New York horse owners are being alerted to the outbreak of equine herpes virus, EHV-1, that is traced to horses that attended the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western National Championship in Ogden, Utah April 30 through May 8.

No New York horses are known to have been exposed to the virus at the Utah show, but the state Department of Agriculture and Markets is closely monitoring the situation in the western U.S. and has been in close contact with federal animal health authorities and other states.

By MAUREEN PICHE

POTSDAM – The state Health Department has once again cracked down on a community event that involved meals as part of a church's 200th anniversary celebration this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The health department has informed the First Presbyterian Church of Potsdam that they cannot invite the public to two planned dinners during their Bicentennial Celebration, and must alter their plans for a formal tea.

NORWOOD -- 17th Annual Norwood Beach Duathlon Series races will be held on Tuesdays, June 21, July 5, July 26, and Aug. 2.

The original announcement of this year’s series had the first race on June 14, but that has been changed to avoid a conflict with the first event in this year’s Summer Sunset Series in Canton.

The Norwood Beach race series consists of four contests each with a 1.5 mile run, an eight-mile bike, and another 1.5 mile run from Norwood Beach, Lake Shore Drive.

Registration starts at 5:30 p.m., and races start at 6:30

OGDENSBURG – An Ogdensburg man who was arrested this morning for failing to register a change of address as a sex offender was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine and Oxycontin with intent to sell, according to St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Deputies.

Nathan D. Binion, 31, 111 South Water St., Ogdensburg, was charged with failure to register a change of address as a Level 3 sex offender, a class E felony.

He was also charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, a class B felony.

HEUVELTON -- A gate in a dam along the Oswegatchie River has failed, and repairs are underway.

“A water conveyance gate at Brookfield Renewable Power’s Heuvelton hydroelectric dam failed this morning," said Brookfield Renewable Power Chief Dam Safety Engineer Jeff Auser.

"The company is mobilizing to perform a temporary repair, which is expected to be completed by the end of the week," Auser said.

OGDENSBURG – The Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center Auxiliary will sponsor a book sale Thursday, June 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, June 10, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the center’s auditorium.

This sale consist of over 250 titles at low prices.

There will also be a large selection of children's books, cookbooks, general interest titles, New York Times best sellers, stationery, scrapbooking materials, music collections, and educational materials.

MADRID – Parents of children who want to get their children into Madrid-Waddington Central School’s kindergarten next year are encouraged to attend Kindergarten Parents’ Night June 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the elementary school cafeteria.

The school is also registering kids for their pre-K program.

School officials ask parents with a child who will be five on or before Dec. 1 this year to attend.

CANTON – The Computer Guys will give away an Android Tablet, Flip Camcorder and free virus removal for a computer during their open house Wednesday from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Located at 2564 NYS Hwy. 68, the Computer Guys is hosting the open house to celebrate the fact that the business is now a Verizon-authorized wireless retailer, stocked with the latest phones and internet devices including the new 4G LTE Thunderbolt.