ACCO Brands announced to their employees last week that they will be closing their Sidney manufacturing and distribution plant late next year. Kori Reed the Director of Communication at ACCO Brands in Ohio told WCDO News that there is no firm timeline for the closure, the process will take most of next year to fully execute.

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State Police will continue to participate in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” initiative through New Year’s day. Drivers can expect to see sobriety checkpoints, Troopers will be watching for distracted drivers, vehicle occupants who are not properly buckled up, and drivers violating the “Move Over Law,” . State Police will also conduct underage drinker enforcement details statewide.

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The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office announces the arrest 52 year old Donald Lane of Portlandville following an investigation in to a sex offender who failed to register a change of address with the New York State Sex Offender registry. Lane is accused of relocating from a residence in the Town of Oneonta to a new location in the Town of Milford without notifiying authorities, Lane was located in the City of Oneonta Tuesday & was taken in to custody, he was processed & was being held in the Otsego County Correctional Facility to await an appearance in Otsego County Centralized Arraignment.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies were on patrol in the Village of Walton Sunday and stopped a vehicle for multiple vehicle and traffic law violations. Deputies seized a quantity of narcotics and methamphetamine from the occupants and vehicle, Deputies arrested 40 year old Patrick Ladd of Walton for 5 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, & 43 year old Leslie McClenon of Walton was charged with several traffic violations & criminal possession of a controlled substance for possessing Methamphetamine with intent to sell, a 3rd occupant of the vehicle was released at the scene without charges at this time. McClenon was subsequently released on appearance tickets and directed to appear at the Village of Walton court at a later date. Ladd was held at the Delaware County Correctional Facility for centralized arraignment.

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Fresh Express has issued a voluntary recall of a Fresh Express Spinach, 8 oz. size, with product code G332 and use-by date of December 15 and Publix Spinach, 9 oz size, with product code G332 and a now expired use-by date of December 14 due to a potential health risk from Listeria. Fresh Express is sold in a large number of grocery stores across the region, so far no illnesses have been reported and no other Fresh Express products are being recalled. Consumers who still have these products in their refrigerators are advised to discard them immediately.

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The City of Norwich Police Department announced that their phone lines and internet are down at the Police station today Wednesday, and possibly tomorrow. They hope to have the services restored as soon as possible.

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The storm which hit the region Sunday & Monday has claimed the lives of 4 New Yorkers so far. State Police said that an elderly woman in Catskill had her vehicle submerged in flood waters Monday, & she could not be reached by first responders due to the raging flood waters.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 12-20-23

Local sales tax collections in New York state increased by 5.1% in November compared to the same month in 2022, according to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Overall, local collections totaled $1.81 billion, up $88.6 million compared to the same time last year. County and city collections outside of New York City totaled $887 million, an increase of 4.4%, 55 out of 57 counties experienced year-over-year increases.

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Congressman Marc Molinaro’s constituent service team will hold mobile office hours from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm today at the Oneonta Town Hall. This comes after a home exploded in Oneonta December 9th, killing 1 person, injuring others, and damaging neighboring homes. Constituents will be able to connect with representatives from Congressman Molinaro’s office to get assistance with issues they are facing.

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Governor Kathy Hochul announced $25 million in capital grants will be made available to help volunteer fire departments upgrade their facilities and equipment. The grants will be administered by the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, fire companies have until April 30 2024 to respond to the request for applications at dhses.ny.gov.

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Governor Kathy Hochul announced that temporary lane closures for road and bridge construction projects on State highways will be suspended starting tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM, until Monday December 27th at 6:00 AM. Construction will also be suspended from Thursday December 30th to Monday, January 3rd to ease travel for motorists.   Motorists should be aware that some work may continue behind permanent concrete barriers or for emergency repairs.

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The American Red Cross & State Police announced that on Tuesday, December 28th, A blood drive will be hosted in memory of Trooper Christopher Skinner, who lost his life by a hit-and-run driver while conducting a traffic stop on I-81 in Broome County.  Blood Supplies are the lowest they have been during the holiday season, in 10 years, appointments are available at RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the free Blood Donor app or by calling 1-800 RED CROSS.  The Drive is being held on the 28th from 12:00 to 6:00 PM at 16 Crescent Drive in Kirkwood, More information is available at 607- 237-9747.

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The Unadilla Fire Department announced that they are collecting items for the families who lost everything to a fire at 43 Watson Street in the village earlier this week.  The Unadilla Fire Department has posted a list of specific items on their Facebook Page; the items can be dropped off at the Firehouse at 77 Clifton Street.

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Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the state’s acting Health Commissioner, Dr. Mary Bassett, has tested positive for COVID-19.  Dr. Bassett reported that she tested positive after being administered a rapid test, she is asymptomatic & is fully vaccinated and has received a booster shot.

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Employees of Health Departments around the state have put in a lot of overtime during the pandemic, and have also been the target of threats of physical violence, Otsego County Sheriff Rich Devlin told WCDO news that the local health Department received such threats, and that is unacceptable:

(Sheriff Devlin 12-22-21)

Sheriff Devlin said that no arrests have been made so far for the threats to Otsego County Health Department staff.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that they are investigating a multistate outbreak of listeria infections connected to Fresh Express packaged salads, through the northeast states & into eastern Canada.  So far, 10 people have become ill, 10 have been hospitalized and 1 person has died across 8 states in the listeria outbreak. Fresh Express announced a recall Monday where they advised consumers not to eat, sell or serve a long list of its products with the codes Z324 to Z350 printed on the package.

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A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 12-22-21

The State Health Department reports that the winter surge is continuing, after 214,165 were tested for COVID 19 Monday & 22,258 people were positive, for a 10.4% positivity rate.  Patient Hospitalizations went up by more than 300 to 4,328; almost 800 are in an ICU unit with 470 on ventilators, 57 died at hospitals & nursing homes Monday.

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The New York State Education Department is canceling January regents’ exams for the second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic.   The education department will ask the Board of Regents to approve changes to diploma requirements to accommodate students who were scheduled to take the January exams.

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Attorney General Letitia James said that her office has received complaints of price gouging on COVID 19 testing products around the state. A standard test kit at local pharmacies normally costs between $14 and $25 for a package of 2 tests, but some stores have sold the same product unlawfully for $40 up to $70, to report price gouging, go to formsnym.ag.ny.gov.

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The Village of Bainbridge announced that due to a water main break near Lambrecht’s Auction House on County Road 38, water service will be interrupted this morning starting at 7:00 Am, until the break is repaired.  Residents north of the Auction house on Route 38, Searles Hill Road, Bliss Road, Crest Drive and Williams Lane will be affected.  (The repair was completed at about 7:15 AM)

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