North Country Briefs

Grass fire spreads to barn

Friday in Ogdensburg

OGDENSBURG — A hay barn at 5835 County Route 6 burned Friday morning after a grass fire spread to it from a neighboring property.

St. Lawrence County Fire Investigator W. Joseph Lacks said a cigarette discarded on a neighboring property ignited dry grass, and the fire traveled 600 feet to the barn, owned by Keith D. Pierce. There were no animals inside the structure, Mr. Lacks said.

He said Mr. Pierce's neighbor, whom he did not identify, tried to extinguish the fire, but it grew too large to contain.

"The wind was blowing directly toward the barn," he said. "Apparently, some embers somehow caught the hay inside the barn on fire. The main part of the building is made out of steel trusses and metal siding, so luckily that was difficult to ignite, but there was some wood in the structure. There was moderate damage, but it's still standing."

No one was injured.

He said that Mr. Pierce had recently acquired the barn and that he was not sure if the building is insured.

Fire departments from Heuvelton, Morristown, Lisbon, Ogdensburg and Brier Hill battled the blaze for about eight hours, Mr. Lacks said. Departments from Rensselaer Falls, Waddington and Gouverneur served on standby.

Four SLU students cited

over alcohol at party

CANTON — A St. Patrick's Day party resulted in charges Friday for four St. Lawrence University students.

Village police said they got a report Wednesday night of a loud party at 130 Miner St., and moments later a 911 call was placed to report that a 19-year-old male had fallen down a flight of stairs there.

When police and St. Lawrence University Safety and Security officers arrived, they found an unconscious SUNY Canton student, whom police declined to identify, at the bottom of the home's cellar stairs. He was taken to Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam, and released the following day.

Police on Friday charged James R. Johnson, 22, Walworth, Andrew T. Malley, 22, Brookline, Mass., Tristram L.A. Baldwin, 21, Chateaugay, and Joseph J. Montayne, 24, Newcomb, with first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child.

Police said the SLU students, who all live at 130 Miner St., are accused of providing alcohol to a person under the age of 21.

Two from Malone charged

in theft of two laptops

MALONE — Two people were charged with felonies Thursday after village police recovered two laptop computers, valued at $3,998.

Gregory J. Hayward, 23, Malone, was charged with two counts of criminal possession of stolen property, and Danielle M. Conners, 26, Malone, was charged with one count.

Mr. Hayward was arraigned and sent to Franklin County jail on $2,500 bail. Ms. Conners was issued an appearance ticket. Both will face prosecution in Village Court.

Police say Taberg resident

had untaxed cigarettes

MASSENA — An Oneida County man was charged Friday with possession of untaxed cigarettes during a U.S. Customs and Border Protection and state police checkpoint on Route 37.

State police allege James R. Durgan, 36, Taberg, had 30 cartons of untaxed cigarettes in his vehicle.

Gouverneur teen accused

of stealing $200 in coins

GOUVERNEUR — A teenager is accused of breaking into a Little Bow Road home and stealing nearly $200 in coins.

Tyler S. Bates, 18, Gouverneur, was charged Thursday with second-degree burglary, state police said. He was arraigned in Town Court and sent to St. Lawrence County jail, Canton, on $5,000 bail or $10,000 bond.

Massena woman accused

of making phone threats

MASSENA — State police charged Amanda L. Peets, 27, Massena, with felony criminal contempt following an alleged incident at 9:12 p.m. Saturday at 54 McClusky Ave.

Ms. Peets is accused of violating an order of protection by making threatening phone calls to another person, whose name was not released by police.

Chase Mills man charged

after fight with woman

CHASE MILLS — Jacob M. Lord, 33, of 5344 County Route 14, was charged Thursday with third-degree criminal mischief and second-degree harassment for reportedly damaging a window and pushing a woman during a fight, St. Lawrence County sheriff's deputies said.

He was arraigned in Potsdam Town Court and released on his own recognizance.