Bg a 0099 1105

Page 1

ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS/ NEW MARKET PRESS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron

Saturday,Ê November 5, 2016

>>

In SPORTS | pg. 13-15

Indians claim B title BCS girls off to regional finals

www.SunCommunityNews.com

>>

In POLITICS | pg. 5

Final week until elections

Candidates on last efforts to snag voters

>>

In ARTS | pg. 9

Creating stable communities

Involvement in events enriches quality of life

City councilors weigh department wish lists as budget progresses Department heads present wish lists as city continues to chip away at budget gap Elizabeth Izzo

elizabeth@suncommunitynews.com

PLATTSBURGH — Faced with a $1.5 million deficit, the City of Plattsburgh began taking a closer look at next year’s proposed budget plan on Thursday. Councilors seemed optimistic that they could narrow the gap, asking department heads what they would like to see in 2017 “if they could wave a magic wand.” “Despite the fact that we’re working with a tight budget, we want to start thinking about the future,” said Councilwoman Becky Kasper (Ward 5). “Even if we don’t get our dreams in 2017, at least we know where we’re heading.”

Kasper said the city’s future plans may be effected by the “rapid pace of projects” related to revitalization efforts, noting that local lawmakers are hoping to do a lot of financial planning in advance to support city departments as the larger workload — along with other unknown impacts of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) — are levied onto their departments. In the preliminary budget submitted on Oct. 8, total appropriations for the city were estimated at around $55.3 million, with 18.6 percent being taken from the tax levy. Estimated revenues are currently at $43.8 million, leaving $10.3 million to be raised by the tax levy, and a $1.5 million deficit. BUILDING INSPECTOR Joe McMahon, the city building inspector, said that his

GetÊt ested Free clinic to be offered this weekend at American Legion Post 1619 in Morrisonville

‘PERFECT STORM’

SOLD FOR SALE BY OWNER

518-555-1234

>> See City Budget | pg. 7

Clinton County to replace bridges in Mooers, Peru

forÊ Hep-C

MORRISONVILLE — The boot camp ritual was robotic in its precision. Soldiers lined up for their vaccination shots. Needles were outdated, “jet guns” were in, and soldiers received high pressure blasts of an 18-drug cocktail before Pete being shipped off to Vietnam. DeMola Editor The U.S. military saw the pneumatic devices as an exercise in modern efficiency. “These guns were made for cattle originally,” said Danny Kaifetz, a U.S. Marine who served from 1970-72. “This thing hurt.” The flinching led to ripped skin. Blood sprayed onto the gun, where it mixed with fluids from others. And kapow — the process repeated for the next guy, with no sterilization of the device between uses. Now 40 years later, growing evidence suggests the guns, banned since the 1990s, acted as a vessel to transport diseases, including hepatitis C. “The VA is backing off and is even allowing disability claims,” Kaifetz said. “Everybody knows it’s this gun.”

department would love to see the appointment of a new employee, or possibly more hours allocated to the department. McMahon said that the department “does what they have to do,” but he wishes they would be able to “spend more time” doing it. He believes that an extra employee would enable the department to better disperse the workload. Mayor James Calnon said that “a lot of the stuff that happens is reactionary,” and asked what would need to happen for the Building Inspector’s office to be proactive. Kasper added that once plans for the DRI are solidified, the city may see a greater need for building inspectors. “In the next four years, with the DRI, things are going to happen,” said Kasper. “There are going to be buildings and development of properties. In your estimation, will you be able to sustain, with this development, what you’re hanging

Other municipalities in different phases of new bridge construction By Teah Dowling

teah@suncommunitynews.com

Kaifetz, who serves as the medical officer for American Legion Post 1619, is spearheading an effort to get all Vietnamera veterans tested. He called the factors that led to the mass spreading of the virus a “perfect storm.” War, the draft, the lifestyle, culture — and the gun. The 1960s and early 1970s was a period of high recreational drug use. The draft saw an eclectic cross section of the population being pulled in, including low-level criminals who signed up to U.S. Marines to wipe away their pending charges. Hepatitis C was not discovered until 1989 — and testing wasn’t developed until 1992 — making it possible for those

MOOERS — Clinton County is preparing to go out to bid to replace two bridges in Mooers and Peru. The legislature voted 10-0 when to move forward with both replacements on Jarvis Road in Peru and Lamberton Road in Mooers. “They are both safe to use, but they have been chosen for updates,” said County Legislator Robb Timmons. Every year, the county’s highway department chooses one to two bridges in need of upgrades to be worked on each summer. This summer, the county focused on the Rand Hill Road Bridge in Morrisonville. Next summer, the focus will shift toward the bridges in Mooers and Peru. Bids will open for the Peru structure on Dec. 21. Timmons said the Mooers replacement is to be determined but should open sometime early next year. Once open, bids won’t close until 45 days after. Timmons said the legislature is looking at a spring 2017 construction

>> See Hep-C Testing | pg. 16

>> See Bridge Replacements | pg. 4

The U.S. military saw “jet guns” as an exercise in modern efficiency. But mounting evidence suggests the technology was responsible for spreading hepatitis C. “These guns were made for cattle originally,” said Danny Kaifetz, a U.S. Marine who served from 1970-72. “This thing hurt.” Photo by Teah Dowling


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.