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NCPR News Staff: Joanna Richards
Watertown Correspondent
Joanna Richards grew up in Louisville, Kentucky but feels like a true north country native now that she owns winter boots rated for temps down to forty below zero. She worked for an alt weekly paper, as an associate editor for the NPR series This I Believe, and as a staff writer for an arts and entertainment weekly in Louisville, before moving to Watertown in 2008 to work as a reporter for the Watertown Daily Times.
She's thrilled to be working in radio again as the Watertown correspondent for North Country Public Radio and especially enjoys doing stories about intriguing local subcultures. Outside of work, she is a regional explorer, vegetarian cook, and regular volunteer for various community groups, as well as a voracious reader, aspiring pool shark and an orange belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. E-mailStories filed by Joanna Richards
My wife and family are more important to me than what's going on here with these wind issues.
Cape Vincent struggles with wind power divide
Cape Vincent, NY, Jul 20, 2011 — Small communities across the North Country, from Burke in the east to Hammond in the west, have been deeply divided over wind power development.
The disputes pit neighbor against neighbor, and can go on for years.
That's the case in Cape Vincent, situated just where Lake Ontario flows into the St. Lawrence River.
The picturesque town fills up in the summer with boaters, fisherman and summer residents with homes on the water. But the community's tourism and second home economy has come into conflict with the prospects for up to 137 wind turbines being built there by BP and a Spanish company called Acciona.
That's put enormous pressure on the town council and town planning board. In recent weeks, three of the Planning Board's five members have resigned.
Joanna Richards reports. Go to full article
The disputes pit neighbor against neighbor, and can go on for years.
That's the case in Cape Vincent, situated just where Lake Ontario flows into the St. Lawrence River.
The picturesque town fills up in the summer with boaters, fisherman and summer residents with homes on the water. But the community's tourism and second home economy has come into conflict with the prospects for up to 137 wind turbines being built there by BP and a Spanish company called Acciona.
That's put enormous pressure on the town council and town planning board. In recent weeks, three of the Planning Board's five members have resigned.
Joanna Richards reports. Go to full article
Photo from http://jfreddie.webs.com/
Pro wrestlers share their stories
Watertown, NY, Jul 15, 2011 — It's fair season, and the Jefferson County Fair is in full swing. The ferris wheel is lighting up the night sky in Watertown, the fried dough is sizzling, and the cotton candy is pink and irresistible.
Tonight a pro wrestling show takes the grandstand.Joanna Richards went to the wrestlers' practice and, behind all the beefcake, she found wrestlers are storytellers. Go to full article
Tonight a pro wrestling show takes the grandstand.Joanna Richards went to the wrestlers' practice and, behind all the beefcake, she found wrestlers are storytellers. Go to full article
The nature of the facilities have changed over the last 20 years… and somebody's got to ride herd on it.
Watertown reorganizes troubled rec department
Watertown, NY, Jul 13, 2011 — The city of Watertown will reorganize its Parks and Recreation Department after learning about years of outstanding bills owed to the city for use of Fairgrounds facilities.
In late May, an audit revealed a pattern of messy bookkeeping and billing practices resulting in tens of thousands of dollars of lost revenue for the city. Joanna Richards has the story. Go to full article
In late May, an audit revealed a pattern of messy bookkeeping and billing practices resulting in tens of thousands of dollars of lost revenue for the city. Joanna Richards has the story. Go to full article
Mary and Helen Eldrett at Downybrook. Photo: Joanna Richards.
New easement protects an Eden of grassland, rocks and water
Jul 07, 2011 — The land just off eastern Lake Ontario near Watertown contains thousands of acres of fields and wetlands that are valuable habitat for birds and wildlife.
In the Jefferson County town of Brownsville, owners of a private wildlife preserve have signed an agreement ensuring their land will be forever protected. Ontario Bays Initiative announced the new conservation easement on the 182-acre property.
Joanna Richards visited the sanctuary and has this story. Go to full article
In the Jefferson County town of Brownsville, owners of a private wildlife preserve have signed an agreement ensuring their land will be forever protected. Ontario Bays Initiative announced the new conservation easement on the 182-acre property.
Joanna Richards visited the sanctuary and has this story. Go to full article
Fort Drum's Rt.26 plans worry neighbors
Jul 05, 2011 — As deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down, soldiers are getting more time at home. That means a growing population around Fort Drum near Watertown, and more traffic.
One particularly clogged road is State Route 26, a publicly accessible road that divides the Army base in two. It separates Wheeler-Sack Airfield and some training areas from the main part of the base.
Army planners are considering putting controls on the free-flowing traffic on Route 26. And that worries nearby towns. Joanna Richards reports. Go to full article
One particularly clogged road is State Route 26, a publicly accessible road that divides the Army base in two. It separates Wheeler-Sack Airfield and some training areas from the main part of the base.
Army planners are considering putting controls on the free-flowing traffic on Route 26. And that worries nearby towns. Joanna Richards reports. Go to full article
Green groups have long celebrated environmentalist Bob Marshall
Group says western Adks should be called "Bob Marshall Wild Lands Complex"
Old Forge, NY, Jun 30, 2011 — An environmental advocacy group, the Adirondack Council, says it wants to help promote the western Adirondacks as a destination. The group unveiled a map yesterday in Old Forge highlighting an area it describes as the "Bob Marshall Wild Lands Complex."
That name isn't official, but state and local leaders who attended the meeting say they think the Council's proposal could draw new visitors to the Park. Joanna Richards reports. Go to full article
That name isn't official, but state and local leaders who attended the meeting say they think the Council's proposal could draw new visitors to the Park. Joanna Richards reports. Go to full article
President Obama arrives at Ft. Drum Thursday
Obama thanks Fort Drum troops
Fort Drum, NY, Jun 24, 2011 — A day after addressing the nation about his plans for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, President Barack Obama came to visit Fort Drum.
The Army post has carried a heavy burden of the fighting in that country and in Iraq. The 10th Mountain Division's headquarters, including its commander, General James Terry, are currently leading coalition forces in southern Afghanistan. Todd Moe reports. Go to full article
The Army post has carried a heavy burden of the fighting in that country and in Iraq. The 10th Mountain Division's headquarters, including its commander, General James Terry, are currently leading coalition forces in southern Afghanistan. Todd Moe reports. Go to full article
WW II-era barracks being demolished to make way for new housing. Photo: Army Corps of Engineers
Ft. Drum housing crunch requires public investment
Watertown, NY, Jun 22, 2011 — The buildup of Fort Drum near Watertown has made Jefferson County one of the fastest growing places in Upstate New York. But it's also created a shortage of rental houses for military families and for civilians.
The problem hasn't come to a head yet because soldiers are constantly rotating in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan. But as the U.S. draws down troop presence in the Middle East, the military population around Fort Drum is expected to swell.
Officials have been leading a public-private effort to build more housing for years. Joanna Richards reports now is crunch time. Go to full article
The problem hasn't come to a head yet because soldiers are constantly rotating in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan. But as the U.S. draws down troop presence in the Middle East, the military population around Fort Drum is expected to swell.
Officials have been leading a public-private effort to build more housing for years. Joanna Richards reports now is crunch time. Go to full article
Not only (are) summers tougher, but we're seeing just throughout the traditional year more need now than ever.
Food pantries gear up for a tough summer
Watertown, NY, Jun 09, 2011 — The city of Watertown this week granted two food pantries' requests for special funding to buy more emergency food aid.
The pantries say they always see more need in summer, when children on free or reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches aren't getting those meals. As this summer approaches, the slow economy and rising costs means these nonprofit groups are struggling to keep up with increased demand. Joanna Richards has the story. Go to full article
The pantries say they always see more need in summer, when children on free or reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches aren't getting those meals. As this summer approaches, the slow economy and rising costs means these nonprofit groups are struggling to keep up with increased demand. Joanna Richards has the story. Go to full article
Save the River's expansion plans
River watchdog close to fundraising goal
Clayton, NY, Jun 07, 2011 — The St. Lawrence River watchdog group Save the River has announced the final push in a two-and-a-half-year fundraising campaign.
The organization hopes to raise $700,000 to expand its office space and its programs. Joanna Richards reports. Go to full article
The organization hopes to raise $700,000 to expand its office space and its programs. Joanna Richards reports. Go to full article
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St. Lawrence University, Canton,
New York 13617 • phone: 1-877-388-6277 • email
radio@ncpr.orgNCPR is a proud affiliate of:
NPR • American Public Media • Public Radio International
