WCDO Radio News

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul announced today state funding to assist Unison in Norwich with a major expansion project:

(Kathy Hochul 10-17-17

Site Leader Dan Ketchum told WCDO News about the product line that will benefit from the expansion Project:

(Dan Ketchum 10-17-17)

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said that the project expansion at Unison is part of the Southern Tier Soaring economic development initiative.

Commerce Chenango will host their 3rd annual Job fair on November 8th in Norwich, Commerce Chenango CEO Steve Craig told WCDO News that employers from all over the region can sign up to participate:

(Steve Craig 10-17-17)

The Job Fair will be from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus on November 8th.

A Sidney 5K Walk or Run will be held this Sunday, with a variety of events scheduled to go along with the run, to raise money for the fight against childhood cancer. Sidney Heath Education Teacher Jonathan Yurka explains:

(Jonathan Yurka 10-17-17)

More information about the race is available at localraces.com, and then search for "Warriors” the event will be held between the Sidney High School & Middle school buildings Sunday afternoon.

State Senator Fred Akshar & Assembly Members Donna Lupardo and Cliff Crouch will hold a public Town Hall Meeting to discuss the repurposing of the Broome Developmental Center to provide substance abuse treatment to individuals struggling with addiction. Officials from the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Syracuse Behavioral Health, Broome County Department of Social Services and the Broome County Health Department will answer questions and address concerns related to the repurposing project. The Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 26th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Chenango Valley High School at 221 Chenango Bridge Rd.

Norwich City Police Department and the Chenango County Sheriff's office arrested 24-year-old Brandley Bishop of Norwich was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, following a month long investigation into the sale of methamphetamine in the City of Norwich. Bishop was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $10,000 cash bail.

A Motorcyclist was airlifted to Wilson hospital after colliding with a pick up truck on State Route 12 in the town of Norwich this morning at 11:15. Lifenet of Sidney was called in to transport the operator of the motorcycle, whose name has not been released. The investigation is ongoing.

The Unatego School District Board of Education will hold their next regular meeting at the Middle School/ High School today in Room 93. The session will begin at 6:30 PM, with the open portion beginning at 7:00 PM.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 21-year-old Kathleen Brown of Norwich for illegally entering a residence. Brown allegedly punched & grabbed an individual by the neck, and pulled a child from a family member, she then attempted to leave in a vehicle that did not have child safety seats. The driver, 22-year-old Lucas Cummings of Norwich was found to have a suspended driver’s license. Brown was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court for Criminal Trespass & Endangering the Welfare of a Child. She was released & will appear in court at a later date. Cummings was issued a Ticket for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a motor vehicle & will appear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

The next meeting of the Tri-Town Coalition on Substance Abuse Prevention is being held today, at 6:00 PM at the Sidney Middle School Library.

State Police arrested 36-year-old James Brower of Norwich, for 1st degree Murder, he is accused of murdering 11-year-old Jacelyn O’Connor in his residence in Norwich Sunday, anyone with information is asked to contact State Police at 334-3296. Brower was arraigned in Chenango County Court & was remanded to the Chenango County Jail without bail pending court action in the Town of Norwich Court on Thursday, at 9:00 AM. The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office and the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office assisted with this investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

Governor Cuomo was in Johnson City this morning, to deliver state funds to assist the Regional Econimic Development's wishes to assist Binghamton area businesses add jobs:

(Cuomo 8-2-17)

The State has already invested more than $3.1 billion in the region since 2012, recent REDC efforts in Binghamton have led to the building of the new Pharmacy School in Johnson City & the expansion of the Decker School of Nursing into a bigger facility.

Area Law Enforcement Agencies will team up with Area Dunkin Donuts locations to raise money for the "Cops On Top" fundraiser. Sidney Police Chief Jan Gorshack told WCDO News that the SIdney Police Deaprtment will be involved Friday:

(Jan Gorshack 8-2-17)

Police officers will also assist in the fundraising efforts in Bainbridge, Norwich, Vestal, Binghamton, Johnson City & Whitney Point this coming Friday morning.

New York State has announced a new round of funding for a program aimed at keeping students from dropping out of school. The state Education Department on Monday said 44 colleges and universities would receive a total of $17 million as part of the Liberty Partnerships Program. Under the program, colleges partner with struggling schools and community-based organizations to help middle and high school students who are at risk of dropping out complete school and go on to college. Commissioner MaryEllen Elia says the program gives students access to skills assessment, tutoring, counseling and mentoring. The program was started in 1988.

The Chenango County Sheriff's Department arrested 21-year-old Damion Spicer of Norwich for Criminal Contempt. Spicer was charged following a report of a domestic dispute, where Spicer allegedly subjected the female victim to unwanted physical contact while an order of protection was in place. Spicer was arraigned in the Town of Otselic and was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $5,000 cash bail, $10,000 bond, pending court action in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

The next Meeting of the Coalition On Substance Abuse Prevention will be today at 6:00 PM at the Sidney Middle School Library. The Coaltion is looking for board members, potential officers and committee chair persons to join in the effort, interested residents are invited to attend tonight's meeting.

Lawmakers were called back to Albany today for an Extraordinary session to deal with some left over legislation that was not dealt with before the end of the 2017 session last Wednesday. Local Assemblyman Cliff Crouch said that some of the bills really should be dealt with by the local municipalities, and not the state legislature:

(Cliff Crouch 6-28-17)

In the last weeks of the legislative session, state lawmakers had to decide on what Crouch called "Home Rule" issues, like allowing for counties to continue to collect sales tax, in addition to the issue of New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio overseeing the City schools.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies & local EMT’s responded to a 1 car roll-over accident with entrapment, at approximately 2:00 PM Tuesday on State Highway 28 in the Town of Middletown. 78 year old Doris Hubar of Margaretville was extricated from the overturned vehicle & was transported to Margaretville Memorial Hospital and was transferred to Albany Medical Center for further treatment. Hubar may have experienced a medical emergency while driving, causing her to lose control & flip her vehicle after striking a tree. No tickets have been issued, the investigation is continuing.

The Guernsey Library of Norwich will host a “Movies Under the Stars” event tonight with a showing of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” in conjunction with the Norwich Merchants Association. The movie will start at about 8:30 PM; movie goers are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs & blankets for tonight’s presentation.

The Tri-Town Coalition On Substance Abuse Prevention meeting will be this evening at 6:00 pm in the Sidney Middle School Cafeteria-Gym. The agenda for the meeting will be action planning for the upcoming 2017/2018 coalition year. This meeting will be led by the Prevention Resource Center and the National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer stopped at UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich this morning, to announce his plans to present legislation to permanently install the Medicaid Dependant Hospitals program and the Low Volume programs that are currently set to expire on September 30th.

(Schumer 4-10-17)

UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital is a recipient of both programs and would loose $1.8 million dollars annually & over 20 Million dollars in future years, if those 2 programs are not be renewed. The hospital has an annual budget of $65,000,000, 44% of their patients are on Medicaid, and about 50 patients a day use the Emergency room.

The Northeast Classic Car Museum today announced that their next exhibit will feature Convertibles & Motorcycles. "Open Road Open SKY' will be unveiled to members & Exhibitors on May 19th, the exhibit will open to the public in May, as part of the Museum's 20th Anniversary in Norwich.

Governor Cuomo announced an agreement on a $153.1 billion budget over the weekend.

(Cuomo 4-10-17)

The budget agreement includes a 1.1 Billion dollar increase in school funding, adds a tuition-free college program for middle class families making less than $125,000 a year, & it raises the age of criminal responsibility to 18, so that 16- and 17-year-olds are no longer automatically processed as adults.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a vehicle operated by 24 year old Samuel Ackermann of Norwich, he led officers on an 8 mile pursuit from Oxford that ended when Ackermann crashed into a tree and fled the scene with 18 year old Johnathon Gemberling of Plymouth and a 17 year old female. Ackermann and the 17 year old female were apprehended trying to get help from a nearby residence; they were taken to Chenango Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries, A search warrant was executed on the vehicle & at an address in Pharsalia, Police seized heroin, a loaded long gun, cocaine and marijuana.  Ackermann, was charged with 2 counts Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Possession of Marijuana, Reckless Endangerment, & several other charges, The 17 year old female was arrested on similar charges, both were arraigned and were remanded to the Chenango County Jail. The investigation in continuing and more arrests are expected.

Governor Cuomo today announced additional free tax filing assistance events across New York State. At these events, Tax Department volunteers will be available to help low and middle-income taxpayers file their taxes online for free ahead of the April 18 deadline. Since the tax-filing season began in January, the Tax Department has partnered with various organizations to provide free tax filing assistance to thousands of taxpayers at 54 locations throughout New York State. More information is available at tax.ny.gov.

Voters in a few school districts will be asked to approve budgets that exceed the state's tax cap. The State Association of School Business Officials reported that 98% of the budgets submitted to the state so far would stay within the cap, 15 district want to over-ride it, which means that they will need a 60% super majority of for their budgets to pass. School budget votes will be held on May 16th this year.