With the recent accumulation of snowfall, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is emphasizing its warnings that Adirondack back country visitors should be aware of the danger of avalanches and to take necessary precautions.

Snows have accumulated to sufficient depths on Adirondack Mountain slopes to create conditions conducive to avalanches, DEC said.

Skiers and snowshoers are reminded that the Avalanche Pass Slide is closed to public recreation of any type during the winter.

POTSDAM -- A Gouverneur man is accused of not letting a woman leave a room and with trying to touch her genital area.

Potsdam police say they received a complaint Sunday from a woman who had been at a party on Pierrepont Avenue.

The woman told police she had been in a room with Justin K. Jackson, 21, when she attempted to leave.

She told police Jackson grabbed her arm, moving it away from the door handle. She said he tried to touch her in her genital area, at which point she was able to leave.

POTSDAM -- The State University of New York at Potsdam recently conferred more than 200 degrees on students who graduated from the College in December 2010.

The students included:

• Ashley Armstrong of Lisbon, NY, who earned a degree in Childhood Education

• Ashley Bowles of Massena, NY, who earned a degree in Literacy MSED

• Joshua Burns of Gouverneur, NY, who earned a degree in History

• Jillian Cook of Gouverneur, NY, who earned a degree in Special Education

• Theresa Dranger of Ogdensburg, NY, who earned a degree in Childhood Education

COLTON – The Colton Wesleyan Church will host a Family-Friendly Super Bowl XLV Celebration beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6.

It will be an uplifting time with food and fun with the game shown in its entirety.

In response to “Inconsiderate Smokers” (Jan. 19-25), all smokers are inconsiderate!

Typical. Voice your opinion on Sound Off (“Sports Merger Crazy” Jan. 26-Feb. 1) instead of facing all those people at the meeting last Thursday. From what I could gather, I’d say 99 percent of those attending were for the mergers...and were Canton taxpayers. As for the swimmers on the girl’s Varsity team, they have earned their spot on that team with hard work and dedication. Shame on you for even suggesting to take away a kid’s dream to become a successful athlete in any and all sports. Regarding the taxpayers, no one seemed to mind the mergers.

Christopher Flint of Northern New York Bassmasters recently attended the New York State BASS Federation Banquet in Auburn, N.Y.

Flint from Potsdam fished three points tournaments during the 2010 season and finished in sixth place overall.

Each tournament averaged one hundred boats.

As a result Flint qualified for the 2011 Eastern Divisional Tournament, which will be held on Lake Champlain in September.

Flint also qualified last year for the 2010 Eastern Divisional which was held on Candlewood Lake in Connecticut.