State Police arrested 36 year old William Sabines of Preston after he was indicted by a Chenango County Grand Jury Thursday. Sabines was charged with 2nd degree Murder, Concealment of a Human Corpse and Tampering with Physical Evidence. Sabines was arrested following an investigation into the disappearance of Jesse Donlin, formerly of Sidney, Unadilla and Afton locally. Donlin was reported missing in September of 2019 after failing to appear for a court appearance in Utica, the investigation ultimately led to Sabines arrest. Sabines was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $250,000 cash bail or $500,000 bond pending future court action.

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Chenango County Sheriff’s Office received a missing person complaint regarding 32 year old Amanda Lanfair, who was last seen on November 26th, and stated that she was going to Long Island and was to return on November 28th. Lanfair was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, green Carhartt jacket and black Puma sneakers. Any information on her whereabouts please contact the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office at 607-334-2000.

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Former New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett became the State Health Commissioner on Wednesday, replacing Dr. Howard Zucker, who had been the state Health Commissioner since 2015. Bassett takes over as the state’s COVID-19 hospitalizations are increasing across the state. Bassett was credited, along with Dr. Zucker & Dr. Anthony Fauci of the CDC with stopping a potentially deadly Ebola Outbreak after 1 case was found and contained in New York City in 2013.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 12-3-21

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the first 5 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in New York State. So far, the cases appear unrelated and have been confirmed through sequencing of the SARS-CoVID-2 virus. 1 case is from Suffolk County, 4 others are in New York City, 4 other states have also reported cases of the new COVID variant. On Thursday, Governor Hochul announced that the State has ordered 1 Million Testing Kits to Distribute to Local Health Departments & 40 New Pop-Up Vaccine Sites will be launched this month.

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Oneonta Fire Department responded to a structure fire last night at Monser Brothers Tire & Auto on Chestnut Street in Oneonta. Fire fighters responded to the report of flames through the roof of the building late last night, Multiple fire departments also responded including West Oneonta, Laurens, West Laurens, Mount Vision, Franklin, Sidney, Worcester, Pindars Corners & Otego.

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The Sidney Chamber of Commerce will hold their Jolly Holly days parade tonight, Chamber President Teri Schunk comments:

(Teri Schunk 11-9-21)

Anyone needing more information can call 561-2642.

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The Afton Annual Christmas Parade, will be part of the scheduled activites tomorrow, Greater Afton Area Chamber of Commerce President John Hinman told WCDO News what activites are planned:

(John Hinman 12-3-21)

Hinman said that floats and vehicles will line up at Corporate Park off Route 7, Walking groups, bicycles, and golf carts will gather at the Afton Edge Apartments.

Also on Saturday, Unadilla’s Santa Saturday & Holiday Magic Parade will be held, sponsored by the Unadilla Chamber of Commerce & The Unadilla Historical Society, spokesperson Linda Bickos explains:

(Linda Bickos 12-3-21)

More Information is available at the Unadilla Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

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Destination Oneonta’s Festival of Trees will be held at the Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta today & tomorrow; all trees are decorated by local businesses and community members and can be viewed at Foothills today from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and on Saturday, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Winners of each tree will be drawn on Saturday at 2:15 pm; more information is available at destinationoneonta.com.

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Bassett Healthcare Network will be holding a COVID-19 vaccination clinic open to community members, including children, on Saturday, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Bassett Medical Center’s outpatient clinic building in Cooperstown. The clinic will offer boosters for Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson; first- and second-dose Pfizer shots for children ages 5 to 17; and flu shots. No appointments are needed for this walk-in clinic. Patients should bring their vaccination cards and prescription insurance cards.

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Governor Cuomo held a COVID briefing today, with Dr. Anthony Fauci of the CDC, the governor recapped the state strategy as more small gatherings are expected over the holidays, which is contributing to 70% of the new cases currently:

(Cuomo 12-7-20)

Dr. Fauci said that if people let their guard down & don’t follow the CDC guidelines, the surge could hit badly in the New Year:

(Dr. Anthony Fauci 12-7-20)

The state reported that 152000 tests were performed Sunday, with 7302 positive  tests, or about 4.8% of all tested, over 4600 are hospitalized, 872 are in ICU beds & 477 are on ventilators, and another 80 died from the virus Sunday.

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Chenango County Public reported today that they have had 42 new COVID 19 cases since Friday’s report, and 2 more residents died from COVID complications.   The County now has 87 active cases, 405 are quarantined, and 5 are hospitalized.  Chenango County had had 724 total cases since March, with 13 deaths, 618 recoveries & over 47,500 tests conducted.

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1 person was killed in a 3 vehicle accident Saturday Night on State Route 235 in the town of Coventry.  26 year old Kyle Smith of Afton was attempting to pass a vehicle driven by 20 year old Austin Smith of Harpursville, Kyle Smith attempted to get back into his lane after observing a 3rd vehicle driven by 36 year old Dennis Robinson of Susquehanna Pennsylvania, Kyle Smith lost control, hit Austin Smith’s vehicle, which then hit the Robinson Truck.  Austin Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, the investigation is continuing.

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Governor Cuomo announced that State Police issued 13,887 tickets during this year’s Thanksgiving traffic enforcement initiative from Wednesday, November 25th through Sunday, November 29th. State Troopers also arrested 155 people for DWI and investigated 757 crashes, including 3 fatalities. In the Southern Tier, 1096 tickets were issued, 431 tickets for speeding, 9 for DWI, 11 for distracted driving, 172 for child restraint or seat belts violations & 17 for the move over law.

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A traffic stop in the town of Norwich led the to the arrest of a man wanted for stealing a camper from Otsego County in October then abandoning it in Binghamton.   State Police arrested 46 year old Clint Payne of Beaver, Pennsylvania, for Grand Larceny, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.  On November 20th,  Payne came to the State Police Norwich barracks inquiring about another matter, when he drove off a trooper observed that Payne’s vehicle had multiple vehicle and traffic infractions, he was stopped & the trooper discovered that Payne was wanted for Grand Larceny in Otsego County & he was accused of possessing of methamphetamine.  Payne was processed in Oneonta, the Otsego County Central Arraignment and Processing & Broome County Central Arraignment and Processing.

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State Police arrested 26 year old John Flora of Windsor for allegedly burglarizing residences in the town of Windsor. An investigation by State Police BCI arrested Flora at his residence.  He was charged with multiple counts of 2nd degree Burglary & was taken to Broome County Central Arraignment and Processing.

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Village of Sidney Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Committee has had 16 community members appointed, with Village residents, business owners, Religious leaders, Village Board members, Members of the Police Department, Delaware County Public Defender’s office  and Delaware County District Attorney John Hubbard.  The committee has reviewed how the Sidney Police Department operates and with public input determines what changes, if any, need to be made.  Sidney mayor Andy Matviak told WCDO News about how they will get public input:

(Andy Matviak 12-7-20)

After the public input in the months of December and January, they will draft a reform and reinvention plan that will be shared with the public, in February the committee will make any needed changes & submit the revised plan to the Village board for approval. In March the approved plan will be submitted to New York State.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 12-7-20

Attorneys for the Claudia Tenney and Anthony Brindisi campaigns filed new motions in State Supreme Court in Oswego regarding the ongoing ballot counts in the 22nd congressional district race.   55 recently-discovered Chenango County early voting ballots & about 2000 other disputed ballots will be ruled on by Justice Scott Delconte in State Supreme Court in Oswego this afternoon.

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The State Health Department reported that over 205,000 people were tested for COVID Saturday, with over 9700 positive tests.  Patient Hospitalization continue to increase to 4,442, the Number in ICU beds is up to 850, the Number on ventilators increased to 464, there were 56 deaths Saturday.

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The Sidney Central School District has been notified that a student has tested positive for COVID-19. This person has not been on campus since Wednesday, December 2nd. The Delaware County Health Department is conducting the investigation and will notify anyone who they feel may have been exposed. The teachers and students impacted by the quarantine have been contacted, as they will transition to a remote learning environment.

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The Walton Central School District will learn remotely today and Tuesday, after the Delaware County Health officials notified the district of a positive COVID-19 case involving a staff member, contact tracing will take place the next two days.

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The Oxford Academy and Central School District is going remote today through Monday, December 14th, due to positive COVID-19 cases involving a staff member and a high school student.

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Delaware County Public Health announced that they had 13 new COVID 19 cases Sunday, bringing their total to 438 since spring.  There are 87 active cases, 5 are hospitalized & 246 are quarantined.

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Otsego County Department of Health announced that they had 14 COVID cases reported Saturday & 22 new cases Sunday.  Otsego County is up to 1418 total confirmed cases, 109 are active cases, 9 are hospitalized, and there have been 8 deaths since March.  Otsego County Department of Health is announcing a potential COVID 19 exposure at the American Legion 60 Main Street Cooperstown, from November 25th through November 30th, should monitor themselves for symptoms and get tested.

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