WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 2-15-22

Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek announced that the Common Council meeting tonight will be back in the Chambers at Oneonta City Hall. Mayor Drnek will be delivering his first State of the City Address, masks will be required at tonight's meeting, which will also be broadcast at 7:00 PM on YouTube.com/cityofoneonta

Delaware County Public Health will be conducting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for people 12 and older on Thursday at 97 Main Street in Delhi. Pfizer 1st or 2nd doses will be available from 2:00 to 3:00 PM for walk-ins only. Pfizer boosters will be available from 2:00 to 3:00 PM for those who pre-register at apps2.health.ny.gov. For more information, call Delaware County Public Health at 607-832-5200.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced the results of an audit of the Otsego County Industrial Development Agency regarding the Oneonta Rail Yards Acquisition. The audit stated that the agency did not adequately plan for the 2017 acquisition of the rail yards, which was acquired based on a $6 million to $20 million development plan, but without an interested developer. Auditors found no indication that the board of directors had significant discussions of the pros and cons of developing the property, they then learned that a large-scale timber operation would be the only type of local industry that could profitable at the Rail Yards property.

The Friends of Recovery of Delaware and Otsego Counties will be expanding into Chenango County with a new site being prepared in the City of Norwich. The new location will be located at at 24 East Main Street in Norwich, they hope to open up the facility sometime this spring, more information about the program is available at friendsofrecoverydo.org.

The Chenango Arts Council’s annual Chenango Student Art Show will take place from March 4th to March 31st, the exhibit will open with a reception and awards ceremony on Friday March 4 beginning at 5:30 pm. In addition to a number of awards for different categories, 2 scholarships will be awarded for Chenango County seniors intending to pursue a degree in the Arts. The exhibit will be displayed in the Mariea Brown and Raymond Loft Galleries, located at the Chenango Arts Council, 27 West Main Street, Norwich and on the Arts Council’s social media. More information is available at 607-336-2787.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 2-15-22

The Otsego County Office of Emergency Services were requested to respond to a reported structure fire at 22 Maple Street in the Village of Gilbertsville Monday morning at about 9:15 AM. Firefighters from Gilbertsville, Morris, Mount Upton, Otego, Sidney, Wells Bridge and Otsego County EMS, all responded to the scene, 64 year old Louise Dubben was located deceased inside her residence. The Otsego County Office of Emergency Services, New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the New York State Police are leading investigation efforts. An investigation into the fire is ongoing.

The City of Oneonta Police Department has arrested 29 year old Elijah Vergari of Oneonta in connection with the NBT bank robbery that occurred at 1 Wall Street in the City of Oneonta on December 29th. An indictment was handed down by a Grand Jury for the arrest of Vergari, Vergari was delivered to the Otsego County Court Monday, he was arraigned for 3rd degree Robbery, Due to the existence of pending felony charges in Delaware County, bail was set for $10,000 cash bail and he was remanded to the custody of the Otsego County Sheriff. The Oneonta Police Department worked in conjunction with the New York State Police Forensic ID unit, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and NBT bank security services.

An Oneonta man died in a two-car crash on Route 365 in Westmoreland late Sunday night. The Oneida County Sheriff's Office stated that 20-year-old Joshua Parker of Utica, was driving westbound on Route 365 when he started to have car trouble and put his flashers on while trying to make it to a gas station, Parker's vehicle was hit from behind by 40-year-old Lance Johnson of Oneonta, who was transporting medical test samples to a lab. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. Parker was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center to be treated for injuries that are not considered to be life-threatening. The investigation is ongoing.

Assemblyman Joseph Angelino is announcing his re-election campaign. Angelino is serving in his first term, He is the ranking Republican on the Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation. Angelino will be running in the new 121st Assembly District which includes the majority of Chenango and Broome counties, and portions of Madison, Otsego, Sullivan and Delaware counties.

Nasir Azmat began his 60 day jail term, after appearing in town of Sidney Court Thursday. Azmat accepted a plea deal last October in the Town of Sidney court, he pleaded guilty to overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals & was sentenced to 60 days in jail followed by 3 years of probation; he cannot own, possess or register animals during the 3 year probation. Azmat will also be placed on the Delaware County Animal Abuse Registry. Azmat was charged in February 2020 after Delaware County Sheriff’s Office found 20 dogs in deplorable conditions on Azmat’s property, the dog were allegedly used for dog-fighting.

The Chenango County Health Department confirmed the 100th COVID-19 attributed death today. Chenango County Health Department has also changed their protocols to go along with new State guidelines, with an emphasis on home testing & reporting the findings to the Health Department. Vaccine registrations, Home test reporting as well as Quarantine and Isolation information can be found at co.chenango.ny.us/public-health. Chenango County reported 578 active cases, 840 quarantines & 4 hospitalizations.

Bassett Healthcare Network is holding a COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine clinic at the Edmeston Central School gymnasium on Saturday, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Vaccinations offered include the Pfizer and Moderna 1st, 2nd, and booster shots; Pediatric Pfizer COVID Vaccines, as well as Flu shots; the event is open to the public. Recipients do not need to be established Bassett patients & no appointments are necessary. More information is available at bassett.org/covid-19.

DCMO BOCES will host a job fair next Tuesday, as they look to fill a variety of positions. The job fair will take place from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon & also from 4:00 to 6:00 PM on Tuesday, at the DCMO Support Services Center behind the main Alan Pole Campus building on County Road 32 in North Norwich.

Former long time WDLA co-owner Amos Finch of Walton passed away Tuesday, following a lengthy illness. Finch was born in Sidney Center, In 1975 he purchased WDLA, and later added stations in Deposit & Delhi, before selling them in 2000. Private arrangements were conducted by CH Landers Funeral Chapel of Sidney, and he will be buried at Highland Cemetery in Sidney Center in the spring. Condolences may be shared online at landersfh.com and memorials may be sent to Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road, in Oneonta.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 1-14-22

State Police Bureau arrested 50 year old Kenneth Drumm of Windsor for the felony of Sexual Abuse. Drumm was charged after an investigation revealed he had inappropriate contact with a child younger than the age of 13. Drumm was arrested and processed and was turned over to Broome County Central Arraignment and Processing. A full stay away order was issued to the victim.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced additional resources from the federal government will arrive in New York State, providing relief to hospitals and emergency services during the COVID-19 winter surge. Governor Hochul announced that 30 National Ambulance Contract Teams will be arriving in upstate regions beginning THIS Sunday, to provide backfill for local emergency services and hospital transports.

The State Health Department announced that the Positivity rate on recent COVID testing has been declining. On Wednesday over 356,000 were tested with over 60,300 positives, for a positivity rate now fewer than 17%, patient hospitalizations went down by over 200 to 12,452, ICU patients went up by 22 to 1615 and the number of ventilators went up by 15 to 845, there were 195 deaths attributed to COVID in nursing homes & Hospitals.

Otsego County Department of Health is continuing to see the highest surge in COVID-19 cases since the pandemic started almost two years ago. It is critical that everyone continues with social distancing, wearing masks and getting vaccinated. If you test positive for COVID, isolate for at least 5 days and notify your close contacts. If you are unvaccinated or have not received a booster dose and have been in close contact with someone who is positive you should quarantine for at least 5 days. Contact tracing will continue in certain settings such as schools, daycares, hospitals, nursing homes and other congregate settings. The Otsego County Health Department reports 183 New cases Thursday with 8 hospitalizations, active cases will no longer be reported, as it is not possible to get an accurate number with the current limited contact tracing and case investigation. More information is available at the Health Department website at otsegocounty.com.