adirondack Northway they believe is dangerous right now and needs attention.
“As winter approaches, our community is increasingly apprehensive about the safety of the traveling public in snow and ice conditions on these segments of the interstate,” County Legislator Josh Kretser (D-Area 9, City of Plattsburgh) who chairs the county’s Transportation Committee, wrote in a letter to the state Department of Transportation last week.
Kretser was referring to a stretch of Interstate 87 between Exits 35 and 36, as well as, between Exits 38 and 39 where temporary pavement has made travel tricky for motorists.
25 — All hopes for a dog tethering law to come to Clinton County any time soon were shot down Wednesday night.
After months of work to prepare a law to the county legislature’s suiting, animal rights advocate Jennifer Jewett watched on in silence as Legislators Francis Peryea (R-Area 2, Altona), Mark Henry (R-Area 3, Chazy), Robbie Timmons (R-Area 7, Peru) and Kevin Randall (R-Area 5, Schuyler Falls) voted down a resolution that would have allowed her dog legislation to go to a public hearing in two weeks.
Legislators Calvin Castine (R-Area 1, Champlain), Bobby Hall (D-Area 10, City of Plattsburgh), Patty Waldron (D-Area 6, Saranac) and Wendell Hughes (D-Area 8, City, Town of Plattsburgh), voted for it, but six affirmative votes were needed for it to pass.
29 — Early voting in the North Country has been a hit so far as record numbers of voters have shown up to cast ballots since Saturday.
A total of 1,198 voters showed up to vote at the Clinton County Government Center on Saturday, eclipsing the previous one-day county high of 939 in 2022, a midterm election year. That record didn’t last long as it was surpassed on Monday as more than 1,200 voters turned out.
“The line was all the way down to the end of the building at one point,” Clinton County Republican Elections Commissioner David Souliere IV said about Saturday’s crowd.
“The longest wait was about 45 minutes at the beginning, but it calmed down and smoothed out.”
NOVEMBER
2 — The union representing correction officers in state prisons are continuing their plea that the state do something about the number of assaults inside prison walls that keep skyrocketing.
“Enough is enough. Our members cannot and should not be used as punching bags,” New York State Correction Officer Police Benevolent Association President Chris Summers said.
“NYSCOPBA members, working in the most challenging of conditions, are being assaulted at record rates, yet their health and safety continue to be disregarded by those responsible for protecting the state workforce.”
2 — One person was shot in the back Thursday afternoon as they attempted to remove debris from a roadway.
The person sustained non-life-threatening injuries and police say it appears to be an isolated incident, but warn motorists to be careful.
“You should always be aware of your surroundings and if something doesn’t look right, you can always call 9-11,” Clinton County Sheriff David Favro said.
The person who was shot was taken to University of Vermont Healthcare Network CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
6 — After serving Clinton County for 11 years, County Treasurer Kimberly Davis will be leaving for a new opportunity.
Davis, 50, said she will be leaving her county post by the end of November to take a job with NBT Bank in Plattsburgh.
“I was not looking for a job anywhere else, but I was in conversation with NBT Bank, and they had created a position for a government banking relationship manager, so I applied for the position, and it was really a great opportunity for me,” Davis said.
“There’s a lot of room for advancement, and of course, I have my background in banking and the last almost 11 years working for Clinton County on the government side, so it’s a great marriage of the skills that I have, and I am very excited for the opportunity.”
7 — Democratic candidate Wendell Hughes has been elected as the next mayor of the City of Plattsburgh, Tuesday night’s unofficial results show.
Clinton County Board of Elections results had Hughes with 3,892 votes for a comfortable margin of victory over Republican candidate Don Kasprzak, who had 3,284 votes.
There are 197 outstanding absentee ballots that have yet to come in, according to the Board of Elections, but that will not be enough to alter the result. There were an additional 16 write-in ballots cast.
7 — Essex County District Attorney Kristy Sprague is the first woman in the county’s history to win election as Essex County judge, defeating Lake Placid lawyer Bryan Liam Kennelly.
Sprague, a Republican and Conservative from Moriah, scored 11,231 votes in Tuesday’s General Election to win a 10-year term as judge, while Kennelly, a Democrat and Working Families nominee, received 6,926 votes, according to unofficial results from the Essex County Board of Elections.
9 — The Big Tupper Ski area and three smaller nearby parcels were sold at auction by Franklin County here on Thursday.
Josh Parnes and Martin Schapira, two longtime friends who both live in Jackson, New Jersey, were the highest bidders for the Big Tupper Ski area, as well as parcels on Cranberry Pond and 1715 state Route 30.
The Big Tupper Ski area sold for $650,000 after several bids lifted the price from its $468,873.71 starting ask. The initial amount was calculated based on the taxes and penalties owed to the county on the property from previous owners, according to Franklin County Treasurer Fran Perry.
12 — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Rep. Elise Stefanik to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations, picking a loyal ally with little foreign policy experience to represent the U.S. at the international organization.
“Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter,” Trump said in a statement Monday announcing his pick for the role — his first selection that will require Senate confirmation.
Stefanik, 40, who serves as House Republican Conference Chair, has long been one of Trump’s most loyal allies in the House, and was among those discussed as a potential vice presidential choice.
15 — The two suspects connected to a fatal shooting in the City of Plattsburgh in early September were arraigned in Clinton County Court on new charges Thursday.
Erica Colon, 21, and Chazz E. Johnson, 24, both of Plattsburgh, were arrested after Markus Dixon, 31, also of Plattsburgh, was found shot three times in the chest area near 137 Cornelia St. around 2:23 a.m. Sept. 3.
Dixon was transported to the University of Vermont Healthcare Network at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
19 — Scott A. Tyrell will serve 25 years to life for murdering Lisa A. Dashnaw and leaving her body in the trunk of a rental car for two months earlier this year.
As previously reported by the Press-Republican, Dashnaw (Tyrell), 57, was found dead in the trunk of a rental vehicle May 28.
According to an autopsy done in Glens Falls by Dr. Michael Sikirica in May, the cause of Dashnaw’s death was strangulation and she was the victim of a homicide.
Tyrell, 58, of Peru, who police previously said was the last known operator of the rental vehicle, was arrested and charged in connection with her death just days after Dashnaw’s body was discovered at a local car rental business.
20 — Thirty-eight ports of entry along the U.S. Northern border, including four in New York, will be adjusting their hours of operation in the New Year.
Beginning midnight, Jan. 6, 2025, Chateaugay’s port of entry hours will change to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Rouses Point will change to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Overton Corners will change to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Trout River will change to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
All four ports of entries have been open 24 hours a day.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in collaboration with the Canada Border Services Agency, made the decision and announced it Monday.
21 — State Police are investigating what they are calling a stabbing in Altona Tuesday morning.
Police said that at around 8:29 a.m., they were called to a residence on Plank Road for a report of a stabbing. Police said that a victim allowed a known male into his residence.
Police executed search warrants resulting in the arrest of a 15-year-old male from Ellenburg Depot. The victim, James E. Rinn, 79, of Ellenburg Depot, remains in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
26 — Direct flights to Myrtle Beach are coming to Plattsburgh International Airport next May.
PBG’s airline Allegiant Air announced the new destination to Myrtle Beach International Airport, which now expands on its current Florida offerings from Plattsburgh, last week.
“Today, we’re excited to celebrate Allegiant Airlines’ continued commitment to our airport and community by adding three exciting new routes,” Judi Olmstead, Director of Airports, said in a statement.
27 — A major school bus manufacturer is buying the Nova Bus plant in Plattsburgh, potentially saving more than 300 local jobs.
“Today, I am proud to welcome Micro Bird – which we recruited to the North Country – where they can take advantage of our top talent, a thriving transportation cluster and the major investments we have made across the region,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
“New York’s manufacturing sector is in the midst of a major renaissance, and is a major driver of our economy – I look forward to a long and successful future for Micro Bird in New York State.”
27 — Clinton Community College has received a critical distinction in the form of accreditation from Middle States Commission on Higher Education, that will propel them toward their future.
“This is terrific news for Clinton Community College,” CCC Administrator in Charge Ken Knelly said.
“We have and will continue to play a critical role in our region and in the State University of New York system. Our Clinton County sponsors, the board of trustees, and community leaders, as well as our friends, alumni and donors who love, support and invest in this college, know its value to this community.
We have served the area since 1966 and will continue to offer, adapt and grow our unique set of degrees and other pathways from an open access campus.”
DECEMBER
3 — Mail service to Canada has been disrupted by a national Canadian postal strike.
The disruption is likely to have some kind of impact on local businesses that are from Canada as well as residents.
“The Canadian postal strike is certainly disrupting mail and package delivery in Canada but also between Canada and the U.S.,” North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said Monday.
4 — FCI Ray Brook has been on lockdown since before Thanksgiving after staff discovered an internal security device had been deliberately damaged.
Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Randilee Giamusso said the medium security prison started its modified operations and suspended visitations on Nov. 26. Giamusso said the prison will return to normal operations “as soon as possible,” but could not say when that will be.
Giamusso could not divulge what was damaged, “for safety and security reasons.”
4 — City of Plattsburgh children 12 years old and under can continue to participate in the Plattsburgh YMCA’s sports programming for free through 2025.
Following the recent approval of a one-year contract at the last Common Council meeting Nov. 21, the city will once again be paying the registration fees for city youth 12 and under so they can participate in the YMCA’s sports that include but are not limited to soccer, baseball, basketball, volleyball and water safety programs.
6 — Clinton County’s 2025 tentative budget boasts a lower tax levy for the fourth consecutive year, a feat County Administrator Michael Zurlo calls “impressive.”
Coming in at $29,636,206, the tax levy is down $25,987 from last year and the lowest it has been since 2019.
Similarly, the county’s tax rate also decreased to $3.98 per $1,000 of assessed value. That figure is $.30 lower than 2024.
“The big message is stability,” Zurlo said.
“We understand that we want to try to ameliorate the increases in assessment.”
A lower tax levy and tax rate, like what is being proposed, will help offset any potential raise in assessment a homeowner may have received, Zurlo explained.
10 — Two people died in an early morning house fire in the Town of Champlain Saturday.
Police said Monday that troopers responded to McBride Road in Champlain for a structure fire with possible entrapment at approximately 9 a.m. Saturday.
A preliminary investigation indicated two individuals were believed to be still inside the residence, police said. State Police members made a brief entry into the residence but were unsuccessful in locating the victims due to the intensity of the active fire.
Local fire departments arrived on the scene, put the fire out, and made entry into the residence with State Police investigators and New York State Fire investigators, locating the two deceased individuals, police said.
State Police identified the victims as Dee Duprey, 43, and Eric J. Russell, 45, both of Champlain.
12 — The Plattsburgh man convicted of making threats to Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital management last winter was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday.
Robert Thibodeau was sentenced on eleven firearms related offenses that stem from an incident that occurred on Feb. 13, 2024, according to a news release from Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie.
12 — One of the North Country’s most visible and well-known public figures, Clinton County Clerk John Zurlo, died Wednesday at home with family and friends by his side after an illness associated with kidney disease.
He was 86.
“John knew everybody and everybody knew John,” Clinton County Legislature Chairman Mark Henry (R-Area 3, Chazy) said.
“He left a legacy of public service in this area that will never be matched. It is a tremendous loss.”
17 — Greyhound has a new bus stop location again.
Just three months after setting up a bus stop at the former Farmer’s Market building in the Durkee Street parking lot in the City of Plattsburgh, Greyhound has moved to the Sunoco gas station at 485 Route 3 in the Town of Plattsburgh.
Supervisor Michael Cashman said the gas station owner made upgrades to the facility specifically for Greyhound/ Flix to operate there. “We had the Planning Board and the Planning Department work with the owner-operator of the gas station in regards to being able to have a bus drop off at location,” Cashman said.
18 — One man is in custody following the discovery of human remains in the Town of Plattsburgh Monday.
Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie said that Joe Hewett was scheduled to be re-arraigned on two counts of murder in the second degree and one count of murder in the first degree in the Town of Plattsburgh Justice Court Tuesday night.
As previously reported by the Press-Republican, State Police said they found human remains near the home of two missing women Monday.
Police said they were informed of the two missing women on Dec. 12 at approximately 8:30 p.m. and during the active investigation, a fire occurred at the missing individuals’ home at 2 Birch St. in the Town of Plattsburgh Sunday.
The two deceased women were identified as Miranda R. Wade (Mero), 42, and Karen A. Lindsay (Besaw), 64, both of Plattsburgh.
19 — Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie called the recent murder of two Plattsburgh women the “most horrific homicide we’ve had” in his 19 years on the job.
On Monday, the remains of the women, identified as Miranda R. Wade, 42, and Karen A. Lindsay (Besaw), 64, were found in black garbage bags near their home at 2 Birch St. in the Town of Plattsburgh, Wylie said.
Autopsies were performed at Glens Falls Hospital by forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Sikirica to determine the cause and manner of death Tuesday, State Police said. Sikirica determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head for Wade and strangulation for Lindsay.
The manner of death was ruled a homicide for both women.
20 — City of Plattsburgh Ward 2 Councilor Jacob Avery has stepped down from his position.
Avery, who took office in January of this year, formally resigned in an email to outgoing Mayor Chris Rosenquest Wednesday night.
“I am writing to formally resign from my position of City Councilor for the City of Plattsburgh in Ward 2. This will be effective immediately — on December 18,” Avery wrote.
“This decision was not easy and took a lot of time and consideration, but due to family reasons this is the best decision. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to grow within the community.”
23 — Gov. Kathy Hochul has moved to fire 14 people who were involved in what is described as an attack on an inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility that led to the inmate’s death.
The union for correction officers called video of the incident “incomprehensible.”
“Yesterday I directed DOCCS (Department of Corrections and Community Supervision) Commissioner (Daniel F.) Martuscello to immediately begin the termination process for 14 individuals who were involved in the fatal attack on an incarcerated individual at Marcy Correctional Facility,” Hochul said in a statement.
28 — New York State Sen. Dan Stec is officially tossing his name in the hat for the anticipated special election for New York’s 21st Congressional District next year.
In an interview with WWNYTV, the Republican from Queensbury said his name recognition in the 21st district could be a huge benefit for Republicans looking to keep the seat. His state senate district is entirely within the bounds of the 21st.