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FRIDAY, ' OCTOBER 6,1995 PAGE 3 PRESSREPUBLICAN Judge admonished over Butcher Block link BySUEBOTSFORD Staff Writer PLATTSBURGH - Court of Claims Judge John L. Bell has been admonished by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct. In its Sept. 22 determination, released Thursday, the commis- sion found Bell failed for 10 mon- ths after he became a full-time Court of Claims judge to resign as an officer and director of two corporations that own Butcher Block restaurants in Plattsburgh and Albany. They also found he did not in- clude on his financial-disclosure forms that he received compensa- tion from those corporations. \Admonishment is public criti- cism,\ said Gerald Stern, ad- ministrator of the commission. \It is the least severe form of public discipline. \It will in no way adversely af- fect his ability to sit on the bench,\ he said. Strict limits Rules Governing Judicial Con- duct say full-time judges can't be managing or active participants in any business enterprise orga- nized for profit, nor can they serve as officers, directors, trust- ees, partners, advisory?board members or employees of any corporation, company, partner- ship or other association for profit. \It was undisputed that he was not active in either corpora- tion and did not perform any ser- vice as ah officer of the corpora- tions,\ the commission wrote. Bell and his attorney agreed on the facts on which the com- mission based its determination and, with Stern, agreed to a rec- ommendation of admonishment. Butcher Block Involvement The first charge is that Bell, who has been a Court of Claims judge since July 15, 1991, became a shareholder in 1975 in Norpco Restaurant Inc. with Gerald Everleth, Roy Clark and David White, who was principal stockholder. The corporation owned the Plattsburgh Butcher Block. White operated the restaurant and Bell did its legal work. All four were directors of the cor- poration and held offices in it. From the late 1970s until 1992, Bell was paid $1,000 a month as secretary of the cor- poration. He also received year- end bonuses based on profits. In 1982, White built a Butcher Block in Albany and was the majority stockholder with Bell, Everleth and Clark. Bell did the legal work and received annual bonuses. In 1989 and 1990, White bought out Everleth and Clark. Salary continued Commission papers say that after Bell became judge, he did not work for either corporation but continued to collect his mon- thly salary and did not resign. From 1991 until two lawsuits were filed in 1992, White was at- tempting to buy Bell out, and Bell refused offers. The second lawsuit brought publicity that Bell was a full- time judge, the commission wrote. \... He did not resign from the corporations after he took the bench because he believed that, inasmuch as he was not active in either corporation and not per- forming any service as secretary, he was not in violation,\ the commission wrote. The second charge was that Bell did noj; clearly disclose in 1991 and 1992 his status in the corporations or ..compensations, which was prohibited by law, nor did he correct the 1992 form when it was returned to him for clarification of another item. The commission found Bell's failure to disclose his status and compensation in 1991 and 1992 constituted judicial misconduct. Bell: x l regret very much' w r i A -^* s; \i 1 %«#< £ I X i | A; •tfi PLATTSBURGH - Judge John L. Bell issued this statement Thursday about his admonish- ment: \I regret very much the rule in- fringements in the com- mission's determina- M8»JohnB«ll tion and any embarrassment caused to my colleagues and the judicial system. \I have admitted these violat- ions and make a few points with respect to them: \1. They relate to my relation- ship during a nine-month period after my appointment as a judge with closely held restaurant cor- porations as a minority stock- holder in which I had an invest- ment for many years as a private citizen. \2. The commission found that I had no involvement in the operation of the Butcher Block Restaurant after I became a full-time judge. \3. That I did not resign from the corporations after I became judge because I believed (it wasn't necessary) inasmuch as I was not active in the corpora- tions and was not performing any services secretively. \4. I point out that none of them concerns my performance in office or a conflict of interest or any such impropriety in the fulfillment of my judicial duties. \I am proud of my record as a judge. I believe others will attest to my ability, integrity and fairness. I look forward to my continued service on the distinguished court of which I am a member.\ OF INTEREST K of G fund-raiser today includes buffet • TREADWELLS MILLS - The Treadwells Mills Knights of umbus Council No. 7248 will hold a fund-raiser at 7:30 tonight at the Sjt. Joseph's Church Hall in Treadwells Mills. There will be cash giveaways, free coffee, free popcorn and a free buffet. The event is open to all. Dinner to honor top legion officials PLATTSBURGH — Top officials from the American Legion Department of New York will visit Clinton County today. County officials will welcome Department Commander Ted Col- eman, Department -President Mary Lou-Pratt, Department Vice | Commander Arthur Maggy, Sons of the American Legion Detachment Commander Alan Anderson, 4th District Commander Richard Johnson, 4th District President Anna Grant and 4th District Sons of the American Legion Commander Art |*Buddy\ Maggy. Following the luncheon at Champlain Post 767, the group will tour Wyeth-Ayerst laboratories in Rouses Point. A dinner, open to the public, will be hosted by the Clinton County American Legion at Post No. 20 (Quarry Road), with a cash bar at 6 p.m., dinner at $7. Tickets are $9.50 per person. For information, call Bob Brown at 563-3870 or Post 20 at 563- 3650. Breakfast program tonight aimed at small businesses DANNEMORA — The North Country Small Business Council is offering a free breakfast program to brief .area owners on services available to them. The program will be offered at 7:30 tonight at the Wind Chimes Restaurant on Cook Street in Dannemora. Topics will include: \The changing business picture in the North Country,\ \Small-business services you should take advantage of,\ \New ways ; to promote promote tourism in our area,\ \Health in- surance options for small business,\ and \Ways you might save on some basic expenses.\ The Dannemora program is part of a series of small business outreach breakfasts being sponsored throughout the North Country this fall. Each participant will also receive a free copy of the recently published \North Country Small Business Services Resources Guide.\ The North Country Small Business Council is part of the Platt- sburgh and Clinton County Chamber of Commerce. For more information or to make a free reservation, call 563-1000. Pumpkin Festival planned in Keeseville KEESEVILLE - The 3rd-Annual Pumpkin and Squash Festival will be held in downtown Keeseville, Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The day's events include an exotic animal show, a petting zoo, a chili cookoff with $500 in cash prizes, a costume party with $200 in cash prizes, a carnival of rides, a farmers market and live entertain- ment every hour. The event is sponsored by the Keeseville Downtown Renaissance Committee, an organization dedicated to historical preservation and economic development. Registration begins at 10 a.m. For more information, call Kathy Rock at 834-1569. Plattsburgh GOP hosts fund-raiser Saturday PLATTSBURGH - The Town of Plattsburgh Republican Party will be. holding a fund-raiser on Saturday, Oct. 7, beginning at 8:30 p.m. at the American Legion Post 20 on Quarry Road in Plattsburgh. Karaoke and door prizes. The event is open to the public. Chili Cookoff planned for Keeseville Saturday KEESEVILLE — The 3rd-Annual Chili Cookoff will be held in downtown Keeseville on Saturday, Oct. 7, with registration beginning after 6 a.m. that day. There is no entry fee. Beans are allowed. Judg- ing is at 6 p.m. Prizes totaling $500 will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place along with trophies. There are also awards for Ms. Chili Pepper and Mr. Hot Sauce. Chili will be judged on taste, texture, pre- sentation and orginality. Food Cooperative registration due by Oct. 10 PLATTSBURGH — Registration for the October Food Cooperative will be accepted through Tuesday, Oct. 10. Registration is accepted at all JCEO Community Outreach Centers and the main office at 54 Margaret St. The package cost is $13.75 in food stamps or cash. There are no income guidelines or limits on the number of packages sold, A bonus non-food item will be included. * The October package will include: chicken broth, rice, canned mix- . ed vegetables, 2 percent milk, canned peaches, quick oats, ground b^ef, ham steak, chicken legs, potatoes, broccoli, celery and Macin- tosh apples. Additions or substitutions may occur. . For more information, call JCEO at 561-6310. Saranac Family School Organization to meet SARANAC — The Saranac Elementary Family School Organiza- tion will meet Monday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. in the Saranac Elementary cafeteria. Meetings, held the second Monday of each month, are open to all. Call 293-8241 or 293-6602 for information. North Country Squares dance scheduled PlA#|S$uiEiGH *i Nb*lh Country Squares will hold a dance Oct. 7 fcfM^$S^6 8 p<m, plus ||o 10:30 p.m. mainstream and rounds at Photo Editor/Dave Paczak Firefighters do their best to save Larry Powers' house on Soper Street. Fire destroys home; firefighters hurt By BRIAN E. TROMBLEY Contributing Writer MORRISONVILLE - Three firefighters were injured while trying to save a Morrisonville family's home from a fire Thurs- day morning. At 9 a.m., a passer-by, who noticed smoke coming from the eaves of the Soper Street home owned by Larry Powers, called the Morrisonville Fire Depart- ment. Morrisonville firefighter Lt. Dave Rabideau, the first officer to arrive, noticed heavy white smoke coming from the house. \I saw the man who called it in, and he thought that there may still be someone left inside,\ he said. \We made a very thorough search of the home and found no one inside.\ Not long after teams of firefighters from Morrisonville, Peru, South Plattsburgh, Rescue Hose 5, Cumberland Head and Beekmantown had begun to fight the fire, Powers came home to the sight of his house on fire. Powers allayed some of the firefighters' worries by telling them that his 4-year-old and 7- year-old children and their nan- ny were not in the house. But, three firefighters were hurt trying to save the mobile home with additions. They were: Francis Brousseau, who hurt the top of his left hand; Mike Allen, punctured by a nail in his left knee; and Buddy Maggy, who injured his back in a fall on the steps to the Powers residence. The three men sought treatment from private physi- cians and have been treated and released. The Morrisonville department \had a rough day,\ Fire Chief Darren Seymour said. \The fire was contained in 15 to 20 minutes,\ Rabideau said. \We were able to save some small things from the house, but overall the house is a total loss.\ Fire investigators determined that the fire originated in the woodstove area of the home, Rabideau said. Powers had in- surance. The Morrisonville Ambulance also responded, the Saranac Fire Department was on stand-by, and District 3 provided a pumper-truck truck that operated from the chlorination plant in Morrisonville. Harmless ladybugs looking for warm winter homes By JEFF MEYERS Staff Writer Ciller, is Betsy Gotta, cuer is Roy Gotta. It is opfen td all. PLATTSBURGH - As if fol- lowing the script from a bad Hollywood horror flick, droves of ladybugs are gathering in the homes of some North Country residents. Except this is far from a horror story. Ladybugs are benevolent, useful insects that help protect our flowers and crops from more destructive bugs. It's just that these ladybugs are looking for a warm spot to spend their winter. 'We're getting a lot of calls from people about ladybugs swarming around their houses,\ said Amy Ivy of Essex County Cooperative Extension. \People seem concerned because they are getting into the house and clustering on ceilings in large numbers. \What they're simply trying to do is hibernate,\ she said. Beth Spaugh of Clinton Coun- ty Cooperative Extension said her office has received only one call about ladybugs, but she has heard of cases in other areas where the colorful flying insects have been trying to get into homes. Remove gantly The bugs do not present any danger, but people should try to remove them with a broom and dust pan and release them alive outdoors. If they continue to get inside, The benevolent invaders. windows and doors should be checked for cracks and be sealed with caulking. The problem can be easily corrected by replacing damaged window or door screens, however. Migrating The apparent increase in ladybug numbers may not have anything to do with this sum- mer's warm and dry weather. In fact,- the invasion may be con- nected to an intentional release of Asian lady beetles in some southern states years ago to con- trol the spread of aphids, a pest Photo Editor/Dave Paczak that eats the foliage of many fruits and vegetables and can spread diseases in plants. The ladybugs have steadily moved north, suggesting there has been abundance of food for their populations to grow. \The increase is good news,\ Ivy said. \They aren't harmful at all; they just eat a lot of different kinds of pests, especially aphids.\ Live off fat Ladybugs hibernate during the winter and live off stored fat. Many of the species common to the North Country spend their winters under leaf litter, fallen branches and bark, or piles of debris. But the Asian beetle seems to enjoy the warmer com- fort inside homes. \They aren't going to breed or feed on anything in the house,\ Ivy said. \They're just looking for some place to sleep.\ Ufa cycle The Asian lady beetle looks like other species. It ranges in color from basic red or orange to a very dark, sometimes black shade. It is decorated with the same type of black spots on its wings. The spots can vary in number and size. When it starts to warm up in the spring, the insects come out of hibernation and lay their eggs, which hatch in three to five days. The larvae feed voraciously on aphids, scale insects and soft- bodied invertebrates for about 12 to 14 days before transforming in the pupae stage for five to six days. In fact, Spaugh said they're most beneficial during the larval stage. Adult ladybugs can live two to three years. ,•: Wooding out Officials believe the large numbers of Asian lady beetles will decrease as their food supply dwindles and as natural predators, such as certain species of birds, take notice of them. Ivy said the bugs will continue to look for good winter homes un- til frost sets in.
