WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 12-11-23

The Town of Oneonta has adjusted the restricted area to the public to properties close to the area around Saturday's explosion & fire at Richards Avenue in Oneonta's West End. Residents within the affected area will be allowed to secure their homes from the outside only, Town of Oneonta Code Enforcement will be on scene with NYSEG to assist residents, the Code Enforcement Office phone number is 607-432-8606. The phone number for town hall is 607-432-2900. A representative from Mobile Crises Assessment Team is at the Oneonta Town Hall today and Wednesday at starting at 10:00 AM for anyone who needs assistance, their phone number is 315-732-6228.

The Jericho Arts Council is now looking for artists to participate in next year's Regatta Row 2024. Spokesperson Rachel Hares explains:

(Rachel Hares 12-11-23)

The chairs will be displayed in Bainbridge from April to Memorial Day Weekend, when they are auctioned off during the General Clinton Canoe Regatta, applications and details are available online at jerichoarts.com, more information is available at 607-643-2211.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 12-11-23

On Saturday at approximately 5:30 pm; The Otsego County 911 Center received multiple 911 calls reporting an explosion and residential structure fire on Richards Avenue in the Town of Oneonta. The Oneonta Fire Department and multiple mutual aid departments responded. Upon arrival, they found multiple structures with severe damage and an active structure fire. Deputies and members of various fire departments assisted residents in the immediate area with a precautionary evacuation. Once the fire was extinguished, 60 year old Desmond Moan was found deceased. A neighboring resident received medical attention for minor injuries sustained during the explosion, the initial investigation determined the cause of the fire at 18 Richards Avenue was a result of human error.

The Unadilla Fire was dispatched to a possible structure fire in the town of Unadilla on Kilkenny Road, at about 4:15 Saturday afternoon. Additional personnel were called in from Franklin, Wells Bridge, and Sidney Fire departments, it took approximately 25 minutes to get the fire knocked down.

The Tioga County District Attorney’s Office announced that 32 year old Boyd Fenton of Athens, Pennsylvania was arraigned on a 105-count indictment for setting a fire at Tioga Downs that killed 30 horses, destroyed the barn, injured a trainer, he was indicted for arson, assault, burglary, 38 counts of criminal mischief, 30 counts of interference with or injury to domestic animals; 31 counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; aggravated cruelty to animals; bail for Fenton has been set at $25,000 cash, $50,000 property and $250,000 secured bond.

Delaware County Officials are aware of a complaint filed in the Northern District of New York by The Reporter. Officials can not make any comment at this time as the matter is in pending litigation, but officials deny all claims against the County as well as any individual named as a defendant in that matter, and will vigorously defend the action. The County was sued last week by the Reporter, as they claim that the action by the Board of Supervisors to remove The Reporter as the County's official paper for the publishing of legal notices, was in retaliation for coverage of county affairs by the Reporter's staff.

Delaware County District Attorney's Office announced that 44 year old Laura Davis of Big Indian was indicted for Drugged Driving by the Delaware County Grand Jury on December 7th. The Indictment alleges that on March 3rd, Davis was driving in the Village of Walton while her ability to operate that motor vehicle was impaired by a stimulant, she was also charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of a Controlled Substance Outside of its Original Container.

The 29th Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival will return to downtown Norwich September 9 & 10, spokesperson Celeste friend explains:

(Celeste Friend 8-7-23)

Information on all 2023 performers can be found at colorscape.org. The Festival has been recognized as one of the country's top 100 classic and contemporary craft shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine.

Delaware County Sheriff Deputy’s responded to a report of a suspicious person in a vehicle located at the intersection of Scotch Mountain Road & Arbuckle Hollow Road, in the Town of Delhi. Deputies observed 78-year-old Dante Musci of Delancey lying in the back seat of the vehicle, he had traveled along Arbuckle Hollow Road and was involved in a property damage auto accident and had left the scene. Musci was charged with leaving the scene of a property damage auto accident, Operating a Motor Vehicle while impaired by drugs and driving while intoxicated, he was released and will appear in the Town of Delhi Court at a later date.

Congressman Marc Molinaro announced over $27 million in federal funding for community development projects in New York's 19th Congressional District. The City of Norwich will receive over 1.2 Million Dollars for Sanitary Sewer System Repairs& the Town of Oneonta will receive $4.2 Million Dollars for installation of 7,000 linear feet of sewer and water lines and associated laterals, meters, and hookups.

A.M. NEWS Monday 8-7-23

A Delaware County Grand Jury indicted Benjamin Moyse of Delhi on 11 charges. Count 1 alleged that, while a 10th grade teacher at Delaware Academy, Moyse intentionally aided a person under 16 years of age to commit the felony crimes of possessing and disseminating child pornography. The Grand Jury also charged Moyse with 5 separate counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, for knowingly engaged in a course of conduct likely to be injurious to the physical, mental, or moral welfare of 5 separate children at Delaware Academy. Moyse was also charged with 2 counts of Official Misconduct, for failing to follow the school’s policy and procedures when students and parents repeatedly reported to him that students were being sexually abused & for failing to report child abuse or maltreatment by his students and his students’ parents.

U.S. Attorney's Office announced that Amphenol has agreed to pay the United States $18 million dollars to resolve allegations for violating the False Claims Act. Amphenol admitted to filing false claims for electrical connectors to the U.S. government, that failed to fully comply with government regulations and contract specifications as well as the failure to meet required testing standards and other manufacturing and program requirements, between 2012 and 2017.

State Police arrested 65 year old Kenneth Powers & 28 year old Chelsea Gouse of Bedford Pennsylvania, for 22 counts of Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals & failure to provide proper sustenance. Troopers went to an apartment in Richfield Springs on another matter on July 19th, and discovered 22 animals inside living in crowded and filthy conditions. 10 dogs, 10 cats & 2 rabbits were removed & surrendered to the Susquehanna SPCA and were treated for various medical conditions, Powers and Gouse were processed and were issued appearance tickets to Richfield Springs Village Court on August 15th.

An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held in Worcester today from 12:00 to 5:00 PM at the Worcester United Methodist Church, 111 Main Street, another Blood Drive will be held in Hancock from 1:00 to 6:00 PM at the Father Rausch Memorial Hall, 316 West Main Street, To make an appointment, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS.

On Friday, State Police were at a property on County Road 29 in New Berlin, investigating another matter, when they discovered 61 dogs, 11 birds, and 3 cats, all of which were in questionable health, and many were being sold on Craiglist, according to Delaware Valley Human Society Director Erin Insinga, who responded to this New Berlin location, she said that people should either adopt animals at shelters & Humane Society or from licensed reputable breeders:

(Erin Insinga 5-4-23)

Insinga said that all of the animals from the New Berlin location, are being checked out by area veterinarians and the State Police announced that the investigation is ongoing.

Broome County Sheriff's Office announced 3 more arrests for contraband in the County Jail recently. On April 21st, investigators searched a housing unit and a medical unit and identified several inmates who were hiding contraband in their cells. They recovered A Heroin-like substance that tested positive for Fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, A bladed “shank” weapon, & a pen stolen from a Corrections desk The bladed weapon was found in 21-year-old Jason Marimberga’s cell, the Heroin-like substance was found in 46-year-old John Turner’s cell, and the hard plastic pen was found in 38-year-old Joseph Schultze’s cell. All 3 were charged with Promoting Prison Contraband, & were processed and will appear in the Town of Dickinson Court at a later date.

Delaware County Sheriff's office announced the arrested of 71 year old Vincent Balsamo of Walton for Criminal sale of a Weapon. On Wednesday, April 19th members of the Criminal Investigation Division received information that Balsamo had illegally purchased a rifle from another person, which was in violation of a Temporary Extreme Risk Protection Order, as well as a Pistol License Suspension Order. Balsamo intentionally disobeyed the court while out on a secured $150,000 property bond in connection with an indictment for Reckless Endangerment, Assault and 2nd degree Manslaughter. Balsamo was charged with Criminal Purchase or Disposal of a Weapon and 3 counts of Criminal Contempt, he was arraigned and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail without bail.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office arressted 21 year old Dakota Mann of Walton on several charges after members of the Delaware County Correctional facility conducted a jail search, they located a hand-made braided rope inside Mann's assigned garment, he is accused of ripping other assigned garments into smaller strips and used the strips to braid the rope. Mann is also accused of of violating an order of protection by contacting a protected party 132 times in April while incarcerated. Mann was charged with Promoting Prison Contraband, Criminal Mischief & Criminal Contempt, he was arraigned & was remanded back to the Delaware County Jail on $10,000 bail in connection with another Criminal Contempt Charge that Mann was previously being held on.

Family Planning of South Central New York has been awarded the Comprehensive Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, the $1.8 million dollar, 5 year grant by the State Department of Health will be used to enhance and expand medically accurate, age appropriate, evidence based programs in specifically Broome, Chenango, and Cortland Counties.

The American Red Cross announce blood drives in Otsego County. 1 drive will be held in Cooperstown from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM at the Cooperstown High School, another will be in Oneonta from 1:00 to 6:00 PM at the Quality Inn, on State Highway 23. To make an appointment, simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS.