AFTON SCHOOL DISTRICT – WCDO Radio News

WCDO NEWS TUESDAY 5-3-16

wcdonews — Tue, 03 May 2016 18:41:49 +0000

State Police arrested 27-year-old Kyle Johnson of New Berlin, for aggravated family offense, 3rd degree assault, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, unlawful imprisonment & criminal mischief, after troopers responded to a dispute on County Route 18, in the Town of Morris. Johnson is accused of choking & punching his wife in front of their children; he also allegedly would not allow her to contact police or to leave the residence. Johnson was arraigned & was remanded to the Otsego County jail on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 property bond, pending court action on Wednesday.
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Sidney Village Police arrested 22-year-old Russell Leblanc of Walton Monday on a charge of 1st degree Rape. Leblanc was arraigned in Sidney Court & was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $10,000 bail pending future court action.
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State Police arrested 29-year-old Roger Elam of Davenport, for being a fugitive from justice from Alabama and DWI with a B.A.C. of 0.15%. This arrest occurred after a traffic stop where Elam was observed speeding and driving across hazard markings while on Main Street, in the Town of Oneonta. Elam was wanted in Alabama for felony of theft of property, he was arraigned in the City of Oneonta court and was remanded to the Otsego County jail. His next court date is pending.
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The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested Gregory Collins of Smithville, for 2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminally Possessing a Hypodermic Instrument, Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, following the report of a domestic dispute. Collins was in possession of several bags of Heroin, Oxycodone Pills, and drug paraphernalia. Collins was released on an appearance ticket and is to appear in the Town of Smithville Court at a later date to answer to his charges.
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The last meeting of the General Clinton Canoe Regatta committees, before the event, will be later today. The meeting will be held at General Clinton Park, with the Race committee meeting at 6:30 & the regular committee meeting will begin at 7:30.
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Commerce Chenango will be holding their next “Business After Hours” event today, hosted by M&T Bank, at 118 State Highway 320 in Norwich. The event will run from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
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Delaware county tourism is experiencing resurgence, as it becomes a vacation getaway for New York City Residents like it was for much of the 1900’s, Delaware county chamber of commerce president Ray Pucci explains:

(Ray Pucci 5-3-16)

Pucci said that the most recent tax revenue numbers suggest that the tourism will continue to pick up & the Catskill region will be highlighted in June with Governor’s Cuomo’s Catskill challenge initiative.
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The Oneonta common council will hold their next meeting tonight. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM in the Common Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of City Hall.
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Riverdance – The 20th Anniversary World Tour, hits the stage in Binghamton the next 3 nights. Tina Niles of NAC Entertainment told WCDO news where tickets are available:

(Tina Niles 5-3-16)

Riverdance – The 20th Anniversary World Tour, There are Tickets still available for each performance, more information on Riverdance and other shows are available at 778-6626 or BroadwayInBinghamton.com.
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Congressman Chris Gibson announced that he would NOT be seeking the Republican Party nomination for Governor. Gibson has been offered and accepted a position with Williams College as a Visiting Lecturer on Leadership beginning in February 2017, and he anticipates accepting other academic positions shortly. At the conclusion of his term in the U.S. House of Representatives, he will be closing the exploratory committee & refunding contributions.
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All 5 announced Major Party candidates for the 19th congressional district seat would participate in a forum on Tuesday at the Oneonta High School. The Otsego County Farm Bureau sponsors the forum; it will run from 7:30 to 9:00 PM. The republican candidates are John Faso, Andrew Heaney, and Bob Bishop; the democratic candidates are Zephyr Teachout, and Will Yandik. The event is free and open to the public.
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Whitney Point schools will reopen Today; they were forced to close doors Monday after several school buses were vandalized at the Districts bus garage over the weekend. State police said that no arrests have been made & the investigation is continuing.
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Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is scheduled to be sentenced today in a Manhattan Federal Courtroom. Silver was convicted late last year on Corruption charges where he collected about 5 million dollars in kickbacks while serving as the Assembly Speaker.
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State Police are investigating an incident with an Afton school bus on Long Hill Road Monday. 1 of the district’s buses slid off the road and got stuck in a ditch, a few students were treated for minor bumps and bruises by the school nurse, another bus brought the students to school.
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WCDO NEWS MONDAY 4-4-16

wcdonews — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 19:06:19 +0000

State Trooper Donald Atkinson, of Troop C was named 2015 Trooper of the Year by the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Division of State and Provincial Police. Trooper Atkinson jumped into fast moving water at the Whitney Point Dam last summer, he put his life at risk, & saved the life of a 14-year-old girl near the large intake tunnels. Trooper Atkinson has been a member of the State Police since 2001.

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There will be a Democratic and a Republican Presidential Primary Election in New York State on Tuesday, April 19th. Polls will be open from Noon to 9 PM. The Delaware County board of elections reported that the Town of Tompkins Poll Site has changed to the Tompkins Town Hall at 148 Bridge Street in Trout Creek. April 12^th is the last day an absentee ballot application may be mailed to the Board of Elections. April 18th is the last day to apply in person for an absentee ballot and the last day to mail a completed ballot to the Board of Elections. April 19th is the last day for a ballot to be delivered by agent to the Board of Elections. Sample ballots for Delaware county voters can be accessed at co.delaware.ny.us.

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State lawmakers are weighing in on the new state budget passed last week. Assemblyman Cliff Crouch comments:

(Cliff Crouch 4-4-16)

Assemblyman Pete Lopez said that the process for passing the budget was not transparent:

(Pete Lopez 4-4-16)

The 11th hour budget kept the spending increase to under the 2% state cap, and includes record setting amounts of state aid.

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The Binghamton Senators & the Binghamton Mets announced that they will offer a “Downtown Doubleheader” ticket package for their game on Saturday, April 9^th, that will include a ticket to both team’s games and a specialty dual logo t-shirt. The B-Mets will host the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. at NYSEG Stadium before the B-Sens host the Albany Devils at 7:05 p.m. in the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena. The Binghamton Mets players will be at the B-Sens game Saturday night to sign autographs on the concourse and interact with fans. The ticket package is only $23 prior to the games, and can be purchased online through the B-Sens website, or by calling the B-Sens offices at 722-7367.

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Delaware County Sheriff Deputies responded to the scene of a 1-car motor vehicle accident on State Highway 30, in the Town of Hancock. 65-year-old James Stracka of Peckville, Pennsylvania, lost control of his vehicle, traveled off the roadway and struck a rock wall, allegedly while intoxicated. Stracka was arrested for DWI & moving from lane unsafely, he is scheduled to appear in the Town of Hancock Court at a later date.

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The Afton School District Board of Education has cancelled their meeting scheduled for 7:00 PM tonight. Afton Superintendent Betty Briggs told WCDO that the Board meeting would be rescheduled shortly.

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State Police & Otsego County emergency crews responded to a multi-vehicle collision Sunday afternoon near Schenevus on Interstate 88, which was believed to be caused by white-out conditions. The wreck took place at about 1:45 p.m. on the westbound stretch of the highway between Exits 18 and 19 in the town of Maryland. Police said that there were no fatalities but 8 people were injured & were taken to Bassett Hospital for non-life threatening injures. Police said that the crash included a Trailways Bus, 3 tractor-trailers and 8 passenger vehicles. The section of I-88 was closed until late last night for accident reconstruction investigators & clean up.
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State Police are investigating a 2 vehicle collision involving a marked New York State Police patrol vehicle that occurred Friday afternoon on State Route 17 in the Town of Kirkwood. Broome County 911 received a report of a vehicle travelling west bound in the east bound lane between exits 77 and 76, that caller then reported the head on collision with the State Police SUV. The unidentified Trooper took evasive action but was struck by the oncoming vehicle. The Operator of the pick-up was pronounced dead at the scene. The Trooper was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The investigation is continuing. The names of the deceased & the injured Trooper have not being released.
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NYSEG reported that thousands were without power due to high winds late Saturday night into Sunday afternoon. about 2000 were without power in Broome & Chenango Counties this morning, This afternoon, about 100 customers were without power in Delaware & Otsego Counties. NYSEG Crews are working to restore power as quickly as possible.
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The American Cancer Society Relay For Life will hold an informational Team Captain meeting today at 5:30pm at the United Methodist Church at 12 Liberty Street in Sidney. Relay For Life event will be held on May 14, at General Clinton Park in Bainbridge. More information is available at 563-8841, or 563-9634, or at relayforlife.org/tritownny.
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P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 6-4-14

wcdonews — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 16:58:49 +0000

Governor Cuomo noted the importance of the state’s dairy industry, with June being celebrated as “Dairy Month”. Dairy accounts for ½ of the state’s total agricultural income, New York is the 3rd leading producer of milk in the country and also the is now the largest producer of yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese. New York is a net supplier of milk to the Northeast region, with 2.8 billion pounds of milk shipped from farms to out of state plants in New England, Pennsylvania and New Jersey; the state has also experienced a 16.4% increase in dairy-related employment from 2010 to 2013.

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Mergers of school sports program will be implemented soon, for the Harpursville, Afton & for one sport, Bainbridge Guilford School. Harpursville Athletic Director Dave Groover told WCDO news about the sports mergers:

(Dave Groover 6-4-14)

Groover said that the school fell short in some of the sports in terms of the number of students participating, so merging those teams made sense. Groover said that cost cutting also factored into the decision. The changes will begin with Fall sports.

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State police have arrested a Gilbertville man on felony weapons charges. 46-year-old Edward McCarthy was charged with 3rd & 4th degree criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. McCarthy was charged after a state police investigation into stolen property in the town of Butternuts Monday.

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Otsego county sheriff’s department arrested 27 year old Justin Quakenbush on 3 counts of 2nd degree attempted assault, 1st degree promoting prison contraband, & 3rd degree menacing, following attempted attacks against Otsego county corrections officer, in the Otsego county jail. Quakenbush was being held in the county jail on separates charges, he had his bail increased to $5000 bail at arraignment in town of Middlefield court, he could face an additional 19 years in jail if convicted on all of the latest charges.

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Congressman Chris Gibson is calling on federal regulators to make changes to the Delaware River Basin Flexible Flow Management Plan to better protect Upstate New Yorkers from flooding. Last week the Delaware River Basin Decree Parties extended the current Flexible Flow Management Plan for another year, delaying the implementation of measures to mitigate flooding in surrounding communities. Gibson said that releases from the Cannonsville, Neversink, and Pepacton reservoirs are regulated by a 1954 United States Supreme Court decision, where New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York City must agree on changes to the management of the Delaware River Basin.

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The American Red Cross is urging people to donate blood this summer. It’s part of the Red Cross 100 Days of Summer Campaign. It encourages people to give blood to those in need. Organizers said one pint of blood can save up to three lives. In New York State, 1,200 units of blood are needed each day just to keep up with hospital needs. To find the schedule of local blood drives, go to redcross.org.

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Governor Cuomo announced a wager with California Governor Jerry Brown on the matchup between the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Final. If the Rangers win, Governor Brown will send Governor Cuomo the book “California: A History” by Kevin Starr and Lundberg Organic Brown Rice Cakes. If the Kings win, Governor Cuomo will send Governor Brown: A Taste NY Gift Basket, featuring products from businesses across the state, and a commemorative hockey puck from the 2013 “Hat Trick” of three on-time budgets in a row. Game one is tonight in Los Angeles.

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P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 1-24-13

wcdonews — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:39:04 +0000

5 clinics have been added through Bassett Hospital, to the line up of services at Tri-Town Regional Hospital in Sidney. CEO Dan Ayres explains:

(Dan Ayres 1-24-13)

Ayres said that a dedication for the wing named after the Late Bruce Wilhelm, would be scheduled for the spring. Wilhelm was a Sidney native who served as Tri-Town Regional Hospital’s first CEO.

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The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of threatening statements made by a student in the Afton School District yesterday. The threat was investigated and steps were taken to mitigate the threat and protect the safety of the students and staff in the Afton School District. the Sheriff’s Office secured 3 long guns, they ask that any suspected violence or possible threats to a school, its students or staff be reported immediately to Law Enforcement for a thorough investigation. The name of the student is not being released.

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The Broome County Sheriffs department arrested 21-year-old Juliana Porter of Conklin for DWI, unsafe lane change and driving with a Blood Alcohol content above .08, following an accident in Conklin Wednesday morning. Porter was driving on Carlin Road on the wrong side, while Cherie Duke attempted to swerve to avoid Porter, who also swerved, and both cars collided head-on. 23-year-old Alexander Burrows of Saint Petersburg, Florida was a passenger in the Porter Vehicle, he suffered a head injury and was taken to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City, another passenger in Porter’s car was not injured. Porter was released on appearance tickets for Town of Conklin Court.

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Sidney village police arrested 44-year-old Eric Knoll of oxford Saturday, on charges of Aggravated driving While Intoxicated, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Knoll is due back in Sidney Village Court on January 29^th to answer to the charges.

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Firefighters responded to 55 Riley Road in Windsor this morning. The fire was reported at around 9:00 AM crews from Windsor and West Windsor responded, 2 adults and a toddler escaped, however 3 family dogs died in the blaze. A faulty basement Wood Stove may have caused the fire; cold temperatures hampered fire fighters.

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State troopers in Oneonta arrested 26-year-old Jeffrey Edwards of Middlefield on a Bench Warrant issued by the Town of Milford Court for failure to appear on the charges of 4^th degree Criminal Mischief and 2^nd degree Criminal Trespass. Edwards was arraigned in the Town of Milford Court and remanded to the Otsego County Correctional Facility on $1,000 bail.

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State Troopers in Binghamton arrested 52-year-old James Harder of Conklin for Felony DWI, following a motor vehicle accident on Conklin Forks Road. Harder was arraigned before the Town of Conklin Court and remanded to the Broome County Jail pending future court action.

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The current version of the state GED test will run through the end of this year, starting next year, the test will be run by a private firm and will have a cost attached. Those who would like to get their GED this year free of charge, can do so through the Oneonta school district, spokesperson Karen Rowe explains;

(Karen Rowe)

Last year, nearly 800,000 people took the GED test, more information is available at 433-3645 extension 331.

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Tomorrow is the deadline for Sidney chamber of commerce members to notify the chamber office regarding attendance at the CHAMBER COLLABORATION DINNER MEETING on MONDAY, JANUARY 28^th. The dinner meeting will be hosted by the Unadilla chamber of commerce beginning at 5:30 pm; with dinner at 6:00 at the Unadilla Community Center on Main Street. The Sidney chamber office number is 561-2642.

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