L_
ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS
518.324.5678 173 Margaret St., Plattsburgh coryerstaffing.com
•
PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron
203972
SPORTS
Racine saves Cougars into B finals » pg. 14 Published By Denton Publications Inc.
DIRECTLY MAILED TO OVER
71,354
MYCAPTURE PHOTO GALLERIES
See photos from all the game action last weekend.
HOMES EVERY WEEK! Burgh/North Countryman
November 2, 2019
suncommunitynews.com
• EDITION •
New drug trends reach Clinton County Heroin use being replaced with meth By Sarah Elizabeth Morris STAFF WRITER
PLATTSBURGH | In recent years, the rise of fentanyl laced in drugs has been a major problem with substance abusers, specifically with heroin, a drug classified as an opioid. Fentanyl is a strong synthetic painkillers which, mixed with the wrong drugs, can cause an overdose. In fact, according to Ian Dunbar of the DEA’s HIDTA, short for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, the majority of heroin is laced with fentanyl. “Heroin is tainted with fentanyl - over 80 percent of the supply, but we don’t know that for sure,” Dunbar said. “We’re doing a project to help figure that out … we’re not seeing it on the seizure side, on the law enforcement side, we’re seeing the heroin with fentanyl in the labs.” This has caused some heroin users to switch to cheaper drugs less likely to contain fentanyl - meth. The latest Clinton County drug trend study show that methamphetamines are on the rise. Though heroin is down thanks to awareness and help from local law enforcement, some substance abuse users are moving on to meth. However, fentanyl is likely to grow when it comes to all nonprescription drugs, including meth, making none of them safe. “Heroin is actually on the decline,” Vice President, Chief Medical Officer of CVPH Kent Hall said. “There are trends.” Fentanyl and meth aren’t the only problems facing the North Country. There have been 46 reported overdoses, in Clinton County, mostly prescription drugs in the last year according to Dunbar. However, a new trend has been causing harm and even death that isn’t the cause of too much of the drug. Hall talked about a prescription drug, Wellbutrin, an antidepressant sometimes used as an aide to quit smoking. Substance users has been using the drug as an injection, and by crushing and snorting it. “[Wellbutrin] effects the norepinephrine-dopamine, so think cocaine,” Hall said. “It is an extended release capsule or tablet, so it doesn’t lend itself to getting a rush - it’s delayed over time. However, to the point where it’s dissolved, either crushed and snorted or melted and injected, then you get the rush right away … it is now recognized as an addictive potential.” See DRUG TRENDS » pg. 6
New busses: William Magnarell attempts to drive off with Billy Jones in the new Nova Bus LFSe+, but is stopped by the lack of keys in the ignition. Photo by Sarah Elizabeth Morris
State official tours Bombardier, Nova Bus
‘Important that these facilities continue to excel’ By Sarah Elizabeth Morris STAFF WRITER
PLATTSBURGH | Chair of the NYS Assembly Transportation Committee William Magnarelli visited the Plattsburgh Nova Bus facility to speak on the future of mass transit in the North Country. Hosted by The North Country Chamber of Commerce and Assemblyman Billy Jones, the conference took place Monday, Oct. 28. Magnarelli toured Bombardier Transportation and Nova Bus after a quick introduction and briefing.
“It’s important that these facilities continue to excel and do the things they’re doing and continue to innovate in electric busses … and doing the things they do so well,” Magnarelli said. “We’re going to increase the capacity of these plants, we’re going to increase not only the safety and well-being of the people in the State of New York, but we’re also going to increase the jobs in the North Country.” Magnarelli introduced the newest form of transportation for Nova Bus: the LFSe+. This bus is fully electric and with a battery of 594 kWh, the bus can travel a maximum of 292 miles before needing to be charged. The LFSe+ was the first electric bus in the industry to pass the full test at Altoona in June 2018, and has silicon carbide to improve heat management and longer-lasting durability. See NOVA BUS » pg. 2
COUNTY INTRODUCES NEW VOTING SYSTEM Electronic sign-in saves time and paper By Sarah Elizabeth Morris STAFF WRITER
An easier system: According to Jerry Klaus, the new iPad sign in system for Clinton County voters will be just as safe as paper books used in the previous years. The electronic system, called Knowink, will save paper by printing out the correct number of ballots, but will not change the way people vote. Photo by Sarah Elizabeth Morris
PLATTSBURGH | In preparation for Election Day, Clinton County has received two state grants of $54,000 and $39,000 to fund new polling equipment to count voters. The new program, Knowink, used through iPads, allows voters to sign in without the help of workers having to search through paper booklets for their names. “This is the first year that we’ve done this, the state just passed this legislation,” Republican Election Commissioner Greg Campbell said. “The equipment we have set up [will] make it much easier for poll workers
to process people as they come through.” The voter uses the iPad to confirm their name, address and which ballot they need. Once they sign, the ballot is immediately printed out to be brought to a voting station like usual. According to Senior Technician at the Clinton County Board of Elections Jerry Klaus, the system is able to count voters in real time, giving proper statistics of the most popular times to vote as well as the ballots printed out. Because of this, there is no guessing on how many ballots are needed before hand, thus not wasting any paper. “This process is taking about 12 to 15 seconds,” Klaus said. “You’ll take your receipt that [the printer] gave you, you’ll walk over and we’ll have two people sitting there to verify you get the correct ballot, and then the system operates as it always has.” See VOTING SYSTEM » pg. 4
Election Day around the corner Voters go to polls Tuesday By Sarah Morris STAFF WRITER
PLATTSBURGH | Residents of Clinton County will decide several county and town races when they go to the polls Tuesday. Here’s a list of candidates running for office:
SUPREME COURT FOURTH DISTRICT (Vote for 4)
Mike Cuevas (R) Dianne Freestone (R)
SPECIALS!
CLINTON COUNTY LEGISLATURE AREA 1
Joel Herzog Age - 23 Party - Democrat Residency - Rouses Point Education - SUNY Plattsburgh December 2019 philosophy See ELECTIONS » pg. 7
GIV
Enter to WIN a free pair! EA
WA
YS
!
285 Tom Miller Road, Plattsburgh Saturday 9am-6pm | Sunday 10am-5pm Styles vary by store. Free gift with purchase while supplies last.
230997
November 2-3 at Lenny’s in Plattsburgh rd
Julie Garcia (D) Rebecca Slezak (R) Mike Violando (D) Jim Walsh (R)