WCDO Radio News

State Police responded to the report of a 2-vehicle collision with injuries on State Highway 8 in the Town of Norwich, Thursday. Investigation revealed that 43-year-old Yae Yar of Utica entered the opposing lane to pass an un-involved tractor-trailer, his vehicle struck another driven by 27 year old Joanna Stanimer of West Edmeston.   Yar was pronounced dead at the scene from internal injuries, 36 year old Me Me was transported to Tri Town Hospital in Sidney where she was pronounced dead on arrival from internal injuries.   Stanimer was air lifted to Wilson Hospital by Lifenet and remains in critical condition with internal injuries.   Autopsies on the 2 deceased persons will be performed at Lourdes Hospital. 4 other people were taken to area hospitals with a variety of injuries; all were listed in serious but stable condition. The investigation is ongoing.

The Delaware County Sheriff’s & Sidney Police arrested 3 people in the Village of Sidney Thursday following narcotics trafficking investigation conducted. Arrested were 22 year old Harry Ramirez of Sidney and Bronx with 2 charges of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and one charge of 3rd degree Robbery.   Ramirez is accused of forcibly stealing money from a cooperating witness, was found to possess a quantity of heroin with intent to sell. Police conducted a search of Ramirez’, Sidney residence, 44 year old Dawn Beta, and 29 year old Jasmine Santiago of Valley Stream, are accused of possessing and unsuccessfully attempted to flush and destroy heroin.   Beta and Santiago were charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance & Tampering. Police seized heroin, liquid PCP, hypodermic instruments and more than $1000 cash. All were arraigned, Ramirez were remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $350,000 cash bail. Beta and Santiago were each remanded on $250,000 cash bail pending further court action.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a reported bomb threat at DCMO BOCES Harold Campus in the Town of Masonville Thursday. A written threat to the building was located in a bathroom, students were evacuated & The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and State Police Explosives Detection K9 unit searched the school and were unable to locate explosives. 16-year-old Andrew Slentz of New Berlin was arrested for 1st degree filing a False Report; he was arraigned in the Town of Masonville Court and remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $500 cash bail. Slentz will reappear in the Town of Masonville Court at a later date.

The Binghamton Senators host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this Saturday at 7:05 PM for their Ugly Sweater Night. The B-Sens will be wearing special Christmas-themed game jerseys that will be auctioned off post game. All fans that wear their own ugly Christmas sweater will receive a coupon good for one FREE TICKET to the Friday, January 8, versus the Utica Comets.

American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to donate blood for hospital patients in need.   Healthy donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types AB, O, B negative and A negative. To make an appointment to donate blood, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS. The Next Chenango County Blood Drive will be in Afton Saturday from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM. at the Afton United Methodist Church, 34 Spring Street

State Police responded to a 2 vehicle head on collision on State Route 28 in the Town of Middletown. 46-year-old Richard Herrel of Delhi attempted to avoid an unknown object in the roadway and crossed into the eastbound lane of travel, his pickup truck then struck a Mercury Marquis driven by 75-year-old Harriet Rauchut of Shandaken. Both drivers were transported to Margaretville Memorial Hospital where Herrel was treated for non-life threatening injuries and Rauchut was pronounced deceased due to blunt force trauma. No autopsy is being required. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be a factor in this accident. This investigation is ongoing.

Dedicated DWI enforcement efforts by Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies in the Delhi area Friday night into Saturday morning resulted in one DWI arrest and several other arrests. Deputies conducted 33 traffic stops and issued a total of 19 tickets during this detail that was funded through the Delaware County STOP-DWI program.

Fall Foliage Peak Colors will reach the Southern parts of the State this weekend. Peak foliage colors will reach their final destinations in the Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, New York City and on Long Island, according to spotters for Empire State Development's I LOVE NY program. More information is available at iloveny.com

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies & Walton Police arrested 17-year-old Dylan Groat of Walton for Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, for allegedly stealing a dirt bike from Klinger’s Power Sports in Walton in December 2014, & selling that dirt bike in June of this year. Groat was arraigned in Colchester Town Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $1000 bail.

Broome County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the report of a head on collision this morning at about 10:30, in the town of Colesville. The accident occurred at the intersection of Colesville Road and Johnson Road in Harpursville, Initial reports suggest that one of the drivers may have fallen asleep at the wheel. The Unidentified drivers were taken to Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, tickets are pending.

Delaware County District Attorney Investigators and the Walton Police Department arrested 27-year-old Brandi Wyckoff of Walton for 2 counts of Forgery & 2 counts of offering a false instrument for filing. Wyckoff was arraigned in Delhi Town Court and remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility on $5,000 Bail or $10,000 Bond. Pending future court action.

A forum for 5 candidates for various Franklin town government positions will be held at 6:30 tonight at the Ouleout Valley American Legion at 327 Main Street in Franklin. The moderator will be Franklin Mayor Tom Briggs.

2 residents were trapped inside a home at 3691 Fuller Hill Road in the town of Colchester when a Tractor Trailer truck crashed into a garage and a house at around 10:30 AM. 2 occupants inside the house were not injured, the unidentified driver of the truck was airlifted to an undisclosed hospital, the investigation is continuing.

State Police arrested 27-year-old Joshua Mizell of Johnson City, for menacing and criminal mischief, after a dispute in the Town of Newark Valley. Mizell allegedly waved a knife around, threatened another person & damaged a tire on a car by stabbing it with this knife. Mizell was arraigned and was remanded to the Tioga County Jail in lieu of $500 cash bail or $1,000 property bond.

The United Way of Delaware & Otsego Counties kicked off their annual fundraising activities this week, spokesperson Susan Kurkowski comments:

(Susan Kurkowski 9-15-15)

More information is available at 432-8006 or at unitedwaydo.org.

On Tuesday, Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies arrested a Lakewood, Pennsylvania man on a felony assault charge following a domestic incident in the Town of Walton. 44 year old Joshua Loucks was charged with 2nd degree Assault and leaving the scene of a personal injury motor vehicle accident, for allegedly using a motor vehicle to cause physical injury to a 42 year old female by intentionally striking her with it, on State Highway 206 in the Town of Walton and then leaving the scene of the incident. The victim was transported to Delaware Valley Hospital where she was treated and released. Loucks surrendered to Deputies in Hancock and was arraigned in the Town of Delhi Court where he was released upon posting $1000 cash bail pending further court action.

State Police arrested 37-year-old Richard Bell of Bainbridge for assault, criminal trespass & harassment after a Delaware County 911 report of a dispute at a home on Blueberry Road in the Town of Masonville. Troopers determined that during a verbal dispute outside the victim’s home, Bell followed the man as he fled inside and allegedly struck him causing an injury. Bell was arraigned at Town of Tompkins Court, he was released without bail, & he will appear in Town of Masonville Court on September 15th.

State Police & the Sidney Village Police announced the arrest of 29-year-old Kristina Hyer of Unadilla, following a lengthy investigation involving the possession, forgery & use of stolen checks & credit cards. Hyer was charged with 4th & 5th degree criminal possession of stolen property, petty larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument & forgery. Hyer was arraigned in Sidney village court and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $10,000 cash bail, pending future court action.

The State Department of Labor released local area unemployment rates for May. The state’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.7%, Locally, Chenango county's unemployment rate was at 5.4%, Delaware county at 5.9% and Otsego County at an even 5% for the month of may.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 34 year old Dawn Mattice of Arkville, for Grand Larceny, for allegedly taking over $1000 from a home while employed as a home health care nurse. Mattice faces court action on July 21st.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County will be sponsoring three farmers’ markets for the 2015 season in Sidney, Walton and Deposit. The Deposit Farmers Market will be located at the 1st United Methodist Church, 107 Second Street on August 20th & September 17th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Sidney Farmers Market will be at the Video Entertainment Plus parking lot, at 89 Main Street every Thursday between July 2nd & September 24th from 2:00 to 6:00 pm and at the Sidney Civic Center on July 28th, August 25th & September 22nd from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Walton Farmers Market will be located at the Delaware Valley Hospital parking lot, on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays from July 2 to October 15, from 10:00am-2:00pm

The Adult Amber alert activated yesterday was cancelled, as the elderly Otsego county man was located safely in southeast Pennsylvania. 79-year-old George Holbert of Edmeston was located in Carbon County Pennsylvania Monday night; he was brought to a local hospital for evaluation. The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office began a search Monday, following a report from family that Holbert was missing from his residence on Dutch Valley Road in the Town of Edmeston since Sunday. Holbert drove to Pennsylvania, the sheriff’s office was contacted as Holbert suffers from the early onset of dementia, & takes numerous medications, which he left home.

Delaware County Deputies arrested and charged 42-year-old Kirell Lakhman of Holbrook, New York Monday, he was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation for traveling on State Highway 10 in the Town of Hamden while his license was suspended, he was arraigned in the Town of Hamden Court and released on his own recognize to re-appear on July 13th. Lakhman was arrested Again on Monday by Deputies on an Arrest Warrant issued by the Village of Walton Court, he was turned over to the Village of Walton Police Department for processing and arraignment.

The family of Former Tri-Town News Publisher, Ken Paden announced that a celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, June 6th at 1:00 PM at the Sidney American Legion at 22 Union Street. A memorial donation may be made to Ken’s family toward a plaque in his name at the Sidney Veterans Memorial Park, they can be sent to C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 2086, Sidney, 13838. Any excess donations will go to the Delaware Valley Humane Society. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at landersfh.com. Paden passed away unexpectedly on Monday, May 25th he will be laid to rest in Albany Rural Cemetery.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 2 vehciel accident at about 8:50 this monring between a minivan & a Harpursville School bus on Smith Hill Road in the town of Chenango. 17 year old Katarina Stockton of Conklin lost control of her minivan on a curve and hit the Harpursville school bus head on. Cindy Wilcox of Harpursville was operating the school bus, with 12 students on board, she steered the bus into a ditch to try to avoid the collision. Wilcox was transported to Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton with neck & back pain, Stockton suffered minor injuries and was taken to Wilson Hospital, none of the students were injured. Stockton was ticketed for failure to reduce speed under wet conditions & driving left of pavement markings, she is due to appear in the Town of Chenango Court at a later date.

The state DEC Announced that local governments and non-profit organizations in the Catskill region received $400,000 in Catskill Smart Growth Implementation grants. The grants will support projects in Catskill communities, in Delaware county, the Catskill Watershed Corporation will get $50,000 for the Catskill Park Wayfinding Sign Project, the Village of Fleischmanns will get over $45,000 for their Gateway Enhancement Project, the Town of Andes will get over $45,000 for the Ballantine Park Improvements Project.

The Tri Town News announced the death of long time Publisher Ken Paden. Paden passed away Monday, he had announced the selling of the tri town news & his other regional weekly newspapers on may 21st, to the River Valley News Group. Paden was with the Tri Town News since the mid-70’s.

Former Masonville Town Supervisor & Sidney business man Jack Thomas died Tuesday at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown. Thomas served as the Masonville Town Supervisor & on the Delaware County Board of Supervisors for many years; he also opened Sidney Auto Body in 1960. Thomas was 84; funeral arrangements are being handled by C. H. Landers funeral home in Sidney.

State Police responded to a 1-car accident on I-88 in the Town of Sidney early Wednesday morning, 25 year old Ericka Sa-Keema of Lorton, Virginia drove off the roadway on to the shoulder, over corrected, & lost control of her vehicle, into the center median where it over turned and rolled over several times coming to rest on the wheels. Sa-Keema was partially ejected and 2 two rear passengers were completely ejected, the front seat passenger remained in the vehicle. Ericka Sa-Keema was transported to Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City for head and internal injuries, state police reported this morning that she died from her injuries this morning. The Rear seat passengers were 2 year old Zavion Martin was transported to Wilson Memorial Hospital for a chest injury and 1 year old Zamari Martin was air lifted by Life Net to University Hospital in Syracuse for a head injury. The front seat passenger: 27 year old Anthony Martin was transported to Wilson Hospital for an ankle injury. The 2 children were not secured in their child restraint seats. The investigation is ongoing.

State Police arrested 69 year old Burnett Burnside of Kortright for Sexual Abuse & Endangering the Welfare of a Child. This arrest occurred after Troopers received a report of child abuse from the Delaware County Child Protective Services. Burnside is accused of sexually abusing a girl under the age of eleven, in his residence in December of 2014. He was arraigned & was released to reappear on June 16th; an order of protection was issued for the victim.

The Tri-Town News will have new owners, as Paden Publishing is selling the paper & their other weekly newspapers to the River valley News group. River Valley owns several other local weeklies in New York & Pennsylvania; no changes are expected to the daily operation or staff.

Delaware County Public Health, Early Childhood Direction Center, and Family Enrichment Network will host a conference today at SUNY Delhi featuring Lindsey Biel, regarding children's sensory processing issues, developmental delays, autism spectrum disorders, and other developmental challenges. The event begins at 9:00 AM.

Albuquerque New Mexico Police are searching for MMA fighter Jon “Bones” Jones in connection with an early Sunday morning 2-vehicle crash. Police reports said that a Silver Buick ran a red light & crashed into a vehicle driven by a pregnant woman in her 20’s who was treated for minor injuries at an area hospital. Police said that the driver of the Buick left the scene, returned a short time later and left again. Police found Marijuana in a pipe in the vehicle and paperwork belonging to the Broome County Native, Bones is considered the main suspect in the case.

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Department announced that on Friday evening, 11 year old Nicholas Dungan of Hamden passed away at Albany Medical Center from injuries he sustained in an ATV accident in the Town of Hamden on Tuesday April 21st. Dungan lost control of the vehicle while attempting to make a turn, he overturned into a ditch, he was airlifted a short time later to the Albany Medical Center by LifeNet helicopter Tuesday afternoon with serious head injuries.

The Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office concluded a month long investigation with the execution of a narcotics search warrant at 193 Matthews Street in the City of Binghamton. 26-year-old Christine Singer was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance & Unlawful Possession of Marihuana, 50 bags of heroin and an unspecified amount of marijuana were seized. Singer was also wanted on 3 active arrest warrants, on various drug charges from the City of Binghamton Court & the Town of Chenango Court, she was held at the Binghamton Police Department until her arraignment in the City of Binghamton Court.

State Police are investigating a 1 vehicle fatal collision on Saturday on Fredericks Road in the Town of Maine. A Jeep driven by 27-year-old Jason Coyne, of Newark Valley, went off the shoulder; Coyne overcorrected and hit a tree. Coyne was ejected and died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt and alcohol appears to be a factor in his fatal collision. The accident was discovered and reported to the State Police several hours after it happened; Troopers are asking anyone with any information to call 775-1241.

The Delaware County Sheriff's Office and the State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit are investigating a 1-car accident from Sunday morning on State Highway 30 in the Town of Colchester. 44-year-old Shawn Maynard of Randolph, New York failed to negotiate a curve and struck an earth embankment, causing the vehicle to overturn, 20 year old Candice Brown of Salamanca New York was ejected from the vehicle. Maynard and Brown were taken to Delaware Valley Hospital in Walton; Brown was later transferred to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City, where she was listed in critical condition. Maynard was treated at Delaware Valley Hospital and released. Sheriff’s Deputies are waiting for toxicology results; Maynard may face criminal charges upon completion of that testing and the collision reconstruction investigation.