WCDO Radio News

A Research Study involving rural women is being conducted by Bassett Research Institute & Cornell University is seeking area women to participate. Spokesperson Elaine Anderson comments:

(Elaine Anderson 11-16-15)

Those who would like more information or who would like to participate can call Elaine at 282-0503 or email her at Elaine@Strong Hearts New York.org.

Governor Cuomo signed legislation to expedite access to medicinal marijuana for New Yorkers suffering from serious health conditions. Cuomo also announced that he has ordered state health officials to review whether a new, broader medical marijuana program due to begin in January has enough production and dispensing sites to adequately serve the state. 20 sites are scheduled to open early next year. The governor said that the drug would be dispensed to eligible patients as soon as practicable, he also said that the state will abide by standards from the U.S. Justice Department to ensure that New York’s program does not trigger enforcement actions by the federal government.

The Common Core Task Force announced its public meeting schedule, which includes 12 meetings across New York State beginning today in New Rochelle. The Task Force will then host 10 simultaneous regional listening sessions where members of the public are invited to deliver testimony. Following the presentations, Task Force members will engage in a Question & Answer period. The sessions will be open to members of the public and press and video of the session will be posted on the Task Force website. One session will be held in each region of the state (total of 10 meetings). Regional meeting details will be available on the Task Force website early next week.

The Norwich Business Improvement District announced a full line up of events for the annual Pumpkin Festival on Friday, October 23rd through Saturday the 24th in Norwich. Today, from 5:30-7:00 pm is the Giant Pumpkin Contest-Weigh In, On Saturday; events include a Pumpkin Bake-Off Contest, the YMCA Halloween Parade, Horse & Wagon Rides, and music with Kaitlyn Jackson and the Hometown Ban& The Beadle Brothers, followed by fireworks at the end of the evening.

A man arrested by Delaware County Sheriff's Office Investigators on September 29th on a heroin possession charge was arrested again on Tuesday & charged with 2 additional felony drug charges. 31 year old Sean Dingle of Binghamton and Queens was charged Tuesday with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, with intent to sell & Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, for allegedly possessing and selling heroin in the Town of Sidney in September. Dingle was arraigned in Town of Sidney Court on the new charges; his previous set $50,000 bail was subsequently raised by Judge Rose, who remanded Dingle to the Delaware County Jail on $250,000 cash bail.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies Arrested 26-year-old Amy Brooks of Sidney & 26-year-old Mark Rathbun of Franklin Tuesday. Brooks was tracked down by Canine Ozzie after she fled from Rathbun’s residence into the woods, Brooks was arrested on the Village of Sidney Court Bench Warrant for Violation of the Terms of her Release on charges of 2nd degree Burglary & Petty Larceny, she was additionally charged by deputies with Resisting Arrest. Rathbun was charged with Obstructing Governmental Administration. Brooks was arraigned in the Town of Franklin Court & was ordered held on $7,000 cash bail, Rathbun was also arraigned in the Town of Franklin Court & was ordered to be held on $2,000 cash bail.

The Catholic Charities annual Bands Brew & Barbecue event will be held tomorrow in Norwich. Organizer Robin Beckwith explains:

(Robin Beckwith 9-18-15)

The event will be held at the Chenango county fairgrounds beginning at 2:00 PM. Tickets are available at the Norwich YMCA, Hummel’s, Garf’s Deli, Commerce Chenango & M&T Bank in Norwich, or online at Brown Paper Tickets. Com.

A 4th Cal Harris Murder trial has been scheduled to begin March 2nd 2016 in Schoharie County court. Harris was convicted wife in Tioga County Court for the murder of his estranged wife Michelle on or around September 11th 2001. A trial in Schoharie county court earlier this year ended with the jury unable to come to verdict. Prosecutors have until October 5th to file motions regarding a bid by the defense for dismissal.

73-year-old Wilbur Allen of Mount Vision was pronounced dead at Bassett Hospital, following a farm accident in Edmeston. Allen was working with another man loading a farm tractor on a vehicle Tuesday evening at around 6:00 PM, Allen fell underneath & was struck by the vehicles, he was transported to Bassett hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that Mark Pullyblank & William Clements were sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Binghamton for violating the Clean Water Act, both were sentenced to probation and fined a total of $12,000, they were working as project managers for Crane-Hogan Structural Systems, which was contracted to tear down the parking garage at the Binghamton Governmental Center in 2008 and 2009. The company discharged large quantities of concrete and concrete slurry into the Susquehanna River, the company was ordered to pay a fine of $500,000

Former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos & his son Adam are facing new charges in a federal corruption case. A rewritten indictment Tuesday adds more conspiracy and extortion charges against Dean Skelos for allegedly having at least $300,000 illegally steered to Adam, the new indictment also accuses Adam Skelos of obtaining a no-show job through his father's influence, Dean Skelos stepped down from his leadership role earlier this year after his arrest, but he still holds a seat in the Senate.

State Police responded to a report of a 1-car fatal rollover motor vehicle accident on State Route 17. 36 year old Fareeha Nausheen of Monticello was operating a Honda minivan in a construction zone, when she lost control of the vehicle, it skidded across the open westbound lane of traffic and continued into the lane of traffic under construction, causing the vehicle to roll over several times. 77 year old Muktar Began of Monticello was ejected and was struck by the vehicle prior to it coming to rest in the center median, Began was pronounced deceased at the scene. A 3-year-old rear seat passenger was also ejected from the vehicle and sustained a minor injury. 4 surviving passengers were transported to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. Nausheen was ticketed for moving from lane unsafely and failure to use child restraint seats for rear seat passengers & faces court action in the Town of Windsor Court on August 11th.

1 man was killed & 2 others were injured in an incident early Sunday morning. Police said 21-year-old Seth Swindler of Conklin was killed while riding a mattress towed by a truck. Swindler was pronounced dead at the scene after a truck exited the field & struck the mattress. 2 unidentified 17-year-olds who were also on the mattress were injured. The incident occurred in a field off Route 267 in Choconut Township, Pennsylvania, just south of the New York state line. The investigation is continuing.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies participated in an aggressive driving enforcement detail last Friday, funded through the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, they arrested a Walton man in the Village of Franklin. Deputies observed & stopped a vehicle for following another vehicle too closely, they determined that 23-year-old Mark O’Neill of Walton was impaired by drugs; he was arrested and transported to the Village of Sidney Police Department where Deputies were assisted by a Sidney Police Department Drug Recognition Expert. O’Neill was charged with DWI, Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs and Following Too Closely. He was issued tickets directing him to appear in the Town of Franklin Court on June 25th.