WCDO Radio News

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office arrested Mark Tubbs and Angela Huggins both of Sidney, for 1 count each of Unlawful Possession of Marijuana and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The pair are accused of possessing marijuana in their apartment, where a 9 year old child also resided. The arrests came during the execution of arrest warrants at the Huggins and Tubbs residence by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team. Both Huggins and Tubbs will appear in the Village of Sidney Court shortly to answer these charges.

Delaware County Sheriff's Department Investigators arrested 35 year old Philip Albergo of Meridale and charged him with Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Unlawfully Dealing With Fireworks and Dangerous Fireworks. Albergo was out on Probation on an unrelated charge, Probation Officers discovered a high capacity ammunition feeding device, which is banned in New York State, they also seized numerous unlawful fireworks. Albergo is being held at the Delaware County Correctional Facility as a Probation Violator, to be arraigned in the Town of Meredith Court on these charges at a later time.

The Town of Sidney Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, regarding the Muddy River Hops, that was originally scheduled for this evening at 7:00 PM has been cancelled. The meeting was due to be held in the Town of Sidney Office building at 44 Grand Street.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 39 year old Eric Rossman of Davenport for criminal possession of stolen property, following an investigation into a stolen vehicle in the Town of Harpersfield earlier this year. Deputies encountered Rossman after responding to an accident in the Town of Delhi where he left the scene, they also discovered that Rossman was operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, which led to several other charges. Rossman was arraigned at the Town of Davenport Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 secured bond, he will appear in the Town of Davenport and the Town of Delhi courts at a later date.

The Town of Hartwick will receive $1 million in grant money from the state for upgrades to the town’s water system. The money will be used to replace water mains, the auxiliary well and the primary well-house building, and to help pay for new mixers for the water storage tank and an emergency backup generator, as well as replacing or repairing water meters.

Delaware County's Clean Sweep Hazardous Waste disposal days are coming up this week, County Solid Waste Coordinator Sue McIntyre comments:

(Sue McIntyre 10-16-18)

The event will allow for county farms, businesses & residents to get rid of items such as paints, pesticides & other house hold chemicals, plus Pharmaceutical Wastes, Sharps & Syringes.

19th Congressional District Candidates will be debating in Walton on Tonight from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., at the Walton Theater on Gardiner Place. Congressional candidates who have secured a place on the ballot have been invited, including incumbent John Faso and Democratic challenger Antonio Delgado, Green Party candidate Steven Greenfield and Independent Diane Neal. The debate is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters, the Delaware County Farm Bureau and the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.

New York state’s health care jobs exceeded 1.2 million in 2017, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Health care employment rose by more than 18 percent over the past decade, more than double the pace of overall employment growth. DiNapoli’s report found the health care industry in New York provided nearly $71 billion in wages, with an average annual wage of $57,200 in 2017. New York ranked 3rd in the nation for its share of health care jobs.

Serge Corbin announced today that he will do the 70 Mile Pro Race with Guillaume Blaise at this year's General Clinton Canoe Regatta, he told WCDO that he agreed at first to help Blaise train for the event, & then Blasie talked him into doing it again:

(Serge Corbin 5-14-18)

Corbin has won 28 times out of 29 entries, with 8 different partners, he last particpated at the 50th Regatta in 2012.

Former Gubernatorial & Congressional Candidate Zephyr Teachout announced THAT SHE MAY run for State Attorney General this year, to replace Eric Schneiderman, who resigned 1 week ago, follow accusations by 4 women that Schneiderman physically assaulted them. Teachout is currently an Associate Professor of Law at Fordham University, she said that she will form an exploratory committee to consider running for Attorney General, She will make a final decision in the next few weeks.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie is starting up a process to name an Attorney general through the end of this year, Local Assemblyman Cliff Crouch explains:

(Cliff Crouch 5-145-18)

Crouch said that it was unclear whether or not State Senate Republicans would agree to participate in the proposed process.

The National Rifle Association filed a lawsuit Friday against Governor Cuomo & the State Department of Financial Services, the NRA Accuses accusing them of coercing banks and insurance companies to withhold services to the gun lobbying group. The lawsuit asks the court to award unspecified monetary damages to the NRA and stop the state from prohibiting the insurance companies from doing business with the gun lobby group. Cuomo said the NRA's lawsuit is a desperate attempt to advance its agenda to sell more guns.

The State DOT will host an open house public information meeting on Wednesday May 23rd at 6:00 PM at the Colesville Town Hall on Welton Street in Harpursville regarding the Dilly Road culvert replacement project. The proposed work zone traffic control will require an approximate 2 week closure of Dilly Road at the intersection of State Route 7. Traffic will use a three-mile, six-minute detour. Dilly Road accommodates an average of 60 vehicles daily. The project is in the preliminary design phase. Construction is currently scheduled for the 2019 construction season.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 39 year old Christina Regg of Davenport on an arrest warrant for failure to appear on previous charges of Animal Cruelty for allegedly killing a stray cat. Regg was arraigned in the Town of Davenport Court and remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility on $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 bond; she is scheduled to return to the Town of Davenport Court at a later date.

School Budget Votes and Board of Education Seats will be decided across the state tomorrow. The majority of school tax levy increases are at or below the state spending cap, according to the New York State School Board Association, more than half of the Board of Education seat races have only 1 candidate running.

Former state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was found guilty on all counts Friday in his corruption retrial. Silver was found guilty for mail fraud, wire fraud and extortion, for using his position to receive nearly $4 million in bribes and kickbacks. An appeals court tossed out Silver's original conviction, citing a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that changed the legal definition for corruption. Silver faces sentencing in July.

The deadline for entry into the 70 mile endurance race and Grand Prix Relay Race is Friday May 18, 2018. No entries for these races will be accepted after that date. You can enter the Generation Gap, Youth race, Sprint race at the starting line day of each race. Enter today by going to www.canoeregatta.org

Alternate Jurors were selected & the trial of Jeremy Coates is underway in Chenango County Court. Coates is charged with 2nd degree murder for the September 2016 =killing of 58 year old Daniel Green in Green’s Oxford home. The trial is expected to take 2 weeks to complete.

DCMO BOCES is hosting an educational forum on Thursday at the Sidney Central School District Auditorium, featuring educational consultant Mark Perna. BOCES Superintendent Perry Dewey told WCDO news about this important forum:

(Perry Dewey 4-10-18)

Dewey said that people can register for this event at DCMOBOCES.com; more information is available at 335-1200

Bassett Healthcare Network is encouraging people to spring clean their medicine cabinets and get rid of unnecessary medications. Bassett Healthcare Network offers 3 locations for residents to drop off unwanted, expired, or leftover medications by collection kiosks and pre-paid mail-back envelopes at the Bassett Medical Center Pharmacy in Cooperstown, FoxCare Pharmacy in Oneonta and O’Connor Hospital Pharmacy in Delhi. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is April 28.

Governor Cuomo announced the nation's largest state investment in computer science, as the new state Budget includes a $6 million annual investment in professional development for teachers, paired with the creation of new academic standards for computer science. The program is designed to ensure that every elementary, middle, and high school across the state provides computer science education by 2025.

Delaware County Sheriff Deputy’s arrested 37 year old Benjamin Pankiewicz & 31 year old Ashlee Calabrese of Walton for Attempted Assault after they had engaged in a physical altercation with one another. Pankiewicz was also arrested for Endangering the Welfare of a Child, as the altercation occurred while a child was present. Calabrese was issued an appearance ticket, having to appear in the Town of Walton Court at a later date. Pankiewicz was arraigned & was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility in lieu of $500 cash or $1,000 secured bond.

The City of Oneonta Department of Public Service announced this year’s schedule for curbside residential brush and yard waste pick-up. City residents wards 1 through 4 will be picked up on Monday April 16th, those living in wards 5 to 8 will be picked up the following Monday, April 23rd. Residents should have brush and yard waste out no sooner than the weekend before the scheduled pick-up to prevent possible code violation.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced criminal convictions and a civil resolution against Broome County trash collection firms, Bert Adams Disposal and Taylor Garbage Service. The 2 companies conspired to rig bids, allocate customers, and fix prices for trash and recycling services, which forced residents and businesses to pay artificially inflated prices for essential services, they also colluded on bidding for municipal contracts. As part of Bert Adams Disposal’s guilty plea, it will be required to pay $850,000 in criminal penalties. Taylor Garbage Service, Inc. will pay $500,000 in civil penalties, and Robert Taylor, the company’s president and co-owner, will also pay a $50,000 penalty to New York State.

A New York State Budget Presentation will be presented Today at 12:00 Noon, at The Northeast Classic Car Museum, in Norwich. State Commissioner RoAnn Destito of the State Office of General Services will make the presentation.

Governor Cuomo announced that the State Department of Health has issued a health advisory to hospitals, emergency departments and urgent care centers following severe and life-threatening bleeding cases in Illinois, Maryland, Wisconsin, Indiana and Missouri, due to the consumption of synthetic marijuana believed to be contaminated with rat poison. To date, no cases have been reported in New York State. Synthetic marijuana is sold with street names such as K2, Spice and AK-47, which consists of plant material coated by chemicals, which are supposed to mimic the effects of naturally grown marijuana.

The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce & the Otsego-Delaware Job Service Employer committee is co-hosting a free “Opioid Crisis in the Workplace” discussion, with featured speaker, attorney Theresa Levine of Coughlin & Gerhart. The event will be held from 8:30 AM to 12:00 Noon at the Otsego Chamber offices at 189 Main Street in Oneonta.

The Otsego County Planning Department & New York Department of State are hosting a land use training work at the Milford Central School Auditorium, today from 5:00 to 8:15PM. 2 sessions will be offered covering planning, zoning, and General Municipal Law. The sessions offered in this workshop can qualify to meet the state requirement for members of planning boards and zoning boards of appeals. To register, call the Planning Department at 547-4225 or otsegocountyworkshop.eventbrite.com.

23-year-old Kevin Perry of Laurens was back in Otsego County Court Friday, where he pleaded not Guilty at arraignment to murder charges handed down by an Otsego County Grand Jury. Perry is accused of fatally shooting his parents in their town of Laurens home in early December, he is being held without bail in the Otsego County Jail pending additional Court action.

Norwich Police arrested 37-year-old Sandy Beeching of Norwich for allegedly selling Cocaine in the city of Norwich. Beeching was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance he was sent to the Chenango County Jail on $10,000 cash bail pending additional court action. The Chenango County Sheriff's Department assisted with the arrest.

State Police & the State Liquor Authority conducted an Underage Drinking Enforcement Detail in Broome County; for businesses that sell alcoholic beverages in Broome County. 9 establishments were checked, 4 sold alcohol to an underage operative. Police charged 49 year old Meredith Bahr of Candor, 22 year old Sarah Kamide of Vestal, 33 year old Maria Bales of Vestal, & 25 year old Victoria Harting of Windsor, All 4 were issued tickets to appear in court at a later date.

SUNY Broome Community College, the Otsego Chamber of Commerce and CDO Workforce are seeking unemployed persons to enroll in the Manufacturing Basics Training Program. A $75,000 Department of Labor award was granted to the College that will enable unemployed persons to gain manufacturing skills, with the 2-week program beginning March 6th through March 16th. More information is available at 334-2201, extension 128 or 432-4800, extension 115; the application deadline for the program is February 28th.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that his office has filed a lawsuit against Insys Therapeutics; he alleged that Insys marketed the fentynal-based drug for much wider use, than how it was approved by the FDA. The suit also claims that Insys downplayed addiction risks and bribed doctors to prescribe their brand, known as Subsys.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office arrested 37 year old Jared Meek, after Deputies responded to a complaint of a vehicle driving on the Brandywine Highway with significant front end damage and no front tire left on the rim. officers stopped Meek's vehicle on Chenango Bridge Road in the Town of Chenango, Meek is accused of driving while intoxicated with a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.16%, twice the legal limit. The investigation accuses Meek of hitting a utility pole in the City of Binghamton and leaving the scene, Meek was processed at the Broome County Sheriff’s Office and given an appearance ticket to appear before the Town of Chenango Court at a later date.

Former State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's retrial will continue on April 16th, following his failed appeal to the Supreme Court. Silver’s previous conviction for corruption was reversed by an appeals court, where he was sentenced to a 12-year prison sentence. Silver is currently free on bail.

35-year-old Mindy Stevens of the town of Maryland faces several charges, after striking a pedestrian with her car & leaving the scene. 29-year-old Evelyn Ruiz was walking on Route 7 near County High 58A when a vehicle struck her & fled the scene. Ruiz was taken to Bassett Hospital; the vehicle was spotted in Oneonta, & Stevens was charged.

Governor Cuomo today announced he has signed an Executive Order to further protect New Yorkers' civil rights by banning all state agencies and authorities from doing business with companies that promote or tolerate discrimination. The Governor also announced he will be advancing legislation that will ban the use of a "Gay Panic" defense to protect against revictimizing New Yorkers. The Governor made the announcements at the 17th Annual Human Rights Gala in New York City.

State Lawmakers will start looking over the Governor's Executive Budget Proposal, in what is expected to be a challenging year, local Assemblyman Cliff Crouch comments:

(Cliff Crouch 1-17-18)

State Senator Jim Seward also commented:

(Jim Seward 1-17-18)

Lawmakers have until April 1st to get the budget finished in time for the start of the state's fiscal year.

The Fundraising has begun to make sure that the winner of a regional spelling bee can attend the Scripps National Spelling bee later this year. Spokesperson Martha Ryan explains:

(Martha Ryan 1-17-18)

Ryan said that the Regional Competition will be held on Saturday March 3rd, last year Delaware County's Melodie Loya ranked in the final 50 in the National Spelling Bee, & she will be participating in the regional competition. More information is available at 335-1292.

State Police arrested 50-year-old Robert Stilson of Unadilla for Driving a Vehicle While Ability Impaired by Drugs, Unlawful Possession of Marihuana, and other traffic violations. The arrest followed a traffic stop by a Trooper for a loud exhaust on State Route 8, in the town of Guilford; the trooper determined that Stilson was driving impaired. A search of the vehicle recovered marihuana and concentrated cannabis; Stilson was issued tickets returnable to the town of Guilford Court on February 6th.

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear former State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s bid to block his retrial on corruption charges, April 16th is the start date for Silver’s new trial in Manhattan federal court. Silver was convicted on charges that he took payoffs disguised as legal fees in return for using his political power to benefit political supporters, the conviction was overturned last year by the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals because of flawed jury instructions. Silver was found guilty and was sentenced to 12 years in jail; he never entered jail as the case was on appeal.

State Police arrested 30-year-old Paige Shaul of Oneonta on charges of 3rd degree Grand Larceny & filing a false instrument with intent to defraud, in connection with an incident on January 8th. Shaul faces court action at a later date.

The Sidney Historical Association & the Sidney Memorial Public Library will co-sponsor a presentation on the restoration of the Andrew Mann Inn on State Route 7 in Sidney. Current Owner Kurt Reigel will discuss the buildings history & his current restoration efforts, on January 17th at 7:00 PM in the Library's Smart Community Room.