WCDO Radio News

The Otsego County Health Department announced that a Gray Fox has tested positive for rabies. The State DEC collected the fox from the Town of Otsego on September 9th, it was held until tested this week, there were no animal or human exposures. Otsego County Health officials remind residents to get their pets & farm animals vaccinated for rabies, more information is available at 607-547-4230.

The Dick's Sporting Goods Open at the En-Joie Golf Course announced that Maroon 5 will be the headliner for this year's Concert, on July 11th in Endicott. Tickets go on sale on December 6th at ticketmaster, more information is available at 607-205-1500.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 11-21-24

49 year old Keith Audette of Hamden pleaded guilty to Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, in Delaware County Court Tuesday, Audette admitted that he had been previously convicted of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated in Chenango County in 2015, he also admitted that he drove a motor vehicle in the Village of Walton on April 9th while under the influence of methamphetamine. Audette is expected to be sentenced to 5 years of felony probation supervision, and his license will be revoked, he will also be required to pay any fines and surcharges imposed by the Court.

The Great American Smoke-Out is today nationwide, to help people quit smoking tobacco for one day, in the hope that they keep it going beyond today. The Chenango County Health Department encourages individuals who use nicotine/tobacco products to participate in the Great American Smoke-Out. A variety of treatments are available, people can call the New York State Quit-line at 1-866-NY-QUITS, go to nysmokefree.com, or cdc.gov/tobacco

A check for $4,000 was presented by the Rotary Club of Cooperstown to support a partnership between Bassett Healthcare Network’s Cancer Institute and the Cooperstown Food Pantry that delivers free food to cancer patients in need across the region. The matching grant, made up of a $2,000 grant from Central New York Rotary and a $2,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Cooperstown, will help the program continue. The Cooperstown Food Pantry, located at 25 Church Street, & currently serves between 45 to 50 households.

WCDO NEWS FRIDAY 10-25-24

Bassett Healthcare Network announced the elimination of around 100 positions, the majority were administrative. Patient care would not be affected by the layoffs, which represent 2% of their total workforce.

Chenango County Public Health will hold a vaccine clinic for RSV, COVID 19 & the flu at the public health facility in at 5 Court Street Norwich Today, the clinic will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 PM for those who register at 607-337-1660.

Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 43 year old Whitney Bachanas of Milford woman for animal cruelty after Deputies responded to County Highway 35 in the Town of Milford for a welfare check. Bachanas was charged with Abandonment of Animals, Failure to provide proper sustenance, Deputies located several animals abandoned, malnourished and mistreated. 2 emaciated dogs in critical condition were transported to Cornell University animal hospital. A 3rd dog was located deceased as well as a turkey and a quail. 2 quail were rescued for foster and rehabilitation. The Susquehanna SPCA, Cornell University and Farm Friends Network assisted in this rescue and investigation. Bachanas was issued appearance tickets and is set to appear in court at a later date.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 9-6-24

Colorscape Chenango will take place this Saturday and Sunday, in East and West Parks, downtown Norwich, director Michele Erickson comments:

(Michele Erickson 8-26-24)

The performance schedule for all the live acts can be found on www.colorscape.org.

The Chenango Historical Society will be conducting 3 tours again this year during Colorscape Chenango, of 2 significant Norwich structures, Society Executive Director Jessica Moquin explains:

(Jessica Moquin 8-22-24)

More information about this & other programs can be found at chenangohistorical.org

The 2nd Annual Health Fair on the Bainbridge Village Green will be held in Saturday, September 7th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. it is being organized by Pastor Kenneth Simurra of the First Presbyterian Church, Bainbridge and United Presbyterian, East Guilford, he told WCDO News that he already has about twice as many organizations signed up for this year:

(Kenneth Simurra 8-12-24)

More information is available by email to ksimurra@msn.com.

The Chenango Health Department will hold a rabies vaccination clinic for dogs cats & ferrets Saturday at the Greene Ball Flats from 9:00 to 10:30 A.M. Pre-registration is required at 607-337-1673, a $5 Donation is suggested.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 7-19-24

Governor Hochul signed legislation to add new 28 judges across the state to reduce the case backlog in family and civil courts. Locally, the new legislation will create a new judge position in Chenango County, with an expedited election process to fill the position. Currently the county is served by Chenango County Judge Frank Revoir, for criminal, family and surrogate court matters.

53 Baseball Hall of Fame members are expected to return to Cooperstown this weekend as they induct 2024 electees Adrian Beltré, Todd Helton, Jim Leyland and Joe Mauer into the Hall of Fame. The Class of 2024 will be inducted on Sunday at the Clark Sports Center beginning at 1:30 PM, it will air live on MLB Network.

Bassett Healthcare Network is partnering with the Oneonta World of Learning to host the 4th annual YOUTH PAINT FEST tomorrow at the Foxcare Center in Oneonta. The event runs from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, it is free & donations to the Oneonta World of Learning will be accepted.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 3-1-24

Broome County Sheriff's Office announced that 23 year old Souley Pertilla-Camara of Binghamton was arrested in Orlando, Florida. Pertilla-Camara was wanted by Binghamton City Police for the shooting of Lamont Weaver on June 17, 2023, where Weaver sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen and survived, he was also wanted on an outstanding warrant for Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Pertilla-Camara will be returned to Broome County shortly.

Chenango County area business owners are teaming up for a Wedding Expo in Norwich Sunday, organizer Kerri Beckwith explains:

(Kerri Beckwith 3-1-24)

Beckwith said that they have 50 vendors signed up, more information is available at 607-373-9770

Bassett Healthcare Network & other health care providers are teaming up for the March into Health: A Cancer Awareness Event and Health Fair at the Southside Mall in Oneonta Saturday, from 10 am. to 2 pm. Bassett Spokesman Jim Feldman Comments:

(Jim Feldman 3-1-24)

The event will feature an opportunity to learn about colon cancer, with health related vendors participating from the Cancer Services Program of the Central New York Region, Operation Safe Child, Head Start, Tobacco Free Communities, Office for the Aging, Southern Tier Connect, LEAF & Otsego County Department of Health

Bassett Healthcare Network’s Population Health Office is participating with Oneonta Organizations in the ONEbox program, organized by the Oneonta Narcan Initiative Team. ONEboxes allows ordinary bystanders to become lifesavers in the event of a drug overdose emergency, Bassett spokesman Jim Feldman explains:

(Jim Feldman 2-28-24)

Feldman said that Naloxone is a medication that can quickly counteract opioids in someone’s body if they are experiencing an overdose. Bassett's ONEbox is located at Collaborative Health Partners, 6181 State Route 7 in Oneonta, it is accessible Monday-Friday, 8 am.-5 pm.

Governor Hochul announced that $20 million in state funding has been awarded to 7 counties and New York City to improve public safety and emergency communications. The funding can be used to install new equipment, enhance public safety radio systems, Locally, Chenango County will get $3 million in funding for a 25 digital radio system to bring multiple agencies into a single radio system.

Bassett Healthcare Network and Helios Care recently announced a collaboration to provide hospice and palliative care to patients in Central New York. Helios Care President & CEO Dan Ayres visited WCDO this morning & explained that there has been confusion about the arrangement, and the Helios Care remains as a separate entity from Bassett:

(Dan Ayres 1-15-24)

Ayres said that the State Department of Health has given approval for Helios Care to expand their services to include Herkimer and Chenango Counties to better line up with the Bassett Healthcare Network coverage area, more information regarding donations or job openings are available at helioscare.org or by calling 6070432-6773

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 1-10-24

Bassett Healthcare Network has instituted temporary masking requirements across all its facilities per COVID-19 safety guidelines. All patients, visitors, employees, students, and volunteers are now required to wear medical-grade masks across all Bassett campuses, outpatient clinics, school-based health centers, administrative offices, Masks will be available at entrances. The mandatory masking requirement will be reassessed in 1 week. As Bassett's employees continue to have a higher number of COVID cases above their threshold.

The Chenango Arts Council is looking for artists to come forward if they want to display their works in their Norwich Gallery, spokesperson Mary Beth Miller explains:

(Mary Beth Miller 1-10-24)

Miller said that the artists interest in submitting proposals should email them: info@chenangoarts.org.