WCDO Radio News

After hundreds of calls to the Oneonta Police Department to respond to various Issues at the Town House Inn on Main Street in Oneonta, City officials have decided to try to shut the motel down, Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek told WCDO news what they are doing:

(Mayor Mark Drnek 9-8-23)

In recent weeks, Oneonta Police have responded to a shots fired complaint, there was also a fatal overdose there recently, among the 400 incidents reported at the Town House Inn. Mayor Drnek said that the Oneonta Police Department, like many others, is short staffed and can't spend many hours a week responding to the same location repeatedly.

An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held in Cooperstown today from 1:00 to 6:00 PM at the Clark's Sports Center, Schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Broome County officials are investigating the death of an inmate in the Broome County Jail on Friday. 30 year-old Mitchell Lindow of Binghamton was being held on a murder charge when he was found deceased by Corrections officers conducting a head count, an autopsy was conducted Friday, no cause of death was determined.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 11-7-22

State Police announced that 9 people were arrested & drugs were seized after search warrants were executed at Budget Inn Motel on Route 23 Southside in the town of Oneonta Thursday & Friday. Items seized included methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, ecstasy, Suboxone strips & Packaging materials and scales, The investigation is on-going.

The Houston Astros won the 2022 World Series, artifacts from the team are coming to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Among the items donated, the Bat used by Yordan Álvarez in Game 6 when he hit a go-ahead 3-run home run, a Jersey worn in Game 2 and wristbands worn in Game 6 by Astros manager Dusty Baker, a Ball thrown by Cristian Javier in Game 4 and signed by all 4 pitchers who combined on just the second World Series no-hitter.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 5-12-22

Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 31 year old Steven Barrows of Sidney on burglary & Grand Larceny charges, after stopping a suspected stolen vehicle from the Town of Otego. Barrows was located driving the vehicle in the Town of Oneonta, he was taken into custody at the Super 8 Motel by Deputies and State Troopers, Barrows was arraigned and was remanded to the Otsego County Correctional Facility. The investigation is on-going and additional charges are expected.

State Police arrested 27 year old Amanda-Lynn Pedlar of Cooperstown, for Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument, after Troopers were dispatched to the Oneonta Walmart after employees reported that Pedlar attempted to use a counterfeit $100 bill mixed in with actual currency. Pedlar was located at the Town House Inn and arrested, she was processed and issued an appearance ticket to the Oneonta Town Court on May 17th.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 5-12-22

The Norwich Downtown Revitalization Initiative Local Planning Committee will be holding a meeting today from 3:30-5:30 PM in the Norwich High School Cafeteria, they will be reviewing proposed DRI projects to be potentially included in Norwich’s Strategic Investment Plan. The meeting is open to the public, with time reserved at the end for public comment. A public workshop will also be held at 6:30 PM in the Norwich High School Cafeteria, where the public is invited to learn about the proposed projects being considered for DRI funding and to participate in a session to provide feedback.

A.M. NEWS Friday 5-6-22

27 year old Vincent Cavalieri was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge in Oneida County Court for injuring 2 people in a Camden Restaurant when he accidentally discharged his firearm. Cavalieri pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, in additional to the conditional discharge, he will be resigning from the Cooperstown Police Department, he will have his pistol license suspended for a year.

The Broome County District Attorney’s Office announced that 45 year old Chad Jackson of Binghamton, was found guilty of 2nd degree burglary, On March 28, 2020, Jackson broke into a room at the Del Motel on Upper Court Street in Kirkwood and stole items from a person inside. He is facing up to 15 years in prison and faces sentencing August 8th.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 4-22-21

Firefighters from Sidney, Wells Bridge & Unadilla responded, at about 8:30 this morning to the report of a structure fire at the County Motel on State Route 7.  The fire was largely contained to the a room at the east end of the motel structure & was under control by about 9:30, the investigation into the cause of the fire is continuing, 1 person was taken to the hospital for treatment, Sidney Fire Fighters also had to respond to a Chimney Fire this morning on Pleasant Street.

The Otsego County Department of Health will be holding a first dose only vaccination clinic on April 29th at the Meadows Complex in Cooperstown.  This clinic will be using the MODERNA Vaccine, to vaccinate individuals age 18 and older.  Registration can be found on the Otsego County Department of Health Website at otsegocounty.com.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 4-22-21

Governor Cuomo announced today that People ages 60 and older in New York state don't have to make COVID vaccine appointments anymore.  The Governor announced that that age group can walk into any mass vaccination site starting Friday and get a shot, the closest site will be at SUNY Binghamton.

An elderly Oneonta resident, who was reported missing in January,
has been found safe.  67 year old Chester
Kucharski was reported missing after leaving Bassett Hospital in January,  Oneonta Police reported that Kucharski
checked into the Super 8 Motel on Oneonta's Southside, the clerk contacted
Police.   Kucharski was last seen on a
camera leaving Bassett Hospital on January 25th, he was referred to as a
vulnerable adult.  Kucharski told police
that he had gone to New Jersey & had no idea that he was the target of a
search.

Antione Bourbon-Parme, also
known as Anthony Cazzari has been arrested has been charged with 3rd degree
Grand Larceny, for allegedly stealing more than $18,000 by forging checks from
the Cooperstown Food pantry, while serving as one of the Organization’s
directors.  Bourbon-Parme was arraigned
& was remanded to the Otsego County Jail on $10,000 Cash Bail or $20,000
Bond pending court action on April 24th.

34 year old Heather Franklin opted to avoid a trial, &
pleaded guilty to 1st degree manslaughter, 3rd-degree arson, and tampering with
physical evidence, Tuesday in Chenango County Court.  Franklin admitted to planning the murder of
her special needs son Jeffrey in the town of Guilford family home in March of
2017 & planning the burning of the home to hide the evidence of the murder.
as
part of the plea deal, Heather Franklin will spend 7 to 11 years in prison with
10 years of probation when she is officially sentenced on June 7th.  Franklin's
husband Ernest was found guilty last month & will be sentenced in May,

Over 800 Otsego County residents were without power earlier this morning. About 550 were without power around Cooperstown and the rest were in the Unadilla area. NYSEG reported that all power was restored by the late morning.

The National Weather Service announced a Tornado watch for most of the WCDO Listening area through 9:00 tonight. The National Weather service defines a Tornado Watch when Tornadoes are deemed possible by the Storm Prediction Center;  where conditions are favorable for the possible creation of a Tornado. We'll have the full Tri-County Forecast right after this newscast.

In addition to the induction of great baseball players Jeff Bagwell, Ivan Rodriguez & Tim Raines, Long time Executive John Scheurholz & Former Commissioner Bud Selig were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown Sunday: Schuerholz said that he was honored to be picked against all odds:

(John Scheurholz 7-31-17)

Former Commissioner Bud Selig was asked after the ceremony about the thing he was most proud of regarding his 22-year tenure as Commissioner:

(Bud Selig 7-31-17)

On Saturday the Hall of Fame inducted J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner Claire Smith, the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award winner was Rachel Robinson and Oakland A's Broadcaster Bill King, who was honored with the Ford C. Frick Award.

5 More members were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown Sunday, including stand out players Jeff Bagwell, Ivan Rodriguez & Tim Raines. Bagwell was the first of the players to speak, he played his entire career with the Houston Astros & he addressed his 89-year-old Father who was in attendance Sunday:

(Jeff Bagwell 7-31-17)

Ivan Rodriguez set many records for catching longevity, in spite of his stature, which he spoke about Sunday in Cooperstown:

(Ivan Rodriguez 7-31-17)

Tim Raines had his greatest years in Montreal, but it took 17 years before he experienced a World Championship as a New York Yankee:

(Tim Raines 7-31-17)

Other Inductees Sunday included Baseball Executive John Schuerholz and former Milwaukee Brewers Owner & Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.

Fire Investigators have determined the fire that destroyed the Cooperstown Motel on Tuesday, August 9th was arson. Investigations by the state Office of Fire Prevention & Control, county Office Of Emergency Services, state Department of Financial Services and the Cooperstown Police Department determined that the fire began on the second floor of the abandoned motel. No further details are available at this time. Anyone with information about the person(s) responsible for starting the fire is asked to call the Cooperstown Police Department, at 547- 2500. All calls are confidential.

State & Local fire investigators are trying to determine what started the fire early Tuesday morning at the former Cooperstown Motel at 90 Chestnut Street in the village of Cooperstown. The Heirs of Al O’Brien were expected to sell the property to the CVS Pharmacy chain, with a closing scheduled for August 22nd, the Village of Cooperstown board will hold a special meeting on Friday to discuss their option. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, the Motel had been empty for several months & furniture had been removed for auction.

Fire damaged the Cooperstown Motel around 2:30 Tuesday morning. Firefighters arrived at the 90 Chestnut Street Location, firefighters from several area departments responded, with no injuries reported. The Motel was vacant following the death of the owner earlier this year; the property was about to be sold to the CVS Pharmacy chain. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Mike Piazza spent the last couple of days in upstate New York, visiting the Baseball Hall of fame in Cooperstown, where he will be inducted this summer. He was also honored by Governor Cuomo at the executive mansion in Albany Thursday:

(Piazza 3-10-16)

Piazza will be inducted into the national Baseball Hall Of Fame with Ken Griffey Junior in July.

The Broome County Sheriff's Office & New York State Parole arrested 3 people on drug charges at a motel in the Town of Dickinson during a parole Check. Deputies found the parolee & 2 females, as well as cocaine, hypodermic needles, packaging material, Marihuana & heroin. 23-year-old Odell Tindley from the Bronx & Binghamton was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, he was sent to the Broome County Jail on the parole warrant & will be arraigned at a later date. 22-year-old Rochelle Landon Of Newfield and 20-year-old Hanna Lecoq Of Interlaken were both charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled substance, and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana Violation. They were released on appearance ticket for the Town of Dickinson Court.