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SPORTS
Indoor track and field sectionals and more » pg. 8 Published By Denton Publications Inc.
February 15, 2020
Burgh/North Countryman
suncommunitynews.com
• EDITION •
Prison Truths of vaping coming to light seamstress Vaping among youth rises to 30 percent released for ‘good behavior’ By Sarah Elizabeth Morris STAFF WRITER
PLATTSBURGH | Since September of 2019, there have been a total of 60 confirmed vaping related deaths, four of which were in New York. Overall, there have been about 2,700 known cases of vaping-related illnesses in the last year. The use of vape products have only gone up, according to Reality Check of New York, a program designed to increase awareness among people, specifically youth, on the dangers of smoking. Statistics by Reality Check showed that vaping among high schoolers has increased 78 percent. 42 percent of seniors in high school vape, and 30 percent of high schoolers in general admitted to using vape products. However, it is not that easy to catch, according to Reality Check Program Coordinator Rachel Danis. “In school, [students] are hiding them in
Joyce Mitchell expected to leave Bedford Hills after helping in 2015 escape
healt h r isks and causes of deat h
Underage addiction
gum wrappers, they’re hollowing out markers and putting liquid/plastic cement in it,” Danis said. “We have pringle containers, we have hoodies, Pepsi containers that
have soda in them, but the bottom spins out and it’s full of juuls.” See VAPING » pg. 2
Racer recovering after high-speed wreck Nick LaGoy was competing for Adirondack Cup
By Andrea VanValkenburg STAFF WRITER
DANNEMORA | Joyce Mitchell recently walked free from prison less than five years after she helped two murderers escape Clinton Correctional Facility. The notorious prison seamstress once again made national headlines on Feb. 6 as news of her impending release sent shock waves through the region still gripped by the 2015 escape of Richard Matt and David Sweat. In an exclusive interview re-aired on The Today Show the day of her release, Mitchell said she “got caught up” in the pair’s escape fantasy when she smuggled hand tools into the maximum-security facility to aid their escape.
By Andrea VanValkenburg STAFF WRITER
PLATTSBURGH | As the North Country rallies behind him, veteran sports racer Nick LaGoy is recovering from serious injuries following a high-speed racing accident earlier this month. LaGoy, 28, was racing in the championship race at the Boonville Snow Festival after having won three earlier heats that weekend when his snowmobile crossed
See MITCHELL » pg. 3
paths with another, sending him crashing into a corner wall of the half-mile track at 100 mph. The Plattsburgh business owner was unconscious and airlifted by helicopter to Albany Medical Trauma Center, where he underwent serious back and spinal surgery. As news of LaGoy’s accident spread, supporters came out in mass offering help to his loved ones and launching a GoFundMe campaign that reached its $20,000 goal in less than a week. With a long road to recovery ahead of him, LaGoy thanked the community for their overwhelming support as he continues to heal downstate. See LAGOY » pg. 3
Fishing to fight addiction
By Andrea VanValkenburg STAFF WRITER
DANNEMOR A | After the shocking and unexpected death of a close childhood friend, Jerry Haley knew he wanted to do something to help the local fight against addiction. “You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution,” Haley said about spearheading the Reeling For Recovery ice-fishing tournament following his friend’s death in 2017. “This year’s theme is ‘Get hooked on fishing, not on drugs’. Fishing was a very positive outlet I had as a kid, and it can be for other kids too,” the Dannemora native said. “We want to get kids hooked on something other than just sitting at home or playing video games or getting in trouble.” That’s why Haley is once again donating all proceeds to Champlain Valley Family Center to help fund youth education, support and counseling services.
The Plattsburgh agency works with schools, kids and families to teach and support skill building for making healthy choices, managing emotions, conflict resolution and communication skills to help prevent substance use. Using funds from last year’s successful tournament, Champlain Valley Family Center was able to provide multiple new program initiatives for at-risk youth. “And this year is going to be even bigger,” the local father said about adding more kid-friendly attractions, prizes and vendors to the day-long event. This year’s tournament is being held Feb. 29 with the ice-fi shing derby kicking off on both Chazy and Chateaugay lakes at 5 a.m. Snow-sculpting teams will begin digging at about 12 p.m. with face painting, snowshoei n g , minnow races and a Paw Patrol meet-and-greet through the afternoon. This year’s event features more than 200 door prizes, 40 raffle baskets and $10,000 in cash and prizes, including cash pay-outs for the top trout, pike and perch catches. The award ceremony and silent auction will be held at the Lyon Mountain American Legion. Tournament entry is $30 for adults; $10 for kids age 16 and under and $10 for the lunker pool. Registration can be completed at Lashway’s Meat Market and Deli on South
SILENTAUCTION I FA ILYFUNI FOOD : 'Face pa i nt i ng , Paw Patro l Meet and Greet , Snow Shoe Demo Day , Onslte Vendors , Live well with Trophy Trout, Snow Sc ulpt i ng Contest .
In Memory
of Ky le & Aaron
AWARD CEREONY& SILENT AUCTION WILLBEHAPPEN INGAT: Lyon Mountain Amer i can Legion Sorrell -Woodward Post 1623 3958 RI 374, Lyon Mountain , NY 12952
ENTRY FEE:
$30for AdultsI S10for Kids(16 & Under) I S10l11nktrPool Trout"
Pike
Perch
1st
$400
$400
$400
2nd
5200
$200
$200
3rd
$100
$100
$100
Catherine Street in Plattsburgh or at Lakeside Guns and Ammo in Merrill. Just shy of 200 anglers last year, Haley hopes this year’s memorial tournament will
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surpass 300. “Every year I’m trying to take it to the next level, and we just really want to get more kids involved this year.” ■
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Memorial ice-fishing tournament helps youthprevention services, addiction recovery