WCDO Radio News

60 year old Robert Scott of Binghamton, was indicted in US District Court on a charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine. According to the indictment, on October 30, 2025, Scott possessed with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. Scott was also on federal probation at the time of the offense. The charge filed against Scott carries a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and a period of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life, if convicted.

Norwich City Officials are working with State & Federal Lawmakers & other organizations to try to find a store that can go in where the Grand Union store was located at 54 East Main Street in Norwich, Norwich Mayor Robert Jeffrey said that there are some obstacles to getting a new store in quickly:

(Norwich Mayor Robert Jeffrey 4-10-26)

The link to the online auction will begin April 20, with a bid starting at $500,000 can be found at loopnet.com, Property tours are available by calling 914-220-9758.

P-A-K Construction is hosting "GUILFORD'S ROAD CLEAN UP DAY" on Saturday from 10 TO 3; PAK Owner Paul Knowles comments:

(Paul Knowles 4-10-26)

Knowles said that the event is open to residents in ROCKDALE, MT. UPTON, ROCKWELL MILLS AND GUILFORD and will be held at P-A-K CONSTRUCTION ON Chenango County road 36.

THE OUT OF THE WOODWORK PLAYERS PRESENT 'THE IMAGINARY INVALID' tonight, Saturday Night at 7:30 PM & Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM, cast members Emily & Scott Germond explain:

(Emily & Scott Germond 4-10-26)

The tickets are available at the Bainbridge Town Hall Theater before the show or at outofthewoodworkplayers.org.

Broadway In Binghamton is bring back the "Addams Family" in next month at the Forum Theatre in Binghamton, Murphy Fauci of NAC Entertainment explains:

(Murphy Fauci 2-27-25)

Tickets are available for the March 11th & 12th shows at BroadwayInBinghamton.com or by calling 607-772-1391.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 2-27-25

48-year-old Scott Mawhiney of Deposit, was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison in Broome County Court on Wednesday, after being found guilty of attempted murder & numerous other charges for the shooting of Trooper Ryan Thorp in 2021. Mawhiney shot at the trooper, missed him, but hit his patrol car, sending numerous metal fragments into Thorp’s arm, the injuries ended Thorp's career.

41 year old Robert Wilson was sentenced in Broome County Court to 8 years in State Prison followed by 3 years of post-release supervision for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Last July, the Broome County Special Investigations Unit executed a narcotics search warrant in Binghamton, officers seized methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, packaging materials, a digital scale, and $7,796 cash from suspected drug sales.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 2-24-25

Oneida County Court Judge Robert Bauer unsealed an indictment returned by an Oneida County Grand Jury, which heard evidence in the investigation into the December 9th 2024, homicide of Marcy Correctional Facility inmate Robert Brooks. 33 year old Nicholas Kieffer of Whitesboro was charged with 2nd degree Murder, 1st degree Manslaughter plus Gang Assault & Offering a False Instrument for Filing. State Police were first notified of Brooks’ death on December 10th, State Police investigated over 400 separate leads, analyzed hundreds of pieces of evidence, and the execution of 16 search warrants, the case remains an active and ongoing prosecution.

A Chenango County Grand Jury Indicted Scott Wortmann on 9 counts of third-degree promoting a sexual performance by a child. The indictment accused Wortman of sending multiple explicit videos and images of a minor under 17 via text message from a residence on Pleasant Street in Norwich, in September of last year.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 2-12-25

50 Year old Scott Mitchell of Binghamton has been apprehended by law Enforcement in the state of Florida. Mitchell was located in Daytona Beach, he is wanted for questioning regarding the murders of 58 year old Daniel McCloe & 55 year old Marshall VanOven, who were found in a Binghamton apartment February 5th after they were reported missing. The Autopsy concluded that the cause of death was murder for both men, Mitchell faces extradition from Volusia County back to Binghamton shortly.

Robert Colson pleaded guilty in Chenango County Court to burglary charges for unlawfully entering 2 businesses, he admitted to the crimes prior to the start of a trial. Colson will be sentenced to state prison for 3 to 6 years as part of a plea bargain arrangement, he will return to County Court on April 11 for sentencing. Colson was arrested by Chenango County Sheriff's Deputies in August of 2023 for allegedly breaking into retail establishments to steal tobacco products.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies observed a vehicle speeding recently at 85-mph in the 40mph zone, while road conditions were poor and snowplows were out clearing snow. Upon conducting a traffic stop, Deputies identified the driver as 21-year-old Scott Barnhart of Walton, he was charged with one count of Reckless driving, speeding and other lesser charges, Barnhart was released and was directed to appear in the Town Davenport Court at a later date.

The Otsego County Sheriff's Office arrested 59 year old Robert Solberg of Milford Saturday, for Criminal Contempt. The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office arrested Solberg following an investigation into a violation of a temporary order of protection and a trespassing complaint, where he was found to have entered the residence of the protected party, he was turned over to the Correctional Facility to await arraignment. State Police and the Otsego County District Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 12-30-24

The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office arrested 32 year old Carol Bishop & 34 year old Timothy Bishop of Laurens following an investigation into an animal cruelty complaint. At the conclusion of the investigation, both were charged with 14 counts each for torturing or Injuring Animals/Failure to Provide Sustenance, they were processed & released on appearance tickets for the Town of Laurens Court at a later date.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating the death of an inmate Robert Brooks at the Marcy Correctional Facility. Body cam footage shows Brooks was assaulted by multiple State Corrections Officers within the Infirmary Building at the Marcy Correctional Facility, Brooks was transported by ambulance to Wynn Hospital on Dec. 10, where he was pronounced dead, a dozen corrections officers and a nurse are under investigation for their alleged involvement in the death. An autopsy of Brooks was performed by the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office on December 11.

Governor Cuomo
announced that New York State is now offering a free text message program to
help kids quit e-cigarettes as the state moves to reverse the alarming rise in
youth vaping.   To access this program,
text "DropTheVape" to 88709, more information about e-cigarettes is
available at health.ny.gov/NoVape

The Otsego County Office of Emergency
Services confirmed that 5 firefighters were injured in a Middlefield garage
fire from a series of explosions Wednesday night at 3679 Otsego County Route
35.  The firefighters were James Tallman,
Jon Roach & Scott Monington of the Cooperstown Fire Department & John
Sears & Ryan Smith of the Middlefield Fire Department, Roach &
Monington were taken to a Syracuse Hospital for treatment of injuries, the
other 3 were treated at Bassett Hospital & were released.  Firefighters from Middlefield, Cooperstown,
Westford, Cherry Valley, and Milford responded to the fire Wednesday
night.  State Police, State office of
Fire Prevention & Control & the Otsego County Sheriff’s department are
investigating the cause & origin of the fire.

State Police arrested 55 year old
Robert Horan of Unadilla for Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Forcible
Touching, after an investigation of an incident in Unadilla in January.  Horan is a case worker with Otsego County,
the incident did not occur as a part of Horan’s official work duties;  he was arraigned & was released on his
own recognizance and is due back in court on April 13th.

The
Sidney, Bainbridge & Unadilla Chambers of Commerce will hold a Tri-Town
Business Mixer on Wednesday November 13th, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.  The event will be held at 55 Union Street in
Sidney, RSVP's are requested by this Friday at 561-2642.

The
results are in for area elections, for the State Supreme Court 6th district,
the 3 winners are Republicans Chris Baker, Oliver Blaise & Mark
Masler.  In the Sidney Town Clerk's Race,
Sheila Paul wins over incumbent Lisa French.
In Chenango County key races, the Norwich mayor will be Republican Shawn
Sastri, in the Norwich city council races, the winner in Ward 3 is Nancy
Allaire & in Ward 5, David Zieno.
The Town of Coventry Supervisor is Republican Jennifer Boudreau.  Guilford Supervisor George Senek is
re-elected over write in candidate Dan Harrington, in the Guilford Town Council,
Terence Ives & Gilda Ward win over 3 others.  In the Town of Bainbridge Council: Robert
Evans wins, the Town of Norwich Supervisor winner is Stanley Foulds, the Town
of Pharsalia Supervisor is Jeremiah Micklas.
In the Otsego County Board of Representatives races, the winners are, in
district 2: Michele Farwell, District 3:
Rick Brockway, District 14: Jill Basile.
The Laurens Town Supervisor race is won by Republican David Neske,  In the City of Oneonta Common Council races,
the winners are, in Ward 2: Mark Davies, Ward 4: Kaytee Lipari Shue, Ward 5:
Leonard Carson, Jr., Ward 6: Scott Harrington, Ward 8: Mark Drnek.  In the Broome County District Attorney:
Libertarian Michael Korchak leads by a slim margin over Republican Paul
Battisti, with absentee votes yet to be counted.

The elections results are in for many of the key races in the Tri-County Area: Sidney Town Supervisor Gene Pigford is re-elected, for the 2 Sidney Council seats, the winners are Pete Cordes & Frank Selleck. Walton Supervisor Charles Gregory is re-elected, the Franklin Town Council winners were David Grant & Garret Sitts, Oneonta mayor Gary Herzig is re-elected, Oneonta Town Supervisor Robert Wood is re-elected, Oneonta town council Winners were Patricia Jacob & Randy Mowers, Butternuts town board Winners were Paul Irwin & Scot Lueck, for the Norwich City Council 4th Ward: Linda Kays Biviano wins, Norwich Town Council seats go to Stanley Foulds & Debra Cubbedge, the Otselic Supervisor is Marjorie Davis & Oxford Supervisor, incumbent Lawrence Wilcox wins. The proposition for all state voters: the Constitutional Convention was defeated, Cutting Public Pensions for convicted officials was approved, and allowing expansion of roads & bike paths in the Catskills & Adirondacks is too close to call. Candidates who won their races for seats on the Otsego County Board of Representatives include Ed Frazier, Michele Farwell, Kathleen Clark, Andrew Stammel, Margaret Kennedy, Peter Oberacker, David Bliss, Andrew Marietta, Keith McCarty, Adrienne Martini, Danny Lapin & Lizabeth Shannon.

Tomorrow is Election Day, with many local town & city races of importance to be decided by voters. All voters Statewide will decide on propositions, which will be on the back of the ballots, to decide if a constitutional convention should be convened to overhaul state government, if politicians convicted of corruption should lose their pensions, and if forest land in the Adirondacks and Catskills can be used for widened roads and bicycle paths. Key Chenango County races include the Oxford town supervisor’s race between Canice Paliotta vs. incumbent Lawrence Wilcox, the Norwich town council race has 4 candidates for 2 positions, between Debra Cubbedge, Barbara Collins, Stanley Foulds & David law. For the Otselic town supervisor position, Marjorie Davis & John Myers are on the ballot. In Delaware County; For Town of Sidney Supervisor; incumbent Gene Pigford faces Bill Heath, & there are 4 Town board candidates for 2 seats, candidates on the ballot are Pete Cordes, Dan Cristelli, Frank Selleck & John Woodyshek, however Woodyshek announced that he is NOT seeking re-election. in the Town of Franklin Board there are 2 open seats with 3 candidates: Patricia Tyrell, David Grant & Garrett Sitts. In the Walton town supervisor’s race, Charles Gregory faces Bruce Dolph. In Otsego County races of note: there are Board of Representative's races in all districts except the 10th & 11th where 1 candidate each is running unopposed. For Town of Oneonta Supervisor, Republican Mike Butler challenges Incumbent Democrat Robert Wood, for the Oneonta Town Board Incumbents Patricia Jacob and Randy Mowers, are being challenged by Dan Baker, and James McCue. In the city of Oneonta mayor’s race, Incumbent Gary Herzig faces write in candidate Don Scanlon. In the Town of Butternuts there are 4 candidates for 2 seats on the board, they are Scott Lueck, Paul Irwin, Donald Hunt & James Power. Polls will be open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM Tuesday.

37 year old Robert Stutzer of Stamford has been charged with arson & criminal Mischief in connection with an alleged arson at 2630 State Highway 7 in the town of Unadilla last Thursday. State Police reported that Stutzer was arrested shortly after the report of a fire at that location on February 16th, the investigation is continuing.

24-year-old Andre Lee of Binghamton was sentenced in Broome County Court to 25 years to life in jail for the July 4th 2015 killing of 19-year old Scott Wright in Binghamton. Lee got into a fight with Wright's friends at a party, he later returned with a gun & fatally shot Wright

State Police at Deposit arrested 21-Year-old Scott Primavera of Guilford, Connecticut for felony criminal possession of marihuana, after a traffic stop for speeding on State route 17 in the Town of Hancock. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of over 16 ounces of marihuana. Primavera was arraigned in the Town of Hancock jail and was remanded to the Delaware County jail on $1,500 cash bail or $3,000 bond.

Following the investigation into a disabled vehicle on August 13th, in the village of Delhi. Deputies arrested 37-year-old Robert Avery of Utica On 1 count of Criminal Possession of Stolen property. Avery is accused of being in possession of a vehicle that was reported stolen in Utica August 7th, he was arraigned in Village of Delhi Court and sent to Delaware County Jail on $3000 cash or $6000 property bond bail.

State Police at Sidney arrested 31-year-old Scott Frawley of Bainbridge for aggravated DWI with a BAC result of .22%. Frawley was observed driving a vehicle without a working tail lamp while on Maple Street in the Town of Afton, Frawley was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Afton court on December 7th.

State police reported that 66-year-old Robert Homik of New Jersey was working his seasonal residence at 202 Vandeusen Road in Davenport when he tripped on the dock, fell into the pond & drowned Monday. Homik’s wife attempted a rescue, called 911 and yelled for help from a neighbor. Homik was declared dead at 1:48 p.m. due to accidental drowning.

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.

A fugitive on the run from Chemung County was arrested Tuesday evening at the Riverview Court trailer park in the town of Chenango. The Chemung County Sheriff's Office had been on the lookout for 33 year old Robert Rouille since the morning of Aug. 15th, when he and another man threatened and assaulted a man and woman in their town of Southport home. Rouille faces charges of robbery in the first and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third. He is being sent to Chemung County for further processing.

The husband of a Pennsylvania woman found dead back in July is now charged with involuntary manslaughter. Scott Kunkle, 29, of Monroe Twp., is charged with aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter in the death of his wife, 28-year-old Patricia Kunkle, in July after Pennsylvania State Police responded to a domestic dispute at the couple's home. An autopsy at Lourdes Hospital ruled Patricia's death a homicide and the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and internal injuries. Toxicology reports showed the presence of bath salts in Patricia's system. Kunkle was originally arrested for simple assault and reckless endangerment before those charges were withdrawn Monday morning by the Bradford County District Attorney. He was released on $50,000 unsecured bail.

The body of an 80-year-old Virginia man who was the subject of a search by local police this week was recovered Friday in the Eastern Shore area of Virginia. Authorities said the death is being investigated as an apparent suicide. The man, Robert C. Merkel Sr. of Chesapeake, Va., had been last seen on Monday and investigators said there were indications he may have been in the West End of Oneonta last week. Items that may have belonged to Merkel were located Saturday at the Valero convenience store in the West End.

State Senator Jim Seward will be at Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta today. Senator Seward will be joined by Fox Hospital President John Remillard to announce legislative funding to assist with a major renovation project at the hospital.

Former Governor Elliot Spitzer, who resigned five years ago as a result of a prostitution scandal, is looking to resume his political career this fall. Spitzer will seek to get on the ballot in the race for New York City comptroller. Spitzer would have to collect some 3,700 signatures by Thursday to get his name on the ballot, where he would face Manhattan Borough President and fellow Democrat Scott Stringer.

A car crash at the intersection of County Routes 36 and 37 in Guilford has left one person dead. State Police were on scene at around 5 p.m. Friday, along with multiple fire and ambulance teams. Troopers confirm that one person was killed. State Police are still investigating, and have not released the victim's name.

The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 25-year-old Coy Biviano of North Norwich, and 24-year-old Christopher Bonno of Sherburne, on charges of conspiracy & petty larceny.
The 2 are accused of stealing a laptop from a Norwich resident, Biviano and Bonno were arraigned in the Town of Norwich court and were both remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $10,000.00 bail.

The Chenango County Sheriffs Department arrested 37-year-old Harry Donnely of Sherburne on a charge of 2nd degree aggravated harassment. Donnelly is accused of harassing and threatening the victim by phone. He was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and was released on his own recognizance.

Binghamton Troopers arrested Alexander G. Griffin, 25, of Bainbridge, NY for Criminal Possession of a Weapon With Intent to Use and Menacing 2nd. The arrest resulted from the report of a road rage incident July 4th on Interstate 88 in Colesville. Mr. Griffin was arraigned at the Town of Colesville Court and remanded to the Broome County Jail without bail.

The American Red Cross has spent the past few days distributing supplies to victims of recent flooding. Bulk distribution sites were set up in Herkimer, Sherburne, and Oneida Counties. Hundreds of families picked up hot food, medical supplies and cleaning supplies. If you would like to donate to the Red Cross, you can visit their website at Redcross.org or call them at 1-800-Red-Cross.