WCDO Radio News

Otsego County Board of Representatives announced the purchase of the Cooperstown Holstein property, also known as the Huntington Farm, on County Road 33W, in the Town of Middlefield on Monday. The acquisition will initially allow for improved protection and security for multiple county departments' equipment and will also allow for a secondary entrance into the current campus, which would prevent the isolation of staff if there were ever a failure of the current entrance road. This purchase will also allow for the potential expansion of county facilities.

2 American Red Cross Blood Drives are being held today, 1 in Sidney from 1 pm. - 6 pm., at the American Legion Post 183, 22 Union Street, and another will be in Cooperstown, from 12:30 pm. - 5:30 pm., at Bassett Hall, 31 Beaver St; make appointments at RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

The Otsego County Fair returns tomorrow at the Fairgrounds in Morris, organizer Lisa Jackson told WCDO News about some of this week's highlights:

(Lisa Jackson 7-16-25)

More information about the Fair can be found at otsegocountyfair.org, or on their Facebook page.

A.M. NEWS Monday 7-28-25

The National Baseball Hall of Fame inducted 5 more members into the Hall in Cooperstown yesterday. The 1st speech was given by Billy Wagner, who was a small child who was right-handed and went on to become one of the best left handed pitchers of his time, he encouraged people to never give up:

(Billy Wagner 7-27-25)

The 2nd speech was delivered by Dave Parker the 2nd, whose Father, Dave Parker passed away about 1 month ago from Parkinson's Disease, he wrote a poem for his son to read on Induction Day:

(Dave Parker 2 7-27-25)

Willa Allen was married to new Hall of Famer Dick Allen, one of the most feared sluggers of the 60's & 70's who played in Philadelphia, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Chicago & Oakland:

(Willa Allen 7-27-25)

C.C. Sabathia was a star Pitcher for Cleveland, Milwaukee & the New York Yankees, he thanked the women in his life to get him to the Hall, and he encouraged everyone to do the same:

(C.C. Sabathia 7-27-25)

The Final Speech was delivered by Japanese star Ichiro Suzuki, who gave his speech in English, and he discussed turning dreams into goals and goals into achievement:

(Ichiro Suzuki 7-27-25)

The proceedings started an hour later at the Clark Sports Center Sunday due to rain, but thousands stayed on to see & hear the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame inductions

Area Congressman Josh Riley will send his team to Oneonta for Mobile Office Hours today, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Huntington Memorial Library at 62 Chestnut Street. Congressman Riley’s team will meet with constituents and assist them with issues such as Medicare, Social Security, veterans' benefits, passport delays, or any other issue involving a federal agency.

The State DEC announced that November 15th will be recognized as New York Recycles Day.. The DEC is working with SUNY partners to increase the ability to recycle items like glass, paper, and plastics, and to increase education to the public on best practices for recycling, more information is available at dec.ny.gov.

A.M. NEWS Tuesday 11-15-22

Oneonta police announced that 50 year old Taver Brown of Oneonta died last Thursday morning in a bicycle accident in Huntington Park. Brown died from head & neck injuries in the bicycle crash, he was not wearing a helmet, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

An American Red Cross Blood drive will be held today, from 12:00 PM from 5:00 PM at the State University of Oneonta, at 101 C Hunt Hall. Appointment can be made with the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

The Dormitory Authority of New
York & the State University of New York has begun work to renovate SUNY
Oneonta’s Huntington Hall, at a cost of $20 million.  Huntington Hall will be modernized and reconfigured
to provide additional bedroom space for approximately 80 students. All bedrooms
and bathrooms will be renovated, complete with new, contemporary finishes. A
6,000 square foot, four-story addition, which will include a fitness room,
community kitchens, and an elevator, will also be constructed.  In addition, $1.2 million in further
renovations are being made to SUNY Oneonta’s Grant, Sherman, and Tobey Halls.
The work is part of the nearly $61.2 million in upgrades to SUNY campuses
throughout New York State being completed by DASNY during the summer months,
which will be ready in time for students to begin the fall semester.  Construction is expected to be completed in
July 2020.

The results of the 75th Baseball
Writers’ Association of America Hall of Fame election will be revealed at 6:00
tonight.   Hall of Fame President Jeff
Idelson will announce the results on the MLB channel, tonight's announced
inductees will join Today’s Game Era electees Harold Baines and Lee Smith at
the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies on July 21st  in Cooperstown as part of the Induction
Weekend.

State Police at Sidney announced Monday afternoon that they
have located 23-year-old Cody Conkling of Sidney, who was reported missing by
family members Sunday afternoon.
Conkling was located safe, in good health and his family has been
advised.

The Huntington Memorial Library on Chestnut Street in
Oneonta will be closed for the next 3 weeks for renovations & asbestos
abatement.   The library is expected to
be re-opened on February 9th.

The Jericho Arts Council announced that acclaimed Bluegrass act “The Corey Zink Band” will perform at the Town Hall Theater Saturday night, Council Treasurer Phil Wade comments:

(Phil Wade 10-26-18)

Tickets are available at the box office; reservations can be arranged by calling 288-3882

Author Gray Basnight of Bethel New York has published his 3rd book, “Flight Of The Fox” a mystery thriller that takes place in Upstate New York, & is tied in to the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Music & Arts festival in Bethel in 1969. Basnight told WCDO about his novel:

(Gray Basnight 10-22-18)

Basnight will appear at the Huntington Memorial Library on Chestnut Street in Oneonta this Saturday starting at 11:30 AM for a book signing. The book is Published by Down & Out Books.

Upgrades have been completed at SUNY Oneonta, according to the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York.  $2.2 million in improvements included replacing the roof at Huntington Hall, converting two bathrooms in Hulbert Hall into laundry rooms, giving a WiFi coverage boost to Wilber Hall, upgrading fire systems in Wilber, Little and Sherman Halls, and applying a new interior wall finish in Hayes Hall. The upgrades were part of $30 million in upgrades that were completed at SUNY campuses throughout the state within a 90-day period, so that they would be completed by the time students returned to school.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today encouraged all eligible taxpayers in Central New York to take advantage of three free tax filing assistance events scheduled for today.  Central New York taxpayers with adjusted gross household incomes of $64,000 or less in 2016 qualify to e-file their tax returns using free online software, Today's event will be from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Huntington Memorial Library at 62 Chestnut Street in Oneonta.

The State Department DOT will hold a public open house meeting today to discuss plans to replace a bridge on State Route 7 in the village of Afton. The open house will be held at the Afton Town Hall, from 5:30 to 7:000 PM today regarding the bridge was built in 1922 and carries State Route 7 over Kelsey Brook. The bridge is safe for continued travel and is regularly inspected. The purpose of the meeting is to share and exchange information with the public regarding the project and its potential impacts, including proposed work zone traffic control options to manage traffic during construction. More information is available at 772-7336.

The Broome County Sheriff's department has been searching for 37-year-old Brenda Halpin of Chenango Bridge for over a month, since she disappeared from her home, without medication for health issues, which includes the degenerative Huntington's disease. Halpin was last seen April 8th in the Poplar Hill Road area; her family is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Halpin is described as a White Female, about 5 feet tall, about 90 pounds, with long straight brown hair, Huntington's diseases makes it difficult for her to sometimes walk or communicate clearly.

State Police arrested 36-year-old Michael Hall of South Otselic, for DWI & 2nd degree assault plus several other traffic violations. Troopers also charged Hall's Girlfriend, 25-year-old Ashlee Simms of South Otselic, for DWI & other traffic violations. Troopers responded to a report of a woman yelling for help on South Chenango Street extension in the Town of Greene. Simms had been in a physical dispute with her boyfriend Hall who was a passenger in her vehicle, she stopped and ran for help, and Hall attempted to drive away & backed into a ditch and then fled on foot. Hall was arraigned and was remanded to the Chenango county jail on $250 cash bail or $500 property bond. Simms was also arraigned and was released without bail required. They face court action in the Town of Greene court on Thursday.

The City of Oneonta has announced that a public informational meeting will be held to discuss the proposed construction of the Neahwa park entrance improvement project. The meeting will be held on February 2nd in the city hall common council chambers on the 2nd floor of city hall. More information is available at 432-6465.

The CASH Coalition of Otsego and Delaware Counties has announced that residents who meet income eligibility requirements will be able to prepare and file their state and federal income taxes for free. MyFreeTaxes is a service available to individuals and families who made under $62,000 in the 2015 tax year. The program is available for use on any home computer or public computers that are available for use beginning January 31st at CDO Workforce Offices in Oneonta, Delhi & Sidney, The Sidney Federal Credit Union Delhi Branch on Saturdays, 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, & at the Huntington Memorial Library at 62 Chestnut Street in Oneonta. Appointments are required at 432-0061.

At 12:00 PM, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will outline Governor Cuomo's 2016 State of the State Agenda During Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council Meeting. The meeting will be held at the Binghamton University, Old Union Hall at 400 Vestal Parkway East in Vestal.

Delaware County Public Health Services announces that the next free Rabies Vaccination Clinic For dogs, cats, and ferrets on October 14th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Delhi Fire Hall at 140 Delview Terrace. This will be the last rabies clinic for 2015 for Delaware County; more information is available at 832-5200 or delawarecountypublichealth.com.

The Sidney high school athletic department announced that directions are available to the Sullivan West central school in Lake Huntington for tonight's Sidney away game. The directions can be accessed on the Sidney central school district athletics web page.

The state Appellate Division ruled unanimously in favor of the town of Dryden in Tompkins County, and the town of Middlefield in Otsego County today, for passing zoning laws that prohibit natural gas drilling. Norse Energy & Middlefield landowner Jennifer Huntington brought the lawsuits against the 2 towns in recent years for banning gas drilling after they already had signed leases to drill for natural gas, today’s ruling upholds rulings from lower courts.  Appeals to  today’s decision to the state Court of Appeals are anticipated.

The Otsego County Planning Department, the Otsego County Conservation Association, Opportunities for Otsego Energy Services, and Sustainable Otsego have teamed up to sponsor a workshop series called “Energy Wise Otsego,” to help Otsego County homeowners learn how to save money, and increase the comfort and value of their homes. The workshop series will continue with two events in May, The 1st will be on Saturday, May 11th from 10:30 am till 12:00 Noon, at the Hanford Mills Museum, on   County Highway 12 in East Meredith, the next one will be on Tuesday, May 28th from 7:00 pm till 8:30PM at the Hartwick Town Hall, more information is available at 723-0110 online registration are requested at energywiseotsego.eventbridge.com.