WCDO Radio News

Tioga Downs in Nichols will officially open as a full-fledged casino tomorrow. The site was awarded one of the last Casino licenses by the state gaming commission, as another way to increase upstate tourism & development. A New casino sneak Preview is being conducted at the Nichols facility this afternoon, prior to tomorrow’s official opening.

Chenango County Sheriff's deputies arrested a town of Sherburne man for DWI and aggravated DWI following a one-car crash last week. 24 year old Branden McDaniel was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff's Office following a crash on Kendricks Road in the Town of Sherburne on November 24th. McDaniel is accused of operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .18 or higher. McDaniel will appear in Sherburne Town Court at a later date.

The Chenango County Sheriff's Department arrested 21-year-old Matthew DeVaul of Binghamton Tuesday, on a charge of Grand Larceny. DeVaul is accused in connection with a reported larceny of a vehicle from a Town of Afton residence; he was arraigned in the Town of Afton Court and remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $2000 cash bail pending future court action.

The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce will have their next Business After Hours event today. The Business After Hours program will be held at Nana’s Keepsakes from 5:30 to 7:00 PM, and the Public is welcome to attend.

State Police arrested 30-year-old Maxx Waters of Afton for 3rd degree Assault & harassment. Troopers responded to a dispute at a home on Hilltop Drive in the Town of Afton, where Waters allegedly engaged in a physical dispute with 2 other victims, with one of the victims receiving a laceration to the head. Waters was arraigned in the Town of Afton Court where he was remanded to the Chenango County Court on $1,500 cash bail or $3,000 property bond. His next court date is on December 8, 2016.

A City of Norwich resident was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office on a Fugitive of Justice complaint from New Jersey. 30-year-old Scott Russell was taken into custody and was brought to the Town of Norwich Court. Russell was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility with no bail. He is to reappear in the Chenango County Court at a later date.

Chenango county sheriffs deputies arrested 56-year-old Peter Constantinou of New Berlin for 3rd degree Assault & Endangering the Welfare of a Child, following an investigation by Chenango County Child Protective Services and the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office. Constantinou faces action in the Town of New Berlin Court at a later date.

The Otsego County Chamber of commerce announces that their Education Committee will host a discussion supporting Tourism on Wednesday, November 9, from 8:30 10:00 AM. The event will be held at the Foothills Performing Arts Center on Market Street in Oneonta, more information is available at 432-4500 extension 207.

State Police arrested 35-year-old James Smith of Norwich for criminal sexual act & endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest occurred after troopers were advised of an incident that happened in the Town of Norwich, Smith is accused of having sexual contact by forcible compulsion, he was arraigned in the Town of Oxford court and was remanded to the Chenango County jail on $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 property bond, pending court action at a later date in the Town of Norwich court.

The 2016 New York State Tourism and Craft Beverage Summit will bring hundreds of industry experts together on Tuesday, October 18 to discuss new strategies to strengthen the economy and create jobs in New York. The Summit will begin at 10 a.m. in the Hart Lounge at The Egg on the Empire State Plaza. The morning session will consist of presentations and discussions by State officials and industry experts on the impact of both industries across New York State.

The Greater Afton Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Fall 2016 Four Chamber Mixer today at 6:00 pm at the Highway 7 Bar and Grill on route 7 in Bainbridge. the Guest Speaker will be Rich Cuthbertson regarding the Afton Sertoma

Opportunities for Chenango announced that the Literacy Volunteers Program in Chenango County will close on Thursday. Program Director Ellen Hurtubise explains:

(Ellen Hurtubise 6-29-16)

There is a chance that a Literacy program could be extended to Chenango County from the Literacy Volunteers Program of Otsego & Delaware county, according to Program Director Dawn Rogers-Kroll:

(Dawn Rogers Kroll 6-29-16)

Those who would like to volunteer or assist in getting a literacy program to re-open in Chenango COunty can call Rogers-Kroll at 287-0036.

Last year, Governor Cuomo announced the launch of the first annual Catskill Challenge to promote tourism in the region during the Ride the Catskills motorcycle ride. With the Catskill Challenge set to take place Thursday, cabinet officials will hop on their motorcycles and kick-off the festivities a day early with the second Ride the Catskills Today. At 10:00 AM, Ride the Catskills starts at the Windham Mountain Ski Resort, and concludes with a reception in Roscoe.

Tourism remains the 2nd biggest industry in Upstate New York, and signs are looking positive for a good year fro Delaware County, According to Delaware County Chamber President Ray Pucci:

(Pucci 6-6-16)

Pucci said that the state tax revenue statistics tend to be a couple of years behind, but many area tourism related businesses are reporting increased activity & inquiries for this summer.

The Greater Chenango Cares IRT event will again be occurring in Norwich this summer. The 10 day initiative that will offer no cost medical, dental, optometry and veterinary care for children and adults in our region. The event is being led this year by the Chenango United Way and its volunteers and is occurring because of a partnership between many local health and human service organizations, local government agencies and the Department of Defense. The event will run from Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 24 and will be held once again at the Norwich High School. more information is available at 334-8815

The Chenango County Sheriff's Office arrested Gregory Collins of Smithville, for 2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminally Possessing a Hypodermic Instrument, Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, following the report of a domestic dispute. Collins was in possession of several bags of Heroin, Oxycodone Pills, and drug paraphernalia. Collins was released on an appearance ticket and is to appear in the Town of Smithville Court at a later date to answer to his charges.

Commerce Chenango will be holding their next "Business After Hours" event today, hosted by M&T Bank, at 118 State Highway 320 in Norwich. The event will run from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

Delaware county tourism is experiencing resurgence, as it becomes a vacation getaway for New York City Residents like it was for much of the 1900's, Delaware county chamber of commerce president Ray Pucci explains:

(Ray Pucci 5-3-16)

Pucci said that the most recent tax revenue numbers suggest that the tourism will continue to pick up & the Catskill region will be highlighted in June with Governor's Cuomo's Catskill challenge initiative.