WCDO Radio News

Governor Hochul signed 4 bills into law recently, 1 law Prohibits Selling Medicine for an Excessive Price During a Drug Shortage, another Prohibits Hospitals, Health Care Professionals and Ambulances from Reporting Medical Debt to Credit Agencies, the 3rd law requires Companies to Notify Customers of Automatic Subscription Renewals and to Provide Clear Instructions for Canceling, and the 4th clarifies that Merchants Must Post the Highest Price a Consumer Might Pay for a Product Regardless of Payment Methods

A.O. Fox Hospital's Tri-Town Campus in Sidney is hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross today, from 2:30 pm. to 6:30 pm. In the 2nd Floor Conference Room. Appointments are available and walk-ins are welcome. Appointments may be made by calling 1-800-Red-Cross, visiting www.redcrossblood.org, or using the American Red Cross Blood Donor App. The American Red Cross is experiencing a blood shortage due to the cancellation of blood drives and has issued an emergency request for all blood types. Appointments may be made at redcrossblood.org, by calling 1-800-RedCross (1-800-733-2767).

The State Health Department reported that flu cases rose by over 25% in the last week and hospitalizations have surged by 30%. Most of the cases have been reported in Western New York, especially in Erie, Niagara, and Chautauqua Counties. In the last recorded week, there were more than 4,000 cases reported in New York State, there has also been a surge in the respiratory virus known as RSV.

The West Kortright Center announced today a grant award totaling $30,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts to support the nonprofit arts and culture sector. In addition they received a $10,000 Artist Support Grant for Adrianna Newell. The State Council has awarded over $80 million since Spring 2023 to over 1,500 artists and organizations across the state.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 12-6-23

35 year-old Bradley Law of Harpursville was sentenced in Broome County Court to 2 concurrent sentences of 1 1/3rd to 4 years in prison Tuesday. Law hit 13 year old Brennan Loveless with a pickup truck on January 1st 2023 while the boy was riding his bike on the shoulder of Route 7 near his home in Sanitaria Springs. Law fled the scene while Loveless, who was thrown 180 feet down the shoulder, suffering serious injuries. Law then told police he hit a deer with his truck instead. Law pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a firearm and attempted leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident.

The American Red Cross Blood Drive is holding 2 blood drives in Oneonta Today, 1 drive will be held at the A.O. Fox Hospital Levene Center from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, another is being held at the Hunt College Union at SUNY Oneonta from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Appointments can be made with the Blood Donor App, at redcrossblood.org or at 1-800 Red Cross.

A.O. Fox Hospital is hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross today, from 12:00 noon until 5:00 PM in the Conference Room at FoxCare Center in Oneonta. Appointments may be made by calling 1-800-Red-Cross, visiting www.redcrossblood.org, or using the American Red Cross Blood Donor App.

U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro announced his constituent service team will hold mobile office hours Friday from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm at the Town of Oneonta Town Hall in West Oneonta. Constituents will be able to connect with representatives from Rep. Molinaro's office to share comments and resolve issues they are having with federal agencies like the VA, IRS, and Social Security Administration.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 11-2-23

State Police arrested 3 people after a fight at the Lantern Hill trailer park in Oneonta Saturday. An investigation by Troopers at the scene determined that 25 year old La-Tee Baker of Oneonta, 21 year old Bryanna Patterson of Oneonta, and 23 year old Bethany Brown of Delhi, were involved in a fight, both women sustained injuries, Brown was transported to A.O. Fox Hospital. Baker and Patterson were located by Troopers walking along State Highway 23 and were arrested. They were issued appearance tickets to the Oneonta Town Court on November 21, 2023. After release from the hospital, Brown was charged with Assault, she was issued appearance tickets to the Oneonta Town Court on December 5.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is currently looking for Pamela Fox on an outstanding warrant for a Violation of Probation for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a motor vehicle. Fox is described as a white female, 5' 2" tall about 130 pounds with Blond hair & Blue eyes, Anyone with information on the location of Fox is asked to contact the Broome County Sheriff’s Office at gobroomecounty.com/sheriff/warrants or by calling the Broome County Sheriff’s Office tip line at (607) 778-1196.

The State Comptroller's Office announced that State tax receipts totaled $51.5 billion through the 1st 6 months of State Fiscal Year 23-24, $1.7 billion higher than estimates released in the Division of the Budget in July. However, tax receipts were $6.9 billion lower than the first half the previous year according to the monthly State Cash Report released today. The new report reflected a higher than anticipated tax collections and lower than anticipated spending. The full report can be found online at osc.state.ny.us.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 10-18-23

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce will hold their 2023 Business Awards celebration at Bluestone Restaurant in Delhi today. Delaware county Chamber President Ray Pucci told WCDO News that they have many "Rising Star" award recipients this year, for businesses that have been operating for 1 to 5 years:

(Ray Pucci 10-18-23)

Pucci said that UHS Delaware Valley Hospital & Decker Advertising of Delhi will share the Business of the Year honors, their Community Connector Award will go to the Delaware County Industrial Development Agency. The celebration coincides with National Chamber of Commerce Day.

Bassett Healthcare Network announced that they have been alerted of an email scam, where scammers are posing as representatives or recruiters on behalf of A.O. Fox Hospital and attempting to steal money and personal identification information from victims. The suspicious emails reads: “A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital is pleased to extend an offer of employment to you a the full-time position”, it prompts the reader to “scan a copy of personal forms of identification for employment verification,” Bassett Healthcare Network will never ask potential job seekers for any forms of payment or personal documents prior to a genuine job offer. Anyone receiving the email should Report it to Trina Silver, Privacy Officer at Bassett, at 607-547-7900 or patrenia.silver@bassett.org, they should also contact Law Enforcement, change their internet passwords & contact their financial institution.

Broome County District Attorney Mike Korchak announced that Dylan Shoemaker of Chenango Forks pleaded guilty to 2nd Degree Assault, in Broome County Court Friday. Shoemaker admitted that on February 6th, he assaulted a State trooper, when police responded to a residence on Perch Pond Road in Windsor following the report of a domestic dispute. 1 trooper was hit in the face and the same trooper was cut by glass as he wrestled Shoemaker to the ground, he was treated and released at a local hospital. Shoemaker has a lengthy criminal history, he will be sentenced to 12 years to life in New York State prison on January 12.

Norwich City Officials announced that Chenango Memorial Hospital will be conducting a Flow Test tomorrow morning between 6:00 & 7:00 AM. Residents in the neighborhood around the hospital may experience dirty water, they should run cold tap water until the water becomes clear again.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 10-4-23

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 18 year old Craig Longo of Rocky Point for driving while ability impaired by drugs, and criminal possession of a weapon. On September 24th, Deputies were assisting Delhi Police, State Police, and SUNY Delhi Police with a failure to comply traffic violator in the Village of Delhi. Patrols located the vehicle in question on Back River Road in the Town of Delhi, and that Longo had been operating the vehicle, he was released on appearance tickets and directed to appear at the Town of Delhi court at a later date to answer the charges.

2 American Red Cross Blood Drives will be held in Oneonta today from 10 am. - 3 pm., at the AO Fox Memorial Hospital Levine Center, another from 1 pm. - 6 pm., at the Quality Inn, State Highway 23. Appointments can be made by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

State police reported that 82 year old Lorena Mayes of Norwich was killed from a 2-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon in the town of North Norwich. Police reported that Mayes was operating her vehicle at County Highway 32 and State Highway 12, she pulled out into the path of an SUV traveling north on Route 12. Mayes was transported to Chenango Hospital, but did not survive. A 91-year-old passenger in the Mayes vehicle was taken to Chenango Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Both occupants of the SUV were taken to Basset Hospital in Cooperstown with non-life-threatening injuries.

Bassett Healthcare Network, Hartwick College, and SUNY Oneonta gathered on September 13 to inaugurate a groundbreaking workforce development partnership aimed at retaining new graduates in the region and addressing critical workforce shortages across Bassett’s network. Bassett President & CEO Dr. Tommy Ibrahim comments at a Fox Hospital Press Conference Wednesday:

(Dr. Tommy Ibrahim 9-14-23)

Dr. Ibrahim said that Bassett CARES is open to graduates from all disciplines, participants may earn up to $25,000 in loan repayment stipends. SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College students may also get free or subsidized on-campus housing in the summer for matriculated students who are working for Bassett Healthcare Network during the summer months. SUNY Oneonta also plans to provide bridge housing for recent graduates for the summer directly following their graduation to ease the transition to professional life at Bassett.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 8-29-23

Delaware County 911 received call Sunday from the operator of tractor trailer stating that he had traveled off the roadway and had rolled over on State Highway 23 in the Town of Kortright. Delaware County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to the scene along with members of the Davenport Fire Department, Stamford Fire Department, Bovina Fire Department, Headwaters EMS and NYS DEC Spill Response team. 61 year old Michael Rowe of Sidney was taken to Fox Hospital for minor injuries and was released. The investigation into the crash is continuing and tickets are pending.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced new steps to protect individuals from COVID-19 following reports of a new variant, BA.2.86. COVID-19 hospitalizations in New York increased as the summer progressed, an updated COVID-19 vaccine tailored to guard against certain newer variants is expected to arrive in pharmacies and doctor’s offices next month after the Food and Drug Administration advised vaccine manufacturers to develop a new COVID-19 vaccine to target Omicron variants.

Law enforcement in Pennsylvania have charged a New York woman, following an investigation into a car/pedestrian accident, where the pedestrian died & the driver left the scene. Lisa Barnes of Johnson City was charged with Leaving the Scene of a Deadly Crash after the crash on August 11th in Clinton Township, Franklin Pauler was unresponsive and suffering from a severe bleeding injury to his head, Barnes turned herself in the following day, claiming that she was lost & her GPS was not working, Pauler had died from his injuries at an area hospital the day after the accident.

An American Red Cross Blood will be held today from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital Levine Center, One Norton Ave, To make an appointment, simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS

The Otsego County Sheriff's Office released the identity of the man found deceased in Fox Hospital Oneonta Bathroom in May. 32 year old Michael Morton of West Winfield died of a drug overdose sometime between May 30th and May 31. The autopsy found fentanyl, oxycodone, and several other substances.

Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek announced that a visit to Fox Hospital over the weekend resulted in the finding of a blood clot in his lungs. Drnek said on his Twitter page that he will have a reduced schedule due to the pulmonary Embolism, but still plans on attending regularly scheduled City meetings.

An American Red Cross Blood drive will be held in Oneonta today from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the AO Fox Memorial Hospital Levine Center, in Oneonta. To make an appointment, simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS.

Oneonta City Police are investigating the death of a man found in a Fox Hospital Bathroom on May 31st. The identity of the deceased has not been announced, Fox Hospital officials said that the man was not a patient, Emergency personnel attempted to revive the man unsuccessfully. The results of an autopsy performed Monday in Binghamton have not been released, foul play is not suspected.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 6-5-23

32 year old Antonio Escobar-Boria of Sidney pleaded guilty in Delaware County Court to Attempted Reckless Endangerment, he is accused of allowing a 2-year-old child to be near illegal drugs at 62 East Main Street in Sidney. After State Police executed a search warrant and discovered the illegal drugs, they directed that the 2-year-old child be brought to the hospital, the 2-year-old child tested positive for fentanyl but did not need medical treatment, Escobar-Boria is expected to be sentenced to a 5-year term of felony probation supervision with a special condition that he successfully complete the Delaware County Adult Treatment Court Program, sentencing is scheduled for July 31st.

37 new firefighters from the State's Recruit Firefighter Training program at the Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls. Graduates come from 17 fire departments across the state, representing the Academy's 87th Recruit Firefighter Training class. Upon graduation, all the recruits will serve as career firefighters in their respective fire department. Anthony Capristo & Jack Stanton completed their training & will be part of the Oneonta Fire Department, & Cody Minckler will join the Norwich Fire Department.

A.M. NEWS Monday 6-5-23

On May 15th around 4:39 am, Broome County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Route I-88 westbound near Exit 6 in Harpursville for a one-car motor vehicle accident. 54 year-old Giovanna Criscitello was driving westbound on I-88 near the Harpursville exit when she failed to make a right turn in the highway, entered the centered median and flipped end over end before coming to rest in a ditch along Bates Road. She was transported by ambulance to UHS Wilson Hospital for multiple severe injuries. She died from those injuries, she was not wearing a seat belt.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a car-motorcycle in the Town of Maine. At approximately 8:24am on Saturday, a motorcycle struck a vehicle crossing Route 26 at the East Maine Road intersection, both occupants were ejected, The motorcycle operator, a male, sustained back injuries and the passenger, a female, sustained a life-threatening head injury, both were transported to Wilson Hospital. The driver of the motorcycle is listed in serious condition and the passenger is in critical condition. The automobile operator sustained minor injuries and was transported to Wilson Hospital for evaluation. The accident is still under investigation.

The American Red Cross is experiencing a blood shortage due to the cancellation of blood drives and has issued an emergency request for all blood types. Donate blood today at the A.O. Fox Tri-Town Campus Lab between 1:30 PM and 6:30PM in the 2nd floor conference room. Appointments may be made at redcrossblood.org, by calling 1-800-RedCross.

State Police at Sidney responded to a crash involving a tractor trailer and SUV on State Route 8 near County Road 35 in the town of Guilford. An investigation at the scene revealed that the SUV was on State Route 35 when the vehicle entered the intersection and collided with a tractor trailer that had been traveling on State Route 8. The driver of the SUV, 27 year old Erin Hazen of South New Berlin was transported to A.O Fox Hospital - Tri Town. A passenger in the vehicle, a 3-year-old male was not injured. The driver of the tractor trailer, 51 year old Sergei Maliutin of Cohoes, did not report any injury.

Bassett Healthcare Network and A.O. Fox Hospital announced today that they have reached an agreement with the Oneonta Family YMCA to keep FoxCare Fitness open to the public, Fox Spokesperson Gabby Argo explains:

(Gabby Argo 4-17-23)

Argo said that the 2 organizations are currently working to finalize details on operations, membership, staffing, specific space features for the Oneonta Family YMCA’s oversight while maintaining key services to the community. Services will remain uninterrupted, A.O. Fox Hospital will continue to operate outpatient cardiac, physical, occupational, and pulmonary rehabilitation services within the FoxCare Fitness space.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 4-17-23

Broome County Sheriff’s Office arrested 29 year old Nicholas Sorensen of Johnson City following a traffic stop in Binghamton. Sorensen was found to be driving without a license & was wanted on a warrant for a DWI in Pennsylvania. Sorensen fled the scene on foot through traffic, he was subdued by 2 taser cartridges. Sorensen was treated at the scene by EMT's, he was charged with Resisting Arrest and Obstruction of Governmental Administration plus several traffic violations, he was taken to Central Arraignment and transported to the Broome County Correctional Facility as a fugitive from justice to await extradition by the Monroe County, PA Sheriff’s Office to answer for his outstanding charges.

19th District Congressman Marc Molinaro announced his schedule for visits around the district. Today, Congressman Molinaro visits the Otsego- Northern Catskills BOCES at 12:15, & Fox Hospital in Oneonta at 1:30pm & the Oneonta Town Council at 3:15pm on Monday the Congressman will visit SUNY Binghamton at 2:30pm.

A.O. Fox Hospital and Bassett Healthcare Network announced that FoxCare Fitness in Oneonta will be closing permanently as of June 1 for Gym memberships, Spokesperson Gabby Argo told WCDO News that the pandemic made things harder for the facility to remain open as a Gym:

(Gabby Argo 3-21-23)

Argo said that Bassett has been discussing a possible collaboration with the Oneonta YMCA but so far no agreement has been reached. The last day of operations at FoxCare Fitness will be May 31.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 3-9-23

The Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force seized Fentanyl and crack cocaine after they executed a search warrant at 15 Carlton Street Tuesday. Police charged Christopher Fox of Binghamton with 3 counts of Criminal possession of a controlled substance and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, they seized 36.6 grams of Fentanyl, approximately 1.4 grams of crack cocaine, drug packaging materials, and $2,288 of suspected drug proceeds . Fox faces court action shortly.

The American Red Cross is experiencing a blood shortage due to the cancellation of blood drives and has issued an emergency request for all blood types. Donate blood Today, at the A.O. Fox Tri-Town Campus Lab on Pearl Street in Sidney between 1:30 PM and 6:30 PM in Conference Room N-112 . Appointments may be made at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RedCross.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 3-1-23

It's been 2 weeks since Anielle “AK” McEwan Lomnicki was hit by a car while walking home from from school in Sidney, an area fundraiser for medical expenses incurred by the family, while AK remains in a Syracuse Hospital, was conducted this past weekend, spokesperson Kim Ayres told WCDO News how much was raised:

(Kim Ayres 3-1-23)

Ayres said that the effort was spearheaded by Mike Gavin, his businesses, Gavin's Pizza, Machos Tacos & Tina's Old Fashioned Donuts, with Sidney Joe's Pizza, Club 55, Trackside Dining, Beez Kneez, Roasted Coffee House and Houndstooth also participated, more fundraisers are being planned and all legitimate fundraising efforts will be posted on the “AK Strong” Facebook page. Meanwhile, AK continues to be in a medically induced coma but has been slow but stead improvement, according to her father, Rich Lomnicki.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 3-1-23

A.O. Fox Hospital and Bassett Healthcare Network announced today that FoxCare Fitness in Oneonta will be closing permanently as of June 1. Hospital and network leadership reached the decision following an extended period of declining membership and operational challenges, many of which are directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last day of operations at FoxCare Fitness will be May 31.

The Chenango Memorial Hospital Emergency Room and walk in portions of the Hospital recently celebrated their 1st Anniversary, Dr. Kenneth Herman is the Emergency Department Medical Director & he told WCDO News how the upgrades have been received:

(Dr. Kenneth Herman 2-24-23)

Also, UHS Chenango Memorial was recently awarded a $20 Million state grant, to redesign primary and specialty care services over the next 5 years. Hospital officials said that they will be creating a new Infusion Center, dedicated Women’s Imaging Suite and Pre-Admission Testing Center as well as make other strategic investments in hospital-based services.

The Tri-County Seniors will hold an Open House today at their new location in the AO Fox Tri-Town Campus building at 43 Pearl Street in Sidney. The Open House runs from 3:00 - 5:00 pm, more information is available at the Tri-County Senior Center Facebook Page.