On June 27, 1959 before 50,000 excited onlookers 30 tons of dynamite blew two holes in the largest steel-celled cofferdam ever built. The structure had held back the raging current of the St. Lawrence River for the last five years. The breaching of the structure began the flooding of 38,000 acres of land to initiate power production, opened navigation on the St. Lawrence Seaway and marked the end of a century-long struggle to construct the largest power and navigational project in the world.

On June 26, 2009 the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project commemorated 50 years of operation without much fanfare. As that date passes, newspaper reporters and editorial writers are debating the future use of the waterway and power dam and its environmental impact. Lost among the discussions of the deteriorating locks and the zebra mussel invasion is the recognition of the men who participated in what was dubbed "the greatest construction show on earth" in 1959 by M.W. Oettershagen, the deputy administrator of the Seaway Development Corporation.

Enjoying some fun in the sun this Independence Day weekend and throughout the summer will cost St. Lawrence and Jefferson County families more money due to a slew of new taxes and fees passed by North Country Assemblywoman Addie Russell (D-118th A.D.) and her Assembly Democrat colleagues. 

As part of this year’s record-breaking state budget (A.155-C), Russell joined with Assembly Democrats to vote to increase fees at state parks including those for camping ($13 to $15), cabin rentals (15 percent hike), golfing (15 percent increase), marina rentals (25 percent increase) and the popular Empire Pass ($59 to $65). In total, parks and recreation fees paid by taxpayers are projected to skyrocket by a whopping $6.5 million.