Press-Republican Year in Review: 2023

Dec. 30—PLATTSBURGH — At the end of 2020, people could not wait for the year to be over. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and all the havoc it brought was enough to make people wish for a new year like they rarely have before.

It's been kind of the same since then, but with each passing year after the outbreak of COVID-19 we inch a little bit closer to the world we knew before and our hopes for better fortunes continue.

This year was much like many other years, filled with good news and not-so-good news. All of these events go a long way towards shaping us as a region and as a community.

Events that make news teach us lessons, make us reflect and hopefully some of it will buoy our spirits and gives us hope.

With that in mind, here is a compilation of noteworthy news events recorded in our region by the Press-Republican in 2023.

Enjoy, and we hope everyone has a happy and fulfilling new year in 2024.

JANUARY

3 — Local health departments reported the last of 2022's COVID-19 numbers. For the month of December, the Essex County Health Department revealed that there were 273 new cases reported throughout the county — nearly 50 more than November's total.

ECHD also posted two more coronavirus-related fatalities, which has now brought its death toll to 72 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Additionally, the Clinton County Health Department rounded out the year by reporting 77 new lab-confirmed cases from Dec. 25 to Dec. 31.

There are no updated numbers from Franklin County Public Health, because it stopped providing COVID data on Dec. 15.

4 — Town of Chazy Supervisor Bill Arthur died on Monday, Jan. 4, 2023.

According to his obituary with Brown Funeral Home Inc., Arthur, 76, was surrounded by family when he passed.

"He was an amazing husband, loving father and overall good man. By the age of 76 he had the opportunity to touch many people's lives. He was an honorable man and proud of his many accomplishments from playing football, to starting his own business, and most recently being the Chazy Town Supervisor, where he lived most of his life," his obituary read.

"He loved many things from playing drums in a bagpipe band, to cheering on the NY Giants, and taking a ride in his little, green MG sports car. He adored the beauty of Lake George and most importantly his son, daughter and wife of almost 50 years."

Arthur was first elected town supervisor in 2017. At the time of his passing, he had been serving his second consecutive term.

7 — Russell Banks, an award-winning fiction writer who rooted such novels as "Affliction" and "The Sweet Hereafter" in the wintry, rural communities of his native Northeast and imagined the dreams and downfalls of everyone from modern blue-collar workers to the radical abolitionist John Brown, has died. He was 82.

Banks, a North Country resident and a professor emeritus at Princeton University, died Saturday in Upstate New York, his editor, Dan Halpern, told The Associated Press. Banks was being treated for cancer, Halpern said.

Born in Newton, Massachusetts, and raised in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Banks was a self-styled heir to such 19th century writers as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Walt Whitman, aspiring to high art and a deep grasp of the country's spirit. He was a plumber's son who wrote often about working class families and those who died trying to break out.

18 — A Port Henry student has been named a Rhodes Scholar and is headed to England's Oxford University to study.

Sophie A. Bryant, a senior at Columbia University, where she is completing dual majors in East Asian Languages and Cultures and Mathematics, is one of 32 students chosen as Rhodes Scholars nationwide this year.

21 — The FISU World University Games are underway in Lake Placid. The game brought in athletes from over 50 countries to compete in a variety of winter sports.

Main Street in Lake Placid was closed to vehicle traffic on Jan. 12 for the games as organizers expected large crowds. While the crowds may not have materialize as much as hoped for, merchants remained optimistic that the state's more than $550 million investment in local winter sports venues — along with the revitalization of Main Street's infrastructure — will bring more business to their stores in the long run.

27 — Nicole Cayea was sentenced Friday for 45 years to life in prison for her role in the murder of Crisie Luebbers and the sale and possession of narcotics in the summer of 2021.

Cayea, 43, was previously arraigned on Oct. 8, 2021, in connection with an indictment charging her with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, three counts of second-degree conspiracy, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

The charges stem from the murder of Luebbers that occurred on July 1, 2021.

Cayea and her co-defendants, Craig Foster and Nicole Harrigan, believed Luebbers was an informant for law enforcement, Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie said.

Foster and Harrigan were both sentenced for their parts in the murder in May of 2022. Foster received 36 years to life, and Harrigan got 10 years with five years of post release supervision.

Cayea pleaded guilty on April 4, 2022, to first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree conspiracy, third-degree grand larceny, and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

28 — The community rallies around 2-year-old Cali Neri as she battles severe encephalitis caused by Powassan virus infection.

Since last December, Cali has been receiving treatment at Boston Children's Hospital for the virus.

The condition has left the 2-year-old unable to speak and unable to move much of her body.

But the Saranac family has been receiving support, both financial and emotional, from the North Country and beyond.

A GoFundMe online fundraiser was set up and money raised to help her parents Kelsey and Shawn provide care for Cali.

A fundraiser festival event was also held and widely attended on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Assumption of Mary School in Redford.

FEBRUARY

4 — The Weathercock, a longtime popular bar and restaurant in the heart of Chazy, was destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon.

Witnesses took video of the structure on fire with massive plumes of dark smoke billowing out across Route 9.

Numerous fire departments from across Clinton County responded to the fire around 3 p.m. Departments from Vermont and Quebec also helped out.

Overnight Friday into Saturday, temperatures were near -20 Fahrenheit with wind chills approaching -40 before warming up to about zero by mid-day.

Clinton County Emergency Services Director Eric Day said fighting fires in such cold can cause problems. Water sources freeze up and firefighters can get dangerously cold.

11 — Three people died in an early morning house fire in Saranac.

State Police said that a call came in around 3:33 a.m. about a house on fire at 1349 Strackville Rd. in the Town of Saranac. Three people were trapped inside a fully engulfed fire of a two-story residence and did not make it out.

Police said the victims were Robert D. Velie, 21, from Saranac; Katelynn D. Damour, 23, from Chateauguay; and Diesel A. Cook, 2, from Peru.

They were located inside the residence and pronounced deceased on the scene.

11 — The second Tannen-Boom bonfire event was held at the Plattsburgh City Beach. Crowds gathered around the bonfire of discarded Christmas trees and enjoyed music, hot and cold drinks, sledding and more.

The event had to be re-scheduled from earlier in the month due to inclement weather.

13 — City of Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquest has been appointed to serve on the Executive Committee of the New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM).

"Mayor Rosenquest has proven himself to be an innovative and effective local leader who is eager to address the challenges facing municipal governments in New York," Mayor Francis X. Murray of the Village of Rockville Centre, president of NYCOM, said.

"His energy and insights will be a tremendous asset to NYCOM as we represent our city and village members."

Rosenquest was elected mayor of the City of Plattsburgh in 2020, the first Black American to serve as the city's mayor. He is a graduate of Clinton Community College, SUNY Plattsburgh and the University of Washington's Foster School of Business.

18 — A major fire that included a massive explosion, destroyed a barn and significantly damaged a house on Duquette Road Saturday.

Amazingly, no one was hurt. "We are very lucky no one was hurt or killed," Clinton County Emergency Services Director Eric Day said.

The fire started in a barn at the O'Connell property across the Saranac River from Route 3 shortly before noon officials said.

A 500-pound propane tank inside the barn blew up as firefighters were battling the blaze sending pieces of metal flying.

A large piece of the tank landed about 1,400 feet away.

Firefighters at the scene were unharmed by the explosion.

23 — Thomas Scozzafava, Essex County's longest serving town supervisor from Moriah, says he will retire at the end of the year.

"I was elected supervisor in 1985 when I was 28 years old. I left in April 1998 to work at Moriah Shock (State Correctional Facility) and came back in 2004. I have 34 years as supervisor and 44 years with the town."

25 — A local group is working toward saving the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Churubusco.

The Roman Catholic Church was built in 1888, and the parish closed in 2010, following the death of its last administrator, the Rev. Howard P. McCasland, a retired priest.

Churubusco Heritage Preservation — a group of former parishioners, community members, past and present, and other concerned individuals and nonprofits — are desperately trying to keep the historic church from possibly getting razed.

The church is still seen by some as the focal point of the small community and CHP is searching for ways to keep it viable.

MARCH

4 — Connie Wille of the Champlain Valley Family Center was named the United Way of the Adirondacks Dorothy and Alan Booth Distinguished Citizen at the organization's annual dinner last Saturday night.

Wille, along with her talented staff, works every day to provide help for those dealing with substance abuse and mental health needs.

"I have been blessed to work in a field where expressing real feelings in a safe environment is critically important," Wille said before a crowd of about 180 people.

Wille has served as chief executive officer of Champlain Valley Family Center since 2000.

7 — Beekmantown Central School District Superintendent Daniel Mannix has been placed on administrative leave, effective immediately as an investigation into his behavior at a recent Capital District area high school basketball game continues.

"This decision was made to uphold the integrity of the investigation and allow for further consideration and discussions to take place," a statement from the district said.

14 — Some parts of the North Country were clobbered by Tuesday's Nor'easter storm, including 39 inches of snow some places in the town of Moriah.

At his house on Plank Road in Moriah, Donald Jaquish said he was wading almost waistdeep through 30 inches of white stuff on his deck.

"Hard to say with wind, but last night (Tuesday) was 26 inches, plus four this morning," he said.

Some places on Dalton Hill Road, which is headed up Belfry Mountain, got lots more, he said.

One homeowner there reported 39 inches of snow.

17 — Barrie Finnegan, the executive director of North County Honor Flight, was named the North County Chamber of Commerce' Irishman of the Year at the annual St. Patrick' Day breakfast.

"As a young boy, this was a huge subject in our household," Finnegan told the crowd of about 380 people at the West Side Ballroom.

"My father would snap that paper open and go 'look who won this year,' and he would explain who won it, who they were, and more importantly, why they won it and what they did to deserve this honor.

"For me to be here amongst those people is just incredible."

The 64-year-old has been helping to lead North Country Honor Flight as executive director since its inception in 2013.

Honor Flight has flown 645 veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam and other conflicts on 45 flights from Plattsburgh to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials in their honor.

20 — An autopsy showed that Kenneth C. Darrah, the man found on the bank of the Ausable River below the Ausable Chasm Bridge Monday, died of blunt force trauma and multiple stab wounds.

The case has been ruled as a homicide by State Police.

Police found Darrah, 37, of Keeseville, when they arrived at the bridge around 2:12 a.m. They found him on the north bank of the Ausable River below the bridge and ruled the death suspicious.

The autopsy was performed Tuesday at Glens Falls Hospital.

21 — Shaun Akin was elected Village of Dannemora mayor on Tuesday in the only contested village election in the North Country.

Akin, M'Akin Dannemora Better Party, garnered 121 votes to defeat Eric Jarvis, For A Better Village Party, with 71 votes.

The office of village mayor is a four-year span and the incumbent did not seek reelection. Akin and Jarvis were both village trustees.

22 — State Police arrested two men in connection with what they are calling a homicide in Keeseville early Monday morning.

State Police have charged Michael J. Rougeau, 48, and Michael A. Nastasia, 30, with second-degree murder.

They were charged after police found Kenneth C. Darrah, 37, of Keeseville dead on the north bank of the Ausable River below the Ausable Chasm bridge on Route 9 in Keeseville.

An autopsy revealed that Darrah died of blunt force trauma and multiple stab wounds, police said.

Police said Wednesday that a physical altercation occurred on the bridge in which Darrah was stabbed and thrown off the bridge.

APRIL

3 — The return of Amtrak's Adirondack Line was a welcome sight for many municipalities.

The rail line, which travels from New York City to Montreal, was initially suspended at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, when severe restrictions were put on border crossings with Canada.

Last month, it was announced that, after several months of state and local officials advocating for the line's restoration, it would officially return to operation in early April.

As the first train rolled into Plattsburgh station Monday afternoon, it was greeted by dozens of local officials and members of the public who were eager to see the line up and running again.

"Reunited and it feels so good," North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said to the crowd of people at the Plattsburgh station.

"Where things move is where prosperity occurs, we've said that for years, and that certainly is true in everything ... It's been three years, a three-years gap we've been separated by rail, but we're back on track and separated no more."

6 — Press-Republican reporter Carly Newton took home two first place awards in the 2022 New York Press Association Better Newspaper contest.

Out of 2,657 entries from 154 newspapers across the state, Newton took home first prize in her division for Best Feature Story and Best News or Feature Series.

In the Best Feature Story category, Newton won for her September 2022 article "Father, daughter become 46ers together." The article chronicled the yearslong effort by Peru father/ daughter duo Justin Schultz and Kailee Corcoran to climb all 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks.

In the Best News or Feature Series category, Newton was honored for her coverage of the decision around demolishing the Crete Memorial Civic Center.

In eight articles from August to December 2022, Newton chronicled the meetings, discussions and other news events around the debate on the fate of the civic center.

17 — Clinton Community College's Faculty Association Union has announced a "vote of no confidence" in college President John Kowal.

In a statement sent to the media, FA President Denise Coughlin said all present teaching and non-teaching members of the union unanimously voted on the action April 13.

"The FA membership finds that John Kowal lacks or is unable to demonstrate the needed leadership qualities or skills that are critical to ensure the betterment and future of the College," the union said.

"He has failed in his tenure as President of the College to meet his stated goals while serving as administrator-in charge and seeking the position of President in 2021."

Kowal told the Press-Republican that, upon reading the announcement of the union's decision, "the rug was pulled out from underneath" him.

"I was totally shocked," he said, adding that the media knew before he did.

"It's common practice at most institutions that when a leader is, basically, given a vote of no confidence, that that person is notified in advance ... and nothing to the effect came to my attention in writing."

20 — Work on a major road construction project that would disrupt Downtown Plattsburgh for months kicked off this week.

"It doesn't look like digging in the street right now, we're cammering the systems, just like we said we would," City of Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquest said.

"We're going to start cutting into the street here shortly ... There will be some water replacement down on the south end of Margaret Street where it meets Broad. There's gonna be some water cut off there in preparation for that, and then we're just gonna keep moving down the street."

Rifenburg Construction will be starting phase one of the one-way traffic pattern on Margaret, Brinkerhoff and Court Streets.

During this phase, one south-bound lane will be available for traffic to drive through on Margaret Street; one westbound traffic lane will be accessible on both Brinkerhoff Street and Court Street.

21 — St. Mary's Catholic School in Ticonderoga is closing its doors at the end of the current school year.

Administrators cited declining enrollment and difficult teacher recruitment as the reasons for the action, which means the 2022-23 school year will be the last for St. Mary's students and staff.

The elementary school included grades pre-kindergarten through 8th, and will see its last day Tuesday, June 23.

The school's student population had dwindled to 61 students, from a high of about 200 in the early years. The school opened in 1959.

24 — The murder trial of Vincent M. Abrams began in Clinton County Court Monday with the selection of 12 jury members.

Two more alternate jurors will be selected when court resumes Tuesday morning.

Opening statements and testimony is expected to begin after the full jury is seated before County Court Judge William A. Favreau.

The 12 jurors were seated after Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie and Assistant District Attorney Vivian Joo, for the prosecution, and defense attorney Greg LaDuke, questioned a pool of potential jurors throughout the day.

Abrams is charged with the June 2022 murder of Melissa Myers, 40, in the City of Plattsburgh. He pleaded not guilty to the charges against him at arraignment in Clinton County Court last August, and has been held since in the County Jail without bail.

25 — External demolition of the Crete Memorial Civic Center at the City Beach began Tuesday, bringing an end to 50 years of recreation memories.

"I have very good memories of the place," former City of Plattsburgh Councilor Jack Stewart, said.

"It served its purpose."

The city opted to tear down the Crete late last year in a controversial move after reviewing the cost for renovating the facility and fixing the many issues to the property.

The city had estimated the cost to demolish the Crete would be around $380,000 while the cost to renovate would have been closer to $4 million.

MAY

2 — A total of 265 guns were collected at the North Country portion of a statewide community gun buyback program Saturday.

"The ultimate goal of this event is essentially to take unwanted guns off the streets and keep them out of the wrong hands," Susan Griskonis, assistant attorney general in-charge of the Plattsburgh regional office, said.

"It is especially important due to the recent gun violence in our country and that gun violence is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S."

The North Country event was held Saturday at the Clinton County Fair Grounds in Morrisonville.

Of the 265 guns collected at the fairgrounds, 15 were assault rifles, 162 were handguns and 59 were long guns.

More than 3,000 guns were turned in across the state, including 185 assault rifles, 1,656 handguns and 823 long guns.

3 — Vincent Abrams was found guilty by a jury for the murder of Melissa Myers last year.

Abrams, 45, was charged with Myers' death five days after she was found dead on the floor of her apartment at 97 Boynton Ave. around 4 a.m. on June 4, 2022 in the City of Plattsburgh.

She died of multiple stab wounds to her neck.

The jury rendered its verdict Wednesday in Clinton County Court before Judge William Favreau shortly before noon after about five hours of deliberations, which started Tuesday afternoon.

Abrams was in court for the verdict standing next to his defense attorney Greg LaDuke. He did not react when the verdict was read.

"We are relieved and very happy and overjoyed that he is getting what he deserves," Myers' sister, Crystal Myers, said following the verdict.

District Attorney Andrew Wylie said he and Assistant District Attorney Vivian Joo were also, "extremely pleased" with the verdict. "We put in an extraordinary amount of work, especially in the last couple months," Wylie said.

"It gives closure to the family — that's the main thing," Joo added. " and justice ... for the victim."

13 — After being on the market for five years, the Plattsburgh Boat Basin was sold Tuesday.

Local realtor Neil Fesette, of Fesette Reality in Plattsburgh, confirmed to the Press-Republican that Ryan Magaziner of Atlantic Recreation Group purchased the property at 5 Dock St, which includes the marina and Naked Turtle restaurant building.

Though previous Plattsburgh Boat Basin owner Matt Spiegel will continue to operate the Naked Turtle as normal, Magaziner said.

"We'll still have that sort of seamless interaction between the marina and the restaurant," he said.

Magaziner is from Texas and with the purchase of the Plattsburgh Boat Basin, now owns two marinas as well as three RV parks in the Northeast.

16 — All North Country school districts reporting results from budget votes Tuesday saw voters approve spending plans for the 2023-24 school year.

The Press-Republican received results from district officials in Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties after polls closed Tuesday night.

19 — A children's playground has been named after a local women who spent a lifetime encouraging and supporting young people in her community and beyond.

The Rita A. Wilson Park was dedicated as a crowd of residents, State Police and their K-9 unit, Forest Rangers, Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Correctional Emergency Response team members, local fire departments, the Saranac Town Council, American Legion Post 1618 and many volunteers and community members gathered to celebrate Wilson's life and legacy.

Wilson, 78, went missing in October of 2021 near her home on Elm Street. She had dementia and her disappearance set off a widescale search by family, friends, officials and the community.

Unfortunately, four days later, she was found deceased in a wooded area about a mile north of her home with the help of a trail camera sighting.

26 — The groundbreaking for the long-anticipated Battlefield Memorial Gateway Project left Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman speechless at one point.

"Politicians are not usually lost for words," Cashman said, trying to find the right words to convey his excitement to a large crowd at Battlefield Lane Friday.

"Last night, it was like Christmas Eve for me, I just couldn't go to sleep. I was just so excited and to see so many people here just gives me chills."

In total, the project will be constructed over three phases.

When completed — which Cashman hopes will be by 2026 — the Battlefield Memorial Gateway will serve as a connection for both Plattsburgh's past and present.

The public will be given a firsthand look into the region's vast history through many interactive and educational areas that are planned for the seven acres of land that sit right on the coast of Lake Champlain.

30 — A Tupper Lake woman who killed her mother last summer has been sentenced to 19 years to life in prison.

Alexa Gallagher, 26, was sentenced Tuesday by Franklin County Court Judge Craig P. Carriero for the murder of her mother, Melissa Guisewhite, 51, on July 28, 2022.

Gallagher physically attacked her mother and then stabbed her with a knife multiple times as Guisewhite called 911 for help, according to Franklin County District Attorney Elizabeth Crawford's office.

Gallagher pleaded guilty to felony second-degree murder in March.

The incident occurred at their home at 50 Lakeview Ave. in the Village of Tupper Lake.

JUNE

4 — More than 4,000 people came together Saturday to celebrate the return of Dozerfest after a four-year hiatus.

Dozerfest provides a hands-on experience with construction equipment, off-roaders, race cars, lawn equipment, utility equipment, heavy machinery and, for the first time, mega trucks.

It has been widely popular with kids and families. The event has not been held since 2019 largely because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Kiwanis Breakfast Club of Plattsburgh, Upstone Materials and other local businesses collaborated to bring the event back this year to Airborne Speedway.

6 — With wildfires raging on in Canada, smoky skies from them are polluting the North Country and putting vulnerable populations at risk.

Early Tuesday morning, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald had issued the Air Quality Health Advisory for the Adirondacks and several other areas in New York through 11:59 p.m.

Clinton County Health Department's Principal Public Health Educator, Molly Flynn, acknowledged that Clinton County was under the advisory and provided recommendations for what residents can do to stay safe.

"Clinton County is under an Air Quality Alert due to wildfire smoke," Flynn said.

"Any time the AQI is orange or worse, residents should adjust their plans for the day."

As of Tuesday afternoon, Plattsburgh's Air Quality Index (AQI) was in the red, according to AirNow, a website that reports air quality all over the United States.

8 — For the first time in six years, Clinton Community College's Faculty Association Union and the board of trustees have come to an agreement on a new contract.

"I am very pleased that a contract agreement has been reached with the Faculty Association of Clinton Community College and that the College Board of Trustees has approved this contract," CCC President John Kowal said.

"It is a fair and equitable agreement with reasonable and long overdue salary increases for our full-time teaching and non-teaching faculty members as well as increases for parttime adjunct faculty."

Members who have more than one year of service to the college will get a $3,188 increase in their base salary. Adjunct, teaching overload, and prep rates will be raised 10% based on their level rank.

All full and part-time FA members will receive a 2.5% increase to their base salaries, but this increase does not apply to the adjunct and overload rate increases.

Full-time non-teaching professionals will receive a onetime adjustment to the base salary of $40 for each year of service. The two part-time non-teaching members (Nurses) will receive an hourly wage of $26.25/hour.

The agreement will include retroactive payments for FA members back to Sept. 1, 2022.

14 — "Now, I'm famous" was Vladimir Munk's response when asked what he thought of "Return To Auschwitz: The Survival of Vladimir Munk," winning a NEEMMY last weekend in Boston.

The crew of Paul Frederick Productions and Adirondack Coast Studios — director Paul Frederick, writer Julie Canepa and producer Bruce Carlin — had a little more to say about walking away with their golden statues at the 46th Annual Emmy Awards ceremony for the Boston/New England Chapter.

The feature-length documentary chronicles Munk, at age 95, when Canepa, Carlin and Frederick accompanied him to Poland on Jan. 27, 2020 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Army's liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the notorious concentration and extermination camp used by the Nazis to murder more than 1 million people during World War II.

16 — The Saranac Central School District has changed their schools mascot from Chiefs to Spartans.

The change begins July 1 and comes in response to a state directive to eliminate any school nickname, logo or mascot that had any roots to indigenous people.

"In the end, it was the decision that was made for us by the state," Saranac Superintendent of Schools Javier Perez said.

"I think it was a pretty smooth process. I think it was important that we started the process by allowing everybody to suggest something."

Saranac changed its logo in 2001 from a full Native American headdress to one featuring mountains and stars in tribute to its Adirondack location.

In April, the state ordered further changes, which forced the district to comply.

While the name change is effective July 1, the district has until the end of 2025 to make all changes and erase the mascot and logo from the schools

17 — Participant's in the most recent North Country Honor Flight featured a special crew of veterans.

For the first time ever, one of the flights was made up of all women veterans.

The 15 female vets served in Vietnam, Desert Storm and Afghanistan. Despite the wet weather at Saturday's ceremony, hundreds of supporters turned out for the event to give them a rousing send-off.

21 — In shocking news, Nova Bus, a leading employer in the region, said it will be ending bus production in the U.S. market and will close its Plattsburgh plant by 2025.

"The strategic decision to end bus production in the U.S. by 2025 was made after evaluating its profitability, which was experiencing continued financial losses over the years," Anna Westerberg, chair of the Nova Bus Board of Directors, said.

Nova Bus has operated a plant in the Town of Plattsburgh on Banker Road since 2009. It employed hundreds, producing several different models of buses for transportation systems across the country and world.

The announcement was shocking for local officials.

"Stunned. Totally surprised. Profoundly sad. These words all describe our reaction to news that Nova Bus has decided to leave the U.S. market," Garry Douglas, president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, said.

"We have come far with Nova Bus and were anticipating exciting times ahead with the national transition to electric buses. Volvo's decision comes as an unhappy surprise. But it has been made clear that it is not due to any missing support from the community or state, and there is no question whatsoever that the North Country workforce is among the best to be found anywhere."

24 — Brett Carnright, who grew up on Cumberland Head, and his cousin, Ryan Latinville, took first and second place respectively in the MLF Northern Division Toyota Series Bass Fishing tournament, which featured more than 200 anglers from 41 states across the nation.

"I don't know if anybody from Plattsburgh has ever won so to be the first one possibly is quite an honor," Carnright said as several family members and friends gathered for a mini-celebration after Saturday's weigh-in at the Plattsburgh City Marina.

Carnright was in the hunt from the beginning of the three-day tournament along with Latinville. He trailed leader Bryan Labelle of Vermont by just eight ounces going into the final day on Saturday, and Latinville was just two ounces behind Carnright.

The final day clinched the win for the 30-year-old Carnright who finished with a haul of 59 lbs. 11 oz. He knew just what he wanted to do despite the rainy weather.

27 — Tuesday's Primary Election in Essex County saw Chelsea M. Merrihew defeat Stephanie DeZalia, 951 to 494, in a countywide Republican race for county clerk.

The win gives Merrihew, the deputy county clerk, the Republican Party line for the Nov. 7 General Election ballot, although DeZalia will still be on the ballot as an independent candidate.

In Clinton County's sole primary election Tuesday, a Democratic Primary for the Ward 2 City of Plattsburgh Council seat, Jacob Avery defeated Damion Gilbert 79-57.

JULY

1 — Heavy rains Saturday night led to flooding and several road closures in the northern portion of Clinton County.

It would be the beginning of several weeks of heavy and steady rain that would cause damage to roads and property throughout the region.

The New York State Department of Transportation issued a road closure notice Sunday morning for Route 374 in Lyon Mountain between Bradley Pond Road and Plank Road. Motorists were advised to take Brandy Brook Road, Route 190 and Plank Road as a detour.

Several other roads in Ellenburg, Mooers and Altona were also closed as water washed out sections of roadway in several places.

Clinton County Emergency Services Director Eric Day said bridges on the LaValley and Angelville Roads over the Great Chazy River were also closed.

Route 374 in the Chazy Lake area was hit hard with several chunks of tarmac washed out, and one car was halfway under water off the road near The Owlyout.

The Town of Dannemora declared a State of Emergency due to the road closures, and further Flash Flood warnings were issued by the National Weather Service on Sunday for northwestern Clinton County as more rain was expected.

As much as five inches of rain fell Saturday night and another 0.5 to 1.5 inches was expected Sunday.

4 — An estimated crowd of 5,000 people lined the streets of the City of Plattsburgh and braved the scorching heat to enjoy the annual Fourth of July parade and later fireworks show.

The day started with the Vermont Air National Guard flying four F-35 Lightning II jets over City Hall just before 11 a.m. While they didn't break the sound barrier, the roaring engines were heard across the city.

"We got in touch with the Vermont Air National Guard, they were planning to fly over southern Vermont, then make their way up north to loop around," Courtney Meisenheimer, community engagement coordinator for the City of Plattsburgh, said.

"I think it is a nice thing for us, considering the history of the area and the old base."

8 — The 46th annual Mayor's Cup Regatta and Festival kicks off this morning with kayak rides and a 5K run/ walk and, of course, the sailboat race as well as many other events.

A total of 46 boats in three divisions will launch for the race on Plattsburgh Bay at 10 a.m.

They will be competing for prizes in all divisions and the coveted and storied actual Mayor's Cup.

11 — A crew of local and state officials toured Clinton County Tuesday assessing the damage caused by heavy rains that have fallen on the area almost daily since July 1.

The damage they saw was awakening.

"We are definitely going to run into the millions of dollars of damage with all the roads washed out and the erosion," Clinton County Legislature Chairman Mark Henry (R-Area 3, Chazy) said.

The heavy rains which stretch back to the evening of Saturday, July 1 have been steady over the past 11 days. The water has flowed over roads causing washouts of shoulders, tarmac and made many unpassable.

Water has also caused severe erosion in parts of the county and flooded basements.

The most affected areas have been in the north, northwest, west and central parts of the county. Areas such as Ellenburg, Lyon Mountain, Dannemora, Saranac and Mooers all got hit hard.

Over in Vermont, Montpelier was also severely affected by heavy flooding as more than 100 people needed to be rescued.

14 — Dust, memories and piles of rubble are all that's left of the Crete Memorial Civic Center.

The last pieces of the structure were taken down this week, making it the first time in 50 years that folks visiting the Plattsburgh City Beach were not greeted to the all-too-familiar sight of the towering Crete building.

City of Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquest said it will now be returned to greenspace in the immediate future.

17 — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg in northern New York said Monday that it was filing for bankruptcy protection as it faces more than 100 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse.

The diocese, like others in the state, is dealing with lawsuits dating to when New York temporarily suspended the statute of limitations to give victims of childhood abuse the ability to pursue even decades-old allegations against clergy members, teachers, Boy Scout leaders and others.

Bishop of Ogdensburg Terry R. LaValley said there were 124 cases pending against the diocese, with claims dating from the 1940s through the 1990s.

Ogdensburg is the sixth of New York's eight dioceses to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a list that also includes those based in Buffalo, Rochester and Rockville Centre on Long Island.

25 — The Clinton County Fair opens today with games, food, livestock shows, music and more.

The fair runs through Sunday, July 30 at the Fair Grounds off Route 22B in Morrisonville.

25 — Clinton and Essex Counties have been included in the federal disaster declaration following major flooding in the region.

The designation will mean both counties will be eligible for federal funding to repair roads and properties.

"We are very pleased and grateful to be included in this declaration because it would have been a major lift for the county to pay for all of this damage," Clinton County Legislature Chairman Mark Henry (R-Area 3, Chazy) said.

31 — The Town of Plattsburgh's recently released development guide this week will let potential new businesses or restaurants hit the ground running if they are interested in coming here.

"This is about telling our story, you know, in a way that at the end, encourages people to want to have more of a conversation," Supervisor Michael Cashman said.

The 14-page guidebook, which is available in print and on the Town of Plattsburgh's website here: https://www. townofplattsburgh.com/developinplattsburgh/, will be sent to developers and businesses all over the country in hopes of influencing them to come here.

AUGUST

1 — The Plattsburgh SterRx facility is shuttering its doors.

The pharmaceutical company is known for manufacturing and distributing sterile, compounded products.

Director of plant operations at SterRx Sarah McCoy released this statement Tuesday in regard to the closure: "Recently, SterRX, LLC announced it has ceased operations and will close its manufacturing and distribution centers in Plattsburgh, pending their divestiture. The decision aligns ongoing operations with the future of the business. Ster-Rx has been a long-time employer in the community and we realize the changes this decision will bring to the community.

"All employees will continue to receive full compensation and benefits until late October with severance tailored to years of employment following that period."

There were 161 employees at the SterRx sites on Idaho Ave. and Connecticut Road.

3 — Vincent Abrams will serve life in prison without parole for the murder of Plattsburgh woman Melissa Myers last year.

Abrams, 45, was charged with Myers' death five days after she was found dead on the floor of her apartment at 97 Boynton Ave. around 4 a.m. on June 4, 2022 in the City of Plattsburgh.

On May 3 of this year, after seven days of testimony, Abrams was then found guilty by a jury for four charges related to Myers' death: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

Judge William Favreau handed down sentences for each charge in Clinton County Court Thursday, including the maximum sentence of life in prison without parole for the charge of first-degree murder; and a sentence of 25 years to life for the second-degree murder charge.

8 — During a visit to Plattsburgh, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer says new bipartisan legislation placed in the senate's National Defense Authorization Act will dramatically stop the flow of fentanyl into America and affected places like Clinton County if it becomes law.

The bill was put forth by Schumer, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and was recently approved by the Senate in its National Defense Bill.

Schumer, speaking during a press conference at the University of Vermont Health Network Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) in Plattsburgh Tuesday in which he was joined by CVPH staff, Plattsburgh City Police Chief Nathan "Bud" York, City Police Capt. Peter Mitchell and City of Plattsburgh Fire Chief Scott Lawliss, called on the House to approve the bill.

12 — Four suspects were in custody after a wild search that began at the U.S. and Canadian border and ended in the Town of Plattsburgh late Saturday morning.

U.S. Border Patrol attempted to stop a vehicle for the purpose of border enforcement.

When agents tried to stop the vehicle, it failed to stop.

Agents pursued the vehicle for a short time before canceling the attempt, police said.

Shortly after, Sheriff's deputies saw the vehicle driving recklessly through traffic while approaching the Town of Plattsburgh. Deputies tried to stop the vehicle, but it still would not stop.

The vehicle would then strike one uninvolved vehicle on Route 3 in the Town of Plattsburgh.

The vehicle then continued on to a wooded area north of Route 3, and all occupants fled from the vehicle.

Multiple law enforcement agencies converged on the area between Days Inn on Cornelia Street and the wooded area immediately to the east, police said.

All four in the vehicle were taken into custody after an extensive search.

12 — Residents of the Town of Schuyler Falls gathered at the Town Hall grounds to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the town with food, games and activities for kids, music, a parade and fireworks show.

The two-day event began with a parade Saturday including EMS vehicles from around the county, floats by local businesses and organizations, as well as horses and race cars.

"I have to give it to Kevin Randall and Barb (Benkwitt), the historian, for making it all come together," James Hockney, parade grand marshal and long-time Schuyler Falls resident, said.

17 — Olive Garden is the top requested restaurant/ business in the Town of Plattsburgh's recently launched development survey so far.

Town Supervisor Michael Cashman told the Plattsburgh Noon Rotary Club Wednesday that there have been 1,435 responses to the survey as of that day. Of those, 391 listed Olive Garden as a business they want to come to Plattsburgh.

Following that, the second most requested business has been Trader Joe's.

"There's a lot of other things that people want too," Cashman said, referencing the hundreds of other respondents.

"See why this is important to really kind of spread that out there?"

20 — Members of the community gathered at the grounds of the Church of the Assumption Parish Center to celebrate the 168th annual Redford Picnic with food, games, live music, craft fair and a merry- go-round.

"This is a parish festival, held annually since 1855," Father Michael Jablonski, pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Dannemora and the Church of the Assumption, said.

"This is the 168th year commemorating the creation of the Church of Assumption. It is held in the honor of the Lord's mother, and all that he has done for us and given us. It's a great North Country festival for people to enjoy,"

SEPTEMBER

5 — A Port Henry woman was killed after a driver went the wrong way on Interstate 87 Monday night and crashed into the vehicle she was riding in.

Kathy J. Groshans, 47, of Port Henry died when the black 2019 Dodge Ram truck her husband, Dale N. Groshans, 66, of Port Henry was driving was hit head-on by the wrong-way driver, Brian M. O'Leary, age 37, of East Millinocket, Maine.

The Groshans' two grandchildren, boys, ages 4 and 7 years old, who were in the back seat, were also injured.

7 — An Albany man has been charged with murder after a man who was hit by a vehicle died.

According to State Police, around 8:20 p.m., Wednesday night, State Police and the Clinton County Sheriff's Department were called to the Exit 36 truck stop in Plattsburgh off Interstate 87 on Route 22.

The call was for a report of a person who was struck by a motor vehicle in the parking lot, police said.

When troopers arrived, they found Wayne H. Haupt, 53, of Albany, with severe injuries. The involved vehicle fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement, police said.

Haupt was transported by ambulance to The University of Vermont Health Network at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh where he was later pronounced deceased.

A description of the suspect vehicle was provided by eyewitness accounts and was later encountered by State Police uniformed patrols in the Town of Tupper Lake in Franklin County. A vehicle and traffic stop was attempted and the vehicle fled, police said.

Eventually, the vehicle stopped in the Town of Long Lake in Hamilton County, and the operator, Thomas E. Lance, 38, of Albany, was taken into custody without incident, police said.

Lance was arrested and charged with one count of second-degree murder, police said.

10 — The 25th annual Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration organized by the 1814 Commemoration Inc., was in full swing this past weekend featuring craft markets, food, drinks, live music, fireworks, a parade and more.

All done in the name of preserving Plattsburgh's rich history.

"The Battle of Plattsburgh is probably the most decisive and important battle in the history of this country," Tim Horn, 1814 Commemoration Inc, co-vice president, said.

"It was the British soldiers intent to weaken our forces up here and push downward. There were no troops between here and what is now New York City, so they would have essentially taken over the northern area of the state. Who knows we could all be Canadians if that happened. It really is so important to remember."

12 — A development agreement that would have potentially brought a hotel to the City of Plattsburgh's harborside has now failed in light of new information about the voting threshold for approving the sale of city property.

As outlined in the development agreement, a parcel located next to the Plattsburgh City Marina off of Dock Street was set to be sold to Saranac Lakebased developer GP Manager PLF, LLC for an estimated $1.2 million to construct a hotel with approximately 125 rooms and 4,000 square feet of meeting space, a restaurant and other ancillary facilities.

The hotel development agreement, which was voted on at last Thursday's Common Council meeting, had originally passed 4-3, with Mayor Chris Rosenquest voting in favor of it to break the council tie.

Though the measure was approved at the time, before the vote took place, Councilors Elizabeth Gibbs (D-Ward 3) and Jeff Moore (D-Ward 6) raised concerns about potentially not reaching the number of votes needed to approve a sale of city property.

The councilors' concerns stemmed from a section of city code 24-3, which states "The Council may make such transfers for consideration or without consideration on such terms as it deems proper, only upon a 3/4 majority vote of all of the members of the Common Council."

12 — A new air service will begin flying from Plattsburgh to Orlando, Fla. at the end of November, bringing much joy to Clinton County officials.

The additional air service from Breeze Airways is expected to be a welcome sight for local travelers and those from nearby Quebec.

"I don't see how the Canadians will not love this," Clinton County Legislature Chairman Mark Henry (R-Area 3, Chazy) said.

"It's low-cost flights, cheap parking and direct service to Florida. We are very pleased to be able to offer this service."

Breeze Airways, billed as the U.S.' only "Nice Low Cost Carrier," or NLCC, will be offering air service to Orlando, Fla. from Plattsburgh International Airport starting Nov. 28.

20 — On Oct. 7, Ross Dress for Less (Ross), a nationally recognized off-price retailer of clothing and home décor, will take over that space and bring move variety to the mall's offerings.

"We are thrilled to bring Ross Dress for Less to Plattsburgh," General Manager of Champlain Centre, Lisa Getty, said.

"They are a well-known, well-loved retailer with great names at great savings, and will be a destination store for our region and beyond."

Ross is the largest off-price apparel and home fashion chain in the United States with 1,722 locations in 41 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.

Ross offers first-quality, in-season, name brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions for the entire family at savings of 20% to 60% off department and specialty store.

21 — The Saranac Riverwalk in the City of Plattsburgh is now open to both pedestrians and cyclists.

The project, which laces the area behind the former Plattsburgh Farmer's Market stall and the Saranac River in the heart of Downtown Plattsburgh, includes a 10-foot wide multi-use path, two overlooks, improved lighting, and extensive landscaping.

23 — The Village of Champlain celebrated its historic sesquicentennial anniversary Saturday.

"'My hometown' is a powerful expression," Mayor Janet McFetridge said at the village's 150th birthday ceremony.

"Those who came here to work, those whose families settled here long ago, those who moved here last year, or last month, you are all part of the fabric of this village."

28 — The last building that was part of a Canadian police outpost at a popular unofficial border crossing in northern Clinton County was demolished Monday. It marked the end of an era for this part of the northern border.

Starting in 2017 during the Trump administration, migrants seeking asylum in Canada began showing up in Plattsburgh and taking a taxi to a tiny dead end road in Champlain called Roxham Road. Over six years, about 113,000 people turned themselves in to Canadian authorities. Many of them entered that country's more generous asylum system.

But Roxham Road was effectively closed in March of this year. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was facing pressure from Canadians concerned about the flood of migrants. So, the U.S. and Canada changed a treaty governing the border.

30 — Dr. Vladimir Munk, 98, a Holocaust survivor and subject of an EMMY Award winning documentary, who educated so many, died peaceably Saturday, Sept. 30, in Plattsburgh.

A resident of Lake Forest Senior Living Community, Dr. Munk was a biochemistry professor emeritus at SUNY Plattsburgh, where he taught for 21 years.

In 1981, he received the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching.

OCTOBER

3 — A fingerprint on a ransom note led police to a kidnapping suspect's camper in New York where 9-year-old Charlotte Sena was found hidden in a cabinet, ending a two-day search sparked by the girl's disappearance during a family camping trip, officials said.

"We are thrilled that she is home and we understand that the outcome is not what every family gets," the girl's family said in a statement Tuesday, WRGB in Albany reported.

Craig Nelson Ross Jr., 46, was arrested Monday at the camper parked at his mother's house, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced at a news conference late Monday.

Ross was arraigned overnight in town court in Milton, New York on a charge of first-degree kidnapping, the state police announced Tuesday. He was being held without bail at the Saratoga County Correctional Facility.

Police said more charges are expected against Ross, whose age was initially given as 47.

10 — One adult and two juveniles were arrested for graffiti at multiple locations downtown, including at an iconic piece of Outside Art.

During the investigation, patrol officers located multiple locations of graffiti, including the Jean Arthur mural on Protection Avenue, the Smith Weed Bridge, and the pavilion on the Durkee Street parking lot, river walk.

With assistance of the Detective Division, a fourth location was discovered on the JCEO building also in downtown. Detectives were able to identify and locate three individuals involved in the criminal mischief.

23 — The Plattsburgh Citizens Coalition (PCC) is vowing to continue its legal battle against Prime Plattsburgh LLC's proposed housing development for the Durkee Street parking lot.

Prime's project planned to bring 109 residential housing units and 13,400 square feet of commercial space to the City of Plattsburgh's downtown parking lot but has been held up in this litigation for several years now.

The most recent update for the lawsuit came in August when the Appellate Division of the Third Judicial Department upheld a Clinton County Supreme Court decision from February 2022 that invalidated prior city approvals granted for Prime's proposed construction, which once again, stopped the project from moving forward.

The PCC was pleased with the higher court's decision at the time, but the city is now intending to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals, the highest court in New York state.

28 — Downtown businesses celebrated Halloween and the reopening of Margaret Street with the community Saturday during the Downtown Trick or Treat event.

Costumed trick-or-treaters wandered about Downtown Plattsburgh Saturday afternoon following the ribbon- cutting ceremony marking the completion of the Margaret Street Reconstruction Project and the reopening of Margaret Street.

"It's very exciting," City of Plattsburgh Community Engagement Coordinator Courtney Meisenheimer said of the turnout for both the Margaret Street reopening and trick-or-treat event.

A portion of the street was blocked off from Court to Brinkerhoff streets for families to walk around, visit stores, take photos and enjoy the celebration.

Thirty downtown businesses decorated their storefronts and handed out candy to kids along Margaret Street, Trinity Hall Place, Durkee Street and Clinton Street.

NOVEMBER

2 — James McKenna, who has led tourism efforts in the Adirondacks for the last 41 years, is retiring as head of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism here.

His departure on April 30, 2024 was announced Thursday, with the ROOST Board of Directors promising a nationwide search for a new president and chief executive officer.

"I'm not retiring for six months," McKenna told the Press-Republican Thursday. "I have some other options not in tourism I can pursue."

A search firm will be hired to assist, the board said in a release, but local and regional candidates are also encouraged to apply.

7 — Democrat Amy Asadourian Senecal won the race for Clinton County Family Court judge with early returns showing her holding a solid lead over Republican candidate Hilary Rogers.

With all districts reporting Tuesday evening, Asadourian Senecal held a lead of 7,797 votes to Rogers' 5,003.

Asadourian Senecal will succeed Timothy Lawliss, who retired from the bench on April 29. He was county family court judge for 25 years and was last elected in 2018 with his term set to expire in 2028.

Asadourian Senecal has worked in Family Court as court attorney for Lawliss for 18 years.

Also, longtime Clinton County Clerk John Zurlo retained his seat with a close win over challenger Brandi Lloyd.

Zurlo, the Republican incumbent for 28 years, racked up 7,748 votes in unofficial results against 6,597 for Lloyd, the Democrat.

The margin of lead stood at 1,151 votes.

"Apparently the voters liked what we've been doing," a happy Zurlo said at Republican Party headquarters at American Legion Post 1619 in West Plattsburgh Tuesday night.

11 — "Black Heel Strings: A Choptank Memoir" by Press-Republican Staff Writer Robin Michel Caudell has been selected as the 2023 Veterans Writing Award winner.

Syracuse University Press, in cooperation with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), established the Veterans Writing Award in 2019. The mission of the award is to recognize the contributions of veterans to the literary arts, shine a light on the multivalent veteran experience, and provide a platform for unrecognized military writers.

Caudell served in the U.S. Air Force and was a John L. Levitow Honor Graduate.

17 — The first phase of a major project that will bring the area's history alive is open for business.

"This is going to be the biggest history project we've ever had here," John Rock, local historian and organizer of the Battlefield Memorial Gateway, said.

The Battlefield Memorial Gateway project was hatched in 2017 and it features a park on a stretch of land in the Town of Plattsburgh off Route 9 near Clare and Carl's restaurant.

The park will feature interactive models for kids, plaques describing the history that happened in the area going back 200 years, and a walking trail dedicated to the Purple Heart Community in honor of veterans.

17 — Press-Republican Publisher Lamiaa Aly-Elshafay tells the Clinton County Historical Association that newspapers are still an especially important part of the communities they serve at their annual dinner meeting in Plattsburgh.

"We are not shrinking. We're actually working in a different way," Aly-Elshafay said in her presentation.

"We are not dying and the most important reason why we're not dying is that we have people who are still at it. Joe (Editor in Chief Joe LoTemplio) has been at it for 40 years, and I've been at it for 18 years so you can see, we know what we are doing and where we are going and we stand in your favor."

In the digital age of the past 40 years or so, newspapers have been forced to deal with a number of changes as more and more readers opt for electronic versions of the product rather than the actual printed paper.

More competition has sprung up in radio and television, and social media has also flooded people with information. But Aly-Elshafay says newspapers remain the most vital and trusted source of news in a community.

"A study showed that the most relied upon and trusted media source is the newspaper, way more than TV, radio and by far, social media," she said.

"Seventy-four percent of people understand the important value of a local newspaper

19 — A 14-year-old boy was killed and three other teens injured in an accident on Depot Street early Sunday morning.

According to State Police, shortly before 2 a.m., a gray 2011 Honda Ridgeline was traveling west at a high rate of speed on Depot Street when the driver, a 14-year-old boy from Rouses Point, failed to negotiate a curve and lost control of the vehicle.

The vehicle went off the north shoulder of the road and hit multiple trees before stopping, police said. Police were notified that the vehicle was on fire and people were possibly trapped inside.

Three passengers in the vehicle, a 14-year-old male from Mooers, a 12-year-old female from Mooers and a 13-yearold female from Champlain all sustained injuries and were transported to University of Vermont Healthcare Network CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh and later transported to UVM Medical Center in Burlington, Vt.

28 — Plattsburgh International Airport's newest airline, Breeze Airways, made it's first flight out of Plattsburgh International Airport to Orlando, Fla.

In comparison to other companies like Spirit Airlines, which flies 90% of its routes where other airlines already are, 93% of Breeze Airways' routes currently fly where there is no other competition.

The Breeze Airways plane, which was designed just across the border in Maribel, Canada, has 137 seats available.

Among those, 12 are first-class seats and 45 are extra-legroom seats.

The airline's service to Orlando will be available three days a week — Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays — at PBG.

DECEMBER

1 — After election results were certified by the Clinton County Board of Elections Nov. 16, it was determined that just one of the two Town of Clinton councilperson seats up for grabs had been won, with Democratic candidate Kenneth Patnode garnering 90 votes to lock up a seat on the board.

However, the second council seat could not be filled after Democrat Theodore Martin and Republican incumbent Daniel McComb received 67 votes each, which resulted in a rarely seen election tie.

Additionally, Republican candidate Charles Coryea secured 35 votes; therefore, no second candidate received enough votes to get elected.

1 — BETA Technologies will embark on a $41 million expansion of its operation at Plattsburgh International Airport that will lead to more jobs and a brighter era of aerospace technology.

BETA Technologies, which has been operating on the flight line of Plattsburgh International Airport since 2017, is a cutting edge electric aerospace company that performs critical cargo, military and medical missions.

They will partner with Clinton County on the $41 million expansion with $20 million of the cost coming from the state Empire State Development's Regional Economic and Community Assistance Program through the county.

The plan is expected to create 85 full-time jobs in exchange for the $20 million from the state.

3 — A large crowd gathered in Downtown Plattsburgh to watch the annual Miracle on Margaret Street Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting ceremony.

The parade snaked down Margaret Street with festivities culminating with the lighting of the large tree on the Strand Center for the Arts property at the corner of Brinkerhoff and Margaret Streets. Crowds got to see firsthand the newly roads, sidewalks, lights and infrastructure downtown after months of construction.

3 — Dwayne Parker has a close relationship with Dalton Criss, and they've never met.

That's why Parker, a 52-year-old U.S. Army veteran, flew from his home in Lexington, Kentucky to Plattsburgh to learn of Dalton, whose heart beats within his chest.

Dalton Rashad Criss was born July 30, 2001 to Dr. Dexter Criss and Barbara Simmons Criss, and he died on Aug. 20, 2019 after a car accident. In Peru, he left behind his parents, sister, Danielle, and grandmother, Bobbie.

Parker is the recipient of Dalton's heart after the teen's organs were harvested and donated upon his death.

It was an emotional reunion as Parker appeared at the Soulful Christmas Concert on the campus of SUNY Plattsburgh, where Dalton's father is the artistic director of the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir.

5 — After months of closure, the Carpenter's Flats Bridge on Route 9 over the Ausable River has re-opened.

"It's a relief that people don't have to take a long detour anymore and it will be a relief of all that extra traffic on other roads," Clinton County Legislator Robert Timmons (R-Area 7, Peru) who represents the area where the bridge is, said.

The $6.2 million rehabilitation project improved the bridge's ability to ward off ice jams that caused flooding.

7 — Chazy Central Rural School District has named Rob McAuliffe as its next superintendent.

McAuliffe, a Chazy alumnus, has spent his entire professional career with the district. He began as a teaching assistant in 1997 before working as a special education and social studies teacher in the 2000s. In 2014, McAuliffe was named CCRS Elementary Principal.

He is also the coach of the boys soccer team, which has on 10 New York State Class D titles.

9 — The Press-Republican debuted its new historical feature entitled, "Back in the Day," which will include stories of historical events of the past that the public may or may not know about.

It is produced in tandem with the Clinton County Historical Association.

The first installment featured a former frog farm that used to be in Champlain near Whiteside Dam in Perry's Mills and the Chazy River, just west of the Village of Champlain.

11 — Lake Placid's bid to host the sliding events for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games could go a long way toward attracting more high profile events to the region even if the bid is not accepted.

But State Assemblyman D. Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) believes Lake Placid would be ideal for the sliding events.

"This is a premiere proposal and absolutely we can pull this off," Jones told the Press-Republican.

The bid includes plans to hold the sliding events for bobsled, luge and skeleton at Mount Van Hoevenburg with medal ceremonies in New York City.

The rest of the games will be held in Cortina, Italy, in February of 2026.

14 — A woman officials believe entered the country illegally, was found dead in the Chazy River late Thursday morning.

According to the Clinton County Sheriff's Office, Ana Karen Vasquez-Flores, 33, of Mexico was found in a section of the river in the Village of Champlain around 11 a.m. by a New York State Forest Ranger Air Boat crew.

Police said Vasquez-Flores was believed to have entered the county illegally.

The joint effort to find Vasquez-Flores included the New York State Forest Rangers, Clinton County Sheriff's Office, United States Border Patrol, Tri-County SRT, New York State Police, NYS BCI, NYS Police Under Water Recovery Team, United States Air and Marine, Champlain Fire and EMS, Rouses Point Fire and EMS, Mooers Fire and the Clinton County's various Swift Water Rescue Teams.

16 — Christmas came early for 16 people Friday who had been patiently waiting to become United States citizens.

"Today, you'll be joining a people who are among the freest on the face of this earth," the Hon. Allison M. McGahay, State Supreme Court justice, said during the naturalization ceremony in Clinton County Supreme Court.

"With your new citizenship and rights as an American, you will be free to pursue whatever dream you have for yourself and for your family, and we as fellow Americans root for your success."

The 16 applicants who were sworn in as new citizens of the United States originated from six countries.

19 — With roads shut down throughout the county and Lake Placid, Boquet Valley, Moriah, Keene and AuSable Valley schools closed early as heavy rains pounded the region, Essex County officials declared a state of emergency Monday morning.

Franklin County officials also declared a state of emergency there, as parts of U.S. Route 11 and County Routes 41 and 25 in the Malone area were closed due to flooding.

Adirondack Northway (I-87) exit 30 for Route 73 to Keene and Lake Placid was closed at about noon due to severe flooding at various spots along the highway.

Several roads in Clinton County also had to be shut down.

20 — Perhaps the North Country's best known mover and shaker, Garry Douglas has once again been named as a top influencer in New York state.

Douglas, president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, was listed at number 35 of City & State magazine's 2023 "ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POWER 100" list.

The list identifies the policymakers who are most driving economic development strategies in New York state.

James McKenna, the soon-to-be-retired head of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism in Lake Placid for four decades, also made the list, coming in at 96.

20 — City of Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquest believes it is time to examine the question again of whether the city needs a city-manager form of government.

"There's just this constant question about it," Rosenquest, who ran for mayor and was elected in 2020, said.

He said hopefully a commission studying the issue will provide enough answers for the public to make an informed decision.

"I believe there is an appetite for this and I'm asking to confirm that or deny it and then figure out what the pros and cons are," he said.

21 — Plattsburgh City Police Capt. Peter Mitchell is the department's newest chief of police.

His appointment, put forward by Mayor Chris Rosenquest, passed at Thursday's Common Council meeting, despite one 'No' vote from Councilor Elizabeth Gibbs (D-Ward 3) and two abstentions from Councilors Julie Baughn (D-Ward 1) and Jeff Moore (D-Ward 6).

25 — A Plattsburgh woman was shot by police in Franklin County after she allegedly drove at them while she had a firearm in her vehicle.

The woman, Jessica A. Chase, 46, of Plattsburgh, was in stable condition in the hospital.

According to State Police, around 10:34 p.m. on Monday, Christmas Night, police were called to the Loon Lake Trailhead on County Route 26 in the Town of Franklin to check on the welfare of Chase, who was reported as missing.

Police found Chase, who was armed with a long gun in her vehicle, police said. After failing to comply with commands, Chase drove at Troopers, who then discharged their division issued firearms, striking Chase, police said.

Chase sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt., where she was listed as stable, police said.

E-mail: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com

Twitter: @jlotemplio