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IS ,505 12,770; lilage; 1 r 00 900 ,995 995 195 ,«o ******** *********5-DIGIT 13642 1622 12-25-20 7 3 p 2 3S READING ROOM 56 CHURCH ST GOUVERNEUR NY 13642 I\ I LI I „l I ml uL 1,1,1 nil tribune - Volume No, til dumber 36 TJSES 640-360 :<Souyfei;net»fr]%fr jforic '•,•• thursday, June 5, 2008 S.fiOper copy Maine trucker rescued after two-hour ordeal in Edwards By Dick Sterling The new Holmatro hydraulic rescue tools recently purchased by the Gouverneur Volunteer Fire Department were barely out the boxes. In fact, training sessions on the use of the new \Jaws of Life\ devices were scheduled for later this week. Monday evening the rescue team put the tools to use... but there were no training manuals in sight. What started out as a call for Edwards Rescue to respond to a report of a collision between a pickup truck and a tractor trailer, near the intersection of River Road and State Route 58, in Edwards, would end up being one of the most time-consuming extrication procedures ever for the Gouverneur, Richville and Edwards departments. Gouverneur based state police, who investigated the 8 p.m. crash, reported that a semi truck, with no trailer, operated by Kenneth Harmon, 28, of Hiram, Maine, was eastbound onRoute 58, when a 1994 GMC pickup truck, operated by Christopher R. Rookey, 25, of Madrid, and hauling a trailer with a car attached, pulled in front of the semi truck. Mr. Harmon attempted to avoid a collision by swerving, but struck the pickup truck in the roadway. The semi then overturned, coming to rest partially on its top in a deep ditch alongside Route 58. . , Witnesses who live near the crash scene, ran to the accident location after hearing the crash. One woman reported that she heard someone in the semi yelling for help. \I went over and looked in. The young man was talking, but he was in a very awkward position, facing the floor of the truck, but upside down. 1 felt sorry for him,\ he was really trapped in there,\ said the unidentified witness. Rescue personnel from Edwards were quick to request the \Jaws\ equipment from Gouverneur. Volunteers were also called from Richville and Fine. Volunteers arrived to find the semi in a precarious position in the ditch, with Mr. Harmon trapped inside. Cutting tools, air bags and even a crane were brought to the crash scene in an attempt to free the victim from his uncomfortable position. Rescue workers indicated that Mr. Harmon was talking to them throughout the ordeal. After more than two hours, the victim was finally coaxed out of the semi truck. He was immediately transported to the helipad in Gouverneur, and was then flown out by Mercy Flight helicopter to SUNY Healthcare Center (Upstate) in Syracuse. Police reported on Tuesday that Mr. Harmon's injuries, \didn't appear to be life-threatening. Joe Lacks, Second Assistant Chief with the Gouverneur Fire Department, said that the new equipment, which costs tens of thousands of dollars, has already paid for itself in what it was able to do on Monday evening. \This was one oOf the most difficult and time- consuming rescues we've ever been involved in. And the best thing about it is that the young man, apparently, is going to be okay. We put this new stuff to the test, and it passed with flying colors,\ said Mr. Lacks. \We decided recently that the old Jaws, though adequate, were outdated. So we purchased the Holmatro Life Saving Equipment and only received it a couple of weeks ago.\ Monday, those in charge of the new equipment, seemed like seasoned pros as they worked hard to free the victim from his tight spot. Police said that Mr. Rookey was not injured as a result of the crash. They also indicated that their investigation is continuing. It took rescue workers over two hours to free a Maine trucker from his wrecked semi (top) on Monday. The truck overturned after colliding with a pickup truck on Route 58 near Edwards. (Dick Sterling photos) County IDA law expiration delays hospital expansion by Dan McClelland In January a state law that authorized county industrial development agencies to sell bonds to finance important community projects expired. A casualty of that in St. Lawrence County is the start of the new $9.3 million expansion planned at Gouverneur's E.J. Noble Hospital. \We had hoped to break ground this spring,\ Administrator Chuck Conole told the Tribune Press Friday. \Many people here are anxious to see us start!\ Until the state legislature reauthorizes certain sections of the IDA laws, we're in limbo, he explained. Ray Fountain, executive director of the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency said the section of the IDA law that \sunset\ in January is the Civic Facilities Law, which permits IDAs to float bonds for hospitals, colleges and other not for profit institutions. The hospital administrator has a meeting scheduled with Senator Darrel Aubertine this week and he knows Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava is \up to speed\ on the pressing issue. \We're hoping the legislature will take up the IDA funding issue before it adjourns in June,\ Mr. Conole Special flag for pre-K In November, the East Side Pre-k students sent care packages to family members who were deployed. When Sgt. Anderson came home for his two week leave from Iraq, he surprised the students with this flag signed by he and his friends who shared the package. Sgt. Anderson is the father of Ariyanha, a student in the Pre- K afternoon class. Shown here are Ariyanna and her friends proudly displaying their new flag, which now hangs in the classroom. Look for our flag on the Pre-K Flag Day floatl said. \If that happens we could be in the ground this fall.\ Passing the measure should be routine, Mr. Conole expects. \No one is against it, it is just a matter of passing it.\ He added, however, that Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver would like to attach a prevailing wage clause to the new legislation which might delay it temporarily. \Our project is all set to go,\ Mr. Conole explained. He said the hospital board has received its \certificate of need\ approved by the state health department. The architectural and financial plans have been filed with the Albany agency as well. As part of the financial formula for the new hospital addition, the local share of $903,000 has already been raised, he noted. \People here were very supportive of this important project.\ Now hospital officials are awaiting the bond financing that will be channeled through the county IDA. \We already have a verbal commitment from Oppenheimer Funds for $5 million of it and we're talking to several other firms about the balance.\ He said hospital officials had been working very hard to get the bonding approved through the IDA before the state law \sunset\ on January 31, 2008. Unfortunately we couldn't make the deadline. \We came close and the state Continued on page 2 Miner killed at SLZ Willard Clewis, Gouverneur, crushed by falling rock slab By Dick Sterling A Gouverneur man was killed Saturday morning when an eight-foot- by four-foot slab of rock fell from the ceiling above him and crushed him at the 2,100-foot level of a St. Lawrence Zinc Company mine in the Town of Fowler. New York State Police, who investigated the mishap. Reportedthat Willard P. Clewis, 40, 84 Depot Street, Gouverneur, was working with Richard Aldridge Jr., 19, also of Gouverneur, at about 10:35 a.m. Saturday. Mr. Clewis was drilling into rock while standing on a platform at the 2,100-foot level beneath the ground at the St. Lawrence Zinc mine located off Sylvia Lake Road, Fowler, when the large slab broke away from the ceiling above him, and fell on him, striking him in the head, and then pinning him beneath. Mr. Aldridge, who was the only miner working with Mr. Clewis at the time of the incident, was able to jump away and suffered only minor injuries. He immediately requested help for the victim. A mine safety team responded to the mine, as did the Gouverneur Volunteer Rescue Squad. It took rescue workers about 30 minutes to free Mr. Clewis from the slab of rock, emergency personnel began to perform CPR. Critical Care EMT Jeffrey Gibson consulted with doctors from Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown, who, after it was apparent that the victim showed no signs of life, ordered that CPR and life-saving measures be discontinued about one hour after the accident was first reported. Mr. Clewis was transported to the morgue at E.J. Noble Hospital, Gouverneur. An autopsy was performed Monday by Dr. Leonardo Dishman, a pathologist' at Alice Hyde Medical Center, in Malone, determined that Mr. Clewis died from massive trauma. Early this week federal inspectors from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) were at St. Lawrence Zinc conducting a full investigation. Michael \Mick\ Lawler, General Manager of the facility, declined comment while the investigation was being conducted. A statement was released Sunday by the mine's parent company, HudBay Mineral Inc., based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. That statement indicated that the company was cooperating fully with MSHA officials, and were also conducting their own internal investigation. HudBay President and CEO Allen Palmiere released a statement concerning the accident. \We are deeply saddened by the loss of a member of our team. Our prayers and condolences go out to Willard Paul Clewis's family and friends at this very difficult time. The area where the mishap. took place was shut down by officials, but production continued at St. Lawrence Zinc. Funeral arrangements for Mr. Clewis are still incomplete. Another Eagle has landed Charlie Saidel third in family, 60th from Gouverneur troop to earn Eagle Award By Dick Sterling Gouverneur Boy Scout Troop 21 has always been a very active group. On Sunday another of its members, Charles Saidel, son of Dr. Rob and Rita Saidel, of Gouverneur, was honored with the Boy Scouts of America's (BSA) highest honor...-tbte-EaglaAsvard. - Charlie, who turned 18 just days after officially receiving recognition of the honor in February, was afforded the BSA Eagle Court of Honor as family members, friends and supporters looked on at the Gouverneur Elks Lodge. A Scout cannot receive the Award after celebrating his 18 lh birthday. Charlie is the third member of the Saidel family to earn Scout's highest honor.. His father, Rob, became an Eagle Scout many years ago. His late brother, Ryan Saidel, was also presented with the award. Troop 21 Scoutmaster Bob Miller said that Charlie is the 60\' member of the Gouverneur branch of BSA to be honored with the Eagle Award. Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava, who presented a proclamation at the ceremony, echoed what many were saying about Charlie. \The best thing that you do is the example that you set for these young men who will follow you.\ Each Eagle Scout must have a special service to the community project approved and completed before the award can be presented. Charlie's special project will benefit Gouverneur area youth for many years to come. He and Robert \Coach\ Porter worked together to make improvements to the dugouts atRiverview Park. The work for the project must be carried out at the direction of the young man who presented the plan. \They really want to see you direct the project, and not do all the work yourself. They like you to be a leader, to show organizational skills.\ Charlie said that he had plenty of help with the plan to rehab the four dugouts at Riverview. \We replaced the -cement, repainted the walls... a total refurbishment of the dugouts. We also installed two platforms for the bleachers. It took about three days to complete the work and about 20 people helped with the work.\ Charlie thanked his workers and his parents during his ceremony on Sunday He said that he's really enjoyed scouting over the years. \I started when I was six, so I guess it's been 12 years now that I've been involved,\ said Charlie, who will graduate in June from Gouverneur High School, and head off to Cazanovia College in the fall, where he will major in visual communications and graphic design. He will continue to play soccer at college. In addition to soccer, Charlie is involved heavily in track and field at GHS. In fact, this week he will compete in the triple jump, 110-meter hurdles, 4x100 relay and the long jump during the Section 10 Sectional meet at St Lawrence University. Charlie said that one of the highlights of his scouting career was attending the National Jamboree in Virginia in the summer of 2006. \With tens of thousands of scouts, and a ten-day schedule of events, it was really something to be a part of. Something that you'll never forget..\ Charlie was one of five Scouts from Troop 21 to make the trip. Continued on page 2 Troop 21 Scoutmaster Bob Miller pins the Eagle Scout badge on Charlie Saidel during a special ceremony Sunday at the Gouverneur Elks Lodge. Charlie, 18, the son of Dr. Rob and Rita Saidel, has been involved with scouting in Gouverneur for 12 years. (Dick Sterling photo)
