BOB McCARTHY – WCDO Radio News

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 11-5-13

wcdonews — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 17:33:41 +0000

Today is Election Day, with some contentious local elections garnering most of the attention.
In Delaware County, in the town of Sidney, 2 candidates are looking to replace controversial supervisor Bob McCarthy, they are Democrat Bill Heath & Republican Gene Pigford.
For the Sidney Town Council, 4 people are vying for 2 seats; they are Democrats Pete Cordes, & Paul Muratore and Republicans John Woodyshek & Jodi Proffitt.
In the Town of Franklin, 3 candidates are running for 2 seats on the town board, they are Republicans David Grant & Garrett Sitts & for the “Better Franklin” line, the candidate is Patricia Tyrell. In the Town of Masonville in the Supervisor’s race, Republican Michael Spaccaforno faces a challenge from Masonville First candidate Marie Sroka.
In Otsego County:
2 seats on the Town of Oneonta board will be decided with 4 candidates running: democrats Patricia Jacob & Andrew Stammell & republicans Brett Holleran & Fred Volpe. For the 2 town justice seats, the 3 candidates are independent Dawn Oliver & Republicans Sean Farrell & Bruce Smith.
In the Town of Unadilla 3 candidates are vying for 2 seats on the town Council, they are Democrat Jakkie Bickos & Republicans Roger Cecce, George Banta
In the Town Of Butternuts, supervisor candidates are Democrat Charles Eckleman & Republican Linda Grover.
In Chenango County, in the Town of Afton, 4 candidates are running for 2 seats they are Democrats Alan Steinberg, Rich Cuthbertson & Republicans Robert Tallmadge, and Chris Warren. In the Town Of Guilford, 2 seats are open on the Town Council; the 4 candidates are Democrats Kenneth Fogerty & Dolores Fuller & Republicans Tomas Ives & Barbara O’Dell
In the Town of Coventry 2 people are running for Supervisor, with George Westcott getting both the Republican & Democratic Party nomination, the Liberty Party candidate is Gwendolyn Hinman. For Town Justice, Democrat A. Bruce Warren faces Republican Joseph Agunzo, in the Town Council race, 2 seats are open, candidates are Democrat Jeffrey Vance, Republicans Robert Boudreau & John Wicks, for the Liberty Party, the candidate is George Broeg.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Voters across the State will see several propositions on the ballot today, they include measures to allow 7 casinos to The Catskill & southern tier regions, another would allow judges in some courts to serve until the age of 80.
————————————-
Binghamton police announced 2 arrests in connection with a homicide on Mygatt Street Monday. Fire fighters were called to 32 Mygatt Street around 6 a.m. Monday, they found a critically injured woman who said her boyfriend had just been murdered, the man’s body was discovered on the 2nd floor. Arrested Monday night were 21-year-old Julian Talamantez of Binghamton, and 25 year old Nigel Saunders of Binghamton, for 1 count each of 2nd degree murder & attempted murder.
—————————-
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that an Election Day hotline is up & running today, to help ensure that minority-language voters, people with disabilities and all eligible voters are able to cast an effective ballot during the today’s elections. The Hotline is 800-771-7755, it will be open today through 9:00 PM.
———————————————-
State spending was nearly $860 million lower than expected through the first half of the fiscal year while tax collections were just shy of projections, according to the Mid-Year report from State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Spending from All Funds through the first six months was $64.1 billion, an increase of 6.9%, but was $859.4 million below projections. Tax collections rose by $2.8 billion, or 8.8%, thanks to 11.4% growth in personal income tax collections. The full report is available at osc.state.ny.us.
——————————————-

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 9-12-13

wcdonews — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 17:40:18 +0000

Detectives with the Chenango county sheriff’s department arrested 57-year-old Robert Baker of Plymouth for possessing a Sexual Performance by a child and possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a child. Detectives obtained a search warrant for baker’s computer following a lengthy investigation into a child endangerment complaint. Baker was arraigned in the Town of Plymouth Court and remanded to the Chenango county jail on $25,000.00 cash bail. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.

———————————

Chenango county sheriff’s deputies arrested 47-year-old Lee Bush of Pharsalia for 3rd degree Aggravated Sexual Abuse. Bush was charged following a complaint, accusing Bush of assaulting the victim with a foreign object. He was arrested and arraigned in Chenango County Court and released pending future court action.

———————————

Sidney town councilman Bill Heath has announced that he is running for Sidney town supervisor on the democratic and Sidney First party lines. Heath told WCDO News what he hopes to accomplish, if elected:

(Bill Heath 9-12-13)

Heath faces republican candidate Gene Pigford, incumbent Supervisor Bob McCarthy is not seeking re-election.

—————————————–

Broome County Executive Debbie Preston announced Wednesday that property taxes would increase 2.97% under the 2014 budget proposal. The proposed budget totals 375.7 million dollars, the increase was necessary due to unfounded mandates, & existing contract obligations with the county employees union contracts.

————————————-

NYSEG officials report that about 1100 customers were without power this afternoon. The largest concentration was in the town of Butternuts where about 150 customers were without power following last night storms.

————————————-

The state DEC is asking for the public’s help, in tracking the spread of a deadly viral disease in the deer population that is spread by tiny biting flies called midges. The agency is asking people to report sightings of sick or dead deer to help identify outbreaks, the virus leads to the symptoms in deer of fever, bruises in the mouth and nose, and swelling of the head, neck, tongue and lips, they may appear to be lame or dehydrated. A 2011 outbreak killed about 100 deer in the Catskill region.

———————————-

Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 21-year-old Matthew Reynolds of Syracuse for Driving while intoxicated. Reynolds was charged following the report of a vehicle stopped in the roadway, and the diver asleep at the wheel in Sherburne. Reynolds BAC was more than twice the legal limit, he was released to a sober 3^rd party and will appear in town of Sherburne court at a later date.

———————————-

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a settlement with Sears, Roebuck and Co. over a deceptive refund policy that the retailer applied to consumers who participated in its “Come Back Cash” promotion. Consumers who purchased merchandise above a “qualifying threshold” amount were given a $10 or $20 promotional award card. However, if the consumer later returned some of the merchandise, Sears reduced the refund by a pro-rated amount of the value of the award card. The company has agreed to pay $150,000 in fines, Sears operates 45 stores in New York State.

——————————–

Eric Schwartz, a former White House and UN adviser and public policy expert, will give a presentation Sept. 30 at Binghamton University. The free presentation is open to the public and will take place at 7 p.m. in the Anderson Center. Schwartz, who earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at BU in 1979, has served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration and UN Deputy Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery.

———————

Tri- town regional hospital in Sidney is celebrating nation emergency preparedness month, with a presentation Friday afternoon. Emergency preparedness specialist Laura Terriquez-Kasey, & tri town pharmacist Dave Van Valkenburg will discuss “BE PREPARED” KITS and informational pamphlets will be available.

———————–

Governor Cuomo is reminding small business owners that the early registration deadline for the state’s annual MWBE forum is September 15^th. The forum will be held October 3^rd & 4^th at the empire State Convention center in Albany, it’s the largest statewide event for minority & women owned businesses. Attendees will learn about the state procurement process, attend informational sessions and connect with decision makers from the public & private sectors, more information is available at governor.ny.gov.

—————-

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 6-24-13

wcdonews — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 17:16:34 +0000

1 person was killed in a fire in Guilford. Last night’s fire was located in a trailer at 209 Joslyn Road, the fire was reported at around 11:40 PM, with firefighters from Guilford & Oxford responding. The identity of the deceased person will be revealed pending family notification and the conclusion of an autopsy, scheduled to be performed at Lourdes hospital in Binghamton this afternoon.
————————
A lawsuit has been filed in state Supreme Court by a group of landowners against the Sidney Town Board for their February 13th moratorium against natural gas drilling. The lawsuit follows 2 recent decisions that ruled in favor of banning natural gas drilling in the towns of Dryden in Tompkins County and Middlefield in Otsego County, both decisions have been appealed to the state Court of Appeals. The moratorium was voted for by Sidney town council members Tobi Whitaker, Bill Heath & Pete Cordes, town supervisor Bob McCarthy voted against it, Councilman Eric Wilson did not vote. Court action will begin on September 6th.
——————————–
Governor Cuomo will visit Broome County today to discuss the Start-Up New York Proposal and Economic Development Agenda at the Binghamton University Innovative Technologies Complex Engineering and Science Building the governor is scheduled to begin the discussion at 3:15 PM.
——————————–
Delaware County Deputies investigated a one-car property damage auto accident Thursday on Palmer Hill Road in the Town of Franklin. 17-year-old Colin Adam of Walton lost control of his vehicle, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway and travel down an embankment. Adam was issued a ticket for operating a motor vehicle out of class; he faces court action in the Town of Franklin Court at a later date.
——————————
State Police at Sidney arrested 20-year-old James Nering of Cooperstown, for Driving While Intoxicated, Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. The arrest resulted from a traffic stop on Interstate 88 in Sidney; Nering was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Sidney Court on June 27th.
——————————
Delaware County Deputies investigated a two-car personal injury auto accident Sunday on State route 28 in the Town of Delhi. 59-year-old William Kraiza of Sidney Center crossed the double yellow line striking a vehicle being operated by 77-year-old Anthony Cosenza of Andes. Both Anthony & Mary Cosenza were transported to O’Connor Hospital in Delhi for minor injuries, Kraiza was issued traffic tickets for Failure to keep right and leaving the scene of a personal injury auto accident, both returnable to the Town of Delhi Court on July 16th.
———————————-
State Police investigated a fatal head-on collision involving a Saturn and a tractor-trailer Saturday on State Route 13 in Dryden. 22-year-old Isaac Miller of Freeville was killed when his Saturn collided with the tractor-trailer driven by ALEXANDER SPAGNOLA of Tully. Spagnola was treated at Cayuga Medical Center for minor injuries and released. Investigators believe that Miller was intoxicated & drifted into the opposing lane and struck the tractor-trailer head-on. The accident is still under investigation.
———————————–
The state legislature wrapped up the 2013 session Friday in Albany. Area State Senator Jim Seward commented on the close of the 2013 legislative session:

(Seward 6-24-13)

Seward said that he was also pleased that lawmakers restored 90 million dollars in funding for programs to help the developmentally disabled, he was disappointed that the assembly failed to act on measures to assist dairy farmers meet demand for liquid 1 milk by the growing Greek Yogurt industry in upstate New York.
———————–

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 1-11-13

wcdonews — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:36:23 +0000

Governor Cuomo discussed enacting gun control legislation, during his state of the state address Wednesday in Albany. The governor said that he is a gun owner himself, and this bill will have nothing to do banning legitimate hunting rifles:

(Cuomo on Gun control)

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said that he agrees with the governor’s proposal:

(Silver on Gun Control)

The gun control legislation follows the sandy creek elementary school massacre in neighboring Connecticut several weeks ago.

——————————–

The Sidney town board met last night, with supervisor Bob McCarthy, councilman Eric Wilson, and Town Attorney Joe Ermeti not in attendance. The remaining board members Tobias Whitaker, Bill Heath and Pete Cordes passed a resolution to enact a 1-year moratorium on gas drilling by hydrofracking. The resolution is being sent to the county for consideration.

————————————

The Chenango county sheriffs department is still investigating the disappearance of 36-year-old Jennifer Ramsaran of New Berlin December 11^th. Ramsaran was heading to Syracuse for a shopping trip, her cell phone was found in the Town of Plymouth the following day, her minivan was found in the city of Norwich 4 days later. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriffs department at 337-1924; all calls will be kept confidential.

—————————————-

State senator Jim Seward will be at the Sidney central school district today. Seward will speak with students in the particiption in government callas starting at 9:30 that will be followed by a tour of the facilities with school officials.

—————————————-

The joint landowners coalition of Central New York announced that they have submitted their last set of comments to the DEC on natural gas development in the state. The comments were on the topics of protecting the environment, communities, and residents, and were compiled from input by environmental scientists, petroleum & civil engineers, chemists, toxicologists, organic & traditional farmers, medical doctors & attorneys, the complete comments are available at JLCNY.org. The DEC has received thousand of comments both for and against hydrofracking, as they get ready to release the final draft regulation in the coming months.

——————————–