In about 2 weeks, the attorney for the Reporter Newspaper based in Delhi, owned by Randy & Kimberly Shepard, may file a lawsuit against Delaware County for their decision to remove the county designation from the Reporter to the Hancock Herald, solely because County Officials did not like the reporting by Lillian Browne on County Activities. Attorney Heather Murray explains the possible lawsuit argument:

(Heather Murray 9-5-23)

WCDO has been unable to reach County Attorney Amy Merklen for comment.

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State Police have arrested 39 year old Kysha Radcliff of Dryden, for 1st degree Kidnapping, in connection with the kidnapping & murder case of Thomas Rath of Ithaca. Rath disappeared from a homeless encampment earlier this year, he remains were found last month & so far the investigation has resulted in 11 arrests. State Police said that the investigation continues.

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State Police responded to a reported stabbing on a Trailways Transportation Bus, traveling from New York City to Binghamton. The bus was on State Highway 17 in the town of Deposit when the incident was reported and indicated that a female had been stabbed numerous times. State Police said that 32 year old Dominique Holloman of New York City fled when the bus stopped, he was located & was charged with 2nd degree Assault he was transported to the Delaware County Jail for Centralized Arraignment. The injured female had been traveling with Holloman, she was treated at Wilson Hospital for a non-life threatening injury.

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The Norwich Theatre Company will perform the Neil Simon classic “Barefoot In The Park” next month, at the Martin W. Kappel Theatre in Norwich, Chenango Arts Council spokesperson Mary Beth Miller said that the tickets will be available tomorrow & auditions will be later this week:

(Mary Beth Miller 9-5-23)

Tickets & more information will be available tomorrow at chenangoarts.org, more information is available at (607)336-2787.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Office arrested 43-year-old Dennis Ryder of Branford, Connecticut for driving with a suspended New York State Driver’s license. On Friday afternoon, Deputies observed a vehicle speeding on State Highway 97 in the Village of Hancock, they conducted a traffic stop, a check of Ryder’s driver’s license revealed that his driving privileges were suspended. Ryder was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle & Speeding, among other charges, Ryder will appear in the Village of Hancock Court at a later date to answer the charges.

A.M. NEWS Tuesday 9-5-23

2 people were hospitalized after a motorcycle & pickup truck accident on Atwell Hill Road in the Town of Windsor. Broome County Sheriff’s Office responded on Thursday at approximately 7:00 pm, 26 year old Cody Beavers of Windsor was operating his motorcycle at a high rate of speed and failed to keep right around a curve, he struck a pickup truck traveling in the opposite direction. Beavers and his passenger, 23 year old Megan Monteforte of Hallstead, Pennsylvania were ejected from the motorcycle, both were wearing helmets but sustained serious injuries & were taken to UHS Wilson Medical Hospital & were later transferred to a Syracuse Hospital by Life Net. Beavers was found to have been driving an unregistered and uninsured motorcycle without a license and was issued multiple Uniform Traffic Tickets.

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Oneonta Police Department responded Thursday to the report of several loud popping sounds at the Town House Inn at 318 Main Street. Officers discovered that a firearm had been discharged in the parking lot, no firearms were found at the scene. The Investigation indicates that no individuals were injured and unoccupied vehicles had been struck by the projectiles. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Oneonta Police Department at (607) 432-1111.

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Authorities recovered the body of 61 year old Dr. Chandra Prakash Joshi in Middlefield along the Natty Bumppo’s Cave trail, Investigators beleive that Dr. Joshi fell 3 days prior off of a cliff area and died from his injuries, he was a senior physicist at Bassett Cancer Institute. The sheriff’s office dispatched patrols in cooperation with Cooperstown Village Police and state Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers, after a co-workers reported that the Doctor had failed to show up for work, and has planned to go hiking, his car had been in the parking lot, the cause of death was accidental.

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An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held in Walton today from 1:30 pm to 6:00 PM at the Pines Brook Church, Schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

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The General Clinton Canoe Regatta takes on a different look this year, with a 70 mile virtual race that can be run at any time on the Memorial Day weekend, with a GPS unit tracking the paddlers journey, Regatta Chairman John Harmon explains:

(John Harmon 5-20-21)

Harmon said that the General Gap races will be held on Friday night, & there will be Scout Races held on Saturday, there will be vendors in Downtown Bainbridge, a free concert at General Clinton Park & there will be a fireworks display Saturday night, weather permitting.

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The Unadilla Cadette Girl Scout Troop is putting together Emergency packets for residents to fill out & put on their refrigerator, in Emergency personnel responding to any kind of emergency, Troop Spokesperson Nicole Seymour explains:

(Nicole Seymour 5-20-21)

Community members will be able to pick up the Girl Scouts Emergency Packets at the Unadilla Fire House on Saturday June 5th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, more  information is available at 760-8408.

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The Morris Central School Board of Education appointed Dr. Shannon Babbie as the district’s next Superintendent of Schools.  Babbie will succeed Matthew Sheldon, who is finishing his 12th year of service at Morris,  Babbie will assume his new position on July 1st.

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The Statewide COVID-19 Positivity rate dropped below 1% Wednesday after 186,000 tests were conducted.  The rate dropped to .85%, the lowest since last September  11th, the 7 day rolling average has declined for the last 45 days.  Hospitalizations dropped to 1490, there were 339 ICU patients, 208 were on ventilators, there were 18 deaths attributed to the virus Wednesday.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 5-20-21

Chenango County Public Health announced that they have administered 6267 COVID Vaccines so far, 44.2% of the Chenango County Population has received at least 1 vaccine dose.   Public Health will have 70 first doses of Moderna vaccine at the Old Label Shopper store in Norwich from 2:30 to 4:00 PM today, by appointment only at co.chenango.ny.us/public-health.  More information is available at 337-1660 or on their Facebook page.

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Sidney Police Department and the Sidney Fire Department responded Last Sunday Morning to 242 Bird Ave for a report of a vehicle fire. After a preliminary investigation it was determined the cause of the fire to be intentional. The investigation is ongoing. The Sidney Police Department is asking that if anyone has any information to contact the Sidney Police Department at 607 561-2301.

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State Police are searching for 15-year-old Adrianna Leidecker,  who was last seen at a residence on Hyde Street in Whitney Point.  It is believed that Adrianna left the residence sometime after 1:00 a.m., she has runaway on several other occasions, she was previously been located in the Dryden area and in Pennsylvania.  Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Leidecker should contact State Police at 775-1241.

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The State Legislature will have their 2019 session start on Wednesday and is scheduled to end June 19th.  Among the topics that are expected to be dealt with this year; legalizing marijuana for recreational use, legalize sports betting, a state run single payer Health insurance plan,  gun control, Ethics reforms, election reform & passing the Dream Act.

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51 year old Anna Santiago of Greene was convicted for 3rd degree Arson last year, she was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison in Court Friday.  Santiago was convicted for setting her house on fire to get insurance money, an appeal is expected.

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Governor Cuomo announced that he has nominated Keith Corlett as the New State Police Superintendent.  Corlett has been the Deputy Superintendent with over 30 years of experience at the agency.  He will replace Superintendent George Beach, who is retiring.

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A new law passed by the state legislature last year, is now in effect.  The Law requires all new or renovated buildings in New York that have all men’s bathrooms used by the public to have changing tables available for diaper changing of infants.  The rule applies to restaurants, stores and movie theaters as well as state facilities & signs must be displayed showing the location of the nearest available changing table.

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54 year old Robert Gelinas of Ithaca is in critical condition following a 2 car collision in Ithaca, where the Ithaca Police Chief is credited with saving lives due to his quick action.    State Police were dispatched to a 2-car accident Thursday afternoon, before troopers arrived, Ithaca City Police Chief Pete Tyler assisted, Gelinas was bleeding from the head and not breathing when Chief Tyler began life saving measures.  Troopers and emergency responders arrived Gelinas was flown by Lifenet to Upstate Medical Center where he remains in critical condition.  24-year-old Jenna Swertfager of Dryden was the driver of the 2nd vehicle, she was taken to an area hospital as a precaution due to pregnancy, tickets against Gelinas are expected, and the investigation is still on-going.

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The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is a featured participant at the 2019 Annual Catskill Regional Agriculture Conference to be held at SUNY Delhi on Thursday.  Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. Workshop sessions will be held on topics such as antibiotic use, grazing management efficiencies, storage and feeding of hay crops, soil health for vegetables, hemp growing and processing among other topics.   More information is available by calling Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County at 865-6531 or visit ccedelaware.org.

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The Sidney Emergency Squad is looking for a new Director of Operations, to replace Dana Weygand, Squad President Ray Baker explains:

(Ray Baker 1-7-19)

Applications can be filed to ziprecruiter.com, more information is available at sidneyems.org.

The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive this afternoon at the Foothills Performing Arts Center at 24 Market Street in Oneonta.  The blood drive is being held from 1:00 TO 6:00 PM.  Appointments can be made with the RED CROSS BLOOD DONOR APP,  at REDCROSSBLOOD.ORG OR at 1-800-RED CROSS.

State Police arrested 3 individuals after a traffic stop on State Route 41 in the town of Afton Sunday. Charged were 24 year old Cecily Choi of New Jersey, 20 year old Adrian Beall of Texas & 37 year old Jason Rodriguez of Brooklyn. All 3 subjects are accused of possessing numerous narcotics & marihuana, they were charged with 3 counts each of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminal use of Drug paraphernalia, Rodriguez was also charged with the misdemeanor of Driving a Motor Vehicle While Ability Impaired by Drugs. They were arraigned in the Town of Afton court and remanded to the Chenango County jail without bail.
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A Roxbury man and woman were arrested by Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Investigators on felony drug possession charges Monday following a probation search that led to the seizure of approximately one hundred (100) grams of powder and crack cocaine, over eleven hundred dollars ($1100.00) cash and a number of fireworks. Sheriff’s Investigators arrested and charged 30 year old David Dykstra and 33 year old Lisa Skala on 2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance & Unlawfully Dealing with Fireworks. Dykstra was being supervised by the Delaware County Probation Department from a 2016 conviction in New Jersey. Dykstra and Skala were arraigned & were remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $150,000 bail pending further court action.
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Binghamton Police announced that Amie Lewis died Wednesday morning, from injuries sustained in a recent hit & run accident. Lewis was struck Friday night while crossing Main Street in Binghamton, 45 year old Matthew Wood of Greene was arrested Monday for leaving the scene of a MVA with injuries, & more charges are expected.
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Governor Cuomo announced that he is directing the Traffic Safety Committee to examine the “Textalyzer” technology, which is being developed to determine if a motorist was texting while driving at the time of a crash. Cuomo said that committee will try to determine if the device can stand up to privacy & constitutionality questions that are being raised. Cuomo said that many state drivers are still using hand held devices while driving, in violation of state laws.
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(Dave Hamburg 6-30-14)

The first phase of the entire Prospect Mountain project is on target to be completed by the end of 2015.
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Chenango County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 50-year-old Werner Henkel of Guilford for 2nd degree Menacing, following an investigation of a domestic dispute in the Town of Guilford. Henkel is alleged to have threatened a family member with a knife during the dispute, he was arraigned & was sent to the Chenango County Jail on $10,000 bail and $25,000.00 bond pending future court action.
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State Senator Jim Seward announced legislative approval of a bill he co-sponsored that would assist mutual and cooperative insurance companies as they upgrade their information technology systems. The legislation will ease the state requirements certain insurance companies face when making computer hardware and software upgrades. The bill will be sent to the governor for his consideration.
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Citing a rising number of calls to poison control centers relating to liquid nicotine, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer called on the federal government to require child-proof caps and warning labels on containers used to refill e-cigarettes. Poison control centers in New York have received nearly 70 calls so far this year regarding accidental poisonings from the liquid. E-cigarettes contain liquid nicotine. Some of the devices are refillable, and liquid is sold in separate containers. More than half of the poison control center calls were about a child five years old or younger.
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The state Legislature continues to pass fewer bills during its annual six-month legislative session. This year, they passed the fourth fewest since 1915. The number of bills that passed the Senate and Assembly were 658 this year, compared to 650 in 2013. The fewest passed in modern times were 571 in 2011. The reason for fewer bills is because much of the legislative work is now wrapped into the annual budget. In 1969, for example, the budget was 577 pages. In 2012, it was 2,890 pages

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Otsego County held the annual Hazardous Waste Collection Day this past weekend in Unadilla & at the Meadows Complex in Cooperstown.  457 households took advantage of the program, with DEC officers supervising the collection of an estimated 300 pounds of unwanted pharmaceuticals to be incinerated.  Approximately 50 automotive batteries were collected by Interstate Battery, Suburban Energy Services collected 92 propane cylinders & Volunteers diverted 270 gallons of latex paint from the waste stream, to be re-mixed by Golden Artist Colors for re-distribution to not-for-profit agencies.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies investigated a 2-car accident at Falls Mills Road and State route 10 in the Town of Delhi.  A vehicle operated by 29-year-old Terina Touw of Roscoe was stopped at the intersection, waiting to make a left turn onto State 10 when a vehicle operated by 51-year-old Joanne Carey of Arkville rear-ended Touw’s Vehicle.  Carey was issued a traffic ticket for inadequate brakes and following to close, no injuries were reported.

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Tickets go on sale this morning for the “Addams Family” at the Forum Theater on October 13^th at 3:00 & 7:30 PM.    Tickets go on sale at 10:00 AM at the Arena Box Office, Ticketsmaster at 800-745-3000 or on-line at ticketmaster.com.  More information available at 778-6626 or BroadwayInBinghamton.com.

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(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.
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Tomorrow will be the annual Chenango County Dairy day in Norwich, featuring a parade & a number of activities at the County Fairgrounds.  Parade Chairperson Karen Hoffman explains:

(Karen Hoffman 6-14-13)

Hoffman said that due to the high river levels, the “Duck Derby” has been rescheduled as part of this summer’s Chenango County Fair.

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Delaware valley humane society will be holding a fund raising golf tournament in July.  Humane Society Spokesman Bill Heath told WCDO News that they are looking for golfers to sign up by July 8th:

(Bill Heath)

More information about the K-9 Golf tournament at the Afton Gold course is available at 563-9148.

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The Sidney Village Police arrested 22-year-old Wesley Crawn of Bainbridge for criminal possession of a controlled substance.  Crawn is accused of possessing SubOxone  in an uncapped syringe, he was arraigned in Sidney village court and was remanded to the Delaware county jail on $10,000 cash bail, he faces court action on June 18th.

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Delaware County Public Health and the Village of Sidney will be conducting a Car Seat Safety Event tomorrow from 9:00 am to Noon at the Sidney McDonalds.  Parents are reminded to bring their children to the event and expectant parents are welcome as well.  More information is available at 832-5200.

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Delaware County Deputies investigated a 1-car property damage auto accident Tuesday in the Town of Meredith on Coe Hill Road.  Deputies reported that 20-year-old Kaci Anderson of Delhi lost control of her vehicle, left the roadway and rolled over.  No injuries were reported, no tickets were issued.

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The Sidney village police arrested 59-year-old Kim Contreras of Sidney for 3rd degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.  Contreras is accused of possessing 40 Hydrocodone tablets, she was arraigned in Sidney village court and was remanded to the Delaware county jail on  $50,000 cash bail, pending a June 18th court appearance.

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State Police arrested Gary Conklin, of Harpursville for 3rd degree Assault. The arrest was the result of an incident on June 12th at the Red Apple Gas Station in Port Crane.  Conklin was issued an Appearance Ticket returnable to the Town of Fenton Court on June 20th.

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The Natural Resources Defense Council, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Advocates for Morris, the Butternut Valley Alliance, Otsego 2000 and the Otsego County Conservation Association, will hold a public information forum regarding the recent court cases regarding gas drilling bans or moratoriums  in Middlefield and Dryden, and how those  cases affect home rule authority in New York state.  The forum will take place at the Morris Central School auditorium tonight from 7:00 to 8:00 PM,  It will be followed by a question and answer session.

State Troopers arrested 24-year-old Nathaniel Bracci, 18-year-old Sarah Gangell and 23-year-old Brayan Thompson of Delhi for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. The arrests resulted from a traffic stop on State Route 10 in Stamford,  Bracci and Thompson were issued Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to reappear before the Town of Stamford Court on May 14^th,  Gangell was arraigned in the Town of Stamford Court and remanded to Delaware County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5000 bond pending court action.

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The state Appellate Division ruled unanimously in favor of the town of Dryden in Tompkins County, and the town of Middlefield in Otsego County today, for passing zoning laws that prohibit natural gas drilling. Norse Energy & Middlefield landowner Jennifer Huntington brought the lawsuits against the 2 towns in recent years for banning gas drilling after they already had signed leases to drill for natural gas, today’s ruling upholds rulings from lower courts.  Appeals to  today’s decision to the state Court of Appeals are anticipated.

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State Troopers arrested 29-year-old Lauren Lauko of Deposit for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. The arrest was the result of a traffic stop on State Route 17 in the Town of Hancock,  Lauko was issued an Appearance Ticket returnable to the Town of Hancock Court on May 6^th.

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The Sidney Chamber of commerce announced that the deadline to pre-register for this year’s Ed Wessells Canoe regatta is tomorrow May 3^rd.  This year’s race will be held on Saturday, May 11^th. Race registration forms are available on the Chamber website at sidneychamber.orgor from the office on River Street.

(Seward 3-22-13)

Voting in the state senate & Assembly on the budget bills will begin Saturday; the budget should be finalized before the April 1^st deadline for the first time in 37 years.

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The Broome county Sheriff’s department has arrested 29-year-old Megan Gismot of Binghamton, following an investigation into missing controlled substances.  Gismot was charged with 1^st degree falsifying business records and 3^rd degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, she is accused of falsifying records and stealing controlled substances while working as a pharmacy technician at an area hospital.  Gismot was arraigned & was released pending further court action.

(Greg Davie 3-22-13)

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State Police at Oneonta arrested 30 year old Larry Roe of Schenevus for Criminal Mischief. The arrest resulted from an investigation conducted by State Police in Maryland, New York  Roe was arraigned in the Town of Maryland Court and is scheduled to reappear on April 9^th.

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