State Police and Broome County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Hall Street in the town of Union to check on the welfare of the resident.  Troopers, Deputies & Endwell Fire Department members located 2 people were found deceased inside the home, they have been identified as 49-year-old Marc McKercher and 48-year-old Cynthia Pratts-Lyons, the investigation is continuing.

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State Police arrested 58 year old Martin Lewicki of Norwich for 3rd degree Burglary & Criminal Mischief.   State Police asked for the public’s help in identifying a person who broke into the Balsam Inn in the town of Pharsalia last November, Surveillance video caught the suspect taking neon signs, bar lights, a bar table, bar stools and destroying several items, a tip led investigators to Lewicki, who was arrested, arraigned & was remanded to the Chenango County Jail without bail.

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Delaware County Public Health will be conducting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Saturday at the DCMO BOCES- Harrold Campus, on State Route 206 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. This vaccination clinic is open to New York state residents or people who work in New York State who presently qualify by being 60+ years of age, an eligible worker 18+ years of age, or those with qualifying medical conditions 18+ years of age.  Eligibility requirements are available at covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov, Registration is mandatory at delawarecountypublichealth.com/covid-19.

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Chenango County Public Health reported 11 new COVID cases today.  They have had a total of 2609 positives, 2362 recoveries and 64 deaths.  Currently, Chenango County has 5 hospitalized, 95 active cases & 272 quarantined.

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Chenango County Sheriff’s Department arrested 46 year old Christina Clifford of Edmeston following an investigation into forged fraudulent checks being cashed in a Town of North Norwich business. Clifford was charged with 2nd degree Forgery &plus conspiracy & petty larceny, she was taken into custody without incident, & was released to on an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of North Norwich Court at a later date.

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Friends of Rogers started their 2nd annual Electric Car Raffle today March 19th, which features a prize of a 2020 Tesla Model 3. The raffle runs through October 15th, the winner will be announced on October 21st. at Rogers Center and will be open to the public. More information is available at FriendsofRogers.org & click on “Win a Tesla.”

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 3-19-21

The state-run mass vaccination site at SUNY Oneonta opened today with Bassett Healthcare Network staff, state Staff, the National Guard and Otsego County Public Health on hand.  Anyone currently eligible under state guidelines can find the link to register at bassett.org, or at the ‘Am I Eligible’ App or website or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).  

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Chenango County Correctional Officers discovered an unconscious male inmate in his cell Wednesday.    22 year old Dillin Button was pronounced deceased after attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.  The autopsy ruled his death as a result of a bacterial blood infection of the heart and pneumonia, it was revealed that 2 weeks earlier that Button was diagnosed with a bacterial blood infection and pneumonia at an area hospital & he checked himself out of before receiving complete treatment.

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Beginning March 29th statewide travel for sports and recreational activities will be permitted. The New York Mets and New York Yankees can resume play with spectators in their stadiums, beginning April 1st, with 20% capacity allowed, along with other COVID protocols in place.

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Delaware County Public Health reported 19 new COVID 19 cases Thursday out of 352 tested.  They report 111 active cases, 7 hospitalized & 354 in quarantine.

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The State Health Department reported that on Wednesday over 271,000 COVID tests were given statewide, with 2.87% testing positive.  Patient hospitalizations, the number of patients in an ICU bed & the number on ventilators continue to decline, there were 57 deaths from the virus.

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The Otsego County Department of Health will be holding a vaccination clinic at the Meadows Office Complex in Cooperstown Today.  Registration is up on the Otsego County Department of Health Website.

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Chenango County Public Health will hold a Vaccine clinic today at the former Label Shopper Store in the South Plaza Center on State Route 12 in Norwich.  Registrations are required at co.chenango.ny.us; for groups outlined by the state Health Department.  

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(Rich Townsend 3-14-17)

All Area Roads are closed in the Tri County Area except for Emergency Personnel, The Blizzard Warning remains in effect through 11:00 PM tonight.

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Governor Cuomo said that emergency responders around the state kept the state’s Citizens safe, due to advance preparation before today’s storm, he gave an update earlier this afternoon:

(Cuomo 3-14-17)

The governor’s office says the state has called up 2,000 National Guard members and will deploy them to the Southern Tier, after the storm tracked further west than initially anticipated.

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State Senator Fred Akshar released the results of his Constituents Survey; he discussed some of the results with WCDO:

(Fred Akshar 3-14-17)

Akshar said that he received over 9600 responses to his recent survey. The closest question on the survey regarding decriminalizing Marijuana was split 50/50.

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The State Department of Labor released preliminary local unemployment rates for January. The number of private sector jobs in the State was over 8 Million, & the State’s unemployment rate decreased 2 10ths to 4.6%. Locally, Delaware County was at 6.6%, Chenango County, had 6.2%, & Otsego County was at 6.1% for January.

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Governor Cuomo today reminded New Yorkers who need help paying their heating bills to apply to the Home Energy Assistance Program by Friday, March 17. Nearly 1.3 million households have already received help heating their homes this winter through the program. Households eligible for HEAP can receive one regular benefit per year, of up to $626, depending on income, household size and heating source.

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The Annual St. Baldrick fundraiser held Saturday in Norwich, raised about $27,000 for childhood cancer research. Officials believe that another $3,000 could come in on top of what was raised at Saturday’s event at the Norwich American Legion. Over 2 dozen people had their heads shaved at the fundraiser.

Governor Cuomo declared a state of emergency across all 62 counties in New York. The Governor also directed non-essential state employees impacted by the winter storm to stay home from work on Today. All New Yorkers should exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel and pay close attention to winter storm advisories as the day progresses.
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Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued a consumer alert warning both consumers and businesses about price gouging during this week’s storm. General Business Law prohibits excessive increases in prices of essential goods and services like food, water, gas, generators, batteries, and flashlights, hotel lodging, and transportation, during natural disasters or other events that disrupt the market. During and after severe winter weather events, these goods and services might also include snow plowing, snow removal from roofs, shovels and other snow removal equipment, salt, and contract services for storm-related damage. Any New Yorkers who believe they have been the victim of price gauging should call the Attorney General’s office at 800-771-7755 or visit www.ag.ny.gov/price-gouging-complaint-form to file a complaint.
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Broome County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Binghamton man, who was found possessing a large amount of construction materials in his SUV. 28 year old Kole Rose was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, he was released pending future court action.
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Governor Cuomo today announced that New York State’s high school student smoking rate in 2016 was the lowest on record at 4.3%, down from 27.1% in 2000. A survey recently released by the State Department of Health also found that e-cigarette use by high school students nearly doubled in the last 2 years from 10.5% in 2014 to 20.6% in 2016. According to a 2016 report by the U.S. Surgeon General, the number of high school students using e-cigarettes soared 900 percent between 2011 and 2015, becoming the most commonly used form of nicotine among youths.
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Governor Cuomo announced today that state emergency responders & municipalities are gearing up for the possibility Hurricane Joaquin striking the state in the next few days:

(Cuomo 10-1-15)

Cuomo said that DEC has 250 staff from the Environmental Conservation Police, Forest Rangers and engineers ready in preparation for the storm. DEC will ready swift water rescue assets, assist municipalities to flooding preparation and work with 200 New York National Guard soldiers to perform the debris removal that began earlier today.
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Sidney Village residents in the flood prone areas are reminded to contact village officials to set up meetings & discuss their options for buyouts or home elevations. Sidney Mayor Andy Matviak comments:

(Andy Matviak 10-1-15)

Matviak said that the village recently received the buyout figures, so they can give firm numbers to interested property owners; who are invited to call the village offices to set up appointments at 561-2320.
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The Cuomo administration has awarded 175-million dollars to 5 new, large-scale clean energy projects. Officials said that the projects would help New York meet its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and rely less on fossil fuels. The projects include a wind farm, a biogas facility that turns food waste into electricity, and two hydroelectric facilities. The money comes from the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, a policy that aims to increase renewable energy, and is funded by small charges on electricity bills.
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State Police arrested 30-year-old Daniel Korenyik of South Kortright, for criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and criminal mischief, after troopers responded to a dispute. Troopers accused Korenyik of attempting to attack his mother with a knife, & then damaged a wall by stabbing it with the knife. Korenyik was arraigned and was released he faces court action on October 30, 2015.
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The Sidney Moose Lodge will be closed starting today through October 10th. Officials told WCDO that necessary repairs are being made to the facility, and it will reopen at the conclusion of those repairs.
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(Gary Kurz 1-23-14)

October is national Breast cancer Awareness month. More information is available at cancer.org.
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(Libous 9-26-14)

The new 70,000 square-foot facility will be built on Corliss Avenue in Johnson City, making it easy for students will be able to complete course requirements such as clinical rotations and job training.
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Jerry Seinfeld is coming to Binghamton for 2 performances at the Broome County Forum on Friday, December 5th at 7:00 and 9:30 PM. Tickets go on sale at the Arena box office this morning at 10:00 AM.
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The Oneonta Farmers’ Market will hold its annual Harvest Fest this Saturday from 9am – 1pm on Main Street Plaza, More information is available at 437-0158, or OneontaFarmersMarket.com.
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At 11:00 AM tomorrow on the SUNY Broome campus, the New York National Guard and the State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services are giving a free two-hour training session. Those who register will receive a backpack filled with supplies that can assist in the event of an emergency. Registration for the event is free but space is limited. For more details go to prepare.ny.gov.

(Barry Cole 6-6-14)

Video Entertainment Plus was chosen as the “Business of the Years” Owner Andy Matviak comments:

(Andy Matviak 6-6-14)

The Awards will be given out at tonight’s annual Sidney Chamber Of Commerce dinner at the Sacred Heart Church on Liberty Street starting at 5:30 PM.

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New York State is no longer requiring transgender people, to offer proof of surgery, when asking the state to change the gender on their birth certificate. The state will now issue a new birth certificate, if the person provides an affidavit from a medical provider, stating they have received “appropriate” treatment. The policy change had long been sought by advocates, who say an individual’s official gender, shouldn’t depend on whether they had a medical procedure. Five states have already made similar policy changes.

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Cal Harris, the Tioga County businessman who has been convicted of murdering his wife twice, spoke for the first time in a special interview with CBS. Facing his third trial in the fall, Harris gave his first TV interview to the 48 HOURS program.   The interview will air Monday at 10 p.m. Michele Harris went missing the night of Sept. 11th, 2001. Although amidst a bitter divorce, Michele and Cal were living in the same Tioga County home when she vanished after leaving a boyfriend’s house. Harris has been convicted twice of murdering Michele, but both cases have been thrown out on appeal.

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State Troopers arrested 34 year old Craig West of Windsor for 3^rd & 4^th degree Criminal Mischief 3rd, Disabling Equipment to Prevent Request for Emergency, & 2^nd degree Harassment.  The arrest resulted from a complaint in Windsor, where West has allegedly engaged in a physical altercation, and smashed a phone that the victim was using to get help from Police, damaged other property and injuring the victims head & jaw. West apprehended and arrested, he was arraigned in the Town of Colesville Court and remanded to the Broome County Jail on bail, an order of protection has been requested against him.

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Greek yogurt maker Chobani has laid off employees at its plant in Chenango County, but has also charted a new direction for growth. Chobani would only say it reduced certain positions at the plant in New Berlin, as well as temporary positions at the facility in Idaho. The local plant will continue to produce for east coast customers, as well as markets in Latin America and the Caribbean. Chobani also opened a new business service center in Norwich.

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National Guard members may soon have the right for memorial headstones, thanks to a push from Rep. Richard Hanna. The House of Representatives passed the Guard Units and Reservists Deserve Remembrance Act. The act allows National Guard and Reserve members, who have served more than six years, to receive a memorial headstone or marker when they pass away. The GUARD Remembrance Act is part of the National Defense Authorization Act. It will head to the Senate for a vote.

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The Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force initiated a plan to target heroin users and heroin dealers in attempt to deter future crimes and to deter potential narcotics use.  During a 2-day initiative, the Task Force arrested 16 people on a total of 35 associated charges, after executing 7 search warrants & 8 outstanding Warrants.  Police confiscated 97 envelopes of heroin & over $11,000 in cash.  The investigation is continuing, more arrests are expected.

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The Chenango county sheriff’s department arrested 33-year-old Shaun Sullivan of Oneonta on an active arrest warrant for 2^nd degree Aggravated Harassment.   Sullivan is accused of harassing and threatening a victim by telephone, he was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $500 cash bail.