WCDO Radio News

State Police arrested a 4th man connected to the shooting of 50 year old Timothy Mancini on September 24th at 112 Carl Street in the Town of Union, Broome County. 45-year-old Kevin Standish of Endicott was arrested for the felony of Tampering with Physical Evidence. Standish was arraigned in the Town of Union court and remanded to the Broome County jail in lieu of bail. His next court date is pending.

American Airlines announced that they would discontinue service from both the Greater Binghamton & Elmira Corning Regional airports in February. Service to and from Philadelphia will be discontinued at both airports on February 15th, 25 positions will be lost with that change.

Today is National Farmers Day & the State Tax Department and the State Department of Agriculture and Markets remind farmers of tax credits available to them, to reinvest in their businesses. Beginning next year, farm employers will benefit from the newly introduced Farm Workforce Retention Credit, which is equal to a fixed-dollar amount for each eligible farm employee, the credit will be phased in through 2021. Historic barns that are reconstructed or rehabilitated and meet certain other requirements may qualify for a property tax exemption. Farmers are eligible for a sales tax break when they purchase items such as machinery, equipment, and supplies used predominantly in farm production. More information is available through the state Tax department, the State Ag & Markets Department or local tax assessors.

The State Office for the Aging reminds older New Yorkers about the importance of getting their flu vaccination as soon as possible. “Flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get their annual flu vaccine by the end of October. The CDC also reports that a study conducted in 2016 showed that those people 50 years and older who got a flu vaccine reduced their risk of getting hospitalized from flu by 57%. More information on the flu and flu vaccine clinics in New York State, are available at health.ny.gov.

Long time Sidney resident & Businessman Jim Barnhart passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, at the age of 72, in Asheville, North Carolina while spending time with his family. Barnhart worked at & eventually owned C.H. Landers Funeral home until retirement in 2015. Calling hours will be at C.H. Landers Friday, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm and 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Funeral services will be held Saturday, at 11:00 am at the funeral chapel. Burial will follow in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Sidney. Memorial donations in Jim's memory may be directed to the Delaware Valley Humane Society, the Sidney United Methodist Church Memorial Fund; New York State Tribute Foundation, 1 South Family Drive, Albany, NY 12205 or the Sidney Central School Alumni Association.

Broome County Executive Debbie Preston acknowledged that she used a town of Conklin credit card for personal purchases at area stores, while serving as Conklin Town Supervisor. Preston said that repaid the money to the town in a press conference yesterday afternoon, she insisted that she will stay in the race to try to retain her seat as county executive, she is facing Democrat Jason Garner for the seat.

The City of Oneonta was selected as the winner of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative yesterday, to redevelop the downtown area & make it a hub of activity & economic development. Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig comments:

(Gary Herzig 7-20-16)

Mayor Herzig said that they partnered with Otsego Now to develop the plans; they will need to partner with private investors to move the projects forward. More details are available at the city website: Oneonta.ny.us/city/government/authentically-oneonta.

State Police arrested 32-year-old Timothy Reid of Binghamton for allegedly speeding on State Route 12 in the Town of Oxford. Reid is also accused of driving with an open alcohol container, in possession of a loaded handgun, methamphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine, LSD, oxycodone, marihuana, drug paraphernalia and fireworks. Reid was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, he was arraigned in the Town of Guilford court and remanded to the Chenango County jail on $15,000 cash bail or $30,000 property bond, Additional charges are pending.

4 people were arrested Tuesday by the Delaware County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division in relation to narcotics sales that led to the execution of search warrants and drug possession arrests made by Deputies earlier this year. Arrested were 27-year-old Antonio Felice of Walton, he is accused of selling heroin bundles and cocaine in the Village of Walton. Also arrested were 25-year-old Lucas Labumbard & 20 year old Anna Bubko of Margaretville, for allegedly selling Hydrocodone near the Margaretville Central School. 46-year-old John Coe of Deposit was charged for allegedly selling bundles of heroin in the Village of Deposit. All 4 are being held on bail in the Delaware County jail pending future court action.

State Police arrested 52-year-old William Daniels of Tampa, Florida for DWI, and several other traffic violations, after troopers responded to a report of a car leaving the scene of a crash on Leland Hill Road in the Town of Franklin. Daniels is accused of driving while intoxicated when he crashed into mailboxes and then left the scene, he also refused to submit to a breath test to determine his blood alcohol content. Daniels was arraigned in the Town of Oneonta court and was remanded to the Otsego County jail in lieu of $1,250 cash bail or $2,500 property bond, pending court action Thursday in the Town of Oneonta court.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 54 year old Theodore Tiska of Masonville with 4 four counts of Criminal Contempt, for allegedly violating an Order of Protection issued by Town of Sidney Court earlier this year. Tiska is accused of calling the protected party while being incarcerated at the Delaware County Jail; Correctional Facility staff discovered the calls. Tiska is retired from the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, he remains held on $75,000 cash bail on a charge of 2nd degree Attempted Murder, he will be arraigned on the new charges in the Town of Delhi Court at a later time.

The Delaware County Sheriffs department conducted an investigation into a physical altercation in the Town of Andes, Deputies arrested 34 year old Jennifer Myers & 39 year old Christopher Fairbairn of Arkville for strangulation and unlawful imprisonment. Both were arraigned in the Town of Andes Court & were remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility in lieu of $2500 bail.

Governor Cuomo encouraged New York’s county fairs to apply for a $5 million Agricultural Fairgrounds Infrastructure Improvement Program this fall. Funding for the program help offset the cost of improvement and renovation projects, including new construction, at eligible county fairs. The State Department of Agriculture and Markets will release detailed eligibility requirements and the application this fall, allowing the county fairs time to prepare project proposals that are shovel-ready and that could be implemented starting next year. Grant funding will not exceed $200,000 and will be awarded on a first-come basis.

State Police at Sidney are still investigating a burglary that was reported on the morning of June 5th at the Frog Pond Farms located on State Route 7, in the Town of Bainbridge. An investigation as determined that the burglary occurred in the evening hours and that an unknown amount of cash was taken. Anyone with information is asked to please contact the State Police at 561-7434.

State Police at Troop C announced that they are seeking Daniel McElroy on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance, & failing to show at court after he was arrested. On December 23, 2010, the Town of Chenango Court issued a bench warrant McElroy's arrest, he has a large visible tattoo on the side of his neck, and anyone with information should contact the state police at 775-1241

The State DOT will hold an open house public meeting today at the village of Windsor Community House, at 107 Main Street, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, to discuss a project to replace the decks on two local bridges over State Route 17. Each bridge will be closed for 6 weeks at a time, during the closure of East Boskett Road over Route 17, traffic will be detoured to Route 17 and County Road 28. During the closure of County Road 28 over Route 17, Route 17 between Exits 81 and 82 will serve as the detour route. Construction is expected to be performed during the 2017 season.

Delaware County Deputies arrested 69 year old Manuel Fernandez of Hamden for Criminal possession of a weapon, He was arraigned in the Town of Hamden Court and released on his own recognize. Fernandez allegedly possessed a loaded pistol in his residence when he has no pistol permit and also had a loaded rifle in his residence in Hamden, he is a convicted who can not legally possess weapons.

State Police and the United States Postal Inspection Service announced the arrest of 22 people and the seizure of drugs, weapons, cash and one vehicle resulting from a joint drug investigation throughout Central New York. “Operation Pandora’s Box,” targeted drug suppliers from New York and around the nation -- and even overseas -- who are using the U.S. Mail to ship narcotics and synthetic drugs, along with other contraband, into the region. Among those arrested locally, 23-year-old Erica Cirzeveto of Binghamton, 24-year-old Nefateia Brink of Binghamton, both on a variety of drug charges, and 37-year-old Terry Davis of Oneonta, for Criminal Possession of Marihuana.

The Out Of The Woodwork Players have assembled a 28 member cast for the play “A Funny Little Thing Call Love” Area Merchant & Local Theater veteran Rich Cooley told WCDO News about the veteran local actors who are performing in this play:

(Rich Cooley 4-12-16)

The play will be held at the Bainbridge Town Hall Theater Performances: Friday, April 15th & Saturday, April 16th at 7:00pm, and Sunday April 17th at 2:00pm. Tickets can be purchased at owptheatre@yahoo.com OR contact or at Cooley’s jewelers on Main Street in Sidney at 563-1311.

Congressmen Chris Gibson co-introduced bipartisan legislation to bring fairness to the federal system used to determine the price dairy farmers are paid for their milk. The Dairy Margin Insurance Location Calculation Act amends the Farm Bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to use statisitcs from each state to calculate average feed cost and actual dairy production margins. The current margin protection program is harmful to New York dairy farms because it uses calculations based on the average feed costs associated with the Midwest and other differing markets.

Governor Cuomo announced that efforts by state and local law enforcement have resulted in an 840% increase in tickets for texting while driving in New York State since 2011. While the number of cell phone tickets have decreased each year since 2011. The announcement was made in conjunction with Distracted Driving Awareness Month and Operation Hang Up, a distracted driving crackdown by the State Police and local law enforcement. New York State prohibits drivers from Holding a portable electronic device, Talking on a handheld phone; sending or retrieving e-mails, text messages, or logging onto websites, or playing electronic games.

Delaware County Public Health Services announces a Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic For dogs, cats, and ferrets tonight from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the Hancock Town Hall.

State Police in Oneonta want to advise the public and local businesses that multiple stores in the Oneonta area have recently received several $10 and $20 Norfed “Liberty Dollar” medallions. These medallions are privately produced products that are neither backed by, nor affiliated with the United States Government. They are not genuine United States Mint coins and are not legal tender despite their appearance. These silver medallions are only worth the value of the silver that they are made of; any store clerk who is handed one of these during a sale should not accept it.

With just under 2 weeks to go, more than 500 fire departments across the State have signed up to participate in RecruitNY on the weekend of April 23rd & 24th. RecruitNY is designed to increase membership in volunteer fire departments, fire department volunteers will conduct tours of their facilities, demonstrate firefighting techniques, allow visitors to try on turnout gear. To find out which fire department are participating, visit recruitny.org.

Officials at the Delaware County Fair announced that All Grandstand Tickets and the Reithoffer Show's MEGA PASS are now on sale, Delaware County fair committee member John Jackson said that Reithoffer’s has been affiliated with the Delaware County Fair for many years::

(John Jackson 4-12-16)

The tickets for the Delaware county Fair are available at delawarecountyfair.org, by phone at 1-800-585-3737 or locally in Walton at Hodges Sales and Service at 53 Liberty Street during normal business hours.

The State Department of Health announced the launch of the “Treat Nicotine Addiction Campaign,” to urge health care providers to reframe smoking as an addiction to nicotine, rather than a bad habit, and to treat nicotine addiction with counseling and medication. Patients who are encouraged to quit and begin medication are 2 to 3 times more likely to remain smoke-free. The Treat Nicotine Addiction Campaign will run through June 2016.

The Walton police department responded to the report of a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle Thursday night. Walton police reported that 31 year old Chad Stadler of Walton was hit by a vehicle driven by 51 year old Bryan Mead of Walton at about 8:00 PM Thursday, he was taken to Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City, where he died from his injuries.

2 LOCAL SIDNEY HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES WILL BE TRAVELING OVERSEAS THIS SUMMER TO COMPETE IN SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL EVENTS IN TRACK & FIELD AND FIELD HOCKEY. SIDNEY'S MALLORY STILLMAN HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR THE "DOWN UNDER SPORTS" TRACK & FIELD TOURNAMENT IN JULY ON AUSTRALIA'S GOLD COAST. STILLMAN IS AN ALL-STATE SPRINTER FOR THE WARRIORS AND SAYS IT WILL BE MOSTLY THE SHORT, FAST RACES THAT SHE WILL BE COMPETING IN AT THE TOURNAMENT:

(Stillman 1-18-16)

SIDNEY FIELD HOCKEY STANDOUT & 3-SPORT ATHLETE LILLY HINKLEY WAS INVITED TO TRY OUT FOR THE 2016 USA ITALY FIELD HOCKEY EXHIBITION TOUR ALSO IN JULY. HINKLEY EXPLAINS HOW SHE FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY:

(HINKLEY 1-18-16)

BOTH ATHLETES HAVE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THEIR TRIPS. STILLMAN HAS A CHICKEN & BISCUIT DINNER AT THE SIDNEY ELKS CLUB ON FEBRUARY 6TH & HINKLEY IS SELLING GERTRUDE HAWK CANDY BARS AS WELL AS HAVING A BOTTLE DRIVE AT THE REDEMPTION CENTER ON CARTWRIGHT AVENUE IN SIDNEY. Both athletes will announce future fundraisers this Spring shortly.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, New York Farm Bureau and New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health have announced the establishment of a fund to help New York farmers enhance safety on the farm. The program will allow farmers to make safety upgrades by paying for 50% of the cost of the proposed project up to a $5,000 maximum. Farmers can apply for any type of safety upgrade on their farm, Applications may be obtained online at nycamh.org, or by calling 800 343-7527 or by emailing info@nycamh.org.

The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce and other area organizations are teaming up for the annual Bruce Haak memorial Sleighride later this month. Chamber member Phil Canonaco comments:

(Phil Canonaco 1-18-16)

Canonaco said that the event even if there is no snow, as arrangements have been made to bring wheeled units on January 30th to General Clinton Park.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office concluded their investigation off last week’s 2 vehicle crash on State Highway 12 in the Town of Sherburne. The accident occurred at about 10:23 am. Lance Yerton of Sherburne was Southbound on State Highway 12, when a vehicle operated by 69 year old Larry Cooley of Sayre Pennsylvania crossed the center line and struck Yerton’s vehicle. Cooley was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Utica, Yerton was also transported to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital with face and leg injuries. It appears that Cooley suffered a heart attack prior to the crash which caused him to cross the center line into Yerton’s lane.

Delaware County Public Health sent a raccoon found in the Town of Hamden for testing to the State Rabies Lab, it tested positive for rabies. There were no human exposures reported. A total of three animals tested positive for rabies in 2015; this is first animal of 2016 to test positive for rabies in Delaware County. To report a suspected rabid animal call Delaware County Public Health Services at 832- 5200. More information is available at delawarecountypublichealth.com

An observance of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be held this morning at 9:30 a.m. in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. The public is invited to attend the free program in celebration of the 87th anniversary of Dr. King’s birth. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.