WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 10-24-22

The State Health department reports the incidence of COVID 19 cases has remained steady, with the state positivity rate for those tested still slightly over 6%. Patient Hospitalizations have been slowly increasing, up to more than 2800, with almost 300 New Yorkers in an ICU & 116 on Ventilators, a 27% increase over a 7 day period. The total number of deaths in Hospitals & nursing homes is 58, 578 since the pandemic began.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrested 25 year old Ryan Decker of Walton Sunday, after Deputies observed a vehicle traveling at 72 miles per hour in a posted 55 mph speed zone. Decker was stopped & a check of his driver’s license revealed that his driving privileges were suspended in the State of New York. Decker was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, speeding along with other charges, he was released and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Colchester Court at a later date.

Oneonta Police & Emergency crews responded Friday night when a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on the James F. Lettis Highway, at about 6:45 PM. 54 year old Dale Clark was found in the roadway, he was struck by 1 vehicle, and was later declared deceased. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oneonta Police Department at 607-432-1111.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 4-20-22

The State of Emergency and Travel Ban for Chenango County and the City of Norwich continues to be in effect today, due to numerous roads still closed due to downed trees & power lines, Chenango County Director of Emergency Services Matt Beckwith gave WCDO News an update this morning:

(Matt Beckwith 4-20-22)

Beckwith said that The Norwich YMCA is operating a shelter, The Smyrna & Coventry Fire Departments are operating as "Warming Stations", The Norwich High School will be a warming shelter with showers available, Otselic Valley Central school will have overnight shelter, showers & food available, The Sherburne Earlville School has food available for pick up only, The Unadilla Valley School will be open until 7:00 PM for shelter, And NYSEG is making dry ice available at the Fire Departments in Afton, Bainbridge, Greene, Guilford, Norwich & Smyrna.

The Susquehanna SPCA is assisting pet owners without power & heat through its Emergency Boarding Program. Those seeking emergency boarding of their pets will be required to provide all vaccination records, more information is available at (607) 547-8111, extension 108, or by e-mail dyoungs@sqpca.org.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 4-20-22

The State of Emergency and Travel Ban for Chenango County and the City of Norwich continues to be in effect today, due to numerous roads still closed throughout the County. All County offices and Schools in Chenango County will be closed today, Chenango County Director of Emergency Services Matt Beckwith explains:

(Beckwith 4-20-22)

NYSEG crews continued to work through the night, but thousands are still without power, NYSEG representatives announced that it could take another 24 to 48 hours to fully restore power. The American Red Cross opened 2 overnight shelters last night, for those without power & heat. 1 location was the Deposit Fire Department on 2nd Street, another was at the Trinity Church at 118 Oak Street in Binghamton.

Delaware County Deputies observed an SUV traveling at 83 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone on State Highway 17 in the Town of Colchester. Deputies arrested 36-year-old Christina Daggett of Central Square, her Driver’s License had been previously revoked for operating without insurance. Daggett was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Unlicensed Operator, Speeding & Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, she was released on an Appearance Ticket, returnable to the Town of Colchester Court at a later date.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies stopped a vehicle on State Highway 10 last Tuesday in the Town of Delhi with an expired vehicle inspection sticker. 29-year-old Christina Hood of Delhi had her driving privileges suspended for Failure to Answer a Summons in the Town of Delhi Court, and the vehicle she was operating had a suspended registration. Hood was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle & Operating with a Suspended Registration, unlicensed operator and uninspected motor vehicle. Hood was released on Traffic Tickets, to appear in the Town of Delhi at a later time.

The City of Norwich Police Department & New York State Parole performed a home check Friday morning at 6 Lee Avenue in Norwich. Police discovered Methamphetamines, suboxone & an illegal rifle, Norwich officers arrested 34 year old Michael Pierce and 30 year old Jordann Maroney for criminal possession of a controlled substance, endangering the welfare of a child, Pierce was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Pierce and Maroney were arraigned in Norwich City Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility without bail.

Delaware County Public Health will host a Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic for dogs, cats and ferrets today from 5:00 to 6:30 PM at the Colchester Highway Department on River Road in Downsville. More information is available at 607-832-5200 or delawarecountypublichealth.com

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 3-1-22

Town of Colchester Police announced that 81 year old George Fredericks of Roscoe died in a Sunday afternoon car crash. Delaware County 911 Center received multiple reports of a 2-car, head-on crash at about 12:38 pm. on Delaware County Route 7 near Hill Top Lane in Colchester. Fredericks was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the 2nd vehicle, 49 year old Angelo Zayas and a passenger were taken to Delaware Valley Hospital in Walton for treatment of their injuries. the preliminary investigation reported that Fredericks crossed over into the opposing lane striking the Zayas vehicle, both vehicles were engulfed in flames. The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating the crash.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrested 46 year old James Amato of Downsville for driving with a suspended license. Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies observed a vehicle traveling on State Highway 10 last Thursday in the Town of Walton, failing to maintain lane position. Deputies stopped the vehicle, they discovered that Amato’s Driver’s License was suspended for Insurance Not in Effect and Dishonored Check. Amato was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle & Failure to Keep Right. Deputies discovered that there was an active Bench Warrant for Amato’s arrest, issued by the Town of Hancock Court, for failure to appear to a prior Aggravated Unlicensed Operator charge. Amato was arrested on the Bench Warrant and additionally charged with Bail Jumping in the 3rd Degree, relative to that Warrant. Amato was arraigned in the Town of Walton and, despite the District Attorney’s request for bail to be set, was released on his own recognizance.

Bassett Healthcare Network has partially lifted visitation restrictions in its emergency departments, at A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta, the Tri-Town Campus in Sidney, Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, Cobleskill Regional Hospital, Little Falls Hospital, and O’Connor Hospital in Delhi. More information is available at bassett.org.

The American Red Cross continues to report low blood supplies, and is continuing to schedule blood drives across the region. The Laurens Fire Department is hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive today from 2:00 to 7:00 PM Also, a blood drive will be held at the Gilbertsville Mount Upton School from 1:30 to 6:30 PM. Appointments can be made at 1-800-RED CROSS.

The Delaware County Department of Public Works announced that several County Roads are temporarily closed to any vehicle with a gross weight in excess of 4 tons on any one axle. Affected roads include County Route 10, from State Route 28 to County Route 12, County Route 16, from State Route 10 to Treadwell, County Route 23, from County Route 21 to Sidney Center & County Route 35, from County Route 23 to State Route 206

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies observed an SUV on Friday February 18th traveling 80 MPH in a 55 MPH zone on State Highway 17 in the Town of Hancock. Deputies stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as 19-year-old Albierys Connor of New York City. Further investigation revealed that Connor’s NY driver’s license had been previously suspended in the Bronx, Connor was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the 3rd Degree and operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle. Connor was released with an appearance ticket, returnable to the Town of Hancock Court at a later date.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies observed a vehicle traveling on State Hwy 206 in the Town of Colchester on February 13th, with an expired inspection sticker. Deputies stopped the vehicle, they learned that the operator, Dustin Howe, had his driving privileges suspended for failing to answer previous summonses. Howe was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Unlicensed Operator, Uninspected & Unregistered Motor Vehicle and Obstructed License Plate, Howe was released on Traffic Tickets, and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Colchester Court at a later date to answer for the charges.

The Broome County Health Department reports that the number of COVID-19 cases has decreased in the past month. The Health Department reported that in 1 months time, active cases went from 1421 to 313 currently, and hospitalizations from the virus decreased from just over 1100 to 72 on Wednesday.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 1-31-22

The Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies responded Saturday to a Walton residence in an attempt to locate Albert Antonacci, after receiving a Boone County, Indiana arrest warrant charging Antonacci with Felony Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to a Person Under the Age of 14. Antonacci was located at that residence and subsequently arrested as a Fugitive from Justice. Antonacci was arraigned at the Town of Colchester Court on a Fugitive Complaint, and was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility without bail pending his extradition to the State of Indiana.

Highway and bridge projects have been shortchanged because the state continues to use money in the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund to pay down debt from past projects and cover the operating costs for state agencies, according to a report by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Fund spending was only 17 cents of every dollar spent from the Dedicated Highway & Bridge Fund, DiNapoli recommended the state Maximize the share of trust fund revenue for capital projects by developing a multi-year plan to reduce state operations and debt service costs paid for by the Fund, Increase the share of transportation capital projects on a pay-as-you-go basis; and Reduce the trust fund’s reliance on annual General Fund transfers and use the fund’s dedicated revenue streams.

Delaware County Sheriff Deputies responded Wednesday to a 2 car motor vehicle accident at the intersection in the Town of Harpersfield. Deputies discovered only 1 vehicle at the accident scene, the 2nd operator fled the scene. Deputies identified the operator of the fleeing vehicle as 45-year-old Wayne Swart of Hobart, whose Driver’s License was revoked on 3 separate dates. Deputies arrested Swart Sunday and charged him with Obstructing Governmental Administration, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Operating a Motor Vehicle Without an Ignition Interlock Device, and several other related charges, Swart was released on appearance and traffic tickets and is scheduled to appear at the Town of Harpersfield Court at a later date.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 1-31-22

Oneonta Police Department is investigating the death of 20-year-old male Tyler Lopresti-Castro. On Thursday at about 6:50 am, City of Oneonta employees located a male, laying on the pavement near the Silas Lane Bus Garage. Lopresti-Castro was identified by his SUNY Oneonta ID and was suffering from extended exposure to subzero temperatures, he was taken to AO Fox Hospital, video showed Lopresti-Castro emerging from a wooded area behind the garage at about 2:15 am, he may have been walking in the area of River Street-River Street Service Road, Oneida Street or Chestnut Street, Anyone with information is asked to contact Oneonta Police at (607) 432-1111 or the State University Police at Oneonta at (607) 436-3550.

Fire destroyed a trailer at 117 April Lane in the town of Guilford Saturday Evening. Mount Upton, Unadilla & Sidney fire departments responded, all occupants & pets escaped, no injuries were reported.