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.

Governor Cuomo today announced that non-essential lane closures for road and bridge construction projects on New York State highways will be suspended from 6 a.m. on Friday, September 2, to 6 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6, in order to accommodate travelers during the busy Labor Day holiday weekend. The construction suspension is in keeping with Governor Cuomo's Drivers First initiative, which prioritizes the convenience of motorists to minimize traffic congestion and travel delays due to road and bridge work. Some work may continue behind permanent concrete barriers or for emergency repairs.

The American Red Cross, Broome County Executive Debra Preston and City of Binghamton Mayor Richard David are supporting 9/11 Day by offering the community an opportunity to honor those who lost their lives and the heroes who responded following the tragic events of Sept.11. A special Red Cross blood drive sponsored by Preston and David will be held on Thursday, September 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Binghamton, 2-8 Hawley Street. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Each year tens of millions of Americans and people around the world observe the anniversary of 9/11 by performing good deeds that help people and communities in need.

State Police at Oneonta arrested 28 year old Nicolas Martinez of Oneonta for the 3rd degree Assault & criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, after troopers investigated a domestic dispute report from a home on Deer Haven Road in the Town of Oneonta. Martinez allegedly struck and choked the victim, causing injury; he was arraigned in the Town of Oneonta court and was remanded to the Otsego County jail on $200 cash bail or $400 property bond.

Delaware County Deputies investigated a one-car personal injury rollover auto accident Thursday in the Town of Davenport. 43-year-old William Wehrenberg of Davenport lost control of his vehicle on a corner on Parks Hill Road, he went off the road into an embankment causing the vehicle to overturn when reentering the roadway. Wehrenberg was issued traffic tickets for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Uninspected Motor Vehicle, Suspended Vehicle Registration, Operating without Insurance in Effect, Failure to Keep Right and Speed Not Reasonable and Prudent. All tickets are returnable to the Town of Davenport Court on June 28th. Wehrenburg & a passenger were taken to Fox Hospital in Oneonta.

The Oneonta Fire Department responded to a cooking fire Thursday night in an apartment at 7 Raymond Avenue. The fire was extinguished quickly; substantial damage to the Kitchen area was reported. The unidentified male occupant of the apartment was taken to Fox Hospital.

The Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation for South Central New York will hold their 12th Annual Women’s Fund Breakfast Thursday at 7:30 am at The Holiday Inn, on Hawley Street, Binghamton. The morning will feature keynote speaker Anzala Alozie, who is the vice president of the Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York. Reservations are requested; Limited seating is still available at 772-6773.

The Sidney Chamber Of Commerce announced today that Long time Sidney Fire Department member & former Chief Ray Baker is this year's choice for "Citizen of the Years” Baker told WCDO News he was quite surprised to get the honor at this mornings chamber meeting:

(Ray Baker 4-6-16)

This year's Sidney Chamber "Business of the Years" award goes to the Cullman Child Care Center, Director Amy Williams comments:

(Amy Williams 4-6-16)

Baker & the Cullman Center will both be honored at the Sidney Chamber Of Commerce's annual dinner in June.

The United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties announced that the The CASH Coalition of Otsego and Delaware Counties can still prepare and file state and federal income taxes for free, for taxpayers who made under $62,000.00 in the 2015 tax year. The program is available for use on any home computer or public computers at CDO Workforce Offices, in Oneonta, Sidney or Delhi, at the SFCU branch in Delhi. Also, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is available for individuals and families who made under $54,000 in the 2015 tax year, They offer free tax preparation and filing by trained individuals under the supervision of volunteer site coordinators, apointments are required by calling Catholic Charities at 432-0061. More information is available at United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties at 432-8006.

State Senator Jim Seward announced that the recently adopted State budget includes $200,000 for the City of Oneonta to help offset public safety costs generated due to being a SUNY host community.

(Seward 4-5-16)

Senator Seward’s legislation includes a formula to distribute state aid to municipalities hosting four-year SUNY schools, the bill been referred to the Senate Finance Committee & Companion legislation has been introduced in the State Assembly.

The city of Oneonta announced today that the citizens campaign for the environment will be conducting a home to home canvass in the city from 4:00 to 9:00 PM Mondays through Fridays now through the month of June. More information is available at 432-6450.

The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce will host the 2016 Job Fair today from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. The Job fair will be held at the Holiday Inn, on State Route 23, Oneonta

Governor Cuomo announced that he is deploying the Department of Financial Services' Mobile Command Center to help eligible New Yorkers prepare and file their taxes for free. The unit will be making stops at locations throughout Upstate New York between the hours of 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.: Locally, the event will be held today in Oneonta at the Foothills Performing Arts Center.

The city of Oneonta will have a committee meeting today, of the Zoning & Housing Board of Appeals.   The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM in the common Council Chambers at city hall.

A blood donation opportunity is today in Oneonta from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., at the Holiday Inn, on Route 23 Southside. Appointments can be made by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Budget negotiations continue among lawmakers in Albany with Conference Committee activity beginning next week. State lawmakers are dealing with a budget surplus this year, Area Assemblyman Cliff Crouch Comments:

(Crouch 3-10-16)

Crouch said that the surplus includes 1 time settlement money, which he hopes will be used for infrastructure projects upstate, where 40% of the bridges are in need of repair or replacement.

Nearly a thousand people will come to Broome County this summer to take part in the 98th annual New York State American Legion Convention, as well as the 96th annual New York State Auxiliary Convention and the 42nd annual Sons of the American Legion Convention. The conventions will take place from Thursday, July 13th through Saturday, July 16th; The Holiday Inn in Downtown Binghamton, along with the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena will serve as the headquarters for the Legion Convention.

The city of Oneonta announced that a special meeting of the legislative Committee has been scheduled for today. The meeting will begin at 4:00 PM in the Common Council Chambers at Oneonta City hall; the committee will discuss proposed changes to the City charter.

Nominations for the Sidney Chamber of Commerce "Citizens of The Years" & "Business of the Years are due today to the Chamber office. The award winners will be announced in April and will be honored at the Annual Dinner in June. More information is available at Sidneychamber.org or by calling 561-2642.

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.

The Binghamton Mets announced that the annual "Welcome Back B-Mets" Dinner is Wednesday, April 6 at the Holiday Inn in downtown Binghamton. B-Mets players and mascots will arrive at 5:30 PM for the "Meet the Mets" autograph reception. Dinner will be served at 7:00 PM followed by a special baseball program with team and manager introductions. Tickets may be purchased by calling 723-METS or in person at NYSEG Stadium during normal business hours. The Binghamton Mets are set to open their 25th season on Thursday, April 7 at 6:35 PM at NYSEG Stadium against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

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

NYSEG reports approximately 480 customers in Chenango County were without electricity this afternoon due to a failure at the Cincinnatus Substation. Power was out in South Otselic, Georgetown, Pitcher and Pharsalia areas, NYSEG officials reported that they expect power will be restored shortly.

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.