WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 2-18-26

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli & the State Department of Financial Services announced the approval of the Butternut Valley Banking Development District as a participant in the Banking Development District program and deposited $35 million in New York State funds to Sidney Federal Credit Union’s new Morris Branch. SFCU Senior Vice President Andrew Smith said that it was a team effort with the Butternut Valley Alliance & State Officials to make this happen:

(Andrew Smith 2-18-26)

The Butternut Valley Alliance, local municipalities partnered with SFCU on the BDD application, Alliance Chairperson Maggie Brenner comments:

(Maggie Brenner 2-18-26)

The program supports the establishment of bank and credit union branches across the State where there is a demonstrated need for banking services, the new District covers the towns of Butternuts, New Lisbon, and Morris, and the villages of Gilbertsville and Morris.

SFCU announced that they are opening a new Branch in Morris, with a ribbon cutting today, SFCU's vice president of sales and marketing Andrew Smith explains:

(Andrew Smith 7-23-25)

Smith said that the new branch is located at 132 Main Street in Morris.

State Police are investigating the accidental death of a East Branch Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Jason McGlone Thursday night, who was responding to a report of a vehicle that had struck a utility pole on State Highway 30 in the town of Hancock. A preliminary investigation determined that a low-hanging electrical wire was in contact with the top of the fire truck, when Assistant Chief McGlone exited the vehicle and made contact with the metal door and the ground, he was electrocuted and was pronounced deceased. The original crash involved a pickup truck operated by 54 year old Joseph Bellows of Downsville that veered off the roadway, struck a guardrail and utility pole. He was transported to Delaware Valley Hospital, he was charged with Driving While Intoxicated & was issued appearance tickets for Hancock Town Court on September 8th, 2025. The investigation into the firefighter’s death remains ongoing.

SFCU announced that they are opening a new Branch in Morris, with a ribbon cutting this week, SFCU's vice president of sales and marketing Andrew Smith explains:

(Andrew Smith 7-21-25)

Smith said that the new branch is open at 132 Main Street in Morris.

The Butternut Valley Alliance has announced a partnership with SFCU, to take the necessary measures to open a full-service branch in Morris. This development comes after the "Save Our Bank" task force was formed, as Community Bank NA had announced plan last year to close their Morris Branch. Butternut Valley Alliance Vice Chair Maggie Brenner explains:

(Maggie Brenner 5-14-24)

Brenner said that the BDD process can take 6 to 12 months, meanwhile, SFCU plans to begin offering limited services with a representative assisting businesses and residents in opening accounts, The Alliance will try to find out Community Bank's plans with their former office in Morris, to see if it can become a new branch for SFCU.

A.M. NEWS Tuesday 5-14-24

Broome County Sheriff's Office arrested a Kirkwood man for 3 gas station robberies. The 1st Robbery was on May 9th, at the Speedway gas station on Route 7 in Sanitaria Springs, where a male with a black shirt wrapped around his hand, implying he had a weapon, and grabbed a cash register & fled the scene in a gray Ford F-150 pickup truck. The 2nd Robbery was at the Mirabito gas station on Old Route 17 in Windsor, Sheriff Deputies identified the suspect vehicle and potential suspect as 46 year old Clint Loomis of Kirkwood. On Friday, a 3rd Robbery occurred at a gas station in Greene, Loomis was located on Route 12 in the Town of Chenango, A Deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Loomis resisted, a Taser was deployed but Loomis drove off, Tire deflation devices were set up, Loomis damaged his tires but continued to flee, eventually leaving the vehicle on foot, he was apprehended. Loomis was wanted on a warrant, & was charged with Robbery, Obstructing governmental administration, reckless endangerment, unlawfully fleeing Police, Resisting arrest & 26 traffic violations, he was being held for arraignment.

On Saturday, staff and youth from the Tobacco Free Zone/Reality Check program of Chenango County commemorated this year’s Great American Smokeout by conducting a cigarette Butt cleanup in the East & West Parks in the City of Norwich. Tobacco Free Zone coordinator Brad Morrison explains:

(Brad Morrison 11-21-22)

The Tobacco Free Zone program of Chenango County can assist municipalities, employers and other groups to transition their property to tobacco-free spaces. More information is available at TFreeZone.net.

Morris Central School District residents will vote on a $14.5 million capital project, which includes replacing the bus garage, roofs on the main building, repaving the parking lot and installing LED energy efficient lights and replacing flooring as necessary, installing more cameras, replacing fire doors and updating the heating of the school. 86% of the project will come from state aid and the district will use $1 million in its capital reserves fund, a public forum will be held at 5:30 PM on December 8th in the school's library. The vote will be December 13th at the school's main entrance.

Sidney Federal Credit Union announced a location for their flagship branch in the Syracuse market, on Brewerton Road in front of the Cicero Walmart Supercenter. The new branch will feature the same concierge-style concept that SFCU established in its Amsterdam location, with personal teller pods and video-enabled iTMs that allow members to connect virtually with a representative while conducting transactions. Sfcu Membership is over 64,000 with $775 million in assets.

State Police responded to a fatal Motor Vehicle Accident on County Route 8 in the Town of Pittsfield. Troopers discovered 50 year old Guillermo Soto of Morris had apparently lost control of his vehicle for an unknown reason, and struck a tree, he was found deceased in the driver’s seat with his seat belt on. Otsego County Coronor's office responded to the scene and Soto was taken to Fox Hospital in Oneonta for a possible autopsy. The investigation is ongoing.

Commerce Chenango will hold a “Meet the Candidates” session on October 27th, As part of the SFCU Business After Hours event. The session will be held at the SFCU Norwich branch, at County Road 32 & State Highway 23, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, among those confirmed to attend are State Senate candidates Fred Akshar & Barbara Fiala, along with several local Norwich and Chenango County candidates.