WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 9-30-24

Early Sunday, Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a fatal, 1 car motor vehicle accident on State Highway 23 in the Town of Davenport, that claimed the life of a Davenport resident. An investigation revealed that at approximately 1:03AM, 18 year old Jayden Aviles of Tarrytown was traveling Eastbound on State Highway 23, he was unable to maintain control of the vehicle on a curve, left the roadway, crashing into a private home, 2 sleeping people in the home were seriously injured, 34 year old Larry Vankeuren succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. This investigation is ongoing.

Norwich Police Department attempted to stop an UTV Saturday afternoon that was illegally driving on Mitchell Street in the City of Norwich. 22 year old Michael Bliss of New Berlin was charged with DWI and Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle, Bliss is accused of trying to flee officer, Bliss flipped his UTV at the Rexford Street bridge as he tried to turn onto State Highway 23.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office aims to create a safer, more understanding environment for interactions between law enforcement and individuals and families with autism, by unveiling the “Blue Envelope Program,” a first-in-New-York-State initiative aimed at easing communication and preventing misunderstandings between individuals with autism and law enforcement during interactions like traffic stops or during an emergency. Sheriff Fred Akshar explained at a press conference today:

(Sheriff Akshar 9-30-24)

More information on either the Blue Envelope Program or the Yellow Dot Program or to request your envelope and sticker, please contact the Broome County Sheriff’s Office Community Engagement Team at 607-778-1168.

Binghamton Police are investigating a fatal shooting early Saturday morning at The North Side Deli on Chenango Street, officers were made aware that a male had arrived at a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds, was provided with emergency surgery and died several hours later. The identity of the victim is not being released at this time.

A.M. NEWS Monday 9-30-24

The City of Oneonta Fire and Police Departments continue to investigate a fire that occurred at 47 Chestnut Street Thursday afternoon. Oneonta Firefighters located the fire in a second-floor street-side bedroom and quickly brought it under control. It was then discovered that what is believed to be gasoline had been present in the room, contributing to the rapid spread of the fire. The deceased has been identified as 48-year-old Jason Stevenson, the investigation indicated that Stevenson ignited what is believed to be gasoline inside the bedroom before taking his own life with a firearm, and the investigation is continuing.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 9-19-24

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that $2.3 billion in tax relief will go to nearly 3 million New Yorkers under the State’s School Tax Relief program. More than 2 million New Yorkers have already received their STAR tax relief and nearly 1 million more will receive their benefits in the coming weeks. Additional Information is available at ny.gov/STAR

The State Department of Labor announced that the number of private sector jobs in New York State decreased over the month by 8,100, or 0.1%, to 8,393,400 in August 2024. The State's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 4.3% to 4.4% in August, the statewide labor force participation rate held constant at 61.3% in August.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 9-19-24

A social Media Threat against the Sidney & Walton Central School District was posted on Instagram and Facebook, Sidney Superintendent Eben Bullock told WCDO News that 4 were quickly identified, placed into a safe space & their parents were contacted, they also coordinated with the Sidney Police Department. Sidney Police stated that there was no credible information or evidence to support the threat being real & they remained at the school until dismissal, they are back at the Sidney District again today. Sidney Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 607- 561-2301.

Commerce Chenango's next Business After Hours Event will be held today at Preferred Mutual Insurance in New Berlin. The event will run from 4:30 to 6:00 PM.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 6-11-24

29 year old Jessica Lopez of Sidney was sentenced to 6 years in prison and two years of post-release supervision for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in Delaware County Court Monday. Lopez pleaded guilty and admitted that she possessed fentanyl in the Village of Sidney on February 27, 2024, and that she had intended to sell it.

Sidney Fire Department responded at about 11:30 this morning for the report of smoke showing at 11 Division Street. Sidney Fire Chief John GIlmore told WCDO News that a faulty light bulb in the basement was the cause of the smoke, no injuries were reported.

The Chenango Arts Council will present "Melodrama At The Murder" an interactive event on June 21st, Spokesperson Marybeth Miller explains:

(Mary Beth Miller 6-11-24)

Tickets & more information are available at chenangoarts.org or by calling 336-2787.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 6-11-14

The Broome County Sheriff's Office said that 2 people were taken to area hospitals, following a serious accident on State Route 369 in the Town of Fenton on Saturday. The investigation revealed that at approximately 5:52 PM, the driver of a silver Honda Civic traveling northbound on State Route 369 near Rogers Road failed to negotiate a turn and crossed over into the southbound lane, colliding with a purple SUV. No fatalities were reported, but both drivers were hospitalized and treated for serious injuries. The unidentified driver of the Honda Civic was issued multiple traffic violations.

The Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 28 year old Jeremy Vanpelt of New Berlin following an investigation of a domestic dispute in the Town of Edmeston. Vanpelt was charged with Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Circulation, Aggravated Harassment, & 2 counts of Harassment, he was later arrested on a probation violation, he was processed and was held at the Otsego County Jail for Centralized Arraignment. An order of protection was issued to the victims of the domestic dispute.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 5-21-24

School district across the state are putting up their budget proposals today for public approval, many district also have School Board Seats, capital projects & School Bus Propositions up for public vote. More information is available at most school district websites for locations & duration for the voting public.

State Police arrested 4 people in connection with a case of over 100 neglected animals at a farm on Clark Lane and Pig Farm Lane in New Berlin. Arrested were 44 year old Dominick Brown, for 9 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals & 95 counts of Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals; Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance. 74 year old Jane Richards for 9 counts of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals & 87 counts of Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals; Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance. 56 year old Helen Goude & 60 year old Katheriena Goude, lesser counts of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals & Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals; & Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance. On April 26th, over 2 dozen animals were located deceased and an additional 107 neglected animals were removed, including horses, pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, a llama, dogs and cats. All 4 were issued appearance tickets for New Berlin Town Court tomorrow

State Department of Labor today released preliminary local area unemployment rates for April 2024. Rates are calculated using methods prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The State's area unemployment rates rely in part on the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month. To recap last week's statewide press release, New York State's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 4.3% in March to 4.2% in April 2024. Locally, Chenango County had 3.4% Unemployment, Delaware County 4.1% & Otsego 3.8% in April.

Water levels are a big issue every year for the General Clinton Canoe Regatta, Local Paddler Ed Curley Told WCDO News about the usual conditions for the 70 mile race on Sunday:

(Ed Curley 5-21-24)

The full slate of race schedules can be found at canoeregatta.org. WCDO will have extensive coverage of the General Clinton Canoe regatta again this year.

The Sidney High School Flood Monitoring Team will be giving a special presentation for the public in the Smart Community Room at the Sidney Memorial Public Library on Tuesday, May 28th at 6PM. Rich Townsend was a Science Teacher at Sidney at the start of the program in 2007, & is still guiding the program, he told WCDO about donations that they have received recently & what the money will be used for:

(Rich Townsend 5-21-24)

Townsend said that the students have given several presentations about the flood monitoring program. Anyone interested in donating to the project should email: rtownsend@sidneycsd.org. The presentation on the 28th is free & open to the public.

A.M. NEWS Tuesday 5-21-24

Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrested 25 year old Sean Gillespie of Delhi on a bench warrant for failing to appear in court to answer to a drug related charge, issued out of the Town of Delhi. On May 9th, Deputies were contacted by the City Oneonta Police Department, who advised that they who had taken Gillespie into custody, he was turned over to central arraignment processing at the Delaware County Jail to await arraignment.

FRIENDS OF THE UPPER DELAWARE RIVER & the New York City Department of Environmental Protection will hold a meeting today regarding the Delaware Aqueduct Shutdown scheduled for October 1st. The meeting will be today at 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon at 158 East Front Street, Hancock.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 5-7-24

The deadline to register for races at this year's General Clinton Canoe Regatta is approaching, Regatta Chairman Mike Kaufman told WCDO News about that & this year's 70 mile races on Sunday May 26th:

(Mike Kaufman 5-7-24)

More information is available at canoeregatta.org.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of renovations at Red Mill Apartments, a $5.2 million, 18-unit affordable housing complex in the town of New Berlin in Chenango County. The rehabilitation included gutting the building interior and extensive repairs to the exterior. The building received a new roof, siding, windows, walls, and doors; upgraded heating, plumbing, electric, and septic pump systems; and a new fire alarm system for the complex. All of the apartments are available for households earning 80 percent or less of the Area Median Income. More information is available at regionalcouncils.ny.gov.

State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Doyle blocked an abortion rights amendment from appearing before New York State voters on the November ballot today. Judge Doyle found that state lawmakers failed to follow procedural rules around passing constitutional amendments, incorrectly approving the amendment before getting a written opinion on the language from the attorney general.

The state Office of General Services has discontinued holding periodic auctions of state surplus vehicles and highway equipment at various locations around the state. State vehicles will be auctioned off online only, along with other surplus items such as used desks or computer screens, tools, & other items that state government workers no longer need. The switch to auctioning vehicles started on May 1. Bidders will no longer be required to show up in person to bid on a vehicle, and OGS and its partner agencies will not have to transport surplus items to auction sites.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 5-7-24

Binghamton Police arrested a 17 year old juvenile & seized a “ghost gun” & a high capacity magazine during a stop of a stolen vehicle. The unidentified 17-year-old fled from the vehicle and was pursued by the Binghamton Police & was captured. The Juvenile was charged with multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon & obstructing governmental administration.

State University of New York Board of Trustees announced an additional allocation of $114 million in direct state tax support across the state-operated SUNY campuses from the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted New York State budget. The money will be used for salary increases and internship funding,

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 4-30-24

State Police, State EnCon Officers, State Forest Rangers, New Berlin Police, Chenango County Sheriff's Deputies, the Susquehanna SPCA as well as the Office of Emergency Management served a search warrant at properties located on Clark Lane and Pig Farm Lane in the town of New Berlin. Over 2 dozen animals were located deceased and an additional 107 neglected animals were removed, which included horses, swine, cattle, sheep, goats, a llama, plus dogs and cats. The Investigation is continuing.

Another Red Cross Blood Drive is being held this afternoon in Cooperstown from 1:00 to 6:00 PM at the Clark's Sports Center. Appointments are encouraged by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, at RedCrossBlood.org, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

A.M. NEWS Tuesday 4-30-24

The Village of Bainbridge Board of Trustees will hold an informational meeting tonight at 6:30 PM in the Bainbridge Town Hall, Mayor Phil Wade explains:

(Phil Wade 4-30-24)

Streets that potentially may be affected are Front, River, North Main, Pruyn, Parsons and Freiot Avenue, tonight The board is seeking comments from all interested parties. Representatives from the solar project will also be present to address any questions or concerns.

Broome County Sheriff's Office arrested 37 year old Scott Hanrahan of Sanford for Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Possession of an Assault Weapon & Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. On Saturday Broome County Sheriff’s Road Patrol conducted a traffic stop on Route I-86 West in the Town of Windsor, deputies located cocaine, along with various assault weapons & multiple rounds of ammunition, Hanrahan had previous felony convictions & is facing new charges for illegal weapon and drug possession following the traffic stop. Hanrahan was arraigned at Central Arraignment Part and remains in custody at the Broome County Correctional Facility.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 4-15-24

Broome County Sheriff's deputies responded last Thursday to a report of inappropriate behavior and abuse of a juvenile female victim in the Town of Maine, where a family acquaintance had conducted several inappropriate physical and sexual interactions with a child. 74 year old Mark Turner of the Town of Maine was charged with 4 Counts of Sexual Abuse, he was arrested and taken into custody without incident and was being held for Court action at the Broome County Correctional Facility.

45 year old Katrina Lott of West Edmeston pleaded guilty to Driving While Intoxicated and was sentenced to 3 years of probation, in Deposit Town Court last week. On June 13, 2023, Lott was driving on County Route 8, when she lost control of her vehicle and drove into the ditch. A State Trooper responded to the crash scene and determined that Lott was likely under the influence of alcohol when open containers were spotted in the vehicle. Lott had a BAC of .16% - two times the legal limit.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 4-15-24

2 Law Enforcement officers were killed, and the suspect was also killed in an incident in Liverpool Sunday night. Syracuse Police Officers encountered a suspicious vehicle Sunday Night, they attempted a traffic stop & the vehicle took off, officers did get the License plate number, it was traced to a Liverpool address to stop the vehicle, Syracuse Police & Onondaga Sheriff's Deputies responded & were encountered by an armed male and an exchange of gunfire followed. One Syracuse Police Officer and one Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputy were struck by gunfire. The armed suspect was also shot, all 3 were taken to Upstate University Hospital, all 3 succumbed to their injuries.

The Acco Brands plant in Sidney is being sold, Acco Officials said that the company signed a non-binding letter of intent to sell the building to a renewable energy company, if the building is sold in 2024, operations would continue in Sidney throughout much of 2024. CONVALT of Watertown is believed to be the purchaser as they announced on their website their plans to build their main factory, in Sidney with a targeted date of commercial operation in the 1st quarter of 2025.

Congressman Marc Molinaro's constituent service team will hold mobile office hours from 1:00pm to 3:00pm today, at the New Berlin Village Office, constituents will be able to connect with representatives from Rep. Molinaro's office to share comments and resolve issues they are having with federal agencies like the VA, IRS, and Social Security Administration.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 4-11-24

Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 29 year old Elizabeth Gajdzis of New Berlin for 2nd degree Burglary, 3rd & 4th degree Grand Larceny, Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle. On March 30th, The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol Division received a complaint of a stolen vehicle from a residence in the Town of New Berlin. Gajdzis is accused of stealing the vehicle, On April 1, she contacted a member of the Detectives Division regarding a separate matter and agreed to meet the Detective, she was arrested, was processed, arraigned & was remanded back to the correctional on cash bail and is scheduled to reappear in the Town of New Berlin Court at a later date.

Hartwick College in Oneonta launched their Together, We Soar campaign last November, with the goal of raising $50 Million dollars for a variety of reason, James Kellerhouse, Vice President for Institutional Advancement & External Relations, told WCDO News about their efforts:

(James Kellerhouse 4-11-24)

Kellerhouse said that they have already raised about $30 million dollars, and that enrollments increased this year by about 10%, with an even higher percentage of new students from the local counties, more information is available at hartwick.edu/giving/together-we-soar.

The Binghamton Police Department arrested a 17-year-old from Johnson City for leaving the scene of a pedestrian hit-and-run Tuesday afternoon. Binghamton Police responded at Court and Water streets for a report of a person who was crossing the road being struck by a vehicle, the victim was a 45 year old man from Binghamton, He was transported to an area hospital w& was in critical condition. Detectives found the suspect and their vehicle later, he was arrested & was released on an appearance ticket.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 4-11-24

40 year old Jesse Barnum of Endicott was arrested in Pennsylvania on multiple felony charges for failing to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act. Barnum was found hiding under a blanket in the rear of a van, he was arrested and extradited to appear in Broome County and Town of Union courts. On Friday, April 1, 2024, members of the Broome County Sheriff’s Warrants Division and the United States Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force traveled to Scranton area, Barnum was wanted 2 separate counts of Failure to Register Under the Sex Offender Registration Act, plus Bail Jumping.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 3-15-24

Area Fire Department & Emergency Squads will be conducting open houses next month, in an effort to get more people involved in their local fire department, following years of dwindling numbers, Bainbridge Emergency Squad member Roger Barnhart comments:

(Roger Barnhart 3-15-24)

Barnhart said that so far, the Afton Fire Department will hold their open house on April 13th, which is the same day as the state wide "Recruit New York" Initiative, the Bainbridge & Unadilla Departments planning to hold theirs on April 27th,

On Monday at 12:00pm, Congressman Marc Molinaro will host an education round-table with school faculty, parents, and teachers at Chenango Valley High School, regarding a loss of state funding.

A.M. NEWS Friday 3-15-24

State DEC reminds residents that the annual statewide burn ban prohibiting residential brush burning begins tomorrow and runs through May 14. Since 2009, DEC has enforced the annual brush burning ban to help prevent wildland fires and protect communities during heightened conditions for wildfires.

The Coventry Fire Department's EMS unit is holding classes as they try to get more people involved, Spokesman Kyle Button told WCDO News that they have classes on Sunday for those interested in the basics of life saving techniques:

(Kyle Button 3-15-24)

Button said that the session will be held at the Coventry Fire Department on State Route 206, more information is available at coventryems.org or by calling 607-656-4060.

Our Krazy 8 Redemption LLC of South New Berlin will be helping with the “March Madness” fundraiser for the Delaware Valley Humane Society this Saturday in Sidney, Humane Society Director Erin Insinga comments:

(Erin Insinga 3-13-24)

The fundraiser will run through the end of March, more information is available on the Delaware Valley Humane Society or Our Krazy 8 Redemption center Facebook pages.

P.M. NEWS Wednesday 3-13-24

36 year old Justin Baker of Sidney appeared in Delaware County Court Monday and pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Baker admitted that he had possessed methamphetamine with the intent to sell in the Village of Sidney. Judge Hubbard ordered the Delaware County Probation Department to conduct a pre-sentencing report, it is expected that Baker will be sentenced to 2 1/2 years in state prison to be followed by one year of post release supervision, he will likely be enrolled in the Lakeview Rehabilitation Program as part of his state prison sentence.

Our Krazy 8 Redemption LLC of South New Berlin will be helping with the "March Madness" fundraiser for the Delaware Valley Humane Society this Saturday in Sidney, Humane Society Director Erin Insinga comments:

(Erin Insinga 3-13-24)

Christina Dewey of Our Krazy 8 Redemption told WCDO News that they are happy to help out this & other shelters in the region:

(Christina Dewey 3-13-24)

The fundraiser will run through the end of March, more information is available on the Delaware Valley Humane Society or Krazy 8 Redemption center Facebook pages.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrested 28 year old Kenneth Dillman of Stamford for Aggravated Unlicensed Operator of a Motor Vehicle and Operation of a Motor Vehicle with an Ignition Interlock device following a traffic stop in the Town of Harpersfield. Deputies observed Dillmann operating a motor vehicle, they knew that Dillmann had 22 suspensions on his revoked license, A traffic stop was conducted, Dillmann was charged & was issued traffic tickets and Appearance Tickets for Town of Harpersfield Court at a later date.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 3-13-24

State Comptroller’s Office announced that 2 Otsego County area businessmen have been indicted for a $1 million Medicaid transportation fraud scheme. 46-year-old Philip Mtui and 47-year-old Mbaga Kaiza were partners in Phinaliz Communications, they allegedly sought and received payments for rides that did not actually happen and billed multiple times for rides that did occur. This resulted in $1 million being stolen from Medicaid, they were charged with 1st Degree Grand Larceny & they face court action on May 6.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 2-29-24

NYSEG reports that the number of power outages in the WCDO listening area this afternoon was down to around 250, down from about 850 this morning, all attributed to the high winds that came through the region last night. NYSEG crews hopes to have all the power restored shortly.

Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sabrina Johnson of Oswego County for 2nd degree Burglary, Attempted Grand Larceny, Criminal Mischief & Conspiracy, last November, the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol Division received a Burglary complaint in New Berlin, the investigation found that Johnson and a co-defendant caused damage while burglarizing a residence, stole items from within the residence, and attempted to steal a car. Johnson was located at the Town of New Berlin Court and was taken into custody without incident, she was arraigned and was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on cash bail, she will return to Town of New Berlin Court at a later date.

State Lawmakers approved the new Congressional redistricting maps on Wednesday in Albany. The maps were said to be very similar to the maps used in the 2022 elections with only a few changes.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance reminds seniors that, for most localities, the deadline to apply for greater property tax savings through the Enhanced STAR property tax exemption is March 1. Basic STAR exemption recipients who turn 65 this year and meet the eligibility requirements should apply to their assessor for the Enhanced STAR exemption. For more information go to tax.ny.gov.

Attorney General Letitia James is leading an investigation into the February 22 AT&T outage that left many customers without service for up to 12 hours nationwide. New Yorkers affected by the service outage are encouraged to file a complaint online at att.com.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 2-29-24

Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce is holding a follow up meeting tonight as a follow up to the “Re-Unite Bainbridge” meeting of a few years ago, Bainbridge Chamber President John Payne explains:

(John Payne 2-29-24)

Payne said that the meeting will be at 6:00 PM in the Bainbridge Town Hall Theater and the public is invited.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 2-23-24

Craig Ross Jr. pleaded guilty Wednesday to 1st-degree kidnapping and predatory sexual assault of a child, according to the Saratoga County district attorney, and faces 47 years to life in prison. Ross abducted 9 year old Charlotte Sena on September 30th from Moreau Lake State Park, as she was riding her bicycle while picnicking with her family, she disappeared and a search led to Ross 2 days later when state police troopers and an FBI SWAT team stormed a camper Ross was staying in. Rescuers found the girl alive in a cabinet. The guilty plea comes prior to a trial that was scheduled in April, Ross will be sentenced on April 17.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 2-23-24

The case of Ganesh "Remy" Ramsaran of New Berlin will go national tonight on NBC's Dateline. Ramsaran pleaded guilty last year to a reduced charge of Manslaughter fro the 2012 killing of his wife Jennifer Ramsaran. NBC Dateline will devote 2 hours of airtime to the the case entitled “The Perfect Life,” at 9:00 PM, More information and a preview for the episode can be found at nbcnews.com.

Local Photographer Ron Sager will have an exhibit & discussion of his photography at the Sidney Library Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, he told WCDO News about this exhibit:

(Ron Sager 2-23-24)

Sager will have another exhibit on March 2 at the 246 Main Street in Unadilla, with an exhibit & discussion specifically about Unadilla.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 2-19-24

The Annual Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump was held Saturday and was a rousing success, according to organizer Brenda Waters:

(Brenda Waters 2-19-24)

Waters said that the money raised will go to help with the medical expenses of 12 area children with a variety of health issues, more information about their efforts can be found at pbjump.com.

The Coventry Fire Department's EMS unit is holding classes in the coming weeks, as they try to get more people involved, Spokesman Kyle Button told WCDO News that they have free classes coming up on March 17th for those interested in the basics of life saving techniques:

(Kyle Button 2-19-24)

Button said that there is also a basic course for training to be an EMT, that will be held this Saturday, both session will be held at the Coventry Fire Department on State Route 206, more information is available at coventryems.org or by calling 607-656-4060.

The case of Ganesh "Remy" Ramsaran will go national this Friday Night on NBC's Dateline. Ramsaran pleaded guilty last year to a reduced charge of Manslaughter for the 2012 killing of his wife Jennifer Ramsaran. At 9:00 PM this Friday, NBC Dateline will devote 2 hours of airtime to the the case entitled “The Perfect Life,” More information and a preview for the episode can be found at nbcnews.com.

The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce will hold their next meeting tomorrow morning at Bob's Diner. The meeting begins at 7:30 AM, members & Directors are urged to attend.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 2-19-24

The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office arrested 43 year old Brian Boore of Oneonta following the investigation into a complaint at the Otsego County Correctional Facility. Boore was charged with 3rd & 4th degree Criminal Mischief, he is accused of intentionally damaging property at the Sheriff’s Office property, he was arrested and issued an appearance ticket returnable to the Town of Middlefield Court at a later date.

P.M. NEWS Tuesday 1-30-24

Jerell Thompson of Binghamton, pleaded guilty in Broome County Court to Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon. On December 23, 2023, Thompson was found to be in possession of a loaded Handgun after a traffic stop by State Police. Thompson will be sentenced to 5 years in New York State Prison and 5 years post-release supervision. Sentencing is scheduled for April 24, 2024, in Broome County Court.

Interconnect Wireless is up & running & is accepting customers for their new high speed internet services in Norwich & New Berlin, spokesman Terry Potter explains:

(Terry Potter 1-30-24)

Potter said that more information is available at intwireless.com or by calling 335-4492.

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies announced that Reid Brignac returns as manager, along with Pitching Coach AJ Sager, Hitting Coach Darin Everson, and Bench Coach Mariano Duncan. Juan Loyo joins the staff as the team's development coach. The Rumble Ponies made it to the Eastern League Championship Series in 2023, they open the 2024 at Mirabito Stadium against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Friday, April 5. Season Tickets and flex booklets are currently on sale at Mirabito Stadium, on the phone at (607)-722-FUNN, or on our website www.bingrp.com.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 1-30-24

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies responded last Thursday to a domestic incident in progress in the Town of Meredith. Upon arrival one of the individuals involved was identified as 32- year-old Edward Reed of Meredith, a tinfoil containing a white powdery substance along with a scale was discovered within the residence, Deputies charged Reed with criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of drug paraphernalia, . Reed was released on appearance tickets returnable at a later date to the Meredith Town Court.

The Guthrie Clinic will take over operations at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton Thursday. The take over includes all of Lourdes facilities, including the new clinic at the Oakdale Commons, a new name for the facility will be announced Thursday.

The U.S. National Science Foundation has designated the New Energy New York Storage Engine as a Regional Innovation Engine, at Binghamton University. They will receive up to $15 million for 2 years and up to $160 million over 10 years to establish a hub that will accelerate the growth of the domestic battery industry.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 1-29-24

The Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested John Williams of Edmeston following an accident investigation on January 5th in Edmeston. Williams was charged with Criminal Possession of a controlled substance, DWI, DWAI, failure to keep right, Moving from lane unsafely, Leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury, Speed not reasonable and prudent, Williams was found in the Town of Pittsfield with a controlled substance later that day, he was issued an Appearance ticket

Utz Quality Foods issued a voluntary recall for Utz 2.75 ounce Wavy Original Potato Chips due to an undeclared milk allergen. The items in question had an expiration date is May 6, 2024. The recall was initiated after Utz learned that approximately 1,200 single-serve bags of the chips were flavored with seasoning instead of including the plain Utz Wavy Original Potato Chips, the chips were distributed to New York retailers only. No other Utz products are part of the recall. Consumers who purchased the recalled product may discard it and contact the Utz Customer Care team for a refund by email customerservice@utzsnacks.com; or by phone: 1-800-367-7629.

The annual Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump is coming up February 17th, with their annual auction to be held this Sunday at 12:30 at the Milford Central School. Brenda Waters & her husband Jamie have been organizing this event for 26 years, Brenda told WCDO News that they raised over $141,000 with last years event for area people with a variety of medical issues, and they hope to exceed that this year, starting with the auction:

(Brenda Waters 1-29-24)

Waters said that the Polar Bear Jump will be on February 17th at 12:30, the awards banquet will be held that evening at the Oneonta Elks club, all the information is available at pbjump.com.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 1-29-24

State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation arrested 69 year old Francesco Baio of New Berlin for Forcible Touching and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. An investigation revealed that on Sunday, January 21, Baio allegedly inappropriately touched a person under the age of 17. Baio was arrested and is due back at the New Berlin Town Court on February 14.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 1-19-24

35 year old Charles Harrison of Binghamton was sentenced Thursday to serve 48 months in federal prison following his trial and conviction for possessing a firearm as convicted felon. The trial evidence demonstrated that, following his 2012 conviction in a federal court for Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute controlled substances, Harrison was serving the final portion of his sentence at a halfway house in Connecticut, he escaped, resulting in a warrant being issued for his arrest, US Marshals found him in March 2022 hiding under a mattress in an apartment in Binghamton, Marshals also located a loaded handgun next to Harrison, the jury voted to convict him of possessing the firearm Harrison was sentenced to serve 3 years of supervised release to begin after his prison sentence.

Delaware County Sheriff's office arrested Thomas Taranto of South New Berlin for DWI, on State Highway 8 in the Town of Masonville. On January 11th, Deputies observed a vehicle traveling at 72 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone, they performed a traffic stop & charged Taranto with driving while ability impaired by drugs, Speeding, obstructed plate, & Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Taranto released on the traffic tickets and an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Masonville Court at a later date to answer the charges.

The Sidney Center Improvement Group annual meeting will be held this coming Monday, at 6:30pm at the Sidney Center Fire Hall. The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend. The Improvement Group Board is seeking new members and more involvement in order to continue bringing programming, events and improvement projects to the Hamlet of Sidney Center and for the Town of Sidney.

There is still time for New Yorkers to Apply for the HEAP program, to get help in paying for heating bills this winter. Low-income New Yorkers must show Proof of residency, have recent pay stubs for all household members, along with Photo Identification for each household member, more information is available at ny.gov/services.

A.M. NEWS Friday 1-19-23

Delaware County District Attorney's Office announced that 25 year old Zachary Rowe of Harpursville appeared in Delaware County Court and pleaded guilty to Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Rowe appeared in Delaware County Court for a court conference on January 16th, he admitted that he possessed fentanyl in the Village of Sidney on October 1, 2023, and he intended to sell fentanyl, he also admitted to using drugs in close proximity to a child. Rowe was sentenced to a 5-year term of felony probation supervision, he must successfully complete the Delaware County Adult Treatment Program, if he does not successfully complete the program, he will be re-sentenced to 4 years in state prison and two years of post-release supervision.

The Norwich Theater Company will present 3 performances of "Always…Patsy Cline", featuring 27 of Patsy Cline's most famous songs at the Martin W. Kappel Theater in downtown Norwich, Mary Beth Miller of the Chenango Arts Council explains:

(Mary Beth Miller 1-19-24)

The Performances will be tonight & Saturday Night at 7:30PM & Sunday Afternoon at 2:00 PM, Tickets are available at the Chenango Arts Council office, at Service Pharmacy in Norwich, New Berlin, and Sherburne, or online at www.norwichtheatercompany.org.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 1-17-24

The Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force executed a search warrant Tuesday at 373 Prospect Street in the Town of Dickinson. Police arrested 39 year old Andrew Fuller of Binghamton for multiple counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance & criminally using drug Paraphernalia and 45 year old Betty Hobbs of Binghamton for multiple Counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. Officers seized Methamphetamine, Suboxone, Oxycodone & other narcotics, ecstasy, cocaine scales & packaging materials, Fuller and Hobbs were transported to the Broome County Correctional facility for processing and arraignment.

The Workforce Development Board is offering a free virtual job fair on Tuesday, January 30, from 11:00am to 1:00pm, for all businesses and job seekers in several regional counties. More information for businesses looking to add to their staff, or job seekers, can be obtained at working-solutions.org.

AM NEWS WEDNESDAY 1-17-24

Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 30 year old Mark Lamphear of New Berlin for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell, Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol and DWI. Deputies conducted a traffic stop in the Town of Norwich for a speeding violation. they found Lamphear to be in possession of methamphetamine, Hydrocodone, gun parts that pieced together a non-compliant AR-15 and a 30-round magazine, packaging material and had a large sum of cash. Lamphear was processed and released on an appearance ticket and is to appear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date, Additional Weapons Charges are Pending**

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 12-22-23

The State Police are continuing the special enforcement initiative to crack down on impaired and reckless driving this holiday season. The enforcement campaign is part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” initiative and runs from Wednesday, December 13, 2023, through Monday, January 1, 2024. Drivers can expect to see sobriety checkpoints, Troopers will be watching for distracted drivers, vehicle occupants who are not properly buckled up, and drivers violating the “Move Over Law,” State Police will also conduct underage drinker enforcement details statewide. During last year’s crackdown, State Police arrested 453 people for DWI and issued 32,934 tickets, including 11,305 tickets for speeding, 912 for distracted driving, and 316 for the “Move Over Law.”

The warm up act for Nate Smith at the Southern Tier Music Festival in July has been scheduled, one of the organizers Ed Curley visited WCDO This Mon ring & made the announcement:

(Ed Curley 12-22-23)

Ed was joined by Teri Schunk, they talked about new camping that will be available at General Clinton Park that weekend:

(Teri Schunk Ed Curley 12-22-23)

More information & tickets are available at southerntiermusicfest.com.

The Bandera Family and Community Alliance will be providing free meals on Christmas day at a variety of locations across the Southern Tier. Meals will be available for dine-in, take out from noon to 2 pm. at the Norwich American Legion, the Oxford American Legion, and the Sidney American Legion. For more information on the Bandera Family and Community Alliance, visit BanderaChristmas.com or the Bandera Family and Community Alliance Facebook page.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 12-22-23

Area Resident Gene Schmidt announced that he & his family & volunteers will be serving Christmas dinner again this year, he told WCDO News that it will be at a different location:

(Gene Schmidt 12-6-23)

Schmidt said that people interested in volunteering can also visit his Facebook page & send an instant message this year.

Filmmaker Joseph Stillman will premier his latest movie: “Bear” this weekend in Oneonta, Stillman told WCDO News about his latest film:

(Joseph Stillman 12-18-23)

Stillman said that the movie was filmed around the Gilbertsville area, with local talent on both sides of the camera, The premier of “Bear” will be this today & Saturday at Foothills Performing Arts Center, at 5:00pm and 7:30pm both days, Tickets are available at the box office or at bearthemovieinfo.ticketleap.com/bear.

Bassett Healthcare Network and Helios Care are collaborating to provide hospice and palliative care to patients in Central New York. The State Department of Health has given approval for Helios Care to expand their services to include Herkimer and Chenango Counties to better serve within the Bassett Healthcare Network. Currently, Helios Care serves Otsego, Delaware, and Schoharie Counties.

Norwich Firefighters responded early Thursday Morning to 137 Horstman Lane for a reported structure fire in a mobile home, they located a fire in the ceiling and roof area of the structure. Crews quickly extinguished the fire containing it to the room of origin along with ensuring all occupants were clear of the structure. Firefighters from New Berlin & North Norwich also responded, the cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries were reported & all occupants safely evacuated without injuries.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 12-11-23

The Town of Oneonta has adjusted the restricted area to the public to properties close to the area around Saturday's explosion & fire at Richards Avenue in Oneonta's West End. Residents within the affected area will be allowed to secure their homes from the outside only, Town of Oneonta Code Enforcement will be on scene with NYSEG to assist residents, the Code Enforcement Office phone number is 607-432-8606. The phone number for town hall is 607-432-2900. A representative from Mobile Crises Assessment Team is at the Oneonta Town Hall today and Wednesday at starting at 10:00 AM for anyone who needs assistance, their phone number is 315-732-6228.

The Jericho Arts Council is now looking for artists to participate in next year's Regatta Row 2024. Spokesperson Rachel Hares explains:

(Rachel Hares 12-11-23)

The chairs will be displayed in Bainbridge from April to Memorial Day Weekend, when they are auctioned off during the General Clinton Canoe Regatta, applications and details are available online at jerichoarts.com, more information is available at 607-643-2211.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 12-11-23

On Saturday at approximately 5:30 pm; The Otsego County 911 Center received multiple 911 calls reporting an explosion and residential structure fire on Richards Avenue in the Town of Oneonta. The Oneonta Fire Department and multiple mutual aid departments responded. Upon arrival, they found multiple structures with severe damage and an active structure fire. Deputies and members of various fire departments assisted residents in the immediate area with a precautionary evacuation. Once the fire was extinguished, 60 year old Desmond Moan was found deceased. A neighboring resident received medical attention for minor injuries sustained during the explosion, the initial investigation determined the cause of the fire at 18 Richards Avenue was a result of human error.

Delaware County Officials are aware of a complaint filed in the Northern District of New York by The Reporter. Officials can not make any comment at this time as the matter is in pending litigation, but officials deny all claims against the County as well as any individual named as a defendant in that matter, and will vigorously defend the action. The County was sued last week by the Reporter, as they claim that the action by the Board of Supervisors to remove The Reporter as the County's official paper for the publishing of legal notices, was in retaliation for coverage of county affairs by the Reporter's staff.

State Senator Joseph Griffo of presented the New York State Senate Empire Awards to a few Chenango County businesses recently. Griffo announced that the awards went to Golden Artist Colors of New Berlin, Preferred Mutual Insurance Company of New Berlin, Service Pharmacy of Sherburne & The Sherburne News.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 12-8-23

Breakfast with Santa will be held Sunday at the Community Cultural Center at 1 Bridge Street in Sidney, Sidney Chamber President Teri Schunk & Community Cultural Center Spokesperson Amy Williams explain:

(Teri-Amy 12-8-23)

More information about this & future programs at the Cultural Center can be found on their Facebook Page.

CHENANGO COUNTY Health Department will hold a free rabies vaccine clinic for dogs, cats & ferrets Saturday, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM at the South New Berlin Fire Station, registration is required at 337-1673.

West Windsor will hold their Santa Parade Saturday at 11:00 AM, line up starts at 9:30 at the West Windsor Fire Station, Santa & Mrs. Claus will arrive at the Community House at the end of the parade, where children can take pictures with and visit & hot cocoa will also be available.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 12-8-23

Bainbridge will be having their holiday celebrations this weekend, Bainbridge Chamber President John Payne explains:

(John Payne 12-8-23)

Sunday's Caroling originally scheduled to begin at 5:00 pm has been canceled due to the forecast of inclement weather.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 12-7-23

The Sidney Community Cultural Center will feature their annual "Breakfast With Santa" event this Sunday, Sidney Chamber President Teri Schunk &Cultural Center Spokesperson Amy Williams explained on WCDO This Morning:

(Teri Schunk-Amy Williams 12-7-23)

Additional information about this & other events are available at the Community Cultural Center Facebook page.

Attorney General Letitia James & a coalition of 21 attorneys general, support a proposed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives rule that would ensure more gun sales are subject to background checks. Following the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the ATF proposed a new regulation to clarify what it means for a person to be "engaged in the business" of dealing in firearms, and therefore required to obtain a license and run background checks when selling guns, that rule would close loopholes that allowed for the unlicensed sale of firearms, including online and at gun shows.

State Comptroller's office has completed audits of municipalities around the state, an audit of the Town of Colesville found that Officials did not always use a competitive process when purchasing goods or services and some officials were unfamiliar with the town's procurement policy requirements. In the village of Greene, officials developed a comprehensive investment program but did not effectively manage the program, they did not prepare monthly cash flow forecasts to estimate funds available for investment or monitor investments and did not formally solicit interest rate quotes or consider other legally permissible investment options.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 12-7-23

The Cornell Law School First Amendment Clinic and Greenberg Traurig, LLP filed suit against Delaware County, its Board of Supervisors, and its County Attorney Amy Merklin on behalf of news outlet The Reporter. The Complaint alleges that County officials violated the news outlet’s rights under the 1st & 14th Amendments when they revoked The Reporter’s designation as an official county paper in retaliation for its coverage, Attorney Heather Murray comments:

(Heather Murray 12-7-23)

This Morning, one county official, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that as of Wednesday night, none of the County Board or County Attorney Merklen have seen the lawsuit, and that they can not comment on pending litigation.

Congressman Marc Molinaro announced his constituent service team will hold mobile office hours today from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the New Berlin Village Clerk Office at 13 South Main Street, constituents will be able to connect with representatives from Rep. Molinaro's office to share comments and resolve issues they are having with federal agencies like the VA, IRS, and Social Security Administration.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 12-4-23

Helios Care will hold a special meeting for those grieving during the holidays, social worker Inda Fitch explains:

(Inda Fitch 12-4-23)

The event will be held Saturday December 9th from 2:00 to 3:00 PM at the Meridale Community Church on State Route 10, more information is available at HeliosCare.org or by calling 607-432-5525.

Congressman Marc Molinaro announced his constituent service team will hold mobile office hours from 11:00am to 1:00pm on Thursday, December 7 at the New Berlin Village Clerk Office at 13 South Main Street. Constituents will be able to connect with representatives from Rep. Molinaro's office to share comments and resolve issues they are having with federal agencies like the VA, IRS, and Social Security Administration.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 12-4-23

11 Fire Companies responded Friday night a fire in Stamford. The buildings were on fire at 62 to 64 Main Street in Stamford, 2 historic buildings were lost, the fire displaced 30 residents and 2 businesses, 2 residents & 2 firefighters were injured, with non-life threatening injuries. The Red Cross & Churchill Gym helped displaced residents, the cause of the fire is under investigation. The Stamford Village Hall will accept donations today through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Locally, Waste Recovery Enterprises of Sidney is collecting donations of canned food & toiletries for the 11 families displaced, teh items can be dropped off at their location at Valley View Road & they will deliver them to Stamford.

Donations of new unwrapped toys, coats and school supplies are requested, Drop off locations locally through December 15th are at the Binghamton State Office Building, 44 Hawley Street and the Homer Folks Facility, 28 Hill Street, Oneonta.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 10-17-23

The Chenango County Sheriff's Office is looking for the public's assistance on locating Derek Crouse, who is wanted by the Chenango County Sheriff's Office for Grand Larceny. Crouse was last known to be in the Oneida County area, anyone with information should cal (607)337-1921 or (607)334-2000 extension 1.

The State Cannabis Control Board voted to extend the adult-use cannabis license application window from December 4th until December 18th, to all adult-use license types. The Board moved to extend the application window in response to positive interest from New Yorkers, The priority application period for micro-business and retail applicants who have proof of control over a location was also extended from November 3rd to November 17th.

The Binghamton Black Bears Hockey Season began Saturday at the Arena, with a 7-3 victory, Spokesman Brooks Hill told WCDO News that the team is optimistic about their chances this year & are pleased with the fan support:

(Brooks Hill 10-17-23)

The next home game is Saturday at the Arena against Danbury, more information available at binghamtonblackbears.com

Broadway in Binghamton is teaming up with the Broome County Humane Society with a special offer on Tickets for "Bluey's Big Play" coming to the Forum Theater, Tina Niles from NAC Entertainment explains:

(Tina Niles 10-17-23)

The items that the Broome County Humane Society needs for their animals can be found at BCHumaneSOC.com, more information on Bluey's Big Play is available at BroadwayInBinghamton.com.

A.M. NEWS Tuesday 10-17-23

The Tioga County Grand Jury forwarded indictments to the Tioga County Court regarding the Thomas Rath Kidnapping & Murder case. Arraigned in the Tioga County Court were 37 year old Joseph Howell, for 1st & 2nd degree Murder, kidnapping & intimidating a witness, 31 year old Colleen Dillon for 1st & 2nd degree murder & kidnapping, 39 year old Kysha Radcliff for kidnapping & 31 year old Jonathan Glennon, for 1st & 2nd degree murder and kidnapping, 11 people were charged in the case, Additional indictments are pending.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that more than $8.8 million has been awarded to projects to create more housing. Greater Opportunities for Broome and Chenango, will receive $4.3 million to develop 17 units including 50 beds of permanent housing for chronically homeless individuals and families in New Berlin. The project includes the preservation of seven existing units and 10 newly constructed units, as well as the moderate rehabilitation of three buildings and the gut rehabilitation of another.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 10-11-23

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar announced a new emergency order that prevents New York City residents from using housing vouchers in Broome County. County officials said the vouchers are part of a New York City program which provides a housing allowance to eligible city families in a shelter or who are homeless. Garnar previously issued an executive order earlier this year that allowed for law enforcement to order busses with migrants to turn back around & not stop in Broome County, as the County was facing its own housing issues.

A new survey on school safety has been released that places New York State near the bottom, ranking 45th out of 50 for overall student safety. New York ranked 1st in school safety plans, but ranked poorly for weapons in schools, exposure to illegal drugs, & for students feeling safe at school. The full report can be found at scholaroo.com.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 10-11-23

The last steps are being taken to set up another way for Norwich & New Berlin residents to get high speed internet, Chenango County Director of Planning Shane Butler told WCDO News that a grant was acquired that allows Interconnect Wireless Corporation to offer a new internet service:

(Shane Butler 10-11-23)

Butler said that those who may be interested in the new service can go to intwireless.com for more information.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced that New Yorkers may check to see if they are owed money by the state, as there are 49 million unclaimed funds accounts valued at $18.4 billion with funds dating back to the 1940’s. The Comptroller’s Office has an online database is located at osc.state.ny.us or by calling 1-800-221-9311.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 7-21-23

National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies will be held this weekend in Cooperstown. The festivities start with the Parade of Legends Cooperstown at 6:00 PM Saturday. The parade originates at Lake Street and Chestnut Street, proceeds down Chestnut Street toward Main Street and onto Main Street to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Parade of Legends will feature more than 4 dozen returning Hall of Famers as well as Class of 2023 members Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen. The Induction Weekend will conclude with the inductions of McGriff and Rolen Sunday at 1:30 at the Clark Sports Center.

The Oneonta RC Flyers will have an open house Sunday from 12:00 Noon until 4:00 PM in Milford. The event will be held at the Milford BOCES Field, there will be demonstrations of a variety of radio controlled aircraft, more information is available at ONEONTARCFLYERS.Com.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 7-21-23

43 year old Thomas Stanley of New Berlin appeared in Delaware County Court Thursday & was arraigned on a sealed indictment. The 6 count indictments was unsealed, the Indictment alleges that Stanley intended to sell the heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine that was discovered in the trunk of a car on April 30, 2023, in the Village of Sidney. After being arraigned, Stanley was released from custody under the supervision of the Delaware County Probation Department, each of the felonies carry a maximum 9-year sentence. The Village of Sidney Police arrested Stanley Thursday for 3 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 7-17-23

Otsego County Department of Health reported that a bobcat in the town of Unadilla tested positive for Rabies Saturday. Officials said that 1 dog was exposed but was vaccinated, it received a booster shot & was treated for wounds suffered from the bobcat. 4 people are also undergoing post rabies exposure treatment, DEC officials were looking a for 2nd possibly rabid bobcat in Unadilla. Otsego County residents can call the health department at 607-547-4230 or visit otsegocounty.com for information regarding rabies.

Chenango County Sheriff's Office arrested 49 year old Edward Williamson for Burglary, Grand Larceny, Criminal Mischief and Conspiracy. Williamson was arrested following an investigation of a burglary that occurred in November 2022 in the Town of New Berlin. Williamson was arrested at the Oneida County Correctional Facility, where he was being held on unrelated charges, he was transported back to Chenango County for arraignment & was remanded back to the Oneida County Correctional Facility, he will return to Chenango County at a later date.

The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 35 year old Brian Worden of Oneonta following a disturbance call. Worden is accused of possessing a controlled substance when police showed up to a disturbance in the Meadows Office Complex Parking lot, Worden was arrested & was issued an appearance ticket.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 7-17-23

State Police BCI unit arrested 36 year old Ian Rotunno of Fenton, Thursday for multiple counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Rotunno was found in possession of a loaded and illegal rifle when located by law enforcement after a 24 hour manhunt. An investigation revealed that the weapon is a “ghost gun”, plus he is accused of possessing 2 magazines that are not New York State SAFE Act compliant and were loaded with armor piercing ammunition. Rotunno was transported to Broome County Central Arraignment and Processing.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 7-13-23

Severe weather is heading east this afternoon from the western Counties, local meteorologist Rich Townsend told WCDO news what the weather models are showing for the Southern Tier:

(Townsend 7-13-23)

We will have our latest forecast following this news cast.

The Otsego County Fair is scheduled for August 1st through the 6th this year at the fairgrounds in Morris, Fair spokesperson Lisa Jackson told WCDO news about the schedule of activities:

(Lisa Jackson 7-13-23)

More information is available at otsegocountyfair.org.

Delaware County District Attorney's office announced that 58 year old Mark Seeley of Walton, was sentenced to 2 years in the County Jail for Aggravated Harassment and Criminal Contempt. On September 11, 2022, Seeley, threatened several individuals, the Court issued orders of protection for the victims, Seeley violated the orders of protection multiple times. On May 8th, Seeley agreed to a plea deal in County Court, but on May 31st, State Police were contacted by the victims who had discovered that Seeley posted about the victims on social media. Due to the numerous violations the District Attorney’s Office voided the plea & Seeley was sent to jail.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 7-13-23

State Police and other law enforcement agencies continue to search the State Route 79 area and continue to maintain a presence searching for a man that may be a threat to himself and others in Chenango Forks. State Police said that the man may be armed, residents from Route 369 to Richards Road were advised to stay inside, keep their doors and vehicles locked. State Route 79 has been re-opened to traffic. The suspect is described as a white male, with dark hair, approximately 6 foot 1 inches tall and 275 pounds, last seen wearing a black shirt, light-colored pants or shorts and may be wearing glasses. Anyone with information should call 911, & should not approach the suspect..

Assemblyman Joseph Angelino will unveil the signage for the newly named 1st Lieutenant Stephen Doane Bridge spanning the West Branch of the Delaware River in Walton, Doane's actions saved the lives of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his own life. The unveiling will be at the Walton Veterans Plaza at 171 Delaware Street in Walton on Thursday, July 13th, at 11:00 am.

Congressman Marc Molinaro's constituent service team will hold mobile office hours from 11am to 1pm today at the village of New Berlin Offices. During this event, constituents will be able to connect with representatives from Rep. Molinaro's office to share comments and resolve issues they are having with federal agencies like the VA, IRS, and Social Security Administration.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 7-10-23

Delaware County will host an Innovative Readiness Training mission at the Walton High School starting tomorrow, with medical professionals providing free Medical, Dental & Veterinary services, as well as some community Heathcare providers with additional services, according to Director of Delaware County Planning & Watershed Affairs, Shelly Johnson-Bennett:

(Shelly Johnson-Bennett 7-10-23)

More information about the IRT program July 11th to the 19th, is available at delcony.us or at the Healthy Delaware Face Book Page.

State Police arrested 44 year old Reghan Parker of the town of Union for Possession of a Forged Instrument and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. Troopers observed a vehicle making vehicle and traffic violations, with an unlicensed driver operating the vehicle. Troopers said that the owner was Reghan Parker, who was in possession of suspected methamphetamine. Troopers also found that Parker’s vehicle had a homemade piece of paper on the front windshield attempting to represent a New York State Inspection sticker. Parker was issued appearance tickets to Broome County Centralized Arraignment and Processing.

Chenango County Sheriff's office arrested 30 year old James MacDuff of New Berlin today for 2 counts of Aggravated cruelty to animals, 2 counts of Failure to provide proper food and drink to an impounded animal, and 2 counts of Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, failure to provide proper sustenance in the Town of Norwich. MacDuff was charged after he allegedly left 2 dogs locked in cages with no food or water in an uninhabited residence for over a month, both of the dogs died as a result. Neighbors alerted law enforcement after they noticed a foul smell coming from the residence. When law enforcement arrived, they found two decaying corpses that were still locked inside of their cages. Subject was arrested and released on an appearance ticket. He is set to appear in the Town of Norwich court on a later date.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division assisted the State Office of Cannabis Management Enforcement Division at an inspection of a local business known as HEMPIRE on State Highway 30 Roxbury. Since June 7th, the New York State Office of Cannabis Management and the State Department of Taxation and Finance have conducted inspections of unlicensed cannabis retail businesses, At the HEMPIRE location, the proprietor did not have the necessary license required to legally sell hemp or cannabis, they seized about $40,000 worth of illicit products. Hempire was issued a Notice of Violation and Cease Order, Businesses found in violation are required to appear at administrative hearings where fines and penalties will be determined.

Catholic Charities of Sidney announced that their backpack with school supplies registration starts today & runs through August 11th. Students of the Sidney School District, whose family meets income requirements, can register by contacting the Sidney office in the Civic Center, or by calling at 607-604-4071.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 7-10-23

State Police issued a total of 12,991 tickets statewide during the 4th of July STOP-DWI enforcement campaign, which ran from Friday, June 30, to July 5. Troopers arrested 193 people for DWI and investigated 949 crashes, including 158 personal injury crashes and 5 fatalities. Troopers issued over 4600 tickets for speeding, In Troop c, there were 497 speeding tickets issued, 9 DWI arrests, & 110 for child restraint or seat belt violation.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 7-5-23

The Southern Tier Music Festival on July 1st at the Sidney Airport was considered a success by those who attended & those who helped organize the event, one of those was Ed Curley:

(Ed Curley 7-5-23)

The concert was headlined by Country Acts Maddie & Tae and Restless Road along with a number of local acts, Curley said that the meeting to talk about the future of the event will be on July 19th in Bainbridge.

The Delaware County IRT will be held July 11th through the 19th at the Walton High school, featuring a variety of free services for Medical, Dental, Veterinary as well as mental health, Director of Delaware County Planning & Watershed Affairs, Shelly Johnson-Bennett said that most of the services are available without an appointment, but one service requires registration:

(Shelly Johnson-Bennett 7-5-23)

WCDO News conducted a full interview with Shelly Johnson Bennett recently about the event, you can hear that full interview following the 6:00 PM news tonight on WCDO.

The Gus Macker Basketball Tournament is this weekend at the Norwich High School, organizers are looking for scorekeepers and other positions, according to organizer Tom Revoir:

(Tom Revoir 7-5-23)

Those interested should contact Tom Revoir at 607-336-9622 extension 29.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 7-5-23

Morris Fire Fighters responded to a blaze at a vacant house at 50 South Broad Street Saturday at around 5:15 pm. Mutual aid was received from fire fighters in West Laurens, South New Berlin, Gilbertsville, Pittsfield, Edmeston, Unadilla and Otego, the cause of the fire is under investigation, no injuries were reported.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 6-1-23

Over the past 24 hours, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office has received several reports from residents who received phone calls from individuals pretending to be detectives or deputies of the BCSO. Residents were informed that they had missed their court appearances and were threatened with warrants for arrest or thousands of dollars in fines, the scammer will request payment in the form of credit card information or other means. Residents are urged to terminate the call and not share any credit card information over the phone, Residents who receive scam calls are urged to contact the Broome County Sheriff’s Office at 607-778-1911.

The State Department of Health Bureau of Tobacco Control is releasing 3 new reports that point to the effectiveness of ongoing tobacco control policies adopted in the State over the last few years. The New York Youth Tobacco Survey of middle and high school students, found a decrease in cigarette smoking from 27.1% in 2000 to an all-time low of 2.1% among high school students. A 2nd report showed a decrease from 14.1% to 12.0% between 2017 and 2021. A 3rd report found that flavored vaping product sales and use decreased across the State following the implementation of a ban on flavored vaping products and new limits on the legal age to purchase other products.

The Greater Oneonta Historical Society has a display exploring baseball’s Major Leaguers who played for Oneonta teams. “Oneonta – On the Road to Major League Baseball” opened Today and will run through September 1st at the Oneonta History Center, 183 Main Street. The display will feature baseball cards of some of those players, including Frank Malzone, Don Mattingly, Curtis Granderson, and many more. More information about this & other programs can be found at oneontahistory.org.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 6-1-23

The Sidney Chamber of Commerce will hold their Annual Dinner at the Sidney Fire Hall beginning at 5:00 PM. The Chamber will be honoring Dr. Rohan Jayasena as the Citizen of the Years, He commented to WCDO about this honor:

(Dr. Rohan Jayasena 6-1-23)

Waste Recovery Enterprises will be honored as the Business of the Years, spokesman Sean LaRose comments:

(Sean LaRose 6-1-23)

Also, former Great American Food Store operator Kyle Westcott will be honored for the Commitment to Community Award tonight:

(Kyle Westcott 6-1-23)

Also, the Chamber will honor recent Long time Sidney Mayor Andy Matviak for a special Retirement Recognition.

State Police at Sidney responded to a crash involving a tractor trailer and SUV on State Route 8 near County Road 35 in the town of Guilford. An investigation at the scene revealed that the SUV was on State Route 35 when the vehicle entered the intersection and collided with a tractor trailer that had been traveling on State Route 8. The driver of the SUV, 27 year old Erin Hazen of South New Berlin was transported to A.O Fox Hospital - Tri Town. A passenger in the vehicle, a 3-year-old male was not injured. The driver of the tractor trailer, 51 year old Sergei Maliutin of Cohoes, did not report any injury.

Delaware County Sheriff's office arrested 33 year old Christopher Snyder of West Winfield for driving with a suspended New York State Driver’s license. On Saturday afternoon, May 27th, 2023, Sheriff’s Deputies observed a vehicle traveling on State Highway 206 in the Town of Walton, at 75 mph in a posted 55 mph zone. Upon conducting a traffic stop, Snyder's driving privileges were suspended, he was arrested and was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, speeding and failing to surrender NYS License to DMV, Snyder released and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Colchester Court at a later date.