4 Towns Forward & local Chambers of Commerce are urging area Holiday shoppers to shop local on Small Business Saturday, Sidney Chamber & 4 Towns Forward President Teri Schunk comments.

(Teri Schunk 11-24-21)

For every dollar spent at a small business, American Express estimates an average of 67 cents stays in that business’s local community, plus many small businesses are trying to rebound after the pandemic shut down many retailers in 2020.

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Otsego County Sheriff’s Office arrested 36 year old Thomas Palmatier of Butternuts, following the investigation of an accident in the Town Of Morris. Palmatier was charged with 2nd & 3rd degree Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, failure to keep right, among other charges, he was issued an appearance ticket for town of Morris Court at a later date.

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Otsego County Sheriff’s Office arrested 20 year old Andrew Wellman of Hartwick, for endangering the Welfare of a child & 2nd degree harassment, following the report of a physical domestic dispute on November 17th. Wellman was arraigned & was released & ordered to appear in Town of Hartwick Court at a later date.

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27 Year Old Tyler Streeter of Norwich has been arrested following an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, the Norwich City Police. Streeter was arrested Monday for interstate transportation of a minor, with the intent that the minor engage in prostitution or any criminal sexual activity. The alleged offense took place in April in the state of Maine, Streeter is being held in the Oneida County Jail pending transfer to the State of Maine by the U.S. Marshals Service.

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The State Health Department continues to monitor the surge in COVID 19 cases statewide. Over 178,000 people were tested Monday with 7166 positive, just over 4% of all tested. Hospitalizations continue to increase, to 2580, the number in an ICU bed is just under 500 again & the number on Ventilators is 242, there were 31 deaths from COVID in Hospitals & Nursing homes Monday.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 11-24-21

State Police and local law enforcement agencies will participate in a special traffic safety initiative to prevent unsafe driving behavior during the Thanksgiving weekend today through Sunday. temporary lane closures for road and bridge construction projects on New York State highways will be suspended beginning Wednesday, Nov. 24 at 6 am. through Monday, Nov. 29 at 6 am. The State Police will supplement regular patrols statewide with dedicated impaired driving patrols including Drug Recognition Experts, fixed sobriety checkpoints, underage drinking enforcement, speed enforcement, and the use of Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement patrol vehicles to better locate drivers talking or texting on handheld devices.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Office announced the 2nd arrest of a Walton man on Grand Larceny charges resulting from a lengthy and ongoing investigation. On Monday, Deputies and Investigators arrested 58-year-old Raymond Albertina of the Town of Walton, for 1 count of 3rd degree Grand Larceny for allegedly making numerous unauthorized purchases using another person’s credit card, in excess of $3,000.00. Albertina was previously arrested on November 4th for 2nd & 3rd degree Grand Larceny for allegedly stealing property from business associates determined to be valued over $53,000.00. Albertina was arraigned in the Town of Franklin Court and again released to reappear at a later date.

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The Oxford and McDonough Communities are invited to the 37th annual Free Thanksgiving take-out dinner, from 11:45 am. to 1 pm., on Thursday. This year the dinner will be held at St. Paul’s Church Parish House at 34 Main Street, more information is available by calling 843-6249.

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Governor Cuomo announced that over 55,300 people were tested for COVID on Sunday, with only 290 positives, of .5% of all tested.  Hospitalization, ICU Patients & Patients on Ventilators continues to trend downward, there were 3 deaths attributed to the virus Sunday; one of those was in Chenango County.  Just fewer than 72% of New Yorkers have had at least 1 Vaccination, 65% have completed the series of shots.

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The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage, Donors of all blood types; especially type O are urged to make an appointment to ensure hospital shelves are stocked with blood products over the Fourth of July holiday and beyond.   Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS.  Blood drives this week include Tuesday in Sidney at the Fire training Center on River Street from 12:00 to 5:00 PM, Tuesday in Oneonta from 1:00 to 6:00 PM at the Foothills Performing Arts Center on market Street & Wednesday in Morris from 12:00 to 5:00 PM at the Episcopal Church, at 162 Main Street.

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The Dick’s Sporting Goods Open starts today with a series of events leading up to the start of the Golf Tournament Friday at the En-Joie Golf Course in Endicott, organizer Dave Pessagno explains:

(Dave Pessagno 6-28-21)

Pessagno said that they had to plan for smaller attendance at the Concert & at other events throughout the week, as they were planning this event earlier in the year when the COVID 19 pandemic still had high infection rates; they hope to be back to normal attendance figures in 2022.

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A New Jersey fugitive was arrested June 19th by Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies following an incident in the Town of Colchester.  Deputies responded to a report of a vehicle in the East Branch Delaware River near the Corbett bridge, the Investigation revealed that a New Jersey couple were attempting to drive their pickup across the river when it became partially submerged and disabled in deep water, also a passenger, 30 year-old Brian Olin, of New Jersey was wanted by authorities in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court on a felony drug charge in September, 2019.  Olin was charged with being a fugitive from justice and was later arraigned and remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility without bail pending his extradition by New Jersey.

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The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced that Josh Rawitch has been named President; he will begin serving in that capacity on September 9th.  Jeff Idelson will continue in his current role as Interim President until September 9th.  Rawitch was the Arizona Diamondbacks Senior Vice President of Content and Communications for the past 6 years; he previously served for 15 years as part of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ front office.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 6-28-21

Attorney General Letitia James announced an agreement with Johnson & Johnson that will deliver up to $230 million to New York state, it resolves claims made by James for the company’s role in helping to fuel the opioid epidemic and would allocate payments over 9 years, it also requires J&J to pay $30 million more in payments in the first year if the Governor signs into law new legislation that creates an opioid settlement fund, and other criteria are met.

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Otsego County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 36 year old Thomas Palmatier of South New Berlin, for Fleeing an Officer in Motor Vehicle, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, Unregistered Vehicle & several other similar charges, following a recent traffic stop in the Town of Pittsfield.   Palmatier allegedly drove off from the traffic stop while emergency lights were activated; he was issued appearance ticket returnable to the Town of Pittsfield Court at a later date.

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Otsego County Sheriff Deputies arrested 48 year old Brett Brooks of New Berlin after providing Deputy’s with false information of his identity in the Town of Pittsfield on June 13th.  Brooks was a passenger in a vehicle that had been stopped; he had an active bench warrant issued out of Chenango County & gave a false name to law enforcement. Brooks was issued an appearance ticket returnable to the Town of Pittsfield Court & was turned over to the custody of Chenango County Sheriff Office for the warrant.

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The State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment will meet on Thursday at 10:30 AM in Albany, the meeting will be available for public viewing at dps.ny.gov, The Siting Board agenda includes the Application of High Bridge Wind, LLC for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need to Construct a Wind Powered Electric Generating Facility in the Town of Guilford.

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