WCDO Radio News

Broome County Sheriff's Office arrested 57 year old David Zimmer of Whitney Point following a high speed chase from Binghamton, onto I-88 into the Town of Fenton. on Tuesday,, a traffic stop was attempted on Zimmer, who's vehicle matched the description from an incident in Johnson city earlier. Zimmer was eventually stopped when his vehicle became disabled from a spike strip deployed by deputies & State Troopers. Zimmer faces 2 felony charges, 4 misdemeanors and 31 traffic violations following the high-speed pursuit, he was taken into custody, K9 units found cocaine in Zimmer's Vehicle, he was arraigned at & remains in custody at the Broome County Correctional Facility.

State Senator Peter Oberacker was elected to another term in the legislature this week, he commented about working in the State Senate for the 51st District:

(Peter Oberacker 11-8-24)

Oberacker defeated Democratic challenger Michele Frazier of Delhi by a substantial margin Tuesday.

The Otsego County Solid Waste Department has invited local school district to once again participate in the annual Plastic Film Recycling Challenge, starting November 15th to next April. Kyle King of the Solid Waste Department explains:

(Kyle King 11-8-24)

King said that the plastic film they are collecting includes grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, more information is available at 607-547-4256.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 11-8-24

Delaware County District Attorney Shawn Smith announced that the District Attorney’s Office will no longer participate in the Delaware County Drug Court Program. Smith stated that the motivation behind the creation of Drug Court was noble, to help low level, non-violent, drug users obtain the treatment they needed, but the State’s Bail Reform and Discovery Reform, has led to the portion of the population the program was meant to help, are no longer entering the criminal justice system. WCDO News will interview Smith for more on this story next week.

State Police issued a total of 9,984 tickets statewide during the annual DWI Halloween Enforcement campaign which started on Thursday, October 31, 2024, and continued through Sunday, November 3, 2024. State Police utilized sobriety checkpoints, additional DWI patrols, and ticketed distracted drivers who used handheld electronic devices. Troopers arrested 176 people for DWI and investigated 964 accidents, which resulted in three fatalities. Troopers issued almost 3600 tickets for speeding, Troop C had 678 total tickets during the initiative.

A Veterans Day Ceremony sponsored by the Gilbertsville Legion Auxiliary will be held on Sunday, the ceremony begins at 2:00 PM at the Grange Hall in Gilbertsville, it is open to the public.

The “Faces of Franklin" Exhibit of painted works by Bruce Goddard will be held Sunday at the Good Taste Epicurean Market at 438 Main Street in Franklin, The exhibit will be open Sunday from 2:00 to 6:00 PM.

Several Area Fire Departments responded to a Chimney Fire at 9 Ceperley Avenue in Oneonta early this morning. The Fire was reported shortly before 4:30 AM this morning, with fire on the 1st & 2nd floor, coming through the roof, mutual aid was received by the Oneonta Fire Department from West Oneonta, Worcester, Sidney, Franklin, Milford, Laurens & Otego, at about 5:30 AM, the Fire knocked down, the investigation into the cause of the fire in ongoing.

The Chenango County Sheriff's Office added 2 new deputies following their graduation from the Broome County Law Enforcement Academy. Deputies Tanner Franklin and Michael Smith completed the Basic Police Academy program, followed by a six-week field training course, prior to last Friday's Ceremony.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 10-29-24

56 year old Claude Manon of Margaretville, was sentenced to 6 months of incarceration to be followed by 5 years of probation supervision for Grand Larceny. Manon was accused of stealing over $3,000 in cash from a home he was doing work in on February 1, 2024, in the Town of Middletown, if Manon violates the terms of his probation, he faces one and a third to four years in State Prison.

Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar will be hosting a Public Safety Town Hall at 6:00 PM today for residents of Windsor and the surrounding communities. The Public Safety Town Hall will take place at the Village of Windsor Community House, Community members are invited to attend and hear the latest public safety updates, ask questions and discuss safety for residents and motorists.

Plans are moving forward for projects in the Norwich DRI Grant program, Commerce Chenango CEO & President Sal Testani explains:

(Sal Testani 7-11-24)

Among the project, and American Avenue Beautification Project, the Lackawanna Avenue Project, the downtown boutique hotel, a downtown brewery project, improvements to the Martin W. Kappel Theater, and a multi-purpose plan for the old Unguentine Building.

The Chenango County Health Department will hold a rabies vaccination clinic for Dogs, Cats & Ferrets today in Bainbridge. The clinic will run from 5:30 to 6:30 PM at the Bainbridge Town Hall. Pre-register at 607-337-1673, a $5 donation is suggested.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies received information last month that firearms had been turned over from 45 yr-old George Coulter to a third party for safe keeping. It was discovered during the course of the investigation that one of those firearms was a semi-automatic pistol & that Coulter did not possess a valid State Pistol permit. All firearms and one pistol were secured by Delaware County Sheriff Deputies, Coulter was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, he was released on an appearance ticket, returnable at a later date to the Franklin Town Court.

Congressman Marc Molinaro's constituent service team will hold mobile office hours from 10:00am to noon today at Windsor Village Hall, constituents will be able to connect with representatives from Rep. Molinaro's office to share comments and resolve issues they are having with federal agencies like the VA, IRS, and Social Security Administration.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 6-10-24

State Police responded Saturday Afternoon to a report of a single car crash with entrapment in the town of Franklin. 74 year old Gjeto Vulaj of Delhi was traveling south on County Highway 16 in a 2005 Jeep Wrangler, he went off the road into a ditch and his vehicle became engulfed in flames. Vulaj was trapped in the vehicle when a family member who was traveling behind him and another citizen attempted to remove him from the vehicle but they were unsuccessful. Vulaj was ultimately extricated by fire personnel from Franklin and Treadwell Fire Departments. He was transported to A.O Fox Hospital but did not survive. The family member who attempted to free Vulaj suffered smoke inhalation and burns. The investigation is continuing.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office continues to ask for the public's help in locating a stolen Bandit Wood-chipper from the area of BWS Road and Mill Brook Road in the Town of Middletown, sometime between June 3rd & 4th. Anyone who has any information pertaining to the theft of this piece of equipment to contact him should call 914-593-7500.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 6-10-24

Delaware County Board of Elections reminds County voters that the Primary Elections will be held on June 25th. There will be Democratic Party Primaries in Roxbury for the Town Council, & in the 102nd Assembly District, There will be no Republican primary elections in Delaware County. The last day to register for the primary is June 15th, the last day for the Board of Elections to receive early mail/absentee ballot applications online or by mail is June 15th. Early Voting, Saturday, June 15th through Sunday, June 23rd will be held at the Board of Elections Office 97 Main St, Suite 5, Delhi, more information is available at 607-832-5321.

Delaware County Public Health will hold a Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic For dogs, cats, and ferrets today from 5:30PM to 7:30PM, at the Franklin Fire Hall, 351 Main Street, Franklin. Dogs must be on a leash & under proper control. Cats and Ferrets should be in a carrying case, more information is available at Delaware County Public Health at (607) 832-5200.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 3-21-24

Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrested 45 year old Nehemiah Clark of Bloomville and 25 year old Jordan Clark of Andes man on drug charges. Deputies assisted State Parole Officers with conducting a home visit at the Delaware County homeless shelter in Bloomville, where it was determined that the parolee was not at the residence and was violating his terms with parole, a vehicle was observed passing by with the parolee inside and a traffic stop was conducted. Deputies & K9 Dexter determined that both occupants were in possession of fentanyl, they were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance & were released on appearance tickets to the Town of Kortright Court at a later date.

Helios Care 2024 Daffodil Jazz Brunch will again be at the home of Tom Morgan and Erna McReynolds in Franklin on April 20th from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. Money raised will go to the programs for patients and families served by Helios Care. More information is available at helioscare.org/events or by phone 607 432-6773.

The Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrested 27 year old Ford Bailey-Banks of Davenport for 2nd degree Burglary, criminal trespass. On March 5th, 2024, Sheriffs Deputies received a complaint that Bailey-Banks had entered onto another’s property and into dwelling, where he stole multiple items as well a firearm, he was transported to the Delaware County Sheriffs Office to await Centralized Arraignment Processing and will be scheduled to appear at the Town of Harpersfield Court at a later date to answer for the charges.

A.M. NEWS 3-21-24

State Police arrested 25 year old Jesse Micha-Hurlburt of Bainbridge, for Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Disseminating Indecent Material of a Minor 2nd degree, Coercion and Unlawful Publication of an Intimate Image. On December 8, 2023, State Police received a report of an unknown individual requesting indecent material from a minor over text message and social media, he was arrested earlier this week, and was transported to Chenango County Jail.

The Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 39 year old Timothy Melius of Pittsfield for Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, Failure to Provide Sustenance to Animals, Endangering the Welfare of a Child & Harassment following an investigation in to reported on-going child abuse in the Town of Pittsfield. Investigation revealed that Melius allegedly subjected minors to physical abuse & for intentionally kill a kitten with a baseball bat. Melius was located Wednesday and was taken in to custody, and was being held at the Otsego County Correctional Facility pending future court action, an order of Protection was requested to be issued on behalf of the victims.

Congressman Marc Molinaro will have his constituent service team holding mobile office hours from noon to 2:00pm today, at the Oneonta Town Hall, from 11:00am-1:00pm tomorrow at the Greene Village Hall, and from 10:00am to 12:00pm on Wednesday, March 27 at the Deposit Town Hall.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 1-5-24

The 1st significant Snowfall of the winter will affect the area late Saturday & into Sunday, local Meteorologist Rich Townsend explains:

(Rich Townsend 1-5-24)

The National Weather Service has a WINTER STORM WARNING in effect from 1:00 PM Saturday to Sunday night at 7:00 PM.

Delaware County Sheriff Deputies arrested 20 year old Timothy Taylor of Starlight Pennsylvania, formerly of Franklin last year for the charge of Endanger the Welfare of a Child and Sexual Misconduct. On September 27th, 2023, the Town of Hancock Court had issued an Bench Warrant for Timothy Taylor for Failing to Appear for a scheduled Court hearing. On December 31st, the Delaware County was contacted by the Chenango County Sheriff’s office that they had taken Taylor in custody on unrelated charges. Taylor was turned over to the Delaware County Sheriff Deputies where he was transported to the Delaware County Correctional Facility to await the Centralized Arrangement Process.

Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 22 year old Cody Amidon of Sherburne for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to sell & Criminal use of Drug Paraphernalia, after conducting a traffic stop on a motor vehicle for an equipment violation, in the Town of Norwich. Amidon had a backpack containing methamphetamine, a digital scale, and packaging materials, He will appear in the Town of Norwich court at a later date.

The Bainbridge Town Hall Theatre and Gallery Presents the Susquehanna String Band tonight, Spokesman Phil Wade explains:

(Phil Wade 1-5-24)

In The Gallery will be works by C. STANLEY HALE., more information is available at jerichoarts.com.