WCDO Radio News

The 56th General Clinton Canoe Regatta gets underway tonight, through Monday Memorial Day. Tonight features the Generation Gap Races, & the Taste of the Regatta event, Saturday features the scout races, the Dan Elwood Memorial Walk/Run, A Wrestling tournament & the Hall Of Fame Inductions. Sunday will feature various races, the Regatta Music Festival & Regatta's Got Talent, & Monday will feature the 70 Mile races from Cooperstown to Bainbridge. Carnival Rides, the Flea Market & Craft Area will be open at General Clinton Park all weekend, Fireworks will be featured Saturday & Sunday Nights, sponsored by Acco Brands & NBT Bank respectively.

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The 2018 National Baseball Hall of Fame Classic will be held tomorrow at the Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. Hall of Fame members Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Eddie Murray, Gaylord Perry, Tim Raines and Ozzie Smith will be joined by recently retired players representing all 30 major league teams for a seven-inning legends game, after a 12:00 Noon Home Run Contest. The first pitch for the Legends game will be at 1:05 p.m.

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The Rolling Antiquer's Old Car Club of Norwich will have their Annual Car Show and Flea Market Saturday and Sunday at the Chenango County Fairgrounds in Norwich. Over 100 trophies will be awarded over the many classes on the 2 day event.

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State Police and local law enforcement will ramp up patrols to combat drunk, impaired and reckless driving this Memorial Day weekend. The STOP-DWI enforcement period starts on Friday, May 25 and runs through Monday, May 28. Memorial Day is one of the busiest travel holidays of the year, Troop C Commanding Officer Major William McEvoy explains;

(Major McEvoy 5-25-18)

On Memorial Day weekend in 2017, Troopers arrested 237 people for drinking and driving, issued 12,169 tickets, and investigated 146 personal injury crashes which resulted in 190 people injured.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 19 year old Justin Reed of Downsville, with 2nd degree Rape and Criminal Sex Act. Reed is accused of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 15 in the Town of Walton earlier this month. Reed was arraigned at Walton Town Court and was released on his own recognizance pending his appearance in the Walton Town Court on a later date to answer the charges.

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The Wayne County Sheriff's Department has issued an Amber Alert for Central New York, following a reported Child abduction in Sodus about 9:48AM on Wednesday. The child is 1 year old Owen Hidalgo-Calderon, a Hispanic Male, with short brown hair and brown eyes, about 2 feet long and about 30 pounds& may require asthma medication. Police believe that the infant may be in imminent danger of serious physical harm or even death. Anyone with any information is asked to call 866-NYS-AMBER or dial 911.

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Assemblyman Cliff Crouch and State Senator Fred Akshar dedicated the State Route 206 East Bridge into Bainbridge, in honor of former Bainbridge Town Supervisor Hugh Kearney this afternoon:

(Crouch Akshar 5-25-18)

Kearney served as Bainbridge Town Supervisor on the Chenango County Board of Supervisors; he was also a Bainbridge Town councilman, as well as serving the Bainbridge Development Corporation, the Chenango County IDA, Vision 21 and the BG school board.

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Governor Cuomo announced that non-emergency related road and bridge construction projects on State highways will be suspended until 6:00 AM Tuesday, to accommodate increased travel throughout Memorial Day weekend. The Governor is also urging motorists to abide by New York's Move Over Law and to utilize the 64 text stops located statewide as needed for texting, making phone calls, and other non-driving tasks.

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The Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force executed a narcotics search warrant at the home of 43-year-old Robert Brady of Binghamton Thursday. Police seized 100 bags of heroin, Illegally possessed prescription pills, Drug packaging materials, and $12,816 in cash from suspected drug sales. Brady was charged with several counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminally using drug paraphernalia.

Assemblyman Cliff Crouch announced today that he will again seek re-election to the 122nd Assembly seat.

(Cliff Crouch 4-6-18)

Crouch has served in the Assembly since 1995, after winning a special mid-year election for the seat vacated by Clarence "Rapp" Rappleyea.

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Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies arrested a Hancock couple for allegedly possessing stolen Snowmobiles from Pennsylvania & possessing drugs packaged for sale. Deputies recovered 4 stolen snowmobiles in Hancock and Deposit, they arrested 28 year old Matthew Mason of Hancock, for Criminal Possession of Stolen Property for allegedly possessing the stolen snowmobile trailer and 4 snowmobiles, he was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond. Deputies had also arrested 43 year old Tammy Moore on 2 separate occasions once for Aggravated DWI, Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance & later for Criminal Possession of Stolen Property. Moore was returned to the County Jail after posting bail on the 1stset of charges. A search warrant was executed at the Mason and Moore home; deputies seized marihuana plants, processed marihuana & drug paraphernalia.

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Oxford Central School will be hosting a Robotics Competition called "Robo-Rave" in the High School Gymnasium Saturday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Over 20 teams will be competing. Robo-Rave is a program designed to teach students how to design, build, code & program Robots to perform a variety of tasks, Oxford High School Science Teach Mark Muller explains why he wanted to bring Robo Rave to Oxford:

(Mark Muller 4-6-18)

Muller said that Saturday's event is the first Robo Rave event in New York State, Robo rave is associated with NASA, who brought a team of engineers to Oxford to speak & teach at the event, which is free & open to the public. More information is available at oxac.org.

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State Police arrested 38 year old Michael Sullivan of Agawam, Massachusetts & 30 year old Gabrielle Graham of Pittsfield, Massachusetts for criminal possession of a controlled substance, Sullivan was additionally charged with Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. Troopers received a complaint of a disabled vehicle on I-88 in the town of Afton; they located marijuana and a smoking pipe with residue. Sullivan and Graham were arraigned in the town of Afton Court and remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 bond. Their next court date is scheduled for April 23, 2018 in the town of Afton Court.

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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.

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The controversial NG Advantage natural gas compressor station project in Port Crane is being scrapped by the company, even after they received approval for the project by the Town of Fenton planning board a year ago. NG sold some of the property already to Carrier Services Corporation of Ohio; they are expected to request a rezoning of the property for commercial or industrial activity.

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New York continues to be one of the leading states in the country where people are moving out of, according to United Van Lines. New York ranked 3rd behind Illinois and New Jersey, as the top 3 states that people are leaving. The United van Lines statistics showed that 46% left for job-related reasons, 29% left following retirement, 19% left for family reasons, 5% for health reasons. The largest age population of those who left were ages 55 to 64.

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Governor Cuomo today announced a new initiative to provide teachers and coaches with resources they can use to help prevent and address substance use disorder among young people. Starting next week, the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Education Department, and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services will notify schools statewide of the availability of flash drives loaded with materials in English and Spanish for coaches, teachers, school nurses, and other educators to use in personal conversations with students and in community forums.

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The Northeast Classic Car Museum in Norwich, is hosting a "Spring Melt" Die Cast Toy & Memorabilia Show Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 Students 6-18, under 6 is free. More information is available at 334-2886.

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The Otsego County Department of Health is hosting the 2018 Living Healthier Expo at the Foothills Performing Arts center on market Street in Oneonta today & tomorrow. The American Red Cross will be holding blood drives over both days, topics will include Lyme disease, rabies Awareness, Chronic Disease management; more information is available at 547-4230 or LHEOtsego.com.

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The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is hosting their 2nd Annual Comedy show at the Old Schoolhouse Inn of Downsville Saturday Night starting at 7:30 PM. Tickets & more information are available at 746-2281 or delawarecounty.org.

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The 8th Annual "All Animals Matter" dinner & silent Auction Saturday from 4:30 to 7:00 PM at the Norwich VFW. Money raised will benefit the "Krista Bartle 4 Paws Friends Fund, more information is available at 435-7788.

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Democratic Congressional candidate Gareth Rhodes will appear in Sidney today. Rhodes will appear at the Sidney Golf & Country Club this morning at 9:00 AM, he is one of 7 announced candidates running for the Democratic Party Nomination for the right to face incumbent Republican Congressman John Faso for the 19th District.

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The Binghamton Hockey Hall of Fame Committee announced that it will induct Brian McGrattan and Larry Kish as the class of 2018. There will be a pregame ceremony prior to Friday’s game against Syracuse. McGrattan played a total of 196 regular-season games over the course of three seasons in Binghamton with the Senators from 2002-2005, he recorded 25 goals and 22 assists for 47 points, his 551 penalty minutes in 2004-05 is the most in a single season in AHL history. Kish coached several teams in Binghamton from 1975-1982 winning the AHL’s Coach of the Year in 1981. More information about tickets for tonight's game is available at binghamtondevils.com or 722-7367.

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Binghamton police are investigating the shooting of 40 year old Grady Hunter on Sunday, Hunter was hospitalized with life threatening injuries, Police reported that Hunter was sitting in his car outside a Deli at 121 Susquehanna Street at around 12:00 Noon Sunday. A suspect has been taken into custody today, anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call detectives at 772-7080.

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5 people died & 1 was critically injured in a house fire on State Route 145 in East Durham early Monday Morning. Nicholas and Mary Mammano, & their 3 grandchildren died, John Mammano was taken to an area hospital for treatment of injuries. The cause of the fire was under investigation, and Autopsies have been ordered to determine the cause of death.

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U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer visited Awestruck Ciders in Sidney this afternoon; he is calling on the Alcohol & Tobacco Tax Trade bureau to reverse a provision that would get in the way of the growth of Awestruck & Other Cideries.

(Schumer 4-3-18)

Awestruck co-owner Patty Wilcox thanked Senator Schumer for his support with the 2015 CIDER act & with helping to hopefully eliminate the labeling issue:

(Patty Wilcox 4-3-18)

Senator Schumer said that the number of Cideries in New York State has tripled in the last 5 years to 90.

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The U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Vulto Creamery or Walton. The defendants cannot prepare, process, manufacture, pack and/or hold FDA-regulated food products until they can ensure that Listeria is not present in their facility and their food. Vulto Creameries products were linked to a multi-state outbreak of Listeria in their cheese products, 2 people died & 8 were hospitalized after consuming the products contaminated by Listeria.

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Governor Cuomo announced more than 60 new farms & businesses have received research permits under the State's Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot program, many of those are located in the Southern Tier. The State has invested more than $4.6 billion in the region since 2012 to lay for groundwork for the plan to expand Hemp production.

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The Copes Corners Park Spring Fest committee for the Town of Butternuts is soliciting craft, artist, product, and general vendors for its 4th annual Spring Fest. The event will take place May 5 from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM; the cost for a 12-foot by 12-foot space is $20. Limited space will also be available under a tent provided by Morris Tent Rentals. Applications for vendor space are available at townofbutternuts.org, or by calling 783-2204.

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Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Randy Johnson, Phil Niekro, Tim Raines and Ozzie Smith will headline Hall of Fame Classic Weekend, May 25th to the 27th in Cooperstown. The 6 Hall of Famers will be joined by recently retired players representing all 30 major league teams for the Hall of Fame Classic, which features a pregame Home Run Derby 12:00 noon, followed by first pitch at 1:05 PM, of the 7-inning legends game on Saturday, May 26th at Doubleday Field. Tickets for the Hall of Fame Classic are on sale at 1-877-726-9028, or at baseballhall.org

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The Oneonta Common Council will hold their next regular meeting this evening. The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM at the Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of City Hall; it is open to the public.

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Delaware County Public Health is holding a “Medical Countermeasures” drill today to practice and test the ability to dispense large amounts of medicine in the event of a public health threat such as a disease outbreak or bioterrorism threat to the community. The public is invited to attend the drill & participate, there is no pre-registration required. No medications are actually being dispensed. The event will be held from 10:30am to 12:30pm on April 3rd at the Delhi American Legion Hall, 41 Page Avenue, more information is available at 832-5200.

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Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro is expected to reverse course & will launch his campaign for governor after all. Molinaro said in January that he wouldn't run, but he said that "outpouring" from supporters made him change his plans, he will face State Senator John DeFrancisco for the Republican party Nomination in the primary later this year.

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The Color Run is coming to Binghamton on Sunday, April 15th and will be held at SUNY BROOME. The event will benefit Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier to assist in enhancing the lives of all community residents by improving their mental health and wellness.

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The Binghamton Rumble Ponies invite fans to their annual Meet the Rumble Ponies Dinner on Tonight at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Binghamton. Tickets are on sale, at the Box Office at NYSEG Stadium. Rumble Ponies players will arrive at 5:30 PM for the “Meet the Rumble Ponies” autograph reception. Dinner will be served at 7:00 PM followed by an interview with returning Rumble Ponies manager Luis Rojas and introductions of the new coaching staff and players. The Rumble Ponies kick off the 2018 season at home on Thursday against the Portland Sea Dogs at 6:35 PM.

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The next meeting for the General Clinton Canoe Regatta Committees is tonight in Bainbridge. The race committee meeting begins at 6:30 at Galaxy Bowl; the General Meeting begins at 7:30 PM.

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The Winter Storm hitting the upstate Counties is continuing, but locally, it may be less than originally anticipated, according to Sidney High School Science Teacher & Meteorologist Rich Townsend:

(Rich Townsend 3-7-18)

Townsend said that the amount of snow in the Capital district & from Walton into the Catskills could be about 4 to 8 inches of accumulation.

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The Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force executed search warrants in Endicott & Vestal, following a traffic stop in Endicott, 4 Broome County residents & 2 from Kentucky have been arrested on Drug charges, police seized crystal meth, crack cocaine, morphine, oxycodone, $24,000 in cash form suspected drug sales, 2 loaded handguns, including 1 stolen from Kentucky, plus drug packaging, digital scales, plastic packaging and drug paraphernalia. All 6 were arraigned, 5 were remanded to the Broome County jail pending future court action.

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Binghamton Firefighters responded to 3 fires in unoccupied buildings last night at 8 Livingston Street, & 23 Tudor Street & Susquehanna Street within a 6 hour period. The 3 fires follow another fire at an unoccupied apartment building at 38 Columbus Park East on March 1st, all 4 fires are labelled suspicious & the investigations are ongoing.

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The Sidney Emergency squad is looking for larger accommodations, as the unit has expanded in recent years, they will be holding a fundraiser at the Sidney Golf & Country Club Saturday night, Sidney EMS Spokesman Ray Baker explains:

(Ray Baker 3-7-18)

Baker said that they hope to raise about $3,000 with Saturday Night's Casino Night Fundraiser. More information about the Fundraiser or the Sidney Emergency Squad is available at 561-2315.

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Tickets for the 2018 Hall of Fame Classic, scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, are on sale now for participants in the Museum’s Membership Program and they go on sale Monday, March 12 to the general public online and by phone. Hall of Fame members Rollie Fingers, Randy Johnson, Phil Niekro, Tim Raines and Ozzie Smith will be joined by an additional Hall of Famer and recently retired players representing all 30 major league teams for a seven-inning legends game on Saturday, May 26 at Cooperstown’s historic Doubleday Field. Tickets will be available via phone at 1-877-726-9028 or at baseballhall.org.

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1 million people have registered to vote using the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles' online registration process since 2012. Of the 1 million who have registered online, more than 450,000 were first-time voters. New Yorkers can easily apply to register to vote, or change their enrollment information, by using the state's online voter registration application service on the DMV's website, at dmv.ny.gov.

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Utica Police arrested 23-year-old Fahrudin Omerovic (o MAIR o vich) on 4 counts of making terroristic threats against Utica College Monday, resulting in a lockdown. Omerovic is a Utica College student he faces arraignment this morning, the incident is still under investigation.

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Governor Cuomo today issued a Travel Advisory for all areas east of I-81 as well as a travel ban on tractor trailers on certain roads beginning at 8:00 AM, due to the winter weather conditions. Once the advisory and ban go into effect, all tractor trailers, tandem trailers, buses, box trucks, and other high profile vehicles will be restricted from entering: I-88 from Binghamton to Albany, I-81 from Pennsylvania line to the New York State Thruway, & Route 17 Binghamton to I-84.

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The Otsego County Sheriff's Department announced a missing persons alert, for 60 Year old Margaret Thayer, who is described as white, female, 5'5" tall 140 pounds, hazel eyes, she wears glasses, and may have been wearing a maroon winter coat. Anyone with information is asked to call 547-4273 or 547-4363.

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State Police arrested 23 year old Mark Allen of Fenton for Criminal Possession Marihuana. Allen was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by troopers for numerous traffic violations in the town of Windsor. An investigation revealed that Allen had approximately 100 grams of marijuana in his possession. Allen was released on tickets returnable to the town of Windsor Court on March 6, 2018.

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New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball warns consumers not to consume The Maiden’s Creamery “Wild Meadow” raw goat milk cheese made by Mark Harvey, of South New Berlin, due to possible Listeria contamination. No illnesses have been reported in connection with this product, the label shows plant number 36-1315, with a code of 101. This product was sold at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, in late December and early January and at the Sunflower Natural Foods Market, Woodstock, starting on January 10th. Consumers with questions about the recalled product can contact Mark Harvey at 607-859-2227.