WCDO Radio News

The Otsego County Conservation Association is accepting nominations for its 2025 Conservationist of the Year Award, which honors outstanding contributions to environmental protection, preservation, and education in Otsego County. The award recognizes an individual, group, organization, or business , the award will be presented during OCCA's Annual Dinner on August 24 at Creekside Station in Hartwick. The deadline for nominations is July 18.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 6-10-25

The State Senate approved a bill Monday that would allow terminally ill people die on their own terms, it would allow a person with an incurable illness to be prescribed life-ending drugs if he or she requests the medication and gets approval from 2 physicians, the bill goes to Governor Hochul for approval.

The
Otsego County Planning & Solid Waste Department and the Otsego County
Conservation Association announced the 2020 plastic film recycling
challenge.   Schools in Otsego County are
competing to see who can collect the most plastic film for recycling through
April 15th; the winners will be announced at OCCA’s Earth Festival on April
18th.  10 schools are currently signed up,
more information or to sign up, call 547-4256.

The number of Animal Cruelty cases or cases of animal hoarding have spiked recently in the Southern Tier, which creates a difficult situation for area Shelters. Erin Insinga of the Delaware Valley Humane Society told WCDO News that if you know of those situations, the first call is to your local sheriff's department:

(Erin Insinga 12-12-18)

Insinga said that the animals are removed by law enforcement, they get checked by vets and can then be adopted following a brief process, and more information is available at 563-7780.

A Free Christmas Dinner will be available in Sidney this year on Christmas Day at the Sidney Fire Station, organizer Gene Schmidt said that donations & volunteers are needed:

(Gene Schmidt 12-12-18)

Schmidt said that he can be reached at 607-610-4030. This year will be the 6th year that Schmidt & his family have offered the free Christmas dinner.

Almond Upton of Florida has died in Prison, where he was serving time for the murder of State Trooper Christopher Skinner on I-81 In Broome County in May of 2014. Upton was serving his sentence in the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora. Upton claimed he was in a manic state at the time he intentionally ran over Trooper Skinner, who was ocnducting an unrealted traffic stop, Upton was found guilty & was sentecned to life in prison, he died Sunday & the cause of death has not yet been released.

The Department of Environmental Protection announced plans to build a $34 million hydroelectric facility at Cannonsville Reservoir, which should produce enough electricity to power more than 3,500 homes each year. DEP officials announced that they will host 2 public meetings on Friday, one at 9:00 AM at the Deposit State Theater, at 148 Front Street in Deposit, & at 12:30 PM at the Upper Delaware Council office, 211 Bridge Street in Narrowsburg. More information is available at nyc.gov.

Residents in South New Berlin are voting today on a proposed $1.1 million project to purchase property and construct a new fire department building. Voting will be held from 12:00 Noon until 9:00 PM at the South New Berlin Firehouse.

Voters in the Unadilla Valley School District will vote Thursday on a capital improvement project involving heating, parking lots, roof replacement, and auditorium improvements, among many other projects. The project would be paid for through a Capital Reserve Fund & State Aid, the $10 million dollar project vote will be held from 12:00 Noon to 8:00 PM in the District Office lobby Thursday.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 21 year old Rebecca Kole of Delancey, for moving from a lane unsafely, DWI, and other charges, following an investigation into a Motor Vehicle accident in the Town of Walton. Kole was later released on traffic tickets and is scheduled to appear at Walton Town Court at a later date to answer the charges.

The City of Oneonta and the Otsego County Conservation Association will be co-sponsoring a talk on the emerald ash borer on today, at 6:30pm. The insect is highly destructive; the first one was discovered in the town of Unadilla in 2014. The free talk will take place at the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce, 189 Main Street, Suite 500; it is free and open to the public. More information is available by calling OCCA at 282-4087.

The City of Oneonta has listed a number of items available for public auction. The items can be viewed & bidded on at publicsurplus.com/sms/oneonta,ny

The City of Oneonta and the Otsego County Conservation Association will be co-sponsoring a talk on the emerald ash borer on Wednesday, December 12 at 6:30pm at the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce, 189 Main Street, Suite 500. The insect attacks and kills all species of ash trees, Its presence in Otsego County was confirmed in 2014 in Unadilla. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact OCCA at (607) 282-4087.

Otsego County Conservation Association, The City of Oneonta, and the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership are combining to hold an Invasive Species Teach-In Saturday, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the small pavilion in Wilber Park, in Oneonta. OCCA board member Donna Vogler and students from SUNY Oneonta will share their expertise about invasive plants with displays, activities, and a plant identification booth, the event is free and open to the public, more information is available at occainfo.org.

The Otsego County Conservation Association’s annual “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Garage Sale will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and 30 in the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market building at 101 Main Street (in Pioneer Alley), Cooperstown. Sale hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days. Unsold items will be available for free on Monday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on OCCA, or to donate, visit www.occainfo.org.

The Otsego County Conservation Association will be holding their annual ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ Garage Sale on April 29 and 30 at the Farmers’ Market Building in Cooperstown. The event will run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on both days. Donations of items will be accepted at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market building in Pioneer Alley, today through Friday, Proceeds from the sale help support OCCA’s environmental programs, For further information, call 547-4488, or occainfo.org.

Otsego County Conservation Association will be holding a highway cleanup along State Route 80 tomorrow from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. The cleanup is part of New York State’s Adopt-A-Highway program, Volunteers will meet at OCCA’s office at Mohican Farm, at the corner of Route 80 and Allen Lake Road, and will collect trash along a two-mile stretch of the road. Bags, water, and safety equipment are provided. Participants should wear long pants and sturdy shoes, and bring sunscreen. More information is available at 547-4488,

The Otsego County Conservation Association will hold its annual “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Garage Sale on Saturday, April 30 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Sunday, May 1ST from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market building at 101 Main Street. The collection dates for the OCCA garage sale will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Thursday, more information is available at 547-4488.

The Otsego County Conservation Association will hold its annual “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Garage Sale on Saturday, April 30 from 9 AM to 3:00 PM and Sunday, May 1 from 10 AM to 2 PM in the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market building at 101 Main Street (in Pioneer Alley), Cooperstown. The official collection dates for the OCCA garage sale will be April 25-28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. more information is available at 547-4488.

The Otsego County Conservation Association will hold its annual “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Garage Sale on Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26 in the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market building at 101 Main Street, Cooperstown. The official collection dates for the OCCA garage sale will be today through Thursday. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. more information is available at 547-4488 or e-mail admin@occainfo.org.

Otsego County Conservation Association launched a new website as part of its strategy to enhance communications and enable better access to resources for both its members and the public. The New website is organized into six main sections of information, OCCA’s website also includes links to the organization's You Tube channel, where original and shared PowerPoint presentations and videos are organized by topic, and to the OCCA Facebook page. The site can be accessed at occainfo.org.

Otsego County Conservation Association will hold its annual “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Garage Sale fundraiser this weekend.   County residents and businesses donate merchandise, and 100% of the proceeds go to OCCA’s programming.   Sale hours are Saturday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM & Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. More information is available at occainfo.org

The Otsego County Conservation Association is seeking nominations for it's annual "Conservationist of the Year" award. The award is given to individuals, organizations or businesses that have made a positive difference in environmental protection, preservation or education in Otsego County. Nominations must be submitted by October 4th. To obtain a nomination form, call 547-4488 or email admin@occa info dot org.

The Otsego County Conservation Association is seeking nominations for it's annual "Conservationist of the Year" award. The award is given to individuals, organizations or businesses that have made a positive difference in environmental protection, preservation or education in Otsego County. Nominations must be submitted by October 4th. To obtain a nomination form, call 547-4488 or email admin@occa info dot org.