WCDO Radio News

State Police at Oneonta arrested 28-year-old Timmie Clarkson of Oneonta for 2nd degree Strangulation, Aggravated Harassment, & Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.  The arrest resulted from an investigation of a dispute on Elmwood Avenue in Oneonta, where Clarkson is accused of choking the victim until she lost consciousness and after he left the residence, he continued to call the victim and threaten her.  Clarkson was arrested, he was found to be in possession of narcotics. Clarkson was arraigned at the Town of Oneonta Court and remanded to the Otsego County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer confirmed that several local river gauges will receive funding through 2014.  The funding avoids an October 1st shut off, at gauges on the Susquehanna River at Bainbridge, Windsor and Binghamton, the Unadilla River at Rockdale and the Chenango River at Sherburne and Greene. Schumer noted that the funding does not include all river & stream gauges, and he will continue to pursue permanent funding sources.

State DEC deputy commissioner Anne Reynolds testified that the agency continues to review comments they received on the 2011 draft review on Hydraulic Fracturing.  Reynolds testified on behalf of the DEC at a hearing held by a legislative committee Friday, she said that there is no set schedule for a final decision on hydrofracking.  The DEC review of fracking first started more than 5 years ago.

Delaware County Deputies investigated a motorcycle accident on Basin Clove Road in the Town of Hamden. 54-year-old Anthony Ives of Bainbridge lost control of the motorcycle and rolled it over.  Ives was transported by Life-net helicopter to Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown with undisclosed injuries, he was listed in stable condition.

Those who were thinking of working to get their GED need to act quickly, before the tests change next year.  June White of the Adult Continuing Education Program at Afton Central school district explains:

(June White)

White said their department is offering GED classes in several locations around the tri-county area.  For more information call 639-2811.

The Board of Directors of the Afton Fair has developed an online poll that will be available through September 30. The purpose of the poll is to find out what fairgoers would like to see at 125th Afton Fair in 2014.  The poll is available at theaftonfair.com,  more information is available at 639-1525.

Governor Cuomo announced a new program under Charge NY to accelerate the market adoption of electric vehicles and to make EV infrastructure easier to use and more economically viable in New York.  The Electric Vehicle-Enabling Technology Demonstration Program offers $2 million to fund research and demonstration projects for electric vehicles. The program aims to create a statewide network of up to 3,000 charging stations over the next 5 years.  Proposals for the Program are due October 22.   More information is available at nyserda.ny.gov (http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/PON2755).

The New York State Police continue to look for qualified candidates who are interested in becoming State Troopers. The State Police is seeking candidates who meet the qualifications to take the trooper examination which will be offered on four separate Saturdays in October in New York City.  Those interested can apply on-line at: www.NYTROOPER.com (http://www.nytrooper.com/), or at (917) 492-7126.

Governor Cuomo released new statistics showing the health benefits for New Yorkers of reduced exposure to 2nd hand smoke, including reductions in heart attack hospitalizations.  Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act, A study by the Department of Health shows that since passage of the Clean Indoor Air Act, hospitalizations for heart attacks has decreased by 3,800 a year, The percentage of middle and high school students exposed to cigarette smoke decreased by at least 33%.  More information is available at health.ny.gov (http://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/tobacco_control/).

The Afton central school district board of education will hold a special board meeting this afternoon.  The board will discuss the 1908 building project bids at the meeting, which will be held in the high school library starting at 4:00 PM.

The State DOT will conduct a public hearing tonight the State Route 80 project in the Town of Otsego.   The hearing is tonight at 6:00 p.m. in the Cooperstown High School Auditorium, Construction of the project is tentatively scheduled to begin in the winter of 2014.  More information is available at 721-8575.