U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released her original report on the shortcomings of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and how it has failed to bring relief to New York borrowers pursuing public service careers. Senator Gillibrand said today that the program was created to alleviate student loan debt for individuals committed to public service careers for at least 10 years, but in recent years a small percentage actually received the delivered promise:

(Gillibrand 10-14-21)

Senator Gillibrand is pushing for passage of the What You Can Do for Your Country Act, which would expand PSLF eligibility so that every type of federal loan and repayment plan is included in the program and would provide a partial forgiveness benefit after five years. Gillibrand said that 1 out of every 14 participants denied loan forgiveness lives in New York, only 1.2% of New York participants have had their loans forgiven.

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State Police arrested Chenango County Sheriff Candidate Debra Cubbedge of Norwich on Tuesday, along with 21 year old Kymani Frazer of Yonkers, they were both arrested for 2nd degree criminal trespass, after Troopers were dispatched to a dispute at a residence on County Road 44 in the town of Plymouth. State Police said that Frazer and Cubbedge entered the residence without permission and remained inside unlawfully; they left prior to the trooper’s arrival and were located in the City of Norwich. Cubbedge & Frazer were released, and will return to Plymouth Town Court on October 27.

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The American Red Cross of Western New York will be hiring for a number of positions, This Saturday, October 16 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. A walk-in hiring event will be held at our Southern Tier Chapter office 620 E. Main Street, Endicott to recruit for Entry-level Phlebotomists to assist in operating upcoming blood drives. No experience is necessary, Walk-ins are welcome or applicants can pre-register at redcross.org/careers.

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A virtual “Glow Run” has been organized for Amanda Decker of Bainbridge, who is going through a form of Cancer, local Cancer survivor & Glow Run Organizer Heather Bucalos told WCDO News about this year’s Bainbridge Glow Run called “Glow For Amanda”:

(Heather Bucalos 10-14-21)

Bucalos said that Registration is underway at runsignup.com, then look for the Bainbridge Glow Run, Registration is available through October 29th, more information is available at the Bainbridge Glow Challenge: Glow4Amanda Facebook page.

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Governor Kathy Hochul says New York will appeal Judge David Hurd’s decision to continue to allow religious exemptions to the state’s vaccine mandate for health care workers. Judge Hurd blocked the state from enforcing the mandate, Governor Hochul said Wednesday she is working with the state attorney general’s office to appeal the decision in the second circuit Court of Appeals.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 10-14-21

Otsego County Department of Health reported 23 new COVID Cases Wednesday, with 1 more death reported. Otsego County remains at a HIGH level of community transmission, they recommend everyone wear a mask indoors in public to maximize protection from the Delta variant. Vaccination Rates in Otsego County are reported at 54.7% of total population fully vaccinated, with a higher rate among those 65 & older at almost 80%

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Delaware County Public Health reported 85 new COVID cases from October 9th through the 13th, with 3 more deaths reported. Delaware County has 160 active cases, 10 hospitalized & 303 quarantined, there have been 59 deaths from COVID, only 51% of county residents are vaccinated.

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Commerce Chenango will hold their annual Legislative Breakfast this morning at the Silo Restaurant in Greene, starting at 8:00 AM. Representatives from the Economic Development Council and The Business Council of New York State will attend; local lawmakers State Senators Fred Akshar & Peter Oberacker and Assemblyman Joe Angelino have been invited to attend.

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The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood and platelet shortage and must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week, to meet hospital and patient needs. Donors of all blood types – especially type O – and platelet donors are urged to make an appointment to give blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. A blood drive is being held today in Franklin from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Franklin Methodist Church, 475 Main Street.

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(Cuomo 5-28-20)

The Governor had Comedian Chris Rock & Actress Rosie Perez with him today; both will be making Public Service Announcements to try to increase compliance for wearing masks, Rock commented about the need to wear the masks in public:

(Chris Rock 5-28-20)

Governor Cuomo said that the total Hospitalizations statewide was about 4000 patients for the Coronavirus, there were 74 more deaths Wednesday,  bringing the state death toll to 23,722,  there are 366, 733 positive coronavirus tests in the state since early March.

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The Chenango County Public health announced their latest Coronavirus numbers today.  They are up to 125 confirmed cases, 103 people are quarantined, 1 person is hospitalized & there have been 91 recoveries, they have performed over 3300 tests.

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Purdue farms of the state of Maryland is the latest business to sue Maines Paper & Food Service of Conklin for breach of Contract, for allegedly failing to pay for 1.4 Million dollars in food deliveries earlier this year, on top of another $4 million dollars in overdue payments from previous invoices.  Maines is facing similar action from 6 other companies that have been filed in US District Court.  Maines recently closed down their “Broadline” operations in Conklin & laid of hundreds of employees.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 47 year-old Lionel Simard of Davenport for possession of stolen property, he is accused of possessing license plates that were reported stolen from a parked vehicle in the Town of Davenport on May 21st.  Simard was issued an appearance ticket in the Town of Davenport Court at a later date.

State Police, Sherburne Police & several other agencies, responded to a report of a person in the Chenango River that went underwater and had not resurfaced in Sherburne.  The New York State Underwater Recovery Team and divers and an air boat from the Chenango County Bureau of Fire searched the river, Shortly after 8:00 p.m., the victim was located & was pronounced deceased at the scene & has been identified as The victim is identified as 18-year-old Nicholas Russell of Smyrna.  Police said that Russell and 3 friends were swimming in the Chenango River when he began to have difficulty staying above water.  A witness attempted to assist Russell but he went under water and never re-surfaced.   

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State Department of Labor released local unemployment rates for April.  The number of private sector jobs in the State was 6,467,600, the State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 4.1% to 14.5%.  Locally, Chenango County’s Unemployment rate was 11.7%, Delaware County 12.4% & Otsego County was 12%.

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State Police responded to a residence on Spruce Street in the Village of Roxbury for a serious injury.   An investigation revealed that a 36-year-old male was slashed in the midsection with a knife.  The male was transported by LifeNet to Albany Med where he is in critical condition.  Several people that were in the residence are being interviewed and cooperating with State Police, There is no threat to the public. The investigation is ongoing and more will be released as it is available.   

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State Police issued more than 8,900 tickets during a special traffic enforcement period over Memorial Day Weekend, which started last Friday, through 3:00 AM Tuesday.  During this enforcement period, State Troopers arrested 203 people for DWI, and investigated 457 crashes, which injured 11 people. State Police responded to two fatal crashes during the weekend.   

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Delaware County is reporting no new case of COVID-19 today and no additional recoveries. The known active cases in the County are 13. To date there have been 73 confirmed positive cases,  with 30 people under quarantine, 5 cases are receiving care in the hospital, 8 are isolated at home, 4 people have died and 56 have fully recovered. 

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Otsego County Department of Health announced 2 more positive Coronavirus cases, bringing them to 65 total cases.  Both new cases were asymptomatic both worked in nursing homes outside of Otsego County.  All Nursing home workers are tested for the Coronavirus twice a week in New York State.

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Commerce Chenango will host a live webinar today regarding the potential Phase 2 re-opening & its guidelines for the Southern Tier Region, which could happen in the coming weeks.  The webinar will be held through Zoom, anyone who would like to participate can email Commerce Chenango at “Register@ChenangoNY.org.

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The Tri-Town Coalition on Substance Abuse Prevention invites community members to tune into the organization’s next meeting today at 6:00 PM through Zoom.  The presentation, titled “A Trauma-Sensitive Approach to COVID-19,” will be led by Amanda Decker, program director and prevention specialist for the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County. Call 607-746-8300 for Zoom instructions, it can also be found on the WCDO Facebook page.

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(Mike Bloomberg 4-30-20)

State Budget Director Robert Mujica discussed the issue of Child Care and summer camps, as Phase 1 is implemented to send back the first group of workers, who have children at home:

(Mujica 4-30-20)

New York State now has over 304,000 cases of the Coronavirus, with over 11,500 hospitalized, and another 306 deaths Wednesday bringing the state death toll to 18,321.

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Chenango County Public Health announced today that they are up to 96 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, they’ve had 3 deaths, 67 recoveries 7 people are hospitalized & 68 are quarantined.

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Broome County Health Department announced that they are up to 282 positive Coronavirus cases; they have 21 deaths, 164 recoveries, and 194 in quarantine.

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The Village of Sidney announced that May 4th “SPRING CLEAN UP”  Curbside pickup of bagged leaves, bagged lawn debris and brush must be out by Monday May 4th. Due to Covid-19 and safety, there will be no drop-off of electronics, appliances, metal and tires this year. Village residents may take electronics, appliances, metal and tires, free of charge (year round) to the Delaware County Solid Waste Management Center located at 32230 State Hwy 10 Walton, and they need make an appointment for drop off at 865-5805.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 38 year old Dennis Lafferty of Unadilla for violating an order of protection earlier this month.  Deputies received a complaint from an Otsego County domestic violence victim earlier this month, reporting receiving a phone call from the Delaware County Correctional Facility where the victim’s alleged abuser was being housed for the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, Lafferty allegedly violated the terms of an order of protection issued by the Hartwick Town Court last November, by making calls to the protected party following his incarceration on April 13th.  Lafferty was charged with 4 counts of criminal contempt & he remains incarcerated in the Delaware County Correctional Facility, pending a court appearance in the Town of Delhi Court on a later date.

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The Annual Re-dedication Ceremony at the Sidney Veterans Memorial Park originally scheduled for May 23rd has been canceled for this year.  Also the June 7th Annual Sidney Veterans Memorial Park Association Golf Tournament has been canceled for this year, due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced today that its Board of Directors has voted unanimously to cancel 2020 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend events as a result of health and safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Class of 2020 – consisting of Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker – will be inducted on Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Cooperstown, alongside any new members elected as part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

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Congressman Anthony Brindisi will hold Telephone Town Hall this afternoon at 5:00 PM regarding the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic.  To receive a call, go to brindisi.house.gov/live or call (315) 732-0713.

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The Dick’s Sporting Goods Open has been canceled for 2020.  The PGA TOUR Champions event was scheduled for August 10-16 at En Joie Golf Club in Endicott.  The Cancellation is due to the impact from the pandemic in the state of New York.  Anyone who has questions pertaining to tickets purchased for this year’s event is advised to contact the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open office at 607-205-1500.

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The Tri Town Coalition on Substance Abuse Prevention will their next meeting today at 6:00 PM through Zoom.   Today’s Presenter is Amanda Decker of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County,  more information is available at 437-4274 or 265-9273.

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Delaware County Public Health received one positive lab report for COVID-19, which was transferred to the county the person resides in.  The Positive Results reported to Delaware County is 70, with 12 Positive Lab Reports Transferred, 44 have recovered, 8 are Isolating at Home, 2 are Hospitalized, 4 are Deceased, & 22 are under Mandatory Quarantine.