WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 3-15-21

Mass vaccination sites continue to open around the state, State health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker was at the opening of such a site on Long Island This Morning:

(Zucker 3-15-21)

Dr. Zucker said that the state has been promised by the Biden administration that everyone will be eligible for the COVID 19 Vaccines by the end of May and the production is being ramped up by Pfizer, Moderna as well as Johnson & Johnson, some pharmaceutical companies that did not develop a vaccine have agreements with the first 3 to produce vaccines.

State Police arrested 24 year old Aaron Johnson of Norwich, for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to sell, Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Possessing a Loaded Firearm in a Motor Vehicle and 4 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Troopers initiated a traffic stop after observing a vehicle on State Highway 7 in the town of Unadilla, failing to maintain a lane.  Troopers observed a rifle in the passenger seat,  Johnson is accused of possessing methamphetamine and heroin.   Johnson was issued appearance tickets to the town of Unadilla court today.

A.M. NEWS Monday 3-15-21

Brian Ruple of Oneonta & Derrick Gray of Laurens pleaded guilty to a variety of charges connected with a break in last year at Losie's Gun Shop, a holdup & assault of a clerk at the Dollar Tree in Oneonta & the hold up of convenience stores in Oneonta & Otego on April 24th 2020. Ruple will serve a total of 9½ to 12 years in state prison, plus five years of supervised release, Gray was charged with 3rd-degree robbery and attempted robbery in connection with the gas station hold ups, both face sentencing later this year.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 2-12-21

Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa is under fire, for saying to some state lawmakers in a ZOOM meeting that the administration "Froze Up" after being asked last summer for information by the US Department of Justice, regarding the death toll in the state’s nursing homes from COVID 19. Local State Assemblyman Joe Angelino is the Ranking Republican on the Assembly Oversight, Analysis and Investigation Committee, he told WCDO news of his reaction:

(Angelino 2-12-21)

The State Health Department has released updated statistics in the last week that greatly increased the number of deaths of Nursing home residents to over 12,700, by including those who died from COVID while in a hospital.  This Afternoon, DeRosa clarified her statements by stating that Governor's Office had asked State Lawmakers to wait for the administration’s response on Nursing Home deaths, so the administration could first resolve the Federal inquiry, she said that they were fully transparent with the Federal & then state inquiries in that order.  Some Lawmakers are calling for limiting the Governor's emergency powers & for the resignations of DeRosa; many have also been calling for the resignation of State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker.

2010 Unatego graduate Aaron "Frosty" Foster, who grew up in Wells Bridge, passed away unexpectedly Thursday in Tennessee.  Foster was a bluegrass musician, who currently had the #6 song on the Bluegrass charts, with Troy Boone, entitled "Country Fool". Foster was inducted in 2020 into the Unatego Central School District Hall Of Distinction, he was 28.

State health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker today announced that the United Kingdom COVID Variant discovered in an employee of a Saratoga Springs jewelry store was found through Contact Tracing. Dr. Zucker said that an acquaintance of the Employee had been to The United Kingdom recently & passed the virus onto the Saratoga Springs worker, who had NOT traveled abroad. The State Health department continues to see the state's positivity rate on COVID tests over 8% with over 16,600 positives on Tuesday, out of more than 197,000 tests. Hospitalizations continue to climb to 8665, the number in ICU patients is over 1400 and the number on Ventilators is up to 877, 161 died from COVID Tuesday in New York State.

The Chenango County Sheriff's Office arrested 32 year old Aaron Wickham after Deputies observed a motorcycle on State Highway 7 in the Town of Afton with no license plate. Deputies initiated a traffic stop on the motorcycle and a pursuit ensued. Wickham continued through the Village of Afton, he was eventually taken into custody west of Afton. Wickham was charged with Unlawful Fleeing of a Police Officer, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and several other traffic offenses. Wickham was released on appearance tickets and is to appear in the Town of Afton Court at a later date.