The US Department of Veteran’s Affairs announced that all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military – at home or abroad – are now eligible to enroll directly in VA health care through the recently signed PACT Act. Peter Potter of the VA in Albany told WCDO News that veterans need a couple of forms & they can get into the system & started getting treated:
(Peter Potter 3-6-24)
Potter said that Veterans from all branches are eligible, they can go to VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411.
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Congressman Marc Molinaro’s Office announced the Federal Appropriations bills includes $27.6 million for community development projects in the 19th Congressional District. Funded projects include $5,000,000 for the City of Binghamton Henry Street Improvements, $4,200,000 for the Oneonta West Main Street Water & Sewer Extension Project, $1,250,000 for the City of Norwich Sanitary Sewer System Repairs.
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Former Oneonta Councilmember Michele Frazier announced she is running for the 51st State Senate District, against incumbent Republican Peter Oberacker. Frazier lives in Delhi, is a local Realtor and teaches Criminal Justice at SUNY Delhi, more information is available at Michelefrazierfor51.com
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The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is currently looking for Douglas Gibson on an outstanding warrant for Violation of Probation for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, Gibson is described as a White Male 5’5″ 150 pounds with Blond Hair & Brown eyes, anyone with information can go to gobroomecounty.com/sheriff/warrants or call (607) 778-1196.
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Ginny Ireland of Bainbridge has passed away on Sunday March 3, at her home, after a 12 year battle with cancer. Ireland was the coordinator of Operation Merry Christmas for many years & volunteered for many other area organizations, Calling hours will be at the Westcott-Madden Funeral Home 123 Main Street Unadilla on Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Private burial will be in Evergreen Hill Cemetery, Unadilla. Memorial contributions may be made to: Operation Merry Christmas c/o Community Bank 19 Union Street Sidney, NY 13838. Online condolences may be made at: www.wmaddenfh.com.
A.M. NEWS Wednesday 3-6-24
The House subcommittee investigating the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic subpoenaed former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in relation to his administration’s handling of nursing homes during the pandemic, they are expected to ask Cuomo about instructing nursing homes to admit recovering COVID-positive patients from hospitals.
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64 year old Johannes Vulto pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to producing cheese that caused a listeria outbreak that killed 2 people and hospitalized six others in 2016. Vulto and his company, Vulto Creamery LLC, pleaded guilty to causing the introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce, according to prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage, Bassett Healthcare Network is encouraging community members to consider donating blood in Oneonta or Sidney Today. 1 Blood Drive will be at the FoxCare Center at 1 Foxcare Drive from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm, the other will be at A.O. Fox Hospital – Tri-Town Campus, Sidney from 2:30 to 6:30 pm In the 2nd Floor Conference Room. Walk-ins are welcome, Appointments may be made by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, redcrossblood.org, or using the American Red Cross Blood Donor App.
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The Sidney Chamber of Commerce is holding their next meeting this morning. The meeting begins at 8:00 AM at the Community Cultural Center at 8:00 AM.
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]]>(Ginny Ireland 10-20-16)
Ireland said that once all the requests are made, the tags on Christmas Trees will show up in many Tri-Town Area Establsihments, patrons will take tags & return with the request item, the give away will be on December 10th at 44 Union Street in Sidney.
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Oneonta Police responded to a possible drug overdoese death on Orchard Street on Tuesday. 45 year old Matthew Hill was found deceased in his apartment where drugs were located, he had been arrested in August by Oneonta Police on drug charges.
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Governor Cuomo today announced that State Park campgrounds set a new record for attendance for the fifth consecutive year. Through Columbus Day, campsites, cabins and cottages across the state were occupied for more than 633,000 nights, surpassing 2015’s record of 623,891 nights. State Park camping occupancy has climbed nearly 17 percent since 2009.
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NYSEG is reporting that about 140 customers in Chenango County were without power, mainly in Guilford Oxford & Bainbridge. Crews hope to have power restored shortly.
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The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office has been receiving a large number of larcenies from vehicles over the last couple of weeks. We ask that people remain vigilant and make sure that they do not leave anything of value in their vehicles as well as keeping their vehicles locked. The investigation into these incidents is ongoing and we ask that if anyone has any information on these larcenies to contact the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office at (607)334-2000.
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Tickets for the Bainbridge Commitment to Community Dinner will be available for only a few more days. The Dinner will honor the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year; John Payne & Business of the Year: Nana’s Keepsakes, it will be held at the Sundown Golf & Country Club on Saturday, October 29th. Tickets for the dinner are available to purchase at the Bainbridge Town Clerk’s Office, NBT Bank in Bainbridge, Bob’s Diner & Nana’s Keepsakes or you can contact Chris Smith @ 967-3005. Tickets will be available for purchase until Saturday, October 22nd.
NYSERDA’s NY-Sun PV Trainers Network and the Otsego County Planning Department invite all local public officials to attend the Land Use Planning and Zoning for Solar Workshop tonight. The workshop will cover information on current solar topics, including relevant property tax topics related to solar development and agricultural assessments. The presentation will take place at the ETC Room, at the Milford BOCES at 1914 County Route 35, tonight from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
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2 more blood donation opportunities will be held in Otsego County today. A blood drive will be held in Franklin from 1:30 to 6:30 PM at the Franklin Methodist Church, 101 Main Street, and another will be in Oneonta from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Fox Hospital Levine Center, at 1 Norton Avenue. Appointments can be made by downloading the Red Cross Blood donor App, online at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
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The City of Oneonta will be paving the utility trenches at the intersection of Chestnut street & West Street today & tomorrow between the hours of 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM, 2 way traffic will be maintained but traffic delays can be expected, West Street will require closing to through traffic between chestnut & Center during the work hours & detours will be set up along Church Street. More information is available at 432-6465.
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The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting on Tonight in the District Conference Room at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.
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(Kerri Green 12-12-14)
More information is available by calling the Sidney Chamber office at 561-2642.
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The Sidney American legion will host their annual children’s Christmas party again tomorrow, legion spokesman Larry Halbert explains:
(Larry Halbert 12-12-14)
The event runs from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM at the legion at 22 Union Street in Sidney Saturday.
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The Bainbridge chamber of commerce will hold their annual parade and other holiday activities this Saturday. Bainbridge Chamber President John Payne explains:
(John Payne 12-10-14)
Payne said that those lining up to be in tomorrow’s parade should line up at Pruyn Street at about 4:00 PM.
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Operation Merry Christmas will hold their giveaway to families that have signed up this year, tomorrow in Sidney. Program coordinator Ginny Ireland explains:
(Ginny Ireland 12-12-14)
The giveaway is being held Saturday on the 2nd floor of the Sidney Civic Center.
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A benefit will be held Sunday in Sidney for Brenda O’Connell, who has been battling cancer for many years. The benefit will be held at the Sidney American Legion Sunday from 12:30pm to 6:00 PM, Brenda has been out of work due to her health, and is faced with large medical bills, the benefit will feature food, beverages and live entertainment with Tumbleweed Highway, Woodshed Prophets, Fetish Lane, Kenyon Hill, $ 15 Donations are encouraged at the door.
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(Ginny Ireland 12-1-14)
Ireland said that the deadline to get a present is December 5th; the giveaway will be on December 12th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Sidney Civic Center for those who signed up, more information is available at 563-8119 or 967-8119.
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State police at Oneonta arrested 7 people for allegedly stealing from the Oneonta Wal-Mart. The theft occurred at about 9:00 AM Friday. 26-year-old Donovan Howard; 28 year old Kawanda Mathis; 32 year old Misheena Watson; 17 year old Shanya Nevith; 27 year old Joshua Hervey and 18 year old Takell Henry of Utica and 19 year old Quinnasia Berry of Herkimer were charged with 3rd degree grand larceny. All 7 were sent to the Otsego County jail pending future court action. .
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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 34 year old Amy Fultz of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for 3rd degree Criminal Mischief, following a domestic dispute in which it is alleged that Fultz caused over $1,000 damage to a vehicle.
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2 Otsego County residents were arrested on Friday after investigators from the sheriff’s office found nearly 13 pounds of marijuana in a Town of Morris home in October. 55-year-old Michael DeLuca of Pittsfield and 62-year-old Sallie Lewis Jacoby of Morris were charged with 1st degree criminal possession of marijuana. Investigators found Deluca and a bedroom full of freshly cut marijuana in Jacoby’s home on Pegg Road. Deluca and Jacoby will appear in Morris Town Court December 15th.
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The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is offering a one-day online-only deal on three-year park passes. The special price will be available today only for Cyber Monday. The 3-year Empire Passport will be discounted to $130, a $35 savings off the usual price. An Empire Passport gives unlimited vehicle access to all state parks, nature centers, recreation areas, boat launches and preserves. Information is available at nysparks.com
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Teacher retirements in New York have risen 10% since 2010, while staff members have fallen 5.5% over the same time period. The rise in retirements is an ongoing trend as staff reaches retirement age, faces new testing standards and cashes out pensions. State Teachers Retirement System records show the number of teachers in retirement jumped from 141,716 to 155,931 between the 2009 and 2014 school years. At the same time, the number of active members in the system fell from 285,774 to 270,039. New York State United Teachers, the state’s teachers union, attributed new testing standards and tougher teacher evaluations to the reason why teachers are leaving the workforce.
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(Ginny Ireland 12-5-13)
More information about “Operation Merry Christmas” is available at 967-8119 or 563-8119.
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State Police arrested 36-year-old Jason Carl of Conklin on a variety of charges, after he attempted to flee from officers executing a search warrant, with the pursuit resulting in property damage accidents. Carl was charged with 2nd & 3rd degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tampering with Physical Evidence; Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer, Criminal Possession of Marihuana, Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting Arrest and Various Vehicle and Traffic Law charges relating to the pursuit and 2 accidents. Police confiscated 6 ounces of cocaine; 8 grams of heroin; 8 ounces of marihuana; drug paraphernalia, scales, packaging materials and over $2,500 in cash. Carl was arraigned and was remanded to the Broome County jail without bail.
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The trial for a former Walton teacher Stephanie Fletcher will be adjourned until a later undetermined date in Delaware county court. Fletcher is accused of performing sexual acts with two 16-year-old male students in early 2011. Fletcher pleaded not guilty to all charges related to the incidents, which allegedly occurred while she was a teacher at the Walton middle and high schools.
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The Otsego county sheriff’s department arrested 33 year old Bryan Slaughter of Utica and 22 year old Dylon Mager of North Carolina on drug charges. Deputies reported that 67 packets of heroin was seized, both were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, Slaughter was sent to the Otsego County jail without bail, Mager had bail set at $2,500 pending future court action.
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2 families managed to escape a fire this morning at 46 Park Street in Binghamton. The fire was called in at about 5:45 this morning, firefighters managed to get a women & 2 of her children to safety, who were trapped on the roof. The building was heavily damaged; no injuries among firefighters were reported. 4 people were taken to area hospitals for treatment; the cause of the fire is under investigation.
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Assemblyman Cliff Crouch will be hosting a town hall meeting for the town of Triangle tonight. The event will begin at 6:00 PM in the Triangle Town Hall located at 2612 Liberty Street in Whitney Point.
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The State Index of Consumer Sentiment rose 3.7 points in November, while the nation’s index rose1.9 points, according to a poll by the Siena College Research Institute. At 73.3, New York’s overall Index of Consumer Sentiment is still 1.8 points below the nation’s Index of 75.1
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Residents of Norwich are partnering with the American Red Cross for a “Communities That Care” blood drive on Friday, December 13th from 12:00 to 7:00 PM. The drive will be held at the Howard Johnson Hotel at 75 North Broad Street
in Norwich, The Red Cross is asking eligible blood donors of all blood types to donate blood during the winter months to strengthen the community’s blood supply.
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(Ginny Ireland 12-3-13)
Some of the local businesses participating with trees include Acco Brands, Amphenol, NBT, Rainbow’s end, Trackside dining in Sidney, Village Variety in Unadilla and the Sidney library. More information about ”Operation Merry Christmas” is available at 563-8119 or 967-8119.
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The Sidney Chamber of Commerce will have their annual Jolly Holly days parade this Friday night, followed by other activities leading up to Christmas. Chamber spokesperson Kerri Green explains:
(Kerri Green 12-3-13)
The children’s holiday party will be held on Saturday December 14th at the Sidney library, registration is requested by calling the chamber office at 561-2642 or 267-8541.
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The Bronx Wanderers will be performing at the Chenango Arts Council Martin W. Kappel Theater this Friday night in Norwich. Chenango Arts spokesperson Victoria Kappel comments:
(Victoria Kappel)
Tickets are still available for Friday night’s concert at chenangoarts.org or by calling 336 ARTS.
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The Sidney Central School District Freshman Class is having a toy drive to help replace the Toys For Tots toys lost in the storage facility fire in Norwich last Friday. School officials said that the freshman class decided to do the toy drive, as many remember that Roger Barnhart, the Toys for Tots coordinator, donated toys to kids who lost toys in the flooding. Toys can be dropped off at the Sidney High School offices by Monday, December 9th.
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Assemblyman Cliff Crouch is hosting 3 town hall meetings this week in Kirkwood, Windsor and Triangle. Crouch told WCDO News about the town hall meeting and why he tries to schedule as many as he can each fall:
(Cliff Crouch 12-3-13)
The first meeting will be Today at 5:00 PM at the Kirkwood Town Hall, the 2nd meeting will be on Wednesday, at 6:00 PM at the Windsor Town Hall, and the 3rd will be on Thursday at 6:00 PM at the Triangle Town Hall on Liberty Street in Whitney Point.
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U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is proposing cutting the excise tax on small breweries, to help them grow their businesses, hire new employees and revitalize communities. Schumer’s legislation would cut the excise tax on small breweries in half, from $7 to $3.50 per barrel for the first 60,000 barrels they brew per year.
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The Supreme Court refused to consider throwing out New York State’s taxes on Internet purchases on websites like Amazon.com. The high court refused to hear appeals from Amazon.com LLC and Overstock.com, in their fight against a state law that forces them to remit sales tax the same way in-state businesses do. Amazon has been collecting sales tax in New York as it fights the state over a 2008 law that was the first to consider local affiliates enough of an in-state presence to require sales tax collection
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(Ginny Ireland 10-21-13)
Calls for Operation Merry Christmas can be made to 967-8119 or 563-8119.
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Tickets are available for the Broadway Musical “Hello Dolly” starring Sally Struthers, for 2 shows on November 10th in Binghamton. Tina Niles of NAC Entertainment explains:
(Tina Niles 10-21-13)
Tickets are available at ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000. Ticketmaster.com, at the Arena Box Office, more information is available at BroadwayInBingamton.com.
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Governor Cuomo announced that tickets are now on sale for the Taste NY Harvest Fest at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, November 2 and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, November 3 in the Horticulture Building. Food, wine & sprits from all over the state will be featured; Tickets can be purchased at (315) 487-7711, extension 1001. More information is available at nysfair.org.
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State regulators claim that utilities providing natural gas service have adequate supplies, delivery capability and storage inventory, to meet customer demands under severe winter weather conditions. The Public Service Commission said that their annual review of the utilities winter preparedness also finds that customers heating bills are expected to rise this winter by more than 3% or about $6 a month, during the heating season.
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DOT Officials announced that Prospect Street eastbound between Karlada Drive and Front Street in Binghamton would be closed for reconstruction of Prospect Street near the Front Street intersection. A signed detour will be in place for Prospect Street eastbound traffic to Front Street, which will guide motorists on Prospect Street west to Airport Road, to the on-ramp to State Route 17 eastbound & to Interstate 81 northbound exit 5 to Front Street. This traffic restriction will be in place for 6 weeks.
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Congressman Chris Gibson announced a bill to create a Tick-borne Disease Advisory Committee. Gibson said that they want to increase awareness & improve the diagnosis & treatment of those diseases, the CDC estimates that the number of Americans diagnosed with Lyme Disease each year is about 300,000, more information is available at Gibson.house.gov.
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The Unadilla Fire Department will hold an open house tonight from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the firehouse on Clifton Street. The public is invited to check out the department’s equipment, and members will be on hand to answer questions.
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The New York health exchange has signed up 134,000 New Yorkers since it opened on October 1st. The goal is to sign up 1 million uninsured New Yorkers over the next 3 years. The exchanges open January 1st and runs through March 31st, more information is available at nystateofhealth.ny.gov.
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New York state education commissioner John King will tour the state to hear concerns about the newly implemented Common Core Education standards. King’s tour will take him to 16 stops, including appearances at 12 public forums moderated by state lawmakers. Venues & dates have not been finalized, but King will make a stop in the Binghamton area. More information is available at nysed.gov.
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