WCDO Radio News

A Pre-Trial Hearing was held in Chenango County Court today, regarding the murder & arson trial of Ernest Franklin of Guilford, who along with his wife Heather are accused of killing their son Jeffrey & setting the family residence on fire to cover it up. A Pre-Trial Hearing for Heather Franklin has not been scheduled, Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride has stated that the 2 will be tried separately, The Trial is expected to begin next year.

Governor Cuomo announced more than $220 million in federal grants that will support counter terrorism and emergency preparedness activities in counties across New York State. The funding supports regional preparedness efforts, including planning, organization, and training activities that are critical to sustaining and improving community prevention, protection, response, and recovery capabilities. Locally Broome County received $364,894, Chenango County $109,968, Delaware County $99,971 & Otsego County $109,968

State Police arrested 24-year-old Adam Gager of Windsor on 7 counts of Falsifying Business Records. Police were advised of a theft of over $800 from the Mirabito gas station on Old Route 17 in the town of Windsor, Gager was an employee, He is accused of deleting items from the store sales records and using the money to purchase lottery tickets. Gager was arraigned in the town of Windsor court and was remanded to the Broome County Jail in lieu of $2,000 cash bail or $4,000 property bond.

Delaware County Public Health announced their last Free 2017 Rabies Vaccination Clinic for dogs, cats and ferrets, which will be held on October 18th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Delhi Fire Hall. Delaware County Public Health recently announced the 4th rabid animal of the year, which was a rabid bat with 1 human exposure. More information about rabies is available at 832-5200 or delawarecountypublichealth.com

The annual Otsego County Hazardous Waste Collection Event continues tomorrow at the Meadows complex from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Otsego County Planning Director Karen Sullivan explains:

(Karen Sullivan 9-8-17)

This service is Free for all Otsego County households; more information is available at otsegocounty.com or at 547-4225.

On Sunday, the Democratic Committee of Delaware County is hosting their 2nd Community Barbecue. The event will be held at the Hamden Town Hall Pavilion from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Town Hall is located at 37029 State Highway 10, Hamden, NY 13782. 8 candidates running for the 19th Congressional District in the 2018 elections have been invited to participate. More information is available at dcnydems.org.

The Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival will be held Saturday & Sunday in Downtown Norwich, Spokesperson Celeste Friend explains:

(Celeste Friend 9-8-17)

The event runs from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturday & from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday, more information is available at 336-FEST or colorscape.org.

36 year old James Brower of Norwich appeared in court this morning in Norwich, he is charged with 1st degree murder, for the murder of 11 year Jacelyn O’Connor of Morris Sunday in Norwich. Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride stated that the autopsy revealed that the cause of death was Asphyxiation by smothering, after Brower allegedly raped the girl in his residence. Brower was returned to the Chenango County jail without bail, pending a further court action next Tuesday.

State Police arrested 39-year-old Kareem Buckley of Hempstead Long Island, after troopers observed a BMW speeding on State Route 17, in the town of Hancock Tuesday. Buckley and his passenger 39 year old Vernon McDaniel of queens did not have valid driving licenses, a vehicle search resulted in the discovery & seizure of 14 pounds of marihuana. Buckley was arrested for Criminal Possession of Marihuana & traffic violations; he was arraigned and was remanded to the Delaware County jail on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond. McDaniel was arrested for Unlawful possession of Marihuana and was issued a ticket to the town of Hancock court on a later date.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting today in the District Conference Room at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride announced that Melissa Crispell pleaded guilty to 1st degree Robbery, she will serve 15 to 25 years in state prison in connection with the death of David Green in his Oxford Home last year. A part of a plea deal, Crispell will testify against her co-defendant Jeremy Coates, who will face murder charges when his trial begins at a later date.

New York state school budget votes, and in some district, votes on School Board candidates bus purchases & capital projects, is being held today. The New York State School Board Association reported that the average proposed school district tax levy increase is 1.48%, which is more that half a percentage point below the "2 percent" property tax cap. This is the 4th consecutive year the tax cap growth factor will be below 2%. Most area schools have tax levy increases below the cap this year.

The pending homicide case against Ernest & Heather Franklin of Guilford in Chenango County Court has now received national attention, with the bail hearing transcripts from last week included in “People Magazine” Chenango County District attorney Joseph McBride stated at the hearing that the Franklins allegedly killed their special needs adopted son Jeffrey, and then set the family residence on fire, after watching the movie “Manchester By The Sea” on February 28th, which contained scenes with a murdered child & an arson fire. McBride commented to WCDO News about the case’s timeline:

(Joe McBride 4-13-17)

Bail for Ernest Franklin was set at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond; Bail for Heather Franklin was set at $125,000 cash or $250,000 bond.

Chenango county sheriffs department responded to county route 17 in the town of Oxford for a 1-vehicle accident Wednesday. 26-year-old Christina Graham of Norwich lost control of her vehicle went off the roadway & into a tree. Graham was airlifted to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse for head trauma, her 6 year old son was taken to Wilson hospital for a shoulder injury, the investigation is continuing.

State Police arrested 18-year-old Austin Carr and 16 year old Cody Ferrara of Guilford for 2ND Degree Burglary, following an investigation into a forced entry burglary at a home on North Pond Road in the Town of Guilford, where numerous electronic items were taken. Carr & Ferrara were arraigned in the Town of Guilford court and were remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $1,000 cash bail.

28-year-old Adam Alexander of Afton pleaded guilty in Broome County Court to 2nd degree manslaughter & driving a vehicle with a BAC higher than .08, in connection with the death of 36-year-old Jason Smith in the town of Colesville last September 5th. Alexander’s vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of state routes 235 & 7; he collided with Smith’s Motorcycle. Alexander faces sentencing on June 22nd.

State Police arrested 26-year-old Zachary Fry of Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania for Aggravated DWI with a B.A.C. result of .26%, Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Loaded Firearm in a Motor Vehicle, and several other traffic violations. State police observed a vehicle speeding at 98 mph, in a 55 mph zone, while on Interstate 81 southbound in the Town of Chenango, the trooper attempted to catch up, the vehicle accelerated to about 115 miles an hour. Fry made a sudden stop partially just before the Interstate 81 & State Route 17 split & surrendered to the troopers without further incident. Fry was discovered with a loaded shotgun on the front passenger seat of his vehicle, he was arraigned in the Town of Dickinson Court and was remanded to the Broome County Jail with bail set.

The Oneonta City Clerk’s office announced that following tonight’s 6:00 PM finance-Human Resources Committee meeting, there will be a workshop on:” Annexation”, presented by the New York Conference of Mayors attorney Wade Beltramo The focus of the meeting for the City of Oneonta officials will be the reservoir & the airport properties. Thee meeting will be held in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall & is open to the public.

State Police arrested 31-year-old Tina Bremner of Afton for the felony of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation & Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle. Troopers responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on State Route 41 in the Town of Afton. Responding troopers found the unoccupied vehicle, the driver was located walking on a nearby road, troopers determined that Bremner did not have permission to be driving the vehicle & a check of Bremner's driver’s license showed that she had 26 suspensions on 11 different dates. Bremner was arraigned and was remanded to the Chenango County Jail with bail set. Her next court date is pending.

Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride and Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting reported that Ernest Franklin and Heather Franklin were indicted on Friday, by a Chenango County Grand Jury on charges of: 2nd degree Murder, 3rd degree Arson and Tampering with Physical Evidence, in connection with a fire at their residence on State Route 8 in the town of Guilford on March 1st. It was determined at autopsy that their adopted son, Jeffrey, was deceased prior to the fire. Investigators believe the fire was set to cover up the murder. Both defendants will be arraigned on the indictment in Chenango County Court at a later date.

Otsego County Conservation Association is seeking volunteers to assist with the 13th annual Earth Festival event at Milford Central School on Saturday, April 22nd, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the gym at Milford Central School. There is also a pre-festival movie night being held on Friday April 21 at 7:00 PM at the school. Volunteers are being asked to help with a wide variety of tasks on Friday and Saturday, including setting up Friday afternoon, and with clean up after the event. To volunteer, call 547-4488.

Officials at the Franklin central school district said that voters approved a capital project on Tuesday, by a vote of 89 in favor & 19 against, The project will cover Roofing, windows, bathrooms, locker rooms, upgraded information technology and networking, upgraded electrical systems, new bus lift, flooring, & masonry repairs.

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

State Police arrested 44-year-old Kevin Roof of Binghamton, for 2nd degree Burglary. After consultation with Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride, State Police arrested Roof after his release from the hospital where he had been treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his upper leg, which he received during the course of his criminal conduct in the town of Afton on Algerine street on January 30th. Roof was arraigned and was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $50,000 cash bail, $500,000 property bond pending future court action in Afton Town Court. 34-year-old James Fletcher was also charged with 2nd degree burglary in connection with this case, the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is requested to contact State Police at 561-7400.

The Delaware County Fair announced that ten $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to current New York State high school seniors and students enrolled in college. Qualifying students must be active in the Delaware County Fair or with the state Showpeople’s Association. All applicants from Delaware County must submit their applications through the Delaware County Fair or the NYSSA no later than Friday April 8th. Information is available by contacting Delaware County Fair at 437-4093 or by email at delcofair@gmail.com or nyfairs.org

Chenango County Sheriff's office reported that on Tuesday at 10:40 PM, the 911 Center received a report of a snowmobile accident on Quarry Road in the Town of Oxford. The investigation determined that the operator of the snowmobile, 54-year-old Michael Buchanan of Bainbridge lost control of the snowmobile; he struck a guide and was ejected. Buchanan was pronounced dead at the scene.

Delaware County Deputies investigated a 1-car personal injury auto accident on Arbor Hill Road in the Town of Delhi. 79-year-old Nicholas Mastrandera of Delhi lost control of his vehicle on the snow-covered roadway, the vehicle traveled sideways leaving the roadway and slid down an embankment and struck a tree. Mastrandera was unable to free himself from the vehicle; Deputies were assisted by the Delhi Fire Department and EMS with the extrications from the vehicle and transporting Mastrandera to O’Connor Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today announced a lawsuit against Charter Communications, and its subsidiary Spectrum/Time Warner Cable for allegedly conducting a deliberate scheme to defraud New Yorkers by promising Internet service that they knew they could not deliver. The complaint alleges that since January 2012 Spectrum-TWC's marketing promised subscribers who signed up for its Internet service that they would get a "fast, reliable connection" to the Internet. The investigation showed that Internet speed measurements delivered to subscribers on Spectrum-TWC's fastest speed plans only a third to a half of the download speeds than they had paid for.

Otsego County Office for the Aging is seeking nominations of county residents 60 or older who deserve recognition for the volunteering efforts. Nominations will be accepted through February 13th, more information is available at 547-4232 or 432-9041.

On Monday Morning at about 11:10 a.m., Chenango County 911 received a report of shots being fired in the area of Algerine Street, in the Town of Afton. Responding Troopers located a male subject suffering from a shotgun wound to his upper leg, he was transported to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City, where he was being treated for his non-life threatening injury. The circumstances of how this subject was injured is currently under investigation. The continuing investigation determined a burglary had occurred in the Town of Afton. After consultation with Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride, State Police arrested 34 year old James Fletcher of Greene, for 2nd degree Burglary. Fletcher was arraigned in Town of Afton Court and was remanded to the Chenango County jail on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond. The investigation into this incident is ongoing, Anyone with information is requested to contact State Police at 561-7400.

Chenango County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 2 car motor vehicle crash on State Route 12 in the Village of Greene. Deputies & Village of Greene Police reported that one vehicle was driven by 64 year old Danny Frayer of Oxford, when a 2nd vehicle operated by 33 year old Kyle Skidmore of Binghamton crossed the center line and was struck by Frayer’s vehicle. The passenger in Frayer’s vehicle, 54 year old Thomas Whittaker of Greene was pronounced dead at the scene. Frayer was transported to Wilson Hospital with minor injuries. Skidmore was transported to Wilson Hospital for treatment of serious internal injuries. Frayer and Skidmore were both wearing seat belts, Whittaker was not. The Sheriff’s Office has determined that Skidmore was operating at an unsafe speed for road conditions and failed to keep right.