Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies responded Wednesday to an accident on State Highway 28 in the Town of Middletown. 46 year old Luke Dougherty of Bovina hit an icy patch on the roadway and lost control of his vehicle, crossed into the southbound lane and struck an on-coming Delaware County Public Health vehicle driven by 50 year old Melissa Thomas of Masonville. The Dougherty vehicle then continued off the roadway where it struck and damaged an unoccupied, parked vehicle and other equipment parked in a driveway. Dougherty and Thomas were transported to O’Connor Hospital in Delhi; Dougherty was ticketed for failure to keep right and will appear in the Town of Middletown Court at a later date.

The New York State Appellate Court denied the appeal of John Guzy of Bainbridge, for the road rage murder of 26 year old Derek Prindle of Afton, in a 2014 road rage incident on State Route 7 between Sidney & Bainbridge. Guzy was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison, which has been upheld by Thursday’s court decision.

Governor Cuomo today announced that temporary lane closures for road and bridge construction projects on New York State highways will be suspended during peak holiday travel times over the next two weekends. All road construction work behind temporary lane closures stopped earlier this morning & will remain in effect until 6:00 AM Wednesday Morning. Construction will also be suspended from 6:00 AM Saturday, December 29th through 6:00 AM Wednesday, January 2nd. Some work may continue behind concrete barriers or for emergency repairs.

State DOT Officials announced the completion of the project to pave and repair a portion of State Route 10 in the town of Walton. The 1-mile project which stretched from a parking area outside the village of Walton and proceeds east, Construction addressed a 2,000-foot-long curve by increasing the road elevation on the outside of the curve, which reduces the chance of vehicles drifting over the center line and causing crashes & the slope near the parking area was flattened, creating better sight distance for cars pulling out of the lot.

State Senator Fred Akshar released the results of a recent online survey posted gauging constituents on legislation that would require anyone applying for or renewing a pistol permit license to consent to having their social media accounts and search engine history of the past 1-3 years reviewed and investigated by police as part of the mandatory background check. Within the 52nd Senate District, 79% of respondents opposed the proposal, 21% supported it; Outside of the 52nd Senate District, New York respondents opposed the measure 97% to 3%. Akshar plans on introducing or cosponsoring several bills to help address gun violence and mental health issues that are connected to the recent mass shooting tragedies.

State Senator Jim Seward announced that he has been appointed by State Senate Republican Leader John Flanagan to serve as the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. The Senate Finance Committee is the second most influential panel in the senate – tasked with conducting public hearings on the governor’s budget proposal and guiding development of the final plan. In addition, the finance committee is responsible for reviewing nominations sent by the governor for appointments, and moving the nominations to the full senate.

State Police & Local Law Enforcement Agencies are participating in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign again this year, during the Christmas & New Year’s Holiday season. Checkpoints will be established all over the state, last year, police issued over 40,000 tickets from DWI, Speeding, Distracted driving & failing to obey the “Move Over Law”, among other infractions

The 27th Annual Sidney Alumni Basketball Association “Alumni Night’ will be held tonight at the Sidney High School gym. Proceeds to the event go to fund the Association’s Scholarship each June for a graduating Sidney basketball player. Older players are invited to play in the 6:00 pm opener, the “young guns” game will follow at about 7:15. More information is available at 643-5728, or at the Sidney Alumni Basketball Facebook page.

Delaware County Sheriff Deputy’s arrested 22 year old Cecil Garcia of Plymouth, Pennsylvania and 22 year old Miguel Cordoba of Roselle, New Jersey for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana after a traffic stop for failure to dim headlights on State Highway 10 in the Town of Hamden. Garcia was also arrested for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation after learning that his privileges in the state of New York were revoked. Cordoba and Garcia are to appear in the Town of Hamden Court at a later date.
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Magic City Productions announced today that Daughtry will play at the Broome County Forum TonIGHT at 8:00 PM. Tickets will g o on sale on Friday morning at 10:00 AM at the Arena Box office, ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
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The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office arrested Dominic Centonze of Roseboom for allegedly make recordings through a 2-way mirror. Officer conducted a search Centonze’s home last Week and found the mirror along with recording equipment and several computers. Centonze was arraigned on 4 counts of unlawful surveillance and was remanded to the Otsego County Jail on $2,500 cash or $5,000 bond, pending court action on Wednesday
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Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan admitted Sunday he has drinking problem, he revealed that received treatment for his alcohol addiction, which he blamed on the pressures of his job. Flanagan said that he would remain in the senate, but did not address speculation that he may seek the Republican Party nomination in the race for Governor in 2018.
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More people are starting to suggest a run at Governor Cuomo for the State’s top job next year. Former Republican candidate Carl Palladino of Buffalo is expected to give it another shot, after losing badly to Cuomo once before. Actress Cynthia Nixon is expected to announce shortly that she is considering a run for the Democratic Party nomination in 2018, against Cuomo. Former State Senator Terry Gipson is also expected to announce challenge Cuomo next year, which is criticized by many in the Democratic Party as abandoning the Liberal base.
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20 years after the last serious discussion of a state Constitutional Convention, the talk is rising again to hold a convention in 2019. Area Assemblyman Cliff Crouch commented about the prospect of a Constitutional Convention:

(Crouch 8-7-17)

A constitutional Convention last occurred in 1967, where state voters rejected recommendations from the convention.
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U.S Senator Charles Schumer said that he will fight proposed cuts from the Trump Administration for small airport routine maintenance, upgrades & expansions. Schumer said that the small airports are vital to the economies of the areas they serve, Schumer said that cuts would be reckless, wrong headed & would be a safety concern.
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The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce announced a “First Friday Meet & Greet Breakfast”, which will be held in Sidney on September 1. The event will run from 8:30 to 10:00 am at the Sidney Elks Club at 104 River Street, registration is available at delawarecounty.org.
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Governor Cuomo announced more than $4 million has been awarded for 11 agricultural water quality conservation projects, benefiting 16 farms in the Southern Tier. The funding allows farmers to address water quality challenges in priority watersheds while increasing productivity, reduce erosion, and limit the amount of harmful sediments and other deposits in New York’s waterways.
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State Police arrested 34 year old Tobias Rundstrom-Wooding of Norwich, for 1st degree Murder, in connection with the murder of 11 year old Jacelyn O’Connor on July 30th. He was arraigned in Chenango County Court and was remanded to the Chenango County Jail without bail pending further court proceedings today at 11:00 am. Last week, police arrested James Brower in connection with the same case. The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office and the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office assisted with this investigation. The investigation into the murder of Jacelyn O’Connor is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New York State Police in Norwich at (607) 334-3296.
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A raccoon tested positive for rabies in the town of Davenport. 2 dogs were exposed to the diseased raccoon when they cornered and killed the animal. The dogs were up to date on their rabies vaccinations and each received a rabies booster. 2 people were also exposed and are receiving rabies post exposure treatment. This is the 3RD animal in Delaware County to test positive for rabies in 2017. Public Health recommends that pet owners take advantage of the free remaining rabies clinics in Delaware County, on August 9th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, at the Franklin Fire Hall, August 23rd from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Sidney Fire Hall, an October Rabies Clinic will b held in Delhi; the date and time will be announced soon.
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State DEC officials reported that missing hiker Wayne Lamicela of Arkville was found alive. State Forest Rangers reported that on Saturday, at around 1 p.m., a caretaker for private property located Lamicela, in a wooded area, Lamicela was barefoot but still mobile and able to walk on his own power. Lamicela was transported to the Margaretville Community Hospital for further evaluation.
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The State Department of Transportation announced that two lanes eastbound, and one lane westbound on State Route 17 between Exit 62 Nichols and Exit 63 Lounsberry reopened Friday afternoon. Starting today, one lane in each direction will remain open as crews continue to repair damage caused by a late July flash flood. Motorists are advised to be alert for slow moving traffic and sudden stops.

Jury deliberations continued again today in the 3rd Cal Harris Murder trial in Schoharie County Court. The jury was back deliberating after a brief break at lunchtime, Harris is seeking to be exonerated for the murder of his wife, and after 2 Tioga county juries convicted him of the crime, even though Michelle Harris body was never found since her suspected murder in September 2001. Jury deliberations are into their 10th day, after 11 weeks of testimony.
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19-year-old Joseph Mueller of Delhi suffered severe burns last night, hen his vehicle went into a propane tank outside the Delhi American Legion hall. The tank exploded, and firefighters from several area companies responded Mueller was taken to the burn unit at Upstate Medical Hospital in Syracuse. The crash happened at about 8:30 last night, about 30 people successfully evacuated the Legion hall, the Hall & a pavilion had minor damage, 3 store units were destroyed.
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State Police at Oneonta arrested 43-year-old James Henderson of Franklin for Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation, Unlawful Imprisonment, Criminal Mischief and Harassment. Troopers responded to a Delaware County 911 report of a dispute at a residence on Rod & Gun Club Road in the Town of Franklin. An investigation determined that during a physical dispute with his girlfriend he grabbed her by the neck, kept her from using the telephone to call police and would not let her leave. Henderson was arraigned in the Town of Davenport Court and remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 property bond pending a court date for the Town of Franklin is on May 28th.
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Dean Skelos resigned as State Senator Majority leader & State senator John Flanagan of Long Island was elected as the new Senate Majority leader, over Syracuse area State Senator John DeFrancisco, by the senate republican caucus. Area state Senator John Bonacic described how the causes went:

(Bonacic 5-14-15)

Skelos & his son face a number of charges of corruption following a federal investigation that also brought down former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver earlier this year. Both Skelos & Silver refused to resign from their seats in the respective houses.
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Otsego County has received a federal grant through the New York State Homes & Community Renewal to replace dilapidated owner-occupied mobile homes with new, energy-efficient manufactured homes. General eligibility is based on gross household income at or below 80% of the area median, ownership in the name of the applicant of the property where the existing mobile home is located, and poor condition of the home. Mobile homes on rented lots or in parks are not eligible. Interested families are asked to call Otsego Rural Housing Assistance at 286-7244.
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Chenango County Fire officials reported a Barn fire at around 1:00 PM this afternoon. The barn was located at 2065 state route 12 in the town of Greene; firefighters from Coventry and Brisben have also been called in. WCDO will have more details as they become available.
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In 1984, New York State became the 1st State to pass legislation requiring drivers and front-seat passengers to use seat belts. State officials reported that thousands of lives a year have been saved by seat belts, including 467 in 2012 and 446 in 2013. Tomorrow, representatives from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee will be hosting an event regarding the latest “Click it or Ticket – Border to Border” enforcement mobilization, to enforce seat belt laws in the Southern Tier of New York & the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania. The event will be held at 11:00 AM at Broome Gateway Rest Area on Interstate 81 in Kirkwood.
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The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce will host a business after hours event tonight at ISD in Oneonta. The Business After Hours event will run from 5:30 to 7:00 pm it will feature demonstrations by RoboKronos & their robot, ISD is located at 98 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, more information is available at 432-7090.
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