North Country Gazette

PINELLAS COUNTY—Apparently the sheriff and chief deputy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department need an introduction to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

You know, the one that guarantees freedom of speech. (Read more…)

RIVIERA BEACH, FLA—Riviera Beach police take crime seriously. Don’t show your underwear in public or you’ll be before the judge. (Read more…)

COMMENTARY

By June Maxam

It’s almost inconceivable that with New York’s energy crisis at the gas pumps and in the homes, Gov. David Paterson still has not named anyone to head the New York Power Authority.

NEW YORK—Humane Law Enforcement agents of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals arrested Sherman Haynes of Brooklyn Friday for aggravated animal cruelty, for allegedly causing the death of his girlfriend’s dog. (Read more…)

OAK HARBOR, OHIO—Pharmacist Joseph Baumgartner, husband of judicial whistleblower Elsebeth Baumgartner, has accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to one misdemeanor of possession of dangerous drugs. (Read more…)

Meet Lucky – one of the 80 dogs and cats on the Operation Baghdad Pups waiting list right now. Lucky’s soldiers are desperate to get her home to the United States and this is her story. (Read more…)

In an effort to reduce the staggering number of animal cruelty cases and help law enforcement officials, SPCA International is expanding its Emergency Shelter program to include reward support for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons involved in severe animal abuse and neglect cases. (Read more…)

PLATTSBURGH– Members and supporters of North Country Democracy for America, and the Plattsburgh chapter of Veterans for Peace will gather for a  Candlelight Vigil for Peace Sunday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. (Read more…)

BOLTON LANDING—Two Bolton residents have been arrested after the Warren County Sheriff’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit found an indoor marijuana growing operation at their residence. (Read more…)

PINELLAS COUNTY—Hundreds of thousands of people across the United States are struggling to make ends meet—but not retired professional wrestler VH1 reality show star Hulk Hogan and his wife. (Read more…)

NEW YORK – If former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is reading the newspapers, he knows the federal government is serious about prosecuting violations of the federal Mann Act. (Read more…)

BUFFALO—The former elected superintendent of highways for the town of Marilla has been sentenced to seven months in federal prison as a result of his guilty plea to felony charges of theft of government money. (Read more…)

ALBANY—Two attorneys, Carol Hoffman and Phillip Brothman, have had their Retirement System memberships revoked by the state comptroller’s office because they were erroneously reported as employees by school districts. (Read more…)

ALBANY—The state entered into 2,421 new contracts in August 2008, totaling approximately $613 million, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. (Read more…)

QUEENS—A bookkeeper formerly employed at a Richmond Hill electrical equipment firm has been charged with stealing more than $200,000 – or as much as $500,000 by her own admissions – from the company by inflating the amount of money contributed to her 401K savings plan. (Read more…)

MANHATTAN—A public relations finance manager for Saks Fifth Avenue has been charged with stealing at least $680,000 from the company in a phony invoicing scheme. (Read more…)

ALBANY—The American Lung Association of New York has commended Governor David Paterson for signing into law a measure that enables licensed pharmacists to administer influenza (flu) and pneumococcal (pneumonia) immunizations. Sponsored by Senator Fuschillo and Assemblywoman Paulin, the law increases the availability of potentially lifesaving vaccines to vulnerable New Yorkers. (Read more…)

HERSHEY, PA– The Hershey Company has announced a voluntary recall of 7.25-ounce plastic bottles of Hershey’s Chocolate Shell Topping because they contain undeclared almonds. (Read more…)

SUFFOLK COUNTY—A Suffolk County judge has dismissed criminally negligent homicide and third degree assault charges against a Smithtown teen indicted in March for causing a fatal accident Oct. 31, 2007 that killed three teens on Jericho Turnpike in Smithtown.   (Read more…)

TALLAHASSEE, FL –A former vice president of a subsidiary of one of the nation’s largest subprime lenders has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement in a mortgage fraud scheme that spanned more than two years and involved loans in Hillsborough, Lee, Pinellas and Polk counties. (Read more…)

ALBANY– Despite advances in prevention and treatment, cancer continues to be the second leading cause of death in New York State, exceeded only by heart disease. (Read more…)

ALBANY—Nearly 93 percent of retailers who sell tobacco are complying with the law that forbids the sale of tobacco products to youth under the age of 18, according to a new State Health Department report. (Read more…)

ALBANY—Governor David A. Paterson signed a package of bills into law this week to strengthen consumer protections, enhance education for the children of New York State, and improve environment and health care programs. (Read more…)

As young and older students return to classrooms this week, the New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB) is advising parents, guardians and others to guard their children’s and their own personal information. (Read more…)

ALBANY—Governor David A. Paterson sent a memorandum Friday to state agency heads directing them to put forward budget requests for the 2009-10 fiscal year that keep their spending flat compared to 2008-09 levels. (Read more…)

QUEENS—A homeless man staying at a veterans residence in Long Island City has been charged with manslaughter in the brutal assault of a Queens man earlier this week as he came to the aid of a neighbor. (Read more…)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that it has posted on its Web site its first quarterly report that lists certain drugs that are being evaluated for potential safety issues. The drugs have been identified based on a review of reports in FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS). (Read more…)

QUEENSBURY—Any sexual harassment or discrimination experienced by two female correctional officers of the Warren County Sheriff’s Department was their own fault although he denies that any discrimination or sexual harassment existed during his tenure as a public officer.

So says former Warren County Sheriff Larry Cleveland. (Read more…)