Delaware County Sheriff’s Office announced that 2 people survived a plane crash in Delaware County Saturday Night in the town of Franklin. The pilot was 72 year old Ron Galuppo of Texas, the passenger was his son, 22 year old Nathan Galuppo, of Texas. Delaware County 911 was alerted by Air Traffic Control in Boston Massachusetts about a mayday transmission from a plane experiencing engine failure, they also received a call about a small plane crashing near a residence in Franklin. Both men crashed while attempting to fly home to Texas from Maine, they were taken to Delaware Valley Hospital in Walton after they were able to escape the wreckage of their plane, they suffered only minor injuries, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Federal Aviation Administration with the investigation.

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State Police and Ithaca Police held a press conference today regarding the disappearance of 33 year old Thomas Rath of Ithaca on May 20. The investigation eventually evolved into kidnapping and murder, with the investigation covering 2 area counties & the State of Maine. State Police Troop C Captain Lucas Anthony of the BCI unit explains:

(Captain Lucas Anthony 8-28-23)

Captain Anthony said that Rath lived in a homeless camp known as the “Jungle” at the time of his disappearance, Rath was familiar with some of the kidnappers. The names of the 10 charged were not released, they were all from the Ithaca area, more arrests are expected & the investigation is ongoing.

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State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office & The Oneonta Police Department announced the arrests of 3 people of Phinaliz Communications LLC, who are accused of operating a long-running scheme to steal over $1 million from the Medicaid program. The 3 defendants were identified as 46 year old Philip Mtui of Mechanicsville, who owns the company, operations manager Mbaga Kaiza, and Dispatcher & Driver Tony Taylor, who were arrested last Thursday. Over a 4-year period, Mtui and Kaiza defrauded the Medicaid program by claiming payment for rides that never occurred, and double, triple, or quadruple billing for rides that did occur. Mtui and Kaiza were arraigned in Oneonta City Court for 1st degree Grand Larceny, both were held on $250,000 bail. Taylor was arrested on 1 count of conspiracy, he will be arraigned on September 19th, more arrests are expected.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Office announced that an Arrest Warrant issued by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in the arrest of a Sidney man. Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a check the welfare on Interstate 88 in the Town of Sidney, for a man climbing on the bridge. Deputies subsequently located 43 year old Arthur Cotton of Sidney, who was wanted on an active arrest warrant out of Chenango County, for Sexual Misconduct. Cotton was arrested and turned over to the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office.

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The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce announced a job fair will be held at the Southside Mall in Oneonta on Tuesday. The Job Fair will run from 2:00 to 4:00 PM & will feature numerous employees from throughout the region with job openings currently available.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Office arrested 42 year old Leslie McClenon of Walton for DWI, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle & several other Traffic charges. On August 13th Deputies observed a car entering an intersection was nearly struck by another vehicle running a red light. Deputies conducted a traffic stop, McClenon had her driving privileges suspended and was operating the vehicle while intoxicated, she was released on appearance tickets and directed to appear at the Town of Walton court at a later date to answer for the charges.

Binghamton Police arrested Ismael Sanchez of Rockingham, North Carolina, who was wanted by Police in Richmond County, on an arrest warrant for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, robbery with a deadly weapon, and conspiracy to commit robbery. Sanchez was arrested after a search warrant was executed at a Wilson Street apartment by the Binghamton Metro SWAT team. He was taken to Binghamton Police Department where he was arraigned as a fugitive from justice and remanded to Broome County Jail pending extradition back to North Carolina.

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The Sidney Chamber of Commerce Is planning “Hometown Day” on June 10th, which will begin with the SFCU parade, followed by events in Keith Clark park, Sidney Chamber President Teri Schunk explains:

(Teri Schunk 6-8-23)

The parade will begin lining up at 11:00, after the parade, all of the events mentioned will be at Keith Clark Park on River Street in Sidney.

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The smoke from the Quebec wildfires has lessened somewhat today, local Meteorologist Rich Townsend explains:

(Rich Townsend 6-8-23)

US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that she is pushing for federal assistance with the Canadian fires & for upgrading equipment to deal with these situations:

(Gillibrand 6-8-23)

The smoke has reached into the Carolina’s as well as shifting to the West in Canada and in the US today, the Canadian government has not indicated when they will have the fires under control.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies initiated a traffic stop Wednesday on State Highway 10 in the Town of Hamden after observing a vehicle driving erratically, and passing multiple vehicles on the roadway. Deputies identified the driver as 26-year-old, Kyle Buckley, of Walton, Buckley’s driver’s license had been suspended for failure to answer a summons on 3 separate dates. Buckley was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operator & improper passing, he was released on the traffic tickets and is directed to appear in the Town of Hamden Court at a later date to answer the said charges.

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Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that her administration has reached contract agreements with the New York State Public Employees Federation and with the United University Professions. The agreement with PEF is for a three-year term running until April 1, 2026 for more than 51,000 New York State employees in a in a wide variety of professional, scientific and technical titles. The agreement with UUP is for a four-year term running until July 1, 2026 for more than 37,000 SUNY system faculty and professional employees. Both agreements are subject to ratification by union membership.

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The largest statewide Special Olympics New York competition of the year is coming to Ithaca this weekend. More than 800 athletes and coaches from throughout New York will be in the area for State Summer Games, with competition in 7 sports: Basketball, Bowling, Gymnastics, Powerlifting, Swimming, Tennis and Track & Field, with festivities beginning Friday at 7:00 PM, with the closing ceremonies Saturday night.

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A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 6-8-23

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has sued 30 upstate New York municipalities for enacting emergency orders barring migrants form hotels, motels & apartment complexes. Local Counties that were sued include Broome, Delaware, Otsego & Schoharie Counties

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Hospice & Palliative care of Chenango County will hold their annual Service of Remembrance event today, Grief Services Coordinator, Jordyn Andrews explains:

(Jordyn Andrews 6-8-23)

Andrews said that the program is scheduled to be outside of their offices on Court Street in Norwich, but will be moved inside in case of inclement weather

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The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is currently looking for Robert Schrauger on an outstanding warrant and asking the residents of Broome County for assistance, he is described as a white male, bald about 5’4″ 150 pounds, he is wanted for a Sex Offender Registration violation and for failing to report to a parole officer. Anyone with information on the location of Schrauger is asked to contact the Broome County Sheriff’s Office at gobroomecounty.com/sheriff/warrants or at (607) 778-1196.

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Otsego County Sheriff’s Office announced a child seat safety check will be held in Oneonta Today. The event runs from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at 762 state Highway 28. more information is available at 547-4230.

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