The State Comptroller’s Office conducted an audit of the State Department of Health, they found that the Department was unprepared to respond to infectious disease outbreaks at nursing homes, even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York. A lack of funding for public health forced the Department to operate without critical information systems and staff that could have identified and helped limit the spread of COVID-19 at nursing homes, also the department did not provide the public with accurate COVID-19 death counts and became entangled in the undercounting of those deaths as Governor Cuomo took control of information provided to the public. The Auditors believe that the actual number of nursing home residents who died is still uncertain.

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The US Air Force Band will be performing a free concert in Oneonta this evening, spokesman Gene Schmidt explains:

(Gene Schmidt 3-16-22)

Schmidt said that proof of vaccination & masks are required for tonight’s concert at the Foothills Performing Arts center on Market Street in Oneonta.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies observed a vehicle traveling on Main Street in Delhi last Friday with a non-functional headlight. Deputies stopped the vehicle, the driver was identified as 19-year-old Skylar Pesout of Sidney Center, Deputies charged him with DWI and driving with blood alcohol content of .14%. Pesout was also issued Traffics Tickets & was released on an appearance tickets and is to appear in the Town of Delhi Court on a later date to answer the charges.

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Commerce Chenango Tourism announced their Inaugural “Wine Beer Food Festival” on July 30th at the Chenango County Fairgrounds in Norwich, Commerce Chenango President & CEO Kerri Green told WCDO News about the new venture on the WCDO Morning show this morning:

(Kerri Green 3-16-22)

More information is available at chenangowbffest.com, as well as their Facebook, Twitter & Instagram pages.

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The Afton Community Theater & the Tri-Town Theater are teaming up for “Into The Woods” later this month in Norwich. Cast Members Sarah Norris and Mikaela Sepulveda talked about the characters they portray in this musical, on the WCDO Morning show this morning:

(Sarah Mikaela 3-26-22)

The show will be at the Martin W. Kappel Theater in Norwich on Friday & Saturday Nights, March 25 & 26th with a Sunday Afternoon Matinee on March 27th, Tickets are available at tritown.booktix.com more information is also available on their Facebook Page.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 3-16-22

Norwich City Police officers conducted a traffic stop on Mitchell Street Friday Morning, the driver left the vehicle & ran, & was apprehended after a short foot pursuit. Norwich police charged 23 year old Dylan Keenan of Bridgewater for criminal possession of a controlled substance, obstruction of governmental administration and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, plus Keenan was wanted on several outstanding warrants from different police agencies. Police confiscated methamphetamines packaged for sale, Keenan was processed & was was released on an appearance ticket, but was turned over to State Police for additional processing on the warrants.

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The New York State Department of Labor released preliminary local unemployment rates for January 2022. The State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 5.4% in December 2021 to 5.3% in January 2022. Delaware & Chenango Counties reported at 4% Unemployment, Otsego had 4.1% unemployment in January.

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Jake Cotten was elected as Unadilla’s new village mayor over challenger Christopher Price in village elections Tuesday, by a vote of 117 to 82. Democrat Paul Baldwin and Republican Joseph Paliotta won trustee seats on the Unadilla Village Board. In Otego, Democrat David Clapper & Republican James Salisbury were elected to the village board.

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The State DEC announced that the annual brush burning ban begins in New York State today, the ban runs through May 14 this year, more information is available at dec.ny.gov.

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Village Elections are being held across the state today. In Unadilla, 2 men are running for Mayor, Jason Cotten & Christopher Price are seeking the seat, incumbent Jack Insinga declined to seek re-election, also in Unadilla 4 people are seeking 2 seats on the village baord, Republicans Joseph Paliotta & Eric Harkins, and Democrats Paul Baldwin & Dwight Mott are the candidates. In Otego, Republicans James Salisbury & Joseph Stanton are seeking Re-election to the village board, while Democrat David Clapper Jr. is also in the race. Polls are open from Noon until 9:00 PM today.

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State Senator Peter Oberacker voted “NO” on the State Senate budget resolution in Albany for fiscal year 2022-23, which was adopted Monday, Oberacker explained his no vote:

(Senator Peter Oberacker 3-15-22)

The state budget is due on April 1st.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies stopped a vehicle on State Highway 10 last Tuesday in the Town of Delhi with an expired vehicle inspection sticker. 29-year-old Christina Hood of Delhi had her driving privileges suspended for Failure to Answer a Summons in the Town of Delhi Court, and the vehicle she was operating had a suspended registration. Hood was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle & Operating with a Suspended Registration, unlicensed operator and uninspected motor vehicle. Hood was released on Traffic Tickets, to appear in the Town of Delhi at a later time.

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The City of Norwich Police Department & New York State Parole performed a home check Friday morning at 6 Lee Avenue in Norwich. Police discovered Methamphetamines, suboxone & an illegal rifle, Norwich officers arrested 34 year old Michael Pierce and 30 year old Jordann Maroney for criminal possession of a controlled substance, endangering the welfare of a child, Pierce was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Pierce and Maroney were arraigned in Norwich City Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility without bail.

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Delaware County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched February 15th to a Harassment Complaint in the Town of Meredith. 48-year old Zacharias Fuller of Richfield Springs had electronically communicated with the victim and made threats to harm the victim. Deputies submitted a request for a criminal summons and an order of protection to Town of Meredith Court, which was issued. Deputies learned that Fuller was being held on unrelated charges at the Otsego County Correctional Facility, he was charged with Aggravated Harassment & he remained incarcerated in Otsego County, and will appear in the Town of Meredith Court at a later date.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 3-15-22

State Police arrested 32 year old Richard Hildebrandt of Mastic Beach for Driving While Impaired by Drugs. Troopers were dispatched to the parking lot of Mountain Side Residential Care, they located Hildebrandt, he failed Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, further investigation revealed that numerous unlocked vehicles were rummaged through in the Margaretville area prior to Hildebrandt’s arrest. Many of the stolen items were located in Hildebrandt’s vehicle. Hildebrant was additionally charged with Grand Larceny and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property & Petit Larceny, & Criminal Mischief in the fourth degree. He is scheduled to appear in the Middletown Town Court on April 14^th.

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Delaware County Public Health will host a Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic for dogs, cats and ferrets today from 5:00 to 6:30 PM at the Colchester Highway Department on River Road in Downsville. More information is available at 607-832-5200 or delawarecountypublichealth.com

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The next Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce meeting will be held this morning at the back of Bob’s Diner, the meeting will begin at 7:30 AM.

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New York City DEP is repairing a leak in their Delaware water supply system which will require the Delaware Aqueduct to be shut down for approximately 5-8 months beginning in October. The repair project that will completely shut off water diversions to NYC from their Delaware River basin reservoirs. More information is available at state.nj.us/drbc.

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