Wow! Quarter mil
and restitution? They can afford that kind of nobles oblige?
8-18 11:30 AM News Update - Academy at Ivy Ridge Settles Over Diploma Issues
ACADEMY AT IVY RIDGE SETTLES OVER DIPLOMA ISSUES
The Academy at Ivy Ridge has agreed to pay a $250,000 fine and offer restitution to some parents of its students as part of a negotiated settlement with the New York State Attorney General?s Office over its accreditation and granting diplomas.
Academy at Ivy Ridge Executive Director Jason Finlinson said the settlement will allow the boarding school for troubled teens to apply to the New York State Education Department for permission to issue diplomas in New York State.
Under the settlement, the Academy at Ivy Ridge has reorganized its organizational structure to meet New York rules.
The Academy had originally obtained accreditation status from the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools and had been issuing diplomas under its authorization.
The Attorney General had accused the school of issuing diplomas illegally because the association did not have a license to do business in New York State and misleading parents into thinking the school could issue diplomas that would be recognized by colleges.
Finlinson said Ivy Ridge will now be able to seek accreditation from an agency authorized to do business in New York State. (BobK1040)
INMATE SENTENCED FOR CORRECTION OFFICER ASSAULTS
An inmate at the Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone, 24-year-old Quadrell O?Neal, has been sentenced in Jefferson County Court in Watertown to serve an additional 5 years in prison on charges for assaulting 2 corrections officers while he was in the state?s Cape Vincent Correctional Facility.
Quadrell actually received 2, 5 year sentences, after pleading guilty to 2 counts of 2nd degree assault, but the prison terms will run at the same time. He was also given 3 years of post-release supervision.
O?Neil, already serving a 2 to 4 year sentence on convictions for reckless endangerment and weapons charges in Rensselar County, had been accused in a January incident with biting correction?s officer Michael Birchenough and also causing the officer to suffer a torn muscle and a puncture wound to his wrist.
A second officer, James Mallan, was also hurt in the incident when he was struck in the jaw and sustained a sore neck and a scrape to his shin.
Quadrell received the extra time in prison during the sentencing phase of his case which took place Monday. (BobK1040)
PLATTSBURGH MAN IN JOGGER ASSAULT CASE GETS 9-YEAR PRISON TERM
It was in July of last year when a Plattsburgh woman was grabbed by a man as she jogged along a recreational bike path. She was dragged by the hair and pulled into an abandoned house and assaulted, but she finally managed to escape her attacker by running away.
The victim, 22-year-old Roxana Tiffer, was in the Clinton County Courtroom in Plattsburgh yesterday watching as the man accused in her attack, 45-year-old Andre Whittard of Jay, was sentenced to prison. At the time of the assault, Tiffer was a 21-year-old student attending college in Plattsburgh.
Clinton County Judge Kevin Ryan sentenced Whittard to serve 9 years in prison on a felony attempted kidnapping conviction and 7 years for assault. However, the two sentences will run at the same time, the result of a prior plea agreement with the Clinton County District Attorney?s Office. The deal also includes five years of post-prison supervision.
If the case had gone to trial and had Whittard been convicted, he could have ended up serving between 30 and 40 years in the state?s correctional system. (BobK1040)
PROSECUTORS WANT JAIL TERM IN IRAQI CHARITY CASE
Federal prosecutors want at least a 24-year jail term for a Syracuse doctor found guilty of conspiring to violate US sanctions by sending money to Iraq through an illegal charity.
Now, for the first time, prosecutors are alleging a possible link between 57-year-old Doctor Rafil Dhafir and terrorism. A memo filed Monday says Dhafir poses a national security threat through his connections to terrorist organizations.
Prosecutors say Dhafir wrote that potential beneficiaries of his Help the Needy charity included Jamaa Islamia, which the US State Department has called a terrorist organization. The notes, found in Dhafir's suburban Syracuse home, also said money would go to holy warriors in Iraq.
Terrorism wasn't mentioned in Dhafir's 17-month trial. He was convicted in February on 59 counts of fraud, tax evasion, Medicare and Medicaid fraud, money laundering, visa fraud, violating US sanctions against Iraq and lying to federal agents.
Dhafir was convicted of misusing 2 million dollars that donors gave to his charity and spending more than 500-thousand on himself and friends.
Dhafir was not charged with helping terrorists. His lawyer says he knows nothing of the notes cited by prosecutors.
Dhafir will be sentenced August 29th. (Associated Press)
'SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE' TURNS OUT TO BE ORDER OF ONION RINGS
A report of a suspicious package prompted the evacuation of a building at Fort Drum yesterday.
Turns out the only threat the package posed was to someone's cholesterol level.
The offices in Clark Hall were evacuated for more than an hour after someone spotted a stained bag.
Authorities at the Army post determined the bag contained a greasy order of onion rings.
It was the second time in a week the building was evacuated. Last week's suspicious package turned out to contain laundry detergent. (Associated Press)
2 MALONE MEN ARRESTED FOR USING WORK SCAM TO BURGLARIZE ELDERLY RESIDENTS
Two Malone men were arrested for allegedly offering private work for elderly residents in the Fort Covington area, then later returning to the homes to burglarize them. Malone-based state police say 34-year-old Lonnie Bell and 24-year-old Phillip Perry, Jr. allegedly went to the homes and while one discussed possible work arrangements, the other stole items from the home. Police say sometimes they returned later when the residents were away. Both men are also accused of stealing checks from their victims and later cashing them at local businesses. They both face multiple burglary counts and were committed to the Franklin County Jail in Malone on $10,000 bail each to face later court action. (1340WMSA)
SLC STORM DAMAGES SHOULD BE REPORTED TO OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
After recent storms that caused heavy damage in parts of St. Lawrence County, the county's Office of Emergency Services says it is important to report any damage to their office, regardless of insurance coverage. Emergency Services Director Michael Wassis says in any such case, there could be assistance to cover at least a percentage of the uninsured loss, or to assist those with no insurance. Programs such as Small Business Administration low-interest loans, local Red Cross assistance or other state and federal programs are available to help. Wassis says, in any one county, there must be documented damage to 25 or more homes or small businesses from any single event. The event can include a series of thunderstorms. For municipal infrastructure assistance for items such as roads and bridges, the estimated loss must exceed $300,000. (1340WMSA)
OGDENSBURG MAN ARRESTED FOR STOLEN CHECKS
Sheriff?s Detectives arrested 27-year-old Timothy J. Lalonde of 5321 State Hwy 812, Ogdensburg, for 2nd degree forgery and petit larceny.
William Hitchcock of 74 Water Street, Heuvelton, made a complaint with the Sheriff?s Office in July that he had been notified by his bank that his account was overdrawn. After looking into it he found that a number of his checks were stolen and cashed.
Mr. Lalonde was brought before Lisbon Town Justice Patricia Fletcher and released under probation supervision.
PATAKI VETOES DRUNKEN DRIVER INSURANCE BILL
Governor Pataki has vetoed a bill that would have required insurance carriers to pay the medical bills of people injured while driving drunk.
Current state law aims to keep drunk drivers off the road by forcing them to pay for treatment if they're in an accident, but the bill's supporters said the law discourages doctors from testing injured drivers for alcohol, meaning drunken drivers will fail to get counseling and will continue to endanger people's lives.
Pataki said he vetoed the bill because it was unclear how many people and cases would be affected each year by the change.
Such so-called alcohol exclusion laws are currently on the books in 35 states and the District of Columbia.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says last year, 16,694 Americans were killed in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents. (Associated Press)
PIERREPONT MAN ARRESTED FOR PUNCHING MOTHER, RESISTING ARREST
St. Lawrence County Sheriff?s Deputies arrested a Pierrepont man Wednesday due to a domestic incident. Mark F. Burns, 18, of 71A Post Road in Crary Mills was charged for striking his mother, Lisa Burns, in the face with his fist.
When Deputies arrived at the residence and spoke with Mr. Burns he ran from Deputies. He was found a short time later hiding in the woods. Mr. Burns was charged with menacing in the 3rd degree and additionally charged with resisting arrest.
FIREFIGHTER TAX EXEMPTION PASSED IN CANTON
The Town of Canton Council approved last night a property tax break for volunteer firefighters. It's the first entity in the county to do so. A firefighter must be in good standing, and be a member at least 5 years. (99Hits.com)
2.5 MILLION IN WATER PLANT IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED IN MASSENA
The village of Massena's water system users could be facing an increase in rates in the future to help pay for more than 2½ million dollars in improvements to the village's water treatment plant. Massena trustees were recently told that old and inefficient equipment needs to be replaced at the nearly 50-year-old facility. That includes replacing pumps, valves and a chlorinator. (1340WMSA)
THOUSANDS OF ADIRONDACK ACRES MAY BE RECLASSIFIED
The Adirondack Park Agency wants to reclassify almost 74-thousand acres of public land, including northern forest parcels that could accommodate snowmobiles and ATVs.
The proposal needs Governor Pataki's approval.
The plan would designate about 32-thousand acres as wild forest where some motorized recreation could be allowed.
An Adirondack Council spokesman said the environmental group hoped to see the entire boreal forest classified as wilderness and said ATVs already are damaging area trails. (Associated Press)
CARRIER DOME TO GET PREMIER SEATS FOR BASKETBALL
Syracuse University says 150 courtside seats will be added for basketball games inside the Carrier Dome this season.
The seats will be placed in the space previously reserved for the media. Daryl Gross, the university's director of athletics, says the price of a courtside season ticket will be around 3-thousand dollars. Gross says the move is to raise money for facilities and coaching.
If Syracuse plays 16 home games, as it did last season, the new seats could generate 450-thousand dollars for the university.
The media will be moved to one end of the basketball court. (Associated Press)
SENATORS SAY ALASKA VISIT CONFIRMS CLIMATE CHANGE
Senator Hillary Clinton is in Alaska this week, and she says the scientific evidence of global warming is overwhelming. What's really troubling, she says, is that climate change is speeding up.
Clinton is traveling with senators John McCain, Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham. They met with Native Alaskans dealing with melting permafrost and coastal erosion.
McCain and Senator Joe Lieberman are sponsoring legislation that would limit greenhouse gas emissions from utilities and industry.
Clinton says people who ignore evidence of climate change are participating in a trend of turning Washington, DC into what she calls, quote, an "evidence-free zone," and that, she says, is a grave disservice to the country. (Associated Press)
RELATIVES OF VICTIMS EXPECTED TO TALK TODAY AT BTK SENTENCING HEARING
Today is day two of the sentencing hearing for confessed BTK serial killer Dennis Rader.
Relatives from many of Rader's ten victims' are expected to comment before the judge imposes the sentence. The 60-year old Rader pleaded guilty in June to ten murders in the Wichita, Kansas area.
Yesterday prosecutors offered chilling details into Rader's reign of terror, during which he taunted police with notes signed "BTK," which stood for bind, torture and kill. Wichita police detective Kelly Otis testified about how Rader stalked his victims. He said Rader tricked his way into one woman's house with a hard hat, claiming to be a telephone repair man.
The only issue before the judge is whether Rader will serve his ten life sentences consecutively or concurrently. Kansas had no death penalty at the time the murders were committed. (Associated Press)
CORNELL PART OF EFFORT TO PROTECT NATION'S POWER GRID
Scientists at the University of Illinois will use a 7.5 million dollar grant to help power companies make electricity distribution more reliable.
The five-year National Science Foundation grant will allow researchers from the U-of-I and other universities to develop software that can make the nation's power grid less vulnerable to collapse because of an accident or an attack by a computer hacker.
Bill Sanders of the U-of-I's Information Trust Institute says the blackout that hit the Northeast and Canada two summers ago showed the grid's vulnerability. The existing grid connects electricity distribution throughout the country, and Sanders says it's outdated and needs to be totally redeveloped.
Cornell, Dartmouth and Washington State University will also be involved in the research. (Associated Press)
PATAKI VISITING WATERTOWN TODAY
Governor Pataki will pay a visit later this morning to Watertown. He's expected to talk about Fort Drum housing assistance. The setting will be at the Cloverdale Apartments.
COW MANURE TO POWER TWO FARMS
Electricity from cow manure?
That's the plan at two western New York dairy farms. With the help of federal grants and hundreds of thousands of pungent goo, two farms in Perry hope to reduce their power bills and the smell.
Sunny Knoll Farms and Emerling Farms are building what are called manure digesters. Manure will be heated to about 100 degrees, causing it to break down and release a mostly methane biogas that will run generators. The process is expected to produce a less smelly manure that still can be applied to fields.
Both farms received more than $500,000 in government grants to help pay for the projects. Curt Gooch, a manure management specialist with Cornell University, says the digesters are becoming more popular as dairy farms get bigger and neighbors get more vocal. He says about ten digesters are either operating or under construction in the state, with about 50 to 75 nationwide.
The farms will offer public tours when the manure digesters are finished. Perry is about 45 miles east of Buffalo. (Associated Press)
WALMART APPLIES FOR ZONING VARIANCE IN MASSENA
For months, it has been rumored and discussed that Wal-Mart might be interested in building a new 204,000 square-foot supercenter in Massena by rebuilding at the east end of the St. Lawrence Center Mall where the former Ames store was located. Now Wal-Mart officials have reportedly applied for a zoning variance and an environmental review request form that will allow the company to move forward with that concept. The move is viewed as highly beneficial to the mall, as the company would bring new business and inject new life into the 15-year-old facility. (1340WMSA)
POLICE FIND 18-MONTH-OLD WITH GUN
Buffalo police say an 18-month-old girl pointed a loaded gun at a 4-year-old girl yesterday morning before being disarmed.
The girl's father, 21-year-old Tamone Henderson, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child.
A family friend was visiting when the 18-month-old Symone Henderson emerged from her bedroom with the gun. Laquita Ross says the girl pointed the gun at Ross' daughter Dinah. Ross says she took the gun away and gave it to police.
A Buffalo detective says Ross nearly passed out when police opened the gun and she saw bullets inside.
Henderson told police he found the gun yesterday morning in a field and left it in his daughter's bedroom in a hurry to get to work. (Associated Press)
3-YEAR-OLD DROWNS IN UNUSED POOL
A 3-year-old boy has drowned in an unused swimming pool in northern New York.
State Police say Brady Dragon climbed into the pool in his family's backyard in Altona. He was found yesterday.
Police don't know who was watching the boy, but they are investigating.
Altona is about 20 miles north of Plattsburgh. (Associated Press)
STATE LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO CRACK DOWN ON DRUNK DRIVERS
State officials say people are still dying needlessly on New York highways because of alcohol-related crashes.
Yesterday they kicked off a statewide special enforcement campaign against drinking and driving.
The campaign is linked to a national Stop DWI effort that begins on Monday. It will target special enforcement coordinated between State Police, Sheriff's Departments and local police departments statewide. (Associated Press)
UNION, STATE DISPUTE WHETHER PAROLE VIOLATORS LET OFF THE HOOK
A union says the state has required parole officers to reduce the number of arrest warrants for violations of parole. Such warrants could send convicts back to prison before they commit more crimes.
The Public Employees Federation says the policy is a threat to public safety.
A spokesman for the State Division of Parole denied the claim, but he did not say if there had been a quota to reduce the number of such arrest warrants before the current executive director, Anthony Ellis, took office in December 2003.
The union said it has an internal memo from before Ellis' tenure that called for a quota. Keeping parolees on the street would save the state money and continue the decline in the state prison population.
The Parole Division did not confirm or deny the memo's existence. (Associated Press)
MAN KILLED WHEN HE FALLS INTO SMELTING POT
Authorities in Orange County say a 24-year-old man was killed in an industrial accident at a recycling facility.
State Police say Jose Sartillo was working in the refinery section at Revere Smelting and Refining in the Town of Wallkill early yesterday when he fell into a kettle used for alloy metals.
Troopers say Sartillo suffered severe burns over his entire body and was pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation. (Associated Press)
SPRAYGROUND CLOSED FOR SEASON AFTER HUNDREDS OF REPORTED ILLNESSES
A state-run water playground in western New York has been closed for the season after more than 700 cases of reported illnesses.
The State Health Department says the number of reported gastrointestinal illnesses has grown to 746. Cases have been reported in eight area counties.
Not all cases have been confirmed as related to the "sprayground" attraction at Seneca Lake State Park in Geneva. So far, the State Health Department says five cases have been confirmed.
The Health Department says many people have since recovered.
People who have visited the park since July and have gastrointestinal illness are advised to contact their doctor and the local Health Department. (Associated Press)
For the most part we inherit our opinions. We are the heirs of habits and mental customs. Our beliefs, like the fashion of our garments, depend on where we were born. We are molded and fashioned by our surroundings.
--Environment is a sculptor -- a painter.
