WCDO Radio News

Oneonta
Police, State Police & the Oneonta Fire department responded to the report
of a woman hit by a car on the Lettis Highway near Main Street last night.  32 year old April Johnson of Oneonta was
crossing the highway & was struck by a vehicle driven by 41 year old David
Shafer of Otego, who was ticketed for Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor
vehicle.  Johnson was taken to Fox
Hospital & was later transferred to Albany Medical Center; the highway was
closed for about 2 ½ hours for the investigation.

A.O. Fox Hospital announced that they will hold a
ribbon-cutting ceremony to open its new Food “Farmacy” program on Monday,
January 6th in Sidney, spokesperson Sarah Buttice explains:

(Sarah Buttice 12-17-19)

Fox will be partnering with a number of local businesses and
food pantries for supplies, the physical Food Farmacy will be located at A.O.
Fox Hospital’s Tri-Town Campus, 43 Pearl Street West in Sidney.

Delaware County Sheriff Deputies responded December 8th to a
1 car accident in the Town of Kortright.
22 year old Zachary Keenan of Delancey was the operator of the vehicle,
he was charged with DWI, Operating a Motor Vehicle with a BAC of greater than
.08%, failure to keep right and operating a motor vehicle with no seat
belt.  Keenan was taken to O'Connor
Hospital in Delhi & was treated & released, he is due to appear in Town
of Kortright Court at a later date to answer the charges.

The State Health Department urges New Yorkers to get a flu
shot as new numbers released today show increases in laboratory confirmed cases
of influenza. Last week, 1,839 laboratory confirmed influenza cases were
reported to the State Health Department a 60% increase from the previous week.  There have been almost 5,000 laboratory
confirmed cases reported to the Department this flu season, with 1,040
flu-related hospitalizations and one flu-associated pediatric death reported.

The annual Operation Merry Christmas giveaway day will be
tomorrow in Sidney, spokesperson Dorene Ireland explains:

(Dorene Ireland 12-13-19)

The giveaway will be from 9:00 to 3:00 at AO Fox Hospital
Tri Town Campus on Pearl Street in Sidney, Ireland said that this year was one
of the biggest years for requests for presents for area children.

State Police arrested 36 year old Lucas Wank of Deposit for
Driving While Intoxicated & Possessing a Loaded Firearm in a Motor Vehicle
after a trooper was dispatched to a 1-car crash on Old Route 17 in the town of
Sanford.  Wank was transported to Wilson
Hospital for evaluation; he was issued appearance tickets to the town of
Sanford court for January 13th.

Mirabito Energy Products has committed $100,000
toward the construction of a new emergency department and walk in center at UHS
Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich.
The pledge is the latest commitment to the Norwich hospital’s capital
campaign kicked off their capital campaign in August, which is likely to
continue through the end of the year.
More information is available at 337-4183 or by email to
melissa.stagnaro@nyuhs.org.

State Police at Sidney arrested 57 year old Thomas Brainerd of Unadilla forAggravated DWI with a reportable B.A.C of .26%.  Troopers were dispatched to a report of a two-car crash on State Highway 7 in the town of Unadilla.  An investigation revealed that Brainerd failed to yield to another vehicle while leaving a driveway, while intoxicated.  A passenger of the other vehicle was taken to AO Fox Hospital Tri-Town Campus,  Brainerd was processed and released on appearance tickets to the town of Unadilla court on December 16th.

Oneonta
Police & Firefighters rescued an unidentified woman from the spillway near
Oneonta Creek Tuesday afternoon, in an apparent suicide attempt.  The 34 year old woman was pulled from the
water and taken to AO Fox Hospital for treatment.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker declared that
influenza is now prevalent in New York State. This announcement means that
healthcare workers who are not vaccinated against influenza wear surgical or
procedure masks in patient areas.
Laboratory-confirmed cases are in 42 counties and all 5 boroughs of New
York City. So far, there are 691 flu-related hospitalizations and 1
flu-associated pediatric death reported.
More information is available at health.ny.gov.

The American Red Cross will hold a Blood Drive in Sidney
Today at the A.O. Fox Hospital Tri-Town Campus from 1:30 to 6:30 PM,
appointments are requested at 1-800-red cross or redcrossblood.org.

The Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force
executed a narcotics search warrant Wednesday in Binghamton; they arrested 32
year old Christopher Fox on a variety of Drug charges.  Officers seized 24 grams of Fentanyl, plus
marijuana, drug packaging materials and approximately $ 7,400 in cash from
suspected drug sales.  Fox was arraigned
& was remanded to the Broome County Jail pending future court action

"Breakfast With Santa" will be hosted by the
Chenango Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Saturday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, it will
be held at the Norwich VFW at 61 East Main Street in Norwich.

The American Red Cross will hold
a Blood Drive in Sidney Next week.  The Blood
drive will be held on Monday at the AO Fox Hospital Tri-Town Campus from 1:30
to 6:30 PM, appointments are requested at 1-800-red cross or redcrossblood.org.

Fenimore Art Museum will host an opening reception today for
a showing of photographs of animals, taken at the Susquehanna Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, SPCA Spokesperson Alexis Izzo explains:

(Alexis Izzo 12-4-19)

The exhibit, titled “Second Chances: Susquehanna SPCA,” The
opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 PM today in the museum’s
Community Gallery and is free and open to the public, the exhibit will be open
through the end of the month.

Operation
Merry Christmas has received many more requests for toys & children’s
clothing for underprivileged families this holiday season.  Program Spokesperson Dorene Ireland asks the
public to locate their trees in areas stores, take a tag & try to help with
this year’s efforts:

(Dorene
Ireland 12-3-19)

Some of
the Operation Merry Christmas Trees can be found at ACCO, Amphenol, Community
Bank in Sidney, NBT in Sidney, SFCU in Bainbridge and Sidney, the Sidney
Central School, Sidney Flowers & Gifts, Sidney Memorial Public Library,
Trackside Dining, & Village Variety in Unadilla. The giveaway day will be
on December 14th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the AO Fox Hospital Tri Town Campus
in Sidney.

Operation
Merry Christmas has received many more requests for toys & children’s
clothing for underprivileged families this holiday season.  Program Spokesperson Dorene Ireland asks the
public to try to help with this year’s efforts:

(Dorene
Ireland 11-27-19)

The
giveaway day will be on December 14th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the AO Fox
Hospital Tri Town Campus in Sidney.

UHS
Chenango Memorial’s capital campaign is closer to its goal thanks to a
commitment from New York Central Mutual Insurance in the amount of $100,000 to
campaign leaders at the Norwich hospital on Tuesday.  NYCM of Edmeston employs 850 regionally.

A.O. Fox Hospital will begin construction at Fox Care Center
in Oneonta to remove the awning at its west entrance near the outpatient
laboratory. The entrance and its adjacent parking area will be closed for the
duration of the demolition for everyone’s safety; everyone should use the 2
main entrances from the front parking lot.
The project is expected to take about 1 week to complete,
Weather-permitting.  Security personnel
will be on site to help direct patients and visitors.   More Information is available at 431-5434.

The Delaware County
Chamber of Commerce will co-host the "Hiring Our Heroes Veterans Business
Resource Fair" will be held Thursday in Sidney.  Chamber President Ray Pucci comments:

(Ray Pucci 11-14-19)

The Job Fair will run from 1:00 to 3:30 pm Thursday at the Sidney
American Legion at 22 Union Street in Sidney.
The event is co-sponsored by the State Department of Labor, The Delaware
County Veterans Service Agency as well as the Delaware County Chamber of
Commerce. Also, Community Bank NA announced that they will be on hand donating
Green Light Bulbs, while supplies last, in support of all Veterans.

Commerce Chenango's
5th annual Community Job Fair will be held today at SUNY Morrisville’s Norwich
campus from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.    The
participating organizations include CDO Workforce, GE Aviation, Hospice and
Palliative Care of Chenango County, NBT Bank/NBT Insurance, The State
Department of Corrections, The State Veterans’ Home at Oxford, Raymond
Corporation, Springbrook & UHS Hospitals.

Operation Merry
Christmas is continuing to take calls on behalf of under-privileged families in
the local area, so that their children have presents under their Christmas
Trees this year.  Spokesperson Dorene
Ireland told WCDO News that they are accepting names of children beyond the
recent deadline, & more trees are up in more locations this year:

(Dorene Ireland
11-13-19)

Ireland said that the
giveaway day will be Saturday December 14th in the lobby of the AO Fox Hospital
Tri Town Campus in Sidney; more information is available at 643-6334 or
643-6324.

A.O. Fox Hospital is partnering with Oneonta Job Corps
Academy to host the 3rd annual blood donor dash in support of the American Red
Cross on Wednesday & Friday, AO Fox Hospital Spokesperson Gabby Argo
explains:

(Gabby Argo 11-5-19)

The Oneonta Job Corps Academy will host the first blood
drive on Wednesday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM in their gymnasium; Fox Hospital
will follow on Friday, also from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM at FoxCare Center.  Blood Donors can register to give at either
location at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-733-2767.

Operation Merry Christmas is winding
up the first part of their process in the coming days, to gather all of the
information on toy requests & children’s clothing sizes, to be given out to
children of underprivileged families in December.  Spokesperson Dorene Ireland explains:

(Dorene Ireland 10-30-19)

Calls can be made to
643-6334; the giveaway day will be Saturday December 14th in the lobby of the
AO Fox Hospital Tri Town Campus in Sidney.

The Fireman’s
Association of the State of New York announced that New York State is leading
the nation in civilian fire deaths this year.
So far in 2019, there have been 92 civilians that have died in fires
this year that number is expected to increase as the Association statistics
show that winter is the busiest time of the year for home fires.  Officials hope that the numbers decrease in
coming years as more New Yorkers replace the old style battery powered Smoke
Detectors with the new state of the art types with 10 year batteries that do
not need to be replaced annually.

A portion of State Route 8 in Sidney
will be named the Sidney Veterans' Memorial Highway under legislation signed
into law by Governor Cuomo Tuesday.  The
bill was sponsored by State Senator Jim Seward and Assemblyman Cliff Crouch
after the Village of Sidney requested the special highway designation.  A formal sign installation will be scheduled
with State DOT officials at a later date.

Contract Talks are underway for 65 Registered Nurses at
Chenango Memorial Hospital, represented by 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers
East.  The current collective bargaining
agreement, negotiated in 2016, is set to expire on October 31st.

The Catholic Charities Mentoring program is
hosting a mentor mixer on Friday November 8th at the American Legion in Sidney.
This event is open to the public and is for anyone who might be interested in
learning more about mentoring.   More
information is available at 604-4071 Ext. 102.

10 area Fire Departments responded to a blaze at 687
State Highway 205 in the town of Oneonta, just north of the intersection with
State Route 23.  The fire was reported at
about 7:15 PM, 2 people were injured & were taken to Fox Hospital in
Oneonta.  The cause of the fire is under
investigation.

Breast cancer survivors will share their stories at the
next Women’s Health talk this evening at Bohemian Moon in Norwich as part of
the UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital’s 2019 Women’s Health Series.  The discussion will begin at 6:00 PM, with
the presentation and discussion to start at 7:00 PM, featuring local survivors
& Physician Assistant Alyssa MacIntosh of UHS Women’s Health Center in
Norwich.   More information or
reservations are available at 337-4239.

Operation Merry Christmas is getting ready for another busy
holiday season, helping to get presents to underprivileged families for
Christmas Day.  Spokesperson Dorene
Ireland explains:

(Dorene Ireland 10-18-19)

Ireland said that the giveaway day will be Saturday December
14th in the lobby of the AO Fox Hospital Tri Town Campus in Sidney.

O’Connor Hospital will host a community flu shot clinic for
the public on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 8 a.m. to noon in the specialty clinic
building.  The flu shot clinic is open to
all ages, no appointment is necessary; more information is available at
746-0334.

Governor Cuomo today announced
that the utilization rate for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises on
state contracts increased to 29% during the 2018-2019 Fiscal Year, the highest
rate in the nation, which translates to more than $2.93 billion in state
contracts awarded to Minority & Women-Owned Business.

Another Blood Drive is being held in Sidney today, at the A.O.
Fox Hospital tri-Town Campus on Pearl Street.
The Blood Drive will be held in Conference room N-112 from 1:30 to 6:30
PM, appointments are requested at 1-800 Red Cross or REDCROSSBLOOD.org.

State Police responded to a report of a male who fell
approximately 20 to 30 feet from a ladder at a residence on Swart Hollow Road
in the town of Oneonta Wednesday.   56
year old Troy Anderson of Oneonta was assisting the home owner with outside
repairs when he fell off the ladder.  The
homeowner called 911, Anderson was transported to A.O Fox Hospital where he was
pronounced deceased.   The investigation
is on-going, but at this time no foul play was observed and it appears to be an
accident.

Chenango County Waste Management
reminds county residents that the Latex Paint Exchange officially ends
September 30th at the North Norwich Transfer Station on State Route 12.   The site is open Tuesdays through Fridays
from 9:00 AM to 3:00 pm; more information is available at 337-1790.

On Tuesday afternoon, Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies,
& State Police responded to a 2 car motor vehicle accident on State Highway
357, near Lawton Hill Road, in the Town of Franklin.  Deputies reported that 55 year-old Robert Ray
of Bainbridge travelled into the opposing lane & struck an on-coming
vehicle driven by 89 year-old Richard Dickson of Jensen Beach, Florida.  The Dickson vehicle subsequently ran off the
roadway and overturned in a ditch. Richard Dickson, and his 90-year-old
passenger, Helen Dickson suffered minor injuries and were transported to A.O.
Fox Hospital for treatment. Deputies later issued Ray traffic summonses for
failure to keep right and failure to wear a seatbelt.

The Unadilla Fire Department
will hold a Cornhole tournament & vendor fair Tomorrow at the Unadilla Fire
House.  Vendors will be at Unadilla
firehouse from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm.

Chenango County Sheriff's Department responded to the Town
of Otselic for a reported stabbing Wednesday, where a male victim was stabbed
multiple times by a coworker at a cell phone tower.   The victim was airlifted to SUNY Upstate
Hospital; he was listed in serious, but stable condition.  Deputies arrested 49 year old Howard Williams
from the Bronx; for 2nd degree Assault he was taken into custody in the Town of
McGraw by State Police and Cortland County Sheriff’s Office.  Williams was arraigned in the Town of Smyrna
Court and was remanded to the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office on $10,000 cash
bail.

The 5th Annual Sidney Health Fair will be held at Keith
Clark Park on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  AO Fox Hospital Tri-Town Campus Spokesperson
Gabby Argo told WCDO News about the event:

(WCDO Gabby Argo 8-20-19)

More information about the event is available at 431-5009.

A.O. Fox Hospital, part of Bassett Healthcare Network, has
been awarded $10,000 by the MultiPlan Rural Health Grant Program to help launch
a food “farmacy” based at its Tri-Town Campus in Sidney.  Spokesperson Sarah Buttice comments:

(Sarah Buttice 9-9-19)

The prescription food location will open in January; Buttice
said that they will partner with local businesses including Great American,
Price Chopper, Hannaford, the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, as
well as local farms and food pantries.
In Delaware County, it is estimated that more than 8,400 people suffer
from hunger.

The Hancock Fire Department was dispatched to a 2 vehicle
head on, car vs tractor-trailer, with serious injuries on State Highway 17 in
the Village of Hancock early Sunday Morning.
1 victim was entrapped in the vehicle and another patient was injured
but not entrapped. The entrapped patient was extricated; both patients were
transported to Wilson Hospital with serious injuries. The cause of the accident
remains under investigation.

State police are investigating a sewage spill that Thursday
afternoon at about 2:30 PM on County Route 10 near Elk Creek Road in the town
of Meredith.  The unidentified Driver of
the septic tanker was taken to Fox Hospital for evaluation, the driver rolled
the septic tanker, which spilled about 2,000 gallons of sewage, & struck a utility
Pole, temporarily knocking out phone & electric service in the east Meredith
area.  The septic tanker belonged to JB’s
Line Cleaning and Plumbing Service, the cause of the accident is under
investigation.

Preferred Mutual Insurance Company
has committed a $250,000 for a new emergency room and walk-in center at UHS
Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich.
Officials from Preferred Mutual Insurance Company announced the pledge
on Tuesday; it will be paid over the next 5 years, & is the largest
corporate commitment to be announced since the Norwich hospital kicked off a
capital campaign started last month.

A.O. Fox Hospital has
been awarded $10,000 by the MultiPlan Rural Health Grant Program to help launch
a food “farmacy” based at its Tri-Town Campus in Sidney.  The prescription food location will open in
January 2020, & will provide emergency food, education, and navigation
services to patients and their families in need. A.O. Fox Hospital will partner
with local businesses & it will operate on an outpatient basis; visitors
will receive vouchers for food prescribed by their primary care providers.  In Delaware County, it is estimated that more
than 8,400 people suffer from hunger; more than 1,800 of those struggling are
children. In children, hunger can lead to growth impairment, poor academic
performance, behavioral issues, sickness, social disorders, and more.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies
arrested 19 year old Brianna Reynolds of Auburn for Aggravated Unlicensed
Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Unlicensed operator and Speeding at 85 miles per
hour in a 55 mph zone.  Reynolds was
stopped by deputies on State Highway 17 in the Town of Hancock; she will appear
in Town of Hancock Court at a later date.

Over $64,000 has been awarded to Nonprofits by the Community
Foundation for South Central New York, for Capital Projects, Programs and
Operating Support.  Locally grants were
awarded to A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Crime Victims Assistance
Program Chenango Child Advocacy Center & the Valleyview Elementary School
$984 for a kindergarten alternative seating program helping students with
special needs maintain focus in the classroom

The 5th Annual Sidney Health Fair will be held at Keith
Clark Park on Saturday September 14th this year.  AO Fox Hospital tri Town Campus Spokesperson
Gabby Argo explains:

(Gabby Argo 8-20-19)

More information about the event is available at 431-5009.

An American Red Cross Blood drive is being held in Sidney
today.  The Blood Drive will be from 1:30
to 6:30 PM at the A.O. Fox Tri-Town Campus, 43 Pearl Street West.  Donors of all blood types, especially type O,
appointments can be made with the Red Cross Blood Donor App, at
RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Oneonta Fire Department Officials reported that Friday's
Fire at the Mayrose Apartments started as a kitchen fire.  The occupant of apartment 206 was taken to AO
Fox hospital for undisclosed injuries, one other pe4rson in a separate
apartment was displaced, The use of water to fight that fire led to a water
main break at around Chestnut Street, it was repaired by Friday night.

This year's Utica Boilermaker race was delayed for about 15
minutes Sunday, not because of any weather related issues, but because of a
homicide near the starting line.  One
woman was pronounced dead at the scene &
man was taken to an area hospital with lacerations, that investigation
is ongoing.

The Delaware County Chamber of
Commerce will honor businesses at their 2019 Annual Business Awards ceremony on
Wednesday at 6:00 PM.  The Chamber announced
today that the event has been moved to the Meredith Inn at 4206 Turnpike
Road,  Delhi, due to the likelihood of
Showers & Thunderstorms.  The
Honorees include the Delhi Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, as the 2019
Business of the Year, Stagecoach Run Art Festival, headquartered in Treadwell
and Franklin, and Table to Farm Tours of Roxbury, will receive the 2019 Tourism
Award.  More information is available at delawarecounty.org.

1 person was injured in a fire Friday at the Mayrose
Apartments on Lewis Avenue in Oneonta.
The fire started in apartment 206, the occupant was taken to fox
Hospital for an undisclosed injury, and 1 other person in another apartment was
displaced due to smoke & water damage.
The investigation is continuing.

Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care is hosting a Caregiver Support Group at The AO Fox Hospital Tri-Town Campus in Sidney starting today.  The group will meet 6 times to provide information and support for those who are taking care of seriously ill family members or friends.  Caregivers will have an opportunity to identify concerns, discuss feelings, receive support from others, and locate community resources which may be helpful for their unique situations.  More information is available at 432-5525.

The Binghamton Police Department and Binghamton Fire
Department responded this morning to reports of a strong chemical odor in the
West End of Binghamton.  Fire Department
officials reported that it was a combination of chlorine and antifreeze in a
garbage truck, workers noticed a burning smell & intense odors, prompting
the emergency response.  All 4 workers
were taken to the hospital as a precaution, the investigation is continuing.

Tonight's Unadilla Summer
Concert series with "Country Express" will be moved to the Unadilla
Fire House at 77 Clifton Street, due to the inclement weather, the show will
run from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.

The City of Oneonta announced that today their contractor
will be replacing water valves at the intersections of Main and Pine Street,
and Main and Maple Street. Residents and businesses will be affected by a
temporary water outage, which may last a couple of hours: All businesses within
the work zone will remain accessible during the work. FOX HOSPITAL EMERGENCY
ACCESS will be maintained at all times. More information is available at
432-2100.

State Police arrested 53 year old Michael Silver of Franklin for Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, Leaving the Scene of Personal Injury Accident and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, after a trooper was dispatched to a hit and run accident on State Route 357 in the town of Franklin.   As the trooper was responding the area, he observed Silver’s vehicle with heavy front end damage.  A traffic stop was initiated; Silver was impaired by drugs and had a suspended driver’s license.  Silver was released on appearance tickets to the town of Oneonta court tomorrow.  The operator of the other vehicle was taken to UHS Delaware Valley Hospital in Walton for arm pain and later released.

All of the absentee ballots in
Broome County have now been counted for the Republican Party Primary District
Attorney race.  Paul Batistti is named
the winner over Michael Korchak by slim margin, Batistti had a slim margin on
Primary Day June 25th, the counting of the absentee ballots today confirmed
Batistti's victory.

State Police arrested 38 year old Joshua Eckman of Oneonta
for Criminal Contempt, after a victim called troopers stating that Eckman
entered the victim’s residence and violated an order of protection. Eckman was
arraigned in the town of Oneonta court; he was released on his
recognizance.  On July 4th, Eckman was
arrested again on the same charge after he entered the victim’s home, he was
arrested and complained of alleged pain while being processed by State Police,
he was taken to Fox Hospital.  Once
cleared from the hospital, Eckman was remanded to the Otsego County Jail on
$1,000 cash bail or $2,000 property bond pending court action on July
11th.

The A.O. Fox Hospital Foundation hosted its 20th Annual Golf
Classic at the Oneonta Country Club on June 24, bringing 27 donors and 140
golfers to raise funds for a new ultrasound machine in Fox’s department of
surgical services; they raised more than $50,000 this year.