WCDO Radio News

At approximately 7:35 p.m. on
Tuesday evening, Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies and Emergency Crews
responded to a tractor trailer roll-over accident, with entrapment, on State
Highway 10 in Town of Hamden.   The tractor
trailer had struck and severed a utility pole, bringing power lines down on the
overturned truck. The driver of the truck, 77 year old James Updyke of Homer
was pronounced dead at the scene.  The
highway was closed down for several hours for the investigation & clean up;
it was re-opened for traffic Wednesday morning.
Investigators determined that Updyke failed to negotiate a curve in the
roadway, crossed the roadway and ran off the southbound shoulder where the
truck struck a utility pole and tree and overturned.  The cause of the accident remains pending
upon the completion of an autopsy.

Governor Cuomo has directed the
State Police & The State Education Department to launch an investigation
into the allegations that 12-year-old girls were strip searched for drugs at
the Binghamton middle school recently.
Cuomo said that the girls were strip searched as they were perceived as
“'hyper and giddy” and it raises concerns of racial and gender bias.

Congressman Antonio Delgado will
open an office at the County Office Building, 111 Main Street in Delhi on
Monday, February 4th.  An open house will
be held from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 PM, the Delhi office regular hours will be
from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Tuesdays and Wednesdays and by appointment.

27 year old Steven Barrows of
Sidney has Pleaded Guilty in Chenango County Court for 3rd degree
Burglary.  Barrows was arrested along
with Nicole Bell of Oneonta & Zachery England of Sidney last year, for
allegedly burglarizing buildings & stealing lawn care equipment, Barrows
will serve 1 1/2 years in prison & was ordered to pay restitution.

Delaware County Corrections
Sergeant Alan Weaver of Andes was named “Corrections Officer of the Year” by
the New York State Sheriff’s Association winter conference held in Albany, last
week.  Corrections Officer of the Year is
an award that is bestowed on a Sheriff’s Correction Officer who has
demonstrated an exceptional degree of dedication and commitment to the duties
of the Sheriff’s Office in operating County Jails.

Franklin Fire Fighters along
with assistance from firefighters Sidney Center, trout Creek & Treadwell
responded to a structure fire to an unoccupied farm house at 6402 County
Highway 21 at about 1:30 AM Tuesday.  The
building had been in the process of being renovated, it was listed as a total
loss; the cause of the fire was under investigation.

The Murder Trial of Aaron Powell
has been turned over to the jury in Broome County Court for deliberations this
afternoon.  Powell is facing a 2nd trial
for the murder of his estranged wife Christina & Mario Masciarelli in
Binghamton on March 22nd, 2013. Powell’s early conviction had been overturned
by a higher court & this 2nd trial was ordered.

State Police received a report Monday that 30 year old
Nicholas Philhower had taken his mother’s vehicle without permission and she
requested he be located and arrested.
Trooper Timothy Conklin observed the suspect vehicle on State Route 17
in the Town of Kirkwood,  Philhower took
evasive action, traveling through the median and then onto State Route 17 east
bound, coming to a stop shortly thereafter.
Philhower was armed with a military style semi-automatic rifle,
immediately opened fire on Trooper Conklin through the rear window of the
vehicle.  Trooper Conklin returned fire
through the windshield of his troop car as Philhower exited his vehicle and
continued to advance and fire upon the trooper.
Trooper Conklin was able to reload, exit the troop car and continue to
exchange fire.   Philhower was struck
several times and died at the scene.
Trooper Conklin sustained a minor shrapnel injury to his upper right arm
and was taken to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City where he was treated and
released.  An autopsy on Philhower will
be performed today at Lourdes Hospital.
The investigation is on-going.

Governor Cuomo today announced that $30 million in Upstate
Revitalization Initiative funding has been awarded to Binghamton University to
complete its Health Sciences Campus in Johnson City. This latest investment
will finalize the nursing school building that will be housed in an historic,
former Endicott Johnson shoe box factory, and co-located with the University’s
new School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The Southside Mall Job Fair will be held today, with a
number of area businesses participating.
The Job Fair will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 PM today, a list of area
businesses that will have representatives at the job fair, can be found at the
CDO Workforce face book page.

The NYS Smokers' Quitline, recently launched a fully updated, redesigned and mobile-ready website www.nysmokefree.com Linda Wegner of the Advancing Tobacco Free Communities - Delaware, Otsego & Schoharie Counties commented about the 24/7/365 website:

(Linda Wegner 8-23-18)

The NYS Smokers’ Quitline is a service of the NYS Department of Health, at 1-866-NY-QUITS, which is still free of charge, & is available 7 days a week starting at 9:00 AM each day.

The Walton Central School district board of education held another emergency meeting Wednesday night, they appointed Larry Thomas as interim Superintended replacing Roger Clough, who is out of paid administrative leave following accusations of misconduct. The Walton School Board is also working to hire new principal at the High School & Middle School, & an Assistant Principal from both school, after Rob Knuschke, Andy Gates & Mark Lamoreaux all resigned recently to accept other positions in other school districts.

The Delaware County Board of Supervisors voted to stop eminent domain proceedings in order to acquire the Bishop Farm property in Hamden, for a new Delaware County Department of Public Works facility. The board had made an offer for the property which was deemed too low by the Bishops, a public outcry at a recent meeting led to Wednesday board of supervisors’ decision to remove the bishop property from the list of properties considered for the facility.

The Binghamton University School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences opened up this week at their new $60,000 million dollar building in Johnson City. The facility is located at 96 Corliss Ave in Johnson City, a couple opf blocks away for the UHS Wilson Memorial Hospital complex. More information about classes & curriculum is available at binghamton.edu.

The Great New York State Fair opened Wednesday & broke their 1st-day attendance record with total attendance at 73,596 people. The number breaks last year's record by more than 5600 people. The full list of activities is available at nysfair.ny.gov.

Governor Cuomo signed legislation that expands the benefits available to eligible crime victims, who have not been physically injured, to include reimbursement of crime scene cleanup and domestic violence shelter costs. The change will allow victims of hate crimes or domestic violence cases to apply for compensation for these expenses from the state Office of Victim Services. Under current law, crime scene cleanup and shelter costs incurred by crime victims were excluded.

State Police arrested 57 year old Cornelia Dawson of Massachusetts for Aggravated DWI with a reportable B.A.C. of .21%, as well as several other traffic tickets, after Troopers monitoring I-88 in Oneonta Dawson's vehicle cross into the shoulder several times. Dawson was arraigned in the town of Oneonta Court and released on her own recognizance.

Governor Cuomo announced plans for Binghamton University's Health Sciences and Technology Innovation Park in Johnson City,at a press conference their this morning.

(CUOMO 11-15-16)

The $105 million project includes construction of the new School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, as well as the relocation and expansion of the Decker School of Nursing to Corliss Avenue in Johnson City, near the UHS Wilson Hospital Complex. The move is expected to result in the creation 150 new jobs.

State Police announced that they arrested a woman wanted for killing her twin sister in a staged accident in Hawaii. 37-year-old Alexandria Duval was wanted by the Maui Police Department for the murder on May 29th of Anastasia Duval, by driving an SUV off a cliff in Hawaii. State Police said that Alexandria Duval returned to her home in Albany, she initially attempted to escape but was apprehended without further incident, she is being held in the Albany County jail pending extradition back to Hawaii.

State Police arrested 24 year old Thomas Brannigan of Stony Point for DWI and several other traffic violations. At that time troopers were stopped, with their emergency lights flashing, while assisting the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department with a car deer accident on State Route 23 in the Town of Davenport, Brannigan failed to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle as stipulated by the state's Move Over Laws. Brannigan was arraigned in the Town of Davenport Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail in lieu of $1,500 cash bail or $3,000 property bond.

Governor Cuomo signed legislation to aid in the expansion of "homebrew" beer, wine and cider making in New York. The bill allows for the creation and operation of custom beer, wine, and cider production centers that will rent space and equipment to those looking to produce beer, wine, or cider for home consumption. The custom production centers will provide space and lower the overhead costs of production, but also provide amateur brewers and wine and cider makers with the local ingredients and training needed when first starting out. The State Liquor Authority will regulate the new custom beer, wine and cider production centers.

State and Local Leaders, as well as Binghamton Rumble Ponies officials announced this afternoon their plans for 2.5 Million dollars in upgrades to NYSEG Stadium. Plans call for new efficient lighting, new ticket Kiosks, & a new family fun zone, Nyseg Stadium first opened in April of 1992.

Governor Cuomo today announced funding to help New York fruit and vegetable farmers join the New York State Grown & Certified program. $1.5 million is available through the Environmental Protection Fund to help farms implement an Agricultural Environmental Management plan, and a reimbursement of up to $1,000 is available for growers who participate in a third party audit of safe food handling practices.

The Unadilla Chamber of Commerce will have its next regular meeting on Tuesday, November 15 at Green's Long River Inn, 54 Route 357, Unadilla beginning at 8:15 am. All members and directors are urged to attend.

State Senator Jim Seward will be at the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown at 12:00 Noon. Senator Seward is a member of the Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction, he will be joined by officials from LEAF Council on Alcoholism and Addictions, Bassett Healthcare Network, and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals to unveil a plan to dispose of unused prescription medication.

State Senator Tom Libous and Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger have reached a deal with Governor Andrew Cuomo to set aside $10 million in the 2014-15 State Budget to begin developing a $60 million School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy in Johnson City.

(Libous 1-20-14)

The school will eventually enroll 240 pharmacy students, as well as dozens of professors and support staff, and more researchers as pharmaceutical innovations come along.  The Governor will reveal more details of the plan this week in his Executive Budget Proposal.

Oneonta police are investigating acts of vandalism Saturday night.  Police reported that the third base dugout at the Doc Knapp Field was set on fire, and the Swart-Wilcox House, Riverside Elementary School and a vehicle were vandalized with graffiti.  The fire was reported at around 7:20 Saturday night, anyone with information is asked to contact police at 432-1111.

25-year-old Jaclyn Wesley of Binghamton woman, will be sentenced Wednesday in Broome County Court, after being convicted last year for 3 counts of 1st degree vehicular manslaughter, as well as DWI.  Wesley was the driver of an SUV that plunged into the Chenango River from I-88 on may 20th 2011, killing her 3 passengers: 25 year old Rob Moorehead of Port Crane, and Binghamton residents 45 year old Robert Marshall and 39 year old Carri Michalski.   Wesley could receive the maximum sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison; she had Blood Alcohol Content of  .13 at the time of the incident.

A joint meeting of the Otsego County Conservation Association and the League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 PM on Wednesday, January 29th at the First Presbyterian Church at 25 Church Street in Cooperstown.  County Planning Director Karen Sullivan will discuss the actions taken by Otsego County this past year in dissolving its contract with MOSA. Sullivan will also outline some of the county’s plans moving forward with regard to recycling, composting and future initiatives.  The meeting is free and open to the public; more information is available at 293-6654.

The Chenango Arts Council has announced that longtime Executive Director Victoria Calvert Kappel will be leaving the organization at the end of June.  Kappel has been Executive Director since 1999; a selection committee will be formed in the coming weeks to conduct a national search for the next executive director.

State wildlife officials drafted an updated black bear management plan. The agency's goal is to stabilize the bear population in most areas, reduce population in a few areas and prevent them from getting established in areas where conflicts with people would be likely.  Public comments will be accepted until February 21 at dec.ny.gov