WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 5-19-23

The Broome County Sheriff's Office arrested 22 year old Houston Alexander of Binghamton following a high speed pursuit Thursday night. A Deputy was conducting a routine speed enforcement on I-81 in the Town of Dickinson when he encountered a vehicle traveling at 90 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone, after pursuits through several towns, Alexander's vehicle collided with a patrol vehicle, he fled on foot, which ended a few block later in Johnson City with a Taser deployment, and he was taken into custody. Alexander was charged with Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, Reckless Endangerment, Obstructing Government Administration & Resisting Arrest, Alexander was processed and issued appearance tickets for a future court date, The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Johnson City Police and State Police. There were no injuries stemming from the incident.

United Health Services announced they will close their primary care office at 179 River Street in Oneonta on July 28. The UHS Pediatrics Oneonta office at that location will remain open, More information about other UHS Primary Care locations can be found at nyuhs.org.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 5-19-23

The State Department of Transportation is advising motorists that the off-ramp from I-88 eastbound at Exit 2 in the Town of Fenton, will be closed from 8 pm. to 5 am. for 5 consecutive nights from Sunday, May 21 to Thursday, May 25. Drivers should follow the signed detour utilizing Exit 3 and State Route 7. Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones.

Auditions for this summer's Norwich Theater Company's performance of the Wizard of Oz, will be starting today, Chenango Arts Council spokesperson Mary Beth Miller explains:

(Mary Beth Miller 5-19-23)

More information is available at onthestage.tickets.

Oneonta Fire Department last night responded to a fire at 7 Hubbell Avenue in Oneonta, they were assisted by West Oneonta, & Otego Fire Department As well as the FAST teams from Sidney, Franklin & Worcester. There were no injuries reported, but several pets died in the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Today through April 30th Bassett Healthcare Network is holding its annual Drug Take Back Week, where people can bring any unneeded, unwanted and expired medications for safe disposal. Bassett has special collection kiosks at the Outpatient Pharmacies in Cooperstown, the FoxCare Center in Oneonta & at O’Connor Hospital in Delhi as well as the AO Fox Hospital lobby, AO Fox Tri-Town Hospital lobby in Sidney.

The Jericho Arts Council will have Zink & Company return to the Bainbridge Town Hall Theater Saturday Night at 7:00 PM. Doors open at 6:00 PM & reserve tickets are available at 607-288-3882.

A.M. NEWS Friday 4-22-22

NYSEG reported that over 8800 customers were still without power this morning in the Tr-County Region, crews continue to work to restore the power as soon as possible.

Sidney Police Department arrested 29 year old Edward Petti of Oneonta on a bench warrant issued by the Village of Sidney Court, for failing to appear in court. When officers attempted to make contact with Petti, he fled on a bicycle, leading officers on a pursuit. Petti was charged on the Bench warrant plus Obstruction of governmental administration & Resisting arrest, he was arraigned in Village of Sidney Court where he was released on his own recognizance to appear back in court at a later date.

A panel of appellate judges ruled that state Democrats engaged in gerrymandering when drawing new congressional district boundaries for the next decade. In a 3-2 ruling, the majority found the congressional map was unconstitutional. If upheld, the ruling would block the use of those district lines for the upcoming midterm elections in November. The court found Democratic lawmakers acted within their power to approve the maps, after a bipartisan redistricting commission failed to do so earlier this year.

The state Department of Public Service announced a proposed
agreement with Charter-Spectrum that would allow the company to remain in
business in New York State.    Charter
would expand broadband service to 145,000 businesses and residences in upstate
New York by Sept. 30, 2021; they would provide $12 million for broadband
expansion, primarily for unserved and underserved properties.   A 60-day public comment period would follow;
any agreement must be approved by the Public Service Commission.

The City of Oneonta announced that starting at 9:00 PM Tonight;
Main Street will be closed to all traffic, as crews will be installing a new
water service at 221 Main Street.  Main
Street will be closed from Chestnut Street to Elm Street; pavement restoration
is expected to occur Tuesday night.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten
Gillibrand announced over $172 million dollars in federal funding from the
Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Community Development
Block Grant & in the HOME Investment Partnership Program.   Communities will use the funding to address
a wide range of needs and enable local governments to support affordable
housing initiative, provide essential services, and expand economic
development. Locally, the city of Binghamton will get over $1.9 Million.

The 3rd Annual Oneonta Indoor Heart Walk & Health fair
will be held at the Foxcare Center in Oneonta on Saturday February 16th from
10:00 AM until 2:00 PM, AO Fox spokesperson Gabrielle Argo explains:

(Gabby Argo 2-6-19)

More than 40 vendors, agencies, & organizations will be
participating in the Foxcare Center Concourse, plus Potential Pets will be
available from the Susquehanna Animal Shelter, Heart of the Catskills Humane
Society & Super Heroes in Ripped Jeans, more information is available at
BASSETT.ORG/HEARTWALK.

The Otsego County Planning Department is launching a $50,000
pilot program to assist low & moderate income farmers with home repair
assistance.   The new county program is
called “Farm RESTORE.”  It offers
assistance to eligible active farmers with needs such as furnace repairs,
window replacement, hot water heaters, flooring, electrical upgrades,
accessibility modifications, and plumbing; it is administered by Otsego Rural
Housing Assistance, Inc.  The deadline
for applications if February 28, 2019.
The funding derives from Community Development Block Grant, More
information is available at 547-4225.

A public hearing was held Tuesday night at Oneonta City hall
about the Generic Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Oneonta Rail
Yards project.    Another Public hearing has been scheduled for
March 5th; the period for public comments has been extended to March
18th.

Southern Tier Hemp announced
Tuesday that it’s buying the former Gannett printing plant in Johnson City. The
company will develop, manufacture and sell hemp-based CBD oil products; they
expect to hire more than 100 people over the next 3 years.  The company received state grants to assist
with construction needs at the site, which is expected to be operational later
this year.

The Otsego County Chamber will hold its 8th Annual Career
Expo and Job Fair Today from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the BOCES campus on County
Route 35 in Milford.   The Job Fair and
Open house is open to the public to meet with area employers for current
openings & to learn about job training programs.

Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum cable, was ordered by New York regulators Thursday to pay a $2 million fine for not building out its cable network and expanding high-speed internet service as they promised at the time of their Time Warner cable takeover in 2016. The Public Service Commission also threatened to revoke its approval of the merger if Charter doesn't agree to the penalty.

The Chenango County Industrial Development agency announced that for the first time in 12 years, commercial freight was shipped on the Utica mainline railroad tracks through Chenango County. Train traffic was halted by washouts from the 2006 floods. The first train consisted of a locomotive pulling 2 flat cars carrying steel beams from the Bull Moose Tube Company of Elkhart Indiana; they were being shipped to Di Highway Sign 7 Structure Company in New York Mills Wednesday.

The City of Oneonta will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, at 7:00 pm at Council Chambers, City Hall, 258 Main Street, Oneonta, for public comments on the City’s community development needs, and to discuss the possible submission of one or more Community Development Block Grant applications for the 2018 program year. The City is currently considering a grant application for $230,000 for Nick’s Diner on Chestnut Street that will result in the creation of 15.5 full time equivalent jobs.

Oneonta Police Department arrested 25-year-old Leonard Funderbunk of Buffalo, for allegedly breaking windows of 3 Main Street Businesses. Funderbunk was charged with 3 counts of 3rd degree criminal mischief, he faces court action shortly on the charges.

The Department of Environmental Conservation won't issue a water quality permit for the Constitution Pipeline. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the pipeline project in 2014 contingent on the state permit, which is required by the federal Clean Water Act. Constitution Pipeline Company officials will appeal the state decision to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The next ReUnite Bainbridge Meeting will be tonight at 7:00 pm at Bob's Diner. The Agenda for the meeting will be an Update on Block Party, July 23rd, & the 54th Annual General Clinton Canoe Regatta in May.

The Oneonta FTO/CIC Committee will meet this afternoon at Oneonta City Hall, beginning at 4:00 PM. The Oneonta Finance /Administration committee will the hold their meeting beginning at 5:00 PM at City hall.

Assemlyman Pete Lopez will speak at the Citizen Voices meeting tomorrwo morning at 7:30 AM. Lopez will speak at the meeting at the Oneonta Block Company at State Route 23 in Oneonta.