WCDO Radio News

20 year
old James Hamilton of Oneonta has been charged with 1st degree rape, by Oneonta
Police, for allegedly raping a woman recently.
Hamilton is being held in the Otsego County Jail, pending future court
action.

Following
a scam that referenced the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, Delaware
County Sheriff Craig DuMond reminds area residents to be mindful of this
current scam.  Residents may receive a
phone call from a male stating to be from a Law Enforcement Agency, threatening
jail because of a warrant for IRS violations and Identity Theft; they may be
instructed to purchase gift cards to various locations.  Sheriff DuMond advises that he or anyone
associated with the Delaware County Sheriff's Office will NEVER solicit any
financial information or seek fund requests over the phone.

Delaware
County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 35 year old Albert Janke of Shirley for Speeding
& Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle on State Highway 17 in
the Village of Hancock, where a DMV check revealed that Janke's driving
privileges in New York were suspended. Janke was subsequently released on an
appearance ticket, and was scheduled to appear before the Village of Hancock
Court at a later date.

Delaware
County Sheriff Craig DuMond announced the arrest of 25-year-old Willie Walker
of Fishes Eddy on a sealed indictment warrant handed down by the Delaware
County Grand Jury.  Walker was arrested
on Thursday following a narcotics sales investigation,  Walker was arraigned on 3 counts of Criminal
Sale of a Controlled Substance,  Walker
was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility on $5,000 bail
pending further court action.

Court action was underway Friday in Chenango County Court,
as Chobani seeks to have their assessments lowered, which may result in 3 area
school districts reimbursing the Yogurt manufacturer, hundreds of thousands of
dollars combined.  The conflict has continued
for 3 years already, the Unatego school district could be forced to reimburse
Chobani more than $350,000 pending the outcome of court action.

The State DMV has added a new step in order to crack down on
vehicles that violate federal safety requirements. The changes affect modified
stretch limousines; 1 year after a modified Limo crashed in Schoharie &
killed the driver, 17 passengers & 2 people in a convenience store parking
lot.  The limo in the crash was a
modified 2001 Ford SUV that wasn't properly inspected, DMV officials now
believe that vehicles that carry this many passengers should  be subjected to higher standards that a
typical family vehicle.

The Chenango County Farm Bureau will hold their 64th Annual
Meeting this Wednesday evening.  The
meeting will be held at the Silo Restaurant in Greene at 6:30 pm.  Rsvp's by phone are requested by the end of
today at 334-6061.

The Otsego County Health Department announced that a Bat has
tested Positive for rabies Friday.  1
unvaccinated cat & 2 people were exposed, the people were started on Post
Exposure treatment, and the cat is under 6 month Quarantine.  More information about rabies is available by
call the Health Department at 547-4230.

The City of Norwich has appointed Lorraine Keckeisen as
their new Grants Coordinator; she will identify potential Federal, State,
County and private grant funds to address the needs of the City of
Norwich.  Keckeisen is a member of the
Sidney Rotary Club & She leads the Tri-Town Coalition on Substance Abuse
Prevention.

Governor Cuomo today announced
that $1.5 million is available for eligible school districts to support the
growth of Farm-to-School programs across the state. Grant funding of up to
$100,000 per project will be awarded for employing a local or regional
farm-to-school coordinator; Training of food service staff & the Purchase
of equipment needed to increase capacity of school kitchens.  More information is available at
agriculture.ny.gov

The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce will hold their 2019
Workforce Summit this morning at Morris Hall at SUNY Oneonta starting with 9:00
AM.    The Chamber joins with Educators,
Students, Workforce and Economic Developers, Community Leaders, Employers &
others to try to improve the overall quality of the region's workforce.

The Delaware County Board of Elections announced that
tomorrow October 11th is the last day to register in person and to postmark a
registration form for the November 5th General Election.  Offices that are up for election in November
include Supreme Court Justice & many Town Offices.  Early voting will be from October 26th
through November 3rd, more information is available at co.delaware.ny.us or by
calling 832-5321 or stop into their Delhi office.

Governor Cuomo urged State residents to register as organ
donors through the newly-modernized New York State Donate Life Registry.  Nationally, 20 people each day die while
awaiting a match for a transplant, according to the federal Health Resources
and Services Administration. A person is added to the wait list every 10
minutes, but one donor can save as many as eight lives.  State residents can enroll to be organ donors
through 2 online options, donatelife.ny.gov, or dmv.ny.gov

Delaware County continues to sell its recyclables at about
the same rate as it has over the last several years, but they do have to be
inventive in order to keep up with the market place, according to Delaware
County Solid Waste Coordinator Tyson Robb explains:

(Tyson Robb 7-19-19)

Robb said they will be announcing details soon about the
upcoming Delaware County Clean Sweep event, and an open house later this fall.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 28-Year-Old
Ariel Alvarez of Walton, for Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended
Registration, Aggravated Unlicensed Operator,
Operating a Motor Vehicle without Insurance, Operating a Motor Vehicle
without an Inspection Certificate, driving with an Obstructed view &
Failure to Notify DMV of an Address Change, following a traffic stop
recently.  Alvarez was issued appearance
tickets for the Franklin Town Court at a later date.

SUNY Oneonta officials estimate
that about 2000 new students are moving in today, as classes start for the fall
semester on Monday.   A number of
orientations for the new students will be held prior to the start of classes
for the incoming freshman.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 23 year old
Joseph Hahn of Walton for Driving While Ability Impaired due to Drugs,
following an investigation of a 4 car motor vehicle accident on Main Street in
Delhi.   Hahn allegedly rear ended a
parked vehicle, causing damage to an additional two vehicles, while operating a
motor vehicle while impaired by drugs.
Hahn was released on appearance tickets, and was scheduled to appear
before the Town of Delhi Court at a later date for further process.

Chenango County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 47 year old
William Johnson for criminal possession of a controlled substance, for
allegedly possessing Methamphetamines, crack cocaine & a narcotic during a
traffic stop.  Johnson was arraigned in
the Town of Plymouth Court & was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on
cash bail pending additional court action in the Town of Plymouth Court.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 31 year old
Alycia Possemato of Guilford for Attempted Assault & Criminal Obstruction
of Breathing or Blood Circulation, following a domestic dispute at the Delaware
County Fair. Possemato was arraigned and remanded to the Delaware County
Correctional Facility on $1,000 cash bail pending action in Village of Walton
Court on a later date.

The State Department of Labor today released preliminary
local area unemployment rates for July 2019. The State wide rate was 4%, locally;
Chenango & Otsego Counties had 4% unemployment, Delaware County 4.5%.

The Roxbury Arts Group is presenting a series of Information
Sessions throughout Delaware County to inform area artists, organizations, and
residents about the Decentralization Grant Program, Group Spokesperson Samantha
Nick comments:

(Samantha Nick 8-21-19)

Nick is the Grants and Community Coordinator for the Roxbury
Arts Group, she will present a talk at the Sidney Memorial Public Library at
10:00 am today, it is free and open to the public.

State Police arrested 24 year old Christopher Smith of
Weedsport for DWI, Failure to Keep Right, Failure to Yield the Right of Way,
Driving on Shoulder, Moving From a Lane Unsafely, Leaving the Scene of a
Property Damage Accident and Failure to Notify DMV of Change of Address.  Troopers responded to a 2-car accident on
State Highway 23 in the town of Oneonta, witnesses told troopers that the other
vehicle left the scene and drove behind a local gas station.  Troopers located Smith intoxicated behind a
hotel, he was arrested & was remanded to the Otsego County Jail on cash
bail, he will return to Oneonta court on August 22nd.

21-year-old Skuyler Reynolds of
Chenango Bridge is facing 5 more counts of burglary and 1 count of criminal
possession of stolen property, in connection with a series of church burglaries
in Broome County.  Reynolds is a suspect
in church burglaries in Binghamton, Johnson City, Chenango Bridge, Port
Dickinson and Port Crane, he is being held in Broome County Jail. Pending court
action, the investigation is continuing & more charges may be forthcoming.

The next meeting of the TRI-TOWN COALITION ON SUBSTANCE
ABUSE PREVENTION will be held this evening in Sidney. Spokesperson Lorraine
Keckeisen invites area residents to come to the meeting & hopefully get involved
in their efforts:

(Lorraine Keckeisen 7-25-19)

Kayla Johnson of the Sidney Catholic Charities Mentoring
Program Services is a guest speaker tonight, the meeting will be held at the
Maiorano Building, 9 Main Street, Sidney starting at 6:00 PM.  Keckeisen said that they are also starting a
new website at tritowncosap.org.

19th District Congressman Antonio Delgado announced the
creation of his 19th Congressional District Small Business Advisory Committee
to meet & advise him on the priorities of small businesses in the area and
legislation before the House regarding small businesses.  Among those serving on the Committee are
Delaware County Chamber President Ray Pucci, Delaware County Economic
Development Director Glenn Nealis & Otsego Now CEO Jody Zakrevsky. The 19th
District has more than 27,000 small businesses and self-employed owners.

Sidney Village Police responded to the area of the McDonalds Friday for the report of a suspicious person, which led to the arrest of 30 year old Salvatore Gallo of Sidney.  Gallo was charged with trespassing, unlawful possession of marijuana, obstructing governmental administration & criminal possession of a controlled substance, he was arraigned & was sent to the Delaware County Jail on $10,000 Cash Bail or $20,000 bond.

The Otsego County Sheriff's Department arrested 32 year old
Stephanie Shulgay of Worcester, on grand Larceny Charges, she is accused of
using a credit card & debits cards belonging to a family where she was a
home health aide.   Shulgay was arraigned
in Otsego County Court, the investigation is still ongoing & more charges
may be filed.

Governor Cuomo reminded New
Yorkers today that state investigators will again crack down on underage
drinking and the use of fake IDs to purchase alcohol at summer concerts and at
bars this season. Investigators from the DMV, State Liquor Authority, State
Parks Police and local law enforcement will conduct enforcement sweeps at
venues across the state as part of the Operation Prevent campaign.  In April and May, investigators issued 139
tickets,   Patrons under the age of 21
found to be using fake IDs to buy alcohol can be ticketed and risk having their
license revoked for a minimum of 90 days or up to 1 year.

State Police have arrested 25-year-old Cody Franciscovich of
Owego for 1st degree murder in connection with the death of his 8-month-old
daughter Ruby.  Tioga County 911 received
a call to check the welfare of Ruby Sunday Morning, near the Deep Well Motel on
Route 17C in the town of Tioga.
Responding troopers located the infant in a pond after interviewing Cody
Franciscovich,  she was taken to Wilson
Hospital in Johnson City where she was pronounced deceased.  Cody Franciscovich was arraigned and remanded
to the Tioga County Jail on no bail.  He
is set to appear in the town of Tioga court tomorrow.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 22-year-old
David Mordechay of Brooklyn, for aggravated unlicensed operation, driving while
intoxicated, unlicensed operator, operating without a seatbelt, failure to keep
right, and leaving the scene of a property damage motor vehicle accident.  The arrest followed an investigation into a
motor vehicle accident.    Mordechay was arraigned in Delhi Town Court,
and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail or $40,000
bond.

The next Chenango County Health Department Free Rabies
Clinic will be held tonight in Afton.
The clinic for Dogs, Cats & Ferrets will be held at the Afton Town
Garage from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, more information is available at 337-1673.

61 year old Phillip Stein of Binghamton pleaded guilty in
Broome County Court today, for a Bank robbery at Citizens Bank in Binghamton on
March 7th.  Stein will spend 1 1/2 to 3
years in prison for 3rd degree attempted Bank Robbery, he will officially be sentenced
June 7th.

Governor Cuomo today announced a joint effort by state
agencies to crack down on underage drinking throughout the state during the
month of April. The New York State Liquor Authority and the New York State
Department of Motor Vehicles, along with local law enforcement agencies, will
conduct statewide sweeps of locations holding liquor licenses, including bars,
restaurants, liquor stores and grocery stores, looking for fake IDs and
retailers who sell alcohol to minors. The DMV charged 892 individuals with possessing
fake identifications in 2018.

In honor of National Volunteer Week April 7th to the 13th,
the United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties invites residents to nominate a
volunteer for the 2019 Extraordinary Volunteer of the Year. The winner will
receive a plaque and 2 free Disney Park Hopper Passes!! To submit a nomination,
write a brief letter including the Volunteer’s name, where they volunteer in
Delaware or Otsego Counties & Why you think they should be chosen.  Please email letters to
mryberg@unitedwaydo.org Or Mail to United Way of Delaware & Otsego, 31
Maple St., Oneonta, 13820 Nominations must be received by April 19th.  The winner will be announced on April 26th.

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Season gets underway today on the road in new Hampshire, their Home Opener will
be Thursday April 11th @ NYSEG Stadium, tickets or more information is available
at bingrp.com.

State Police arrested 35 year old Benjamin Snell of Edmeston
for 2 counts each of Criminal Contempt & Endangering the Welfare of a Child
and 1 count of Unlawful Imprisonment.
Troopers responded to a domestic dispute in the town of Norwich where a
victim reported that Snell got into an argument with the victim in the town of
Edmeston & while inside a vehicle, he committed several traffic offenses
and would not let the victim out of the vehicle, with 2 children in the
vehicle.  Troopers also learned that
there is an Order of Protection for Snell to stay away from the victim; he was
arraigned in the town of Norwich Court where he was remanded to Chenango County
Jail on $2,000 cash bail or $5,000 property bond.

State Police arrested 35 year old Benjamin Bishop of Otselic
for Criminal Contempt, Endangering the welfare of a Child, Menacing, Criminal
Mischief and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Troopers were dispatched to a domestic dispute
in the town of Otselic, where Bishop arrived at the residence and began a
verbal argument & allegedly threatened the victim with a knife and damaged
a wooden stand, all in the presence of a child.
Bishop left the scene, Troopers located Bishop in Smyrna.  He was arrested and arraigned in the town of
Smyrna court where he was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $10,000 cash
bail or $15,000 bond.

State Police Were dispatched to break up a fight between 2 men on I-88 when the two turned on the trooper and began attacking him.  Other troopers came to assist and a second trooper sustained injury.   The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon in Worcester; the 2 males have been identified as 65 year old Gary Lubrano & his 34 year old son Michael Lubrano of Cobleskill.   During the physical assault, the trooper sustained injuries to his jaw and lip, back up responded both suspects continued to fail to comply with Police, when a K9 handler arrived and the Police dog bit Gary Lubrano.  The struggle continued & a 2nd trooper was injured, suffering from a broken hand.  Both Lubrano’s were transported to Bassett Hospital, they were treated and released & were charged with assaulting a police officer & resisting arrest, they were arraigned in the town of Otsego Court Michael Lubrano was additionally charged with DWI.  Both were remanded to the Otsego County Jail on $50,000 cash bail or $75,000 property bond.  The injured troopers were transported to local hospitals and released; it is unknown when they will return to duty.

The Otsego County Sheriff's Department arrested 53 year
Robert Braun of Otego, following an investigation into 4 separate accidents
from Oneonta to Otego on February 13th.
Braun faces a number of charges including DWI; he faces court action in
both localities shortly.

On Saturday, February 17th, Delaware County Sheriff’s
Deputies arrested 50-year-old Clara Moore of Bainbridge, on a charge of
Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle following a traffic stop on
in the Village of Sidney. Moore was also issued tickets for Unsafe Tire,
Unlicensed Operator, Uninspected Motor Vehicle, and Failure to Notify DMV of
Address Change. Moore was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to
return to the Village of Sidney Court at a later date to answer the charges.

Governor Cuomo today announced that $23.6 million in
infrastructure funding has been awarded to support safety enhancements,
modernization of facilities, operational improvements and local business development
at 31 airports statewide. The projects are funded through the Governor's State
Aviation Capital Grant Program initiative, locally, $828,000 will go to upgrade
and modernize the aircraft fuel facility at the Greater Binghamton Regional
Airport in Broome County

Delaware County Sheriff Deputies’ arrested 24 year old
Rebecca Allen of Monticello on an Arrest Warrant issued by the Town of Hancock
Court. Allen was charged with Burglary, Criminal Mischief, Grand Larceny &
Petty Larceny; she is accused of stealing personal property of another person
in an amount exceeding $1,000 in July of 2018.
Allen was arranged in the Town of Hancock Court where she was remanded
to the Delaware County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 cash bail.

Delaware County Sheriff’s
Deputies arrested 32-year-old Joseph Evans of Davenport, on 1 count of
Endangering the Welfare of a Child, following an investigation of a report of
child abuse in the Town of Davenport.
Deputies allege that Evans acted in a manner which was injurious to the
physical, mental, and moral welfare of a child less than 17-years-old.  Evans was arraigned & was remanded to the
Delaware County Correctional on $5,000 cash bail, or $10,000 bond, pending
future court action.

A Town of Columbus resident was arrested by the Chenango
County Sheriff’s Office for 1st degree Rape & 2nd degree Menacing.  Sheriff’s Detectives arrested 20 year old
Lukest Wahlberg following an investigation into an alleged rape complaint.
Wahlberg is accused of forcibly holding down a female victim on 2 separate
occasions and raping her. On a separate day Wahlberg allegedly held a knife to
the female victim’s neck. Wahlberg was arraigned in the Town of North Norwich
Court where he was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on
$25,000 cash bail. Wahlberg is due back in court on a later date.

A City of Norwich resident was arrested by members of the
Chenango County Sheriff’s Office.  35
year old Amanda Vanhouten was arrested for Criminal Sale of a Controlled
Substance; she was arraigned in the City of Norwich Court and remanded to the
Chenango County Correctional Facility with $20,000 bail.  The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office was
assisted by the City of Norwich Police Department.