WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 9-18-20

The Otsego County Department of Health, Bassett Medical Center & NYS Department of Health has partnered to provide a rapid testing to Otsego County residents.  The testing will be performed on Tuesday & Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM each day at the Foothills Performing Arts & Civic Center on Market Street in Oneonta, for those who pre-register at 547-4279.

Chenango County Public Health announced their latest COVID 19 numbers today; they still report 245 total cases, with 6 active cases & 1 current hospitalization, & 104 quarantines.  Chenango County has had 7 deaths, 220 recoveries & they have performed over 26,400 tests.

Governor Cuomo announced that the COVID-19 results from Thursday, as 790 out of 89,727 tests performed Thursday were Positive.  The state has had 448,052 cases since March, there were 478 hospitalized, 141 were in an ICU, 62 were on ventilators, there were 10 COVID-19 Deaths, bringing the state toll up to 25,423.

The State DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos announced that several small game hunting seasons will open October 1st across the State, including special youth hunts and new hunting opportunities for active-duty military members and veterans.    Season dates, bag limits, and other hunting regulations for New York's small game species are available at dec.ny.gov.

The State Department of Labor announced that New York has paid nearly $1.9 billion in Lost Wages Assistance benefits to 2.26 million New Yorkers this week, representing retroactive payments of $300 for the weeks ending August 2nd, 9th, and 16th. The State has paid $44.5 billion in benefits to New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic; also FEMA has approved New York for the second and final round of that funding. This round of funding provides three additional weeks of Lost Wages Assistance benefits, paid retroactively for the weeks ending August 23rd, August 30th, and September 6th. New Yorkers will begin to receive these payments next week.

Delaware County Sheriff Deputies arrested 33 year old Edwin McGraw of Hancock following the report of a possible trespass in progress at a remote camp in the Town of Tompkins Wednesday.  Deputies discovered evidence of forced entry to an unoccupied residence and boat house, with the theft of 1 or more firearms. McGraw was charged with 2nd degree burglary, 4th degree Grand larceny & criminal mischief; he was arraigned and was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash bail pending his appearance in the Town of Tompkins Court on a later date.

Governor Cuomo today announced that the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is expanding online services, making it easier for New Yorkers to do business with the DMV from the comfort of their homes, and allowing the DMV to serve more customers in person who cannot complete their transactions online. The DMV has initiated a pilot program to offer the written learner permit tests for passenger cars and motorcycles online. It is also piloting a process to allow customers who reside in counties served by the state DMV to register their vehicles online. More information can be found on the DMV website at dmv.ny.gov.

A.M. News Friday 9-18-20

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office in Florida found the body of Otsego County Native Michael Shaver buried under a concrete slab in the backyard of his home in 2018,  his wife, 37-year-old Laurie Shaver, has been arrested for 2nd-degree homicide.  Shaver's family had told authorities that they had not heard from Michael since 2015.

Delaware County Sheriff's Department arrested 37-year-old Level 2 Sex Offender Martin Planty of Walton for failure to register a change in his residential address.   Planty, who was previously convicted, in the State of Florida, he was arraigned by teleconference, and was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility without bail pending his appearance in the Town of Delhi Court on a later date.

Commerce Chenango & The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce have teamed up for an event next Tuesday, September 22nd, where there members can get answer to questions they may have from the Small Business Administration officials.  Delaware County Chamber President Ray Pucci explains:

(Ray Pucci 9-18-20)

The online event will be held Tuesday from 12:00 PM thru 1:00 PM, more information is available from Commerce Chenango at 334-1400 or the Delaware County Chamber at 746-2281

Otsego County Department of Health reported 5 new cases of COVID 19 were reported Thursday, 3 are related to the SUNY Oneonta outbreak and 2 are county residents.  Current COVID numbers: there have been 692 confirmed cases linked to SUNY Oneonta, 16 confirmed cases in Hartwick College students, 26 active cases currently residing in the county.  There have been a total of 853 cases, 1 person is hospitalized.

Delaware County is reporting no new positive test result for COVID-19 and no additional recoveries. The known active cases in the County as of today remains 3, all are recovering at home. To date there have been 117 confirmed positive cases of COVID19 in Delaware County, with 55 people now under mandatory quarantine, 6 people have died and 108 have fully recovered.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 9-9-20

Governor Cuomo announced that 576 new COVID 19 cases were discovered Tuesday out of more than 63,200 tests performed statewide, a rate of .91%, the 33rd straight day that the state has had 1% or less. 463 are hospitalized, 121 are in ICU beds & 59 were on ventilators, there were 3 deaths, bringing the state death toll to 25,370 over the last 6 months.

Chenango County Public Health announced that they are up to 239 positive cases of COVID 19. They have 9 active cases with 1 hospitalization, 107 people are in quarantine, there have been 7 deaths and 209 recoveries, and they have performed over 24,600 tests.

State Police arrested 48 year old Chrisanthon Santana of Bronx on September 2nd for Criminal Possession of marihuana, after a trooper monitoring traffic on I-88 in the town of Sidney observed a vehicle make several violations. A traffic stop was initiated on State Route 8, which resulted in the discovery of over 28 pounds of marihuana. Santana was virtually arraigned and released; he faces court action in the town of Sidney court on September 24th.

State Police arrested 35 year old Vincent Palmisano Jr. of Grand Gorge for Felony DWI, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, Unlawfully Fleeing from a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving and Resisting Arrest. A trooper on patrol in Grand Gorge observed Palmisano operating a motor vehicle, who the trooper knows from past experience to be unlicensed, Palmisano failed to comply and a pursuit was initiated and Palmisano drove into a yard, jumped out the vehicle and ran into the woods.

A foot pursuit ensued with the trooper and his K9 partner, Palmisano was bit by the K9 and taken into custody, he was virtually arraigned & was remanded without bail to the Delaware County Correction Facility.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said today that the US Senate Republicans unveiled their so-called “skinny” relief package, which protects large corporations and leaves working Americans in the lurch:

(Gillibrand 9-9-20)

Gillibrand is calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to prioritize the needs of American families in the next COVID 19 relief package that will be voted on this week.

Otsego County Department of Health continues to investigate a large outbreak of Coronavirus involving SUNY Oneonta. On Tuesday, 16 new cases were reported; all are linked to SUNY Oneonta. The County reports 823 total confirmed cases, 701 confirmed cases linked to SUNY Oneonta, 11 confirmed cases in Hartwick College students, there are no hospitalizations.

Delaware County Public Health is reporting no new positive test results for COVID-19 and no additional recoveries, the known active cases remains 6, all are recovering at home. To date there have been 114 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Delaware County, with 73 people now under mandatory quarantine, 6 people have died and 102 have fully recovered.

State Police arrested 34 year old Robert Youngblood of South New Berlin, for Over-driving, Torturing and Injuring Animals, Criminal Contempt, Obstructing Governmental Administration and Making a False Statement. On August 16, a trooper was dispatched to Dunhams Cross Road in the town of Butternuts, where they discovered that a 6-month old pig had been shot multiple times with a pellet gun. The pig was alive but in obvious distress. Youngblood was additionally charged with violating an order of protection while he was in the trooper’s presence. Youngblood was issued appearance tickets to the town of Butternuts court for September 24th & to the town of Unadilla court for September 21st.

State Senator Jim Seward announced that Mallory Delaney of Oneonta has been chosen as the 2020 New York State Senate "Woman of Distinction" from the 51st senate district. Delaney practices internal medicine in Oneonta at Bassett Healthcare Network. She has been in practice for five years, and has particular areas of interest in addiction recovery and in the care of medically complex adults.

Delaware County Chamber of Commerce will hold a job fair spread out over 5 days next week in front of their office at 5 1/2 Main Street in Delhi, Chamber President Ray Pucci explains:

(Ray Pucci 9-9-20)

Pucci said that the representatives from County employers will have their own tents out front, masks & social distancing is required, more information is available at delawarecounty.org.

Delaware County Sheriff's Department arrested 6 people for a seasonal residence burglary in the Town of Andes On August 18th. Deputies responded to a seasonal home located on Shaver Hollow Road in the Town of Andes where the home owner reported discovering forced entry into his residence and the theft of a garden tractor. Deputies discovered the stolen tractor dismantled outside of a neighboring residence, they arrested 4 youths, ages 11 to 14 for 1 count each of burglary, criminal mischief & grand larceny, a 17 -year old was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, their grandmother, 61 year-old Kathleen Shaffer of Andes was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and criminal possession of stolen property. All face court action at a later date.