WCDO Radio News

Oneonta Police Detectives arrested a 52- year-old man from New Rochelle Thursday afternoon following a 2-month investigation into narcotics trafficking. Search warrants were obtained for the suspect's person and for an 85 Ford Avenue. The suspect was transported to the City's Public Safety Building. A 2nd warrant was served that permitted officers to conduct a body search, the suspect became combative, officers observed that the suspect placed a substance believed to be cocaine in his mouth, which was swallowed after a struggle with 4 officers. EMT’s responded, the suspect was taken to Fox Hospital in Oneonta, where he died at 7:40 PM. The body was taken to Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton for an autopsy and toxicology screening. The suspect's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The incident remains under investigation by the Oneonta Police Department under the supervision of the Otsego County District Attorney's Office.

The Arc Otsego will host the 3rd Annual Hot Cocoa 5K Run & 1K Walk, Run & Roll Event, at Neahwa Park, Sunday. The Hot Cocoa 5K will begin at 10 am in Oneonta's Neahwa Park, through Oneonta, and end in Neahwa Park. An untimed 1K run will also be held, beginning at 9:30am, within Neahwa Park. Proceeds will benefit The Arc Otsego; more information is available at arcotsego.org or call 607-432-8595.

Oneonta Police conducted 3 no-knock search warrants this past weekend, resulting in the arrests of 2 men on drug charges. Police seized crack cocaine, marijuana, packets of heroin & cash, 34 year old Terrell Ford of Wilson North Carolina was charged with 2 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 25-year-old Damien Ortiz of Queens, was charged with 2 counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance. Both were being held pending court action in the City of Oneonta Court.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a 1-car motor vehicle accident on County Route 23 in the Town of Walton. Deputies arrested 25-Year-old Anthony Masi, of Unadilla; he is accused of possessing a vehicle that was reported stolen out of the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office earlier in the day. Masi was charged with 2 counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, Criminal Possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, plus Aggravated DWI, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation as well as other Traffic Violations. Masi was arraigned in the Town of Delhi Court; he was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Faculty in lieu of $20,000 cash bail pending future court action.

The Arc New York announced the availability of scholarships to individuals pursuing degrees in special education, physical or occupational therapy, or a field related to intellectual or other developmental disabilities. All 2018 scholarship applications must be emailed to Scholarships@TheArcNY.org by Monday, January 15, 2018. Scholarship information is available at nyarc.org, more information is also available at The Arc Otsego at 432-8595 or on their Facebook page.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Department Investigators and County Probation Officers searched a residence in the Town of Davenport in June, which resulted in the seizure of Marijuana, allegedly belonging to 20-year-old Rumael Soler, who was not home at the time. The Town of Davenport Court issued an Arrest Warrant for Soler, who was arrested Tuesday when he appeared in town of Davenport Court on an unrelated matter. Soler was charged with Criminal Possession of Marijuana, & Harassment in connection with a separate incident. Soler was arraigned in the Town of Davenport Court on both charges, and released on his own recognizance, to re-appear in that Court at a later time.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Department Investigators and K-9 Ozzie assisted Delaware County Probation Officers with the search of a residence in Walton Monday. 18-year-old Dylan Campbell, who is currently on probation, was arrested, and charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, & Violation of Probation. Campbell was arraigned and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail without bail, he will appear in the Village of Walton Court at a later time.

The Arc Otsego will host a career fair today from 2:00 to 7:00 PM, at The Arc Otsego at 35 Academy Street in Oneonta. The agency is currently hiring for a variety of positions, including direct support professionals, community service providers, bus drivers, home managers, individual program coordinators and more. There is no appointment necessary, and there will be onsite interviews and childcare available.

Otsego County Sheriff's deputies arrested 21-year-old Tristen Caballer of Worcester on a warrant after a motor vehicle pursuit in East Worcester. Caballer was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, disorderly conduct, possession of marijuana, aggravated harassment, and multiple vehicle and traffic violations, he was located by a deputy in East Worcester, a pursuit followed to a trailer park in Worcester, where Caballer abandoned his vehicle, fled on foot & was tracked by Police Dogs to a nearby residence, he faces court action shortly.

The Arc Otsego will host a career fair on September 13th from 2:00 to 7:00 PM. The fair will be held at The Arc Otsego at 35 Academy Street in Oneonta. The agency is currently hiring for a variety of positions, including direct support professionals, community service providers, bus drivers, home managers, individual program coordinators and more. There is no appointment necessary, and there will be onsite interviews and childcare available.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office Investigators have arrested 29-year-old Jason Lagano of Erin New York, on a Delaware County Grand Jury Sealed Indictment Warrant issued earlier this year as a part of a narcotics investigation. Lagano was arrested at the Susquehanna County Jail in Montrose, Pennsylvania, where he has been held as a Fugitive from Justice. Lagano is accused of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, for allegedly selling methamphetamine in the Town of Deposit earlier this year Lagano was transported back to Delaware County Tuesday, he was arraigned in Delaware County Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility on $15,000 cash bail pending further court action.

The Otsego County Sheriff's Department arrested 2 County residents on Drug charges. Deputies arrested Chauncey Couse of Oneonta and Nichole Conklin of Laurens, for 2 counts each of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, for allegedly selling heroin in the City of Oneonta. Couse was already being held in the Otsego County jail on a previously charge, with Couse's bail set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond, Conklin was jailed on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond, pending future court action.

The Arc Otsego will hold its Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Banquet on June 15, 2017, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta. The event is open to the public and will include dinner from Brook’s BBQ, music, dancing, raffle prizes, and the following awards: Community Employment Employee of the Year, The Arc Otsego Employee of the Year, Community Employment Employer of the Year and the 2017 Achievement Award. Seating is limited, and reservations should be made today by calling 433-8424.

The State Labor Department today released the Unemployment statistics for the month of March. Statewide, the rate dropped one tenth to 4.3%, locally, Chenango County had 5.6% unemployment, Delaware County had 5.7% & Otsego County had 5.1% for March.

The Arc Otsego will host a free Self-Direction Information Session on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at 35 Academy Street in Oneonta. The informational session will be led by Cynthia Spann and Vanessa Smith, from The Broome Developmental Disabilities Regional Office, Pre-registration ends later today at 267-3210.

The Arc Otsego will host a free Self-Direction Information Session on Thursday, April 27, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at 35 Academy Street in Oneonta. The informational session will be led by Cynthia Spann and Vanessa Smith, from The Broome Developmental Disabilities Regional Office, they will discuss what self-direction is, what can be included in self-directed supports and services, and provides an overview of the process of becoming truly self-directed. Pre-registration by Tuesday, April 25th is requested; more information or pre-registration is available at 267-3210.

The State DOT will hold a public open house meeting on Thursday, March 23 to discuss plans to replace a bridge on State Route 7 in the village of Afton. The meeting will be held at the Afton Town Hall, from 5:30-7:00 pm. The bridge in question was built in 1922 and carries State Route 7 over Kelsey Brook. The bridge is safe for continued travel and is regularly inspected.

The Arc Otsego, in partnership with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities is holding a free Front Door Information Session from 4:00 to 6:00 PM today for individuals and families regarding access to services through OPWDD. The session will be held at The Arc Otsego, located at 35 Academy Street in Oneonta.

Governor Cuomo, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Members of the New York Congressional Delegation today announced over $5 million in federal Homeland Security grant funding for local governments across the state to bolster counter terrorism initiatives and strengthen public safety efforts. Funding will support local law enforcement tactical teams, technical search and rescue operations, and explosive detection canine units, while also safeguarding critical infrastructure across New York.

The Delaware County Department of Economic Development announced the acceptance of applications under the County’s 3rd-year Agricultural Microenterprise Program, which will make matching grants available up to $30,000 to eligible ag-based businesses. The Department of Economic Development will hold an application workshop, at the County eCenter in Delhi on Thursday, March 16th at 6:00 PM. Applications must be received by Monday, April 10th, more information is available by calling 832-5123.

The Arc Otsego will host a free Self-Direction Information Session today from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at The Arc Otsego, 35 Academy Street in Oneonta. Individuals with developmental disabilities and their families who are looking for more authority and choice in their supports and services should attend. More information is available at 267-3210.

The Arc Otsego is accepting artwork submissions for its 13th Annual Voice! event, which will be held July 27, 2017 through August 11, 2017 in the Martin-Mullen Art Gallery in the Fine Arts Building at SUNY Oneonta. Any individual living in New York State who is 18 years of age or older and has an intellectual and/or other developmental disability may submit artwork for consideration. The artwork submission form is available at www.arcotsego.org. The deadline for submissions is June 9th.

The Arc Otsego will host a free Self-Direction Information Session on Wednesday, March 8, from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Arc Otsego, 35 Academy Street, in Oneonta. Individuals with developmental disabilities and their families who are looking for more authority and choice in their supports and services will benefit from attending this session. Pre-registration is requested at 267-3210 no later than Monday, March. 6th.

Governor Cuomo announced a $15 million proposal to accelerate the use of renewable heating and cooling technologies in New York to stimulate the clean energy economy. The new policy framework released by the NYSERDA includes a proposed 2-year, $15-million program to provide rebates for the installation of ground-source heat pumps. This plan will support the state's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New York 40 percent by 2030 from 1990 levels. NYSERDA will accept written comments on the policy framework through close of business on March 10, 2017.

A public meeting to accept comments on the draft Northern Chenango Unit Management Plan will be held on Thursday, March 2, at 7:00 PM. The Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne will host the meeting; Public comments are being accepted until May 2nd. The state land covers approximately 15,800 acres in Chenango and Madison counties. The draft UMP has been developed to address management activities on these state properties. DEC staff will briefly present highlights of the draft plan at the public meeting, and the public will have an opportunity to comment on the plan