WCDO Radio News

Officials at SUNY Broome have confirmed that freshman Miranda Gifford of Rome, has died from injuries she sustained in a car crash on State Route 12 in Oxford Monday. The Chenango County Sheriff's Office said Gifford veered in to oncoming traffic around 12:00 noon & struck a truck operated by Danny Hall of Barton. Gifford was extricated from her vehicle and airlifted to University Hospital in Syracuse, where she died Wednesday afternoon. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Gifford was enrolled at SUNY Broome, they are offering counseling for students affected by Gifford’s death.

The Village of Oxford Mayor Terry Stark has officially proclaimed November as “Oxford Recycles Month.” to coincide with the state’s “NY Recycles” and the national “America Recycles Day” held every year on November 15th. Mayor Stark calls upon the people of the Village of Oxford to observe November with appropriate programs and activities. Oxford Academy will be spreading the message of recycling with students during “Oxford Recycles Month.”

Tomorrow, local Special Olympics athletes and coaches will join the Law Enforcement Torch Run in carrying the "Flame of Hope" to start the 6th Annual Binghamton Polar Plunge. Last year the Binghamton Polar Plunge raised over $21,000 with all proceeds helping to fund training and competition local Special Olympics athletes. This year, the Plunge for Special Olympics will be held at Bowman Lake State Park at 745 Bliven Sherman Road in Oxford; Registration will be from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, & the Plunge will start at 1:00pm. More information is available at PolarPlungeNY.org/Binghamton.

Tri-County Tea Party Patriots will hold a meeting today starting at 7:00 PM in the Bainbridge Town Hall in the First Floor Meeting Room. There will be an explanation of the three NY State Ballot Proposals that will be voted on November 7th. including the vote on a NY State Constitutional Convention. A presentation by featured speaker George Phillips from Reclaim New York is also planned, there will be refreshments available. It is free to attend and open to the public.

Governor Cuomo announced a $15 million proposal to accelerate the use of renewable heating and cooling technologies in New York to stimulate the clean energy economy. The new policy framework released by the NYSERDA includes a proposed 2-year, $15-million program to provide rebates for the installation of ground-source heat pumps. This plan will support the state's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New York 40 percent by 2030 from 1990 levels. NYSERDA will accept written comments on the policy framework through close of business on March 10, 2017.

State Police arrested 44-year-old Kevin Roof of Binghamton, for 2nd degree Burglary. After consultation with Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride, State Police arrested Roof after his release from the hospital where he had been treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his upper leg, which he received during the course of his criminal conduct in the town of Afton on Algerine street on January 30th. Roof was arraigned and was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $50,000 cash bail, $500,000 property bond pending future court action in Afton Town Court. 34-year-old James Fletcher was also charged with 2nd degree burglary in connection with this case, the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is requested to contact State Police at 561-7400.

Reclaim New York will hold a Kick-Off reception at the Binghamton Doubletree at 5:30 pm today; a presentation on the Affordability Crisis in the Southern Tier is scheduled. Reclaim New York is a non-profit organization concerned with affordability, transparency, and education in the State.

The Delaware County Fair announced that ten $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to current New York State high school seniors and students enrolled in college. Qualifying students must be active in the Delaware County Fair or with the state Showpeople’s Association. All applicants from Delaware County must submit their applications through the Delaware County Fair or the NYSSA no later than Friday April 8th. Information is available by contacting Delaware County Fair at 437-4093 or by email at delcofair@gmail.com or nyfairs.org

State police arrested 38-year-old Jillenia Murphy of Sidney for felony assault and arrested her husband 54-year-old Joseph Murphy of Sidney for 3rd degree assault. Troopers responded to the report of a dispute at a home on Oak Hill Spur Road in the Town of Afton, they accuse Jillenia Murphy of striking her husband with a curtain rod. The Murphy’s were arraigned in the Town of Afton court and were remanded to the Chenango County jail on $2,000 cash bail or $4,000 property bond; their next court dates are pending.

A non-partisan New York organization that advocates for transparency in government says it will begin posting the spending records of local municipalities online. Reclaim New York officials say the information comes from hundreds of requests for records under the state's Freedom of Information Law. The database will include county, city, town, school district, and village expenditure records. The information will allow taxpayers to see how their money is being spent.

New York trails other states, in modernizing its 911 systems to handle greater cell phone use, in part because lawmakers use money intended for that purpose to plug holes in the state budget. An upgraded 911 system would make it easier to pinpoint the location of cell phone callers or accept 911 text messages. Like many states, New York imposes a surcharge on cell phone bills to support local 911 systems. New York officials dispute claims they aren't doing enough for 911. They say since 2010 the state has awarded more than $48 million to support 911 upgrades