WCDO Radio News

State Police arrested 39 year old Joshua Skobern of Johnson City after an investigation into an arson at self-service car wash in Endicott. Skobern was charged with Criminal Mischief, 5th degree Arson after Troopers responded to Enviro Auto Wash on Watson Boulevard for damage that occurred on April 12, to a car wash payment kiosk. An investigation determined that Skobern punched the payment kiosk then struck it with a spray wand and then used a lighter to burn the face-plate, causing damage. Troopers located Skobern at his residence. He was taken into custody and was processed and was issued appearance tickets to the Union Town Court on April 28.

The online auction for the Grand Union Plaza at 54 East Main Street in Norwich, began Monday, with a starting bid of $500,000. Norwich Mayor Robert Jeffrey told WCDO News that they are talking to grocery industry people & federal & state lawmakers to try to get interest in the site:

(Norwich Mayor Robert Jeffrey 4-21-26)

The grocery store at that location closed with little advance warning recently, leaving downtown Norwich without easy access to groceries, and adding to the unemployment rate in the region when all of the workers were let go.

Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond announced the graduation of Corporal Jeffrey Clark and his partner "K-9 Edge" from the K-9 Academy. After more than 3 months of training, the class graduated 10 handlers and their K-9 partners as certified in patrol techniques. Corporal Clark and Deputy K-9 Edge are now certified for patrol, with specific training in obedience, tracking individuals, locating discarded or secreted items, criminal apprehension and handler protection.  Corporal Clark and K9 Edge will return to the Academy this fall and further their training and certification in explosives detection.

STATE POLICE at Troop C announced that 1 person was arrested during an Underage Drinking Initiative in Delaware County on Wednesday. Alcohol was sold to a minor at Smiley’s Convenience Store located at West Main Street, Sidney, an appearance ticket was issued to the clerk who sold alcohol to the minor. Several other businesses in Sidney, Walton, Franklin & Delhi were in compliance.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 7-8-22

The Broome County District Attorney Mike Korchak announced that 47 year old Lance Johnson of Binghamton was found guilty on all counts in Broome County Court Thursday, for the fatal shooting of Alison Salisbury of Binghamton and for the shooting of Shannon Brooks of Conklin, on August 7, 2020. Johnson will be sentenced on October 7th.

Authorities in Pennsylvania are looking for 42 year old Jeffrey Johnson of Hancock. The Wayne County Drug Task Force announced that Johnson is facing charges of possession of weapons of mass destruction, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Risking Catastrophe, Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and a variety of game violations. Law Enforcement officials said that during their search for Johnson, they discovered white-tailed deer hanging in the backyard with no visible harvest tags, they also discovered deer & wild turkey parts, and the remains of black bear, they also discovered a pipe bomb, rifles, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia, Johnson did not have a hunting license and was not permitted to own firearms. The Scranton bomb squad was notified and detonated the bomb on location. Anyone with information about Johnson's whereabouts are asked to contact the Wayne County Communications Center at (570) 253-3109.

Jury selection began today in Chenango County Court & the trial of Heather Franklin is expected to begin tomorrow.  Franklin is accused of planning the murder of her son Jeffrey Franklin with her Husband Ernest Franklin, and covering up the crime by setting the family house on fire in the town of Guilford in March of 2017.  Ernest Franklin was found guilty by a jury last month for his role in the crime; he faces sentencing at a later date.

Johnson City Police Department identified 50 year old
Shakeel Khan of Johnson City as the victim in the Saturday shooting homicide in
the parking lot of his "Halal Bites" restaurant at Grand Avenue and
Riverside Drive.  Khan was later
pronounced dead at Wilson Hospital; Police are looking for a male suspect who
was wearing dark clothing and a dark mask over his face.

State Police investigated an accident Thursday night at county roads 21 & 23 in the town of Walton. A vehicle operated by an unidentified 18 year old female from Lake City Florida, was traveling north on Route 21 when she began to enter Route 23 but then she swerved to stay on Route 21 and she struck an SUV driven by 26 year old Briar Jeffrey Lee Holt of Rock Hill, South Carolina; which was southbound on Route 21, The driver of the first vehicle was ticketed for failure to keep right, she complained of ankle and chest pain & was taken to Delaware Valley Hospital. A 17 year old female passenger in the 1st vehicle had multiple facial lacerations and contusions, & was also taken to Delaware Valley Hospital, and 18 year old male passenger from Sidney Center, who was also in the 1st vehicle, suffered a broken leg and chest pain he was airlifted to Wilson Memorial hospital in Johnson City. 2 people in the Holt SUV were uninjured.

State Police arrested 26-year-old Christopher Neumann of Castleton in connection with a collision that injured 2 troopers & 2 tow truck operators early Sunday on Interstate 90. Troopers Brent Karow and Shane Swartz were investigating an unrelated 1-car crash on I-90 in North Greenbush at approximately 5:15 a.m. Sunday, when Neumann's vehicle struck their patrol car, which then hit both troopers and tow truck operator, Jeffrey Waite. Trooper Karow was thrown 70 feet into the median, while Trooper Swartz and Waite were thrown under the tow truck, all 3 were taken to Albany Medical Center, a 2nd Tow Truck employee was hit by flying debris & was treated at the scene. Neumann was charged with 1st degree vehicular assault, DWI and numerous other traffic violations, he was arraigned & was remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail.

The State University of New York has established a task force to focus on food security issues at its 64 campuses. The SUNY system reported that 70% of its campuses have a food pantry for students or partnerships with community organizations that provide meals. SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson said the goal is for all campuses to have food pantries or arrangements with community groups that provide resources for food.

The Attorney for 35-year-old Ernest Franklin of Guilford is requesting another bail reduction for his client, in Chenango County Court. Ernest Franklin is accused of acting with his wife Heather, to murder their 16 year old special needs son Jeffrey & then set fire to the family home to cover up the crime. Heather Franklin posted bail earlier this year & was released, Chenango County Judge Frank Revoir will have his decision on Ernest Franklin Bail lowering request later this week. The Franklins will be tried separately in Chenango County Court early next year.

The Afton Central School District Board of Education will hold open forums this week for their 2 candidates for Superintendent. Daniel Erickson of the Johnson City school district will have his public forum will be from tonight from 5:30-6:30 pm in the Afton Central School auditorium. Timothy McNamara of the Downsville School District, will be have his public forum Thursday from 5:30-6:30 PM in the Afton Central School auditorium.

2 teenagers are accused of shooting an 11 year old in Johnson City Tuesday night. Police reported that the 17 and 16-year-old boys are charged with felony assault, the 16 year old was also charged with felony criminal possession of a weapon. The 11 year old victim was treated at Upstate University Medical Center in Syracuse and later released, the injuries were not life threatening.

An Otsego County jury convicted 50-year-old Jeffrey Feldman of Worcester of 8 counts of Criminal Sexual Acts against a child plus 4 counts of Rape, plus other related charges. Feldman faces sentencing in Otsego county court on November 4th.

State Police arrested 23 year old Jeffrey Bieber of Milford for 3rd degree assault & criminal obstruction of breathing, after a domestic dispute complaint that occurred in the Town of Milford. Bieber is accused of physically assaulting an ex-girlfriend and choking her during an argument. Bieber was arraigned and was released pending court action on January 1st.

Governor Cuomo today announced the designation of 11 new Brownfield Opportunity Areas in communities across New York State. The program helps participants develop revitalization strategies focused on returning dormant and blighted areas into productive communities of economic growth and development. Projects in these areas will be given priority status for grants and the project developers may access additional Brownfield Cleanup Program tax credit incentives. in the Southern Tier, the Endicott Johnson Industrial Spine in Binghamton & Johnson City, with 17 potential brownfield sites near UHS Memeorial Hospital & near the desiognated area of the future Binghamton University School of Pharmacy, gets a $155,000 grant. The Brandywine Corridor in Binghamton contains a 100-acre area with 18 brownfield sites, a $1 75,500 BOA Program grant will go toward that project

State Troopers arrested 24-year-old Jeffrey Kicinski of Binghamton,  for driving while intoxicated.  The arrest followed an accident on Hawleyton Road in Binghamton, Troopers determined that Kickinski was intoxicated at that time, he was transported to Lourdes hospital in Binghamton for treatment for minor injuries, Kicinski refused to submit to a blood test.  He was issued tickets to appear in Town of Binghamton Court on a later date.

A benefit is being held for Cameron Palmatier of Bainbridge, to cover medical expenses following a Dirt Bike accident last year. The fundraiser will be held Saturday from 12:00pm until 5:00pm at Cream Of the Crop on Route 7 in Bainbridge.   Palmatier suffered a traumatic brain injury in the crash on August 17th; he was in Wilson Hospital in Johnson City for 3 months and was transferred to a rehabilitation center & was discharged January 14th, but he will need additional therapy.  Saturday's Proceeds will go for uncovered medical expenses; donations can also be pledged at 237-7097 or 237-2916.

State Police arrested 37-year-old Victoria Young of Hancock for endangering the welfare of a child and 2nd degree Forgery.  Troopers also arrested 33-year-old Jeffery Johnson of Hancock for endangering the welfare of a child and criminal possession of a forged instrument.  Young & Johnson were arrested yesterday following the death of their 2-year-old daughter Andie Johnson, who fell from a second-story apartment September 17th in Hancock.  The pair were arraigned in the Hancock court and remanded to the Delaware county jail with no bail set at this time.

State troopers arrested 55-year-old Jeffrey All of Bloomville for felony DWI, unauthorized use of a Motor Vehicle, & felony aggravated unlicensed operation.  While responding to a report of a stolen vehicle in Delaware County, troopers found that the suspect returned to the residence after crashing the vehicle.  All is accused of taking the vehicle without permission, that he was intoxicated at the time of the accident, had 2 prior DWI convictions in the last 10 years, and his BAC was 3 times the legal limit.   All was arraigned and was remanded to the Delaware county jail with no bail set pending future court action.

The Broome County Sheriffs department arrested 21-year-old Juliana Porter of Conklin for DWI, unsafe lane change and driving with a Blood Alcohol content above .08, following an accident in Conklin Wednesday morning.  Porter was driving on Carlin Road on the wrong side, while Cherie Duke attempted to swerve to avoid Porter, who also swerved, and both cars collided head-on.  23-year-old Alexander Burrows of Saint Petersburg, Florida was a passenger in the Porter Vehicle, he suffered a head injury and was taken to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City, another passenger in Porter’s car was not injured.  Porter was released on appearance tickets for Town of Conklin Court.

State troopers in Oneonta arrested 26-year-old Jeffrey Edwards of Middlefield on a Bench Warrant issued by the Town of Milford Court for failure to appear on the charges of 4th degree Criminal Mischief and 2nd degree Criminal Trespass.  Edwards was arraigned in the Town of Milford Court and remanded to the Otsego County Correctional Facility on $1,000 bail.