‘With the St. Lawrence river being so low, walking out into the riverbed and to Sand Island was just too much of a temptation to pass up!’ said photographer Kristi St. Clair. Describing the scene at Whalen Park near Louisville, she said she was struck ‘by how beautiful the snow was, blowing over the ice and sand. The sunset that afternoon was absolutely gorgeous as well!’

BY ANDY GARDNER

North Country This Week

MASSENA -- Representatives from the New York State Nurses Association union representing nurses at Massena Hospital say they don’t think St. Lawrence Health System is moving quickly enough to get a new contract in place.

Massena Hospital officials say they are in the process of starting negotiations and declined further comment.

BY JIMMY LAWTON

North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg firefighters responded to 45 fires in 2019, up by nine compared to the previous year.

Emergency medical service calls for the department were down to 1,030 last year. That’s 30 less than the 1,060 calls they answered in 2018.

Hazardous condition calls remained flat at 103, but service calls were up to 632 in 2019 compared to 572 in 2018.

GOUVERNEUR -- Northern Credit Union has completed renovations at its Gouverneur Relationship Center at 145 E. Main St.

The refurbished branch office features three drive-thru ATMs, two with "personal teller" video chat service, a refreshment zone, and a tablet-equipped waiting area.

In St. Lawrence County, Northern Credit Union has offices in Gouverneur and Massena.

Local Events on Tuesday

Art reception

OGDENSBURG – United Helpers will host a New York DMV approved National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, in the staff development training room at the Behavioral Health/Life Skills (formerly Mosaic) Complex, 100 Ford St.

The class serves as a refresher course for drivers of all ages and includes safe driving tips and an overview of today’s vehicle and traffic laws.

Widespread snow showers are possible this afternoon into the evening hours across the St. Lawrence Valley, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Accumulations between a dusting to 4 inches will be possible, with the highest amounts across the Adirondacks, NWS says.

The high today will be around 35 with snow and rain showers likely. An overnight low of 33 is expected with rain and snow showers expected to continue, the service says.

Icy and slushy St. Lawrence County roads on Saturday caused several property-damage accidents and a personal-injury accident in which state police responded.

• Victor Falcon, 44, Groton, was involved in an accident on SH 56 near Stark Road in Colton around 3 p.m.

• Eric J. Edgar, 54, Hammond, was involved in an accident on CR 6 near McLear Road in Hammond around 2 p.m.

MASSENA — An Akwesasne man was charged with violating an order of protection at the Seaway International Bridge Sunday morning, according to state police.

Elvis W. David, 37, was charged with second-degree criminal contempt at 12:19 a.m., officers said.

He was released on his own recognizance, police said.