WCDO Radio News

Governor Cuomo today announced that his administration has reached a three-year labor agreement with the New York State Public Employees Federation. PEF is one of the largest unions in the United States and is New York's second-largest state-employee union, representing 54,000 workers. The three-year contract agreement includes a 2 percent increase in 2016-17, 2 percent increase in 2017-18 and a 2 percent increase in 2018-19. Both the state and PEF agree to work together on a plan to reduce out-of-control healthcare costs. Other elements of the contract will be released shortly. The contract must now be approved by its Executive Board and ratified by its membership.

Operation Merry Christmas is asking for calls right now from low income families whose children would like Christmas presents this year. Program Coordiantor Ginny Ireland explains:

(Ginny Ireland 10-20-16)

Ireland said that once all the requests are made, the tags on Christmas Trees will show up in many Tri-Town Area Establsihments, patrons will take tags & return with the request item, the give away will be on December 10th at 44 Union Street in Sidney.

NYSEG is reporting that about 140 customers in Chenango County were without power, mainly in Guilford Oxford & Bainbridge. Crews hope to have power restored shortly.

Tickets for the Bainbridge Commitment to Community Dinner will be available for only a few more days. The Dinner will honor the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year; John Payne & Business of the Year: Nana's Keepsakes, it will be held at the Sundown Golf & Country Club on Saturday, October 29th. Tickets for the dinner are available to purchase at the Bainbridge Town Clerk's Office, NBT Bank in Bainbridge, Bob's Diner & Nana's Keepsakes or you can contact Chris Smith @ 967-3005.  Tickets will be available for purchase until Saturday, October 22nd.

NYSERDA’s NY-Sun PV Trainers Network and the Otsego County Planning Department invite all local public officials to attend the Land Use Planning and Zoning for Solar Workshop tonight. The workshop will cover information on current solar topics, including relevant property tax topics related to solar development and agricultural assessments. The presentation will take place at the ETC Room, at the Milford BOCES at 1914 County Route 35, tonight from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM

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

A Town of Greene resident was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office for Criminal Mischief & Harassment following a Domestic Dispute in the Town of Greene. Deputies arrested 56-year-old Joshua Browning who allegedly intentionally pushed the victim and prevented the victim from call 911 by damaging a phone. Browning was arraigned in the Town of Greene court and released on his own recognizance. Browning is to reappear in the Town of Greene Court at a later date.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 31-year-old Courtney Otte of Walton for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree. Deputies allege the defendant operated a motor vehicle in a northerly direction on State Highway 10 in the Town of Walton while having an active suspension on her license for failure to answer a summons. Otte was additionally charged with unlicensed operation, operating a motor vehicle with an out headlight, and was released on traffic tickets returnable to Walton Town Court at a later date.

The Greater Maywood Society has been attempting to sell the firmer Sidney Center School, but they are planning a special community event to open up time capsules Saturday. Spokesman Mike Sellitti explains:

(Mike Sellitti 8-27-16)

The event is open to the public; it will also feature music, a barbecue, as well as displays & memorabilia from the Greater Maywood Society & the Sidney Alumni Association. The event runs from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Saturday at the former Sidney Center School.

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

A Town of Plymouth resident was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office on a Fugitive of Justice complaint for active Bench Warrant out of the Cleveland County Court in the State of Oklahoma. Deputies arrested 37-year-old Michael Lee Hall on the Fugitive of Justice complaint Hall was taken into custody and taken to the Town of Norwich Court. Hall was remanded to the custody of the Chenango County Correctional Facility with no bail. He is to reappear in the Chenango County Court at a later date.

State Police arrested 19-year-old Jason McCrady of Greene, for 3rd degree Assault, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and harassment. This arrest occurred after troopers. McCrady is accused of punching, shoving & choking his girlfriend, causing injuries, he was also wanted on a bench warrant for aggravated harassment by State Police in Homer. McCrady was arraigned in the Town of Greene court and was remanded to the Chenango County jail on $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 property bond, pending court action on July 12th.

The trial of Almond Upton is scheduled to begin on July 11th In Broome County. Upton is accused of intentionally running down State Trooper Christopher Skinner as he was conducting an unrelated traffic stop on May 29 2014, on I-81 in the town of Chenango, Trooper Skinner was killed instantly.

The USDA will be teaming up with the Bainbridge Guilford Central School again this summer to offer free breakfast & lunch for any child 18 & under, and for special needs children up to 21, Monday through Friday through August 5th, at the Greenlawn & Guilford Elementary schools. More information is available at 967-6301.

3 public meetings will be held today at Oneonta City Hall. The Operations, Planning & Evaluation Committee will begin their meeting at 4:00 PM, followed by the Finance & Human Resources Committee meeting at 5:00 PM, and the Zoning & Housing Board of Appeals at 7:00 PM. All 3 meeting will be held in the Common Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor of City Hall.

There will be a Federal Primary Election on Tuesday, June 28th, from 12;00 Noon to 9:00 PM. Democrats & Republicans will hold a Primary for Representative in Congress of the 19th District. There is a change for the town of Tompkins polling site, all Tompkins voters will vote at the Tompkins Town Hall at 148 Bridge Street in Trout Creek. June 21st is the last day an absentee ballot application may be mailed to the Board of Elections. June 27th is the last day to apply in person for an absentee ballot and the last day to mail a completed ballot to the Board of Elections. June 28th is the last day for a ballot to be delivered by agent to the Board of Elections. More information is available at the Delaware County Board of Elections at 832-5321.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman reminded New Yorkers of common scams that occur during the summer, targeting consumers embarking on home improvement projects or planning family vacations. The Attorney General urged New Yorkers to notify his office If they have been targeted or victimized by these scams, through the Consumer Complaint Hotline at 1-800- 771-7755 or online at ag.ny.gov.

The Town Of Unadilla Board meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, will be held tonight. the monthly Town Board Meeting has been rescheduled for Tongiht at 6:30 PM at the Town Hall, on State Route 7.

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

Today is school budget vote day across the state, voters in many districts will also be filling school board seats an voting on various capital projects or Bus purchases. Voting for the BG school district residents will be held in the Bainbridge & Guilford town Halls today, voting will be from 12:00 Noon until 9:00 PM.

The Bainbridge Village Planning Board Meeting originally scheduled for yesterday, has been rescheduled for Monday May 23rd at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be held in the Bainbridge Village Clerk's office at 33 West Main Street & is open to the pubic.

State Police responded to a Delaware County 911 report of a motor vehicle accident on West Kortright Church Road in the Town of Kortright, Monday at around 5:45 PM. Troopers determined that 58 year old Michael Berry of East Meredith, lost control of his pickup truck, he left the roadway, struck a culvert, & overturned. Berry was transported to Fox Hospital in Oneonta where he was pronounced deceased from internal injuries. The investigation is ongoing.

State Police at Oneonta arrested 47-year-old Donald Reutter of the town of Maryland, for felony DWI, Reutter was observed weaving while driving on State Route 7 in the Town of Oneonta. The arrest is a felony due to a prior conviction for DWI within the last 10 years. Reutter was arraigned in the Town of Oneonta court and was remanded to the Otsego County jail. His next court date in the Town of Oneonta is on February 25, 2016.

Governor Cuomo today launched a new web-based service that will help connect New Yorkers struggling with addiction to treatment. The State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services' Bed Availability Dashboard application collects the information from treatment providers daily and makes it available in real-time on the agency's website. More information is available at 1-877-8-HOPENY, or Text HOPENY or Visit oasas.ny.gov/accesshelp

The town of Guilford is currently seeking candidates to fill openings on their planning board, board of assessment review, & the Mount Upton Park committee. Those interested should call the Guilford Town Clerk’s office at 895-9966; the deadline of applications is today.

State Police arrested 35 year old Andrew Adams of Oneonta for 2nd degree Assault, 4 counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated with children under the age of 16, 4 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, Driving while ability impaired by drugs, plus harassment & several other traffic violations. This arrest occurred after an Otsego County 911 report of an erratic driver on Interstate 88 westbound who crashed into a guide rail near mile marker 33 in the Town of Sidney. Adams had his four children ages 8-12 in his car with him, with No injuries were reported. Adams also became disorderly and punched at troopers during processing. Adams was arraigned at the Town of Sidney court and was remanded to the Delaware County jail in lieu of $7,500 cash bail or $15,000 property bond. His next court date in the Town of Sidney is on February 26th.

The Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 32 year old Jeremy Morris of Oneonta & 24 year old Amanda Tolbert of Oneonta on a variety of charges in Cooperstown on January 13th. Morris was driving without a license, when he was stopped deputies found hypodermic needles, drug packaging materials, two firearms & ammunition, he was also accused of selling heroin in Oneonta. Morris was charged with Possession of a hypodermic instrument, Criminal possession of a weapon, Criminal contempt, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, & Criminal sale of a controlled substance, he was returned to the Otsego County Jail on $50,000 cash bail and $100,000 bond. Tolbert was charged with possession of a hypodermic instrument & she was wanted on an active Family Court arrest warrant. Tolbert was arraigned in the Town of Otsego Court and taken to the Otsego County Jail on $1,000 cash bail.

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life announces an information team captain meeting will be held on February 1st at the United Methodist church in Sidney. The meeting will begin at 5:30 PM. This year's Tri-Town Relay for Life will be held on May 14th at the General Clinton Park in Bainbridge, more information is available at 563-9634.

36 year old Rafael Figueroa, of Saugerties was convicted Friday of felony drug trafficking following a trial in Delaware County Court. The jury deliberated for about 30 minutes before reaching its verdict, Figueroa was found guilty of 3 felony charges of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance for trafficking of cocaine into Town of Middletown. Figueroa was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility without bail pending sentencing.

State Police investigated the report of a forcible rape in the Town of Union. 31 year old Joseph Mancini of Endwell was arrested for 1st degree Rape & Criminal Sex Act; Mancini was arraigned in the Town of Union Court and remanded to the Broome County jail without bail.

The town of Guilford is currently seeking candidates to fill openings on their planning board, board of assessment review, & the Mount Upton Park committee. Those interested should call the Guilford Town Clerk’s office at 895-9966; the deadline of applications is February 3rd.