WCDO Radio News

Chenango County Habitat for Humanity has been settling into their new office space located in the Klee House in Guilford. Officials remind residents that they can donate bottles and cans in the Habitat Bottle Shed at the Rte 12 Redemption Center in Norwich. Officials are also looking for more volunteers, interested parties can call 334-7492; more information is available at habitat.chenango.org.

The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to donate blood, all blood types are needed, especially those with types AB, O, B negative and A negative. A blood Drive is being held today from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Guernsey Library in Norwich, appointments are requested through the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, at redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

49 Year old William Danielson of Oxford was sentenced Monday in Chenango County Court, to 20 years to life in prison. Danielson pleaded guilty to one count of 2nd degree murder, for the December 2013 death of his former girlfriend Lucinda Knoll of Norwich.

A Syracuse resident was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office for an active arrest warrant for Grand Larceny and Burglary. 25 year old Kristen Seamans is accused of stealing several items from the Norwich Wal-Mart in 2014; she was arraigned in the Town of Norwich court and is being held at the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $1000 cash bail.

State Police responded to the report of a 2-vehicle collision with injuries on State Highway 8 in the Town of Norwich, Thursday. Investigation revealed that 43-year-old Yae Yar of Utica entered the opposing lane to pass an un-involved tractor-trailer, his vehicle struck another driven by 27 year old Joanna Stanimer of West Edmeston.   Yar was pronounced dead at the scene from internal injuries, 36 year old Me Me was transported to Tri Town Hospital in Sidney where she was pronounced dead on arrival from internal injuries.   Stanimer was air lifted to Wilson Hospital by Lifenet and remains in critical condition with internal injuries.   Autopsies on the 2 deceased persons will be performed at Lourdes Hospital. 4 other people were taken to area hospitals with a variety of injuries; all were listed in serious but stable condition. The investigation is ongoing.

State police are investigating an two-vehicle crash with serious personal injury on state Route 8 in the town of Norwich, between Holmesville Road and county Route 34 at about 7:35 this morning. Several area emergency squads responded to a 2-car Accident Initial reports have 6 injuries, & 1 fatality, State Route 8 was closed for several hours for the investigation. More details will be released as they become available.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 34-year-old David Franklin of Oxford for 2 Counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property. Detectives arrested Franklin while investigating a Larceny from an Oneida County Business; Detectives located and recovered the stolen property in Franklin’s possession in the City of Norwich. Franklin was arrested and arraigned on a Chenango County Court Warrant and was remanded without bail, he was issued appearance tickets to appear at a later date in City of Norwich Court. Additional charges are pending in Oneida County.

Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 2 men in connection with multiple burglaries in Chenango County, the Southern Tier and Northern Pennsylvania. The Sheriff’s Office arrested 28 year old Nicholas Neer of Port Crane and 27 year old William Polhamus from the Town of Greene, for allegedly committing 2 burglaries in the Town of Greene & 1 in the Town of Oxford. Several pieces of stolen merchandise were recovered during the investigation. Both men were arraigned in the Town of North Norwich Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $25,000 cash bail. The investigation is continuing and additional arrests will be made. The State Police and Broome County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation.

The Chenango County Law Enforcement Association will be hosting “Shop with a Sheriff” at Wal-Mart in Norwich, Saturday. Deputies will take children Christmas Shopping, who will be provided with money raised by the Association & donations from local business, individuals, and each Deputy. The children shopping with the Deputies were selected by each school district throughout Chenango County.

Chenango Arts Council will host an open house at their facilities Sunday. The day includes various musical performances as well as tours of their Art Gallery, Pottery and Ceramic Classrooms, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at 27 West Main Street, Norwich. More information is available at 336-ARTS or chenangoarts.org.

The Chenango Arts Council will hold an open house Sunday December 13th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at their 27 West Main Street Norwich location.   More information is available at 336-ARTS or chenangoarts.org.

The Chenango Arts Council presents " Cocktail Hour: The Show" at the Martin W. Kappel Theater at 27 West Main Street, Norwich Saturday night. Chenango Arts Council Executive Director Diane Batson Smith comments:

(Diane Batson Smith 12-4-15)

The show will start at 7:00 PM Tickets are available at chenangoarts.org, or at the Box Office at 336-ARTS.

The next free Chenango County rabies clinic will be held tomorrow at the city of Norwich Fire Station. The clinic will run from 9:30 to 11:00 AM.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul visited Norwich this afternoon following the tour of Sidney; she met with Business Leaders at Commerce Chenango, toured the Business district, convened a Women’s Roundtable at the Artist's Pallet, & toured the Northeast Classic Car Museum.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul visits Sidney & Norwich today. Hochul will meet with Local Officials and will Tour Sidney Green Plains site, in Norwich, Hochul will convene a Roundtable with Business Leaders at Commerce Chenango this afternoon, she will then tour downtown Norwich, convene a Women’s Roundtable to Discuss Governor Cuomo’s Initiatives at the Artists Pallet, & she will tour the Northeast Classic Car Museum.

Tonight from 6:30-8:30, Opportunities for Chenango's Community Forum about drug addiction will be held in Norwich. Organizer & Moderator Donna Wood-Craig comments:

(Donna Wood Craig 12-1-15)

The event will be in the Guernsey Library Community Room.

Commerce Chenango & NBT Bank will co-host the Business After Hours Holiday Spectacular today at NBT Bank, 52 South Broad Street, Norwich. The event will run from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, featuring holiday music, food, beverages and door prizes. Attendees are being asked to bring a non-perishable food item to help Roots & Wings stock their food pantry.

Saturday is Small Business Saturday, where people are encouraged to Christmas shop with their local merchants. Commerce Chenango President Steve Craig explains:

(Steve Craig 11-27-15)

Commerce Chenango is also inviting the community to stop by their offices at 15 South Broad Street in Norwich, as they celebrate 1 year in that location with an open house from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Saturday.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a Town of Sherburne man for driving while intoxicated following a traffic stop in the Town of North Norwich. Deputies stopped a vehicle on State Hwy 12 in North Norwich operated by Matthew Quinn. Quinn was found to be operating the motor vehicle with more than a .18% BAC, he was arrested without incident and processed before being released on appearance tickets to family members. Quinn has a later date in the Town of North Norwich Court.

The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood to help ensure a sufficient blood supply throughout the holiday season. Donors with all blood types are needed, and especially those with types O negative, B negative, A negative and AB. To make an appointment to donate blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS. The next blood drive is today in Norwich from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM at BOCES of Chenango County, located at 6678 Country Road 32.

The Chenango County Historical Society will open a new exhibit featuring the history of Preferred Mutual Insurance Company. The exhibit will be a permanent display at the museum located on 45 Rexford Street in Norwich. Preferred Mutual Insurance Company began in 1896, they have maintained many of their original artifacts despite a historic fire, multiple renovations, and years of use, and these items will be available for public viewing.

This Sunday is the 34th Norwich Family YMCA’s Turkey Trot; officials will have over 550 runners participating in the 5K race, starting at 2:30 PM. This year’s race will start in front of the YMCA and will travel on North Broad Street, through Birdsall and Silver Street back on to North Broad to finish. Participants are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for local food pantries. Registration for the race will continue until 12:00 PM Sunday.

Chobani will host its first Business After Hours at the Norwich facility at Woods Corners from 5:00 to 7:00 PM today, in partnership with Commerce Chenango. Guests may use the main entrance to the Woods Corners facility at 147 State Hwy 320, Norwich.

A Town of Bainbridge resident was arrested on an active arrest warrant by the Chenango County Sheriffs department. 26-year-old Richard Margarum was wanted on a charge of Criminal Possession of Stolen property, he was arrested at a Town of Afton residence, upon arrest, he was found that he was in possession of a controlled substance. Margarum was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility. Margarum was also issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of Afton Court at a later date.

The Chenango County Sheriffs department arrested 32-year-old Rhiannon Browne of Norwich for Welfare Fraud & Offering a False Instrument for filing. Browne was issued appearance tickets and released. It is alleged that alleged that Browne failed to report a change in her household composition, which resulted in her receiving more than $63,000 in assistance she was not entitled to from 2008 through 2014.

The Chenango Arts Council announced the acceptance of Request for Proposals from New York State artists for exhibition in the Mariea Brown and Raymond Loft Galleries, located in CAC facilities at 27 West Main Street, Norwich. The proposal deadline is January 6th, 2016, with a jurying process occurring mid-January for exhibition in the following year. More information is available at ChenangoArts.org or at 336-2787.

A Village of Oxford man was arrested Sunday by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office for Driving While Intoxicated. 20-year-old Zachary Angelina was charged with Driving While Intoxicated after an investigation into a motor vehicle accident on State Highway 12 in the Town of North Norwich. Angelina lost control of his vehicle and left the roadway causing damage to private property. Angelina will appear in court at a later date.

A Town of Oxford resident was arrested for aggravated driving while intoxicated. Chenango county sheriff’s department arrested 18 year old Dylon Wall for DWI following a traffic stop in the Town of Norwich, wall was processed and was released, and he will appear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

36 year old Jamie Blewett of Norwich was sentenced to consecutive prison terms of 1 to 3 years this week, she had pleaded guilty in July to 2 counts each for robbery & grand larceny, in connection with Bank Robberies in May at the People’s Security Bank and Trust in the Town of Chenango, and another robbery a week later at the at People’s Security Bank in Conklin.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 21-year-old Cody Bradbury of Norwich for 1- Count of 3rd degree Assault. It is alleged that Bradbury intentionally assaulted another person in the Town of Pitcher in August, causing an injury. The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are pending.

The next Chenango County free rabies clinic will be held tonight at the North Norwich Fire Station. The clinic will run from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.

The Next Commerce Chenango Business After Hours is today, with M&T Bank at their 118 State Hwy 320, Norwich branch, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. More information is available at 334-1402.

On Sunday, the Chenango County American Legion will host a joint visitation by the Legion's State Commander James Yermas, & State Auxiliary President Jan Mahoney among others. the leaders will visit Oxford's Fort Hill Post 376, the Veterans' Home at Oxford, the Chenango County Sheriff's Department in Norwich, followed by a reception & dinner at the Lieutenant Warren Eaton, DSC Post 189, at 29 Sheldon Street, Norwich.

26-year-old Timothy Green of New Berlin has been charged with forgery and Grand Larceny following an investigation by the State office of the Inspector General. Green was a substitute worker for the New York State Office for the People with Developmental Disabilities in Norwich, he is accused of submitting fraudulent time sheets for work that he did not do, which resulted in over $39,000 in payments. Green was arraigned in the Town of Guilford court and remanded to the Chenango County jail on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 property bond.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 22-year-old Michael Beckwith of New Berlin for 2nd degree Harassment & Resisting Arrest. Beckwith is accused of making several threats towards arresting Deputies & for resisting arrest. Beckwith was arraigned in the Town of North Norwich Court and was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $500 cash bail. Beckwith is to reappear in court at a later date to answer to his charges.

Commerce Chenango will hold a “Meet the Candidates” session on October 27th, As part of the SFCU Business After Hours event. The session will be held at the SFCU Norwich branch, at County Road 32 & State Highway 23, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, among those confirmed to attend are State Senate candidates Fred Akshar & Barbara Fiala, along with several local Norwich and Chenango County candidates.

The Norwich Business Improvement District announced a full line up of events for the annual Pumpkin Festival on Friday, October 23rd through Saturday the 24th in Norwich. Today, from 5:30-7:00 pm is the Giant Pumpkin Contest-Weigh In, On Saturday; events include a Pumpkin Bake-Off Contest, the YMCA Halloween Parade, Horse & Wagon Rides, and music with Kaitlyn Jackson and the Hometown Ban& The Beadle Brothers, followed by fireworks at the end of the evening.

On Saturday, the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, & Norwich Police executed a no knock search warrant at 30 Classic Street in the Village of Sherburne. 50-year-old Frederick Harty of Sherburne was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to sell, Criminal Nuisance, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, & Criminally Possessing Drug Paraphernalia. 46-year-old Tabitha Harty was also charged with Criminal Nuisance. Frederick Harty was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $20,000 cash bail. Tabitha Harty was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $2,000 cash bail. The Sheriff’s Office recovered heroin, scales, packaging material, and unlawfully possessed prescription pills.

State Senate Republican candidate Fred Akshar campaigned in Norwich today, he told WCDO News what prospective constituents concerns are:

(Fred Akshar 10-16-15)

Akshar faces Democrat Barbara Fiala in the special election to fill the 52nd state senate district, following the conviction of long time senator Tom Libous of Binghamton this summer.

On Thursday, a Chenango County resident was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office for falsely reporting an incident. The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 14 year old juvenile following an investigation into a bomb threat at the BOCES in North Norwich. The juvenile wrote a bomb threat on the wall of the school knowing that there was no bomb in the school, he was arrested and will appear in court at a later date.

Tonight in Norwich, The Classic Casino Night will be held at the Northeast Classic Car Museum, at 24 Rexford Street, from 6:00 to 10:00 PM. More information available at 334-2886 or classiccarmuseum.org

Illusionist David Caserta to debut his Haunted Illusions show to Norwich at 7:00 PM. on Saturday in the Chenango Arts Council’s Martin W. Kappel Theater, 27 West Main Street. More information or to order tickets, visit www.chenangoarts.org or 336-ARTS.

The Norwich Business Improvement District announced a full line up of events for the annual Pumpkin Festival on Friday, October 23rd through Saturday the 24th in Norwich. On Friday, from 5:30-7:00pm is the Giant Pumpkin Contest-Weigh In, On Saturday; events include a Pumpkin Bake-Off Contest, the YMCA Halloween Parade, Horse & Wagon Rides, and music with Kaitlyn Jackson and the Hometown Ban& The Beadle Brothers, followed by fireworks at the end of the evening.

Commerce Chenango will hold a “Meet the Candidates” session on October 27th. As part of the SFCU Business After Hours event. The session will be held at the SFCU Norwich branch, at County Road 32 & State Highway 23, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, among those confirmed to attend are State Senate candidates Fred Akshar & Barbara Fiala, among several local Norwich and Chenango County candidates. RSVP are requested by October 23rd at 334-1402 or johara@chenangony.org

State Police in Norwich observed a 2007 Hummer traveling on State Route 12 in the Town of North Norwich; the vehicle matched the description of a stolen vehicle from Utica, and had been in a pursuit earlier in Oneida County. Several attempts to stop the driver were made and were stopped for safety reasons as the suspect approached the City of Norwich and then the Village of Greene. Troopers reported that as the vehicle entered Broome County, 2 Tire Deflation Devises were deployed, the front tires were disabled & the suspect continued to the Town of Chenango, and then fled the disabled vehicle and ran into the woods, A search by a State Police & Broome County Sheriff’s K-9 teams led to 17 year old La-Tee Baker of Utica, who was located near Otsinigo Park. Baker was charged with reckless endangerment and criminal possession of stolen property, he was arraigned at the Town of Chenango court and remanded to the Broome County jail with no bail set at this time.

The Commerce Chenango College & Career Connection Day will be held tomorrow at the Morrisville State College Norwich Campus, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Commerce Chenango spokesperson Jill O’Hara explains:

(Jill O’Hara 10-13-15)

More information about the college & Career Connection Day is available at 334-1402.

The Leadership Chenango Kick-off Dinner will be tonight at the Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich, with Registration at 5:00 PM& the Dinner at 6:00 PM.

The Chenango County Council of the Arts will host a Drink Wine & Let’s Design workshop today from 6-9pm, Workshop fees are $35 for CCCA members and $45 for non-members, and includes workshop instruction, paint, palette, brushes and canvas. Classes are held in the Council’s art classroom at 27 West Main Street, Norwich. More information is available at 336-ARTS or chenangoarts.org.

The American Red Cross will host a blood drive in Norwich today. The event will be held at the American legion post 189 at 29 Sheldon Street from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Appointments are requested at 1-800-REDCROSS or redcrossblood.org.

49-year-old William Danielson of Oxford changed his plea today in Chenango County Court, to guilty, as his murder trial was schedule to begin in Norwich. Danielson was charged with murder for the death of Lucinda Knoll of Norwich in 2013. The court has accepted the change in plea and sentencing will be scheduled shortly.