WCDO Radio News

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 5-4-26

Broome Sheriff’s Office arrested 34 year old Sayquan McKenzie of Camden New Jersey last week after deputies observed his vehicle making an illegal turn, his Georgia license plate was not registered, a traffic stop was initiated, leading to a pursuit, which ended after Deputies deployed stop sticks, the vehicle was disabled & McKenzie fled on foot but was apprehended after falling, he was taken to Wilson Hospital for medical treatment, and was then charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle, Obstructing Governmental Administration, False Personation, and a host of other charges, After answering to his charges in Broome County, McKenzie will be extradited due to warrants in other jurisdictions for assaulting a New York City Police Officer, and for a New Jersey robbery.

The Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force executed a search warrant at 117 Walnut St in Binghamton Tuesday, they seized cocaine, heroin, A digital scale, A loaded handgun which was stolen in Georgia, they arrested Joel Ramos, Luis Masso-Deleon and Tyeheem Crawley, all of Binghamton on drug & weapons charges, they were being processed by the Binghamton Police Department.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 9-4-25

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the start of the fall foliage travel season throughout New York State & the ‘I LOVE NY’ Fall Foliage Reports will be available online Every Wednesday Beginning September 10. For more than 40 years, I LOVE NY has issued weekly fall foliage reports and, this year, Reports are available online at iloveny.com/foliage or toll-free at 800-CALL-NYS.

Measles cases are rising in the U.S. with infections confirmed in at least five states so far this year, including Alaska, Georgia, New York, Rhode Island and Texas, mostly among individuals not vaccinated for measles, according to the CDC. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to humans, as 1 infected patient can spread measles up to nine out of 10 susceptible close contacts, especially if they are not wearing a mask or not vaccinated.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that 221 State and local government workers have been deployed to North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia to help with response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. Team members include staff from the National Guard, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Department of Transportation, DEC, State Police, Department of Agriculture and Markets, among many others. State Agencies are also gearing up deployment top Florida following the expected devastation from as Hurricane Milton heads towards Florida.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 9-17-24

The Broome County Sheriff's Office announced that a fugitive wanted for murder in Georgia was arrested Monday by their Warrants Division. Last week, the Sheriff’s Office received information that 21 year old Dawensley Astrel of Binghamton had an active arrest warrant out of the state of Georgia for Murder, he was enrolled as a student at Broome Community College. The Sheriff's Office coordinated with SUNY Broome Campus Safety to take Astrel into custody without incident, he will be extradited back to Georgia to face murder charges.

The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on the fatal plane crash that occurred on June 30 in Delaware County, killing 5 people. The report indicated that storm activity was in the plane's path, and that a controller had warned the pilot about the weather before the crash., although it is unclear if that was a factor in the crash. The report also found evidence of "overload failure", 5 people from Georgia will killed in the crash, the investigation is ongoing.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 7-1-24

A SINGLE ENGINE PLANE CRASHED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IN A WOODED AREA NEAR TROUT CREEK IN THE TOWN OF MASONVILLE. IT HAS BEEN LEARNED THAT A FAMILY OF 5 ALL DIED IN THE CRASH. THE FAMILY WAS IN COOPERSTOWN FOR A BASEBALL TOURNAMENT AND WERE RETURNING HOME TO THEIR HOME STATE OF GEORGIA. OVER 20 DIFFERENT EMERGENCY CREWS SEARCHED FOR THE PLANE YESTERDAY BEFORE DEBRIS WAS FINALLY LOCATED IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA NEAR LAKE CECIL ROAD AND HERRICK HOLLOW ROAD NORTH OF TROUT CREEK. THE DECEASED WERE IDENTIFIED AS 76 YEAR OLD ROGER BEGGS, 43 YEAR OLD LAURA VAN EPPS, 42 YEAR OLD RYAN VAN EPPS AND THEIR TWO SONS, 12 YEAR OLD JAMES VAN EPPS AND 10 YEAR OLD HARRISON VAN EPPS. SEARCH TEAMS USED A HELICOPTER, DRONES AND ATV'S TO LOCATE THE CRASH SCENE. THE FAA AND THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD, ALONG WITH THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE CRASH.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 4-8-24

The Southern Tier Music Festival will be held at the Sidney Airport on July 6th, featuring headline Nate Smith, organizers Ed Curley & Teri Schunk visited WCDO this morning to give an update:

(Ed Curley - Teri Schunk 4-8-24)

more information is available at southerntiermusicfest.com.

About 2 dozen people have been stricken statewide with a food parasite illness recently, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The outbreak is from a parasite called Cyclospora that has recently sickened people across 22 states, with 30 hospitalized. Cyclospora usually spreads through Produce that has been contaminated with feces, symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and fatigue. The CDC traced an outbreak in Georgia and Alabama to a tainted batch of broccoli, but the latest cases could be from different sources in the other states reporting cases of the sickness.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 6-26-23

The Town of Sidney Highway Department announced that Back River Road will be closed from Rte 357 to Exit 10 today through Wednesday, it will also be closed July 5th and July 6th for paving, area motorists are advised to use other local roads during the work periods.

The Broome County Special Investigations Unit & the Binghamton Metro SWAT team seized handguns following the execution of a search warrant at a Binghamton residence Thursday at 21 Mather Street in Binghamton. Police seized a loaded 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun, & a loaded 9mm Glock handgun, which was Reported stolen in Georgia, plus 2 high capacity handgun magazines Police arrested Darshean Beaman on 2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd degree, 4 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd degree & 1 count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, he faces court action at a later date.

One of the contestants on tonight's episode of "Jeopardy" has local ties to Sidney, Kelly Mraz is a music teacher in Georgia, & is the niece of Greg Davie, who told WCDO news that the episode was taped months ago, and the family won't know how she did until tonight:

(Greg Davie 1-9-23)

The show will be broadcast locally on the Binghamton ABC affiliate WIVT at 7:30 PM.

Binghamton's annual Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally will return to August this year in Otsiningo Park. The 2022 Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally will begin on Friday, August 5, continuing through the weekend. The festival's concerts will feature new performers this year, including Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line, Lou Gramm, formerly of Foreigner and Gary Levox of Rascal Flats. Tickets 7 More information is available at spiediefest.com.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 6-3-22

State Police updated information on Wednesday's head-on collision involving an SUV and a Trailways bus on State Highway 23 in the town of Davenport. The only occupant of the SUV, was 65-year-old Diane Bevins of Stamford, she was pronounced deceased on the scene. The driver of the bus, 44-year-old Joanna Reedman of Astoria, and a passenger, 59-year-old Aris Vavasis of Hartwick were transported to Bassett Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, 3 other passengers were not injured, the investigation is on-going.

The New York State Department of Agriculture issued an order prohibiting all live fowl shows and exhibitions in New York State this year to help prevent the spread of the avian flu that has hit 17 states so far. Four flocks have tested positive for the avian flu so far in New York. It's also been detected in wild birds, including snow geese and wild ducks across the State. Several other states have joined New York, banning poultry exhibitions including Arkansas, Iowa, and Georgia. The ban will remain in effect until further notice.

U.S. Marshals arrested a Georgia fugitive in Binghamton, who was wanted for a fatal shooting in Atlanta. Marshals arrested 21 year-old Dalonqueze Powell of Atlanta was arrested at a residence on Tracy Street in Binghamton, Marshals were assisted by State Police, Binghamton Police & several other agencies.

29 year old Corey Robinson was sentenced to 15 years in state prison today in Broome County Court, for the shooting of 46 year old Erika Smith-Cunningham, in Johnson City on Easter Sunday. Robinson had been at a house party at 92 Crocker Avenue in Johnson City; he left after a fight broke out & returned later & fired a shotgun into the building, fatally striking Smith-Cunningham. Robinson fled to Georgia; he was extradited back to New York to face prosecution.

3 people were arrested in connection with a series of area burglaries.  State Police arrested 27 year old Steven Barrows of Sidney and 27 year old Zackery England of Sidney for Burglary and Conspiracy and 30 year old Nicole Bell of Oneonta for False Personation, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Unlawfully Possessing a Noxious Material & as a fugitive from justice from the state of Georgia. An investigation revealed that Barrows and England allegedly attempted to break into the property in Guilford, burglarized a seasonal home in Oxford and a seasonal garage in Guilford. Bell originally provided a false name during the arrest of all 3, she was found to be in possession of 2 bb guns, methamphetamine, heroin and brass knuckles. Barrows and England were arraigned in the town of Oxford Court where Barrows was remanded with no bail to the Chenango County Jail and England was remanded on $15,000 cash bail or $30,000 property bond. Bell was arraigned in the town of Unadilla Court and was remanded to the Otsego County Jail on no bail.  Additional charges are also expected.

29 year old Corey Robinson has been brought back to Broome County to face murder charges, for the April 1st killing of Ericka Smith of Binghamton, at 92 Crocker Avenue in Johnson City. Robinson was located in Marietta Georgia & was returned to Broome County Friday, the murder weapon has been retrieved by State Police Divers from the Susquehanna River. Robinson is being held in the Broome County jail pending court action.

29-year-old Corey Robinson has waived extradition in Georgia, he will be returned shortly to Broome County to face charges of 2nd-degree murder, for the death of 46-year-old Erika Smith Cunningham of Binghamton, who died after being shot at 92 Crocker Avenue on April 1st. Robinson was taken into custody Thursday night in Marietta, Georgia. Johnson City Police also announced that the weapon believed to have been used in the shooting has been recovered from the Susquehanna River by State Police Divers on Saturday.

Johnson City Police Department announced that 29-year-old Corey Robinson is being detained in Marietta, Georgia, he is suspected of murdering 46 year old Erika Smith Cunningham, who was found dead at 92 Crocker Avenue Sunday morning. An arrest warrant was issued on Thursday and Robinson was taken into custody a few hours later. Robinson will be charged with 2nd degree murder, Extradition proceedings have begun, Robinson is expected to be returned to Broome County in about a week.

The American Red Cross announced that more than 13,400 people are currently housed in Shelters in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Virginia, following Hurricane Matthew. A total of more than 2,700 Red Cross disaster workers are supporting relief efforts. The Red Cross depends on donations to provide immediate relief; they can be made at redcross.org, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS-or texting the word MATTHEW to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Oneonta Police announced that a threat of terrorist activities in Oneonta by ISIS, from a man in Georgia, was not credible. Police said that that state & federal law enforcement investigators contacted Matthias Czako of Cumming Georgia, who claimed on various social media, that Isis was attack Oneonta during the July 4th Fireworks display following a baseball Game with the Oneonta Outlaws. Oneonta Police reported no issues at the July 4th Celebration; Czako retracted his announcement based on cracking various biblical codes, following the FBI investigation.

State Police arrested 42-year-old Gwen Raake of Acworth, Georgia for DWI and other traffic violations. Raake is accused of speeding at 78 miles per hour on I-88 in the Town of Oneonta, while intoxicated. Raake was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Oneonta court on July 5th.

10 men were arrested Wednesday on federal charges of conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids and engage in international money laundering in Broome County. The defendants were arrested Wednesday morning in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Georgia and Delaware. The case is being prosecuted by the US Attorney’s office, 4 of the 10 arrested were picked up in Broome County Wednesday, they have been identified as 37 year old Richard Progovitz of Port Crane, 32 year old Derek Strassle of Endicott, 31 year old Paul Boylan of Endicott, & 33 year old Jeremiah O’Brien, of Binghamton.

Governor Cuomo today announced that Jason Aldean would return to the New York State Fair Grandstand on Saturday, August 30th.  Florida Georgia Line and Tyler Farr will open; Tickets will go on sale at 9:00 AM this Saturday, February 8th at the State Fair Box Office and the Fair's online ticket seller, etix.com.

An exhibit of 10 battle flags carried during the Civil War is on display in Abany. The exhibit called “1863: Loyal Till Death” has flags from units across the state, including two used during the Battle of Gettysburg. One of the flags belonged to the 119th New York Volunteers recruited from New York City and Hempstead that was captured when two men carrying it were mortally wounded. It was returned after the war by soldiers from a Georgia unit. The other belonged to the 146th New York Volunteers from Oneida County and flew during the fighting at Gettysburg’s Little Round Top. The flags will be displayed near the Capitol’s eastern entrance until next May

The centers for disease control in Atlanta Georgia reported today that new government figures show that flu cases are leveling off nationwide. Flu activity is declining in most regions although still rising in the West.  Hospitalizations and deaths spiked again last week, especially among the elderly. The CDC reported that 8 more children have died from the flu, bringing this season's total pediatric deaths to 37. About 100 children die in an average flu season.  New York state health department officials still advise that those who have not yet received a flu vaccine, and who have not suffered with the flu, should still arrange to get a flu shot soon.