WCDO Radio News

Governor Cuomo today announced the State Police and local law enforcement agencies would conduct a Thanksgiving holiday crackdown and enforcement initiative in an effort to deter unsafe driving behaviors. The Thanksgiving traffic enforcement will take place Wednesday, November 23 through Sunday, November 27, 2016 and DMV investigators will be checking IDs at bars and taverns across New York over the course of the holiday week.

Oneonta Police & State Police arrested 25 year old Allen McMullen and 37 year old Donald Starr of Davenport Center for criminal possession of a controlled substance. Both men were arrested after police served a search warrant at the Townhouse Inn on Main Street; police discovered heroin, cocaine & $2,373 in cash.

The annual charity auction to benefit the Leatherstocking council of the Boy Scouts of American, will be held this Saturday in Oneonta, or online prior to Saturday's event. Council District executive Peter Miller explains:

(Peter Miller 11-18-16)

The auction will be held at the Morris Conference Center on the SUNY Oneonta campus from 5:00 to 9:00 PM, the list of items up for auction can be viewed at Leatherstockingcouncil.org.

The Oneonta Common Council will hold their next regular meeting today. The meeting will begin at 2nd floor at the common council chambers on the 2nd floor of City Hall.

Governor Cuomo announced that from October 1 to October 14, the Department of Motor Vehicles automated online system processed 214,356 online voter registration applications, including 122,147 from first-time voters, shattering the previous one month set in the entire month of September. Since the state launched the online application system in 2012, the DMV website has processed 822,014 online voter registration applications, including 383,118 from first time voters.

Another blood drive will be held locally today in Oneonta from 1:00 to 6:00 PM, The drive will be held at the Oneonta Elks Club, 84 Chestnut Street, appointments can be made with a download of the Red Cross Blood Donor App, at redcrossblood.org or 1-800-RED CROSS. All blood types are needed.

A record number of New Yorkers registered to vote at dmv.ny.gov using the Department of Motor Vehicles automated online system during the month of September. The website processed more than 140,600 applications, including more than 78,400 applications from first time voters. New Yorkers must register to vote by October 14th in order to cast ballots in the upcoming presidential election on November 8. Since 2012, the DMV website has processed more than 607,000 online voter registration applications, including nearly 261,000 from first time voters.

Governor Cuomo today announced the results of coordinated sweeps during the summer concert season to crackdown on underage drinking. Investigators arrested 411 people for underage drinking and confiscated 437 fake id's during these events. The Operation Prevent sweeps were carried out by DMV investigators in conjunction with local law enforcement, the State Liquor Authority, New York State Police, and New York State Parks Police to deter underage drinking in local communities and make roadways safer across New York.

The City of Oneonta has contracted with an outside firm to replace drainage & water utilities at the intersection of Chestnut Street & West Street. The scheduled announced earlier has changed, and the work will be performed beginning October 4th, & is expected to be completed by October 13th, with the work performed from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily. 1-lane traffic will be maintained, traffic delays can be expected, and more information is available at 432-6465.

The City of Oneonta will be chip sealing several area streets starting today. Work will be performed on Highland, Ivy, Monroe Avenue, Yager, Mosher & Overlook between the hours of 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, flagged personnel will guide traffic, parking on those streets will be prohibited. More information is available at 432-2100.

The next Oneonta Common Council meeting will be held tonight. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM at City Hall.

Oneonta police arrested 44-year-old Freddie Sampson of Brooklyn on 5 counts of 3rd degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, for allegedly selling cocaine and hydrocodone. In a separate case, Oneonta Police also arrested 26 year old Mackenzie Bissell of Oneonta for allegedly selling cocaine & in august. Bissell was also charged with aggravated unlicensed operation on a sealed indictment. Both face court action shortly.

Oneonta police arrested an Andes, man after a traffic stop and a search of his car led to the discovery of heroin and oxycodone pills. 21-year-old Austin Rose was stopped by Police on Center Street, Police seized 12.5 grams of powdered heroin, oxycodone pills; and $3,679 in cash. Rose was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, and was being held by the Oneonta Police Department pending arraignment in the City of Oneonta Court. Oneonta police were assisted by State Police and Delaware County Sheriff Department with K-9 Ozzie.

New Yorkers must register to vote by October 14th, in order to cast ballots in the upcoming presidential election on Tuesday, November 8th. New Yorkers looking to register to vote, or to change their enrollment information, can do so by using the state's online voter registration service on the State DMV website, at dmv.ny.gov.

The Oneonta Job Corps Academy announced that their annual baseball game would be held today at Damasche Field in Oneonta. Oneonta Job Corps Students and Staff versus The family resource Network will play today, the gates will open at 6:30pm, the game Starts at 7:00 pm followed by fireworks at around 8:45pm. The game is free and open to the public.

Governor Cuomo announced a coordinated effort by several state agencies and institutions to prevent underage drinking on college campuses as the fall semester begins. The State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, the State Liquor Authority, the DMV, and State Police are aligning resources to prevent underage drinking on campuses, More than 1,800 college students die from alcohol-related injuries, 696,000 college students are assaulted by another student that has been drinking, 97,000 college students experience alcohol-related sexual assault.

SEVERAL LOCAL PADDLERS TRAVELED TO MICHIGAN THIS PAST WEEKEND TO COMPETE IN THE 2ND LEG OF THE TRIPLE CROWN CANOE RACING SERIES. THE MICHIGAN RACE IS THE AUSABLE RIVER CANOE MARATHON AND COVERS 120 TOTAL MILES AS PARTICIPANTS EVEN PADDLE THROUGH THE NIGHT TIME HOURS. BEN SCHLIMMER OF ONEONTA WAS THE HIGHEST FINISHING LOCAL IN 6TH PLACE. TREVOR LEFEVER OF ONEONTA WAS 7TH. LARRY HARRISON ALSO OF ONEONTA TOOK 25TH AND THE TEAM OF MIKE PACKARD FROM OTEGO AND JEFF SHULTIS OF UNADILLA TOOK 34TH. THE GENERAL CLINTON CANOE REGATTA IS THE FIRST RACE IN THE TRIPLE CROWN SERIES AND THE FINAL RACE IS HELD IN QUEBEC IN SEPTEMBER.  (Compiled by Nate Lull)

The state Department of Health has never put to use any of the money generated through distinctive license plates and a license application check-off box to support New York’s organ donation campaign, according to an audit by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. The “Life Pass It On” Trust Fund, had a balance of more than $1 million and it has not been used since its inception over a decade ago. DiNapoli recommends that the Department of Health establish and implement fund management controls to ensure that special revenue funds are utilized for their intended purposes, Regular monitoring of fund activity; and Communicating with DMV regarding revenue deposits and possible collaboration of marketing/promotional efforts. A copy of the report is available at osc.state.ny.us.

The Oneonta common council will hold their next regular meeting tonight. The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM in the common council chambers at city hall.

An Interfaith Candlelight Vigil will be held tonight in Oneonta, in support of the Orlando Florida Shooting Victims. The vigil will begin at 7:00 PM in Muller Plaza on Main Street, the event is being hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta, The 1st Methodist Church, the Oneonta NAACP & the city Of Oneonta Commission on Community Relations & Human Rights.

Governor Cuomo announced the launch of coordinated sweeps during the summer concert season and at other underage hotspots as part of ongoing efforts to deter underage drinking and prevent the use of fake IDs. The enforcement sweeps will occur unannounced at various concert venues and will be carried out by the DMV, the State Liquor Authority, State Park Police, State Police, and local law enforcement agencies. Patrons under the age of 21 found to be using fake IDs or false documents with the intent of purchasing alcohol can be arrested and have their license revoked for a minimum of 90 days or up to one year.

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.

A traffic stop by Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies in the Village of Delhi Thursday, led to the arrest of 52 year old Leland Liddle of Andes, Deputies discovered more than 30 bags of heroin in the vehicle. Liddle was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to sell, failure to keep right, failing to notify the DMV of an address change & Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Investigators then executed a search warrant and also arrested 31-year-old Sean Dingle of Queens on charges of Criminal Possession and criminal sale of a Controlled Substance, Liddle and the child were observed in a vehicle waiting for Dingle in the Unadilla Fishing Access parking lot.. Liddle was arraigned in the Town of Sidney Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $250,000 cash bail pending further court action.

Governor Cuomo reminds New Yorkers that they must register to vote by March 25th in order to cast ballots in the upcoming presidential primaries on April 19. New Yorkers looking to register to vote, or to change their enrollment information, can do so by using the state's online voter registration service on the State DMV website.

Oneonta Police have charged a Hartwick College student with Assault. 20-year-old Nabill Maiyaki of Mohegan Lake is accused of stabbing an unidentified male victim during an altercation on Elm Street at about 1:00 AM Saturday, he has been charged with 2nd-degree assault & criminal possession of a weapon. The injured male was stabbed in a leg and in the abdomen, and was taken to Fox Hospital with non- life threatening injuries Maiyaki was held being held on bail pending court action

The Oneonta City Environmental Board will hold their next meeting this evening. The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM at the Common Council Chambers at City Hall.

State Senator Jim Seward will be in Otsego County, Tomorrow from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 PM at the Hunt Union at SUNY Oneonta, where he will host a roundtable discussion to solicit input from area stakeholders on the heroin epidemic. The roundtable forum is one of several being conducted around the state, Freshman Senator Fred Akshar will also participate, the public is welcome and encouraged to attend and observe the proceedings.

Governor Cuomo today announced a major enhancement to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles' facial recognition program to help combat identity theft and fraud. The Department's facial recognition software converts digital facial photographs into mathematical algorithms and presents trained staff with photo images that have been identified as having similar algorithms. Photos are run against more than 8,000 new photos taken each day at DMV offices statewide, as well as about 16 million photos already in DMV's database.

The State DOT announced that sign and traffic signal work would be performed today & tomorrow from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the intersection of Chestnut and Main Street, City of Oneonta. Motorists are advised to be alert for workers who may be in the intersection. Flag personnel will guide motorists through the intersection when workers are in the roadway.

Oneonta city officials announced a public meeting would be held on February 24th in the Oneonta Middle school cafeteria, regarding the status of the citywide property revaluations that were conducted last year. Representatives from the firm that conducted the revaluation will be present along with the city assessor to let residents know when they can expect to be notified, how to interpret their notice and how to make inquiries. More information is available at 432-2397 or by email: rmaxwell@oneonta.ny.us

Power outages in the Albany area have affected service at motor vehicle departments all over the state today. All license transactions cannot be performed, but all other DMV transactions can take place normally.

The Otsego county Chamber of Commerce will hold their February Networking Luncheon today from 11:45am to 1:30pm At the Holiday Inn of Oneonta. The keynote speaker is Aaron MacLeod, the Director of Hartwick College’s New Center for Craft Food & Beverage. Assemblyman Pete Lopez will also speak on agriculture.

Otsego county public health will be at the Foxcare Center in Oneonta form 9:00 to 3:00 today, to provide bicycle helmet fittings for both adults & children. All bike helmets are $5 for those who qualify.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer visited with Oneonta & Otsego county leaders today, vowing to work with them to get the region designated as a “Foreign Trade Zone”:

(Schumer 1-5-16)

Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig said that Senator Schumer’s is receptive to their idea to get the Oneonta Railyards redevelopment moving in the right direction:

(Herzig 1-5-16)

Plans call for the Otsego County IDA to apply for the proper grants in order to get the Foreign Trade Zone designation, other proposed plans would also help the town of Richfield with their development plans in addition to the Oneonta proposed projects.

U.S Senator Charles Schumer will visit Otsego County today. Schumer is scheduled to meet with Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig as well as other county leaders to discuss economic development issues. More details are expected to be released this afternoon.

State Police arrested 20 year old Sierra Hendrickson of the town of Maryland for criminal mischief & aggravated harassment. Hendrickson is accused of harassing an employee of Monroe Mufflers in Oneonta at his place of employment & his home uninvited. Her conduct intensified when she allegedly caused $4,000 worth of damage to the vicitms parked car, she was arraigned in the Town of Oneonta court and was remanded to the Otsego County jail in lieu of a $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 property bond. An order of protection was issued against her. Hendrickson’s next court date in the Town of Oneonta is on January 7, 2016.

Officials at the Broome County DMV offices announced the opening of a Mobile DMV service at the Eastern Broome Senior Center in Harpursville. The unit will provide basic DMV services including processing licenses and registration. The Harpursville Mobile DMV will be open Mondays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Plans also call for another Mobile DMV unit in Windsor on Thursday’s from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. More information is available at gobroomecounty.com/dmv.

The Oneonta common council will hold their next meeting tonight; the meeting will begin at 7:00 PM at the Council Chamber on the 2nd floor of city hall.