WCDO Radio News

SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW YORK will host the BINGHAMTON POLAR PLUNGE tomorrow at Chenango Valley State Park. Attendees from across New York State will gather to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics New York athletes in the Southern Tier Region. The Polar Plunge registration begins at 10:00 am & the plunge begins at 12:00 Noon

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 11-3-23

The Bainbridge & Afton Girl Scouts are holding their bi-annual Community Giveaway Days November 3rd & 4th at the Greenlawn Elementary school in Bainbridge, spokesperson Jessica Chambers explains:

(Jessica Chambers 10-23-23)

More information is available by Email to jjchambers@frontiernet.net, or call 267-2378.

3 more blood drives are scheduled locally today, 1 is being held at the O'Neill High School in Walton from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, another will be at the Laurens High School from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, and another will be held at the Stamford High School from 12:30 to 5:30 PM. Appointments can be made at the Red Cross Blood Donor App, at 1-800-RedCross or at redcrossblood.org..

The Afton Fairgrounds Speedway is under new management for the 2024 season, Afton Fair Board President Rhonda Barriger told WCDO News that a change was needed:

(Rhonda Barriger 11-2-23)

Barringer said That Thunder Mountain will take over prior to next6 racing season, they have operated a track successfully in Lisle for many decades.

The Sidney Democratic Committee is holding a Meet and Greet for Deirdre Hay, who is running on the Democratic line for NY State Supreme Court Justice for the 6th Judicial District, in the upcoming November 7th general election. Hay will meet with area residents at 6:30 in the Sidney Library Smart Community Room tonight. Hay is running for the seat against Republican candidate Cheryl Insinga. Also, Democratic Sidney Town Board Candidate Kevin Greene will also be participating.

The Bainbridge Guilford Central School District will hold their annual breakfast for veterans next week, BG Superintendent Tim Ryan told WCDO News about the event:

(Tim Ryan 11-2-23)

Veterans interested in attending the breakfast should RSVP to 607-967-6321.

More Red Cross Blood Drives are scheduled for today, 1 will be held at the Pines Brook Church in Walton from 1:30 TO 6:00 PM, another will be held at the Schenevus Central School from 2:00 to 6:00 PM, appointments can be made with the Red Cross Blood donor App, at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-redcross.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 6-23-23

Anielle "AK" McEwan Lomnicki has been cleared to play basketball at the Gus Macker Tournament in Norwich next Month, AK suffered numerous injuries when she was struck by a drunk driver while walking home from school in Sidney February 15th, she told WCDO News that she is excited & ahead of schedule in her ongoing recovery:

(AK McEwan Lomnicki 6-23-23)

AK's father, Rick Lomnicki said that they have been watching other people playing various sports, but watching his daughter compete after all she has been through will be exciting:

(Rich Lomnicki 6-23-23)

"AK" will be competing at the Norwich Macker July 8th & 9th on 1 of 9 WCDO sponsored teams, she also plans to play in the Ithaca Gus Macker tournament, and 2 other tournaments later this summer.

High School Graduations are scheduled all over the Southern Tier this weekend. Hancock Commencement exercises began this morning, other districts with ceremonies today include Afton, Andes, Charlotte Valley, Deposit, Downsville, Edmeston, GMU, Laurens, Milford, Morris, South Kortright, Schenevus, Unatego & Windsor. Saturday Graduation ceremonies will include Sidney, Bainbridge Guilford, Norwich, Oneonta, Delaware Academy, Greene, Harpursville, Oxford Academy, Unadilla Valley, Sherburne Earlville & Walton. 2 area district will hold their ceremonies on Sunday, they are Cooperstown & Worcester.

The State Comptroller's Office audited the Afton Central School District, , they found that the Afton Board and District officials did not effectively manage the District’s fund balance, so they levied more taxes than needed to fund operations and were not transparent with taxpayers. The Board annually overestimated appropriations by an average of $1.1 million or 7%. The District incurred $63,561 in unnecessary interest and other associated costs for the issuance of bonds to purchase school buses. The Comptrollers office recommended adopting realistic budgets, Reduce surplus fund balance to comply with the statutory limit to benefit taxpayers. District officials agreed with our recommendations and indicated they will take corrective action, the full report can be found at osc.state.ny.us.

The Afton Fair will continue in July again this year, and they are holding a special night to honor area 1st Responders, Afton Fair Spokesperson Rhonda Barriger told WCDO News that they teamed up with terry Potter of Millennia Entertainment for this event:

(Rhonda Barriger 5-25-23)

The Email to to nominate 1st responders again is tpott71@yahoo.com.

The American Red Cross is holding a Blood Drive in Walton today, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Walton O'Neil High School. Appointments can be made by downloading the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

The Afton Sertoma Club presents Goofy Golf again this Saturday at the Afton Central school, Spokesperson Helen Kittle explains:

(Helen Kittle 3-22-23)

The event runs from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Saturday, no pre registration is required.

Delaware County Board of Supervisors were notified that the federal civil rights suit filed against the County by former Social Services Commissioner Dana Scuderi-Hunter, was dismissed by the U.S. District Court Monday. Scuderi-Hunter had filed the civil rights suit last year, claiming that the County had violated her 1st Amendment rights; that she was denied due process as part of her 2019 dismissal; and that the County’s actions were retaliatory as a result of her testimony during a Family Court proceeding. U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Kahn, ordered the claims made by Scuderi-Hunter be dismissed on the basis that the claims had already been litigated and decided by the State Appellate Division in February 2022, she additionally appealed that decision, which was denied last June, she then sought an appeal from the State Court of Appeals which was also denied. Judge Kahn also dismissed Scuderi-Hunter’s claims that County Attorney Amy Merklen had a conflict of interest in carrying out her duties as assigned.

The Village of Sidney Police Benevolent Association endorsed Acting Delaware County District Attorney Shawn Smith in this year's race for the the Delaware County District Attorney's Position. The Association stated that they reached this decision following an increase in communication, transparency & compassion from the DA's office & Staff since Smith became the Acting DA January 1st. Smith faces a primary in June from fellow Republican Joe Ermeti of Sidney, who announced his candidacy recently for the DA position.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 3-22-23

Delaware County District Attorney's office announced that 71 year old Vincent Balsamo of Walton was arraigned on a sealed indictment in Delaware County Court Monday. The Indictment charges Balsamo with 2nd degree Manslaughter, 2nd degree Assault & Reckless Endangerment, for repeatedly choking, strangling & slapping & striking 52 year old April Kestner of Honesdale Pennsylvania at his residence in the Town of Walton in December 7th of 2022. Balsamo faces 5 to 15 years in jail on the Manslaughter charge, he was sent to the Delaware County Correctional facility on $50,000 cash bail or $150,000 bond.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 2-15-23

The Delaware County District Attorney's Office announced that 40 year old Adam Bright of East Meredith entered a Guilty Plea in a Vehicular Manslaughter Case. Bright pleaded guilty to 1 count of Vehicular Manslaughter and 1 count of Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, in Delaware County Court this week, Bright admitted that he was using methamphetamine while driving & that he crossed the double yellow line and hit a milk truck head on, killing his passenger. Bright faces a state prison term of 1-3 years on the Vehicular Manslaughter charge, he will be sentenced to 364 days in jail for driving while his ability was impaired by drugs, which will run concurrently to the previous sentence. Bright was remanded to the custody of the Delaware County Sheriff's office, without bail, pending sentencing.

Bassett Healthcare Network will continue to require masks for all people in patient care and public areas of their buildings, including in hospitals, clinics, long-term care and rehabilitation facilities, and school-based health centers. Bassett Officials said that COVID-19 and influenza community transmission rates in Central New York remain high or substantial & the State Department of Health's latest safety guidance continues to affirm the importance of masking as a key infection prevention tool. Bassett's experts in Infection Prevention and other disciplines will continue to monitor community transmission levels and proceed forward with safety measures that are aligned with CDC guidance and in the best interest of our patients and communities.

Truth Pharm will be holding a free Narcan training at the Afton Free Library, at 105 Main Street in Afton, at 10:00 AM today The training is open to the Chenango County and surrounding communities, and will teach participants the science of substance abuse and addiction, as well as how to recognize an overdose, and how to respond to an overdose using Narcan.

Broome County District Attorney Mike Korchak announced that Vance Murray of Binghamton was sentenced to 2 years in State prison followed by 2 years post release supervision, after pleading guilty to felony Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Murray admitted that on March 26, 2022, in the Village of Endicott he illegally possessed a loaded 9 millimeter pistol, during a traffic stop of a vehicle that he was a passenger in.