Watertown, NY, Oct 18, 2011 — The North Country Children's Clinic celebrated its 40th anniversary last week in Watertown.

The clinic started as a volunteer organization with a few locations. It's now a major health care provider for uninsured and underinsured children in the region. It works from satellite locations, but now has a big home base on Arsenal Street in downtown Watertown.

Dozens of people gathered in the lobby there for the celebration.
But even as they shared cake and snacks, founders and friends worried about the clinic's future in a climate of governmental belt-tightening.

Janice Charles was a founder, and is a former executive director. She took reporter Joanna Richards all the way back to the beginning:  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Sep 30, 2011 — As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down and the federal government prioritizes reining in expenses, Fort Drum is anticipating a 10 to 15 percent cut in its budget in fiscal year 2012, which begins this October. To save money, the Army post is looking to cull its civilian workforce over the next year. Joanna Richards reports.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Sep 28, 2011 — The office of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today issued an alert about a phone scam targeting residents of Watertown. A spokesman says three victims so far have contacted the office and have each lost between $300 and $700 to the scam. Joanna Richards reports.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Sep 28, 2011 — A group of postal workers and retirees rallied outside of Representative Bill Owens's office in Watertown Tuesday, urging him to pass a bill that would help save the Postal Service from its current financial worries. If the bill passes, it could save local post office branches from closing. Joanna Richards was there and has more on the story.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Sep 23, 2011 — The military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of dealing with gay service members officially ended this week. Now, gay soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen can serve openly without fear of being kicked out because of their sexuality. Around Fort Drum, some soldiers cheered the change, while others expected it to cause new problems. Joanna Richards reports.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Sep 16, 2011 — It's not winter quite yet...but Watertown is already thinking about one recurring winter problem. Every year, the city's population increases dramatically--by the seasonal arrival of 15,000-20,000 crows.

The city considers the crows to be a nuisance and employs a tactic called "crow hazing"--it's generally, although not always, a non-lethal method to convince the crows to go elsewhere.

The city council's in the process of deciding which of several crow hazing services to use for this task.

Nora Flaherty spoke with Elliott Nelson at the city manager's office about Watertown's crow problem, and what "crow hazing" entails.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Sep 15, 2011 — A new mobile testing unit for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases will offer confidential services for residents of Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence counties. The Syracuse-based group AIDS Community Resources unveiled the van Tuesday at a news conference at the Thompson Park zoo in Watertown. Joanna Richards has the story.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Sep 12, 2011 — Ten years since the September 11th attacks, Fort Drum's home of Watertown is, in some ways, a very different place. It's certainly a bigger place with 19,500 troops now based at Fort Drum-- almost double pre-September 11th numbers--and many soldiers have brought their families.

Housing is more expensive and scarce, and yet, thanks in large part to Fort Drum, Watertown has been somewhat insulated from the recession.

It's also been the site of an endless cycle of deployments, homecomings and painful losses; 290 soldiers from the 10th mountain division have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Aug 15, 2011 — Watertown International Airport is undergoing some promising changes. A new airline flying larger planes will soon offer direct flights to Chicago. Other improvements are also in the works to accommodate more business and the new flights at the county-owned airport. Joanna Richards reports.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Jul 29, 2011 — Governor Andrew Cuomo chose SUNY Potsdam as the place to unveil his North Country economic development council. The council will compete with other regions of the state for a $1 billion pot of grant money to create jobs.

Cuomo tapped Plattsburgh based economic developer Garry Douglas and Clarkson University president Tony Collins to chair the council. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article