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Saturday,ÊF ebruaryÊ11,Ê2017

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In SPORTS | pg. 10-11

Champions crowned

Lady Eagles, Peru earn Section VII titles

www.SunCommunityNews.com

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In EVENTS | pg. 2

‘Stepping Out for Your Heart’

Annual event slated for Feb. 16 in P’burgh

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In NEWS | pg. 13

Rouses Point Elementary kids Selected for national assessment in March

Need for foster families reaches ‘crisis’ levels

With drug abuse continuing to erode family support networks across the region, the need for loving homes is greater than ever, say officials By Pete DeMola

pete@suncommunitynews.com

PLATTSBURGH — Social service agencies across the TriCounty region are desperately searching for foster families to take in the influx of children entering the system. The need has reached a critical state, said John Bernardi, CEO of the United Way of the Adirondack Region. “It’s a crisis,” Bernardi said.

Kids are now being sent out of the Tri-County region because there are not enough families, he said. But officials in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties want to buck the trend and keep kids here. DRUGS DRIVING NUMBER

In 2012, an average of 113 children were receiving services each month in Franklin County alone. The number leapt to 146 by 2015. The uptick is due to a constellation of factors. Unemployment and loss of income is one. But echoing national trends, substance abuse continues to be a leading culprit in family breakdowns, leading to abuse, neglect and abandonment. >> See Foster Families | pg. 5

Beekmantown

Photo provided

High taxes ignite concerns in Lyon Mountain Fire District

studentsÊ giveÊ back

High School service club members collect goods for local food shelf, perform other community service efforts

BEEKMANTOWN — Talk about community spirit. A handful of Beekmantown Central high school students donated a carload of food to the Beekmantown Food Shelf last week. Teah Hannah LaFountain came up with the Dowling Writer idea. “My mother [Town Clerk/Tax Collector Kelly LaFountain] told me that the town hall’s food shelf was low this year,” she said. “So, I thought it would be a good idea to help out.” LaFountain pitched the idea to Kimberly Gadway, the school’s service club advisor. “I loved the idea,” said Gadway. LaFountain joined 20 classmates in placing collection bins [where] throughout the month of January. Gadway said by the end of the fundraiser earlier this month, she had “carloads” of food to box and deliver. “I couldn’t be more proud of these kids,” she said. “I was the lucky one who got the opportunity to work with them.” The club takes on at least four community service projects each year. Along with this food drive, students have collected coats for St. Joseph’s Parish in West Chazy and bottles for families in a

The need for foster parents is spiking across the North Country, said local officials, who are exploring avenues to navigate a shortage they have referred to as a crisis. Pictured here: Hannah and Bradley Provost, of Plattsburgh, with their two girls, who they fostered before their eventual adoption.

Merrill residents plan on circulating petition to dissolve fire district, which has highest tax rate in Clinton County Beekmantown High School students collected food for the local food shelf located at Beekmantown Town Hall last month. Photo by Kimberly Gadway

financial bind. The next project, Gadway said, is yet to be determined, but the club is leaning toward participating in the Adopt-a-Highway program. LaFountain said she enjoys pitching in to help the community. “It really does feel great knowing that people who sometimes can’t afford food can come in and receive food for themselves and their family,” she said. “It’s a joy to help anyone in need of a little assistance.” The club received high marks from Beekmantown High School Principal Justin Gardner. “This club is a great way to showcase citizenship,” he said. “And our students are doing great things for the community.”

By Teah Dowling

teah@suncommunitynews.com

ELLENBURG — An incendiary situation is brewing in Merrill. Residents of the Lyon Mountain Fire District said they plan on circulating a petition to dissolve the fire district due to high taxes. “Yes, we will,” said Vina Gonzalez. “We want to work with the board to make sure we do everything legally.” Gonzalez and Nancy Kaska, both of Merrill, spoke out against high taxes at an Ellenburg Town Board meeting last month, and asked town officials to consider dissolving the fire district. “I don’t mind paying my fair share,” Kaska said. “But this is just ridiculous.” Kaska pays $450 a year; Gonzalez, $560. >> See Fire District | pg. 13


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