(LaFargeville, NY – Sept. 2011) Environmental Awareness Days will be held at Stone Mills Agricultural Museum in LaFargeville on Sept. 27 and 28. This will be the 21st year that Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County has sponsored the event.

This educational program is offered to sixth grade students in Jefferson County. Each student visits stations manned by Extension staff, NYS DEC staff, Soil and Water Conservation staff, and many others from the community offering environmentally relevant programs for students.

The event runs from 9:00 am to 1:30 p.m.

(Sept. 8, 2011) The New York State Thruway Authority has announced that due to heavy rain and rising water conditions along the Mohawk River, the Authority anticipates closing the Thruway between Interchange 24 (Albany) and Interchange 33 (Verona) along I-90. Motorists should avoid travel within the Mohawk Valley Region, and seek alternate routes outside of this region, as widespread flooding of area roads is expected.

Motorists are advised to visit www.511ny.org to check the status of other roads. Currently, I-88 in Binghamton is closed between Exit 3 and Interstate 81; and I-81 is reduced to one lane, just north of Binghamton, between Exit 6 and Exit 8.

Variable Message Signs (VMS) and Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) have been activated to advise motorists of the current conditions.

The Authority appreciates motorists’ patience during this time.

(Alexandria Bay, NY – July 23, 2011) The New York State Police in Alexandria Bay arrested Jacob J. Traynor, 18, of 22961 Hax Road, LaFargeville for fourth-degree Criminal Mischief and Resisting Arrest.

On July 19 Traynor damaged walls at his father’s, William C. Traynor, of 30741 Route 180, LaFargeville.

During the investigation, it was also revealed that Jacob Traynor had an outstanding Bench Warrant from the Town of Orleans Court.  While being arrested, Jacob resisted arrest.  He was arraigned in the Town of Orleans Court and remanded to the Jefferson County Public Safety Building in lieu of $2,000 bail.

(Lafargeville, NY - July 19, 2011) State Police in Alexandria Bay arrested Jacob J. Traynor, 18, of 30741 Route 180, Lafargeville for fourth-degree Criminal Mischief, Resisting Arrest and a Bench Warrant violation following a domestic dispute at his residence.

Traynor punched holes in the walls of the residence, threw clothing and garbage inside the residence then resisted arrest by NYSP.

Further investigation provided that Traynor had an active Bench Warrant issued by the Town of Orleans Court for a previous Criminal Mischief arrest.

Traynor was arraigned before Town of Orleans Justice Hardy and remanded to the Jefferson County PSB in lieu of $2,000 bail.

(LaFargeville, NY – June 2011)  Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County’s Advantage After School Program recently completed a follow up project to the University’s Ag Literacy week program on chicken farming.

Second grade classrooms at LaFargeville Central School raised a crop of chickens. During the multi-week project the eggs were regularly “candled” so students could see the progress.

Pictured from left to right with some handsome chicks: Daniel Moore, Josh Russel, Olivia James and second grade teacher Ms. Hepfer. Back: Advantage Program Educator Jim Gwise.

(Herkimer, NY – May 2011) Herkimer County Community College announces candidates for the College’s 43^rd annual commencement to be held Friday, May 20 at 5 pm in the gymnasium of the Physical Education Building. There are 640 candidates for the associate degree and 46 candidates for certificates. High honors are accorded to 64 seniors who earned a 3.80 average or higher as of the fall 2010 semester (noted with #) and honors accorded to 196 seniors who earned a 3.25 average or higher as of the fall 2010 semester (noted with *).

Candidates for degrees and certificates are:

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Adams

Timothy M. Ives, Liberal Arts & Sciences: Science

Adams Center

Allison J. O’Brien, Liberal Arts & Sciences:  Childhood Education

Carthage

Rona S. Intorcia, Human Services

*Stephanie Ann Miller, Medical Transcriptionist Certificate

Clayton

Ashley Lynn Taylor, Business:  Accounting

Fort Drum

*Melissa S. Specht, Liberal Arts & Sciences:  General Studies

LaFargeville

Brandon L. Lawwill, Art Studies

Theresa

Kimberly L. Sanford, Teaching Assistant Certificate

Watertown

Tonya M. Hamilton, Medical Transcriptionist Certificate

Jan Marie Wainwright, Medical Transcriptionist Certificate

(Herkimer, NY – May 2011) Herkimer County Community College announces candidates for the College’s 43^rd annual commencement to be held Friday, May 20 at 5 pm in the gymnasium of the Physical Education Building. There are 640 candidates for the associate degree and 46 candidates for certificates. High honors are accorded to 64 seniors who earned a 3.80 average or higher as of the fall 2010 semester (noted with #) and honors accorded to 196 seniors who earned a 3.25 average or higher as of the fall 2010 semester (noted with *).

Candidates for degrees and certificates are:

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Adams

Timothy M. Ives, Liberal Arts & Sciences: Science

Adams Center

Allison J. O’Brien, Liberal Arts & Sciences:  Childhood Education

Carthage

Rona S. Intorcia, Human Services

*Stephanie Ann Miller, Medical Transcriptionist Certificate

Clayton

Ashley Lynn Taylor, Business:  Accounting

Fort Drum

*Melissa S. Specht, Liberal Arts & Sciences:  General Studies

LaFargeville

Brandon L. Lawwill, Art Studies

Theresa

Kimberly L. Sanford, Teaching Assistant Certificate

Watertown

Tonya M. Hamilton, Medical Transcriptionist Certificate

Jan Marie Wainwright, Medical Transcriptionist Certificate

(Herkimer, NY – May 2011) Herkimer County Community College announces candidates for the College’s 43^rd annual commencement to be held Friday, May 20 at 5 pm in the gymnasium of the Physical Education Building. There are 640 candidates for the associate degree and 46 candidates for certificates. High honors are accorded to 64 seniors who earned a 3.80 average or higher as of the fall 2010 semester (noted with #) and honors accorded to 196 seniors who earned a 3.25 average or higher as of the fall 2010 semester (noted with *).

Candidates for degrees and certificates are:

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Adams

Timothy M. Ives, Liberal Arts & Sciences: Science

Adams Center

Allison J. O’Brien, Liberal Arts & Sciences:  Childhood Education

Carthage

Rona S. Intorcia, Human Services

*Stephanie Ann Miller, Medical Transcriptionist Certificate

Clayton

Ashley Lynn Taylor, Business:  Accounting

Fort Drum

*Melissa S. Specht, Liberal Arts & Sciences:  General Studies

LaFargeville

Brandon L. Lawwill, Art Studies

Theresa

Kimberly L. Sanford, Teaching Assistant Certificate

Watertown

Tonya M. Hamilton, Medical Transcriptionist Certificate

Jan Marie Wainwright, Medical Transcriptionist Certificate

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.

(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