SYRACUSE — A former city detective facing federal child pornography charges is headed to trial after he rejected a plea agreement Friday which would have had him sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Harry J. McCarthy, 56, formerly of 927 Congress St., is charged with three counts of sexually exploiting a child for the purpose of creating child pornography, three counts of transportation of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

According to documents filed Friday in U.S. District Court, Syracuse, McCarthy told Chief Judge Glenn T. Suddaby that he no longer wishes to plead guilty and that he wants to go to trial. The plea offer from the government for a 15-year prison sentence was taken off the table and a trial date was scheduled for Feb. 12.

If convicted of all charges, McCarthy faces at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison on each charge of child exploitation and at least five years and up to 20 years on each charge of distributing, receiving and transporting child pornography. He also would face five years to life on post-release supervision and would be required to register as a sex offender.

In 2013 and 2014, McCarthy allegedly induced a 13-year-old into engaging in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating pornographic images.

The indictment also charges that on or about May 13, 15, 16, 18 and 19, 2015, McCarthy distributed, received and three times transported a graphic image file of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct through the internet. Last, it is alleged that on Aug. 13, 2015, McCarthy possessed and accessed numerous graphic image files of one or more minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. That violation involved images of child pornography involving one or more prepubescent minors and minors younger than 12 years of age.

All charges took place in St. Lawrence County, according to the indictment.

McCarthy pleaded not guilty to the charges on Aug. 25, 2016, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary L. Favro in Plattsburgh, and was detained pending further proceedings.

McCarthy, a 30-year veteran with the city police department, had been on paid administrative leave from the time of his arrest until May 16, 2016, when he was switched to leave without pay. He then retired June 30, 2016.

During the time McCarthy was on leave, he accrued $58,685 in pay from the city.

The following property sales were recorded in Jefferson County clerk’s office Nov. 7, 2017:

City of Watertown: No acreage listed, Lot No. 7, Girard Ave., Revitalized Properties LLC, Watertown, sold to Michael D. Smith and Cindy L. Smith, Columbus, Tenn. $155,000

Town of Clayton: 32 acres, Zang Road, Larry P. Hutcheon and Gail M. Hutcheon, LaFargeville, sold to Kevin Patchen and Richelle Patchen, LaFargeville $42,000

Hamlet of Felts Mills, Town of Rutland: No acreage listed, Back Street, Castlerock 2017 LLC, White Plains, sold to Robert Reynolds, Lowville $17,900

Town of Orleans: 0.35 acres, Otter Point Road, Benjamin S. Essig, Parish, sold to Williamson Holding Enterprises Inc., Coral Gables, Fla. $2,500

The following property sales were recorded in Jefferson County clerk’s office Nov. 8, 2017:

Town of Adams: No acreage listed, 18026 Route 177 (South Harbor Road), CitiMortgage Inc., O’Fallon, Mo., sold to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, Oklahoma City, Okla. $1

Towns of Champion and LeRay: 3.43 acres, LaFave Road at Duffy Road, John H. Parmeter, Watertown, as referee for Stephen J. Converse, Geana M. Converse, Andrew S. Converse, Megan L. Converse and Steve Converse Developments Inc., sold to White’s Lumber Inc., Watertown $386,000

City of Watertown: 0.252 acres, 220 Central St., Philip J. Morrison and Tina M. Morrison, Watertown, sold to Daniel W. Johnson, Watertown $132,000

City of Watertown: 0.17 acres, Prospect Street, Brian A Morbrock and Rachael A. Morbrock, Huachuca City, Ariz., sold to Barbara A. Main and Crystal L. Goodale, Watertown $65,000

Town of Cape Vincent: 1.84 acres, Route 12, Lorrie Hoffman, Clinton, and Donna Rounsville, Sauquoit, sold to Anthony Putrelo, Sauquoit $0

Town of Clayton: 1.6 acres, Dalton Lane, Andrew V. McNally, Winnetka, Ill., sold to Gary Albertson, Oak Ridge, N.J. $300,000

City of Watertown: No acreage, Stuart Street, William R. George, Watertown, sold to Kavon Mason, Carthage $22,500

City of Watertown: 0.127 acres, 126 S. Meadow St., RJLC21 Enterprises Corp., Port Jefferson, sold to Daniella M. Robichaud, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas $105,000

City of Watertown: 0.25 acres, Gotham Street, A. Brown Properties LLC, Watertown, sold to Matthew C. Childs, Watertown $124,900

Town of Wilna: 0.6 acres, Clinton Street, Kay A. Roderick, Charlotte, N.C., sold to Wesley J. Simpson and Mary K. Simpson as trustees of Simpson Living Trust, Carthage $88,000

Hamlet of LaFargeville, Town of Orleans: 0.69 acres, Sarah Lane, Sarah Lane Estates LLC, Clayton, sold to Joshua L. Dalton and Alicia M. Dalton, Clayton $190,500

Town of Clayton: 0.7 acres, Grenell Island, Ferne D. Klein, Utica, and Jack J. Vail, Niagara Falls, sold to Michael Crowley and Clarissa Crowley, New York City $165,000

The following property sales were recorded in Jefferson County clerk’s office Nov. 9, 2017:

Town of Clayton: 141.69 acres, state Route 12, Ellen L. Stiefel, executor of Teresa J. Bearup estate, Clayton, sold to Fourth Coast Realty LLC, Clayton $250,000

Town of Alexandria: 0.573 acres, Calabaga Road (County Road 111), John H. Parmeter Jr., Watertown, as referee for Lori Elizabeth Durham, sold to Dean A. Proven, Redwood $83,196

Village of Carthage: No acreage listed, Adelaide Street, DeVere D. Rumble and Mary Rumble, Copenhagen, sold to Joseph F. Brady, Carthage $15,500

Town of Watertown: 17.536 acres, County Route 65, Audrey M. Olin, Dexter, sold to Tara A. Strader and Matthew J. Strader, Watertown $0

Town of Champion: No acreage listed, Lot 9B, Scott Britton and Michele Britton, Carthage, sold to Jason M. Flint, Watertown $247,000

Town of LeRay: 0.627 acres, Victory Lane, Converse Construction Don Inc., Watertown, sold to John Paul Telesmanick, Watertown $237,100

Town of Champion: 0.963 acres, Martin Street Road, Brent Kuenzler, Norwood, sold to Daniel W. Cobb and Julie M. Cobb, Carthage $40,000

Town of Orleans: Four parcels, 133.70 acres, Larry P. Hutcheon and Gail M. Hutcheon, LaFargeville, sold to Tyler Strock and Sheri Strock LaFargeville $90,000

Town of Brownville: 31.73 acres, state Route 180, Yvonne M. Thompson, Dexter, sold to Michael David Percy Jr., Chaumont $10,000

City of Watertown: 0.14 acres, Haley Street, Larry L. Reinhardt and Christina Ryan Reinhardt, Dexter, sold to Scott Berry, Watertown $180,000

City of Watertown: 0.209 acres, Franklin Street, Russell M. Danler, Wilmington, N.C., sold to Francis Cantada, Watertown $187,450

Town of LeRay: Two parcels, no total acreage given, Rock Brook Road (Rockbrook Road), Christopher Nethers, Watertown, sold to Zachary Hillebert and Amanda Hillebert, Evans Mills $213,500

Town of Champion: 3.947 acres, Coler Road, Uhlinger Capital Company LLC, Carthage, sold to Team OBS LLC, Williamsville $25,000

Town of Champion: No acreage listed, Lots 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20 and 21 of Patriot Estates, Uhlinger Capital Company LLC, Carthage, sold to Team OBS LLC, Williamsville $100,000

The following property sales were recorded in Jefferson County clerk’s office Nov. 13, 2017:

Town of Antwerp: 0.74 acres, 41970 County Route 26, Michael R. Kurdziel and Lynn M. Kurdziel, Gouverneur, sold to Louis G. Pokorney, Gouverneur $500

City of Watertown: 0.014 acres, 204 Sherman St., Cor Real Propert Company LLC, Fayetteville, sold to Cor Arsenal Street Company LLC, Fayetteville $0

Town of Alexandria: No acreage listed, Parcel No. 2750 known as Shoal-E, Joseph Boyne Jr. and Maryann Robinson Boyne, Neptune, N.J., sold to Daniel M. Quail and Carla A. Bender as trustees of the Bender-Quail Living Trust, Redwood $32,000

City of Watertown: No acreage listed, 119 North Meadow St., Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association), Dallas, Texas, sold to Emmanuel Onofre, Sugar Land, Texas $11,250

Town of LeRay: 0.601 acres, 26647 Andrew Dr., Brandyn L. Schmidt and Krista K. Schmidt, Watertown, sold to Holly L. Ballard, Centreville, Va. $201,500

Town of Alexandria: No acreage listed, 48130 Ski Doo Island, Mark Gebo, Watertown, as referee for Michael X. Goerger, sold to HSBC Bank USA N.A., as trustee for Deutsche Alt-A Securities Inc., West Palm Beach, Fla. $500

City of Watertown: 0.105 acres, 610 Emerson St., Scott R. Nortz, Clayton, sold to Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, Tenn. $129,782

Town of Alexandria: Three parcels, 17.12 acres, Stine Road, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C., sold to Gregory R. Coons, Syracuse $98,000

City of Watertown: 0.267 acres, 657 Boyd St., Pennymac Loan Services LLC, Moorpark, Calif., sold to Thomas McMahon, Minneapolis, Minn. $36,000

Village of Sackets Harbor: No acreage listed, East Main Street, Jason C. Geller and Kelley B. Geller, Sackets Harbor, sold to Steven J. Smith and Irene Smith, Watertown $479,000

Town of Wilna: No acreage listed, road from Deferiet to Herrings, Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association), Dallas, Texas, sold to Leanna M. Wood, Carthage $80,320

Town of Clayton: 0.98 acres, no address listed, Jack D. Rush and Laurie W. Rush, Redwood, sold to Martin J. Hannie and Lillian J. Hannie, Sandy Creek $105,000

City of Watertown: No acreage listed, Arsenal Street at Duffy Street, James A. Burrows and Stephanie A. Burrows, Brewerton, sold to Modinger Group LLC, Dexter $415,000

Village of Sackets Harbor: 0.69 acres, Dodge Avenue, Caleb T. Holt and Angelina D. Holt, Sackets Harbor, sold to Matthew R. Curcio, Sackets Harbor $284,000

Town of Clayton: 9.2 acres, West Bald Rock Road, Carl Lundell, Collegeville, Pa., sold to Sheryl A. Fries, Alexandria Bay $155,000

Town of Clayton: 0.068 acres, Rosewood Estates, Paul Robert Seymour and Joan Gottry Seymour, Cape Vincent, sold to Carol B. Adler, Ogdensburg $225,000

Village of Clayton: 0.25 acres, 229 John St., Scott R. Nortz, Clayton, sold to H. Riverside LLC, Cicero $190,000

City of Watertown: No acreage listed, 29 Factory Square, Seaway Sales Company Inc., Watertown, sold to 129 Factory Square LLC, Watertown $0

The following property sales were recorded in the St. Lawrence County clerk’s office June 29, 2017:

Village of Massena: Unknown acres, Lot 7, Krista Marshall and Gordon Plumadore, Massena, sold to Jackie L. Ladison, Massena $55,000

Village of Canton: Parcel 1) 0.37 of an acre more or less, Parcel 2) Unknown acres, Parcel 3) 0.37 of an acre more or less, Lot 7, Mile Square 4, bounded by Buck Street, Duane Curtis, Canton, sold to North Woods Properties Inc., Canton $25,000

Village of Massena: Unknown acres, Lot 5, Block A, Morgan L. Christy and Charles Christy II, Massena, sold to Jon Paul Gagner, Massena $60,000

City of Ogdensburg: Unknown acres, Farm Lot 7, bounded by Proctor Avenue, Rebekah Logan (administrator), Estate of Michael D. Logan, Ogdensburg, sold to Thomas Douglas, Ogdensburg $130,000

Town of Norfolk: Unknown acres, bounded by Raymondville-Norfolk State Highway, Joanne Dumers, Raymondville, Randy White, Raymondville, Tim White, Raymondville and Michael W. White, Massena, sold to Brytney A. and Bobbi D. Laird, Colton $34,000

Town of Piercefield: Parcel 1) 46.047 acres more or less, Section N, bounded by Gale Road, Parcel 2) 12.812 acres more or less, Section N, bounded by New York State Highway Route 63, Parcel 3) 0.573 of an acre more or less, Section N, bounded by New York State Highway Route 63, Edward R. and Diane M. Cote, Ravenden Springs, Ark., sold to Victor Turner and Kathryn Bencze, Childwold $170,000

Town of Massena: Unknown acres, Lot 2, Michael J. and Rachael A. Corcoran, Massena, sold to James and Atasha A. Ashley, Norfolk $99,000

Town of Gouverneur: Parcel 1) 40.31 acres more or less, Parcel 2) Unknown acres, Parcel 3) 50 acres more or less, Lot 15 and Lot 16, bounded by Dutch Woods Road, Roger and Darlene Goodelle, Gouverneur, sold to Tyler A. and Laci E. Perrigo, Gouverneur $44,000

Town of Canton: Unknown acres, Lot 5, bounded by State Street, Josiah and Louissa Tabolt, Canton, sold to Brook Henkel and Racheal Tengowski, Canton $155,000

Village of Waddington: 0.16 of an acre more or less, Lot 5, Block 10, bounded by Oak Street, Dawn M. Sharlow, Waddington, sold to Stephen D. and Terry M. Dawley, Waddington $48,500

Town of Norfolk: 0.0293 of an acre more or less, Mile Square 53, bounded by Beaulieu Farm and Massena Springs, Shawn R. and Theresa M. Flanders, Wesley Chapel, Fla., sold to Richard A. Trombley III, Canton $65,000

The following property sales were recorded in the St. Lawrence County clerk’s office June 30, 2017:

Town of Stockholm: Unknown acres, Section 1, bounded by Potsdam-Winthrop State Highway, Kim R. McClain, Hanawa Falls, sold to Brooke L. Boyea, Brushton $74,000

Town of Potsdam: 1.52 acres more or less, bounded by Route 56 and New York State Route 72, LaPierre Management LLC, Colton, sold to Daniel S. and Emily B. Taylor, Potsdam $142,000

Town of Brasher: 2 Parcels, Unknown acres, Block 24, bounded by George Street and Tiernan Street, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, D.C., sold to 5D Ventures LLC, Syracuse $25,800

Town of Macomb: 1.24 acres more or less, bounded by New York State Route 58, Joanna K. DeLorraine, Gouverneur, sold to Cody J. Orr, Gouverneur $1

Town of Louisville: 2.75 acres more or less, bounded by Chase Mills-Louisville Road, Michelle R. and Terry R. Fisher, Chase Mills, sold to Gavin Dominy, Canton $155,000

Town of Russell: 0.60 of an acre more or less, bounded by Mill Street and Maiden Lane, Michael and Sarah Brown, Sedona, Ariz., sold to Wade A. Wilkinson, Waddington $99,000

Town of Morristown: Parcel 1) 0.19 of an acre more or less, Parcel 2) 0.07 of an acre more or less, bounded by Kury Lot and Brenno Lot, Benjamin L. Glascock, Maryville, Tenn., sold to Russell B. Lawrence III, Morristown and Sharon A. Lawrence, Colton $65,000

Town of norfolk: Parcel 1) 106.27 acres more or less, Parcel 2) Unknown acres, Mile Square 50, bounded by County Route 39, Seaway Timber Harvesting Inc., Massena, sold to ken Mueller, Warminster, Pa. $85,000

City of Ogdensburg: Unknown acres, Block 8, bounded by King Street and St. Lawrence Avenue, Dean E. Rivet, Ogdensburg, sold to Andrew Rheome and Caitlin Tracy, Ogdensburg $70,000

Village of Potsdam: Parcel 1) 0.34 of an acre more or less, Parcel 2) 0.26 of an acre more or less, Lot 8, bounded by VanNess Lot, Stefan J. Grimberg and Jan E. DeWaters, Potsdam, sold to David and Sarah Knobel, Canton $220,000

Town of Hammond: 0.04 of an acre more or less, bounded by Marcato Lot, Luke Marcato, Staten Island, sold to Charles Garlock and Sons Inc., Alexandria Bay $5,000

Town of Hammond: 0.04 of an acre more or less, bounded by Marcato Lot, Charles Garlock and Sons Inc., Alexandria Bay, sold to Albert J. Foote Jr. and Sandra J. Foote, Trumansburg $135,000

City of Ogdensburg: Unknown acres, bounded by Rensselaer Avenue and Madison Avenue, Diane Muehl and Allan A. Hanna, Canton, sold to Travis Scott Whalen, Ogdensburg $80,560

Town of Hopkinton: 2 Parcels, unknown acres, bounded by St. Lawrence Turnpike, Simon LaShomb, Norfolk, sold to Donnie M. and Tosha L. Reed, Nicholville $10,000

Town of Hammond: 10.75 acres more or less, Great Lot 3, bounded by River Road, Linda Mae Hagen (executor), Last Will and Testament of Vincent C. Rosenbarker, Hammond and (executor),Last Will and Testament of Mildred Hollister, no address given, sold to Peter and Annie Hershberger, Heuvelton $92,000

Village of Canton: 0.12 of an acre more or less, bounded by Main Street, Sylvia Kingston, Canton, sold to Hermon Land Development LLC, Canton $400,000

Town of DeKalb: Parcel 1) 34.5 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 2.89 acres more or less, Lot 211 and Lot 212, bounded by River Road, Sarah A. Williams, Austin, Colo., sold to Sammie A. and John A. Swartzentruber, Richville $72,000

Sexual assault reporting rates at Fort Drum have zigzagged in recent years, according to new Department of Defense figures released Friday.

According to military statistics, the post had 49 reports of sexual assault in fiscal year 2013, 79 in 2014, 49 in 2015 and 76 in 2016, for a total of 253 reports.

“We cannot be afraid to talk about sexual harassment and assault,” said Maj. Gen. Walter Piatt, the post’s commanding general. “Our commitment to supporting victims and holding offenders accountable is strong, and any conversation that reiterates that and encourages reporting serves us well.”

The DOD on Friday released the numbers for installations, and combat areas of interest, around the world in the last four fiscal years. The numbers had previously been reported without breakdowns for individual installations, the DOD said.

Sexual assault is defined by the DOD as crimes like rape, sexual assault and forcible sodomy, along with aggravated and abusive sexual contact or attempts to commit those offenses.

“Whether it is through victim assistants keeping constant contact, intensive unit training that includes what happens after a report, or by leader-focused training that takes into account signs of retaliation and vulnerability, we must dedicate ourselves to providing an environment that encourages victims to report and supports them through the process,” Gen. Piatt said.

Dr. Nate Galbreath, deputy director of the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, said that the military’s reporting program allows personnel to report allegations of sexual assault at any time or place. That means the numbers could reflect an incident that occurred while on deployment, while away on leave or even prior to entering the military.

“This kind of flexibility allows the department to better meet the department’s goals to increase reporting of sexual assault and decrease the occurrence of the crime through prevention,” he said.

DOD statistics released Friday said that the prevalence rates of sexual assault dropped from 6.1 percent of active duty women in 2012 to 4.3 percent in 2016 and from 1.2 percent of active duty men in 2012 to 0.6 percent in 2016.

WATERTOWN — City police have identified the man who died in fire early Friday that ignited in his basement and destroyed his Main Avenue residence.

Firefighters found the body of Lewis E. Deshane, 83, in his basement after hours of searching and digging through the rubble of the two-story building, police said. An autopsy by Dr. Samuel Livingstone, Jefferson County medical examiner, ruled that Mr. Deshane’s death was caused by asphyxiation due to inhalation of carbon monoxide.

Detective Lt. Joseph R. Donoghue Sr. said the body was found at about 11:30 a.m. in the ruins of the building that once housed Sunset Heating and Air Conditioning Corp.

Matt J. Conklin, who worked for Mr. Deshane, said the property owner, who he referred to as “Louie,” called him Thursday night and asked him for assistance with something in the morning.

“He was probably either upstairs watching TV or he was at his desk doing the books,” when he called, Mr. Conklin said, “or stoking the downstairs fireplace.”

Mr. Conklin regarded Mr. Deshane as a father and said he always helped people in need.

“If I ever needed anything, I had it,” Mr. Conklin said. “He helped out everybody.”

City police have determined two people were inside the building and a man unidentified by police escaped.

Mr. Conklin and a friend of Mr. Deshane, Josh L. Elliot, identified the other man as Cliff LaRose and said he lived at Mr. Deshane’s residence.

Fire Chief Dale C. Herman said the second man slept in a trailer on Mr. Deshane’s property, which was not damaged in the fire, but believed he went into the house because he was cold.

The man who escaped the blaze told firefighters he inhaled smoke and had “hot feet,” Chief Herman said, but had no other injuries.

“Our office was talking to him earlier,” Lt. Donoghue said, adding that he was not taken to Samaritan Medical Center.

Firefighters arrived on scene at about 1:30 a.m. and spent seven to 10 minutes trying to locate Mr. Deshane, searching rooms by entering through doors and windows.

After attempts to locate the resident failed, Chief Herman said city fire used about 1,600 gallons of water per minute to try to extinguish the flames throughout the early morning.

The fire originated near a wood-burning heating appliance in the basement, according to the fire department. The flames burned down the garage and the side of the structure facing West Main Street and destroyed the interior, Chief Herman said. The building also had two second-floor apartments that the chief said weren’t occupied.

The building was razed after the fire.

Lt. Donoghue said the investigation is ongoing and the cause of the fire has not been determined. Anyone with information is encouraged to call city police at 315-782-2233.

The Fort Drum Fire Department, state fire investigators, Guilfoyle Ambulance Service, National Grid and Red Cross also assisted at the scene.

OGDENSBURG — A former Ogdensburg police detective facing federal child pornography charges is headed to trial after he rejected a plea agreement Friday which would have had him sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Harry J. McCarthy, 56, formerly of 927 Congress St., is charged with three counts of sexually exploiting a child for the purpose of creating child pornography, three counts of transportation of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

According to documents filed Friday in U.S. District Court, Syracuse, McCarthy told Chief Judge Glenn T. Suddaby that he no longer wishes to plead guilty and that he wants to go to trial. The plea offer from the government for a 15-year prison sentence was taken off the table and a trial date was scheduled for Feb. 12.

If convicted of all charges, McCarthy faces at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison on each charge of child exploitation and at least five years and up to 20 years on each charge of distributing, receiving and transporting child pornography. He also would face five years to life on post-release supervision and would be required to register as a sex offender.

In 2013 and 2014, McCarthy allegedly induced a 13-year-old into engaging in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating pornographic images.

The indictment also charges that on or about May 13, 15, 16, 18 and 19, 2015, McCarthy distributed, received and three times transported a graphic image file of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct through the internet. Last, it is alleged that on Aug. 13, 2015, McCarthy possessed and accessed numerous graphic image files of one or more minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. That violation involved images of child pornography involving one or more prepubescent minors and minors younger than 12 years of age.

All the alleged crimes took place in St. Lawrence County, according to the indictment.

McCarthy pleaded not guilty to the charges on Aug. 25, 2016, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary L. Favro in Plattsburgh, and was detained pending further proceedings.

McCarthy, a 30-year veteran of the Ogdensburg Police Department, had been on paid administrative leave from the time of his arrest until May 16, 2016, when he was switched to leave without pay. He then retired June 30, 2016.

During the time McCarthy was on leave, he accrued $58,685 in pay from the city.

CANTON — For the third straight year, members of the St. Lawrence University Seed to Table club are organizing a Winter Market to bring local farmers and artisans on campus.

“Right now, we have one local farm, and a ton of local artisans, and some maple syrup people and some soap people,” said Shannon M. Hickey, junior and co-president of the Seed to Table Club. “We just want St. Lawrence students to appreciate St. Lawrence County a little bit more.”

The Seed to Table Club’s main goal is growing food in a student-run garden, which is then sold to the dining services to be served in cafeterias. But club members also work on issues of food justice and supporting local food producers.

“Basically, we get together to talk about food, which is my favorite thing to do,” said Ms. Hickey.

The club co-presidents see the Winter Market as a way to bridge the gap between summer farmer’s markets in the area, support local businesses and give club members a project after the winter weather shuts down their garden for the year.

At the two prior markets there have been some artisans, but the focus has mostly been local farms. This year, the club is applying a holiday theme to the market and broadening the range of vendors to include more artisans. They have at least 10 confirmed vendors and a goal of 25 total.

“This year I think will definitely be the biggest spread of people,” said junior Emily N. Viehl, co-president of the club.

Neither Ms. Viehl nor Ms. Hickey are native to the north country — they are both from outside Boston — but they are enthusiastic about the local businesses and opportunities in the area.

“It’s really easy to live to, like, live in a bubble, and (the market) kind of broadens the horizons of students,” Ms. Viehl said.

The mix of artists will include both students and members of the community.

“That’s one of the goals too, is to bring out the student artists on the campus to join with the artists in the broader community,” Ms. Hickey said.

The past two years, the market has been open to the public, but mostly attended by students, something the club hopes to change this year.

Participating in the market is free for vendors, and the deadline to register is Nov. 29. The market itself will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Dec. 7 on the first floor of the Sullivan Student Center at St. Lawrence. Goods can be purchased with cash, online through Venmo, or with student ID’s. To learn more, email snhick15@stlawu.edu.

MALONE — A revised plan to construct a sidewalk leading to Malone’s Walmart Supercenter has received renewed backing from the Town Board.

The project has been reduced in scale since its original inception, which called for sidewalks on both sides of U.S. Route 11 at a cost to the town of roughly $270,000, which the board deemed prohibitive.

The newest version of the project calls for only one sidewalk on the south side of Route 11, and cuts the town’s 20 percent financial backing by more than half.

Ultimately, the town is expected to pay an estimated $119,700 for its share of the construction, though the cost could fluctuate once bids are received.

“Obviously, it’s a pretty big savings,” said Councilor Mary Scharf, who added that engineers for the project intentionally padded the estimated cost for unexpected incidentals.

County Manager Donna Kissane noted that additional savings in surveying costs could be found through shared services with the county Highway Department.

But she made no promises, citing the heavy workload of Highway Superintendent and licensed surveyor Brad Marsh.

The board has also approached businesses along the proposed sidewalk route in search of financial contributions, noting that the sidewalk will provide a boon to local commerce, as well as pedestrian safety.

“We’re working on Walmart to make them pay their share,” said Supervisor Howard Maneely. Walmart in 2015 offered the town a $1,500 grant when the project proposal first surfaced.

While the project only calls for roughly one-half mile of new sidewalk construction, it would still need to meet specifications mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act, which would involve remediating portions of existing sidewalk.

The revised project would still include a pedestrian crossing light at Airport Road, allowing walkers to cross to and from Malone’s airport and town office building to the sidewalk.

MASSENA — Town of Massena officials plan to review their code so they can bring it up to date with situations they face today.

“There’s blighted property in the township. It’s obvious this is blighted property, and I brought it up to the code people downstairs. The way the code is written now, the only thing they can do is write them a letter. There’s no enforcement, there’s no penalty. It’s not illegal. The person did clean up part of it on their own,” Deputy Supervisor Albert N. Nicola said during Wednesday’s Town Council meeting.

“If somebody gives me details, maybe I can find a solution for it,” Town Attorney Eric Gustafson said.

Councilman Thomas C. Miller said he had met with officials from the Code Enforcement Office to begin reviewing revising the town code as needed. He received some information on code changes, which he passed on to Town Council members “so that we can enforce several things.”

“It should be done. I think the process for this town board is to take recommendations from that code office, look at individual situations, and then decide if we want to change (the code),” Mr. Miller said. “Let’s not look at the whole code. Let’s just take portions of it.”

He said they should compare their code against others and adapt it as necessary to the town’s needs.

“We can also go to the Association of Towns. They’ve got a lot of standard verbiage for different codes. They have attorneys that advise them,” Councilman Steven D. O’Shaughnessy said.

Mr. Miller also provided board members with information about how village officials were dealing with blight. A point system is used by the village, with points assigned for infractions that can range anywhere from boarded windows or doors or peeling paint, to roofs in disrepair, to fire hazards or other conditions that pose a threat to the safety, health or general welfare of the community. Properties are considered blighted if they have a score of 100 or higher.

“That’s a pretty powerful point system,” Mr. Miller said.

He suggested they first look at revising the code as necessary, and then turn their attention to a blighted-property policy.

“I think we should take care of the maintenance part of it first and fix that one, and then go on to the blighted-property policy,” Mr. Miller said.

MASSENA — The Facilities Study Advisory Committee that’s looking at the potential reconfiguration of the Massena Central School District says the district’s current school configuration is a “somewhat common arrangement” in other New York school districts.

Massena Central has three kindergarten through sixth grade elementary schools, J.W. Leary Junior High School for grades 7 and 8, and Massena Central High School for grades 9 through 12.

“The main take-away was the grade configuration is very common,” Superintendent Patrick H. Brady told district Board of Education members Thursday night.

However, he said, the most common configuration in the state is K-5, 6-8 and 9-12.

During their latest meeting this month, one of the areas committee members looked at was the programs offered in the district. Mr. Brady said the committee found similar programs at each elementary school, including the same curriculum, response to intervention and technology.

He said committee members also felt the programs at J.W. Leary Junior High School were “very typical” of other middle schools.

“They’ve been in a lot of districts. They were impressed with the amount of different programs we do offer at the high school level,” Mr. Brady said.

Still, he said, “we know there are certain areas that we’d like to improve.”

Members of the Facilities Study Advisory Committee also looked at elementary class sizes, which they said were “reasonable,” with an average class size of 16.4 students at Jefferson, 20.9 students at Madison, and 18.9 students at Nightengale.

In addition, they looked at the results of recent elementary student scores on the state’s math and English language arts tests. But, they said, it was difficult to make comparisons because of the large number of students who opted out of the tests beginning in the 2015 school year.

Committee members also looked at extracurricular opportunities and noted there are an extensive number of interscholastic athletic opportunities available to Massena’s students.

The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 20 at Nightengale Elementary, beginning with a 5:45 p.m. building tour. The key focus of that meeting will be the district’s facilities.

The study is being led by consultants Alan Pole and Jessica Cohen from Castallo & Silky, who had been hired by the district to oversee the facility and grade-organization study. They’re working with a committee of 17 members representing a cross-section of the school and community.

The committee will also be meeting on Jan. 31 at Madison Elementary School to discuss transportation, on March 1 at J.W. Leary Junior High School to review staffing; and on April 11 at the high school to look at finances.

The committee will have a draft report and tentative recommendations to review during a May 30 meeting at the high school, and the final report will be presented to the Board of Education June 21.

WATERTOWN — Two dilapidated houses on Academy Street will finally be torn down after Jan 1.

The city has been working on demolishing the houses at 158 and 166 Academy for a couple of years.

The City Council will be asked on Monday night to authorize spending $62,400 to hire Gorick Construction Co. to remove the asbestos from the two buildings.

City planner Geoffrey T. Urda said it’s taken a substantial amount of time to comply with laws pertaining to asbestos removal in order to get to the point where the two homes can finally be demolished.

The two lots will remain green space until the city decides on a more long-range plan for the two properties.

The city will use $100,000 from the 2014 Community Development Block Grant program to help pay for demolition costs of the two buildings that the city obtained through back taxes.

In 2016, the city Code Enforcement Office determined it was best to get rid of the eyesores that have been vacant for several years.

The city originally was going to just demolish 166 Academy after it obtained the single-family home in 2014.

The city thought it had a buyer for the four-unit apartment building at 158 Academy St., but the potential new owner pulled out of the deal after deciding it was too far gone.

CANTON — Dozens of residents gathered here Thursday night for a brainstorming session that gave them a chance to offer their ideas about how to make Canton a more vibrant community well into the future.

Equipped with neon-colored sticky notes and magic markers, people wrote down their thoughts and affixed them to large display boards. Categories ranged from economic development and infrastructure to recreation and housing.

Paula Jenson-Moulton, a Miner Street Road resident, was among those who attended the public workshop.

Residents had a chance to share their thoughts on a large scope of issues including housing, transportation, agriculture, commerce, recreational and cultural opportunities and more. Input was also gathered on how to improve Taylor Park, the community’s beach and picnic area on Miner Street Road.

“I’m here because I care about Canton,” Ms. Jenson-Moulton said as she jotted down her ideas. “I’d like to see more small office space available. I’d like to see a more vibrant downtown.”

Mike Scriminger, a local musician, said he’d like the community to offer a music venue, such as an amphitheater. He also believes there should be a detour off Main Street to alleviate traffic congestion downtown.

Abby Warner and Liz Christy, both seniors at Canton’s Hugh C. Williams High, said a recreation center for teenagers is needed. Other people suggested a YMCA facility that could offer programming for all ages.

“Besides hockey games in the winter, there’s not really a place for kids to go to hang out,” Ms. Warner said.

Ms. Christy said Canton needs more shopping choices.

Ted Lawrence, co-owner of the Maple Hill development on Route 11, said he’s hopeful that village water and service will be extended to the Maple Hill parcels so they are attractive to potential developers.

“I came to make sure Maple Hill is part of the plan for the future development of Canton,” Mr. Lawrence said.

The public workshop is part of a year-long process that began in September to update Canton’s existing comprehensive plan. The original plan dates back to 1968 and has been periodically updated since then.

An 11-member planning committee, co-chaired by Village Trustee Carol Pynchon and Town Councilman James Smith, meets monthly to work on the comprehensive plan.

The firm MJ Engineering & Land Surveying, Clifton Park, was hired to help develop the plan and prepare the updated written document.

Jaclyn Hakes, the project manager, outlined the process for the public during Thursday’s meeting.

“A comprehensive plan is really important to identify what’s important for the future of a community. It really sets forth a blueprint of how to get there,” she said.

The written document is supposed to serve as a road map for the future of the town of Canton and its two villages, Canton and Rensselaer Falls. The updated document should be done next September.

Information about the plan as it develops is available on the website:cantonnycomprehensiveplan. Residents can also email ideas and questions to: cantonnycomprehensiveplan.org.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., has reintroduced the Military Justice Improvement Act, which would allow military prosecutors to handle sexual assault cases instead of the chain of command.

Several senators from both parties, survivors and advocates threw their support behind the bill. But the senator’s push to pass the legislation has been unsuccessful in multiple years, despite bipartisan support and expanded lobbying.

The bill has been brought to vote on the Senate floor twice, winning a bipartisan majority vote both times but failing to clear a filibuster.

Last year, the bill was removed from the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act by the Senate without any debate.

“How much longer do we need to wait for Congress to do the right thing when the facts about sexual assault in the military remain the same?” Sen. Gillibrand said in a statement. “It is unacceptable that Congress has allowed this utter lack of accountability and transparency to continue. The Military Justice Improvement Act would professionalize how the military prosecutes serious crimes like sexual assault and remove the systemic fear that survivors of military sexual assault describe in deciding whether to report the crimes committed against them.”

The legislation specifically would require cases to be pursued by military lawyers with extensive criminal justice experience. These lawyers must also be outside the chain of command

The U.S. Department of Defense has reported that, in 2016, a record number of sexual assaults were reported against service members, but the conviction fate for assailants was only 9 percent.

Additionally, according to a recent Pentagon survey, six out of 10 survivors say they have experienced retaliation for reporting sexual assault crimes.

“I urge all of my colleagues who want to do something to combat sexual violence in our society to join me in cosponsoring this bipartisan bill to create a justice system worthy of the sacrifice of our service members,” Sen. Gillibrand continued. “To do less is to knowingly perpetuate a failed system.”

A Fort Drum soldier’s construction management company has been certified as a service-disabled veteran-owned business.

Walker PMC, LLC, owned by Sgt. 1st Class Michael C. Walker, was certified by the Office of General Services’ Division of Service-Disabled Veterans’ Business Development.

Mr. Walker said he was looking to speak with state officials about how the certification could help his business when he applies for contracts.

A total of 394 businesses have been certified as of Nov. 7, the state office said.

The certification was created as a part of the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Act, setting a goal of 6 percent of state contracts going to such certified businesses.

More information about the certification program can be found at https://ogs.ny.gov/Veterans/default.asp.

WATERTOWN — North Country Family Health Center, 238 Arsenal St., will debut its brand new clinic renovations, including combined entrance and waiting area, beginning Monday.

The project is the first of three phases made possible by a $1 million federal Health and Human Services grant for health infrastructure.

According to Executive Director Joey M. Horton, the feedback has been very positive, especially toward the idea of the integrated entrance.

In the past, the health center’s separate entryways and clinics have been a source of confusion for patients, and frustration for staff who want to connect their clients with all the various services that may help them.

The inspiration behind the renovation comes from NoCo’s “mission of serving the whole person,” with adult clinic, pediatric clinic, dental, behavioral health services and Women, Infants and Children’s department all in one space.

Phase one of construction will unveil updated clinic spaces, a family-friendly centralized waiting and patient registration room, one new dental operatory and a reinvented WIC department.

“Instead of clients moving — often carrying strollers, kids, car carriers — our staff will come in and out to serve patients in one room,” Ms. Horton said, explaining the new WIC system.

Expanded exam room space has allowed the center to hire a new primary care provider, an internist, to start in January. The center takes new patients throughout the year and will begin accepting appointment requests with the new provider as patients call.

NoCo opened an additional dental clinic in LeRay last spring.

“There is still a great need in our area for accessible, low-cost services,” Ms. Horton said of expanding the nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Clinic, even in a time of flux for healthcare policy and funding.

“We’ve very strongly felt the need to continue now ... This opportunity is a great time to leverage those federal dollars (with our own capital) to meet the needs of this community.”

The renovations at NoCo’s Arsenal Street facility were designed by BCA Architects and Engineers. The HHS grant was applied for in 2015 and awarded the following year.

Construction phases two and three, which will include moving the adult clinic and integrating it into a family practice space and the addition of six new exam rooms, is expected to be complete in spring of 2018.

SACKETS HARBOR — Downtown merchants will hold open houses and offer discounts during “Unchained Sackets Harbor” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.

Local business owners host the event to encourage people to shop local for the holidays instead of large retail chains said Village Trustee Molly C. Reilly. Patricia B. Pacilio, who previously operated the Novel Cafe Bookstore on West Main Street, created the event for Sackets Harbor in 2004 said Cheryl M. Payne, who owns Calla Lillies and 201 West Main.

“It’s a great opportunity for the businesses to support shoppers and support one another,” Mrs. Reilly said.

Downtown business owners will also participate in another shop-local promotion event, Small Business Saturday, on Nov. 25.

“We now get two good weekends in November,” Ms. Payne said.

PARISHVILLE — Democrat Steven Hart has kept his lead over the Republican incumbent Patrick Remington in the Parishville Superintendent of Highways race.

Mr. Hart appeared to be the winner after election night, with 355 votes to Mr. Remington’s 333. But with 69 absentee ballots sent out, the margin was close enough that it could change.

The unofficial tally of absentee ballots makes this impossible, though, according to St. Lawrence County Board of Elections data management technician Anthony Levato. While results of the election will not be certified until next week, the board has received 41 absentee ballot votes for Mr. Hart and 20 for Mr. Remington, making the final tally 396 votes for Mr. Hart and 353 for Mr. Remington.

The deadline to receive absentee ballots was Nov. 14 for most voters, and is Nov. 20 for military ballots.

Sexual assault reporting rates at Fort Drum have zigzagged in recent years, according to new Department of Defense figures released Friday.

According to military statistics, the post had 49 reports of sexual assault in fiscal year 2013, 79 in 2014, 49 in 2015 and 76 in 2016, for a total of 253 reports.

“We cannot be afraid to talk about sexual harassment and assault,” said Maj. Gen. Walter Piatt, the post’s commanding general. “Our commitment to supporting victims and holding offenders accountable is strong, and any conversation that reiterates that and encourages reporting serves us well.”

The DOD on Friday released the numbers for installations, and combat areas of interest, around the world in the last four fiscal years. The numbers had previously been reported without breakdowns for individual installations, the DOD said.

Sexual assault is defined by the DOD as crimes like rape, sexual assault and forcible sodomy, along with aggravated and abusive sexual contact or attempts to commit those offenses.

“Whether it is through victim assistants keeping constant contact, intensive unit training that includes what happens after a report, or by leader-focused training that takes into account signs of retaliation and vulnerability, we must dedicate ourselves to providing an environment that encourages victims to report and supports them through the process,” Gen. Piatt said.

Dr. Nate Galbreath, deputy director of the DOD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, said that the military’s reporting program allows personnel to report allegations of sexual assault at any time or place. That means the numbers could reflect an incident that occurred while on deployment, while away on leave or even prior to entering the military.

“This kind of flexibility allows the department to better meet the department’s goals to increase reporting of sexual assault and decrease the occurrence of the crime through prevention,” he said.

DOD statistics released Friday said that the prevalence rates of sexual assault dropped from 6.1 percent of active duty women in 2012 to 4.3 percent in 2016 and from 1.2 percent of active duty men in 2012 to 0.6 percent in 2016.

Rep. Elise M. Stefanik is one of 100 lawmakers signing onto a letter urging the Army not to award back pay to Bowe Bergdahl.

The letter, organized by Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas, comes following reporting by the Army Times that Bergdahl, captive for five years, is eligible for back pay and extra pay for captive soldiers that could be worth more than $300,000.

“That sends the wrong message to our servicemen and women, and I don’t believe the pay is deserved,” Rep. Crawford said, in his letter to Acting Army Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy. “While we should always do everything in our power to bring home prisoners of war, given the circumstances of Bergdahl’s capture and his admission of desertion, I don’t think it is appropriate to award that pay.”

Tom Flanagin, spokesman for Ms. Stefanik, said the congresswoman “has the utmost admiration and respect for those who serve our nation.”

“However, she believes the U.S. Army should not award (Bergdahl) back pay for the time his fellow soldiers were jeopardizing their lives trying to save him when, by his own admission, he had deserted his position,” he said, in an email.

Bergdahl pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy in October, and was sentenced to a dishonorable discharge from the Army and a reduction in rank to private.

WATERTOWN — Jeremy C. Chipp, 23, of 409 Clay St., was charged by the Metro-Jeff Drug Task Force with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

The drug task force executed a search warrant of Mr. Chipp’s home Friday that turned up more than 2 pounds of marijuana, $32,608 in cash, a dagger, several digital scales and drug paraphernalia.

Mr. Chipp was arraigned in Watertown City Court and held on $10,000 cash bail. was