WCDO Radio News

Firefighters from Otego responded to a fire at 195 Downey Road this morning at around 6:45 AM.  The 1 story wood frame house was fully involved when fire fighters arrived & is a total loss.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

State troopers of Sidney, Oneonta and Richfield Springs conducted an Underage Drinker Initiative detail, checking 8 convenient stores in Otsego County, the City of Oneonta, and in the towns of Oneonta, Otsego, Hartwick and Otego.  All 8 stores were in full compliance with all State laws, they were Hess Express, Main Street in the City of Oneonta, all Mirabito Quickways, in the Towns of Hartwick, Oneonta & West Oneonta, the Pit Stop in Cooperstown, Taylor’s Mini Mart in the Town of Laurens, & Sunoco in the Town of Otego.

State police at Sidney arrested 34-year-old Bobbie Davies of Butternuts on 2 counts of endangering the welfare of a child and 2 counts of 2nd degree harassment.   The arrest occurred after an incident on Taylor Road in Butternuts, the investigation determined that Davies had kicked and stepped on 2 children during a dispute.  She was arraigned at the Otego town court and remanded to the Otsego jail in lieu of $2,000 cash bail.  An order of protection was issued for the victims.

State police arrested 37 year old Jason Knapp of Franklin for felony aggravated DWI with a child, endangering the welfare of a child, and leaving the scene of an accident after state police investigated a one car accident on State Highway 7 in Otego in which the driver fled the scene with a child.  An investigation determined Knapp was driving while intoxicated with a BAC of .14% and had his child in the car with him when he had the accident.  Knapp was issued tickets for Otego town court November 14th.

The unofficial election results are in from the county boards of election:

In Delaware County:

In the town of Sidney, Republican Gene Pigford wins the Supervisor position; winning town council seats were Democratic incumbent Pete Cordes, & Republican John Woodyshek

In the Town of Franklin, Republicans David Grant & Garrett Sitts win board seats,

In the Town of Masonville, Republican Michael Spaccaforno is re-elected Supervisor. Steven Roff and Betty Scott are elected to the town board.

In the town of Davenport, Dennis Valente was re-elected as supervisor. Republicans kitty Ballard and William Hansen won town board seats.

In deposit, Victor Davis and Carl Clark win town board seats,

In the town of Meredith: James Ellis is the new Supervisor,

In Otsego County:

Dan Crowell wins the election for county treasurer,

2 seats on the Town of Oneonta board were won by democrats Patricia Jacob & Andrew Stammell. Republicans Sean Farrell & Bruce Smith won the 2 town justice seats.

In the Town of Unadilla, Republicans Roger Cecce, George Banta, won 2 seats on the town Council

In the Town Of Butternuts, the supervisor is Charles Eckleman

The Otego town supervisor is Joseph Hurlburt.

In Chenango County,

In the Town of Afton, Republicans Robert Tallmadge, and Chris Warren win seats on the town board,

In the Town Of Guilford, for the 2 seats on the Town Council; Republicans Tomas Ives & Barbara O’Dell win.

In New Berlin, Robert Star is the supervisor, Wendy Rifanburg & John Parks are the winners for town board seats.

In the town of Oxford Lawrence Wilcox is the supervisor; Ronald Charles and John Hoffman win board seats.

In the Town of Coventry, the Supervisor is George Westcott, for Town Justice, Republican Joseph Agunzo wins

On the Town Council, Republicans Robert Boudreau & John Wicks win 2 seats on the board.

Some of these results could change pending the counting of absentee ballots.

State Troopers at Oneonta arrested 26-year-old Jason Harageones of Unadilla for 2 counts of criminal mischief and 2nd degree harassment. The arrest resulted from a dispute on River Street in Otego; Harageones was issued a ticket returnable to the Otego town court.

The Otego town board will hold a special meeting tonight at 6pm at the Municipal building on state highway 7 in Otego.  The purpose of the meeting is to compile the tentative budget for 2014. The pubic is invited to attend

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies assisted by K-9 “Ozzie” executed a Search Warrant in the Town of Franklin Thursday, at Snake Hill Road.  A search of the property led to the seizure of 7 marihuana plants, several drying marihuana plants, approximately one ounce of processed marihuana, a quantity of hashish, drug paraphernalia and several long guns.   Deputies arrested 33-year-old Lee March of Otego for Criminal Possession of Marihuana and Unlicensed Cultivation of Marihuana; he was arraigned in the Town of Hamden Court and was released on recognizance pending further court action.

State Police at Oneonta arrested 29-year-old Zachary Simeon of Albany for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.  The arrest resulted from a vehicle and traffic law stop for speeding on Interstate 88 in Otego; Simeon was issued an appearance ticket returnable to the Town of Otego Court on September 19th.

State Police at Oneonta arrested 42-year-old Kathleen Duncan of Otego for 2nd degree felony Assault.  The arrest resulted from an incident on Marble Road in Oneonta, where Duncan is accused of hitting and kicking a subject and then striking him with a hammer.   Duncan was arraigned in the Oneonta Court and released on her own recognizance & will return to Oneonta court on September 26th.

An Oneonta woman was listed in fair condition at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown following an accident on county route 48 in the town of Otego Wednesday.  State Police reported that Annette Lapine of Oneonta lost control of her vehicle while turning a corner and crashed into a telephone pole, no tickets were issued.

State Police in Oneonta investigated a fatal ATV accident that occurred at 114 Stonybrook Road in the Town of Otego Sunday.  42-year-old Timothy Lewis and 49 year old Debra Chickerell, of Otego, were traveling on a dirt driveway, when they lost control of the ATV and overturned causing both the operator and passenger to be ejected off the ATV, into a parked vehicle in the driveway.  Lewis was transported to Fox Hospital and was pronounced dead, Chickerell was transported to Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown and treated for a broken left arm, broken ribs and brain hemorrhage.  The investigation is continuing.

The son of Boxing Great Joe Frazier; Marvis Frazier will making appearances this weekend at 3 locations, for book signings of his biography “Meet Marvis Frazier”, co-written by Jamie Potter of Otego.  Frazier told WCDO News that he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, didn’t make it to heavyweight championship status, and turned to a life as a minister:

(Marvis Frazier 6-28-13)

Frazier will meet with fans at the Oneonta boys & girls club Saturday form 10:00 to noon, then at Pie in the Sky from 1:00 to 5:00 PM and on Sunday at the World of Faith Christian family center on route 7 in the town of Maryland at 10:00 AM.  Copies of Frazier’s book can be purchased at meetmarvisfrazier.com

The son of Boxing Great Joe Frazier; Marvis Frazier will making appearances this weekend at 3 locations, for book signings of his biography “Meet Marvis Frazier”, co-written by Jamie Potter of Otego.  Frazier told WCDO News that he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, but didn’t make it to heavyweight champion status:

(Marvis Frazier 6-25-13)

Frazier will meet with fans at the Oneonta boys & girls club Saturday form 10:00 to noon, then at Pie in the Sky from 1:00 to 5:00 PM and on Sunday at the World of Faith Christian family center on roué 7 in the town of Maryland at 10:00 AM.  Copies of Frazier’s book can be purchased at meetmarvisfrazier.com.

State police are investigating the report of a fatality on the railroad tracks in Otego.  The incident occurred at around 6:00 PM Wednesday evening; WCDO will have more details as they become available.

The 51st running of the General Clinton Canoe Regatta was held this past weekend, with the 70-mile endurance races from Cooperstown to Bainbridge on Memorial Day.  Pro paddlers Andy Triebold from Michigan and Steve Lajoie of Quebec won their 6th consecutive pro race, taking the $3300 dollar prize.  It was Triebold’s 8th victory, placing him 2nd all time for Clinton wins, he told WCDO’s Craig Stevens why he likes the Clinton Race:

(Andy Triebold News 2013)

Triebold & Lajoie finished in 6:36:55, just 19 seconds slower that the regatta record set by Serge Corbin & Bruce Barton in 1990.

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Todd & Sean Lefever of Unadilla finished in 2nd place in the men’s 50 years & younger Comp Cruising race; they told WCDO’s Craig Stevens that they raced in memory of their mother & past Regatta Chairperson Pam Lefever:

(Lefevers News 2013)

The brothers finished the 70-mile course in 7:27:59; over 1200 paddlers competed over the 4-day regatta, coming from 22 states & Canada.

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Canoe racers from 22 states and Canada descended on Bainbridge to compete in the 51st general Clinton Canoe Regatta, pro paddlers Andy Triebold & Steve Lajoie won their 6th straight pro race, and came within 19 seconds of breaking the record for the fastest time.  First time Clinton participant Frederick Blaise from Quebec took 1st place in the 1-man pro race, he told WCDO’s Craig Stevens what he thought about his 1st experience at the general Clinton race:

(Blaise News 2013)

2nd place C-1 Pro finisher Nick Walton of Michigan said that it was a tough race with the 26-year-old Canadian:

(Nick Walton News 2013)

Blaise beat Walton by just 6 seconds in a sprint for the finish line.  Over 1200 paddlers competed in the 4-day regatta.

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This year, 11 people were inducted into the Regatta Hall of Fame Saturday, including long time canoeist and paddle maker Al Camp of Otego.  Camp talked about the paddling community:

(Al Camp News 2013)

Camp won the Clinton pro race in 1969 with Jim Root of Binghamton; he was also an original 700-mile club members, completed 18 regattas and designed camp Paddles and Canoes.

Memorial Day Parades / Services / Activities

Memorial Day Parades / Services / Activites - 2013

Sidney - Parade to form at the Moose Club parking lot on East Main St. at 8:15AM with a brief ceremony in Prospect Hill Cemetary.  A ceremony will be held on the lawn of the Sidney Memorial Public Library.  Guest speaker with will be Sidney Mayor Andy Matviak.

Sidney Center - Parade will form at 10:30AM at the corner of routes 23 & 35.  Proceed to the former site of the Methodist Church for the service and then to the cemetary.

Masonville - Parade will begin at about 12:00pm.  Sidney High School Band to arrive about 11:45am.  Following the parade, there will be a chicken BBQ.

Guilford - Parade line up at 7:30am at the end of School St. moving out at 8:00am.  Ceremony to be held at the park on route 35.

Afton - Parade starting at 10am at the corner of Main st. and Pleasant St.  The Afton VFW Post 3529 will be holding a pancake breakfast from 7a-11a at the VFW on Main. St.

Bainbridge - There will be no parking on Main St. during the parade!  Parade will form at 10am at the Greenlawn Cemetary and start off at 10:30am.  Military services will be held at 10:15 AM.

Unadilla - Services and ceremony to start at 10:30am at the Community House, following by a parade and proceeding to Evergreen Cemetary.

Otego - Parade to form at the American Legion Field at 8am

Oxford - The wreath laying ceremony and rifle salute will be held at St. Joseph's Cemetary.  Following at 9am, the parade will line up at the Oxford American Legion Post #376.  Following the parade and ceremony, there will be a chicken BBQ at 11am.

Gilbertsville - Parade will form in front of the former school on Grove St. at 9am

Franklin - Parade begins at 11am at the American Legion and proceeds to the cemetary.

Oneonta - Parade at 10am followed by the dedication ceremony at Neahwa Park Memorial Walkway at 11am.

Norwich - Parade followed by memorial ceremony at 10:15am in the park.

Delhi - Parade to begin at Courthouse Square and ends at the American Legion at 11am.

The 51st running of the general Clinton canoe regatta is this weekend, which will include the 2nd annual Regatta Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & dinner Saturday.  Jeff Shultis of Otego will be inducted this year, for finishing the 70-mile race 33 times:

(Shultis 2013)

Also inducted, former Olympic Kayaker Bruce Barton of Michigan:

(Barton 2013)

Barton is 1 of 2 paddlers to win both the 2 person race, with Serge Corbin in 1990, and the one man pro race, he holds the fastest times in both categories & has raced the Clinton 28 times.

Oneonta Troopers arrested 23-Year-old Anthony Stevens of Otego for Criminal Obstructed Breathing, Unlawful Imprisonment, Criminal Mischief and 2nd degree Harassment.  The arrest resulted from a complaint of a domestic incident in Otego,  Stevens was arraigned in the Town of Oneonta Court and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Otego Court tomorrow to answer to the charges.

State Troopers in Sidney arrested 42-year-old James Bush of Otego for Driving While Intoxicated and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. The arrest was the result of an investigation of an ATV accident on Lower Green Street in the Town of Otego.  Bush was treated at Fox Hospital for non-life threatening injuries; he was issued an Appearance Ticket for Town of Otego Court on May 30th.

The 23rd Ed Wessels canoe regatta was held Saturday on the Susquehanna river from Otego to Sidney, and featured top pros that are expected to compete in the upcoming General Clinton Canoe Regatta.  This years Wessels regatta winners were Steve Rankinen of Pennsylvania & Matt Strybe of Indiana, beating out 7 time General Clinton winner Andy Treibold and & 5 time winner Steve Lajoie  (Lajwa) of Quebec by only 9 seconds.  Treibold & Lajoie struggled early in Saturday’s race with a hole in their canoe; they are expected to return to the area to defend their Clinton title on memorial day.

Tomorrow is the 23rd Annual Ed Wessels Canoe Regatta along the Susquehanna River from Otego to Sidney.  More information is available at sidneychamber.org/wessels.

Oneonta fire fighters responded to a blaze at 34 Watkins Avenue Sunday morning.  No one was home when the fire broke out, it was reported by neighbors at around 8:40 AM.  Fire crews from West Oneonta, Otego, Worcester, Sidney and Franklin were called in, the Joseph family will be staying with relatives, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

State troopers in Oneonta arrested 25 year old Eric Dorsey of Sidney for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th following a traffic stop on Interstate 88 in the Town of Otego.  Dorsey was released with an Appearance Ticket to appear in the Town of Otego Court on April 25th.

Delaware County Deputies investigated a 1car property damage auto accident on State route 28 in the Town of Meredith. 25-year-old Beth Donlin of Otego lost control of her vehicle on state route 28 due to excessive speed, she left the roadway and struck a ditch. Donlin was charged with speed unreasonable and prudent, plus leaving the scene of a property damage accident, she will appear in Town of Meredith Court at a later date.

Sidney village police arrested 31 year old Brett Romano of Otego on a variety of charges, including felony DWI, Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, refusing to submit to a breathalyzer test and driving with switched license plates.  Romano was remanded to the Delaware county jail on $1000 cash bail or $2000 bond pending future court action.

90-year-old Betty Clark of Oneonta was hospitalized for suffering burns & smoke inhalation at a fire at 348 Chestnut Street in Oneonta Thursday morning.  Clark was taken to Fox Hospital in Oneonta, after she unsuccessfully attempted to rescue her pets.  Investigators determined that cardboard boxes were too close to a gas range in the kitchen, they caught fire at around 9:20 Thursday morning, and passing motorists reported the blaze and helped bring Clark to safety.  Firefighters from Oneonta, West Oneonta, Otego Franklin, Worcester & Sidney responded.

The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 33-year-old Nathan Diamond of the town of Butternuts on an active arrest warrant.   Diamond was arrested by deputies following his release from the Chenango County Jail on unrelated charges, he was turned over to the Binghamton Police on a warrant for Possession of a Forged instrument and Falsifying Business records.

State Police at Oneonta arrested 22-year-old Ethan Hall of Otego for Driving While Intoxicated with a BAC of .15%. The arrest resulted from a 1-vehicle property damage accident that occurred on State Route 205 in Oneonta, Hall was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Oneonta Court on April 9th.

The Otsego county sheriff’s department arrested 52 year old Timothy Gregory of Unadilla on 2 counts of 3rd degree criminal sale of marijuana & criminal possession of marijuana, also charged were 54 year old Deborah Gregory of Unadilla, 53 year old Tracy Nichols of Unadilla & 22 year old Alexander Zienkker of Otego for criminal possession of marijuana.  The arrests follow an investigation by the Otsego County Sheriff's Office, DEA special agents, Oneonta Police Department, and SUNY Oneonta police.  Police seized 2 ½ pounds of processed marijuana valued at $7,500, a digital scale and $520 in cash. All 4  face court action shortly.

The Unatego United Group will hold a rally today at 7:00 pm at the Otego Elementary School. The group is seeking help from area lawmakers, to make the state’s school aid formula more equitable to small rural district like Unatego and many other area school districts.

The Unatego Central School community group, Save Our Schools, is hosting a legislative forum, tomorrow at 7:00 PM in the Otego Elementary School gym.  Area lawmakers have been invited to participate, as school districts similar to Unatego are looking for Albany to establish a more equitable state aid formula this year.