WCDO Radio News

Governor Cuomo announced that flags on state government buildings would be flown at half-staff on Sunday, September 11. The Flags will be flown in remembrance of the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the 2001 terrorist attacks.

State Police at Norwich arrested 20-year-old Jacob Burrell, 18-year-old Melissa Land, & 18-year-old Kayla VanPelt, 18, all of New Berlin, for 2nd degree burglary. Troopers were advised of a burglary at a home on Hemlock Hill Drive in the Town of Columbus in July. Burrell is accused of damaging a window to gain entry; all 3 allegedly entered & stole liquor. Burrell, Land and VanPelt were arraigned in the Town of Norwich court and were released; they face court action in the Town of Columbus shortly.

State Police arrested 50-year-old Michael Silver of Franklin for criminal mischief, after Troopers responded to a dispute at a home on State Route 357 in the Town of Franklin. Silver is accused of smashing the victim's front windshield of her vehicle with a baseball bat, as she was driving away, following a dispute. Silver was arraigned in the Town of Franklin court and was remanded to the Delaware County jail on $1,500 cash bail or $3,000 property bond.

Cal Harris will appear In Oneonta Town Court on October13th, to answer to charges for allegedly stalking a State Police Investigator who testified in Harris's most recent Murder trial in Schoharie County Court earlier this year. Harris was sentenced in Owego earlier this week in a separate case, for harassing an unidentified student at a SUNY Broome Satellite class in Tioga County in 2015. Harris was freed following his 4th trial earlier this year, after being accused & convicted twice of killing his estranged Wife Michelle in 2001, 2 convictions were overturned on appeal, the 3rd murder trial ended with a hung jury, his last trial ended with his being released of murder charges.

The dedication of Miller Park in Oneonta will take place on Tuesday at 11:00 AM. The park is located at the intersection of the Lettis Highway & Main Street in Oneonta, to honor the former Mayor of Oneonta & Hartwick college president Dick Miller, who took his own life in October of 2014.

The Family of former State Assembly Minority Leader Clarence "Rapp" Rappleyea has announced calling hours & funeral services. Rappleyea died on September 4th at the age of 82, Friends are invited to call at the NorthEast Classic car Museum from 4:00 p.m. -8:00 PM today. A Celebration of Life for Rapp will be held at the Car Museum at 11:00 AM Saturday. Private burial services will immediately follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Norwich. Another Celebration of Rapp's life will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday at the Terrace Gallery, at the New York State Museum in the Empire State Plaza in Albany. The family is requesting donations to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, or the Roger Follett Foundation, Inc., 35 West Main Street, Norwich, 13815.

The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood & Donors of all blood types are needed. A blood drive is being held today in Delhi from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the State University Farrell Student & Community Center at 2 Main Street, another blood drive is being held in Oxford from Saturday from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM, at the American Legion on South Washington Street. To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

Governor Cuomo today announced that the Unemployment Insurance reforms in 2013 have resulted in additional savings for New York State employers in terms of their State Unemployment Insurance contributions. Employers have already saved an estimated $200 million through the early repayment of federal debt with each saving, on average, an estimated total of $1,200 or $84 per employee. As a result, the Unemployment Insurance contribution rate schedules have been adjusted downward, reducing costs and saving employers up to an additional $42.80 per employee.

State Police arrested 30-year-old Patrick Hill of Whitney Point on 3 counts of sexual abuse and 1 count of endangering the welfare of a child. Hill is accused of having sexual contact with a victim less than 14 years old several times in the Town of Nanticoke; Hill was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Nanticoke court on February 25th.

35-year-old Anthony Thompson of Binghamton faces an animal cruelty charge for allegedly neglecting 7 dogs on a property in Chenango County. 7 pit bulls were saved from the property in North Norwich; all of the dogs are now in the state's custody & are being treated at an animal clinic in Norwich. Thompson is currently in custody & faces court action shortly.

The Federal Olmstead act may be proving to be counter productive to the developmentally disabled, that have been moved from Broome Developmental into group homes. Area Assemblyman Cliff Crouch Comments:

(Crouch 2-9-16)

Crouch said that he expects to be involved in a Task Force that will hold hearings around the state, where similar situations have occurred, and concerns have been registered to lawmakers.

State Police arrested 60-year-old Sandra Simmons of Port Crane for the felony of aggravated DWI with a B.A.C. result of .23% plus other traffic violations. The arrest occurred after a Broome county 911 report of an erratic driver in Johnson City. Simmons was arraigned & was remanded to the Broome County jail with no bail set at this time. Her next court date in the Village of Johnson City is pending.

Annual local sales tax collections declined in 30 of the 57 counties outside of New York City last year, according to a report issued today by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Total collections across the state grew by 3.6% in 2015, but the increase was nearly exclusively driven by New York City. Elsewhere, growth in local sales tax collections was a mere 0.7%. 10 counties experienced a decline of more than 3%, including Delaware County.

State University of New York Empire State College will hold public information sessions about its associate and bachelor’s degree programs at the State Office Building, Room 505, at 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton Today at 4:30 PM. More information is available at 721-8651.