WCDO Radio News

The 64th General Clinton Canoe Regatta was held over the Memorial Day Weekend, nearly 800 paddlers from 256 US states & 2 Canadian Provinces competed. In Sunday's 1 person 70 mile Pro race, in Sunday's Men's NYMCRA Stock Race, Jeff Newman of Wells Bridge & Dale Beckwith of Sidney Crossed the finish line 9 minutes ahead of 2nd place boat with Nate Lull & Brett Sherwood, last years winners Both Teams spoke with WCDO"S Craig Stevens at the finish line:

(Nate Brett NYMCRA 26)

Beckwith & Newman described what happened:

(beck-new NYMCRA 26)

The weekend weather affected the rides & hot air balloons on Saturday, but the entertainment, music, and fireworks went off as planned.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 5-26-26

OVER 800 PADDLERS FROM THE U.S. AND CANADA PARTICIPATED IN THE 64TH GENERAL CLINTON CANOE REGATTA OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. THE WEEKEND'S RACES INCLUDED GENERATION GAP, SCOUTS, SPRINTS, RELAYS AND THE 70 MILE ENDURANCE RACES FROM COOPERSTOWN TO BAINBRIDGE. THE COVETED TWO PERSON PRO RACE CROWN WAS WON THIS YEAR BY TRAVIS MECKLENBERG FROM MICHIGAN AND LOGAN MYNER OF TEXAS WITH THE WINNING TIME OF 7 HOURS 46 MINUTES AND 36 SECONDS...JUST 2 MINUTES AND 42 SECONDS OVER THE 2ND PLACE TEAM. WCDO'S CRAIG STEVENS SPOKE WITH THE WINNERS:

(TRAVIS-LOGAN 2026)

2ND PLACE HONORS WENT TO Guillaume BLAZE FROM QUEBEC AND MICHAEL DAVIS OF MICHIGAN WHO WERE LAST YEAR'S PRO RACE WINNERS. THE PRO CLASS FEATURED 48 TEAMS AND MANY OF NORTH AMERICA'S BEST PADDLERS. SUNDAY'S 70 MILER ALSO FEATURED 13 AMATEUR RACES. TEAM "RIPPLE FX H2 O" FROM ONTARIO, CANADA TOOK TOP HONORS IN THE 4 PERSON AMATEUR DIVISION. CRAIG STEVENS SPOKE TO THE TEAM AFTER THE RACE:

(RIPPLE FX 2026)

THE WEEKEND'S COLD, RAINY WEATHER CAUSED THE RIDES TO BE SHUT DOWN ON SATURDAY, BUT THE LIVE MUSIC, TWO NIGHTS OF FIREWORKS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES UNDER THE TENTS WENT ON AS PLANNED. NEARLY 5 THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE COMPLETED THE GENERAL CLINTON CANOE REGATTA'S 70 MILE COURSE SINCE IT BEGAN IN 1963.

Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 22 year old Isiah Eckler of Cooperstown, for Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Assault, Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation & Harassment, following an investigation into an incident in the Village of Cooperstown. Eckler was processed & was being held in the Otsego County Correctional Facility pending arraignment

OVER 800 PADDLERS FROM 21 U.S. STATES, 4 CANADIAN PROVINCES AND THE COUNTRY OF BELIZE PARTICIPATED IN THE 63RD RUNNING OF THE GENERAL CLINTON CANOE REGATTA OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. THERE WERE 17 DIFFERENT CLASSES IN SUNDAY'S 70 MILE ENDURANCE RACES FROM COOPERSTOWN TO BAINBRIDGE, INCLUDING THE COVETED TWO PERSON PRO RACE... THIS YEAR'S WINNING TEAM WAS MICHAEL DAVIS OF MICHIGAN AND GUILLAUME BLAZE FROM QUEBEC. THE PAIR SPOKE WITH WCDO'S CRAIG STEVENS AFTER THE RACE...

(DAVIS-BLAZE 2025)

BLAZE HAS 3 PRO RACE WINS IN 2014, 2016 AND 2017. DAVIS WON THE CLINTON IN 2023 WITH CANADIAN STEVE LAJOIE.

IN THE 70 MILE MEN'S NYMCRA STOCK RACE, WCDO'S NATE LULL AND PARTNER BRETT SHERWOOD FROM MORRIS TOOK TOP HONORS BEATING 10 OTHER TEAMS. THEY COMMENTED ON THE RACE AND PADDLING TOGETHER...

(LULL-SHERWOOD 2025-E CLASS)

THE PAIR BEAT THE 2ND PLACE TEAM BY NEARLY 20 MINUTES.

THIS YEAR 4 PEOPLE WERE INDUCTED INTO THE REGATTA HALL OF FAME INCLUDING DALE PERSONS FROM NEW BERLIN, JIM GOOCHEE FROM PENNSYLVANIA, JOHN LEWIS FROM BAINBRIDGE AND BILLY GRIMES FROM GILBERTSVILLE.

LAST YEAR'S WINNERS, WES DEAN FROM MICHIGAN AND LOGAN MINER FROM TEXAS FINISHED IN 2ND PLACE, JUST ONE MINUTE AND 11 SECONDS BEHIND THE WINNERS. IN HIS INTERVIEW WITH WCDO, DEAN SAID IT WAS A TOUGH LOSS...

(DEAN-MINER 2025)

BLAZE NOW HAS 4 REGATTA WINS UNDER HIS BELT AND THIS IS DAVIS' 2ND CLINTON VICTORY. LOCAL PADDLER RYAN ZAVERAL AND HIS PARTNER,DANE TRUDGEON FROM MICHIGAN FINISHED 5TH IN THE 59 BOAT PRO CLASS

LONGTIME PADDLER, AL SHAVER JR. FROM MERIDALE PADDLED WITH HIS 26 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER MEGAN IN HER FIRST CLINTON RACE. THEY TOOK FIRST PLACE HONORS IN THE AMATUER MIXED CLASS AND CHATTED WITH WCDO AFTER THE RACE....

(SHAVERS 2025)

THE FATHER-DAUGHTER TEAM FINISHED THE 70 MILE COURSE IN 8 HOURS, 19 MINUTES AND 45 SECONDS.

HIGH WATER LEVELS AND CHILLY TEMPERATURES MADE FOR FAST TIMES AT THIS YEAR'S GENERAL CLINTON CANOE REGATTA AS OVER 800 CANOE RACERS PADDLED ON THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER. PADDLERS FROM 21 U.S. STATES, 4 CANADIAN PROVINCES AND THE COUNTRY OF BELIZE DESCENDED ON BAINBRIDGE TO PARTCIPATE IN THE 63RD RUNNING OF THE EVENT. THE 70 MILE ENDURANCE RACES WERE HELD ON SUNDAY AND FEATURED 17 DIFFERENT CLASSES. IN THE 4 PERSON PRO RACE, TEAM "ZRE" CONSISTING OF BOB ZAVERAL, JOHN YOUNG, BRENT LYSICK, AND ERIC WERNER FINISHED IN SECOND PLACE. WCDO'S CRAIG STEVENS SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT THIS YEAR'S RACE...

(TEAM ZRE 2025-4 PERSON PRO)

TEAM 'DELTA FORGE" WITH PADDLERS FROM NEW YORK, MICHIGAN & CALIFORNIA TOOK FIRST PLACE HONORS WITH A TIME OF 7 HOURS, 21 MINUTES AND 41 SECONDS.

IN THE 70 MILE MIXED NYMCRA(NIM-CRA) STOCK RACE, THE TEAM OF REBECCA SUTTER FROM JAY, NEW YORK AND ADAM BLANCHARD FROM UTAH BEAT THE 2ND PLACE TEAM BY AN INCREDIBLE ONE HOUR AND 13 MINUTES. THEY SPOKE WITH CRAIG STEVENS AFTER THE RACE...

(SUTTER-BLANCHARD 2025-F CLASS)

THIS YEAR'S TWO PERSON PRO RACE WAS WON BY MICHIGAN PADDLER MICHAEL DAVIS AND CANADIAN GUILLAUME BLAZE. BLAZE HAS 3 OTHER CLINTON WINS AND DAVIS WON IN 2022 WITH STEVE LAJOIE. SINCE 1963, THE GENERAL CLINTON CANOE REGATTA FINISH LINE HAS BEEN CROSSED OVER 16 THOUSAND TIMES WITH 2 THOUSAND 47 PADDLERS DOING THE 70 MILER JUST ONCE.

THE LOCAL PRO TEAM OF JOE ALLISON FROM MORRIS AND FIRST TIME PRO RACER, AUSTIN HENCHEY OF OTEGO FINISHED IN THE TOP 20 OF THE STACKED 59 BOAT PRO RACE. THEY SPOKE WITH WCDOS CRAIG STEVENS AFTER THE RACE...

(HENCHEY-ALLISON 2025)

HENCHEY AND ALLISON FINISHED IN 19TH PLACE WITH A PRO TIME OF 7HOURS 43 MINUTES AND 39 SECONDS. IT WAS THEIR FIRST PRO RACE TOGETHER.

28 time General Clinton Canoe Regatta Champion Serge Corbin will be competing for the 1st time in a mixed Pro Team, in this years 70 mile Race on Sunday with a new partner, Ev Chamberlain, they talked to WCDO's Craig Stevens about coming to The Regatta this year:

(Ev-Serge 5-26-23)

Chamberlain was in the Clinton last year in a women's team, Corbin will be competing the in the Clinton for the 32nd time.

Broome County District Attorney Mike Korchak announced that 50 year old Michael Seaman was sentenced to 4 years in New York State prison followed by 5 years post-release supervision after pleading guilty to felony Attempted Assault. Seaman admitted that on October 18, 2022, in the Town of Fenton, he attempted to cause serious injury to an 18-year-old male by stabbing him in the leg with a knife during a road rage altercation. The victim was hospitalized and required surgery. Seaman was located in Chenango County later that day.

THE 60TH GENERAL CLINTON CANOE REGATTA WAS HELD OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WITH PARTICIPATION FROM 28 STATES AND CANADA. THE WEEKEND EVENT FEATURED OVER 800 CANOE RACERS OF ALL AGES INCLUDING THE FAMOUS 70 MILE ENDURANCES FROM COOPERSTOWN TO BAINBRIDGE. IN THE TWO PERSON PRO RACE, STEVE LAJOIE FROM QUEBEC AND MIKE DAVIS FROM MICHIGAN TOOK FIRST PLACE HONORS. IT WAS LAJOIE'S 11TH REGATTA VICTORY AND DAVIS' FIRST WIN. FIRST TIME REGATTA PADDLER, JAKE CROTSER FROM ONEONTA AND HIS PARTNER MATT MEERSMAN FROM INDIANA WERE 6TH OVERALL. CROTSER SPOKE WITH CRAIG STEVENS AFTER THE RACE...

(NEWS REGATTA 2022-JAKE CROTSER)

REBECCA DAVIS FROM MICHIGAN PADDLED WITH 6 TIME PRO WINNER NORMAN MAINGUY FROM QUEBEC AND TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY COMMUNICATED, SINCE MAINGUY DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH.

(NEWS REGATTA 2022-REBECCA DAVIS)

DAVIS AND MAINGUY WERE 10TH OVERALL IN THE 49 TEAM FIELD AND THE FIRST MIXED TEAM TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE. REBECCA IS THE DAUGHTER OF LONGTIME MICHIGAN PADDLERS BRUCE AND ROXANNE BARTON. NORMAND HAS WON THE CLINTON PRO CLASS 6 TIMES WITH ALL TIME REGATTA CHAMPION SERGE CORBIN. CORBIN HAS 28 WINS AT THE CLINTON.

A.M. NEWS Tuesday 5-31-22

THE 60TH RUNNING OF THE GENERAL CLINTON CANOE REGATTA WAS HELD OVER THE WEEKEND WITH OVER 800 CANOE RACERS ON THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER. THIS YEAR'S 70 MILE ENDURANCE RACES WERE HELD ON SUNDAY AND FEATURED PADDLERS FROM 28 STATES AND CANADA. WCDO'S CRAIG STEVENS SPOKE WITH LONG TIME PADDLERS GARY APREA FROM AUSTERLITZ NEW YORK AND GLORIA WESLEY FROM MASSACHUSETTS, 2 OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS YEAR'S FIRST PLACE 4 PERSON PRO RACE...

(NEWS REGATTA 2022-GLORIA & GARY)

THEY BEAT THE 2ND PLACE CANOE BY 3 MINUTES AND 33 SECONDS. GARY WAS INDUCTED INTO THE REGATTA HALL OF FAME IN 2014 AND THIS YEAR MARKED HIS 44TH REGATTA FINISH. IN THE 70 MILE ONE PERSON PRO RACE, BEN SCHLIMMER FROM CAMILLUS, NEW YORK TOOK TOP HONORS FINISHING THE RACE IN 8 HOURS 41 MINUTES AND 12 SECONDS. SCHLIMMER TALKED ABOUT THE LOW WATER LEVELS THIS YEAR.

(NEWS REGATTA 2022-BEN SCHLIMMER)

2ND PLACE C1 PRO, KEVIN OLSON FROM FLORIDA CROSSED THE FINISH LINE 10 MINUTES BEHIND SCHLIMMER AND SAID BEN IS AT ANOTHER LEVEL...

(NEWS REGATTA 2022-KEVIN OLSON)

KEVIN'S FATHER, RICK OLSON HAS RACED THE CLINTON OVER 30 TIMES AND WAS INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME IN 2019.

THE 60TH GENERAL CLINTON CANOE REGATTA WAS HELD OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND . SCOUT, YOUTH, SPRINT, AND RELAY RACERS COMPETED ON SATURDAY AND THE FAMOUS 70 MILE ENDURANCE RACES FROM COOPERSTOWN TO BAINBRIDGE WERE HELD ON SUNDAY. OVER 800 PADDLERS FROM 28 STATES AND CANADA COMPETED. IN THE TWO PERSON PRO RACE, CANADA'S STEVE LAJIOE WON HIS 11TH CLINTON WITH PARTNER, MICHAEL DAVIS FROM MICHIGAN. THEY SPOKE WITH CRAIG STEVENS AFTER THE RACE...

(NEWS REGATTA 2022-LAJOIE & DAVIS)

THIS YEAR'S TWO PERSON PRO RACE FEATURED ONE OF THE BIGGEST FIELDS IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS WITH 49 TEAMS AND SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN CANOE RACING COMPETING FOR THE 3 THOUSAND DOLLAR PRIZE. LOCAL TOP TEN PRO FINISHERS INCLUDED JAKE CROTSER FROM ONEONTA AND HIS PARTNER, MATT MEERSMAN FROM INDIANA IN 6TH PLACE AND RYAN ZAVERAL FROM UNADILLA WITH HIS PARTNER, PATRICK MADDEN FROM SCOTIA, NEW YORK IN 9TH PLACE.

Broome County District Attorney Mike Korchak announced today that Lisa Stevens of Glen Aubrey was sentenced to 2 1/2 to 7 years in prison, for 2nd degree Grand Larceny. Stevens was accused of taking money from clients while working as a travel agent, and failing to deliver either refunds or services to the clients, amounting to over $100,000. Stevens faces similar charges connected to that Larceny in Onondaga County.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 10-6-21

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that about $149 million in federal aid has been distributed to counties statewide to help older New Yorkers meet basic needs, remain in their homes and communities, slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and get vaccinated. The Southern Tier Counties of Broome, Chenango and Delaware will share $5,401,414 in funding.

The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce announced that the Deadline is this Wednesday to vote for their CITIZEN    & BUSINESS OF THE YEAR awards.  Votes can be cast by sending an email to bainbridge.chamber@yahoo.com.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 9-28-20

Delaware County Sheriff's Department & State Police investigated a 2-car fatal accident Friday morning in Delhi.  Killed were 74 year old Sandra Elmore and her passenger, 80 year old Eugene Mills, both of Downsville.  Elmore was driving north on state Route 10 when her car crossed over into the southbound lane and collided with a car driven by 32 year old Michael Beilby of East Meredith.  The cause of the crash remains under investigation by members of the Delaware County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division and State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit.

Village of Delhi Police Department arrested 58-year-old Gary Stevens of Delhi for Predatory Sexual Assault of a Child and 1st degree Rape; he is accused of engaging in sexual acts with a child less than 11 years of age. Stevens was remanded without bail to the Delaware County Jail after his arraignment.   This investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed in this case.

Binghamton police have identified the body found Sunday along the Susquehanna River, as 72-year-old Susan Wayman of Binghamton & formerly from Sidney. Wayman was reported missing about a month ago, the death has been ruled non-criminal; Wayman was identified following an autopsy, she graduated froom Sidney High School in 1965.

Delhi Police stopped a motor vehicle for speeding Saturday on Meredith Street, Police discovered that the occupants of the vehicle were in possession of marihuana, counterfeit money and suspected stolen property. Arrested were 20-year-old Maleik Garland of Queens, 22-year-old Chadwade Chambers, 26-year-old Michael Stevens Jr. & 22-year-old Taijih Bryant, all of Brooklyn, all 4 were arraigned, Garland was being held in the Delaware County jail pending future court action, the others were released on appearance tickets.

The Otsego County Sheriff’s department is investigating the death of a man found in a barn near Emmons that Oneonta Fire fighters responded to Monday night. The unidentified man was found in a barn at 130 Riverstone Road, where a fully-involved barn fire was reported at about 11:20 pm Monday Night. Firefighters from Schenevus, Milford and Pindars Corners assisted the Oneonta Fire department. An autopsy has been ordered & the investigation is ongoing, and Susquehanna SPCA took a dog and four horses to the shelter from the property.

Governor Cuomo today announced that up to $5 million in 2nd round census funding will be made available to nonprofits that are participating in the State Complete Count Census campaign. The funding will help fund nonprofits in their efforts to reach at-risk and hard-to-count communities and ensure they are counted during the 2020 Census. Applications may be submitted for a 30 day period that ends on March 26; nonprofits can apply for pre-qualification ny.gov/2020-census.

Assemblyman Cliff Crouch joined senators, Congressman Tom Reed & members of the Assembly Minority Conference Monday at a press conference in Albany to show their opposition to the Green Light Law:

(Crouch 2-25-20)

The Green Light Law allows illegal immigrants the right to obtain driver's licenses, it has raised Homeland Security concerns due to it blocking law enforcement's ability to view DMV files and the records of illegal immigrants who have broken the law, which is preventing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct investigations.

The Green Light Law allows illegal immigrants the right to obtain driver's licenses, it has raised Homeland Security concerns due to it blocking law enforcement's ability to view DMV files and the records of illegal immigrants who have broken the law, which is preventing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct investigations.

US Senator Chuck Schumer &
Congressman Anthony Brindisi joined Major League Baseball officials, New York
Mets executives, Binghamton Rumble Ponies owner John Hughes, and other elected
officials for a summit on how to keep the Rumble Ponies in Binghamton Monday.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred wanted to eliminate more than 40 minor league
teams, including the Rumble Ponies. Schumer & Brindisi have urged Major
League Baseball to follow-up on a promise made to provide the team with a list
of needed improvements for their stadium.

A Full schedule of events fare scheduled for Saturday at the
General Clinton Canoe Regatta, chairman John Harmon comments:

(John Harmon 5-23-19)

Saturday will also include the annual Hall of Fame Inductions;
this year's inductees include paddlers Ken Gerg, Dick McCauley, Rick Olson
& Bob Wisse, and Contributors Jean Davies, Donna King & WCDO's Craig
Stevens.

The Disabled American Vets
Mobile Service Office will be at the Sidney VFW at 133 West Main Street until
4:00 PM this afternoon.  Counselors are
on hand to assist Vets with any issues they may have.

State Police and local law
enforcement statewide will increase patrols to combat drunk, impaired and
reckless driving throughout Memorial Day weekend.   The special enforcement period runs from
Friday  through Monday, Memorial Day,
which is traditionally one of the busiest travel holidays of the year and
police will be out in force.

State Police released an update regarding the incident in
the town of Springfield that left 1 man dead & an Otsego county Deputy
injured.  The deceased suspect has been
identified as 23 year old Matthew All, of Sharon Springs, on Tuesday, state
troopers attempted to stop All for allegedly threatening someone with a knife, he
took off & police pursued him, until he apparently crashed head on into the
parked deputy’s vehicle near routes 20 & 80 in the town of Springfield. The
unidentified Deputy was transported to Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, with
serious but non-life threatening injuries, he was coherent at the scene. All
was pronounced dead at the scene by Otsego County Coroner Michael Fox.  The investigation is on-going.

The Chenango county sheriff’s department arrested 46-year-old Michael Stevens of New Berlin for Possession of a Loaded Firearm in a Motor Vehicle. Stevens was charged after deputies uncovered a loaded rifle following a traffic stop in the Town of New Berlin. Stevens was issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of New Berlin Court at a later date.