WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 12-8-25

A Chenango County Grand Jury indicted Richard Clemons on multiple charges for alleged sex crimes involving a young child. The indictment charges Clemons with 2 counts of 2nd-degree rape, multiple counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, possessing a sexual performance by a child, tampering with physical evidence, forcible touching and sexual abuse. The crimes were reported in the City of Norwich in mid-to-late October.

Local Residents have access to an expanded range of transportation services, from the Get-there program, helping people to get to a variety of places, Spokesman Stan Varghese explains:

(State Varghese 12-8-25)

People can call the Get-there call center at (855) 373-4040 Monday through Friday from 7 am. to 5:30 pm. to get help securing rides, For more information about Get-there, visit the Rural Health Network of SCNY website at rhnscny.org.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 12-8-25

Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation that enhanced real property tax exemptions for Seniors. The law allows localities to provide a property tax exemption for senior citizens who meet the income eligibility limits, up to 65% of the assessed valuation of their properties, the maximum percentage of exemption local governments have been able to offer senior citizens was set at 50% and has not been raised in decades, which could translate into savings of up to $300 annually for the average senior.

Governor Hochul signed legislation Thursday that will require health insurance providers to offer lung cancer screenings to patients at no cost. The legislation would also require providers to offer follow-up screenings or other diagnostic services. Almost 14,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with lung cancer and about 7,400 die from this disease each year.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 12-2-25

Country Club Auto Group in Oneonta presented a check for $10,000 to Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network on November 21 after dedicating a portion of their October sales to the Bassett Cancer Institute Expansion Initiative. Tom Armao presented the check at FoxCare Center's cancer clinic & he told WCDO News why they donated:

(Tom Armao 12-2-25)

Learn more about Bassett Healthcare Network's Bassett Cancer Institute expansion initiative by visiting bassett.org/MovingForward.

The State Department of Health is alerting the public to an increase in measles cases in parts of the state. To date, there 35 total cases , with 16 in Upstate Counties, New Yorkers are urged to be up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella vaccines. Measles is a highly contagious, serious respiratory disease that causes rash and fever. More information can be found at health.ny.gov.

39 year old Michael Davis pleaded guilty in Broome County Court to 1st Degree Assault stemming from a violent attack, on October 22, where Davis acted with the intent to cause serious physical injury to another individual by means of am unidentified instrument, Davis will serve 7 years in state prison, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision, Davis is scheduled to be sentenced in Broome County Court on March 3, 2026.

The Chenango Arts Council will host the "Night Before Christmas" free movie & Popcorn event tonight at 7:00 PM, the Tinsel-Town Free movie will be held on the 9th with "It's a Wonderful Life, and the 16th with "Scrooge" all moviees will be at the Martin W. Kappel Theater in downtown Norwich.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 9-3-25

Chenango County Sheriff's Office arrested 49 year old Christopher Prosser of North Norwich for Disseminating indecent material to minor’s. Prosser is a registered sex offender, a complaint was filed that he was having a sexually motivated conversation with a teenaged female, while using an alias. Investigators discovered that Prosser sent a nude photo of himself and solicited the minor to do the same, he also made arrangements to meet up with the female for sexual relations. Prosser was taken into custody at his home without incident and transported to the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office for processing, he was arraigned & was held on $15,000 cash bond.

Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 37 year old Nicolas Martinez of Milford has been arrested for Offering a False Instrument for Filing. Martinez was charged following an investigation into information he provided on paperwork submitted to the Otsego County Civil Office, a background investigation in to Martinez's pistol permit application, found that he intentionally failed to disclose sensitive information required by law for the application, he was processed and released with an Appearance Ticket returnable to the Town of Middlefield Court at a later date.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 9-3-25

Bassett Healthcare Network's FoxCare Center is hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross today, from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM, in Conference Room 1 at FoxCare Center in Oneonta. Appointments are available by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, visiting redcrossblood.org, or using the American Red Cross Blood Donor App.

The Peila View Farms in Oxford announced that they will hold their annual Autumn Family Fun will be held on September 20th & 21st this year, in conjunction with the state Health Department. More information is available at 607-821-0707 extension 2942.

Residents in Broome, Chenango, Delaware and Otsego Counties have access to an expanded range of transportation services, thanks to the Getthere program, providing rides to medical appointments,emergency food access, and employment. Getthere is a program of the Rural Health Network of South Central New York, more information is available at (855) 373-4040 or rhnscny.org.

A.M. NEWS Monday 5-19-25

State Police is enhancing its approach to investigating animal cruelty through a new partnership with the State Animal Protection Federation. More than 200 Troopers and Investigators will receive advanced instruction on identifying and responding to animal cruelty cases so that they will be better equipped to detect, investigate, and document cruelty cases, Enhance collaboration with local law enforcement, animal welfare organizations, and prosecutors and it will allow for a more efficient response to these complex investigations.

The State Health Department announced that there are 7 cases of Measles in the state currently, 3 in New York City and 4 in the upstate counties. Measles can spread quickly among children, complications include pneumonia, encephalitis, hospitalization, and death, New Yorkers are urged to get vaccinated if they haven't already received a vaccine. A person with measles can pass it to others from 4 days before a rash appears through the 4th day after the rash appears. More information is available at CDC.gov, or by contacting your county public health department.

NBT Bancorp Inc. announced that it completed the merger of Evans Bancorp, Inc. last week, followed by a core systems conversion over the weekend. The Merger has extended the NBT Bank branch network into the Western Region of New York with the addition of 14 banking offices, NBT Bank now has 175 branches across 7 states.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 46 year old David Burkholder of Oxford for Failure to Notify Law Enforcement of an Address Change, Burkholder is a level 1 convicted sex offender and failed to register his new address within 10 days of his move. Burkholder was arraigned and was remanded to the Chenango County Jail with no bail. Burkholder is to appear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 5-7-25

The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices. Locally, Jerry Butler of Walton was charged, he is accused of using a social messaging application to request and receive sexually explicit content from a minor, he is believed to be involved in the "764" network, whose members seek to corrupt and exploit vulnerable populations, including minors, He faces at least 15 years in prison. The Department urges the public to report suspected exploitation of a child through their tip-line at 1-800-CALL-FBI, at tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

The Chenango County Historical Society & the Chenango County Historian’s Office are collaborating on “An America250 Conversation.” and they will be seeking public input on how the County should celebrate America's 250th anniversary next year, Society Executive Director Jessica Moquin explains:

(Jessica Moquin 5-7-25)

The next community dialogue will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on May 29 at the SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus at 20 Conkey Ave. Registration is encouraged by emailing "info@chenangohistorical.org".

CoreLife Eatery, which operates restaurants throughout New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky, will pay $7,809,373 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by falsely certifying its eligibility for a Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant, when it knew or should have known that it operated too many locations to qualify. CoreLife Eatery Admits in Federal Court to Operating Too Many Restaurants to Qualify for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, they have 29 locations, many located in Upstate locations.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 5-7-25

The Oneonta Common Council voted 5 to 3 against the proposal to sell 27 Market Street to Rehabilitation Support Services for a mixed use facility to be built on the lot on Market Street. Plans had called for a multi story facility to house businesses & apartments, with some housing units dedicated to RSS clients, they provide community-based mental health and substance abuse services.

Bassett Healthcare Network's FoxCare Center is hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross TODAY. The Blood drive will be held from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM at Conference Room 1 at FoxCare Center in Oneonta, Appointments may be made by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767), visiting www.redcrossblood.org, or using the American Red Cross Blood Donor App.

24 year old Michael Bush of Sidney was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office on April 23rd in the Town of North Norwich. Bush was arrested after a brief pursuit through 3 townships on a motorcycle, passing vehicles in a no-passing zone and failing to stop at a stop sign. Deputies initiated a traffic stop and Bush failed to comply, his motorcycle malfunctioned in Sherburne & he was taken into custody, he was found to possess methamphetamine. Bush was charged with Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Endangerment, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle among other charges, he was transported to the Chenango County Sheriff's Office & he was released on appearance tickets to appear in the Town of North Norwich Court at a later date.

Bassett Healthcare Network and the Oneonta Family YMCA announced they are extending their lease agreement at FoxCare Center in Oneonta for another 3 years for the Y Specialty Fitness. Bassett Director of Public Relations Gabby Argo said that the partnership is the classic "Win Win" situation:

(Gabby Argo 4-29-25)

Gym membership at the FoxCare Center location has increased since June 2023, A.O. Fox Hospital continues to operate outpatient cardiac, physical, occupational, and pulmonary rehabilitation services within the same space. More information is available at the Bassett Healthcare Network Facebook page.

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald announced that flu is no longer prevalent, the declaration lifts the masking requirement for health care workers who are not vaccinated against flu. Commissioner McDonald declared flu prevalent in New York back on December 18, 2024.

Commerce Chenango's 2nd annual Women's Leadership Conference was held Tuesday at the Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich, with a large turnout for the all day event, according to Sophia Root of Commerce Chenango:

(Sophia Root 3-27-25)

Root said that they plan on having that event again next year, she also said that the Chenango Threat Advisory Committee will have next presentation on April 17th.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is calling on VA employees and vets to contact her office with concerns they may be having regarding the Trump administration demanding they return to in person work, cutting staff, and making it more difficult for mental health professionals to administer confidential help to vets.

(Gillibrand 3-37-25)

Lawsuits have put a temporary hold on many of the VA firings, Gillibrand is calling on President Trump to reevaluate return to office policies and ensure that veterans’ needs are being met fully.

The Chenango County Planning Department is hosting a traveling training session today, in conjunction with “Getthere,” from the Rural Health Network of South Central New York. Shane Butler of the Chenango County Planning Department explains:

(Shane Butler 3-6-25)

Butler said that a Getthere representative will visit the Norwich American Legion from 10 am. to 12 pm.

31 year old Osvaldo Constanza was sentenced in Chenango County Court for a 3rd degree rape charge, to 1 1/2 years in state prison, followed by 3 years of post release supervision, he will also be required to register as a sex offender. An order of protection was issued on behalf of the 15 year old victim.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 3-6-25

The Chenango County Planning Department is hosting a traveling training session, in conjunction with “Getthere,” from the Rural Health Network of South Central New York. Shane Butler of the Chenango County Planning Department explains:

(Shane Butler 3-6-25)

Butler said that a Getthere representative will visit the Norwich American Legion from 10 am. to 12 pm. on March 27 to train organizations and individuals on how to utilize their services.

The CDO Workforce is holding a mini job fair & employment information sessions today at 5460 State Highway 12 in Norwich. Representatives from Achieve, UHS & Chenango County are looking to fill positions locally, the job fair will run from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.