34 Year old Terrence Truitt of Oneonta faces a felony hearing today in Oneonta City Court, on a charge of 1st degree arson. Truitt is accused of intentionally setting a fire at 5 Walling Avenue in Oneonta last Saturday morning that claimed the life of former Oneonta Firefighter John Heller. Truitt is being held in the Otsego County jail pending future court action, addition charges in the case are possible. A funeral service for Heller will be held starting at 1:00 this afternoon in the Foothills performing Arts Center Atrium, followed by a celebration of Heller’s life at the East Meredith Fire Station.
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A new survey by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities reports that Hartwick College generated an estimated $123 million in total economic impact on the region in 2017. More than $49 million was a result of direct spending by the institution. Also noted in the survey, Hartwick College accounted for $5.4 million in average annual construction spending, up $700,000 from the previous survey in 2015. In 2017, the College opened its new $7.1 million living-learning apartment community on campus, which houses 72 upper-class students.
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Tri-Town Coalition on Substance Abuse Prevention announced that their next meeting will be held on January 31st. The Coalition skipped a December meeting due to the Holidays, the January 31st meeting will be held at the Sidney High School Library from 6:00 to 7:30 PM.
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Broome County District Attorney Stephen Cornwell has announced today he will not seek re-election to the office for a 2nd 4 year term. Cornwell defeated long-time District Attorney Gerald Mollen in 2015.
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The State Department of Taxation and Finance reminds property owners age 65 and over who are applying or reapplying to receive the Enhanced STAR exemption in 2019 that they must now enroll in the Income Verification Program. Those already enrolled in the IVP don’t need to take any action to continue receiving their Enhanced STAR exemption checks. New IVP enrollees will automatically receive the exemption each year they’re eligible. More information about the program registration is available at tax.ny.gov/STAR.
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The City of Oneonta has been designated as a “Clean Energy Community” by NYSERDA, for reducing energy use, cutting costs and driving clean energy locally. The City received the designation for completing 4 of 10 high-impact clean energy actions identified by NYSERDA as part of the Clean Energy Communities initiative. In addition, the designation gives the City an opportunity to apply for up to $5,000 toward additional clean energy projects, with no local cost share.
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The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Village of Oxford man for an active Arrest Warrant issued by the Town of Preston Court. 42 year old Jason Barrows turned himself into the custody of the Sheriff; he was wanted for 2nd degree Burglary, Criminal Mischief and Grand Larceny for allegedly breaking into a residence & stealing more than $1,000 in property & Animals, and vandalizing windows on a vehicle. Barrows was arraigned in the Town of Preston Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $5,000 cash bail. He is scheduled to reappear in court at a later date.
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New State Attorney General Letitia James joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general, in filing a notice of appeal in Texas v. U.S., defending the Affordable Care Act and the healthcare of millions of Americans. Today’s filing moves the legal defense of the ACA to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit where the Attorneys General will appeal the lower court’s ruling that the ACA is unconstitutional. On December 30th the district court granted the request to certify the judgment for appeal, and to stay the judgment pending that appeal. Thursday’s filing continues the coalition’s legal defense of the ACA, with a request to appeal the district court’s December 14 opinion in the Fifth Circuit.
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New Congressional members Anthony Brinidisi & Antonio Delgado were officially sworn in to Congress, the 2 local Democrats defeated 1 term republicans Claudia Tenney & John Faso to represent the region in the US House of Representatives.
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Democratic State Senator Jen Metzger was sworn into office Wednesday representing the 42nd District. Metzger takes over the district that was held by John Bonacic, who decided to retire after finishing his last term after decades in state Government.
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The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested Dustin Dunagan of Sherburne for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation & Criminal Possession of Marihuana on Wednesday. Dunagan was arraigned in the Town of Plymouth Court and was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $200 cash bail. Dunagan is scheduled to appear in the Town of Pharsalia Court on a later date.
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On Tuesday, a Town of Norwich resident was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office for Promoting Prison Contraband 1st. 31 year old Derek Davies was charged after the Chenango County Correctional Division discovered prison contraband in Davies’ cell during a random search; he was processed and will be arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court
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