WCDO Radio News

Governor Cuomo announced today that New York will not move forward with hydrofracking. The announcement follows a study on a possible health effects on Hydraulic Fratcuring for Natural gas. State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker doesn't recommend moving forward with hydrofracking until more studies are done, the state has hadf a moratorium in place for 6 years, ther process was used extensively in Western New York since 1979.

The state Gaming Facility Location Commission announced today, that the Southern Tier Casino License was awarded today to Lago in Tyre New York, in Seneca County. Plans call for a casino & hotel complex which has the backing of Wilmorite of Rochester, which has experience in casino operations. The casino site will be located off of exit 41 on the New York State thruway

The Chenango County Sheriff’s department arrested 25-year-old Anastatia Hallenbeck of Norwich Tuesday, following an investigation into the sales of heroin in the Norwich area. Hallenbeck was charged with 2 counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, she was arraigned in the City of Norwich Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $5,000 cash bail.

The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 27-year-old Benjamin Intres of Plymouth for Criminal Obstruction of Breathing and 2nd degree Harassment. Intres is accused of subjecting a female victim to unwanted physical contact, knocking the victim to the ground & choking her, during a domestic dispute. Intres was arraigned in the Town of Plymouth Court & was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional facility on $2,500 cash bail; he faces court action in the Town of Plymouth Court at a later date.

Governor Cuomo today announced new regulations to include transgender health care services under New York State’s Medicaid program. The proposed regulations provide treatment for hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery. Under the proposed regulations, hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery would be covered for persons who have referrals from medical professionals. Surgery would be covered for individuals who are a minimum age of 18 or 21 years old, depending on specific circumstances. The public will have 45 days to comment on the proposed regulation.

Governor Cuomo today announced that $26.8 million in State Funding is being awarded to 38 rail and aviation safety, security and Economic development projects across the State. $17.8 million in funding will go for rail upgrades, locally, the Syracuse, Binghamton and New York Railroad Corporation of Cooperstown received $262,600, New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad of Cooperstown received $2.3 million for improving rails, ties and surfacing & the Central New York Railroad of Cooperstown received $3.1 million to rehabilitate railroad track in Delaware and Broome Counties.

The state Education Department released teacher evaluation scores. 95.6 percent of teachers were rated "effective" or "highly effective" during the 2013-14 academic year despite less than 40 percent of grade 3-8 students being graded "proficient" on their state-mandated tests the same year. 3.7 percent of New York teachers were deemed "developing" and just 0.7 percent were rated "ineffective." The teacher and principal evaluations are based 60 percent on classroom observations and measures agreed to by schools and local teachers unions. The remaining 40 percent is based on student test scores, including 20 percent based on state-mandated test scores

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a new scam app that allows homeowners to identify and avoid mortgage rescue scams. AG ScamHelp.com is a web based-app that allows users to search the name of any real organization offering mortgage assistance. The app will show that an organization is "Trusted" if it is part of the Attorney General's Homeowner Protection Program, or has been approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It will also warn consumers of some of the hallmarks of mortgage rescue scams

Officials at the Utica School of commerce announced that the vast majority of classes at the Oneonta Branch and Sidney Site would be suspended for the Spring Semester. All current students and re-entering students will be able to continue their programs at the Utica Campus with transportation provided by the college through Oneonta Bus Lines. The college will continue to maintain the Elm Street Oneonta facilities for student support functions, with the Learning Center -Library relocating there, and computers will be available for student use, 3 days per week. The USC Board of trustees sited a decline in enrollment and recent parking changes in Oneonta for the changes.

Delaware County Fair officials announced their line up for their annual concert for August 22nd 2015. Headliners will be Parmalee with singer-actress Jana Kramer opening. The dates for the 2015 Delaware County Fair are August 17th to the 22nd.

Governor Cuomo announced steps taken in New York State's "Reforming the Energy Vision" strategy to spur clean energy innovation and investment, improve customer choice and protect the environment. 5 new reforms will enable further growth of the clean energy industry and modernize how utilities operate, The 5 steps taken by the Public Service Commission follow through on the State's efforts to transform the energy system, details are available at governor.ny.gov

Congressman Chris Gibson announced the federal spending bill approved by the House last week includes $344 million to ensure the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are developing electronic health records to transfer veteran's medical information. The legislation also includes language to require the VA to create a system to prevent unnecessary mistakes or delays in veterans’ medical care. If goals are not met, a portion of the funding will not be released. The VA reform bill signed into law earlier this year requires the VA to permit veterans to be seen by non-VA healthcare providers if they reside more than 40 miles from the nearest VA medical facility or are unable to secure an appointment at a VA facility within 30 days.

The Delaware County Sheriff's office announced the availability of text message notification as an enhancement to the New York Sheriffs' Victim Hotline known as "VINE". The hotline allows crime victims to learn the custody status of an offender 24-7 by 1-888-VINE-4-NY, the VINEMobile app, the Sheriffs Mobile Patrol App or at VineLink.com.

The Delaware County Broadband Initiative was awarded $2.9 million in matching New York State grant funding by the Southern Tier Economic Development Council following Governor Cuomo’s annual Regional Council Awards Ceremony on Thursday. The DCBI project will extend broadband services to the un-served residents and businesses, with over 210 miles of fiber optic facilities passing 1800 un-served and underserved households, businesses, and institutions in several towns in Delaware County. Additional information willl be posted at mtctelcom.com, delhitel.com, & dce.coop.

Manufacturing activity in New York State contracted for the first time in nearly 2 years. The New York Feds Empire state general business conditions index fell to –3.58 in December, falling to negative territory for the first time since January 2013. The new orders index tumbled –1.97 to 9.14 in November, the pace of growth in employment fell slightly with the index of the number of employees falling t 8.33 from 8.51. The survey of manufacturing plants in the state is 1 of the earliest monthly guideposts to U.S. factory conditions.

There has been a dramatic decline in the number of deaths in New York caused by AIDS. The state Health department recorded the number of AIDS related deaths were down by ¾’s from 1997 to 2012, when the number had dropped to 749. The decline is attributed to greater awareness on how the disease is spread and also powerful drug treatments for those diagnosed with the illness.

Governor Cuomo announced State assistance for storm recovery efforts to communities in 17 counties that were impacted by flooding of June 26th to July 10th in 2013 and Winter Storm Nemo in February 2013. The State will relieve local governments of their entire required share of FEMA Public Assistance Program costs to minimize the financial impact on local taxpayers. The counties eligible for State assistance include Broome, Chenango, Delaware & Otsego Counties.

The Broome County Sheriff's office arrested a Harpursville man for having sex with an 8-year-old child. 39-year-old Martin Elliott Jr was arrested following an investigation into the allegations. The sex crimes allegedly took place over a period of two years at a home in the town of Colesville. The State Office of Children and Family Services assisted in the investigation and an order of protection was issued on behalf of the child. Elliott was sent to the Broome County Jail without bail. He's charged with 1st degree criminal sexual act and 1st degree sexual abuse.

The state Attorney General's office issued a consumer alert following recent reports of bogus tax debt collection scams. The State Taxpayer Rights Advocate reported recent fraudulent activity by scammers posing as debt collectors, pressuring consumers into sending payments via money order to satisfy debts that the consumers may not actually owe, & promising to settle the alleged debt for a fraction of the cost. Some of the calls have come from the number 305-507-8505. New Yorkers who believe they have been victims of any tax scams are urged to file complaints at ag.ny.gov or 1-800-771-7755.

Deductibles and co-payments will be flat, with individual premiums rising about 4.5% in New York's health exchange for individuals and families during its 2nd year. State Health Department officials said their exchange has operated smoothly in the 1st year after some initial computer capacity problems. The exchange has enrolled 370,604 people with commercial and nonprofit insurers, 525,283 in Medicaid and 64,875 in the state's Child Health Plus coverage. For the coming year, 16 insurers offer plans for individuals and families, 9 insurers offer coverage for small businesses with 50 or fewer workers. Open enrollment begins Saturday.

Due to Veteran's Day falling on this past Tuesday November 11th, the monthly meeting of the Unadilla Town board will be held tonight at 630 at the Unadilla Town Hall, state highway 7 in Unadilla. The public is invited to attend.

Otsego County will be holding its annual Household Hazardous Waste Event for Small Businesses today from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Meadows Office Complex in Cooperstown. Businesses in Otsego County are eligible to bring hazardous materials to the collection day event; those that qualify will receive a subsidy of $50 for cost associated with collection from the County.

Delaware County Public Health & The Delaware County Drug Task Force will be hosting a   free presentation “Emerging Drugs of Abuse”, today from 10:00 am to 12:00 Noon at the Delaware County Public Safety Building in Delhi.   The presentation includes how to recognize signs of drug abuse, and what to do if you suspect someone is using illicit drugs, especially heroin.

Governor Cuomo was joined by more than 250 first responders representing fire and police stations across New York State as part of the 9/11 Memorial Motorcycle Ride yesterday. The 9/11 Memorial Motorcycle Ride is designed to pay tribute to the strength, courage, and heroism of the police and fire department personnel who led the response and recovery efforts following the September 11th terrorist attacks.  riders started out from Albany and Long Island, meeting at the Rescue 1 Firehouse in New York City, before traveling to the Ground Zero site., the riders were then invited to visit the September 11 Memorial and Museum

Oneonta Police responded to Morgan Ave for a report of robbery. Police arrested 29 year old Theresa Green of Laurens and 57 year old Marclain Marrero of Oneonta for 1st degree Burglary, 1st degree Robbery, Unlawful Imprisonment, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Conspiracy and Menacing. The investigation revealed that the suspects broke into the home of two victims, demanding money and forcibly taking items while armed with a blunt instrument. The victims were then driven to various locations in the city of Oneonta in an attempt to locate money while being held against their will. Oneonta Police were able to locate the vehicle after 1 victim escaped and notified Police, the suspects were taken into custody with out incident. The investigation is ongoing.

Delaware County Public Health & The Delaware County Drug Task Force will be hosting a free presentation “Emerging Drugs of Abuse”, on Friday, September 12th from 10:00 am to 12:00 Noon at the Delaware County Public Safety Building in Delhi. The presentation include how to recognize signs of drug abuse, and what to do if you suspect someone is using illicit drugs. Registration is required by email rebecca.gardner@co.delaware.ny.us or 832-5200.

Otsego County will be holding its annual Household Hazardous Waste Event for Small Businesses on Friday September 12th, 2104 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Meadows Office Complex County Highway 33W in Cooperstown. Businesses in Otsego County are eligible to bring hazardous materials to the collection day event. Registration is mandatory at 547-4225.

Commerce Chenango announced a Meet & greet session for Republican Lieutenant Governor Candidate Chris Moss. The event will run today from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. at the City of Norwich Firehouse at 31 East Main Street in Norwich on the 2nd floor.

State Police said more than 20,000 tickets were issued from August 6th through August 12th as part of its “Speed Week” campaign. 10,000 tickets were issued for speeding, 200 tickets for texting while driving, 550 for cell phone use, 200 DWI’s and more than 600 tickets in violation of the “Move Over Law.”

New York State’s private sector job count grew by 17,300, or 0.2% in July according to the State Labor Department. The State’s overall private sector job count is 7,603,300, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.6%. July marked the State’s 20th consecutive month of private sector job growth.

New York's public university system is the first to support a bipartisan federal effort that would strengthen colleges and universities' assistance, for sexual assault victims while establishing penalties for non-compliance. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said that the Campus Accountability and Safety Act l creates new standards for training, and calls for an anonymous annual survey of students, to provide an accounting of campus sexual assaults at colleges and universities.

A Grand Opening Ceremony is scheduled for August 25th for the new Skateboard Park in Keith Clark Park in Sidney. Ronnie Haag of the Sidney Youth Advocate program comments:

(Ronnie Haag 8-15-14)

Haag said that the new Skateboard Park is located between the Baseball Field & the Volley Ball Courts in Keith Clark Park.

The Sidney central school district capital improvement projects are nearing completion. Sidney Superintendent Bill Christensen explains:

(Bill Christensen 8-15-14)

Christensen said that the baseball & softball fields would be completed in time for those 2 spring sports.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will host a blood drive, sponsored by the American Red Cross & Bassett Healthcare on Saturday, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in Cooper Park adjacent to the Hall of Fame. Blood donors will receive free admission to the Museum on Saturday.

New York state students in grades 3-8 improved their performance in math in the 2nd year of Common Core testing, but their performance in English & Language Arts was the same. This year scores also showed significant gaps between racial and economic subgroups again. Common Core is expected to be a hot political issue in the coming gubernatorial campaign, with Republican & Conservative candidate Rob Astorino and Liberal Democrat Zephyr Teachout both vowing to get rid of the Common core standards if elected.

The Public Employees Federation endorsed Democratic candidate Zephyr Teachout over incumbent Andrew Cuomo, after contentious contract negotiations during his first term in office, and changes to the pension system for future state employees with lowered benefits. The New York State United Teachers declined to endorse a candidate in this year's governor's race.

The Cancer Services Program of Delaware Otsego & Schoharie Counties will offer free health screenings to women 40 & older who are uninsured. The screening with the Bassett Mobile Mammography Coach will be at the Delaware County Fair tomorrow in Walton from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Appointments or more information is available at 1-888-345-0225.

60-year-old Almond Upton of Florida was indicted in Broome County Court on 11 charges, including 1st degree murder.  Upton is accused of killing State Trooper Christopher Skinner during a May 29th traffic stop, Upton intentionally struck Skinner with a pickup truck while the trooper was conducting a routine traffic stop on I-81. Upton will also be arraigned on the indictment in Broome County Court.

The State Office of Mental Health and the Delaware County Suicide Prevention Coalition are sponsoring a “safeTALK” Suicide Prevention Training on Thursday August 14th at Delaware County Public Safety Building in Delhi.  Delaware county public heath director Bonnie Hamilton told WCDO News that the program was planned as statistics show that suicides are up significantly in Delaware County this year:

(Bonnie Hamilton 8-7-14)

Registration for this training is due tomorrow through Delaware county public health at 832-5200.

Fire officials have determined the cause of a fire in Windsor Monday morning at an apartment building on Old State Route 17. Investigators said a seven year old child found a lost lighter and set a couch on fire. When fire fighters arrived on scene, they saw flames coming from the first floor of the building extending into the second floor. Fire officials said three of the four apartments were occupied, but everyone made it out safely.

Firefighters from South New Berlin, Mount Upton, Norwich & New berlin responded to a structure fire at 2364 State Highway 8 in the town of Norwich.   Initial reports suggested that one person may have been trapped inside, that was later confirmed as false. Emergency crews shut down route 8 for about 4 hours.

Congressman Richard Hanna announced a nearly $2 million federal loan for the City of Norwich to make upgrades to its water storage facilities.  Norwich also received a $750,000 grant through the USDA for the project.  The funds will be used to demolish the old storage tank and valve vault, and replace them with new ones; Work is also scheduled on an access road from Wheeler Avenue to the new tank.

Governor Cuomo signed legislation to better protect children by adding school coaches to the field of professionals required to report suspected abuse to authorities. This bill will also require coaches who currently hold or apply for a temporary coaching license or professional coaching certificate to complete two hours of training regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment.  The law had previously been unclear on whether individuals in these positions must report suspected cases of abuse.

State Police at Norwich arrested 53-year-old Todd Stockton of Sherburne for 3rd degree Grand Larceny and Falsifying Business Records, following a State Department of Labor investigation, which determined he had stolen $9,261 in insurance benefits from the State Department of Labor.  Stockton was issued tickets for Village of Sherburne Court August 14th

Governor Cuomo signed legislation to better protect school crossing guards from assault while on the job, offering them similar protections to that of police officers and firefighters. Any assault on a school crossing guard, resulting in physical injury while performing his or her duties, will now be raised to a violent felony.

The Otsego county health department will hold a free rabies clinic today for dogs & cats at least 3 months of age.  The clinic will be held at the Neahwa Park from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.  Delaware county Public Health also will hold a Free Rabies Vaccination ClinicFor dogs, cats, and ferrets today, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Franklin Fire Hall on Main Street in Franklin.

The Walton Farmer's Market will continue through the fall.  The market is located at the Delaware Valley Hospital parking lot from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM today, as well as August 20th, September 3rd & 17th and October 1st & 15th.   More information is available at 865-6531 or
CCEDELAWARE.ORG.

The Chenango County Sheriff's Office executed a "no knock" search warrant at 386 Neff Hill Road in the Town of Bainbridge, following a lengthy narcotics investigation. Investigators arrested 33-year-old Amber Chesebro & 33-year-old Manuel Thillet, on charges of 1st degree Criminal Nuisance & Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia. The Narcotics Division recovered cash, drug paraphernalia & financial documents on large money transfers. Chesebro & Thillet were arraigned in the Town of Bainbridge Court, Chesebro was remanded to the Chenango county Jail on $2500 cash bail, Thillet was remanded on $10,000 cash bail. The investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending.

Area Assemblyman Cliff Crouch has revered his earlier position on Medical Marijuana. Crouch said earlier versions of the bill over the past 4 years were very loose, the newly passed bill tightened up most of those issues:

(Crouch 7-24-14)

The bill also expires in 7 years; it could be eliminated even earlier if there are objections from either the state health commissioner or the Superintendent of the State Police.

Dairy farmers and yogurt producers would be eligible for an expanded federal tax credit, to install energy-producing bio-gas systems, under a proposal by Senator Chuck Schumer. The proposal would expand the menu of eligible uses for a 30% federal investment tax credit for bio-digesters. Dairy farmers and food processing facilities making yogurt and cottage cheese could utilize the proposed Bio-gas Tax Credit, using their waste products to help fuel new biogas facilities. There are about 2,000 biogas systems installed around the country, including more than 100 in New York. The House and Senate are expected to work out an agreement on renewal of expired tax breaks after the November election.

Delaware County District Attorney's Investigators arrested Kellie Bush and Gary Tompkins Jr. of Walton, for allegedly filing false documentation wit the Delaware County Department of Social Services. Bush and Tompkins are accused of receiving in excess of $2,500 in public assistance benefits that they were not eligible to receive, Tompkins was charged with 4th degree Welfare Fraud & Offering a False Instrument for Filing. Bush was charged with 1 count of 4th degree Welfare Fraud, they were arraigned in the Town of Delhi Court & were sent to the Delaware County Jail on $2,500 bail pending future court action.

The Chenango County Sheriff's Office arrested 20 year old Casey Flanders of Endicott & Mark Grassi of Endicott for 4th degree Grand Larceny & 5th degree Conspiracy. Both are accused of stealing over $1000 dollars' worth of baby formula from Wal-Mart, Both were placed into custody and arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court, and are being held on $2500 bail pending future court action.

Heroin use continues to rise in New York State and health officials want the public to be aware of the signs and symptoms associated with the drug. Signs of heroin use include a lack of interest in appearance, increased absences from work or school, and people stealing from family members. Last month, Governor Cuomo was in the Southern Tier to sign new legislation aimed at combating the heroin epidemic.

Governor Cuomo signed a series of bills to strengthen existing laws and add new measures to protect New Yorkers from aggravated harassment, domestic violence, GPS units used for stalking, and public lewdness in relation to children under 16. Details are available at governor.ny.gov.

Cullman Community Day will be held this Saturday in Sidney, with a variety of activities planned, mostly at Keith Clark Park.    Cullman director Amy Williams explains:

(Amy Williams 7-22-14)

The public is invited to attend and participate; more information is available at 563-7529.

State residents will vote on the $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act in November, for improvements to high-speed Internet connections, classroom technology, security systems and pre-K construction. Governor Cuomo set up a commission to look at how to spend the money and set up meetings to gather ideas if the bond is approved. The bond would also pay for training of school staff to use the various new technologies.

New York ranks among the top 5 states for children's health, according to the Kids Count Data Book released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The report looks at recent trends that compare data from 2005 to 2012; New York showed improvement in all 8 categories of health and education for children. The number of children who didn't graduate from high school in 4 years fell from 33% in 1990 to 22% in 2012. The number of teen births dropped & the number of children in high-poverty areas remained stable at 17%. The number of children in single parent families rose by 24% from 1990 to 2012.

State Police at Norwich arrested 47-year-old Tom Connelly of New Berlin for 2nd degree Harassment following a dispute on South Main Street in New Berlin.  An investigation determined he punched and shoved the victim during a dispute.  Connelly was arraigned in Town of New Berlin Court and sent to the Chenango County Jail on $500.00 bail.  An order of protection was issued by the court against Connelly.

The state labor department released unemployment statistics for the month of June.  State wide, the rate dropped 1/10th the 6.6%, locally, Chenango county’s rate was at 5.6%, Delaware county at 6.3% & Otsego county’s rate was at 5.3% in June.

Delaware county fair organizers are looking for participants to sign up quickly for this year’s County fair Pageant.  Pageant coordinator Stacy Dibble comments:

(Stacy Dibble 7-22-14)

The fair’s website is Delaware county fair.org, the phone number for more information is 287-9228.  The Delaware county fair begins on august 11th in Walton.

The State Association of Realtors released its June home sale information. Across the state, new listings were up 11% compared to June 2013. The number of sales was down 6%, median sale price down 3% and total number of homes for sale down 2%. Locally, in Broome County, new listings were up 19%, the number of sales was down 11%. In Delaware County, new listings were up 21%, the number of sales was down 13%  & in Chenango County, new listings were up 305 and the number of sales closed was down 38%.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance said UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital’s UHS Primary Care offices in Oxford, Sherburne and Sidney received recognition from the Patient-Centered Medical Home program for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on coordinated care and long-term participative relationships. UHS Primary Care in Norwich was the first of the hospital’s primary care sites to receive the recognition in 2012. The recognition is based on a model of care and service delivery that encourages partnerships between individual patients and their personal clinicians to improve the quality and efficiency of care.

The Madison County Sheriff’s department reported that 4 people were killed when 4 homes collapsed during a possible tornado at around 7:15 last night.  The Madison County Sheriff’s department have identified the deceased as 35 year old Kimberly Hillard, 35 ; her daughter, 4 month old Paris Newman, 70 year old Virginia Warner, and 53 year old Arnie Allen, all of Goff Road in Smithfield.  Widespread damage was reported from downed trees & power lines, National Weather service officials will also investigate if a tornado touched down last night on Bear Spring Mountain in Walton, Nyseg reported about 1600 customers went without power for a few hours last night in Delaware & Chenango counties.

Governor Cuomo today announced that his June 16 request to President Obama for a federal major disaster declaration has been approved for Delaware & 10 other counties following severe storms and flooding on May 12th that caused serious damage and destruction.  The storms and flooding were followed by Roof collapses, evacuations & more than 6,500 homes and business without power, over 130 families sustained significant property damage.

Delaware County Public Health will hold a Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic today for dogs, cats, and ferrets.  The clinic will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Deposit Town Clerk Building, 3 Elm Street in Deposit.  More information is available at 832-5200 or delawarecountypublichealth.com.

P.m. news Thursday 6-26-14
The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested Adam Simpkin of Afton on charges of 3rd degree Burglary & 5th degree Conspiracy. Simpkin was arrested following an investigation into an incident in Sherburne; he was arraigned in the Village of Sherburne Court and remanded to the Correctional Facility on $5,000 bail pending future court action.

Graduation parties will be held all over the region this weekend, as are high school seniors attend their commencement exercises, and graduation parties. Justin Hamm of the Alcolhol & drug abuse council of Delaware county reminds parents of seniors that Social Host Laws of New York state prohibit serving alcohol to minors in their homes:

(Justin Hamm 6-26-14)

Hamm also said that scientific research in recent years shows that the human brain continues to grow to maturity until about the age of 25 and introducing alcohol to the adolescent brain could reduce cognitive skills and memory.

Governor Cuomo announced $13.8 million in funding to help more than 200 farms across New York implement enhanced soil and water conservation practices. Grants were awarded to 32 county soil and water conservation districts, and provided by the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee and the State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Locally, Broome receives $173,555.00 for 5 farms, Chenango receives $515,050.00 for 4 farms, Delaware County gets $543,492.00 for 18 farms and Otsego County gets $161,678.98 for 3 farms. More information is available at nys-soilandwater.org.

State Police at Oneonta arrested 34-year-old Derick Coveny of Morris for DWI following a motorcycle accident on Walters Road in New Lisbon. An investigation determined Coveny was driving his motorcycle while intoxicated and without a helmet. He was taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries. Coveny was issued tickets for New Lisbon Court July 15th

Norwich police are reminding area residents to lock up their parked cars at all times, following a series of larcenies at night. Residents are also asked to report items that have turned up missing from parked cars, as police are trying to uncover a pattern of activity that will help lead to arrests.

New York’s health exchange enrolled nearly 1 million people since October, and the largest percentage were aged 26-34. New York nearly met its enrollment goal for 2016 in its first year of the health exchange, signing up 960,762 state residents. 55 percent chose Medicaid, the federal program for the poor and disabled. About 370,000 chose a private insurer; and nearly 65,000 picked Child Health Plus, the state’s insurance program for poor children. The next enrollment period starts Nov. 15

New York State will receive $6.18 million, from the U.S. Department of Labor, to train unemployed workers for jobs in high-demand industries. New York is one of 32 states, receiving grants totaling $154 million, under the National Emergency Grant Program. The funding will help create or expand employer partnerships that provide on-the-job training, apprenticeships and other occupational training, that result in an industry-recognized credential. The funding also will be used to provide career coaching and counseling, as well as job placement assistance. For more information go to dol.gov

The 5 member Independent Democratic Conference announced it would seek to share power with Senate Democrats after the November elections, ending the coalition with Republicans that ran the Senate for the past 2 years. The move would have implications on policy decisions, such as whether to raise the minimum wage, implement public financing of political campaigns and strengthen abortion rights. Democrats would control all branches of state government when the legislative session resumes in January, if Governor Cuomo and Democrats win election this fall.

Governor Cuomo and Legislative Leaders announced an agreement on a bill that to establish a medical marijuana program with provisions to ensure that it’s reserved only for patients with serious conditions and is dispensed and administered in a manner that protects public health and safety.

(Cuomo 6-20-14)

The legislation grants the Department of Health the authority to issue regulations to implement the program, as well as set a price. The Governor would also be allowed to suspend or terminate any provisions of the program based on the recommendations of the Commissioner or Superintendent. The bill would take effect immediately and sunset in 7 years.

State Senator Tom Libous announced that an agreement has been reached with the Governor to keep the Greater Binghamton Health Center Open.  This agreement commits funding to invest in community services, creates safeguards against potentially dangerous releases and includes a framework for long-term planning.

The Northeast Classic Car Museum and Matthews Ford Planet PreOwned will hold Mustang Mania Day in Norwich tomorrow.  Marty Kuhn of the Northeast Classic car Museum explains:

(Marty Kuhn 6-20-14)

The celebration begins with 1/2 price admission to the Northeast Classic Car Museum from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  At 1:30pm, Professor Malinowski will speak at the Museum, at 6:00 pm; Matthews Ford Planet PreOwned is hosting their annual Mustang Rally at 175 East Main Street.

A Florida man was charged with attempted robbery, burglary and conspiracy in connection with a Dec. 23rd incident in Cooperstown.  Stephen Janiszeski of Ocoee, Fla., was arrested at the Orange County Jail in Orlando, Florida after an investigation by the Otsego County Sheriff's Office. Investigators determined  Janiszeski had accompanied Barry Renert on Dec. 23rd when Renert entered the Seventh Inning Stretch in Cooperstown, where he confronted the owner and displayed a handgun.  Janiszeski was arraigned in town of Otsego court and sent to the Otsego County Jail without bail. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the charges connected to the Cooperstown incident.

Chenango County Dairy Day is tomorrow in Norwich.  The day's activities include a 5K 'Milk Run' at 9am with the signup at 8:30, a parade at 10:30am, the ZooMobile from the Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park (https://www.facebook.com/binghamtonzoo), Face Painting, a Duck Derby, a Hay Bale Maze at the Chenango County Fair (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chenango-County-Fair/318696156942)grounds.

The Delaware valley humane society will celebrate their 50th anniversary Saturday.  The event will be held from 12:00 Noon to 3:00 PM at the shelter in Sidney.

New York legislators approved amending state law, to require agencies placing children in foster care, to first check whether prospective parents have done it before and provided poor or questionable care. The amendment, if signed by Governor Cuomo, would require all foster care agencies to check with the Office of Children and Family Services, to determine whether prospective parents ever had foster a child removed from their home, evaluate the reasons why and determine if the foster home should be reopened.

36-year-old Jeremy Barrett of Deposit pleaded guilty in Broome County Court to 2 counts of sexual conduct against a child. Barrett admitted to sexual contact with 3 under aged girls, he faces sentencing on August 1st.

The State Senate Task Force on Heroin & Opiod addiction will hold another public hearing tomorrow, to gather more input on the growing problem. The task force will be in State Senator John Bonacic’s District:

(Bonacic 5-8-14)

Friday’s hearing will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello, those who were unable to attend the Oneonta event are invited to testify at Friday’s event.

The Delaware county Sheriff's Office now has a drug drop-0ff Box In their Front Lobby at 280 Phoebe Lane in Delhi.   Sheriff Tom Mils announced that Mallinckrodt's Hobart plant is responsible for the prescription drug take-back collection box. County Residents are invited to safely and legally dispose of unused or unwanted prescription drugs at the Delhi Location, in order for these items to stay out of the wrong hands. The box may be utilized to dispose of prescription medications, however, Needles and liquid medicine cannot be discarded in this box.   More information is available at 746-2336.

State Police arrested 34-year-old April Florance of Kirkwood, for DWI & Unlawful possession of Marijuana. Police reported that Florance drove the barracks to make a complaint; the desk Trooper detected a strong odor of alcohol on her breath.   Troopers determined that Florance also in possession of marijuana in the police station.   Florance refused to submit to a breath test, she was arraigned & was and remanded to the Broome County Jail pending future court action.

Federal auditors say New York should repay $60.8 million in Medicaid reimbursement, for unallowable costs for room and board for taking care of developmentally disabled people. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services inspector general said repairs, maintenance, utilities, and property-related costs should have been excluded, in calculating Medicaid payment rates at state-operated residences. The audit recommends the state Health Department refund the $60.8 million federal share of those costs.

State lawmakers voted for tougher penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an accident. The state Senate voted in favor of legislation to impose up to seven years of prison on a motorist who flees the scene of an accident resulting in an injury. Currently, the crime carries a sentence of up to one year. The fines and potential prison sentence for leaving the scene of a fatal accident would also be increased. Similar legislation is pending in the state Assembly.

State Police, responded to a report of an Attempted Robbery at Otsego Auto Crushers in Davenport, the investigation lead to the arrest of 23 year old Johnathan Lynn of East Meredith for Attempted Robbery in the 3rd Degree & Criminally Possessing a Hypodermic Instrument.  Lynn was arraigned in the Town of Davenport Court on those charges and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $15,000 cash bail.  Further investigation revealed that Lynn was also accused of the Robberies at the Convenience Express in Oneonta on April 19th & the Oneonta Arby’s robbery April 24th.  Additional charges of 2 counts of 2nd degree Robbery are pending in the Town of Oneonta Court.

Oneonta Police arrested 53 year old Robert Donaldson of Delhi for 3rd degree Grand Larceny, 1st degree Perjury, & Fraudulent Insurance Practices.   The arrest was the result of a combined investigation by the City of Oneonta Police Department Detectives Bureau, New York State Insurance Fund Investigators and New York State Workers Compensation Board Office of the Fraud Inspector General.  Donaldson is accused of receiving benefits from the workers compensation board while being employed & for making false testimony on his wages.  Donaldson was arraigned in the City of Oneonta Court and remanded to the Otsego County Jail without bail, pending future court action.

State Senator Jim Seward is hosting the Joint Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction on today in Oneonta.  The forum is 1 of 12 statewide to solicit local input on the rise in use of heroin and other opioids in New York State and develop recommendations for treating and preventing addiction.  The public forum will take place today from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM at the Hunt Union Ballroom on the campus of SUNY-Oneonta.

The Otsego County Department of Health reported that a calf has tested positive for rabies, in the town of Pittsfield.  Officials said that no one was bitten by the calf, but several people came into contact with the calf, and have started rabies treatments. The health department has set up a rabies clinic on Wednesday May 7th in Neawha Park

Mirabito Convenience stores announced the acquisition of all 17 Manley’s Mighty-Mart locations.  Manley’s locations included Binghamton, Endicott, Endwell, Vestal, Johnson City, Windsor, Ithaca and Glen Aubrey.  Mirabito’s operates 57 Mirabito Convenience Stores, Convenience Express, and Quickway Food Store locations throughout central New York.

Governor Cuomo & state leaders met today to discuss the New York Rising program, to distribute money to areas that needed rebuilding after the string of devastating weather events hit the state over the last 3 years. The Governor Commended local leaders in attendance for their efforts in putting together plans to rebuild their communities:

(Cuomo 4-23-14)

Local counties were awarded millions of dollars through the Regional Councils, for their for infrastructure repairs or replacements following Superstorm Sandy, Tropical Storm Lee & Hurricane Irene since 2011.

The State Labor Department released local area unemployment rates for March.   The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.9% in March, the number of private sector jobs in the state was 7,539,300, the highest ever for the month. Locally, the Binghamton & Southern Tier region had 7.6% unemployment, down 9/10th from March of last year.

State Police & the State Liquor Authority conducted an underage drinking initiative detail in Otsego & Delaware counties.   The detail used a group of 3 underage operatives who attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages from 4 convenient stores and 5 bars in Otsego & Delaware Counties. No arrests were made as all the establishments passed.   The establishments were located in Meridale, Delhi, Davenport, & Oneonta.

Local authorities are currently not required to be notified of hazardous materials being brought through an area on freight cars. US Senator Charles Schumer is calling for that policy to be changed, currently, the State Police in Albany are notified, but that does not help the local authorities and emergency responders in the event of a train derailment.

Delaware County Public Health is reminding area parents to keep to the recommended schedule for child vaccinations. The Centers for Disease control said that vaccinating children on time is the best way to protect them against 14 serious and potentially deadly diseases before their second birthday. Officials report that when parents choose not to vaccinate or they delay vaccinations, children are left unprotected against diseases that still exist such as measles and whooping cough. More information on childhood vaccinations is available at 832-5200 or cdc.gov/vaccines.

A new Siena Research Institute poll shows Governor Cuomo is leading Republican Gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino in a head-to-head race. However, results from the poll suggest Cuomo's lead would slip if a third party candidate, who voters view as more liberal or progressive than the governor, entered the race. In a one-on-one race with Astorino, Cuomo leads 58 percent to 28 percent. The poll shows his lead would drop 15 points if a Working Families Party candidate entered the race. Cuomo's favorability fell slightly compared to last month. 57 percent have a favorable view of the governor, while 38 percent have an unfavorable view.

The Norwich Emergency Management Office, in collaboration with the National Weather Service in Binghamton, will offer a course in weather spotting. The free SKYWARN weather spotter’s course will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, at the Norwich Fire Department. SKYWARN is a national program that provides real-time severe weather reports to the National Weather Service. For more information call 334-1230.

New York State ended the 2013-14 fiscal year with a budget surplus, and deposited $175 million in the Rainy Day Reserve Fund, according to a report by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. However, DiNapoli said the $143 billion budget continues to rely on temporary funding sources to attain balance. The General Fund’s year-end balance, of more than $2.2 billion, was $432 million more than the February Financial Plan projections.

The state budget contains 10 million dollars to get the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy project started.  State Senator Tom Libous supports the plan:

(Libous 4-1-14)

Libous said that the school, slated to open in the fall of 2017.

State lawmakers wrapped up votes on the new state budget yesterday, assemblyman Cliff Crouch told WCDO News of some of the items of local concern:

(Crouch Budget 4-1-14)

State Senator John Bonacic told WCDO News that he really liked the way this budget turned out:

(Bonacic 4-1-14)

The budget totaled 140 billion dollars, holding the spending increase to 1.6% as stipulated by the property tax cap law passed last year.

The state budget includes a measure that will no longer hold consumers financially responsible for surprise, uninsured medical costs. Those costs can arise when a consumer goes to a hospital for a procedure, by a doctor who is covered by their healthcare provider, but end up being treated by a doctor or specialist who is not covered. The new legislation will protect consumers from the surprise costs and sets up arbitration process that removes the consumer from billing disputes between out-of-network doctors and health insurers.

The Sidney Police arrested 31-year-old Herbert Bidwell Jr. of Sidney for Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Grand Larceny, Forgery and Petty Larceny.   Bidwell is accused of purchasing items with a stolen Debit card he was remanded to the Delaware County jail & faces court action shortly.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is holding public meetings this week, to gather feedback on the draft Environmental Impact Statement, for the proposed Constitution Pipeline. The pipeline would carry natural gas, from northern Pennsylvania across New York’s Southern Tier, to connect with other pipelines in Schoharie County serving Northeast markets. Meetings are scheduled tonight at 7:00 at the Oneonta High School, tomorrow night at 7:00 PM at the Afton High School, and Thursday evening at Blue Ridge High School in New Milford, Pennsylvania. If approved, pipeline construction could start in January.

The Otsego County Sheriff’s Department arrested 50 year old John Chapman of Otego on charges of promoting gambling, possessing gambling records and money laundering, following an 8 month investigation that included assistance from the state Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigation Unit.  If convicted, Chapman faces up to 12 years in state prison.

Governor Cuomo announced a new multi-agency Cigarette Strike Force to help crack down on counterfeit and untaxed tobacco trade and sales. The state Tax Department is partnering with 12 state, local and federal agencies to expand and share their database of crime-related information to end illegal cigarette trafficking organizations. A pack of cigarettes in the state is taxed $4.35 and in New York City there is a $5.85 tax—both the highest in the country. The penalty for possession of illegal cigarettes is a $600 fine per carton. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office filed a $70 million lawsuit against Federal Express for unlawfully shipping nearly 80 million illegal cigarettes to consumers in New York. The lawsuit joins and expands upon a complaint filed in December by New York City.

State Police arrested 52-year-old Katrina Diamond of Otego for Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a reportable BAC result of .21%.  The arrest was made for failing to keep right on State Route 7 in Oneonta, Diamond was found to be driving while intoxicated and with an open bottle of vodka in the vehicle.  She was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Oneonta Court on March 4th.

The Executive Budget continues efforts to control costs while tackling tough issues, according to a report released by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. The report also points out that details are lacking on spending changes required for balance in the coming years.  DiNapoli stated that based on Division of the Budget projections, the state faces the risk of General Fund out-year gaps totaling $1.5 billion, $2.2 billion and $3.4 billion in the following 3 years, if unspecified savings from the 2% spending limit are excluded, the gaps would be smaller.  The report is located at osc.state.ny.us.

Members of the Circle Drive Alliance Church in Sidney are holding a fundraising dinner shortly, to raise money for a trip to Peru this summer, to assist with people living & working at a Garbage Dump.  Spokesperson Megan Owens explains about the dinner & the trip:

(Megan Owens 2-25-14)

Owens said that the trip would be for 10 days at the end of July into early August, more information is available at 437-5799.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is seeking proposals to establish and operate an Advanced Building Consortium in New York State made up of experts in the building trades, to make buildings more energy efficient and cheaper to construct.  Funding of up to $7.5 million is available. More information is available at NYSERDA.NY.GOV.

In 2011, Governor Cuomo divided the state into 10 regional councils and awarded the Southern Tier close to $50 million for 58 projects, which are on track for completion.  Locally, Norwich Pharmaceuticals is using $2 million for a new lab and equipment, allowing it to test and develop medications. It also retains 350 jobs in Chenango County

Members of Habitat for Humanity of Delaware County are planning to undertake a building renovation project in Delhi this summer.    Currently the organization is looking for volunteers and volunteer organizations to assist with all components of the build.   The existing structure is on 3 acres along Spring Valley Road, it was donated to the local Habitat Board last year and is in need of an addition to accommodate the average needs of a family.  More information is available at 746-9987 or by email at: habitatdelawarecounty@gmail.com.

Federal officials say the number of farms in New York fell slightly from 2007 to 2012.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture said preliminary numbers, from its 2012 census, show there are 35,538 farms in the state, down from 36,352.  The 2.2% decrease in the number of farms in the state compared favorable to the 4.3% drop nationally.  The USDA said that decreases in farms continue to be a long-term trend.

The State Public Service Commission will develop a review process for future transmission projects that can be built within existing utility or State-owned rights-of-way.  The plan stems from Governor Cuomo’s call in his State of the State address, to make upgrades to aging infrastructure, and address congestion problems that cost electric customers hundreds of millions of dollars in excess electricity costs. Upgrading the system to reduce congestion could enhance system flexibility and efficiency, reduce environmental and health impacts and promote lower cost generation in upstate areas

Delaware County Sheriff Thomas Mills announced that due to the current winter storm warning, a travel advisory has been issued for all of Delaware County until further notice.  All unnecessary travel should be avoided.

The Joint Landowners Coalition of New York will file its lawsuit against New York State today, The action seeks an Order: Compelling the DEC to finalize the environmental impact statement on hydrofracking, Determining that the DEC referral of the statement to the health department was arbitrary and capricious, & that Governor Cuomo is acting without jurisdiction by orchestrating the delay and interfering with the DEC’s independent decision-making authority.  The Coalition is represented by Mountain States Legal Foundation and Levene Gouldin & Thompson.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 27-year-old Ashley Hoyt of Meridale on 1count of 2nd degree Aggravated Harassment for allegedly making numerous unwanted phone calls and text messages to another person.   Hoyt was issued a criminal summons ordering her appearance at the Town of Delhi Court on March 4th

The Sidney Moose Club will be holding a benefit Saturday in honor of the late Bill Ray.  The event will be held at the Moose Lodge tomorrow from 1:00 to 5:00 PM.  Proceeds will go for Bill’s medical expenses and for the Bill Ray Little League Baseball Field in Sidney. more information is available at 435-1007.

The documentary “Triple Divide”  will be viewed at the Sidney Memorial Public Library Saturday afternoon.  The documentary will start at 12:30, filmmaker Melissa Troutman will be on hand to discuss her film.

Oneonta City Court was sealed off and evacuated Monday morning after a suspicious powder substance arrived in an envelope.  Police, fire department,  New York court officers and postal inspectors all arrived on the scene, the substance was not hazardous and the court opened up a short time later.

Sidney Village Police arrested 19 year old Christopher Schoonmaker of Sidney on a variety of charges recently.  Schoonmaker was charged with 2nd degree rape, Reckless Endangerment, and multiple counts of Unlawfully dealing with child & Criminal Sale of Marihuana.  Schoonmaker was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $10,000 bail, he  faces court action February 13th.

Delaware County Chairman of the Board of Supervisors James Eisel has CLOSED Delaware County Government offices for today.  Offices will re-open Thursday February 6th at their regularly scheduled times.

New York plans to have its medical marijuana program functioning within a year, according to State health commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah, who testified at a legislative budget hearing.  Governor  Cuomo's plan would allow 20 hospitals to prescribe marijuana to chronically ill patients, on a limited basis.

State University of New York Empire State College will hold public information session about their associate and bachelor’s degree programs at the State Office Building 44 Hawley Street in  Binghamton today at 4:30 PM.  More information is available at 721-8651.

The state Parole Board has denied David Dart's application to be released from prison, he has served over 24 years in jail for the 1989 stabbing death of Gillian Gibbons in her car in the Oneonta municipal garage.  Dart was convicted in Otsego county court and has been serving out that sentence in a downstate prison.  This was Dart’s first attempt at parole.

Sidney village police arrested 19-year-old Austin Demuth of Afton on 3 counts of grand larceny, 17 counts of petty larceny and 5 counts attempted petty larceny.  The arrests followed an investigation of larcenies from unlocked vehicles in the Bird Avenue and Circle Drive area on December 4th.  More arrests are expected, as similar crimes have been committed in Sidney center, Bainbridge, Greene & Cooperstown.  Demuth was arraigned & was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $5,000 bail pending court action on February 13th.  Police urge residents to lock up their homes & vehicles to prevent such crimes.

The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce will host a meeting tonight at the Highway 7 Bar & Grill at 7:00 pm, to discuss the future of the Canoe Regatta. Bainbridge Chamber President John Payne told WCDO News that they will need a new chairman after this year’s regatta, and they are battling the misconception in the region that this is a Bainbridge only event:

(John Payne 2-4-14)

Payne said that they need a lot of volunteers for this year’s regatta and & a new chairperson to take over for John Harmon, who will not continue in that capacity beyond this May.  More information will be available at tonight’s meeting, which is open to the public; information is also available at the chamber office at 967-8700.

State Budget hearings are being conducted in Albany currently, this week; area Assemblyman Cliff Crouch questioned Department of Health Commissioner Nirav Shah on the staffing shortage at the Oxford Veterans home:

(Crouch Shah 2-4-14)

Dr. Shah also stated that there is no timetable for his department to finish up their study of possible health effects from Hydraulic Fracturing for Natural Gas, the state has had a moratorium in place since 2008 on gas drilling.

The state’s new I-STOP program has cut “doctor shopping” by 75% according to state health department officials.  The I-STOP program started in August, where Doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners are now required file prescriptions to pharmacies by the Internet, and to check the database before prescribing painkillers.  Pharmacists are responsible for recording related prescriptions; the law is designed to help practitioners review patient drug histories through the health department’s online registry.

Republicans in the state senate filed a bill to move New York's primary day to late August, arguing the current September date for state offices is too late, to comply with a federal law, that requires ballots for military and overseas voters to be sent out at least 45 days before the general election.  Assembly Democrats passed a bill last month to move state primaries to the 4th Tuesday in June, coinciding with New York's federal primary date.  If lawmakers fail to agree on a primary date, municipalities will hold a primary for federal offices in June and a separate primary for state offices in September

Membership in the National Rifle Association has increased in New York since the state's New York SAFE Act went into effect 1 year ago.  . The number of people who enrolled nearly doubled last year, New York previously ranked 3rd in NRA membership behind Texas and California, New York now has the most NRA members.

NYSEG officials announced today that they are aware of fraudulent activities where customers are contacted by email, phone or in person and asked to pay current or past due charges, the payment ends up with scammers, and not NYSEG.  Officials said that NYSEG will not call customers for payment if an account is in good standing; customers are urged to contact the company and sign up for their “AutoPay” service. At NYSEG.com.  Customers, who believe they have been scammed, should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov and their local police.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Division arrested 3 people in connection with the distribution of Heroin in the Town of Norwich.  Charged were 28-year-old Ashley Wakefield of Norwich and 22-year-old Keith Johnson of New Berlin, they are accused of attempting to sell heroin to an undercover Police Officer in Norwich.  Johnson was found to have 10 bags of heroin, a hypodermic needle and prescription drugs.  Wakefield was charged with Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, 4th degree Conspiracy, Criminally Possessing a Hypodermic Instrument, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. She was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $5,000 cash bail.  Johnson was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, He was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $10,000 cash bail.  24-year-old Andrew Cleveland was also charged with 4th degree Facilitation, he was released on an appearance ticket.

State police arrested 16-year-old Wade Armstrong of Delhi for reckless endangerment and unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle. Police responded to the report of an unauthorized use of a motor vehicle on State Route 23 in Andes, Armstrong refused to stop and attempted to evade apprehension by driving erratically and speeding.  Troopers deployed a stinger tire deflation device; Armstrong then fled his disabled vehicle on foot and was apprehended.  Armstrong was arraigned in the Town of Andes Court and remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $3,000.00 cash bail.

Governor Cuomo’s popularity increased, while his potential opponents were way behind, according to a Siena College poll. Cuomo had 66% to 28% favorability and had a 50-point lead over potential Republican opponents Donald Trump and Rob Astorino.  Voters were also supportive of Cuomo’s plans in his State of the State address January 8th.

The state DOT is not adequately monitoring whether commercial carriers whose vehicles or drivers have been taken off the road because of violations are making needed repairs or corrections, which puts the public at risk, according to an audit (http://www.osc.state.ny.us/audits/allaudits/093014/12s13.pdf) by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.   Auditors found that in 60% the DOT did not use such enhanced enforcement actions to ensure compliance with the law, violators in these instances typically received only a traffic citation.  A copy of the report, including DOT’s response, is available at osc.state.ny.us (http://www.osc.state.ny.us/audits/allaudits/093014/12s13.pdf).

Email scams are being reported by people in the Southern Tier, involving phony emails asking for personal information.  The state attorney general office warns downloading an attachment from an unknown email could give scam artists access to your computer, they recommended to never open a link or download an attachment from someone you don't know or don't trust.

State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah reminds New Yorkers about the importance of testing their homes for radon. According to the federal EPA, Radon cannot be seen or smelled, it is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer and is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. annually. About 37% of tested basements in New York State have elevated radon levels.  More information is available at health.ny.gov

New York State’s unemployment rate decreased from 7.4% to 7.1% in December 2013, according to figures released today by the State Labor Department.  In December, the state’s economy added 10,400 private sector jobs, to just over 7.5 million.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School District  will hold a Board of Education Meeting today in the Guilford School Cafeteria at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

Regional Lawmakers are responding to governor Cuomo’s plans that were outlined in yesterday’s “State of The State” address in Albany.  State Senator Jim Seward of Milford said that he liked the tax cut agenda:

(Seward 1-9-14)

State senator Tom Libous of Binghamton also responded favorable to the governor’s tax plans:

(Libous 1-9-14)

Libous said that he was a bit surprised that the Governor did not mention Hydrofracking during the speech, which has been on hold in New York for over 5 years.  Next, the governor will unveil his executive budget proposal to lawmakers on January 21st.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office along with the City of Norwich Police Department arrested three individuals Wednesday, following a lengthy investigation into the distribution of crack cocaine.  Charged were 32-year-old Tarik Patterson of Utica, 41-year-old Mary Franklin of Norwich and 36-year-old Rachel O’Neill of Norwich, for 3rd degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.  Law enforcement confiscated 6 individual Baggies of crack cocaine weighing approximately seven grams, cash, and drug paraphernalia.  All 3 were arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and remanded to the Chenango County Jail on cash bail pending court action in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

The Delaware county board of supervisors have re-elected Jim Eisel of Harpersfield as chairman of the board for another term.  Walton Supervisor Bruce Dolph was selected as the county budget director.

US Senator Charles Schumer is asking the federal government to release more than $35 million to subsidize home heating for New Yorkers affected by a run of frigid weather. Schumer said some money from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is currently being held back. As of November, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services only obligated $316 million of the $351 million available for state residents this winter. With cold weather across the state, he says the money should be released now

New York’s long-term energy plan focuses on increased use of renewable energy and clean technology, while reducing consumer utility bills. The plan, released this week for a 60-day public comment period, calls for expanding use of natural gas instead of oil to reduce air emissions. But it doesn’t include expanding gas production through hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale. New York has had a moratorium on fracking since an environmental review was launched in 2008. Six public hearings will be held on the plan.

The Catskill Mountains Film Festival announced that they are accepting submissions for the festival exhibition & competition. The event will take place on May 2nd through May 4th primarily on the SUNY Delhi campus but also at suitable venues in Delaware County.   More information is available at catskillmountainsfilmfestival.org.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting today in the Guilford School Cafeteria at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.