WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 10-19-21

Norwich City Police Arrested 49 year old Gary Hackett of Norwich Monday for Criminal Sale of a A controlled substance. Hackett is accused of selling Methamphetamines in Norwich, he was arraigned in Norwich City Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility without bail, pending court action on Thursday in Norwich City Court.

This Saturday, the Sidney Police Department will be participating in the National Drug Take Back Day. Village residents can dispose of their expired, unused or unwanted prescription medication between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, in the lobby of the Sidney Police Department on Liberty Street, no hypodermic needles, liquids or inhalers will be accepted.

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed 2 pieces of legislation boosting transparency in state and local government. The first piece of legislation requires documents that are going to be discussed at open meetings to be made available on request or posted on the government's website at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. The second piece of legislation requires the MTA to publish its data in formats that are easily accessible and can be easily downloaded and used by the public.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of a new centralized website for New York State COVID-19 data. This website includes new data as well as a reorganization of previously released data to make it easier for the public to access, read and understand. In addition, more COVID-19 data is now being made available at coronavirus.health.ny.gov.

The Greater Oneonta Historical Society has released "Voices of the Pandemic," a new interview series recording the reactions of Oneonta's institutional leaders to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The interview series is free and accessible at oneontahistory.org. More information about the Society is available at 432-0960.

The New York State Cannabis Control Board will hold a public meeting at 1:00 PM this Thursday, virtually. The public can view the meeting at players.brightcove.net, Videos and transcripts of the meeting will be posted at cannabis.ny.gov.

A.M. NEWS 10-19-21

Delaware County Public Health reported 33 new COVID cases Saturday through Monday, with a 9% positivity rate for those tested, they report 133 active cases, 11 hospitalized and 280 quarantined, they had had 60 COVID deaths. 51.6% of the County residents are fully vaccinated.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the award of $20.7 million for strategic infrastructure enhancements at 24 public-use airports across New York. In the Southern Tier; $1.5 million toward installation of energy efficient lighting and replacement of the revenue control system at the Greater Binghamton Airport in Broome County. $200,000 will go for energy efficiency Jet Hangar improvements, including high-efficiency heating and LED lighting and general hangar rehabilitation activities at the Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport in Chenango County.

The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce will hold their next meeting this morning. The Chamber meeting will begin at 7:30 am at the back of Bob's Diner, Chamber members are urged to attend.

Chenango County Sheriff's Office executed a "no knock" search warrant in the Town of German Monday, following a lengthy narcotics trafficking investigation involving 36 year old Jonas Whaley of the Town of German. At approximately 5:30 am Monday, members of the Broome-Chenango-Endicott SWAT team entered Whaley's residence on Chenango County Road 2, they located Whaley within a bedroom, where he is accused of attempting to flush methamphetamine down the toilet, about 4 ounces of methamphetamine was recovered, officers also seized 13 long guns, 2 assault rifles, pistols & "ghost guns", with hundreds of rounds of ammunition & over $3600 in cash. Whaley was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Tampering with Physical Evidence & Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia, whaley is being held pending court action. Members of the Broome County Sheriff's Office, State Police, Madison County Sheriff's Office, and Endicott Police Department assisted.

Former long time area Congressman Sherwood Boehlert has died at the age of 84. Boehlert Served as Oneida County Executive prior to his lengthy tenure in the US House of Representatives from 1982 to 2006. Boehlert served as Chairman of the House Science committee, he served on that Committee during the investigation into the 9/11 terrorist attacks and he also traveled twice to the South Pole to get a first-hand look at United States research operations.

State Police at Sidney arrested 24 year old Gary Rousseau Jr of Carbondale, Pennsylvania Sunday for Driving While Intoxicated. A trooper was dispatched to a report of a 1-vehicle rollover on I-88 west in the town of Bainbridge, The trooper located a vehicle on its roof and learned that the driver had been removed from the vehicle, & Rousseau was being treated by Sidney EMS. Police said that Rousseau was impaired; he was transported to Wilson Hospital for treatment & was issued appearance tickets to the Bainbridge Town Court on October 12th.

Chenango County Public Health reported their 83rd COVID 19 death today. Chenango County has 121 Active Cases, 54 of those are vaccinated, there are 292 Active Quarantines, 6 hospitalized 1 of those is vaccinated, and they have had 4156 total cases with 3906 recoveries since the pandemic began.

Village of Sidney Police Department officers observed vehicles in Keith Clark Park Saturday after it had closed for the day. Officers found an operator of 1 of the vehicles in the park, showing signs of impairment. 21 year old Shane Dumond of South New Berlin was charged with DWI, Operating a motor vehicle with a BAC at .08 or higher, endangering the welfare of a child & Trespassing, he was released on appearance tickets for Village of Sidney Court at a later date.

The State Labor Department announced that the August Unemployment rate in the state dropped .2 to 7.4%. Locally, Chenango County had 4.8%, Delaware County 5.2% & Otsego County had an even 5%. The Greater Binghamton region reported 5.4% unemployment in August.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 9-21-21

Delaware County Sheriff's deputies received a 911 call from a motorist on State Highway 28 reporting being passed in a no passing zone in the Town of Delhi by an erratic driver. Deputies located 43 year old Elmar Kola of Staten Island, a Department of Motor Vehicle inquiry revealed that Kola’s driving privileges were suspended in New York. Kola was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and improper passing, he was issued traffic summonses for Town of Delhi Court on a later date.

The Delaware County Chamber has partnered with DCMO BOCES for a business start-up program starting October 5th with Classes on Tuesdays and Thursday from 6 - 8 pm., to help fledgling entrepreneurs get the knowledge they need to go forward, according to Delaware County Chamber President Ray Pucci:

(Ray Pucci 9-20-21)

Pucci said that Scholarships are available & more information about the program or registration, go to dcmoboces.com or call 746-2281. Registrations are due by the end of the month.

On September 3rd, 53 year-old Tina Kerschner of Downsville, appeared at the Delaware County Probation Office for a scheduled meeting with her Probation Officer. A routine search by Probation Officers led to the discovery and seizure of Suboxone, Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies charged Kerschner with criminal possession of a controlled substance, she was released on an appearance ticket for Town of Delhi Court on a later date.

Delaware County Public Health reported 65 new cases from Saturday to Monday, they now report 234 active cases, 387 are quarantined and 7 are hospitalized. 50.1% of the total population are vaccinated, 82% of the positive cases are unvaccinated, with 18% of the positive cases are vaccinated, 24% of the positive cases are Pre-K-12th students/employees & 1% of the positive cases are college students/employees

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 2-8-21

Governor Cuomo today gave a COVID 19 briefing in Albany,  he stated that the number of people allowed to have the vaccines continues to far greater that the supply the state gets each week from the federal government, but an increase is coming, and they may also shift supply from Hospitals that are failing to deliver vaccines to their staff:

(Cuomo 2-8-21)

Southern Tier hospitals are still among the highest in vaccinating staff.  COVID testing on Sunday was over 197,000 with just over 4% positivity rate, the lowest since late November.  Hospitalizations, Patients in ICU Beds & on Ventilators continues to trend downward, there were 114 deaths from the virus Sunday.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies responded Saturday to a domestic dispute on State Highway 10 in the Town of Walton.   The investigation by Deputies revealed that the dispute occurred in the presence of a child, the suspect is accused of damaging the victim’s phone in an attempt to prevent contacting law enforcement assistance.   Deputies arrested 37 year-old Anthony Anastasio of Walton for criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child, he was arraigned virtually and was released on an appearance ticket for Walton Town Court at a later date, and a Temporary Order of Protection was issued for the victim.

2 Supermarket chains announced today that they will merge and become a bigger presence in upstate counties.  Price Chopper/ Market 32 & the Tops Supermarkets chain will merge, the company will be headquartered in Schenectady & the merger should become official in about 3 months.

Organizers of the Binghamton St. Patrick parade announced today that they will cancel the event for the 2nd year in a row.  The event was scheduled for March 6th but will be cancelled again this year due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic.

State Police in Troop “C” issued 672 vehicle and traffic law tickets during the Super Bowl weekend.  Police issued 218 speeding tickets, 15 safety restraint violations,   18 for the Move Over law, 10 for distracted driving, 9 for driving while intoxicated/driving while impaired, Troopers responded to 30 accidents over the weekend and responded to 314 calls for service.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 2-8-21

State Police are investigating a fatal crash Friday night, where 50-year-old Douglas Parker of Halstead, Pennsylvania, was traveling west in the eastbound lanes, he struck a GMC SUV head-on driven by 27 year old Brooke Seidel of Windsor, her passengers were a 29-year-old male passenger and children ages 1, 3 and 4.  Seidel attempted evasive action but was struck head-on by Parker's vehicle, she went into a guardrail, Parker's vehicle rolled over & he was ejected.  A third vehicle was struck by debris, the driver was not injured.  Parker died at Wilson Hospital, Seidel's passengers escaped the vehicle, she was extricated & later died at Wilson Hospital, 2 of the children suffered bleeding to the head & face.

Delaware County Public Health reported 13 new cases of COVID Saturday, & and 10 new cases Sunday, with 19 hospitalized, 244 in quarantine & 100 active cases, they have reported 39 deaths from the virus since last spring.

The State Health Department reported 250,892 COVID Tests on Friday, with 10,025 Positive results, a rate of 4%.  Patient hospitalizations were down by more than 150 to 7,649, the Number of ICU Patients was down slightly to 1,459 & the number on ventilators was down to 979, there were 143 Deaths from the virus.

Republican Claudia Tenney has been named the winner of the 22nd Congressional District race following vote certification today, incumbent Congressman Anthony Brindisi has conceded the race to Tenney this afternoon.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will deliver a Virtual 2021 Budget Presentation to the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce today at 1:00 PM; Chamber Members can register at business.greaterbinghamtonchamber.com/events.