MERIDALE – WCDO Radio News

WCDO NEWS WEDNESDAY 12-6-23

wcdonews — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 20:47:43 +0000

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 12-6-23

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Toys for Tots collection sites will be up for a little while longer & the donated items will be collected shortly, according to Chamber President Ray Pucci:

(Ray Pucci 12-5-23)

Pucci said that about 3000 were distributed to Delaware County Families in need last year.

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3 fire departments responded to a structure fire at 936 Houghtaling Hollow in the town of Meredith Tuesday afternoon. A family of 5 was displaced by the trailer fire. Meridale Firefighters were assisted by the Franklin & Delhi Fire Department, no injuries were reported.

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A special election to pick a successor to George Santos, will be held on February 13th, according to the Governor’s office. Santos was the 6th person expelled from the US House of Representatives in the country’s history Former area Congressman Tom Suozzi may be the Democratic Party choice, he had served that district for 6 years before making a run from Governor. Several Republicans are vying to keep the seat Republican after Santos’s ouster, he was expelled last week following a scandal-plagued tenure in Congress and a looming criminal trial.

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The State Health Department reported that flu cases rose by over 25% in the last week and hospitalizations have surged by 30%. Most of the cases have been reported in Western New York, especially in Erie, Niagara, and Chautauqua Counties. In the last recorded week, there were more than 4,000 cases reported in New York State, there has also been a surge in the respiratory virus known as RSV.

The West Kortright Center announced today a grant award totaling $30,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts to support the nonprofit arts and culture sector. In addition they received a $10,000 Artist Support Grant for Adrianna Newell. The State Council has awarded over $80 million since Spring 2023 to over 1,500 artists and organizations across the state.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 12-6-23

35 year-old Bradley Law of Harpursville was sentenced in Broome County Court to 2 concurrent sentences of 1 1/3rd to 4 years in prison Tuesday. Law hit 13 year old Brennan Loveless with a pickup truck on January 1st 2023 while the boy was riding his bike on the shoulder of Route 7 near his home in Sanitaria Springs. Law fled the scene while Loveless, who was thrown 180 feet down the shoulder, suffering serious injuries. Law then told police he hit a deer with his truck instead. Law pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a firearm and attempted leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident.

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State Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating 42 year old Gabrielle Becker, who is missing from Roxbury, since November 24th. She is described as a white female, 5’7″, 130 pounds with light brown shoulder length curly hair. Becker does not have a vehicle & maybe utilizing public transportation, anyone with information is asked to contact State Police at 561-7400.

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State Police & other state agencies responded to a commercial vehicle crash at I-88 in Duanesburg, Tuesday morning. The investigation has determined a tractor-trailer traveling exited the road and traveled down a steep ravine, carrying multiple large cylinders containing compressed natural gas. The driver was removed and transported to Albany Medical Center with serious injuries and is currently listed in critical condition. I-88 was closed between exit 24 and exit 25 for the investigation & clean up, there were no home or business evacuations & there was no fire or explosion as a result of this crash. The name of the driver will not be released at this time. The investigation into the cause of this crash is ongoing.

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Area Resident Gene Schmidt announced that he & his family & volunteers will be serving Christmas dinner again this year, he told WCDO News that it will be at a different location:

(Gene Schmidt 12-6-23)

Schmidt said that people interested in volunteering can also visit his Facebook page & send an instant message this year.

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The American Red Cross Blood Drive is holding 2 blood drives in Oneonta Today, 1 drive will be held at the A.O. Fox Hospital Levene Center from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, another is being held at the Hunt College Union at SUNY Oneonta from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Appointments can be made with the Blood Donor App, at redcrossblood.org or at 1-800 Red Cross.

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WCDO NEWS MONDAY 6-5-23

wcdonews — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 19:33:43 +0000

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 6-5-23

32 year old Antonio Escobar-Boria of Sidney pleaded guilty in Delaware County Court to Attempted Reckless Endangerment, he is accused of allowing a 2-year-old child to be near illegal drugs at 62 East Main Street in Sidney. After State Police executed a search warrant and discovered the illegal drugs, they directed that the 2-year-old child be brought to the hospital, the 2-year-old child tested positive for fentanyl but did not need medical treatment, Escobar-Boria is expected to be sentenced to a 5-year term of felony probation supervision with a special condition that he successfully complete the Delaware County Adult Treatment Court Program, sentencing is scheduled for July 31st.

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Preparations are continuing for the annual Gus Macker 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament July 8th & 9th at the Norwich High School. Organizer Tom Revoir told WCDO News that they still need referees to come forward:

(Tom Revoir 6-5-23)

Revoir said that people interested in Volunteering can call the Norwich YMCA at 607-336-9622, extension 29.

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Otsego County Sheriff’s Office arrested 30 year old Alan Soules of Meridale following a traffic stop on May 28th in the Town of Milford. Soules was charged with DWI, Driving with BAC .08% of 1% or more, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, Failure to Keep Right, Consuming Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle among other charges, Soules was released & will appear in Town of Milford court at a later date.

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Construction began today on the Buffalo Bills’ new, state-of-the-art $1.54 billion stadium in Orchard Park. The new 60,000-seat facility is the largest economic development project in Western New York History, Construction on the new stadium is expected to be complete in 2026, artists renderings of the stadium can be found at governor.ny.gov/buffalo-bills-stadium.

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37 new firefighters from the State’s Recruit Firefighter Training program at the Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls. Graduates come from 17 fire departments across the state, representing the Academy’s 87th Recruit Firefighter Training class. Upon graduation, all the recruits will serve as career firefighters in their respective fire department. Anthony Capristo & Jack Stanton completed their training & will be part of the Oneonta Fire Department, & Cody Minckler will join the Norwich Fire Department.

A.M. NEWS Monday 6-5-23

On May 15th around 4:39 am, Broome County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Route I-88 westbound near Exit 6 in Harpursville for a one-car motor vehicle accident. 54 year-old Giovanna Criscitello was driving westbound on I-88 near the Harpursville exit when she failed to make a right turn in the highway, entered the centered median and flipped end over end before coming to rest in a ditch along Bates Road. She was transported by ambulance to UHS Wilson Hospital for multiple severe injuries. She died from those injuries, she was not wearing a seat belt.

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The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a car-motorcycle in the Town of Maine. At approximately 8:24am on Saturday, a motorcycle struck a vehicle crossing Route 26 at the East Maine Road intersection, both occupants were ejected, The motorcycle operator, a male, sustained back injuries and the passenger, a female, sustained a life-threatening head injury, both were transported to Wilson Hospital. The driver of the motorcycle is listed in serious condition and the passenger is in critical condition. The automobile operator sustained minor injuries and was transported to Wilson Hospital for evaluation. The accident is still under investigation.

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The American Red Cross is experiencing a blood shortage due to the cancellation of blood drives and has issued an emergency request for all blood types. Donate blood today at the A.O. Fox Tri-Town Campus Lab between 1:30 PM and 6:30PM in the 2nd floor conference room. Appointments may be made at redcrossblood.org, by calling 1-800-RedCross.

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WCDO NEWS MONDAY 8-2-21

wcdonews — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 19:05:08 +0000

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 8-2-21

The spread of Delta Variant has prompted new restrictions, as it is more aggressive and much more easily transmitted than previously strains. According to the CDC, the Variant is now responsible for more than 80% of infections in the United States, largely among unvaccinated people. Governor Cuomo discussed the change in the CDC guidance at a press conference this morning:

(Cuomo 8-2-21)

The CDC reported that the good news is that the vaccines continue to provide strong protection against COVID-19, including the Delta Variant. If you are not vaccinated, you are at risk for illness and possible death as 99.7% of new COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths are unvaccinated people.

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A tractor trailer roll-over accident in Meridale late Thursday night resulted in the closure of State Highway 28 for more than 7 hours. Delaware County Sheriff’s Office reported that the cargo was manually off-loaded and the wreckage removed from the highway. The driver was 43 year-old Elysee Moise of Florida, he was extricated from the truck and transported to Fox Hospital in Oneonta, for treatment of injuries sustained in the accident. The DEC Spill Response Team responded to the scene to contain and mitigate the spill of boxed dairy products & truck fuel. The investigation is ongoing, excessive speed on the wet roadway was a contributing factor in this accident.

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The Otsego County Fair gets underway tomorrow at the fairgrounds in Morris, Fair Spokesperson Lisa Jones comments:

(Lisa Jones 8-2-21)

The full line up of events is available at otsegocountyfair.org. The Otsego County Fair ends Sunday.

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The Chenango River Theater will be back with live performances shortly, at the facility in Greene, Spokesman Bill Lelbach comments:

(Bill Lelbach 8-2-21)

Tickets for “Ben Butler” or “The Craftsman” are available at chenangorivertheatre.org.

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The State Department of Transportation announced that applications are currently being accepted for 57 full-time positions in their fleet administration and transportation maintenance disciplines in the Southern Tier. Additional positions are anticipated to be filled in the coming months. The Department is also teaming up with the Department of Labor to host virtual job fairs to help recruit qualified workers. More than 400 positions are currently available across the state.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 8-2-21

Over 93,000 people were tested for COVID Saturday with over 2500 Positives, for a positivity rate of 2.68%. Patient Hospitalizations were back up to 738, Patients in ICU was up to 152, and those on Ventilators was back up to 52. There were 9 deaths reported Saturday.

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State Troopers and other first responders were dispatched to Canadarago Lake for a man that went into the water and did not resurface. Members of the State Police, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Department, State Park Police, and others responded to the scene Saturday, An investigation revealed that 54-year-old David Morrissey of Mohawk went into the lake after he saw his boat drifting away, he did not resurface. Morrissey was recovered from the lake several hours later by the New York State Police Underwater Recovery Team.

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WCDO NEWS TUESDAY 10-16-18

wcdonews — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 18:24:46 +0000

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office arrested Mark Tubbs and Angela Huggins both of Sidney, for 1 count each of Unlawful Possession of Marijuana and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The pair are accused of possessing marijuana in their apartment, where a 9 year old child also resided. The arrests came during the execution of arrest warrants at the Huggins and Tubbs residence by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team. Both Huggins and Tubbs will appear in the Village of Sidney Court shortly to answer these charges.
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Delaware County Sheriff’s Department Investigators arrested 35 year old Philip Albergo of Meridale and charged him with Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Unlawfully Dealing With Fireworks and Dangerous Fireworks. Albergo was out on Probation on an unrelated charge, Probation Officers discovered a high capacity ammunition feeding device, which is banned in New York State, they also seized numerous unlawful fireworks. Albergo is being held at the Delaware County Correctional Facility as a Probation Violator, to be arraigned in the Town of Meredith Court on these charges at a later time.
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The Town of Sidney Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, regarding the Muddy River Hops, that was originally scheduled for this evening at 7:00 PM has been cancelled. The meeting was due to be held in the Town of Sidney Office building at 44 Grand Street.
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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 39 year old Eric Rossman of Davenport for criminal possession of stolen property, following an investigation into a stolen vehicle in the Town of Harpersfield earlier this year. Deputies encountered Rossman after responding to an accident in the Town of Delhi where he left the scene, they also discovered that Rossman was operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, which led to several other charges. Rossman was arraigned at the Town of Davenport Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 secured bond, he will appear in the Town of Davenport and the Town of Delhi courts at a later date.
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The Town of Hartwick will receive $1 million in grant money from the state for upgrades to the town’s water system. The money will be used to replace water mains, the auxiliary well and the primary well-house building, and to help pay for new mixers for the water storage tank and an emergency backup generator, as well as replacing or repairing water meters.
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Delaware County’s Clean Sweep Hazardous Waste disposal days are coming up this week, County Solid Waste Coordinator Sue McIntyre comments:

(Sue McIntyre 10-16-18)

The event will allow for county farms, businesses & residents to get rid of items such as paints, pesticides & other house hold chemicals, plus Pharmaceutical Wastes, Sharps & Syringes.
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19th Congressional District Candidates will be debating in Walton on Tonight from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at the Walton Theater on Gardiner Place. Congressional candidates who have secured a place on the ballot have been invited, including incumbent John Faso and Democratic challenger Antonio Delgado, Green Party candidate Steven Greenfield and Independent Diane Neal. The debate is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters, the Delaware County Farm Bureau and the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.
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Due to saturated subgrade conditions, Delaware Avenue in Oneonta will remain closed until further notice. The City’s contractor, R.B. Robinson, will leave appropriate signage in place overnight, and will be working to correct this issue today. Businesses on Railroad Avenue will remain accessible at all times through Sand Street or Rose Avenue. More information is available at 432-2100.
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New York state’s health care jobs exceeded 1.2 million in 2017, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Health care employment rose by more than 18 percent over the past decade, more than double the pace of overall employment growth. DiNapoli’s report found the health care industry in New York provided nearly $71 billion in wages, with an average annual wage of $57,200 in 2017. New York ranked 3rd in the nation for its share of health care jobs.
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WCDO NEWS WEDNESDAY 4-26-17

wcdonews — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 20:08:14 +0000

People all over the world are weighing in on naming the baby boy Giraffe, born at Animal Adventure in the town of Colesville recently, where millions watched the birth live on their web-stream. Jordan Patch of Animal Adventure told WCDO News that the first round of voting ended last night where the names were paired down to a “Top 10”:

(Jordan Patch 4-26-17)

People can vote on the Top ten names at nameaprilscalf.com, the name choices are Alyssa’s Choice, Apollo, Geoffrey, Gio, Harpur, Noah, Ollie, Patch, Patches, & Unity. WCDO will air the complete interview with Jordan Patch about Animal Adventure & April the Giraffe in the 8:00 hour on Friday morning.
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The “Regatta Row 3rd Annual Street Art Festival will open Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, in Downtown Bainbridge, where Adirondack style Chairs & Game tables, made in part with Canoe Paddles are being displayed. Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce President John Payne comments:

(John Payne 4-27-17)

Nancy Kitchen is a member of the Jericho Arts Council, which is the lead organization for this project, she told WCDO that the idea for this project began about 5 years ago when a local artist participated in a juried Art Show in the Capital Region, and they wanted to bring something like that to Bainbridge:

(Nancy Kitchen 4-26-17)

The Chairs & Game tables will be auctioned off during the General Clinton Canoe Regatta on Saturday May 27th at 2:00 PM prior to the annual Regatta Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; the money raised will be used for future Jericho Arts Council events.
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Delaware County Sheriff Deputies responded Tuesday to a report of a 2-car accident in the parking lot of the Dutch Deli in Meridale. Deputies and State Troopers were advised that the operator of 1 of the involved vehicles was intoxicated and had fled the scene in his vehicle. Deputies observed the vehicle that fled the scene, had driven past their location, they stopped 49 year old Andrew Bright of Meridale, he was charged with DWI, Aggravated DWI with a Blood Alcohol Content Greater Than .18%, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and backing unsafely. Bright was arraigned in the Town of Delhi Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $500 cash bail pending future court action. The occupant of the struck vehicle was 19-year-old Kyle Oborn of Malta, who was not injured, and was not ticketed.
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Walton Police arrested 3 Walton residents Saturday on various drug charges, following a 6-month investigation. Arrested were 44-year-old Sueann Maler, 34-year-old James Laughman & 32-year-old Jessica Bolster, for criminal sale of a controlled substance. The investigation was wrapped up with sealed indictments being handed down by a Delaware County Grand Jury last week, all 3 were sent to Delaware County jail pending future court action.
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Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig announced that he would seek re-election to that position, at the Oneonta Common Council meeting Tuesday night. Herzig will be opposed by Dan Scanlon on Election Day in November.
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A new Sienna research Institute poll shows that 37% of those polled feel that the new state budget is fair, 23% viewed the budget poorly & 25% viewed it positively. Specific items in the budget polled more favorably, including free college tuition for families with an income up to $125,000, increased aid to school districts, ride sharing & a 2.5 billion dollar clean water infrastructure fund. 51% of those polled said that they would vote for Governor Cuomo for a 3rd term, up slightly from last month.
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Binghamton Police charged 36-year-old Jennifer Grenchus of Vestal with Vehicular Manslaughter, for allegedly driving while impaired by drugs when she hit and killed 47-year-old Ronald Richardson of Binghamton with her car Monday afternoon. Binghamton Police responded to the parking lot of Tom’s Cards and Gifts on Main Street where they found Grenchus and her vehicle, with Richardson pinned underneath. Police, Firefighters & civilians flipped the Grenchus vehicle off of Richardson, who died at the scene before EMT’s could respond. Grenchus struck Richardson along Main Street; dragging his body underneath her vehicle before turning into Tom’s parking lot. Grenchus was arraigned in City Court where she was remanded to the custody of the Broome County Jail. The investigation into incident is continuing, anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Binghamton Police at 772-7080.
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The Sidney Chamber of Commerce will host the Four Chamber mixer meeting today with a social beginning at 6:30 pm at East Main Lanes and Lounge, Sidney.
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United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties will host its 8th Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, May 19 at Ouleout Creek Golf Course in Franklin. Teams can register by contacting Susan Kurkowski at 432-8006 or Tim McGraw at 432-2022. All monies raised will go towards United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties.
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The Otsego County Conservation Association will be holding their annual ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ Garage Sale on April 29 and 30 at the Farmers’ Market Building in Cooperstown. The event will run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on both days. Donations of items will be accepted at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market building in Pioneer Alley, today through Friday, Proceeds from the sale help support OCCA’s environmental programs, For further information, call 547-4488, or occainfo.org.
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WCDO NEWS THURSDAY 8-18-16

wcdonews — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:10:14 +0000

Fire fighters from several area departments responded this morning to a structure fire on Main Street in Delhi. The fire began at about 6:30 this morning in the kitchen of Village Pizzeria at 106 Main Street, it eventually spread to an adjacent antiques store. Main Street has been closed off & the Delaware County Courthouse has cancelled all activity today due to a loss of electrical power. Delaware County Emergency Services department reported that fire fighters from Manpower and Apparatus from Delhi, Andes, Bloomville, Bovina, Franklin, Margaretville, Meridale, Oneonta, Pindars Corners, Sidney, Walton, & Wells Bridge responded, 1 firefighter fell on stairs & suffered minor injuries.
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Governor Cuomo directed State Police to ramp up enforcement efforts as part of a national crackdown on impaired driving through Labor Day weekend, one of the deadliest times of year for drunk and drugged driving fatalities. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign began today and ends September 5, will be carried out with assistance from local law enforcement agencies and aims to reduce deaths and injuries caused by motorists driving drunk or impaired by drugs. 1/3rd of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers. In New York State, alcohol involvement was listed as a contributing factor in more than 7,000 police-reported crashes in 2015, while illegal drugs contributed to more than 800 crashes.
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Otsego County will be holding its annual Household Hazardous Waste Event for Small Businesses on Friday September 9th from 2:00 PM TO 4:00 PM at the Meadows Office Complex County Highway 33W in Cooperstown. Otsego County small businesses should call the County Planning Department to register, or obtain more information, at 547-4225 Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Registration ends September 2nd
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Governor Cuomo today announced the availability of $98.7 million in funding to support bicycle, pedestrian, multi-use path and transportation-related programs as well as projects that reduce congestion and help to meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act. These projects will be selected through a competitive solicitation process and rated based on established criteria that include public benefit, air quality improvement, and innovation. The New York State Department of Transportation will be accepting applications for this funding opportunity through October 21, 2016. Program guidance, applications and workshop schedules may be found at dot.ny.gov.
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In July, New York State’s private sector job count increased by 36,200, or 0.5%, to 7.95 million a new state high, according to the state Labor Department. The statewide unemployment rate was unchanged from June’s level of 4.7%, and remained below the comparable U.S. rate of 4.9% in July 2016. New York’s statewide unemployment rate remained at its lowest level since August 2007.
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Alphonso Dennis of Binghamton was sentenced to 15 years in jail, after he pleaded guilty in federal court to having 2 young females engaging in prostitution in Broome County. Dennis must also register as a sex offender.

The Delaware County Board of Elections announced that Friday is the last day to register in person at the Board of Elections for the September 13th Primary Election. Democrats will vote for a State Senate candidate in the 42nd District in Colchester, Delhi, Hamden, Masonville, Tompkins and Walton, Republicans will vote for a candidate in the 101st Assembly District in Andes, Bovina, Davenport, Delhi, Hamden, & Meredith, the REFORM PARTY primary voters will also decide on a candidate for the 101st Assembly District in Andes, Bovina, Davenport, Delhi, Hamden, & Meredith Registration forms and applications for absentee ballots may be found online at co.delaware.ny.us/departments or at 832-5321 or at the main office in Delhi.
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Commerce Chenango will host their next Business After Hours event today with Frontier communications, at their East Park Place Norwich location. the event will run from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Food & entertainment are scheduled; more information is available at 334-1402.
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The City of Oneonta Civil Service commission will hold their next meeting this afternoon. The meeting will be held in the common council chambers at city hall beginning at 4:30 PM.
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The City of Oneonta announced that due to utility work at the Housing Visions Project at Columbia & west Street, traffic would be detoured today, Monday & Tuesday; Detour signs will be set up to direct traffic away from the scheduled work.
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The Bainbridge town board will hold a special finance meeting today at 4:00 PM. The meeting will be held at the Bainbridge Town Hall & will be open to the public.

WCDO NEWS MONDAY 12-14-15

wcdonews — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 19:45:57 +0000

Governor Cuomo signed an executive order to expedite the freedom of information law appeals process. The order fast-tracks FOIL appeals by requiring that all state agencies file notice of an appeal, settle the record on appeal, and file a brief within 60 days, absent extraordinary circumstances outside agency control. The Governor will introduce legislation in the upcoming session that encompasses the order, while also correcting the serious flaws of 2 Assembly Bills.
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State Police arrested 48-year-old George Velten of Guilford for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, after Velten was stopped during a road check on County Route 35 in the Town of Guilford. Velten’s license showed that he had 12 suspensions on 10 different dates, he was arraigned at the Town of Guilford court and remanded to the Chenango County jail on $1,000 cash bail or $2,500 property bond.
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90% of New Yorkers say they are somewhat concerned, 60 % say they are very concerned, that another terrorist attack will happen in New York in the near future, according to a new Sienna College poll released today. 63% said they have not changed their lifestyle out of fear of a terrorist attack. By a 52-39 percent margin, voters oppose allowing Syrian refugees to come to the United States at this time. 90% also believe that corruption in Albany is still a serious problem, and by a 3-to-1 margin, voters say new laws are needed to prevent further corruption in state government. 2/3rds also agree with Attorney General Eric Schneiderman that daily fantasy sports games are gambling and illegal in New York.
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Delaware County Sheriff Deputies responded to a one-car motor vehicle accident on State Highway 28 in the Town of Meredith. Deputies arrested 28-year-old Benjamin Nobel of Meridale for driving while ability impaired by drugs and unlawful possession of marijuana, plus several traffic summons related to the accident. Nobel was arranged in the Town of Delhi Court and remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $1,000 cash bail. Noble is to re-appear in the Town of Meredith Court at a later date.
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State Police arrested 25-year-old Dustin Phillips of Binghamton for criminal possession of a weapon, after troopers responded to assist an Environmental Conservation Officer who was out with three men shooting on state lands in the Town of Kirkwood. An investigation determined that Phillips and two other men where shooting shotguns at targets, Phillips is on parole and also is a convicted felon who cannot legally possess firearms; he faces court action on Tuesday.
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Governor Cuomo today announced he would host the 2016 State of the State and Executive Budget Address on Wednesday, January 13 at 12:30 p.m. at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. New Yorkers wishing to attend should visit the Governor’s homepage to register, which is governor.ny.gov.

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Former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son Adam were found guilty Friday of 8 counts of bribery, extortion and conspiracy. Dean Skelos was found guilty of using his power as Senate Majority Leader to get no show jobs to his son Adam. The conviction means that Skelos has been removed from the Senate seat that he held onto after resigning as Senate Leader in May.
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U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Governor Cuomo announced a push to prevent known or suspected terrorists from purchasing guns in New York State. Schumer commented at a Press Conference this weekend:

(Schumer 12-14-15)

Schumer said that the request became necessary after legislation in the US Senate did not pass, that would have closed the “Terror Loophole”.
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The Oneonta Department of Public Service will be constructing drainage improvements along the southbound lane of West Street between Hartwick Drive & Ravine Parkway beginning Monday morning at 7:00 AM. The project will continue for the week, from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM daily, 1 lane traffic will be maintained with occasional interruptions, more information is available at 432-6465.
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The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is preparing for one of the season’s signature events: Hall of Fame Classic Weekend, set to return over Memorial Day Weekend. The 2016 Classic will be held on Saturday, May 28 at Doubleday Field. New in 2016, the Classic moves to 1:00 PM, with the popular Home Run Derby starting at noon. Tickets for the 2016 Hall of Fame Classic will go on sale on Monday, March 7th.
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P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 5-5-15

wcdonews — Wed, 06 May 2015 13:36:39 +0000

Governor Cuomo today ordered flags on all state government buildings to be flown at half-staff in memory of New York City police officer Brian Moore, who died yesterday. Flags will be flown at half-staff beginning today, and remain at that position until Officer Moore’s interment. Officer Moore was shot while on duty over the weekend in Queens.
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The jury continues to deliberate in Schoharie County Court today in the 3rd Cal Harris Murder trial. The jury reported that they were deadlocked, but judge Barkett ordered the jury to continue deliberations. The trial lasted over 11 weeks this time around; the previous 2 trials were in Harris’s home county of Tioga. He is on trial for the murder of his estranged wife Michelle in September of 2001.
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State Police arrested 36-year-old Alex Siltanen of Meridale for Driving While Intoxicated. This arrest occurred after Troopers responded to a Delaware County 911 report of a car on fire just off of State Highway 23 in the Town of Davenport. An investigation determined that the driver, who was the only occupant, had drifted off the westbound lane and struck a pole causing his vehicle to ignite and become fully engulfed. Siltanen had been transported to A.O. Fox Hospital but ended up having no injuries. He consented to test of his blood for alcohol and the lab results are pending. Siltanen was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Davenport Court on May 12, 2015.
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Delaware County Court Judge Carl Becker has announced that he will retire, as of July 31st of this year. Becker was first elected as judge in 2002; he was re-elected to a 2nd 10-year term in 2012. An interim judge will be appointed after Becker’s retirement takes effect.
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Many local fire fighters are heading to Ulster County, to try to help contain a forest fire. Evacuations were under way in upstate Ulster County Monday evening due to a major forest fire. The fire started Sunday afternoon in Summitville in Sullivan County and moved east to Ulster County. The fire destroyed about 1,000 acres late Monday; it then crossed State Route 52, which forced the evacuation of the hamlet of Cragsmoor. State Route 52 is closed from Ellenville to Monticello.
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There will be a “Meet the Candidates” event on Sunday, May 17th from 2:00-3:00 pm at the Sidney Memorial Public Library in the Smart Community Room for those community members running for the Sidney School Board of Education. The format will include a short introduction by each candidate and an opportunity for the public to ask questions. The Sidney Teachers’ association and the Sidney Area Youth Advocate program, Inc. is co-sponsoring this event. The public is encouraged to attend. More information is available at 563-2952 or 563-2456.
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There will be a full line up of music with the “Dundee Ales & Lagers Regatta Music Festival this year, at the General Clinton canoe regatta. Chairman John Harmon explains:

(John Harmon 5-5-14)

More information about this year’s General Clinton Canoe Regatta is available at canoeregatta.org.
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P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 4-23-14

wcdonews — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 16:35:37 +0000

Governor Cuomo & state leaders met today to discuss the New York Rising program, to distribute money to areas that needed rebuilding after the string of devastating weather events hit the state over the last 3 years. The Governor Commended local leaders in attendance for their efforts in putting together plans to rebuild their communities:

(Cuomo 4-23-14)

Local counties were awarded millions of dollars through the Regional Councils, for their for infrastructure repairs or replacements following Superstorm Sandy, Tropical Storm Lee & Hurricane Irene since 2011.

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The State Labor Department released local area unemployment rates for March. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.9% in March, the number of private sector jobs in the state was 7,539,300, the highest ever for the month. Locally, the Binghamton & Southern Tier region had 7.6% unemployment, down 9/10th from March of last year.

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State Police & the State Liquor Authority conducted an underage drinking initiative detail in Otsego & Delaware counties. The detail used a group of 3 underage operatives who attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages from 4 convenient stores and 5 bars in Otsego & Delaware Counties. No arrests were made as all the establishments passed. The establishments were located in Meridale, Delhi, Davenport, & Oneonta.

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Local authorities are currently not required to be notified of hazardous materials being brought through an area on freight cars. US Senator Charles Schumer is calling for that policy to be changed, currently, the State Police in Albany are notified, but that does not help the local authorities and emergency responders in the event of a train derailment.

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Delaware County Public Health is reminding area parents to keep to the recommended schedule for child vaccinations. The Centers for Disease control said that vaccinating children on time is the best way to protect them against 14 serious and potentially deadly diseases before their second birthday. Officials report that when parents choose not to vaccinate or they delay vaccinations, children are left unprotected against diseases that still exist such as measles and whooping cough. More information on childhood vaccinations is available at 832-5200 or cdc.gov/vaccines.

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A new Siena Research Institute poll shows Governor Cuomo is leading Republican Gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino in a head-to-head race. However, results from the poll suggest Cuomo’s lead would slip if a third party candidate, who voters view as more liberal or progressive than the governor, entered the race. In a one-on-one race with Astorino, Cuomo leads 58 percent to 28 percent. The poll shows his lead would drop 15 points if a Working Families Party candidate entered the race. Cuomo’s favorability fell slightly compared to last month. 57 percent have a favorable view of the governor, while 38 percent have an unfavorable view.

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The Norwich Emergency Management Office, in collaboration with the National Weather Service in Binghamton, will offer a course in weather spotting. The free SKYWARN weather spotter’s course will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, at the Norwich Fire Department. SKYWARN is a national program that provides real-time severe weather reports to the National Weather Service. For more information call 334-1230.

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New York State ended the 2013-14 fiscal year with a budget surplus, and deposited $175 million in the Rainy Day Reserve Fund, according to a report by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. However, DiNapoli said the $143 billion budget continues to rely on temporary funding sources to attain balance. The General Fund’s year-end balance, of more than $2.2 billion, was $432 million more than the February Financial Plan projections.

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P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 2-18-14

wcdonews — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 18:57:00 +0000

The Amphenol Building Project in Sidney is progressing on schedule. Amphenol Project Manager Tom Czernicki explains:

(Tom Czernicki 2-18-14)

Czernicki said that they were able to get a roof on the new structure before the winter hit, so this rough winter did not slow them down. There are currently over 150 people working on the Amphenol project on Delaware Avenue.

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The increased use of heroin continues to be a major problem locally and throughout the state, as emergency rooms continue to see increasing numbers of overdoses. Dave Ramsey of the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County told WCDO News that the I-stop Program has cut down on people “Doctor Shopping” for painkillers; the next option for addicts has become heroin:

(Dave Ramsey 2-18-14)

Ramsey said that those who have a heroin problem, or who has a loved one with that addiction, they can contact ADAC at 746-8300.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 59-year-old David Mokay of Meridale on 1 count of endangering the Welfare of a Child and 1 count of Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Circulation following a Domestic Incident. Mokay was arraigned in Town of Meredith Court and was remanded to Delaware County Correctional Facility on $1,500 cash bail or $3,000 bail bond. Mokay is to reappear at Meredith Court on March 5^th.

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A new Quinnipiac University poll shows that 88% Of the 1,488 New York voters surveyed, support the legalization of marijuana for medicinal use, only 9% were opposed. The legalization of marijuana for recreational use was supported 57-39%. The poll was conducted between February 6^th & February 10^th, with a margin of error of +/-2.5 percentage points.

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New York transportation officials are setting up public hearings to discuss options for high-speed passenger rail service between New York City and Niagara Falls has been the long time goal of industry leaders, elected officials and transit advocates. The public meetings will be held between March 4^th and 14^th in Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Utica & Poughkeepsie.

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Governor Cuomo announced that all 112 New York Works accelerated bridge projects have been completed and open to motorists. The opening of the Western Gateway Bridge in Schenectady County marks the final finished project, the program allotted $212 million to address bridge replacement or rehabilitation on 112 bridges, $687 million was allocated for 9 projects that were delayed due to budget constraints. More than 2,000 miles of pavement were replaced in 2012 as part of the program.

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Environmental, health and consumer advocacy groups are pushing back against plans by the Cuomo administration to restructure how pesticides are tracked. 38 groups protested a proposal that rolls back a requirement that commercial applicators report where pesticides are used. It would replace that with a new reporting requirement that collects pesticide data at the point of sale. Environmental Advocates say the changes impede the public’s right-to-know about the use of toxic chemicals. DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said the intent is to make the data more usable and accessible.

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A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 2-14-14

wcdonews — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 17:16:48 +0000

Delaware County Sheriff Thomas Mills announced that due to the current winter storm warning, a travel advisory has been issued for all of Delaware County until further notice. All unnecessary travel should be avoided.

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The Joint Landowners Coalition of New York will file its lawsuit against New York State today, The action seeks an Order: Compelling the DEC to finalize the environmental impact statement on hydrofracking, Determining that the DEC referral of the statement to the health department was arbitrary and capricious, & that Governor Cuomo is acting without jurisdiction by orchestrating the delay and interfering with the DEC’s independent decision-making authority. The Coalition is represented by Mountain States Legal Foundation and Levene Gouldin & Thompson.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 27-year-old Ashley Hoyt of Meridale on 1count of 2nd degree Aggravated Harassment for allegedly making numerous unwanted phone calls and text messages to another person. Hoyt was issued a criminal summons ordering her appearance at the Town of Delhi Court on March 4th

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A Valentine’s Day dinner fundraiser will be held at the rendezvous lounge in Afton, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM tonight. Money raised at tonight’s event will benefit Mollianna’s mission.

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The Sidney Moose Club will be holding a benefit Saturday in honor of the late Bill Ray. The event will be held at the Moose Lodge tomorrow from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Proceeds will go for Bill’s medical expenses and for the Bill Ray Little League Baseball Field in Sidney. more information is available at 435-1007.

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The documentary “Triple Divide” will be viewed at the Sidney Memorial Public Library Saturday afternoon. The documentary will start at 12:30, filmmaker Melissa Troutman will be on hand to discuss her film.

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PM NEWS 7-10-13

admin — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 21:35:33 +0000

State regulators are looking for feedback on proposed changes to freshwater fishing rules. The DEC has identified potential changes based on discussions with anglers, biologists, and fisheries managers. Now the DEC is seeking additional angler feedback. Many changes under consideration would eliminate special regulations that didn’t achieve their intended purpose. Highlights include increasing year-round trout fishing opportunities at specific streams and establishing catch-and-release fishing at a few additional streams. To view the potential changes and provide input, go to dec.ny.gov
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Grant funding was approved for the regional sustainability plan, developed by the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council. Gov Cuomo recently announced $30 million in the first round of funding for the implementation of regional sustainability plans throughout the state, including the Southern Tier plan. The Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council, which serves eight counties including Chenango and Delaware, is one of 10 councils created by the governor to streamline economic development efforts statewide. The plan is available at cleanergreenersoutherntier.org
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State Police will conduct a statewide “Buckle Up New York Summer Parks Initiative, July 13 – 28, and will focus on seatbelt use and child passenger safety violations at state parks throughout the state. Each year about 60 million people visit the parks throughout New York State; many of these guests include families with improperly restrained young children.
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State troopers arrested 47 year old Rodney Harris of Meridale, as a fugitive from justice from New York City following a traffic stop in Delhi. Harris was turned over to NYPD.
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State police arrested 39 year old Jeremy Guy of Vestal for DWI with a BAC of .16& following a traffic stop on East Main Street in the Town of Union. Guy was issued an appearance ticket for town of Endicott court July 31.
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A Bronx man was arrested as part of drug ring in Otesgo County. 22 year old Alexander Vega was charged in a sealed indictment with two counts of third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. Vega is accused of selling herorin in Oneonta in August and September of 2011 and being part of a drug trafficking operation originating in the Bronx. More arrests are pending as part of an on going investigation.
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A 47 year old former Unadilla resident was sentenced to 12 and half years in prison, with 10 years post release supervision, after pleading guilty to first degree criminal sexual act. Casey Callahan had been arrested in January by state police.
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During a recent “Aggressive Driving” initiative, highway patrols with the Broome County Sheriff’s Office issued 214 vehicle and traffic citations from June 30 to July 7, according to Sheriff David Harder. Citations were issued for: speeding; speeding in work zone; failure to obey a traffic control device; improper passing; cellphone/texting; “Move Over Law”; seat belt; reckless driving; aggravated unlicensed operator and other violations.
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Some New York government employees will soon begin taking unpaid leaves as part of budget cuts mandated from Congress. More than 1,750 New York National Guard technicians will be forced to stay home one day a week without pay. The furloughs will continue for 11 weeks through the end of September, which is the end of the fiscal year. It’s part of the Budget Control Act, otherwise known as the sequester. The Department of Defense expects to save $4.5 million in New York
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Senator Charles Schumer wants to make voting for those in the military and overseas easier. The goal is to improve the “MOVE Act.” The bill would allow express delivery of voting ballots to service members and would require states to update the government on the availability of ballots before election days to avoid problems. Schumer hopes to pass the legislation as an amendment to the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act
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P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 3-13-13

wcdonews — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:09:26 +0000

SUNY Delhi Police and Delaware County 911 received calls Tuesday morning that a bomb had been placed in Evenden Tower on the SUNY Delhi campus. Officials evacuated the building, Delhi Village Police, Delaware County Sheriff’s Department, Delaware County Emergency Management Office and the State Police Canine Unit responded, they decided that the bomb threat was a hoax after an extensive search. Evenden Tower was declared safe; classes in Evenden Tower resumed this morning.

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Herkimer police have identified the man who killed 4 people & wounded 2 others in 2 separate shootings in Herkimer & Mohawk. Police are looking for 64-year-old Kurt Meyers, of Mohawk, police found guns and ammunition inside his apartment after a reported fire there, this morning. Police said that 2 people were fatally shot and 2 others wounded at John’s Barber Shop in Mohawk, the second shooting happened about a mile away in Herkimer, where two people were killed at Gaffey’s Car Wash. Police believe that Meyers may be hiding out in a jewelry store in Herkimer this afternoon.

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Long time Sidney resident Ed Roelle died Tuesday in Boulder Colorado after a lengthy illness. Roelle was involved with the Tri Town News, was the driving force behind the Sidney nature trail named in his honor, and was a member of the inaugural class of the General Clinton Canoe Regatta Hall of Fame. Roelle was 92, funeral services and burial will be in Sidney, the dates for both will be announced shortly.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Investigators arrested 2 SUNY Delhi students on drug charges Tuesday. 21 year old Shawn Pressly of The Bronx was charged with 2^nd Criminal Sale of Marihuana, for allegedly selling more than 4 ounces of marihuana in the Village of Delhi. Also arrested was 20 year old Teron Brown of Stroudsburg Pennsylvania for Unlawful possession of marijuana. Pressly was arraigned and was remanded to the Delaware county jail on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond, Brown was issued an appearance ticket for Delhi court at a later date. Deputies seized nearly a pound of marihuana, digital scales, packaging material and approximately $1800 cash.

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The Chenango county sheriff’s department arrested 31-year-old Bonnie Wing of New Berlin on an Active Arrest Warrant for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance issued by the Norwich City Court. Wing was taken into custody without incident and transferred over to the custody of the Norwich City Police Department to be arraigned in front of the Norwich City Court at a later date.

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The Delaware county department of highways announced that several county roads are closed to any vehicles with a gross weight in excess of 4 tons on any 1 axle. The effected roads are county route 7 from state route 30 to the county line, county road 10 from route 23 to Meridale, County Road 16 from state route 10 to Treadwell, county road 23 from county road 21 to Sidney center, county road 35 from state route 206 to county route 23, county route 26 from state route 10 to Downsville and county road 67 from state route 10 to Hancock.

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Oneonta police arrested 21-year-old Steven Ranaudo of Oneonta for 3^rd degree grand larceny, falsifying business records, & 2^nd degree disseminating indecent material to a minor. Ranaudo is accused of using his former employers’ credit card for more than $3,000 in illegal purchases, covering up the charges on statements, & using the credit card to connect to a pornographic website, he faces court action at a later date.

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The Chenango county Sheriff’s department arrested 27-year-old Nicholas Simonds of Sherburne for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. The arrest followed a traffic stop in the Town of Oxford, which resulted in the arrest of Nicholas S. Simonds for unlawful possession of marihuana. During an investigation into the stop, Simonds was issued an appearance ticket and released to appear in the Oxford court at a later date.

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State Police in Binghamton arrested 33-year-old Garrett Burns, of Lisle for Driving While Intoxicated with a BAC result of .15%. The arrest resulted from a traffic stop on Interstate 81 in the town of Chenango; Burns was issued an Appearance Ticket returnable to the Town of Chenango Court at a later date.

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The Sidney chamber of commerce is accepting nominations for the 2013 citizen of the years and business of the years. Nomination forms as well as lists of past award recipients is available at the chamber website at sidneychamber.org or by calling 561-2642. Nominations are requested by tomorrow, March 14^th, the winners will be honored at the chamber’s annual dinner of June 7^th.

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P.M. NEWS MONDAY 1-7-13

wcdonews — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:38:38 +0000

Residents in the village of Bainbridge are being asked to conserve water, as a leak in the water delivery system has not yet been found and repaired. Mayor Chick Darling explains:

(Chick Darling)

Darling requested that village water users refrain from using their washing machines, garden hoses & dishwashers until the leak is repaired.

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Governor Cuomo today announced that New Yorkers would save more than $500 million on health insurance premiums in 2013 because the Department of Financial Services cut rate increase requests by insurers. Health insurers requested weighted average increases of approximately 12.4 percent, but DFS, cut the average increase to 7.5 percent. Additional Information is available at governor.ny.gov.

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24-year-old Jovan Gresham of Vestal pleaded guilty to assault and weapons charges for shooting a man 8 times at the former Victoria’s Restaurant in Binghamton in 2010. Gresham pleaded guilty to 1st degree assault and 2 counts of 2nd degree criminal possession of a weapon, for the shooting of Karlshen Marks, and for unlawfully possessing a loaded handgun in the City of Binghamton. Gresham faces sentencing on April 1st; he was released on a cash bail bond of $50,000.

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The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 55-year-old Mitchell Farwell on charges of 2nd degree Harassment and Resisting Arrest. Farwell was charged following an investigation into a noise complaint in the Town of Norwich, he is accused of pushing the responding Deputy during his investigation and then attempted to prevent an arrest from being made. Farwell was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and remanded to the custody of the Sheriff on $500 cash bail.

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Firefighters responded to a fire at 1065 Delaware County Highway 11 in Davenport Friday that destroyed a 2 story home. The Layton family escaped without injury, but they lost family possessions a few pets in the blaze. Firefighters from Davenport, East Meredith, Meridale, Oneonta, West Oneonta, Schenevus, Otego, Stamford and FAST units of Franklin and Worcester responded. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Children in the Walton central school district have been receiving death threats as well as Violent & suggestive images through Facebook. About a dozen students were targeted, through their Facebook accounts; Walton police hope to have an arrest shortly.

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The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 19 year old Joseph Daring of New Berlin on a 2nd degree harassment charge. Daring is accused of grabbing of an unidentified victim by the neck during an argument. Daring will appear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

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State Senator Jim Seward & Congressmen Chris Gibson toured Otsego County today. Seward attended the Otsego County Chamber State of the State Breakfast in Oneonta, followed by tours of Ioxus, Corning, and Custom Electronics in through the afternoon. Both men were recently re-elected to their positions & were sworn in last week to serve their next terms.

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A former Otsego county motel manager has turned himself in to local authorities, after allegedly cashing a forged check in Oneonta last year. 24-year-old Kyle VanDewerker is accused of cashing a $600 check while serving as the manager of the Amber Life Inn Motel in Colliersville, a warrant of arrest was obtained for VanDewerker from the Oneonta City Court following a complaint form the motel owner. VanDewerker faces court action shortly.

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