(Watertown, NY – Sept. 7, 2011) The Greater Watertown Jaycees in partnership with the Jefferson County Job Development Corporation are seeking nominations for its 2011 Young Professional Awards.  The Awards recognize three distinct regional leaders under 40 years of age in three categories: Civic, Business, and Arts/Culture/Entertainment.  Those honored have achieved professional success or have been active volunteers within their nominated field.

Last year, the Greater Watertown Jaycees honored Jennifer Hodge of Dexter for her outstanding work in the community; Jamie Mayer, founder of CNY Media Group, for his leadership in the business community; and Katie Taylor, Watertown, for her efforts to advance the arts and culture with her work with the Northern Blend Chorus.

Nomination forms are available online at www.watertownjaycees.org, or by contacting Michelle Capone at capone.michelle@yahoo.com.  The deadline for nominations is September 30, 2011.  Awards will be presented at the Greater Watertown Jaycees awards luncheon in October as part of its Young Professionals Day.

Updated Information

(Watertown, NY – Aug. 28, 2011) In reference to the ongoing investigation at the Stewarts Convenience Store, 1226 located at Washington Street, Watertown, NY:

The deceased subject has been positively identified as Laura J. Pettey, 50 years of age, from Evans Road, Dexter. A post mortem examination by the Jefferson County Medical Examiner is scheduled for later this afternoon.

No additional information is available at this time.

Original release

(Watertown, NY – Aug. 28, 2011) The New York State Police in Watertown are investigating an officer-involved shooting, at the request of the City of Watertown Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.

The investigation has revealed that a female subject, believed to be 50 years old from Dexter, entered the Stewart’s Convenience Store on Washington Street in the City of Watertown at approximately 11:05 p.m. Saturday evening.

The subject brandished what appeared to be a pistol and pointed it at two store employees, while making suicidal comments. She then told the employees that they should call the police. She released the female employee a short time later, and upon the arrival of responding officers she led the male employee from the store into the front parking lot at gunpoint. Witnesses say she was told repeatedly to drop the gun, but then turned and pointed the weapon at the responding officers. Rounds were fired by two of the Watertown police officers, and one Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputy.

Although still under review, it is believed that six (6) total rounds were fired, at least one of which struck the subject in the chest area. The subject was unresponsive at the scene, and was pronounced deceased at Samaritan Medical Center a short time later.

An autopsy is scheduled for later today. None of the store employees, witnesses, or responding officers were injured. It was later discovered the weapon used by the subject was a pellet pistol.

The names of the involved officers are not being released by the state police at this time. Consultation is underway with the Jefferson County District Attorney as is routine in these matters, but the investigation thus far indicates that the responding officers properly performed their duties during a difficult and stressful situation.

(Watertown, NY - July 12, 2011) On July 8 the New York State Police in Watertown arrested Lyle R. Salter, 45, of 20967 Route 180, Dexter for third-degree Grand Larceny (Class D Felony) and first-degree Falsifying Business Records, (Class E Felony).

Salter is alleged to have stolen approximately $22,820 from Davidson’s Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, GMC located at 18423 Route 11 in the Town of Watertown.  While Salter was employed as a Service Manager with Davidson’s between October of 2008 and July of 2011, he altered repair orders to conceal the theft of the aforementioned amount of money.

Salter was arraigned in the Town of Watertown Court before Judge Capone where he was released pending Grand Jury Action.

Pilot escapes burning wreckage with minor injury

(Town of Clayton, Watertown, NY - May 11, 2011) A twin engine private plane crashed while landing in the Town of Clayton. The accident was reported to the 911 Center at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday.

Responding police, fire , and EMS units found the twin engine Piper Aztec plane fully engulfed in flames upon arrival.  The pilot, 52 year old Steven Ritchie of Clayton was out of the wreckage, with only a minor hand injury. Ritchie was treated at the scene and declined any further medical treatment.

Ritchie reported to the investigating troopers, that he was preparing to land the aircraft at Ritchie Field, a private grass airfield off of State Route 12 in the Town of Clayton. He reported that as he was lined up with Runway 25 on final approach, a strong gust of wind caught the right wing of the airplane, forcing the left wing into the ground.  The plane spun counterclockwise on the ground, and immediately caught fire.

Ritchie was able to break out a window on the right side of the airplane and escape the flames.  The plane was destroyed by the fire.

Ritchie was familiar with the private airfield, having landed there many times before.  He was returning to Clayton from an airport in Long Island.

The NTSB and FAA were notified from the scene by the State Police.  The investigation has been turned over to the FAA, who will be on the scene Thursday.  State Police were assisted at the scene by the NYS DEC Law Enforcement, Jefferson County Sheriffs Dept., Clayton Police, TIERS Ambulance, as well as fire departments from Clayton, Lafargeville, Depauville, and Dexter.

(Sackets Harbor, NY) At the invitation of Jefferson Community College (JCC) Hospitality and Tourism instructor and Seaway Trail Foundation Chair Pope Vickers, student William Ray recently assisted the Foundation with analysis of a Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show attendees’ survey.

Approximately 20 percent of the nearly 700 people attending the show completed a survey identifying where they traveled from, how they learned of the show, and their satisfaction with the show experience.

Ray is a General Brown graduate now studying hospitality and tourism with a hotel and restaurant management concentration at JCC.

(Sackets Harbor, NY) At the invitation of Jefferson Community College (JCC) Hospitality and Tourism instructor and Seaway Trail Foundation Chair Pope Vickers, student William Ray recently assisted the Foundation with analysis of a Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show attendees’ survey.

Approximately 20 percent of the nearly 700 people attending the show completed a survey identifying where they traveled from, how they learned of the show, and their satisfaction with the show experience.

Ray is a General Brown graduate now studying hospitality and tourism with a hotel and restaurant management concentration at JCC.

(Sackets Harbor, NY) At the invitation of Jefferson Community College (JCC) Hospitality and Tourism instructor and Seaway Trail Foundation Chair Pope Vickers, student William Ray recently assisted the Foundation with analysis of a Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show attendees’ survey.

Approximately 20 percent of the nearly 700 people attending the show completed a survey identifying where they traveled from, how they learned of the show, and their satisfaction with the show experience.

Ray is a General Brown graduate now studying hospitality and tourism with a hotel and restaurant management concentration at JCC.

(Dexter, NY - March 25, 2011) The New York State Police in Watertown arrested Morris W. Blair, 42, of 23167 Route 59, Dexter for Forcible Touching and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, both Class A Misdemeanors.

Blair is alleged to have forcibly touched the intimate parts of a 15 year old female at his residence on March 5.

He was issued an appearance ticket, returnable on March 31 at 7:00 PM in the Town of Brownville Court and released.

Case Agent; Inv Stephen P. Kealy

SP Watertown – 782-2112

(March 3, 2011) We ask our readers to bear with us at this time as we are experiencing technical difficulties with our online edition.

We will make every effort to bring the news to you with or without photos in a timely manner and will work diligently to correct the problems.

Thank you for your patience,

Jefferson County Staff of M3P Media LLC

(March 3, 2011) We ask our readers to bear with us at this time as we are experiencing technical difficulties with our online edition.

We will make every effort to bring the news to you with or without photos in a timely manner and will work diligently to correct the problems.

Thank you for your patience,

Jefferson County Staff of M3P Media LLC