WCDO Radio News

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $63.5 million infrastructure project targeting roadways across the Southern Tier and western parts of the state. Locally In Otsego County, a $5.5 million safety initiative will be spent on installing a new sidewalk and drainage system upgrades along State Route 28 in Cooperstown. Transportation officials warn local commuters to prepare for ongoing lane adjustments, reduced speeds, and alternating ramp closures throughout the construction zones.

New York State DEC announced new and continued investments to address extreme heat, new funding opportunities to create public cooling spaces, and expanded assistance to provide affordable cooling for New Yorkers at home. With heat waves and other extreme heat events more common, DEC is coordinating the implementation of the plan with NYSERDA and other state agencies Information about what the public can do during hot weather and how to?locate cooling centers?can be found at health.ny.gov.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 6-3-26

CHENANGO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE arrested 30 year old Jordan Robinson of Smyrna for Harassment, Unlawful Imprisonment, Criminal Mischief and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Deputies responded to a residence in Smyrna for a domestic dispute, where Robinson allegedly subjected the victim to unwanted physical contact, damaged property, and attempted to prevent the victim from calling 911 in the presence of a juvenile. Robinson was Arraigned & was released on an appearance ticket, and an order of protection was issued for the victim. Robinson is to appear in the Town of Smyrna Court at a later date.

Broome County Sheriff's Office arrested 26 year old Jazmine Meade of the Town of Dickinson, after a search warrant execution found narcotics & other drug paraphernalia on Monday. Members of the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force executed a search warrant at the Hillside Inn, as well a vehicle associated with Meade, officers seized 34.9 grams of cocaine, Suboxone strips, Narcotics packaging material, Digital scale, Cutting agent, Meade was charged with 2 Counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, 3 Counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, Child Protective Services was contacted for additional investigation.

The deadline has been extended for those in Chenango County to comment on the County Hazard Mitigation plan, Shane Butler of the County Planning Department explains:

(Shane Butler 6-3-26)

The link for the public comment period is at chenangocountyny.gov/416/Hazard-Mitigation-Plan---2026

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 5-15-26

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies were notified of a scam where callers are contacting residents and reporting that they are from the New York State Electric & Gas, The scammers state that there is an overdue bill and that if the bill is not immediately paid, the resident's electricity will be shut off. The Sheriff;s Office reported that people should never give personal financial information to cold callers, they should hang up, and contact local law enforcement if they feel that they were scammed.

Chenango County Planning Department announced that they are seeking more public comments on the Hazard Mitigation Plan, Shane Butler of the Planning Department Shane Butler told WCDO News about the process:

(Shane Butler 5-15-26)

The plan is available at chenangocountyny.gov/Hazard-Mitigation, interested citizens have until the end of May to comment.

The Oneonta Town Board has approved a 1 year moratorium to stop new data centers or cryptocurrency mining. The moratorium affects plans by Eco-Yotta from building a data center on County Road 9 in the Town of Oneonta, the plan requires State Approval to be implemented.

The Chenango County Department of Public Health will be visiting area towns through June 30th, to educate the community on the importance of Lead and Lead Poisoning, with their annual "LEAD WALK" that has continued since 2012. Chenango County Health Department Senior Health Educator Chris Arnold explains:

(Chris Arnold 5-15-26)

Chenango County Residents should look for blue doorknob hangers on your front door to access this educational information about lead poisoning. More information, contact the Chenango County Health Department at (607) 337-1660.

The Chenango County Hazard Mitigation plan draft plan review will be held Wednesday online from 10:00 Am to 11:00 AM and 6:00 to 7:00 PM. The plan can be read at chenangocountyny.gov, following the meeting, the public review period will be for 30 days. The QR codes for each meeting can be found at the Chenango County Planning Department Facebook page.

The Butternut Valley Alliance is accepting artist submissions for the annual "On the Trail of Art" forest exhibition, to be held June 13-14 at General Jacob Morris State Forest. Artists are invited to submit weatherproof work for outdoor display along a forest trail transformed into an immersive gallery. Artists may also contribute work to BVA's online auction. Submissions can be made at butternutvalleyalliance.org or by emailing info@butternutvalleyalliance.org.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 4-28-26

41 year old Frank Giacalone of Walton, pleaded guilty to Felony Driving While Intoxicated in Delaware County Court, The plea was entered as part of a negotiated disposition where it is anticipated that Giacalone will be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison. State Police responded to the report of a vehicle hit a fire hydrant on Mead Street in the Village of Walton, then backed up and drove away. A Trooper observed a piece of the vehicle’s front bumper near the fire hydrant, found the vehicle matching the description, missing a portion of its front bumper, Giacalone failed field sobriety tests & was arrested, he'll be sentenced at a later date.

Delaware County DPW will be closing bridges to through traffic for inspections, including the Hamden Covered Bridge on May 11th & 12th, the Downsville Covered Bridge May 13th to May 15th, the Fitches Covered Bridge on May 16, through Monday, May 18, The traveling public should use alternate routes.

Golfers are invited to sharpen their swing and safeguard their season during ‘Improve Your Swing, Protect Your Game,” installment of UHS Chenango Memorial’s new sports medicine series. The event will take place at 6:00 tonight at Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich, presented by Physical therapist Allison O’Neill & Dr. Keith Cordischi. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call (607) 337-4510.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 4-27-26

State Police arrested 46 year old James Lewis of Binghamton after a dispute that resulted in another man sustaining serious injuries. Lewis has been charged with 1st Degree Robbery & Assault, On Friday afternoon, Troopers were dispatched to Endicott for a report of a male who had been struck multiple times by a baseball bat following a dispute. The 48 year old unidentified victim was taken to Wilson Medical Center, where he underwent surgery & was listed in stable condition. An investigation determined that Lewis and the victim had previously traded e-bikes, with the victim expected to pay Lewis, when he failed to provide payment, Lewis struck him multiple times with a baseball bat then left the area with the e-bike. Troopers located Lewis Saturday, was taken into custody without incident, and the e-bike was recovered. Lewis was processed & was turned over to the Broome County Jail for Arraignment.

Broome County Sheriff’s Office and numerous local fire departments responded last Wednesday to a house fire at 803 Hill Avenue in the Town of Union. Firefighters found a fully involved fire, after extinguishing the fire, a victim was located inside the residence, deceased. The deceased victim was identified as 86 year old Joyce Bassos, There were no other occupants in the residence. The cause of the fire is under investigation, The preliminary investigation does not indicate any criminal action.

The Deposit Village Board has decided to discontinue their contract with the Broome County Sheriff's Office to have a dedicate law enforcement presence in Deposit. The move comes about 6 years after the dissolution of the Deposit Police Department. Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar released a statement saying the\at the decision will make emergency response times in the Village unpredictable, they will respond to emergencies along with the New York State Police going forward.

The Chenango County Historical Society is seeking a Patron Engagement Coordinator to enhance community engagement and visitor experience, with a focus on capacity-building and strategic development. Interested job seekers can review the job description and apply for the position online at chenangohistorical.org/jobs.

A.M. NEWS Monday 4-27-26

Broome County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked at a residence in the Town of Sanford Tuesday. Deputies located the suspicious vehicle and performed a traffic stop. The driver, 29 year old Philip Briggs of Deposit told deputies that he had picked up the passenger, 37 year old Emily Cecere of Binghamton, who claimed to have been staying at the residence, The owner confirmed that no one was authorized to stay there. Briggs was found to have a burglary tool in his possession and Cecere was found to be in possession of a credit card belonging to a deceased individual who lived at the residence. Briggs was charged with Burglary, Possession of Burglar Tools and Conspiracy, Cecere was charged with Burglary and Conspiracy, they will face court action shortly.

During Earth Week, The State DEC announced a total of 23 municipalities certified under New York State’s Climate Smart Communities Certification program. The certifications recognize that these communities have taken actions to reduce flood risk, address extreme heat, invest in clean energy, improve infrastructure, reduce air pollution, and increase resilience across the state. Bronze certified and re certified communities include: Village of Cooperstown, the Town of Middlefield & Otsego County.

Otsego County Hazard Mitigation Plan is available for review, and there will be online meetings regarding that plan, tonight from 6:00 to 7:00 PM and on Tuesday from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. More information can be found at otsegocounty.com and then scroll to the Planning Department hazard mitigation plan for the links to the meetings.

State Police at Oneonta arrested 22 year old Mia Lowry of Pembroke, North Carolina for Criminal possession of Firearm, Reckless Endangerment and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and 26 year old Christy Holden of Lumberton, North Carolina for Reckless Endangerment and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  A trooper monitoring traffic on I-88 in the town of Otego initiated a traffic stop after observing a traffic infraction; the trooper approached the vehicle & detected an odor of marijuana & also observed a 1 1/2 month infant on the lap of the front seat passenger.  Lowry was driving the vehicle & was in possession of a loaded handgun.  Both were arraigned virtually, with Lowry remanded to the Otsego County Jail on $500 cash bail and Holden was released on her own recognizance.  Both are ordered to appear in the town of Otego court on September 17th.

Commerce Chenango announced that Chenango County is in the process of updating its Hazard Mitigation Plan with Consultant Tetra Tech & input is needed.  The County has assembled a team to update the mitigation plan which addresses hazards that impact municipalities. The 15 minute survey is available at surveymonkey.com/r/ChenangoHMPCitizenSurvey.

Chenango County Public Health added 1 more positive COVID 19 test Thursday, bringing their total number to 219 since March.  They have 98 people quarantined, 1 person is hospitalized, there have been 7 deaths, 200 recoveries & over 20,400 tests have been conducted.

Broome County Health Department had 15 more positive COVID 19 cases over the last 2 days, bringing their total to 1139 since March.  There have been 75 deaths, 994 recoveries 505 are being monitored by the Health Department; they have conducted over 34,300 tests.

Governor Cuomo signed an executive order extending the state's moratorium on COVID-related commercial evictions and foreclosures an additional month, until September 20th. This measure extends protections already in place for commercial tenants and mortgagors in recognition of the financial toll the pandemic has taken on business owners, including retail establishments and restaurants.

In July 2020, the number of private sector jobs in New York State increased over the month by 244,200, or 3.6%, to 7,116,200, according to preliminary figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor. New York State's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 15.6% to 15.9% in July.

Otsego County Department of Health reported 1 new case of COVID 19 Today giving the County 117 total confirmed cases, 5 active cases with 1 hospitalized, 106 have recovered, and 33 people on quarantine for close contact to a case, 163 people on quarantine for traveling to a high risk state, there have been 6 deaths.

Delaware County Public Health received 1 new positive test result for COVID-19 Thursday and no additional recoveries are being reported. The known active cases in the County as of today is 4, they are all isolated at home.  To date there have been 101 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Delaware County, with 26 people now under mandatory quarantine,  6 people have died and 91 have fully recovered.

Chenango county sheriff’s department arrested 42-year-old Terry Bartlett of North Norwich for DWI, Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Endangerment & Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  Deputies accuse Bartlett of driving onto a lawn attempting to hit an adult male victim while 3 children were playing in the yard.  Bartlett then drove onto the public roadway attempting to hit the male victim again.  Bartlett was arraigned in the Town of North Norwich Court & was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $2,000 bail pending future court action. viagra online (http://www.frontlinesms.com/2015/04/04/viagra-online/)

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies investigated a vehicle and traffic complaint last week on Pines Brook Road in the Town of Walton. It was reported that a Walton Central School bus, while stopped & was discharging students when a motorist disregarded the safety apparatus and passed the bus. The school bus’s video surveillance identified both the vehicle and its operator; deputies arrested 19-year-old James Copeland of Walton for Failure to Stop for School Bus & Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a motor vehicle.  Copeland’s driver’s license was suspended at the time of the incident; he faces action in the Town of Walton Court Wednesday.

The Chenango County Sheriffs arrested 3 Town of Sherburne residents for drug related offenses.  The Narcotics Division attempted to stop 46-year-old Steve Manwarren; he drove off & during the pursuit, his passenger 27 year old Randy Buck Jr. allegedly threw heroin packets out of the car.  The vehicle was later stopped, the heroin recovered, and both men were arrested.  Detectives discovered another 60 packets of heroin belonging to Manwarren, 56 year old Kim Chlad was also arrested as she attempted to discard the 60 packets of heroin from her and Manwarren’s residence.   Manwarren was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Buck was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance & Tampering with Physical Evidence. Chlad was charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence.   All 3 were released pending future court action.

The Oneonta common council will meet tonight to discuss the 2014 city budget.  Other agenda topics include the performance review process for city manager, the airport commission and a motion to seek proposals for legal services to support collective bargaining.  The council will also consider adopting  the Otsego County hazard mitigation plan.  The meeting begins at 7:00 pm in the common council chambers at city hall.

The 2013-2014 HEAP season will open November 18th.  HEAP is a federally funded program, administered at the county level, which assists income eligible households in meeting their winter heating costs.  All applicants are encouraged to apply at mybenefits.ny.gov.

The Chenango county sheriff’s department arrested 20-year-old Caden Cruz of Oxford on a charge of 2nd degree Burglary.  Cruz is accused of burglarizing a residence in the town of Smithville last year, He was arrested & was arraigned in the Town Of Greene Court & was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $7,500 cash bail.

Broome County Judge Joseph Cawley this morning found 25-year-old Jaclyn Wesley of Binghamton guilty of vehicular manslaughter.  Wesley was accused of driving with a blood-alcohol content of .13 percent when her SUV left I- 88 in the Town of Fenton on May 20th 2011, and plunged into the Chenango River. Her passengers, 25 year old Rob Moorehead of Port Crane, and Binghamton residents 45-year-old Rob Marshall and 39 year old Carri Michalski were killed in the crash. Sentencing will be at a later date.

Catholic Charities Of Chenango County will host “Bands, Brew & Barbecue” at the Chenango county fairgrounds in Norwich this Saturday.  Executive Director Robin Beckwith explains:

(Robin Beckwith 9-24-13)

Several area bands will perform throughout the day, many micro breweries in the region will feature their products, and many area food services companies will being in their barbecue items, money raised helps out the “Roots & Wings” program.

Democrat Sean Eldridge has announced that he is running for Congress in the 19th district in 2014.  Eldridge plans to challenge congressman Chris Gibson, who was elected to a 2nd term in congress last November.

FEMA has approved Otsego County’s Hazard Mitigation Action Plan 5-year update.  The next step in the process is the adoption by resolution of the plan by all 35 municipalities and the Otsego County Government for it to be officially in-place.  County officials said that having a FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation plan allows the County, municipalities, and identified stakeholders to be eligible for annual, and disaster declaration funding rounds. More information is available at the County Planning Department website available located at otsegocounty.com (http://www.otsegocounty.com/depts/pln/).

Stamford Mayor, 65 year old Michael Jacobs, died unexpectedly Saturday when he collapsed at the annual Delaware County Republican pig roast at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Walton. Jacobs, a lawyer with Jacobs and Jacobs in Walton, had started his third term in March. He died of a heart attack at Delaware Valley Hospital in Walton. Village Trustrees are meeting this afternoon in Stamford to appoint and acting mayor.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested a wanted man along with a Town of Coventry man for weapons, drugs, and burglary charges. 29 year old Eric Nelson of Afton and 29 year old Rory Tanner from Coventry allegedly stole an AR 15 rifle along with a 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun from a residence on Tracy Rd in the Town of Bainbridge. The two then sold the AR 15 which was later recovered by police. Nelson then sold the 12 gauge shotgun to an undercover police officer in the Town of Coventry. At the scene officers located hypodermic needles and heroin residue. Nelson was also arrested on an arrest warrant for two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Nelson was arraigned in Town of Bainbridge Court and sent to the Chenango County Jail on $3,000 bail. Tanner was arraigned in Town of Coventry Court and sent to the Chenango County jail on $5,000 bail.

A small earthquake has shaken homes in the Adirondacks region near Lake George. US Geological Survey monitors say the magnitude 2.7 quake happened near the Warren County town of Warrensburg at about 9:30 a.m. yesterday. Local emergency centers got calls reporting shaking and a rumbling sound, but no damage.

Governor Cuomo’s three straight on-time budgets, which cut more than $13 billion in deficits, raised New York’s credit outlook to positive at Moody’s Investors Service. Moody's Aa2 rating may rise if the legislature can keep passing balanced budgets on time. In March, lawmakers approved a third consecutive spending plan before the April 1 deadline for the first time since 1984.

This year's freshman class at the State University at Oneonta arrived this past weekend. The class will have about 1,100 students out of an applicant pool of over 12,000. The high school average for an average student from this class is over 91%. The average combined SAT score is over 1130. This year's freshman class includes 28 students from Otsego County, 10 from Chenango County and 8 from Delaware County. The freshman class at Hartwick College in Oneonta will arrive August 29th.

The State Department of Health announced revisions to the New York City water system’s 2007 Filtration Avoidance Determination have been drafted and will be released for public review and comment. Among the components are watershed protection programs in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Irene and Lee in 2011. They include provisions for New York City to fund a local flood hazard mitigation program. It also includes an increased number of stream restoration projects.

The 2013 Hazardous Waste Collection Days for Otsego County households will be Friday September 13th. at the Unadilla Town Highway Building. The second collection will be at the Meadows Office Building in Cooperstown on Saturday September 14th. You must pre-register August 27th through Spetember 10th. You can register online at OtsegoCounty.com/solidwaste, or by calling 547-4228.