WCDO NEWS WEDNESDAY 3-20-19

by wcdonews Posted on March 20, 2019

Governor Cuomo today announced that recreational marijuana will not be passed as part of this year’s State Budget, which is due on April 1st.   The Governor said that there is still a chance for it to pass separately by the legislature before their session ends in June.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 24 year old Mohammed Rahman of Queens for Criminal Possession of Marihuana, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, Driving While ability impaired by drugs, speeding & other traffic violations.  Rahman was stopped on State Highway 268 in the Town of Hancock, he was found to be in possession of more than 10 pounds of Marihuana.  Rahman was arraigned at Hancock Village Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $15,000 cash bail pending future court action at a later date.

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A Broome County Sheriff’s Deputy on Route 79 observed a vehicle traveling off the road & into a ditch, the vehicle continued driving down the ditch for approximately 600 feet before stopping. The Deputy made contact with Kristen Oropallo of Susquehanna Pennsylvania, the investigation led to Oropallo being charged with DWI; also her driving privileges in New York State had been suspended. Oropallo was transported to the Broome County Sheriff’s Office for further processing where she refused to submit to a Breath test, she was issued several tickets to return to the Town of Windsor Court at a later date.

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Oneonta Finance Director Meg Hungerford will resign from that position at the end of the month.    Hungerford has accepted a position with the Walton Central School district.   No interim director has been appointed by the city; they will start a search for a replacement shortly.

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The State Department of Transportation today announced that preliminary work has begun on a $1.1 million project to replace a culvert underneath Dilly Road in the Town of Colesville. The new culvert will allow a stream to more efficiently flow underneath the road, reducing the possibility of erosion and enhancing safety for motorists traveling to and from nearby State Route 7.  While preliminary site work, including tree removal, has begun, the bulk of construction will not take place until the summer to minimize disruptions to school bus routes and comply with DEC stream work restrictions. Traffic will be detoured on to Martin Hill Road during construction, which is expected to be substantially complete by September.

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A.O. Fox Hospital has prioritized combatting hunger as a population health improvement initiative in 2019. The hospital, in collaboration with several agencies, is working to reduce local food insecurity with hunger screenings and goals of establishing a new food pantry for employees and a patient food pharmacy while continuing to supplement other area food pantries. A recent assessment identified hunger in Otsego County as a major community health concern Fox is working with organizations like Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army, Friends of Recovery – Delaware & Otsego Counties, Opportunities for Otsego, and many others.

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Governor Cuomo’s job approval rating has improved to 50% for the first time since last May, according to polls released this week.   A Quinnipiac Survey released today said that 50% percent of voters approve of the job Cuomo is doing as governor, with 41% registering disapproval.  About 2/3rds of those polled believe that Cuomo should also continue to try to convince Amazon to revisit their plans to open a facility in Queens & add 25,000 jobs.

Village voting took place & there were a few races to decide, in Sidney, Andy Matviak was re-elected as Mayor over Jeffrey Stefanek & Elected to the Village board were Ray Baker & Barry MacPherson.  In Walton, Stephen Condon won the election for a two-year mayor seat over incumbent Ed Snow.  In Gilbertsville, the new Mayor is Mark Muller who defeated incumbent Ken Nolan; Trustees that won are Glenn Foster & Randolph Palada,  in Afton, the 2 village board seats were won by DeAnna Lawrence & Sally Muller.

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58 year old Julie Clark of Coventry pleaded guilty to 3rd degree Grand Larceny for stealing Thousands of dollars from the Coventry Fire Department while serving as treasurer.  Clark was sentenced to a 3 year conditional discharge & was ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution.

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Delaware County Public Health has a Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic today in Delhi from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.  The clinic will be held at the Delhi Fire Hall at 140 Delview Terrace.  More information is available at 832-5200 or delawarecountypublichealth.com

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WCDO NEWS TUESDAY 3-19-19

by wcdonews Posted on March 19, 2019

Employment among New York’s small businesses has increased slightly faster than the national pace, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. The report from the U.S. Census Bureau, examined the 5-year trend through 2016, where small business employment rose by 9.2% in New York while increasing 8.9% across the country. Small Businesses provided more than 4.1 million jobs in the state, which is about half of all private sector jobs. Small businesses provided more than $212 billion in payroll, nearly 40 percent of the total private sector payroll in the state.

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State DOT officials announced that 45 year old Dennis Howe of Candor has died, Howe was the driver of a DOT Vehicle that was hit by 37 year old Lawrence Faucett who failed to move over on March 18th on I-86 in the town of Nichols in Tioga County.  The investigation is ongoing, and Faucett may face charges.

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State Attorney General Letitia James today announced that Spectrum Cable has started to issue credits to consumers as required by their settlement agreement.  Under the terms of the settlement, Charter is required to issue monetary relief to qualified subscribers and offer some  video streaming services at no charge.  In all, qualified subscribers will receive $62.5 million in bill credits. Subscribers do not have to fill out any paperwork to obtain the credit, but must contact Spectrum to receive the streaming services by May 30th at  1-833-422-8795 for further information.

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The Village of Sidney Board will hold a special Meeting Thursday Evening, regarding the sole sourcing of Village garbage pickup.  The meeting will be held from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the board room at 21 Liberty Street, Civic Center.  This meeting will be the 1st of 2 on this subject, as they board discusses the possibility of having 1 hauler for all Village homes.

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The Chenango County Farm Bureau is hosting an Agricultural Celebration Wednesday at the Silo Restaurant in Greene, from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM, to celebrate National Agriculture Day.  Chenango County farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers comments:

(Bradd Vickers 3-19-19)

Vickers said that this year’s theme is “Agriculture: Food for Life” & the keynote speaker will be New York State Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture & Markets; Dave Valesky.

Village elections are being held across the state today.  Locally, in Sidney incumbent Mayor Andy Matviak faces a challenge from Jeffrey Stefanek, plus 3 people are running for 2 seats on the board, Sheri Youngs, Raymond Baker & Barry MacPherson.  In Walton incumbent Mayor Ed Snow, faces a challenge from Steve Condon. In Gilbertsville, incumbent mayor Ken Nolan faces challenger Mark Muller. 3 people are seeking 2 trustee seats: Glenn Foster, Randolph Palada & John Wargo & in Afton 2 Trustee seats are open, 3 candidates are seeking those seats, Sally Muller; DeAnna Lawrence; Melissa Matthews. Polling places are open from 12:00 noon until 9:00 pm.  Those who have questions regarding their eligibility to vote in village elections, should contact their county Board of elections, or they should go to their polling place to see if they are eligible to vote today.

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State Police arrested 27 year old Bradly Falkenmeyer of Coventry for Menacing and Criminal Possession of a Weapon, after Troopers were dispatched to dispute that began over a dog going on the neighbor’s property.   Falkenmeyer allegedly displayed a shotgun and threatened to shoot the dog and the complainant.  Falkenmeyer was also on parole which would not allow him to be in possession of any firearms.  Falkenmeyer was arrested and arraigned in the town of Coventry Court and remanded to the Chenango County Jail without bail.

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State Police arrested 41 year old Thomas Guinn of Chelsea, Oklahoma for Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a reportable B.A.C of .20%. A trooper was dispatched to a complaint of a vehicle traveling erratically on I-88, nearly striking several vehicles. Troopers located the vehicle stuck in the mud on State Route 357 in the town of Sidney, Guinn was arraigned in the town of Sidney Court where he was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 bond. His next court date is March 28, 2019.

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State Police arrested 30 year old Corey Burns of Bainbridge for Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs and Criminal Trespass, after a trooper was dispatched to a complaint that a male entered a home on State Highway 41 in the town of Coventry and was not known to the residents of the home. The property owner was able to provide a description of Burns and the vehicle he was operating. Burns was located, arrested & was arraigned in the town of Afton Court where he was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $5,000 cash bail or $15,000 property bond.

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Members of Troop “C” conducted an Underage Drinker Initiative Friday, March 16, 2019. 13 retail stores in Chenango and Otsego Counties were checked for potential sales to a minor. All 13 were found to be in compliance and no alcohol was sold to minors during the detail.

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The Oneonta Common Council will be holding their next regular meeting this evening.  The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM in the Common Council Chambers of City Hall.

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WCDO NEWS MONDAY 3-18-19

by wcdonews Posted on March 18, 2019

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and the State Health Department today announced the launch of a new campaign to raise awareness of the addiction services available in New York State for women who are pregnant. The campaign reminds women that it is OK to ask for help, and that they should talk to a healthcare professional about the services and medications that can help treat their addiction and support a healthy pregnancy.  More information is available at oasas.ny.gov.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies, along with the New York State DOT conducted a commercial traffic detail last Wednesday on County Highway 16 in the Town of Delhi. A total of 7 commercial vehicle inspections were conducted, 3 vehicles were taken out of service by DOT. A total of 5 tickets were issued to drivers for various equipment and safety violations.  1 driver was issued a citation for violating the posted 4-ton per axle weight limit, and another was cited for failure to obey a traffic control device after the driver drove through the posted checkpoint without stopping.

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The Afton Village Board of Trustees will be holding a special budget meeting workshop today, starting at 6:00 PM.  The Workshop will be held at the Bolster Community Center at 105 Main Street, the main topic will be the water & sewer budgets for the 2019-202 fiscal year.

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The Village of Bainbridge announced that a water main break occurred earlier today at Prospect & Tyler Street, off of Pearl Street to Jericho Hill.  Crews had the break repaired by about 2:30 PM, area residents are advised to let the water run until clear.

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The Copes Corners Park Spring Fest committee is soliciting craft, artist, product, and general vendors for its 5th annual Spring Fest. The event will take place May 4th from 9:00 am TO 5:00 pm.  More information is available at copescornerspark.org or 783-2518; applications must be mailed by April 22nd

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The Chenango Arts Council announced its annual Chenango Area Student Art exhibition on Friday, April 5th at 5:30 pm, with an awards ceremony for 2 scholarships, the council’s Student Art Show, and Artistic Discovery, where 6 entries will be submitted to Congressman Anthony Brindisi’s office for a chance to appear in the 2019 Congressional Art Show in Washington, DC.  The exhibit will run through April 19th at the Council’s Mariea Brown and Raymond Loft Galleries at 27 West Main Street, in Norwich.  Interested students can call the Council at 336-ARTS for more information. 

(Nate Lull 3-18-19)

WCDO Sports Director Nate Lull with the call in the closing seconds as the Cooperstown Boys Basketball team won their 1st state title in program history at the Floyd L. Maines Arena in Binghamton yesterday.  The Hawkeyes Defeated Middle Early College, a Charter School from Buffalo 71-61 in the title game, Cooperstown’s Jack Lambert was named tournament MVP after scoring a combined 76 points in 2 games at the Final 4, John Kennedy was named to the All-Tournament Team for Cooperstown.  The win came 1 day after a triple overtime win over Greenport in the State Semi-Finals.  To listen back to the game, or see pictures of the celebration, go to WCDOSPORTS.COM.

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Village Elections will be held across the state tomorrow, in the Village of Sidney; Mayor Andy Matviak is seeking election for another term:

(Andy Matviak 3-18-19)

Matviak faces a challenge from Jeffrey Stefanek, who told WCDO News why he decided to run:

(Jeffrey Stefanek 3-18-19)

Voters in Sidney will also be deciding on 2 seats on the Village Board, between Sheri Youngs, Ray Baker & Barry McPherson, Voting will be from 12:00 noon until 9:00 pm at the Sidney Civic Center.

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Nearly 30 volunteers shaved their heads at Saturday night’s Norwich St. Baldrick’s Foundation event. The 15th annual event, held at the American Legion in Norwich, raised more than $35,000 as part of St. Baldrick’s mission to fund childhood cancer research. 

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Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville announced that April the Giraffe gave birth Saturday with YouTube audience of more than 300,000 watching.  April gave birth to a healthy male calf at around 12:45 PM; the newborn was on its feet by 1:27 pm.

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WCDO NEWS FRIDAY 3-15-19

by wcdonews Posted on March 15, 2019

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies, State Police and the Stamford Fire Department and Emergency Squad responded to a 911 report of a fatal hit-and-run vehicle-pedestrian accident on State Highway 10 in the Village of Stamford.   The Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim, 24 year-old Shannon German of Stamford was lying in the roadway when she was struck by a tractor trailer that continued traveling north following the collision.  State Highway 10 was subsequently closed to traffic for several hours for the investigation.  The tractor trailer and driver was located in the Schenectady area by State Police, who has been identified as 50-year-old Peter Baldauf of Delancey, who did not see German lying in the roadway and unknowingly struck her.  Baldauf has not been charged in relation to the accident.

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Assemblyman Cliff Crouch has been named to participate in the budget conference committees, now that both houses of the legislature have passed their budget bills:

(Cliff Crouch 3-15-19)

The budget is due on April 1st, the state budget office stated that the Senate budget would add 3.5 billion dollars to the deficit, the assembly bill adds unnecessary spending & added taxes to pay for it.

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A town of Norwich resident was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office for 2nd degree Assault.  20 year old Kyle Nowalk was arrested following an investigation into an incident in the Chenango County Jail for allegedly caused physical injury to a victim within the detention facility.  Nowalk will appear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

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A Town of Norwich resident was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle.  46 year old Leon Lamb was arrested following a traffic stop on County Road 32 in the Town of Norwich, Lamb was allegedly operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, and he was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $1,000 cash bail. Lamb is to appear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

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Officials with Social Security report that a scam reported in January is still continuing.  The scam includes a phone call from someone claiming to be from Social Security or another agency, thee calls can even display the Social Security national customer service number, on the caller ID.  The scammer states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information on file, or needs additional information so the agency can increase benefit payments, or that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information; none of These calls are from Social Security. Officials stated that if you receive these calls, do not give personal information, hang up & report the call to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271.

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State Police and local law enforcement will conduct a special targeted enforcement detail this St. Patrick’s Day weekend to deter drinking and driving. The traffic enforcement detail begins today and runs through Monday. Drivers can expect a number of sobriety checkpoints, additional DWI patrols, underage drinking and sales to minors details during the campaign. State Police will also be ticketing distracted drivers who use handheld electronic devices.   During the 2018 St. Patrick’s Day weekend enforcement effort, Troopers made 243 arrests for DWI and issued nearly 13,000 tickets.

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The Rotary Club of Sidney will be hosting a fundraiser Saturday for the Howard & Catherine Lynch Scholarship for a graduating Sidney High School Senior.  Spokesman Larry Halbert explains:

(Larry Halbert 3-15-19)

Tickets can be purchased through Saturday at the Sidney & Norwich American Legions, at VEP+ on Main Street in Sidney, or by calling Larry Halbert at 237-4762,

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The Sidney Chamber of Commerce is holding its “Irish For A Day” Parade and festivities Saturday.  Chamber Spokesperson Teri Schunk explains:

(Teri Schunk 3-15-19)

The event runs from 12:00 Noon until 4:00 PM, the parade will line up at the Great American Parking Lot at 1:30; the parade will start at 2:00 PM.

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The Greater Afton Area Chamber of Commerce will host their Annual Golf Ball Drop Fundraiser at 4:00 pm Saturday outside of Afton Central School during Afton Sertoma’s Goofy Golf event.   Proceeds from the drop benefit the Greater Afton Area Chamber of Commerce, “Payne’s Cranes,” will be dropping numbered golf balls from 90 feet in the air.   More information is available by calling 765-6507

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Constituents are invited to join Senator Jen Metzger and Delhi Village Mayor Richard Maxey for coffee today at Delhi Village Hall to ask questions, and address concerns in the 42nd Senate District.  This event is free, and open to the public, from 1:30 to 2:30 PM, more information is available at 845-344-3311.

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The annual St. Baldrick’s event will be held on Saturday in Norwich, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the American Legion Post 189, at 29 Sheldon Street.   The annual event raises money for childhood cancer research; more information is available at 336-2800 or at stbaldricks.org/events/Norwich.

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WCDO NEWS THURSDAY 3-14-19

by wcdonews Posted on March 14, 2019

31 year old Johnnah DeGraw of Deposit pleaded guilty today in Broome County Court to 1st degree criminal possession of a controlled substance for possessing nearly 2½ pounds of heroin, plus Fentanyl & Meth, which was seized during a drug trafficking bust last year.  DeGraw and 37 year old Marlon Graham were arrested November 30th after a raid on Wheeler Street in Deposit by the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force.  DeGraw faces sentencing on March 29th.   Graham pleaded guilty in Broome County Court recently to 1st & 2nd degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; he faces sentencing at a later date.

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State Police arrested 39 year old James Underhill of Conklin for 3rd degree Grand Larceny, for allegedly cashing 2 checks totaling over $21,000 that was supposed to be used to repair a vehicle that had been involved in an accident.  The complainant told troopers that the accident occurred almost a year ago and the truck was still at Underhill’s repair shop and not been worked on.    Underhill was located Tuesday & was arrested & arraigned at Broome County Central Arraignment and Processing and was remanded to the Broome County Jail on $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 bond.

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The Delaware County Board of Supervisors have approved of a measure to add a Public Defenders office.  The board passed the measure, as more than 60% of County Residents accused of a crime, cannot afford a lawyer & would qualify to be represented by a Public Defender.  The board will advertise the position shortly in hopes of filling the position by June 1st.

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Delaware County Sheriff Deputy’s arrested 70 year old Donald Fazio of St. Augustine, Florida, for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a motor vehicle, following a traffic stop on State Highway 17 in the Town of Hancock.   Fazio is accused of speeding at 81 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone; he was released on appearance tickets for Hancock Town Court at a later date.

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State Police are once again issuing a warning for drivers to “move over” after a tractor trailer hit a patrol car that was pulled over on the side of the road in Ulster County, and a tractor trailer hit a DOT employee in Tioga County.    New York’s “Move Over” Law requires cars to move over, if they can safely do so, for police, firefighters, ambulance workers, tow-truck drivers, and other personnel as they work at crash scenes. Drivers are similarly required to move when construction and maintenance vehicles are stopped alongside roads.

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17-year-old Harper Stantz has died from her injuries after being struck by a vehicle on Beethoven Street in Binghamton Monday afternoon.  Binghamton Police reported that Stantz and 19-year-old Britney Laserinko were walking on the sidewalk when a Jeep driven by 33 year old Kevin Wilcox of Harpursville hit them.  Wilcox is being held in the Broome County Jail, more charges are pending and grand jury action may be forthcoming.  Laserinko was taken to Wilson Hospital suffering from internal injuries & multiple fractures.

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Early Wednesday morning Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of an over-turned tractor trailer on State Highway 17 in the Town of Hancock.  27 year-old Cody Camp of Barton fell asleep at the wheel and failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, he struck the guard rails, causing the truck to over-turn and the attached box trailer to rupture, and spilling mixed freight all over the highway.  1 eastbound lane of the highway was closed to traffic for several hours by the State Department of Transportation for the clean-up & police investigation

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Governor Cuomo today announced the launch of a school funding transparency website, which offers the ability to view and download data at the school district level and the school building level.  The site also allows for the individual school’s overall funding allocation, per pupil funding allocation, allocation by funding source, school enrollment and student demographics, The website is openbudget.ny.gov

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Sidney mayoral Candidate Jeffrey Stefanek will hold a Meet & Greet Event today, at American Legion Post #183 on Union Street in Sidney, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.  Stefanek is looking to defeat incumbent Mayor Andy Matviak, who is seeking another term, village elections state wide will be held on Tuesday.

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WCDO NEWS WEDNESDAY 3-13-19

by wcdonews Posted on March 13, 2019

For the third year in a row, 13 Year old Melodie Loya of Bainbridge won the regional Scripps National Spelling Bee in Oneonta, & she will once again be heading to Washington DC, and a fundraiser has begun to help meet expenses, DCMO BOCES spelling bee coordinator Martha Ryan explains:

(Martha Ryan 3-13-19)

Loya placed 18th and 25th in her two previous years of national competition, and made it to the final 41 of last year’s 516 spellers.

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33 year old Kevin Wilcox of Harpursville pleaded not guilty to charges of vehicular assault and driving while impaired by drugs, at his arraignment Tuesday.  Wilcox was arrested following the investigation into Monday afternoon’s incident in Binghamton, where he allegedly drove onto the sidewalk on Beethoven Street and struck 17-year-old Harper Stantz and 19-year-old Britney Laserinko.   Both were taken to Wilson Hospital with a variety of serious injuries, including internal injuries & fractures.  Wilcox is being held in the Broome County Jail pending future court action.

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18 year old Alec Zarkower’s death has been ruled as a suicide, following an autopsy performed Tuesday.  Zarkower’s body was found in his dorm room at SUNY Delhi Monday morning, SUNY Delhi officials said that counselors are available for students in need.  Zarkower was a freshman at SUNY Delhi, and was originally from Cortlandt Manor in Westchester County.

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The Trial of Heather Franklin will begin on Aprils 1st in Chenango County Court, for the murder of her special needs son Jeffrey in 2017.  Heather & Ernest Franklin were accused of killing the teenager and setting fire to the family home in the town of Guilford, after they had watched “Manchester by the Sea” which contained a similar plot.  Ernest Franklin was convicted on Murder 7 Arson charges last week; he will be sentenced on May 3rd.

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Last year was the deadliest for pedestrians in decades, according to a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association.    More than 6,200 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2018, which was a continuation of an upward trend over the last 10 years; it was the highest number since 1990.  unsafe driving behaviors like speeding or distracted or drowsy driving; alcohol consumption and smartphone use by both drivers and pedestrians; and a rise in the number of larger SUVs,

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Governor Cuomo today announced that he will not sign a state budget without a permanent 2% property tax cap, and he also wants to lower the state tax rate again:

(Cuomo 3-13-19)

Cuomo has been in disagreement with some of the Democrat members of the legislature, who do not want the tax cap to become permanent.

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The CDC announced that Flu activity remains high across the nation, and there’s a second wave of severe infections striking some states.  Over 26.3 million flu illnesses, 12.4 million medical visits and 347,000 flu hospitalizations were reported nationwide between October 1st & March 2, with 64 children dying from the flu during that time.  The H1N1 virus strain has dominated this season, but H3N2 viruses have been recirculating in the Southeast,  the CDC still continues to recommend getting a flu shot for those who have not, even though it is late in the season.

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Delaware County Sheriff Deputies arrested 39 year old Kenneth Schuler of Boca Raton, Florida on charges of felony DWI and felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, following an investigation into a property damage motor vehicle accident on Lower Third Brook Road in the Town of Walton. Schuler was additionally charged with speed not reasonable and prudent, unlicensed operator, refusal to take a breath screening test and operating a motor vehicle without a required ignition interlock device. Schuler was arraigned and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $5,000 cash bail pending future court action. 

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 39 year old LeAnne Taggart of Franklin, for possession of a Dangerous Dog in Violation of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law.  The arrest is a result of an investigation into a report of an aggressive dog in the Town of Sidney. Taggart is scheduled to appear at Sidney Town Court at a later date to answer the charge.

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Jody Zakrevsky, who is the CEO of Otsego Now, will be holding a series of “town hall” meetings throughout Otsego County in the coming weeks. The first of these meetings will be held today at Hartwick College in the Shineman Chapel from 5:30pm – 7:00pm. The second one will be held on Thursday, at Oneonta Town Hall from 5:00pm – 6:30pm Topics to be discussed range from grant opportunities available under the next consolidated funding application process, economic and community development interests, and energy. Questions and comments from the public are welcomed and encouraged.

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Cornell Cooperative Extension will host a Farmers’ Market Community Meeting at their Hamden office this morning from 9:30-11:30 am.  The goal of this meeting is to create and/or strengthen relationships among individuals and groups that support farmers’ markets in Delaware County.  More information is available at 865-6531 or ccedelaware.org.

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WCDO NEWS TUESDAY 3-12-19

by wcdonews Posted on March 12, 2019

State Police are investigating the circumstances behind the death of 18 year old Alec Zarkower of Cortlandt Manor in Westchester County, in his SUNY Delhi Dorm room Monday.  Zarkower was a freshman residing in the O’Connor Hall, Students were told that there was no imminent danger & classes were held as scheduled.  An Autopsy on Zarkower is scheduled for today.

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The State Burn Ban goes into effect this Saturday March 16th through May 14th.   DEC officials stated that that ban does NOT ban all burning, it bans burning of Brush.   Exceptions include small Campfires,   Small cooking fires, Ceremonial or celebratory bonfires are allowed. More Information is available at dec.ny.gov.

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Binghamton Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle collision with 2 pedestrians yesterday afternoon at about 3:25, on Beethoven Street near Lincoln Avenue.  The police determined that a Jeep Wrangler left the roadway and struck female teenagers; 16 and 19 years of age, they were taken to Wilson Hospital The driver of the vehicle 33 year old Kevin Wilcox of Harpursville, he was charged with Vehicular Assault & Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, he was arraigned this morning & was remanded to the Broome County Jail.

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The 2019 Relay For Life of Chenango County Kickoff event will be held today at 6:00 pm at the Community Room, at the Norwich YMCA.  The event is open to the public, Light refreshments will also be served! The Chenango Relay For Life will be held at East Main Street Park in Norwich, on Saturday, July 20th at 4:00 PM.

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The State Assembly has passed legislation requiring gun owners to have their guns locked up, with the ammunition stored elsewhere.  State Assemblyman Cliff Crouch said that his constituents oppose the bill:

(Crouch 3-12-19)

The State Senate hasn’t yet acted on the bill, but they are expected to pass it & Governor Cuomo is expected to sign it this year.

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The State Department of Labor today released preliminary local area unemployment rates for January.  The State’s area unemployment increased to 4.6% in January 2019, after remaining below 4% for several months at the end of last year.  Locally, Chenango County’s Unemployment rate was 5.5%, Delaware county was at 5.6% & Otsego County at 5.4% for January.

37 year old Marlon Graham of Deposit pleaded guilty in Broome County Court Friday to possessing methamphetamine & fentanyl.   Graham pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance, for selling those substances in Deposit & Kirkwood; Sentencing is scheduled for May 10

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State Police arrested 50 year old Joseph Jaen of Vestal for the DWI, after a trooper observed a vehicle stopped on Interstate 88 in the town of Sidney and a passenger got out of the vehicle; the driver then drove several yards before stopping again.  The trooper investigated and learned that the driver and passenger had an argument before the passenger got out of the vehicle; the trooper observed that Jaen appeared intoxicated and was arrested. The passenger was turned over to a sober third party.  Jaen was released on appearance tickets returnable to the town of Sidney Court on March 28th. 

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State Police arrested 36 year old Michaela McNally of Oneonta for felony DWI & several traffic citations.  A trooper monitoring traffic on Interstate 88 in the town of Oneonta observed the vehicle McNally was operating with an equipment violation.  A traffic stop was initiated and the trooper determined McNally was impaired, she was processed then released on appearance tickets returnable to the town of Oneonta Court on March 12th.

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The Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park announced that Phillip Ginter is the new Executive Director, effective March 25th.   Binghamton Zoo members and visitors will be able to meet Ginter on Grand Opening Day, April 20th and Members Only Night, April 27th.   The Binghamton Zoo will be open on the weekends only from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM starting March 16th, weather permitting.  The official 2019 events calendar is available at rossparkzoo.com.

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WCDO NEWS MONDAY 3-11-19

by wcdonews Posted on March 11, 2019

State Police & Delhi University Police are investigating a student Death on campus.  Delhi school officials announced on their twitter page that classes are continuing, and more information will be released after the family is notified.

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The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 26 year old Hannah Bradley and 28 year old Craig Peletz of Afton for Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance & 2 counts of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia following the execution of a search warrant.   Bradley & Peletz were arraigned in the Town of Afton Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility with $10,000 bail.  The investigation is ongoing with charges still pending. 

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State Police observed a vehicle speeding in Stamford Friday; a traffic stop was attempted; the driver failed to comply & reached speeds over 100 miles an hour.  The vehicle left on exit 77 in Windsor where another trooper met the vehicle at the end of the off ramp and they stopped.   The driver was an 18-year-old male from Bayside, Queens, who was found to be in possession of smoking device containing suspected THC oil & a fraudulent Connecticut driver’s license.  He was charged with Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument & Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.  A 17-year-old male passenger from Flushing, Queens attempted to dispose of a smoking device, he was charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence & Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Police said 3 other passengers were not taken into custody or issued any tickets.  The 18-year-old driver & A 17-year-old passenger were arraigned at Broome County Central Arraignment and Processing.

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State Police & other Local Police agencies executed a search warrant March 5th; they arrested 10 people in Endicott, following a lengthy investigation.  Police arrested 54 year old Paul Panella & 19 year old Elizabeth Bickham of Endicott on a variety of drug charges, Police seized crystal methamphetamine, suboxone, a handgun, an illegal knife, controlled substances, digital scales & packaging materials.  Police also observed a vehicle leave the residence & park down the street, Troopers approached the vehicle, the driver exited & attempted to discard methamphetamine, the driver; Matthew Wood was arrested on various drug charges, his passenger 21 year old McKenna Westgate of Vestal was also charged.  Wood, Westgate, Panella and Bickham were all arraigned & were remanded to the Broome County Jail on no bail.  6 others were either turned over to other police agencies, or were released on issued appearance tickets

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The Oneonta Municipal Civil Service Commission announced open-competitive exams for Administrative Specialist, General Supervisor, Streets and Facilities Superintendent on May 11th.  Application deadlines are April 5th, Applications and exam announcements are available at the Personnel Office, 258 Main St. or at www.oneonta.ny.us/personnel.

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Governor Cuomo announced that $2.3 million in funding is available through round 4 of the Climate Resilient Farming grant program, to help farms reduce their operational impact on the environment and better prepare for and recover after extreme weather events. Since the launch of the program in 2015, a total of $5.1 million has been provided to 40 projects across the state, helping 70 farms implement projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote energy savings; mitigate water and soil quality concerns and increase on-farm resiliency to climate change. More information is available at agriculture.ny.gov.

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Chenango County Jury convicted Ernest Franklin of Guilford for 2nd-degree murder, 3rd-degree arson, and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the 2017 murder of his 16-year-old adopted son Jeffrey.  The Jury believed that Franklin killed Jeffrey & set fire to the family home to cover up the murder, his wife Heather’s trial will be held in Chenango County court later this year.

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Chenango County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 43 year old Kenneth Barrows of Norwich for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle & aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, following a pursuit in the Town of Norwich.  Barrows is accused of taking the vehicle without the owner’s permission, he is being held in the Chenango County Jail & will appear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

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State Police arrested 47 year old Denise McGroder of New Berlin for Driving While Intoxicated.   Troopers were dispatched to a complaint that McGroder borrowed a vehicle to go to work but did not return the vehicle as expected.  Troopers located the vehicle and found McGroder in the parking lot of Stewart’s on State Highway 8, troopers accused her of being intoxicated, she was processed and released on appearance tickets for the town of New Berlin Court.

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State Police arrested 26 year old Devin Smith of South Carolina for Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana.  A trooper initiated a traffic stop after she observed Smith speeding on I-88 in Worcester,  the trooper observed an unregistered gun in Smith’s glove box with a 15-round magazine, & a small quantity of marijuana found.  Smith was arrested & released on appearance tickets for the town of Worcester Court on March 19th.

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Tickets for the 2019 Hall of Fame Classic, scheduled for Saturday, May 25, go on sale today to the general public online and by phone. Hall of Fame members Rollie Fingers and Alan Trammell will be joined by additional Hall of Famers and recently retired players representing all 30 major league teams for a seven-inning legends game at Cooperstown’s historic Doubleday Field.  Tickets will be available via phone at 207-9519 or at baseballhall.org.

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