WCDO Radio News

The Otsego County Health Department has reported that the Oneonta School district has 6 cases of Pertussis, also know as Whooping cough. Parents of students at the Oneonta School have been notified, Pertussis is highly contagious & is usually accompanied by fever, a runny nose & a harsh cough.

Oneonta Police arrested A Milford man for 2nd degree Assault, criminal possession of a weapon & criminal Tampering. 23-year-old Michael VanDeusen was charged following a fight in Oneonta on November 18th, where an unidentified man from Mount Vision suffered a non-life threatening stab wound. VanDeusen was arraigned; he faces action in Oneonta City Court in January.

The Afton Central School District has appointed Timothy McNamara as the new Superintendent of Schools. McNamara has accepted the position; the Afton School board is expected to act on McNamara's appointment at their meeting this evening.

Governor Cuomo announced nearly $6.5 million in grants to 55 state-approved anti-sexual assault crisis and prevention programs operated by hospitals, non-profit organizations and governmental agencies statewide. The grants will help fund local crisis hotlines and direct services for sexual assault victims, such as crisis counseling, advocacy and trauma therapy, and support prevention and education in schools, on college campuses and in communities. A complete list of the funded programs is available at governor.ny.gov/sites.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting today in the District Conference Room of the Jr-Sr High School at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

Governor Cuomo announced the completion of a $1.7 million project to replace the State Route 28 bridge over State Route 7 and the Norfolk Southern Railroad in the town of Milford. The bridge opened to traffic today, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. The new bridge is a two-span structure supported by steel and concrete beams. It has 12-foot travel lanes and eight-foot shoulders in each direction. Approximately 5,200 vehicles use the Route 28 bridge each day.

The Afton Central School District Board of Education has invited 2 candidates to interview for the Superintendent position. A forum for each candidate will be held next week, with the forum with Daniel Erickson; who is the middle school principal in Johnson City, will be November 28th, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM in the Afton Central School auditorium. Timothy McNamara is the principal in the Downsville Central School District; his public forum will be on November 30th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM in the Afton Central School auditorium.

A 5-K Walk or run will be held on Sunday October 22nd at 1:30 PM at the Sidney Central School, to raise money for the "Hope & Heroes" program, which supports children being treated for Cancer. Sidney Health Ed Teacher Jonathan Yurka is organizing the event:

(Jonathan Yurka 10-5-17)

Local residents interested in participating can sign up at localraces.com, and then search "Warriors"

The investigation is continuing into the fire of a boxcar in Milford Tuesday afternoon. The fire broke out in Tuesday afternoon in a vintage boxcar on the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley track near the Milford depot. Several Area Fire companies responded to the fire that was battled into Tuesday Evening. Investigators labeled the fire as suspicious, no arrests have been announced.

Governor Cuomo announced that $1 million is available for eligible school districts to support the growth of Farm-to-School Programs across New York State. The program helps grades K through 12 connect with local farmers, increase the use of locally grown food on school menus and educate young people about agriculture. More information is available at agriculture.ny.gov.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting Today in the District Conference Room. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

The 13th Annual Earth Festival will be held Saturday at Milford Central School from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Items that can be collected at the event include Styrofoam, empty inkjet cartridges, cell phones and other small electronics, tennis balls, wood pellet bags, and used monofilament fishing line, and natural cork from wine bottles.

Otsego County Conservation Association is seeking volunteers to assist with the 13th annual Earth Festival event at Milford Central School on Saturday, April 22nd, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the gym at Milford Central School. There is also a pre-festival movie night being held on Friday April 21 at 7:00 PM at the school. Volunteers are being asked to help with a wide variety of tasks on Friday and Saturday, including setting up Friday afternoon, and with clean up after the event. To volunteer, call 547-4488.

A Winter Storm is heading up the East Coast & will impact much of the state starting tonight. Sidney High School Science Teacher & Meteorologist Rich Townsend explains:

(Rich Townsend 3-13-17)

The National Weather service has a Winter Storm Warning in effect tonight through Wednesday Night & a Blizzard warning has been posted for parts of Delaware County & neighboring Sullivan County.

Another Opiate Awareness Program will be held this week at the Afton school district in conjunction with Lourdes Hospital & Yes Safe Choices. State Senator Fred Akshar explains:

(Fred Akshar 3-13-17)

Senator Akshar said that he was encouraged that both the Afton & Bainbridge School district are requiring students involved in their athletics programs to be part of the program. Future events are listed at yessafechoices.org/events.

Fire Fighters from many area companies responded Sunday night to a Fire at the Milford Methodist Church. The fire was called in at about 7:00 PM, the church was heavily damaged & 2 nearby buildings had minor damage. No injuries were reported, the cause of the fire is under investigation, the building is expected to be ruled as a total loss.