WCDO Radio News

The Otsego County Health Department has reported that the Oneonta School district has 6 cases of Pertussis, also know as Whooping cough. Parents of students at the Oneonta School have been notified, Pertussis is highly contagious & is usually accompanied by fever, a runny nose & a harsh cough.

The Afton Central School District has appointed Timothy McNamara as the new Superintendent of Schools. McNamara has accepted the position; the Afton School board is expected to act on McNamara's appointment at their meeting this evening.

Governor Cuomo announced nearly $6.5 million in grants to 55 state-approved anti-sexual assault crisis and prevention programs operated by hospitals, non-profit organizations and governmental agencies statewide. The grants will help fund local crisis hotlines and direct services for sexual assault victims, such as crisis counseling, advocacy and trauma therapy, and support prevention and education in schools, on college campuses and in communities. A complete list of the funded programs is available at governor.ny.gov/sites.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting today in the District Conference Room of the Jr-Sr High School at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

The Afton Central School District Board of Education will hold open forums this week for their 2 candidates for Superintendent. Daniel Erickson of the Johnson City school district will have his public forum will be from tonight from 5:30-6:30 pm in the Afton Central School auditorium. Timothy McNamara of the Downsville School District, will be have his public forum Thursday from 5:30-6:30 PM in the Afton Central School auditorium.

The State Police CNET Team, State troopers, Chenango County Sheriff’s Office and State DEC executed a search warrant at 163 Sherman Hill Rd in the Town of Afton, following an investigation into the sale of methamphetamine. 36-year-old Matthew Mazepa, & 21-year-old Taylor Quackenbush of Afton were arrested for criminal possession of a controlled substance. Officers seized crystal methamphetamine, marihuana, Digital scales, drug packaging material cash & cell phones. Mazepa was arraigned in Afton Town Court and remanded to the Chenango County Jail without bail. Quackenbush was issued Appearance Tickets for Afton Town Court and released.

The Afton Central School District Board of Education has invited 2 candidates to interview for the Superintendent position. A forum for each candidate will be held next week, with the forum with Daniel Erickson; who is the middle school principal in Johnson City, will be November 28th, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM in the Afton Central School auditorium. Timothy McNamara is the principal in the Downsville Central School District; his public forum will be on November 30th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM in the Afton Central School auditorium.

State Senator Fred Akshar joined local librarians at the Fenton Free Library to announce over $150k in library funds for 24 libraries through the BOOKS Program. These funds will go towards children's programming and new books for the children and young adults collections at libraries across the 52nd Senate District. Local Libraries receiving funding includes Afton, Bainbridge, Deposit, Fenton, Oxford & Windsor as well as the 4 County Library System Cybermobile

The Sidney Central School District announced that they would offer after-school programs for no charge, starting in September. The District will offer an after-school program for students in grades K through 6th Monday through Friday until 5:00 PM, on full-length school days & Transportation is available. The After-school programs will begin on Monday, September 11th, more information and registration will be posted on the school website by the end of this month.

The Broome County Sheriff's arrested 2 people wanted on warrant by the town of Afton, while investigating a suspicious vehicle parked in a parking lot in Chenango Bridge Friday. 32-year-old Zachariah Burns is accused of possessing cocaine, and giving officers the name and date of birth of another person. Burns' was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Impersonation, he was also wanted on a Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear in Town of Afton Court. Another passenger was 19-year-old Salena Palmatier also is also accused of giving officers the wrong identity, she was charged with Criminal Impersonation, & was also wanted on a Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear in Town of Afton Court.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education today in the District Conference Room at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

There will be a public meeting on Sunday for Afton Village Residents to discuss the Strategic plan & local Waterfront revitalization grant that the village has received. Representatives from GeoEco Design will answer questions Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Bolster Community Center on Main Street.

The state budget has money set aside for a Hate crimes task force. Governor Cuomo's office reported that the Task Force will include members of the State Police, and they will work with the State Division of Human Rights, as well as Prosecutors, school district & local law Enforcement Agencies.

Sidney Central School District is holding Kindergarten registration starting today through Friday April 28th. Registrations will be held weekdays from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Children must be five years old on or before December 1, 2017 in order to be eligible for kindergarten in September. More information is available at 561-7728.

State Police arrested 31-year-old Tina Bremner of Afton for the felony of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation & Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle. Troopers responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on State Route 41 in the Town of Afton. Responding troopers found the unoccupied vehicle, the driver was located walking on a nearby road, troopers determined that Bremner did not have permission to be driving the vehicle & a check of Bremner's driver’s license showed that she had 26 suspensions on 11 different dates. Bremner was arraigned and was remanded to the Chenango County Jail with bail set. Her next court date is pending.

Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride and Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting reported that Ernest Franklin and Heather Franklin were indicted on Friday, by a Chenango County Grand Jury on charges of: 2nd degree Murder, 3rd degree Arson and Tampering with Physical Evidence, in connection with a fire at their residence on State Route 8 in the town of Guilford on March 1st. It was determined at autopsy that their adopted son, Jeffrey, was deceased prior to the fire. Investigators believe the fire was set to cover up the murder. Both defendants will be arraigned on the indictment in Chenango County Court at a later date.

Otsego County Conservation Association is seeking volunteers to assist with the 13th annual Earth Festival event at Milford Central School on Saturday, April 22nd, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the gym at Milford Central School. There is also a pre-festival movie night being held on Friday April 21 at 7:00 PM at the school. Volunteers are being asked to help with a wide variety of tasks on Friday and Saturday, including setting up Friday afternoon, and with clean up after the event. To volunteer, call 547-4488.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today encouraged all eligible taxpayers in Central New York to take advantage of three free tax filing assistance events scheduled for today.  Central New York taxpayers with adjusted gross household incomes of $64,000 or less in 2016 qualify to e-file their tax returns using free online software, Today's event will be from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Huntington Memorial Library at 62 Chestnut Street in Oneonta.

The State Department DOT will hold a public open house meeting today to discuss plans to replace a bridge on State Route 7 in the village of Afton. The open house will be held at the Afton Town Hall, from 5:30 to 7:000 PM today regarding the bridge was built in 1922 and carries State Route 7 over Kelsey Brook. The bridge is safe for continued travel and is regularly inspected. The purpose of the meeting is to share and exchange information with the public regarding the project and its potential impacts, including proposed work zone traffic control options to manage traffic during construction. More information is available at 772-7336.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting on today, in the District Conference Room at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

The Afton & Bainbridge Guilford Yes Leaders are teaming up for an Opioid Awareness Program tonight in the Afton School District. State Senator Fred Akshar comments:

(Fred Akshar 3-16-17)

Hundreds are expected to attend the event tonight, which will start with a free pizza dinner at 5:30 followed by the program at 6:00 PM; more information about the program is available at yes safe choices.org.

The State Senate & State Assembly passed their budget resolutions this week, paving the way for the conference committees to begin negotiating the differences in the 2 plans next week. Both budget plans call for increases tuition assistance for college students and increasing aid to public school districts and tackling the state's aging water infrastructure issues. Other issues include stopping the practice of prosecuting 16 & 17 year olds as adults in criminal cases, and allowing for Uber & Lyft to begin serving upstate counties.

A Winter Storm is heading up the East Coast & will impact much of the state starting tonight. Sidney High School Science Teacher & Meteorologist Rich Townsend explains:

(Rich Townsend 3-13-17)

The National Weather service has a Winter Storm Warning in effect tonight through Wednesday Night & a Blizzard warning has been posted for parts of Delaware County & neighboring Sullivan County.

Another Opiate Awareness Program will be held this week at the Afton school district in conjunction with Lourdes Hospital & Yes Safe Choices. State Senator Fred Akshar explains:

(Fred Akshar 3-13-17)

Senator Akshar said that he was encouraged that both the Afton & Bainbridge School district are requiring students involved in their athletics programs to be part of the program. Future events are listed at yessafechoices.org/events.

Officials at the Franklin central school district said that voters approved a capital project on Tuesday, by a vote of 89 in favor & 19 against, The project will cover Roofing, windows, bathrooms, locker rooms, upgraded information technology and networking, upgraded electrical systems, new bus lift, flooring, & masonry repairs.

State lawmakers continue to work on the Executive Budget proposal. State Assemblyman Pete Lopez said that while school aid is a huge part of the budget, the formula needs to be addressed:

(Lopez 2-8-17)

Lawmakers have until April 1st to get the budget passed for the start of the next fiscal year.

State Police arrested 44-year-old Kevin Roof of Binghamton, for 2nd degree Burglary. After consultation with Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride, State Police arrested Roof after his release from the hospital where he had been treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his upper leg, which he received during the course of his criminal conduct in the town of Afton on Algerine street on January 30th. Roof was arraigned and was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $50,000 cash bail, $500,000 property bond pending future court action in Afton Town Court. 34-year-old James Fletcher was also charged with 2nd degree burglary in connection with this case, the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is requested to contact State Police at 561-7400.

The Delaware County Fair announced that ten $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to current New York State high school seniors and students enrolled in college. Qualifying students must be active in the Delaware County Fair or with the state Showpeople’s Association. All applicants from Delaware County must submit their applications through the Delaware County Fair or the NYSSA no later than Friday April 8th. Information is available by contacting Delaware County Fair at 437-4093 or by email at delcofair@gmail.com or nyfairs.org

59 school districts have been designated as fiscally stressed under State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s Fiscal Stress Monitoring System, which is a decrease from 82 districts that were listed in stress last year and 90 the year before. The latest round of scoring designated two school districts in “significant fiscal stress,” nine in “moderate fiscal stress” and the remaining 48 as “susceptible to fiscal stress.” Only 2 local schools were listed in the "Susceptible to Fiscal Stress Category, those were the Harpursville & Afton school district.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold an information session in conjunction with the regular Board of Education meetings. Meetings start at 6:30 PM with the business portion of the meeting starting at 7:00 PM. A special Board Of Education Meeting will be held this Thursday for Board members to vote on SEQRA and the Capital Project, It is anticipated that the public will vote on the Capital Project in March.

The Tri Town Coalition on Substance abuse will hold their next meeting tonight at the Sidney High School Library. Spokesperson Lorraine Keckeisen comments:

(Lorraine Keckeisen 1-25-17)

Residents from Sidney, Unadilla & Bainbridge are encouraged to attend tonight's meeting, which will run from 6:00 to 7:30 PM.

The Afton SADD chapter & Afton Driver Education announced a Brooks Chicken Barbecue to benefit the family of Lynn Bascuiska today, during the boys & girls basketball games with Sidney. Pick up or eat in available from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Plans also call for raffling off baskets & other prizes throughout the night.

About 100 area residents attended last nights Unatego School district Town Hall meeting with Superintendent Dave Richards, who told WCDO News of the 2 main concerns:

(Dave Richards 1-18-17)

Richards said that the Facilities committee has suggested closing the Otego Elementary School first, and then the Unadilla Elementary School in 4 to 5 years after that, the Unatego Board of Education is expected to vote on the Otego closure next month. Richards said that the district has lost 28% of their student population in the last 10 years, and the 2 buildings are over 90 years old and face millions of dollars in repairs & renovations.

Another public meeting of the Oneonta Downtown Revitalization initiative will be held on Tuesday January 24th at the Foothills Performing Arts Center Atrium. Updated information will be provided by Stantec Urban Planners, Otsego Now & the local planning committee, regarding plans to transform the downtown business district. Oneonta received 10 million dollars from the state last year for the projects. The public is encouraged to attend & participate in the meeting on the 24th.

An Afton Central School District bus slid off Lord Road in icy conditions this morning, No Injuries were reported, The Afton district delayed the opening of classes today by 2 hours.

Property tax levy growth for school districts will be capped at 1.26% for the 2017-18 fiscal year, according to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. The tax cap limits tax levy increases to the lesser of the rate of inflation or 2% percent; with certain exceptions, including a provision that allows school districts to override the cap with 60% voter approval of their budget.

Bainbridge-Guilford-Afton-Harpursville Head Wrestling Coach Brandon MacNaught has been named the 2015-2016 New York State Wrestling Coach of the Year. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association recognized MacNaught's work during the 15-16 season, he had the task of working with 3 different school districts for his combined team, yet the Bears are consistently one of the most successful teams in the area. They sent several wrestlers to the state tournament in Albany last year and won several tournaments as a team as well.