WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 6-21-24

The Deadline to register a team to play in this year's Gus Macker 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament in Norwich is this Monday June 24th, Organizer Tom Revoir told WCDO News that teams, volunteers & referees are needed:

(Tom Revoir 6-21-24)

Teams can register at Macker.com, volunteers & referees should call 607-336-9622. The Macker Tournament returns to the streets of Downtown Norwich this year on July 13th & 14th.

On Sunday, people can get tattoos at 193 Main Street in Oneonta & raise money for the Delaware Valley Humane Society, Shelter Director Erin Insinga explains:

(Erin Insinga 6-21-24)

More information is available at the Humane Society Facebook page, or by calling 432-0280.

59 year old Dolores Barse of Sidney was indicted by the Delaware County Grand Jury for Welfare Fraud & Offering a false Instrument for Filing, for allegedly obtaining $14,203.00 dollars that she was not entitled to, and for providing a false information about her income with the Delaware County Department of Social Services in an effort to obtain public assistance benefits she was not entitled to. Barse was arraigned Thursday and was released & she was ordered to appear for a court conference on July 8th.

Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar joined Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, and others to announce the activation of their full-time Strategic Response Group, which is comprised of a team of deputies charged with focusing on quality-of-life issues like high numbers of speeding vehicles or repeat traffic complaints; Frequent or repeated narcotic activities, property crimes; homeless persons and connecting with services; and Targeting enforcement of high crime areas with gun and gang related violence. More information is available at the Sheriff's office web page at gobroomecounty.com

A.M. NEWS Friday 6-21-24

State Police responded Sunday to 3410 Luther Street, Apartment 1 in the town of Union for a structure fire, Troopers attempted to put the house fire out utilizing fire extinguishers from their patrol vehicle, Troopers and Endwell fire members located 70-year-old Marino Panaro deceased in the entryway of the residence. Broome County Fire Investigators determined the origin of the fire to be in the area where Panaro was located, and the fire appears to be ruled accidental. An autopsy is scheduled to determine an official cause of death.

The Chenango Arts Council will present “Melodrama At The Murder” an interactive event Saturday night, At the Martin W. Kappel Theater in Norwich, Spokesperson Marybeth Miller explains:

(Mary Beth Miller 6-21-24)

Tickets & more information are available at chenangoarts.org or by calling 336-2787.

A Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band will be performing at the Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta tonight, spokesman Geoff Doyle comments:

(Geoff Doyle 6-21-24)

Tickets for this & upcoming shows & events can be found at foothillspac.org.

The fire that occurred on Monday at 22 Benton Avenue, in the Village of Walton that claimed the life of Phillip Kirk has been ruled as accidental. Fire investigators from Delaware County Emergency Services, Delaware County Cause & Origin Team, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control concluded that the fire was caused by an unattended cigarette on a couch in Kirk's apartment. Residents from the other 3 apartments in that building were able to safely exit their homes once the fire was discovered. The structure has been declared a total loss due to extensive smoke & water damage.

Small grants have led to possible breakthroughs in treating veterans suffering form Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. State Senate John Bonacic explained the treatment at a mental Hygiene Budget Hearing in Albany recently.

(Bonacic 2-10-16)

Bonacic said that they would try to get 2 million dollars into the state budget this year to expand the program, in hopes that a larger sample size, with greater success could lead to federal funding & an expansion of the program.

A pretrial hearing For Almond Upton Will Start on march 3rd, Upton is accused of crossing lanes of traffic on I-81 & intentionally running down State Trooper Christopher Skinner in June 2014. Upton is being held without bail in the Broome County Jail, his Murder trial is slated to begin with Jury selection on July 5th in Broome County Court.

Broome County District Attorney Stephen Cornwell has revealed a plan called “Operation S.A.F.E.” that would encourage those struggling with drug addictio into get help, without fear of arrest. Those suffering would be able to go to any local police agency seeking help; the law enforcement agencies would then redirect them to 1 of over 50 drug treatment facilities.

The Sidney Rotary Club will be hosting a heroin-substance abuse awareness night Wednesday night at the Sidney high school. Sidney Rotarian Lorraine Keckeisen is one of the events organizers:

(Lorraine Keckeisen 2-10-16)

There will also be raffles & door prizes & a free dinner; Registration is requested at 561-7712 or chaynes@sidneycsd.org.

Delaware County Department of Emergency Services announced today that the fire at the former Rexmere Hotel in Stamford on Tuesday is being investigated by the Delaware County Cause & Origin Team, Delaware County Emergency Management and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control. Due to the size of the structure the investigation is ongoing and no determination has yet been made for a cause.  24 fire companies from 4 counties responded, along with 4 law enforcement agencies, with 4 million gallons of water poured on the massive structure.

Legislative leaders & Governor Cuomo are moving toward a budget agreement that would increase school aid by 1.1 billion dollars, install a 2 year property tax freeze, and would delay the implementation of new testing standards for students.  The agreement is expected to be finalized today, 3 days before the end of the state’s fiscal year.  Cuomo has pressed for a 2 year property tax freeze that would require local governments & schools to cap property taxes, and in year 2, agree to cut the tax levy, in exchange for homeowners getting a rebate check that averages $350 a year.  Also schools & local governments would have to develop a plan to share services, but it would not be pegged to any specific cuts on the tax levy.

Congressman Chris Gibson announced today that The IRS is alerting the public of a new phishing scam in which taxpayers receive emails purporting to be from the Taxpayer Advocate Service. Gibson said that the emails have the IRS logo and contain a bogus case number, the emails claim that the person receiving the email is having their 2013 income is flagged for review due to a document processing error, and the case has been forwarded to the Taxpayer Advocate Service.  The email contains a link soliciting personal information from the recipient; the congressman & the IRS advise people not to click on the link, & to forward the email to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. More information is available at IRS.gov.