WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 4-29-26

Hundreds of UTV riders showed up Sunday for the UTV ride & Poker Run through the woods in the town of Guilford, to raise money for the building of a new fire house for the Guilford Fire Department, organizers Teri Schunk & Roger Barnhart told WCDO News about the fundraiser:

(Teri Schunk-Roger Barnhart 4-29-26)

The Amount raised through the UTV ride participants, poker players & money raised from food located at PAK Construction in Guilford has not bee tabulated yet, it should be announced shortly.

Local government sales tax collections totaled $6.1 billion in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 5.1%, compared to the same quarter last year, according to the State Comptroller's Office. 9 of the 10 regions in the state, had a year-over-year increase in collections, first quarter collections for counties and cities outside of New York City grew by 3.9%, the full report can be found at osc.ny.gov.

32 year old Michael Fegley of Florida was sentenced in US District Court to 108 months’ imprisonment and 15 years’ supervised release for transporting child pornography and traveling with intent to engage in unlawful sexual activity with what he thought was a 13-year-old child. Fegley admitted that he traveled from Florida to upstate New York intending to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with a purported 13-year-old child. He also admitted that he brought with him about 1,000 images and videos depicting child pornography that he had obtained on the internet. Fegley was also ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution and various special assessments, and he will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of a new, decade-long survey effort designed to assess gambling behaviors of New Yorkers and evaluate where additional problem gambling-related services and supports may be needed. The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports is administering and overseeing the survey effort. More information can be viewed at oasas.ny.gov. New Yorkers struggling with an addiction can call the state’s toll-free, helpline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369).

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 4-29-26

Oneonta's new transit hub on Market Street was the site of a ribbon cutting Tuesday, which was attended by New York Secretary of State Walter Mosley. The Hub has been open since December, The funding came from a State Downtown Revitalization grant that led to the construction of a new building, and the demolition of an old municipal parking garage.

3 More American Red Cross Blood Drives are being held today, as blood supplies remain low. The 1st on will be at the DCMO Boces Campus on State Route 206 from 9:30 to 2:30, another will be in Oneonta from 12:00 Noon until 5:00 PM at the SUNY Oneonta Hunt College Union, & the 3rd will be in Walton 1:30 to 5:30 PM, at the 1st Baptist Church on Townsend Street, make an appointment for either location at RedCrossBlood.org, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 10-23-25

State Police are attempting to locate 15 year old Sierra Foley of Sauquoit and 16 year old Paige Roberts of Marcy. Both teens were last seen together on the evening of October 21, 2025, at Sierra’s residence in Oneida County. They are believed to be traveling in an unknown vehicle, Police believe they may be traveling to New York City or Pennsylvania. Paige Roberts is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, 150 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing gray sweatpants and a gray sweatshirt, Sierra Foley is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, 110 pounds, with blonde hair and green eyes, wearing red sweatpants and a red sweatshirt. Anyone with information is asked to contact the State Police at 315-366-6000.

The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office arrested 45 year old Derek Jordan of Milford, 45 year old Keith Blush of Milford & 30 year old Ashley Goble of Milford, on a variety of drug & weapons charges, following an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the Otsego County Probation Department. On October 9th, Otsego County probation Officers & Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Derek Jordan, who was taken in to custody on traffic offenses, During a search of Jordan’s residence, Blush and Goble were inside the residence, they were wanted by State Police and the New Hartford Police Departments on warrants. Officers observed a firearm, drugs and drug paraphernalia, Jordan and Blush were processed and turned over to the Otsego County Correctional Facility for arraignment, Goble was issued an Appearance Ticket to the Town of Milford Court, and she was turned over to New Hartford Police Officers. The investigation is on-going and additional charges are pending.

New York Secretary of State Walter Mosley announced the groundbreaking of a $8.3 million boutique hotel in Norwich as part of the City’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative . The Principle Hotel will have 61 rooms and feature a rooftop lounge, restaurant and event room, The 12,000 square-foot property at 14-16 South Broad Street, was once part of the SUNY Morrisville campus. In addition to the hotel, other DRI projects in Norwich include the Rehabilitation of the Unguentine Building, Improve East and West parks: Upgrade the Martin W. Kappel Theater, Enhance the American Avenue Streetscape & Rehabilitate the Heritage Building.

The New York State Department of Health today released a new report showing a continued decline in tobacco use among high school students across the state. The report, shows that 1 in 6 Youth Still Use Tobacco, the lowest since tracking began in 2000. Cigarette smoking remains low, with just over 2% of students reporting current use, E-cigarette use has declined sharply to about 13%, however, Nicotine pouch use is rising, doubling from 1.5% to 3.0% since 2022.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 10-23-25

Governor Kathy Hochul & State Police Superintendent Steven James honored 238 new State Troopers as they graduated Wednesday from the 217th session of the Basic School of the New York State Police Academy. The ceremony was held at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. Today’s graduation increases the State Police ranks to approximately 5,110 sworn members, about 60 of the new troopers were assigned to Troop C in Sidney.

On October 16 at 10:48 p.m., Otsego County requested Forest Ranger assistance in the search for a hunter reported missing by his spouse. The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, Otsego County Emergency Services, Garratsville Fire Department, Laurens Fire Department, New York State Police, and New York State Park Police and staff all joined the search efforts in Gilbert Lake State Park. Otsego County Sheriff’s Deputy’s located the 67-year-old from Remsen deceased in a tree stand. Rangers used a rope system to help extricate the subject and turned them over to the county coroner, the cause of death has not been released.

State Forest Rangers assisted with Vestal Police and emergency crews in the Town of Vestal on October 15th in the search for a 86-year-old Janice Short, who was reported missing the previous afternoon. Short was known to go for walks on Tracy Creek Road. Vestal Police used a drone with heat detection capability and deployed a K9 unit with negative results. Rangers assigned linear searches of the roads and Tracy Creek, a neighbor found Short behind his house calling for help, after she had fallen into a bush, hurt her back, and saw the lights from searchers, but wasn’t strong enough or loud enough for them to hear. Rangers and Vestal Fire Department members carried the subject, she was checked out & was returned to family.

The State Department of Labor today released preliminary local area unemployment rates for September, The State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held constant at 4.4% in September 2024. Locally, Chenango County had 2.7% unemployment, Delaware County 3.2% & Otsego County had 2.9% in September.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrested 48 year old Noel Wildey following an execution of an eviction in the Town of Masonville. Last Wednesday, members of the Delaware County Sheriff's Civil Division were conducting an eviction at a residence in the Town of Masonville, where Wildey failed to provide his proper name and date of birth, giving several false names, it was discovered that Wildey had an active Arrest Warrant out of the State of Pennsylvania. Wildey was charged on the warrant & for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Obstruction of Governmental Administration, he was held at the Delaware County Correctional Facility to for arraignment.

Secretary of State Walter Mosley today announced the completion of the $19 million Dietz Street mixed-use housing development as part of the Oneonta Downtown Revitalization Initiative, which includes the new Hartwick College Baking Innovation Lab:

(Walter Mosley 10-22-24)

The new mixed-use building was constructed on an underutilized parking lot on Dietz Street and now hosts not only the Hartwick Baking Innovation Lab, but also 64 units of affordable and below market rate housing. The project received $1,470,000 in funding from the City’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award.

Broadway In Binghamton’s latest show, AIN’T TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS, opens tonight and will play tonight & tomorrow Night at the Forum Theatre. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Forum Box Office, online at BroadwayInBinghamton.com, or through Ticketmaster.com.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 10-22-24

The Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 30 year old Jacob Nack of Oneonta for Promoting Prison Contraband. Nack is accused of not taking his medications properly while in the Otsego County Correctional Facility, he was issued an Appearance Ticket returnable to the Town of Middlefield Court at a later date.

Several Fire Companies responded to a barn fire on County Route 22 in Smyrna Sunday morning. Several animals died in the fire, the cause of the fire is under investigation.

A ribbon cutting will be held for the Hartwick College Baking Innovation Lab on Dietz Street in downtown Oneonta this morning at 11 am. This unit of the Hartwick Center for Craft Food and Beverage will provide world-class research and hands-on learning.