WCDO Radio News

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that over $81 million has been awarded to support 97 priority projects across New York State through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. Locally, in the Southern Tier, Buckingham Manufacturing will be able to purchase New equipment, The Delaware County IDA will expand the existing Andes food hub, “Catskills Harvest,” to include an advanced geothermal and solar powered carbon-neutral greenhouse & also for the Delhi Industrial Wastewater Pipeline to address environmental concerns , and Finback Brewery will re-develop a 320-acre farm in the Town of Walton into a brewery, taproom, orchard, and modern bed & breakfast.

Congressman Anthony Brindisi today announced 2 grants in New York’s 22nd district, totaling nearly $1 million. The funds come from the United States Department of Agriculture as part of their Rural Development grant program.  The Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES was awarded $683,692 to help provide access to Science Technology Engineering and Math courses for high school students preparing for college or to enter the workforce. The Southern Tier Health Care System was awarded $218,557 to help fund education and training for opioid and substance abuse services in rural New York.

55 year old George Knarich of New Lisbon was arrested by the Otsego County Sheriff's Department for allegedly organized the New York Harvest Festival and Freedom Fair in Otsego County over the weekend after the Otsego County Health Department issued a cease and desist order to stop the event.  Knarich is accused of violating Governor Cuomo’s executive orders banning mass gatherings, and is facing trespassing and criminal nuisance charges, he was taken into custody and is being held at the Otsego County Correctional Facility pending court action, the investigation is ongoing, and another arrest is pending.

The Annual "Taste
of the Catskills" will be held at Maple Shade farms in the town of Delhi
Saturday & Sunday.  More than 100
vendors are participating, various entertainment & games are scheduled, and
more information is available at taste of the catskill.com.

State Police are asking the public’s
help to locate 44 year old Jesse Donlin, who has been missing since early
September.  Donlin was last seen in the
Oxford area and has not been heard from since.
He is described as a white male, 5’7” feet tall, approximately 165
pounds, with light brown shoulder length hair and brown eyes.   Donlin has ties to Sidney, Unadilla, Morris,
Afton as well as Binghamton, Utica & the Capital District.  Anyone with information about Donlin’s
whereabouts should call State Police at 561-7400.

The 33rd Annual Sacred Heart Church
Harvest festival begins today, from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, & again on Saturday
from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.   The Church is
located at 15 Liberty Street in Sidney, WCDO Will be broadcasting live this
afternoon & again tomorrow morning

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce will honor local businesses at their 2018 Business Awards today at 5:30 pm at Delaware County FoodWorks+, in Andes. This year's Business of the Year is the Delaware County Broadband Initiative, which is collaboration by Delaware County Electric Cooperative, Delhi Telephone & Margaretville Telephone Company. The New Business of the Year is Catskills Regional Harvest, the Tourism Award goes to Delaware and Ulster Railroad & Business Advocate of the Year is JIM DOIG President, SFCU. More information is available at delawarecounty.org or 746-2281.

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce will honor local businesses at their 2018 Business Awards to be held on June 14 at 5:30 pm at Delaware County FoodWorks+, in Andes. This year's Business of the Year is the Delaware County Broadband Initiative, which is a collaboration by Delaware County Electric Cooperative, Delhi Telephone & Margaretville Telephone Company. The New Business of the Year is Catskills Regional Harvest, the Tourism Award goes to Delaware and Ulster Railroad & Business Advocate of the Year is JIM DOIG President, SFCU. More information is available at delawarecounty.org or 746-2281.

THE 15TH ANNUAL FALL PUMPKIN FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD IN NORWICH, ON Friday AND Saturday STARTING ON FRIDAY WITH MUSIC BY FRITZ'S POLKA BAND.  A HARVEST DINNER AT ST. BARTS PARISH CENTER FROM 4:30 TO 7:00 PM with A GIANT PUMPKIN CONTEST WEIGH-IN, AND KARAOKE CONTEST AT 6:30  AT  EAST AND WEST PARKS IN  NORWICH.  More information is available at NORWICHPUMPKINFESTIVAL.COM.

Allowing 4 casinos in upstate New York would generate $430 million in annual revenue for the state, according to an estimate from the state budget office. The estimate marks the first time the Cuomo administration has put a dollar amount on the impact of the Upstate New York Gaming and Economic Development Act, which would allow for four casinos to be sited in the Catskills, Southern Tier and the Capital Region. The casinos, however, are contingent on whether voters approve a change to the state constitution in November.