WCDO Radio News

Otsego County Sheriff Rich Devlin announced the temporary closure of 2 housing units within the Jail today due to critically low staffing levels after consulting with the the State Commission of Correction, he talked to WCDO News about the need for positive changes coming from the Otsego County Board of Representatives:

(Sheriff Devlin 12-21-21)

Sheriff Devlin stated that this is the 2nd facility shutdown in as many years, and he hopes that next year will bring more realistic discussion about the future of the Department of Corrections.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 12-21-21

Firefighters from Unadilla, Franklin, Wells Bridge, & Otego responded to a fire last night at 10:30 PM, at 43 Watson Street in Unadilla. The House and garage were fully involved, adult and 2 children were being treated for smoke inhalation, the cause of the fire is under investigation. The Unadilla Fire Department has posted a list of items the displaced residents need following the fire, it is posted on the Unadilla Fire Department Facebook page.

Oneonta Fire Department responded to a structure fire last night at Monser Brothers Tire & Auto on Chestnut Street in Oneonta. Fire fighters responded to the report of flames through the roof of the building late last night, Multiple fire departments also responded including West Oneonta, Laurens, West Laurens, Mount Vision, Franklin, Sidney, Worcester, Pindars Corners & Otego.

The Rotary Club of Unadilla has started a fundraiser for the Unadilla and Otego food pantries, Unadilla Rotary Spokesman Robert Knox explains:

(Robert Knox 11-17-21)

Knox said that the fundraiser will end on November 30th, 3 sponsors have agreed to match donations up to $2000, and they are Otego Family Dental, Unalam & the Unadilla Rotary Club.

Otsego County Sheriff Office arrested 33 year old Amanda Brown of Otego for Over-driving Torturing & injuring animals, & failure to provide sustenance. Brown was charged this week following a complaint to the Sheriff's Office, Brown Faces court action in Town of Otego Court at a later date.

The Village of Sidney announced that they be paving on Spruce Street,  Overlook Drive today along with the Upper & Lower parts of Hatfield Street, some of those street may be paved on Wednesday, more information is available at 561-2339.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 9-28-21

Shane Santiago of Otego was sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison in Otsego County Court Monday for 2nd degree manslaughter, from the July 15, 2020, crash that killed 2 people in Pittsfield on county Route 13.  Tehya Gonzalez and Cheyenn Aubry were passengers in his Santiago’s car, which drove off the road at 85 miles an hour, killing them both. Santiago survived and was treated at the hospital for minor injuries.

The State Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting today at 5:30 PM, to present the design plans for improvements to pavement, sidewalks and drainage on State Route 7 in the Village of Otego.   The project will enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety and improve resiliency along Main Street from the I-88 ramps to the Otsdawa Creek Bridge.  The in-person event will take place at the Otego Fire Department at 5 River Street in Otego.  To join online, open the project website at dot.ny.gov/Route7Otego and click on the "Attend Live Public Meeting", more information is available at 772-7333.

The State Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, September 22 at 5:30 PM, to present the design plans for improvements to pavement, sidewalks and drainage on State Route 7 in the Village of Otego. The project will enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety and improve resiliency along Main Street from the I-88 ramps to the Otsdawa Creek Bridge. The in-person event will take place at the Otego Fire Department at 5 River Street in Otego. To join online, open the project website at dot.ny.gov/Route7Otego and click on the "Attend Live Public Meeting", more information is available at 772-7333.

Residents in Otego have been told that they will need to boil their water before using it, until August 4th.  Crews have been fixing a broken water main that left some residents without water on Wednesday.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 7-6-21

State Police responded to a crash involving 2 vehicles at the intersection of State Route 28 and James F. Lettis Highway in the town of Oneonta at about noon on Sunday July 4th.  A motorcycle operated by 29 year old Anthony Masi of Otego was on State Highway 28 when he struck a Chevy Traverse that was on James F. Lettis Highway.   Masi was transported to A.O Fox Memorial Hospital & was later transported by LifeNet to Albany Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.   The operator of the Traverse was not injured.  State Police revealed that Masi's motorcycle was recently reported as stolen. The investigation is on-going.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging families to take all necessary steps to secure the Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan:

(Gillibrand 6-23-21)

Approximately 3.5 Million New York households are expected to receive benefits without need for further action; more information is available at childtaxcredit.gov.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 6-23-21

The Local Primary elections results are in:

The Republican primaries in Chenango County: The County Clerk Primary winner is Brian Wessels, the towns of Columbus Supervisor Primary winner is Diane Scalzo, Guilford Town Council Primary winners are Mathew Retz & Thomas Ives, the McDonough Town Clerk Primary winner is Shirley Cook, the Smithville Highway Superintendent Primary winner is Vincent Witkowski, the Town of Norwich Highway Superintendent Primary winner is Barry Christopherson, the City of Norwich Ward 4 Alderman Primary winner is William Loomis.

In the Delaware County Republican primaries: the Colchester Town Council Primary winners are Daniel Pinner & Julie Markert, the Walton Highway Superintendent Primary winner is Jeffrey Offnick.

In the Republican Primaries in Otsego County, the Hartwick Town Supervisor Primary winner is Bryan LoRusso, the 2 Town Council winners are Jonathon Horth & Cindy Carr, the Highway Superintendent winner is Frederick Koffer. The Milford Town Justice Primary Winners were Matthew Kane & Deborah McMullen, The Oneonta Supervisor Primary Winner is Randal Mower, The Otego Town Clerk Primary winner is Terry Horan, the Unadilla Town Clerk Republican Primary Winner is Terry Yoder; there is a tie in the Town Council Republican Primary.  The only Local Democratic Primary was for The County Representative position in District 3, the winner is Caitlin Ogden.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 6-21-21

Primary elections will be held tomorrow with polls open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Republican primaries will be held in CHENANGO COUNTY for County Clerk, as well as other positions in the Towns of Columbus, Guilford, McDonough & Smithville plus the Town & City of Norwich. In DELAWARE COUNTY, there are Republican primaries for position in the Towns of Colchester & Walton. There are republican Primaries in Otsego County in the towns of Hartwick, Laurens, Maryland, Milford, Oneonta, Otego & Unadilla; there is a Democratic Primary in for OTSEGO COUNTY representative in District 3 covering Laurens & Otego.

This year's Virtual General Clinton Canoe Regatta was a success with 68 boats signed up to for the 70 mile race any day of the 3 day Memorial Day Weekend.  Paddlers who can provide a GPS proof of completing the race will receive an official 70 Mile Finish, the Regatta Race Committee is still tallying up how many Paddlers finished the journey. Of note this year, 81 year old Don Lafever of Norwich finished his 39th race, paddling with his nephew Jim Lafever Jr. and Jim Jordan of Otego finished his 44th 70-miler, the most completions in the history of the event, passing Ted LaMonica who had 43 finishes.  Officials also said that 100 Scout Boats & 20 Generation Gap boats participated over the weekend; more information is available at canoeregatta.org.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 6-1-21

New York's Positivity rate for COVID tests dropped to .69%, with the 7-Day Average down to .67%.  Patient Hospitalizations are down to 1,032, Patients in ICU beds are down to 252 & Patients on ventilators are down to 150, there were 18 deaths reported Sunday.  The Total number of vaccine doses administered is over 19 million.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 5-11-21

2 men arrested for 4 gas station robberies in the same day in April of 2020 were sentenced in Otsego County Court.  42 year old Bryan Ruple was charged with Burglary & robbery & was sentenced to 7 years in jail in a plea bargain arrangement, and 41 year old Derrick Gray, 41, was charged with robbery and attempted robbery, he was sentenced to 2 1/2 to 5 years in prison, in Otsego County Court.

State Police arrested 24 year old Aaron Johnson of Norwich, for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to sell, Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Possessing a Loaded Firearm in a Motor Vehicle and 4 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Troopers initiated a traffic stop after observing a vehicle on State Highway 7 in the town of Unadilla, failing to maintain a lane.  Troopers observed a rifle in the passenger seat,  Johnson is accused of possessing methamphetamine and heroin.   Johnson was issued appearance tickets to the town of Unadilla court today.

A.M. NEWS Monday 3-15-21

Brian Ruple of Oneonta & Derrick Gray of Laurens pleaded guilty to a variety of charges connected with a break in last year at Losie's Gun Shop, a holdup & assault of a clerk at the Dollar Tree in Oneonta & the hold up of convenience stores in Oneonta & Otego on April 24th 2020. Ruple will serve a total of 9½ to 12 years in state prison, plus five years of supervised release, Gray was charged with 3rd-degree robbery and attempted robbery in connection with the gas station hold ups, both face sentencing later this year.

Sidney Police Department responded Thursday to a disturbance at a business in the Village. 34 year old Michael Ide of Otego was wanted on active arrest warrant from the City of Oneonta, he allegedly had a small quantity of crack cocaine and methamphetamines, he was charged with 2 counts of Criminal possession of a controlled substance & Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, he was released on appearance tickets and turned over to the City of Oneonta Police Department. That arrest led Sidney Police to request a State Police K9 unit to search a vehicle, where narcotics, drug paraphernalia, packaging material, a rifle and ammunition were discovered, 34 year old Brandon MacLaury of Guilford was charged with Criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and Criminal possession of a weapon, he was virtually arraigned & was released & will appear in court at a later date.