WCDO Radio News

The Otsego County Fair will be held at the Fairgrounds in Morris this year, spokesperson Lisa Jones told WCDO some of this year’s highlights:

(Lisa Jones 7-8-26)

The Otsego County Fair runs from August 4th to August 9th this year.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 7-8-26

Former Oneida County Corrections Officer Thomas Eck appeared in Oneida County Court on Tuesday, he had pleaded guilty to offering a false instrument for filing, for his role in the beating death of inmate Messiah Nantwi at the Mid State Correctional Facility, Eck was sentenced to 1 year in jail, he was the 15th Corrections officer in Oneida County to be prosected in connection with the death of Nantwi & Robert Brooks. The 2 cases have led to proposed legislation, the Duty to Intervene Act, making it a felony to not intervene while one of your fellow officers is beating an inmate.

The Chenango County Sheriff's Office arrested 39 year old Luman Craver of Guilford last week in connection with the theft of an electrical transformer from a job site on State Highway 8. Craver was charged with grand larceny, criminal mischief and conspiracy, after the Sheriff’s Office received a complaint April 22nd that a transformer had been stolen from a job site where it had been delivered and was awaiting installation. Craver is accused of removing the transformer from the site, in an attempt to sell it as scrap metal. Craver was taken into custody without incident and arraigned & He was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility and is scheduled to appear in Town of Guilford Court at a later date.

The Next Chenango County free Rabies clinic will be held today at the Columbus Highway Department on State Highway 80. The clinic for dogs cats & ferrets will be from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, pre-registration is requested at health,ny.gov/go2clinic.

The State Burn Ban is in effect for 1 more week. The law stipulates no open burning of brush or debris due to the higher possibility dry & windy conditions that could spread fire quickly, more information is available at the DEC website.

Flights will be returning to the Greater Binghamton Airport from Delta Airlines starting Thursday. Delta Air Lines will first have flights between Binghamton and Detroit, officials are working to return more flights to the airport, more information will be available at the Delta Airlines website.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 5-5-26

A Broome County jury found 29 year old Keanu Downey of Binghamton, guilty of 2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and 1 count of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, following a jury trial. Downey was arrested & was found to have Cocaine with the intent to sell, Downey was taken into custody on an active warrant. Sentencing is scheduled for July 30th, he faces up to 12 years in State Prison.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Corrections Investigation Unit recovered Fentanyl, Heroin and Marijuana from 29 year old Jean Benitez-Melendez of Syracuse at the Broome County Correctional Facility. Benitez-Melendez was charged with several Counts of Promoting Prison Contraband, Tampering with Physical Evidence, 2 Counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance & Obstruction of Governmental Administration, he was processed and arraigned & returned to the Broome County Jail.

Former Mid-State Corrections Officer Caleb Blair accepted a plea deal for 1st Degree Manslaughter in Oneida County Court Monday for 11 years in Jail, rather than go to trial on a host of charges in connection with the death of inmate Messiah Nantwi. Blair acknowledged in Court that it was his boot print on Nantwi's forehead.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 2-16-26

The Walton Police Department & the Delaware County District Attorney's Office announced the arrested of Walton High School teacher Eric Scofield for dissemination of indecent materials to Minors. 2 counts of a Sexually motivated felony, 7 counts of tampering with physical evidence & 5 counts of official misconduct, following a complaint that Scofield was engaging in improper communications with students. Scofield was brought to the Delaware County Correctional facility pending arraignment on the charges.

The United Way of Mid Rural New York announced that they raised over $590,000 in the 4 counties that they serve, about $30,000 dollars more than the previous years efforts, United Way Executive Director Elizabeth Monaco told WCDO News of the breakdown for each county:

(Elizabeth Monaco 2-16-26)

Monaco said that 53 projects will receive funds from the United way Fundraising efforts, some funds were also allocated to food pantries & warming stations in the region.

There are now 3 candidates running for the New York’s 51st State Senate seat, as incumbent Republican Peter Oberacker decided to run for Congress. The 3 candidates are Democrat Michelle Frazier of Delhi, Current Republican Assemblyman Chris Tague and Sullivan County Republican Terry Bernardo, The district covers Sullivan County, Delaware, Schoharie, and Otsego counties, along with parts of Broome, Chenango, and Ulster counties.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrested 48 year old Luke Lupo of Walton man on charges of Promoting Prison Contraband, after they received a complaint from the Delaware County Correctional Facility. Lupo allegedly possessed contraband while incarcerated at the Delaware County Correctional Facility on pre-existing charges. Lupo was arraigned and was remanded back to the custody of the Delaware County Correctional Facility on the charges that led to his initial incarceration.