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Officials with the Otsego County Fair announced that they will cancel this year’s event.  Organizers are planning to hold the Fair in Morris in August of 2021.

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Chenango County Public Health announced that they have had 146 positive cases of the Coronavirus since March.  They have 24 in quarantine, no one is hospitalized, there have been 6 deaths, and over 11,000 tests have been conducted.

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Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig announced that the Oneonta Community Advisory Board will be formed shortly, as the city’s citizens & Oneonta Police will discuss Oneonta Police policy, as mandated by Governor Cuomo.  The committee will include Oneonta Police Chief Doug Brenner, plus a cross section of local community leaders & residents.  Each Police force in the state has until April 1st of next year to get their policies discussed with the community they serve.

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Regatta Row 2020 will continue this year with the auction of Adirondack chairs made up from canoe paddles & decorated by local artists, Jericho Arts Council Spokesperson Rachel Hares told WCDO News about the chairs:

(Rachel Hares 7-2-20)

The chairs on display in front of businesses along North & West Main Streets in Bainbridge, along with some mini canoe paddles painted by area young people. The auction begins online from Sunday at 12:00 noon until August 7th at 10:00 pm at 32auctions.com. More information is available at jerichoarts.com or at the Council’s Facebook page.

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The State Health Department is continuing with research regarding the effects that Air Conditioner Filters may have on curtailing the spread of the COVID 19 virus in restaurants, malls, gyms & other inside businesses with heavier densities, Governor Cuomo commented on Wednesday:

(Cuomo 7-2-20)

The state Health Department announced that over 4 million tests have been administered since March, with 394,954 positive tests, there were 10 deaths Wednesday from the virus, and the state death toll is 24,877.  Hospitalizations statewide were at 878 on Wednesday.

State Police arrested 42 year old Jennifer McCluskey of Otego for Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs.  A trooper was dispatched to a one-car crash on County Highway 3A in the town of Unadilla, the trooper discovered that McCluskey’s vehicle was in the embankment, McCluskey was arrested, processed and released on appearance tickets to the town of Unadilla court on July 27th, & was turned over to a sober third party.

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State Police arrested 19 year old Ryan Spence of Port Crane for Driving While Intoxicated, after Troopers were dispatched to a one-car crash on State Route 369 in the town of Fenton.  Spence traveled off the roadway and struck a tree; He was arrested and released on appearance tickets to the town of Fenton court then released to a sober third party.

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Delaware County Public Health announced Wednesday that they have had 82 total Positive Results for COVID 19.  76 people have recovered, no one is isolated at home, & no one is hospitalized, 6 have died, 17 are quarantined, over 3700 people have been tested.

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The Northeast Classic Car Museum is preparing to reopen its doors on Friday, July 10th, in accordance with the State’s phased reopening plan with many health and safety procedures being followed.  The Museum will be open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only through the month of July.  The Museum will then reevaluate whether to expand operating hours for the month of August. 

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The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office arrested 2 people on a variety of drug charges after a search warrant was executed in the town of Worcester.  Deputies arrested 30 year old Jesse Wilson & 29 year old Samone Van Buren, they seized crack cocaine, suboxone, marijuana, $2,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia,   and Wilson and VanBuren were arraigned in the Town of Worcester Court and sent to the Otsego County Jail on $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond pending court action on September 3rd.

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Former Cooperstown teacher Justin Hobbie pleaded guilty to 3 counts of sexual exploitation of a child.  Hobbie was accused of persuading girls under the age of 16 of sending him explicit videos.  Hobbie will be sentenced in December he will likely serve jail time & will be required to register as a sex offender.

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Governor Cuomo signed legislation strengthening protections for minors against felony sex offenders. The law prevents minors from being placed in the custody of an individual who has been convicted of rape in the first or second degree, sexual conduct against a child in the first degree or predatory sexual assault against a child, it also prevents sex offenders from having unsupervised visits with a person who has been convicted of a felony sexual offense against the subject of the visitation order.

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New York state farms generated $5.7 billion in revenue in 2017, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.  New York has 33,400 farms, employs more than 55,000, farmland covers 23% of the state’s total land area,   New York ranks second nationwide for the production of apples and maple syrup, ranks third for grapes and eleventh for beer.  New York is the third largest producer of wine, with its wineries producing nearly 32 million gallons in 2017. The full report is available at osc.state.ny.us.

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Over $64,000 has been awarded to Nonprofits by the Community Foundation for South Central New York, for Capital Projects, Programs and Operating Support.  Locally grants were awarded to A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Crime Victims Assistance Program Chenango Child Advocacy Center & the Valleyview Elementary School $984 for a kindergarten alternative seating program helping students with special needs maintain focus in the classroom

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The 5th Annual Binghamton Porchfest will be held on Sunday at various locations around Binghamton’s West Side.  163 musical performances will take place on 53 residential porches, stoops, and yards across the historic Abel Bennett Tract.  Performances are held from 12:00 noon to 7:00 PM; more information is available at binghamtonporchfest.com or at (845) 649-2912.

Governor Cuomo signed legislation allowing victims of domestic violence to seek damages against individuals who fail to obey or enforce an order of protection; expanding the eligibility for victim compensation to victims of unlawful surveillance crimes who did not suffer a physical injury and expanding the definition of “child victim” to include children who witness a crime to ensure those children are eligible for victim compensation and assistance.

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A Red Cross Blood Drive is being held today at the Commerce Chenango Offices in Norwich.  The blood drive will run from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, All blood types are needed. More information is available at redcrossblood.org.

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The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting today in the District Conference Room at the Jr-Sr High School at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

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State police are asking for the public’s help in locating 39 year old James Sitts of Oneonta, who is wanted in connection with a grand larceny investigation. Sitts is described as a white male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 165 pounds with brown hair, blue eyes and a beard, he has several distinctive tattoos on his neck and right arm, his last known address was in the Lantern Hill Trailer Park in Oneonta. Anyone with information is asked to call state police at (607) 561-7400.

Federal law Enforcement officials arrested 41 year old Justin Hobbie of Springfield, on child pornography charges. Hobbie was working as a physical education teacher & was formerly a girls’ soccer coach in the Cooperstown School District. District officials alerted parents of the arrest this morning, they did not believe that any incident involving a Cooperstown Student occurred, the investigation is continuing.

60 year old Lynn Beilby of South New Berlin has been charged with animal abuse, for allegedly torturing an animal and failing to provide sustenance to an animal. Beilby is scheduled to appear in the Town of Morris Court on January 14th to answer to the charges.

The Delaware County Historical Association will host its inaugural Christmas Fair on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The event is free & open to the public, more information is available at 746-3849 or e-mail dcha@delhi.net

The Village of Franklin will hold their annual Christmas celebration tomorrow. Events will include a Library Book Sale, Grandma’s Pantry will be open from 11:00 to 3:00 at the Methodist Church, and the annual Holiday Market will run from 12:00 to 4:00 at the Fire House, pictures with Santa Claus will begin at 6:00 PM, also at the Fire House.

The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce announces a variety of events to be held Saturday. The highlight will be a parade starting at 5:00 PM, there will also be a library open house from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, and carolers, and after the parade be sure to go to the Episcopal Church (with red doors) for your photos with Santa.

State Police arrested 37 year old Michael Collins of Butternuts, for Unlawful Imprisonment, Criminal Obstruction of Breathing and Criminal Mischief, after Troopers were dispatched to a residence on Wilbur Hill Road in the town of Butternuts for a domestic dispute. After an investigation, troopers determined that Collins and a victim were involved in an argument that turned physical, where Collins is accused of choking, taking a phone away when the victim attempted to call for help and not allowing the victim to leave. Collins was arraigned in the town of Butternuts Court where he was released on his own recognizance. The judge issued an order of protection to the victim.

The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage and they are hosting 3 blood drives today. In Oneonta, a blood drive is being held at SUNY Oneonta from 12:00 Noon until 5:00 PM, one is being held in Cooperstown from 1:00 to 6:00 PM at the Clark’s Sports Center, & another is being held in Morris from 1:00 to 6:00 PM at the Zion Episcopal Church on Main Street. Blood donors of all blood types, especially type O, and platelet donors are urged to make an appointment to donate at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS

The Unadilla Rotary Club & the Unadilla Chamber of Commerce will be presenting the Annual Santa Saturday in Unadilla, with Events being held at the Bauer Community Center at 246 Main Street, from 1:30 to 4:00 pm. Santa will arrive by Fire Truck at 3:00 pm. The parade will form at 2:30 on Sperry Street, off Clifton Street and proceed down Main Street to the Community Center. The Unadilla Rotary Club will have their annual basket raffle fundraiser with ticket winners announced. The Unadilla Public Library will be showing Classic Christmas Movies.

Delaware & Ulster Rail Road is participating in the 2018 Delaware County Toys for Tots campaign and passengers can ride the Silver Sleigh on Sunday, in exchange for a new, unwrapped toy that will be delivered to a Delaware County child in time for Christmas! For departure times and more information visit durr.org.