WCDO Radio News

A variety of new laws go into effect tomorrow in New York State. The Business Income Tax rate will be lowered from 7.1 to 6.6 percent, saving businesses a total of $125 million. Also, New York State’s small business exemption increases to 5 percent for sole proprietors and farmers with at least one employee and a federal adjusted gross income that does not exceed $250,000. A new law that takes effect Saturday January 2nd that helps reduce the local property tax burden for veterans by authorizing an increase in limits to the real property tax exemption, Municipalities have the option of offering these exemptions to help veterans afford owning a home. The new limits take into account rising property values so that the savings offered with tax exemption, can continue to help eligible veterans.

The Oneonta Family YMCA will host the 17th annual Frostbite 5K today. Race-day registration and number pick-up will be from. 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM at the Oneonta YMCA. The race starts Market Street near the Sidney Federal Credit Union at 1:00 PM and ends at 1:45 PM, more information is available at 432-0010 or racewire.com.

31-year-old Daniel Mitchell of Sidney has been charged as the 4th person in connection with an alleged marijuana transaction that operated out of the Wal-Mart parking lot in Oneonta. Mitchell was arrested for allegedly leaving $250 in the unlocked pickup truck of Wal-Mart employee Jason Foster, who was arrested with his wife Alice for allegedly growing marijuana at their New Lisbon home, & selling marijuana it in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Mitchell was taken into custody by Sidney police and charged with conspiracy, he was sent to the Otsego County jail pending court action in town of Oneonta court January 21st. 28-year-old Joseph Lukeman of Mount Vision was also arrested in connection with the case for allegedly removing marijuana from the Foster home after the investigation by police was underway.

State Police & the Sidney Village Police announced the arrest of 29-year-old Kristina Hyer of Unadilla, following a lengthy investigation involving the possession, forgery & use of stolen checks & credit cards. Hyer was charged with 4th & 5th degree criminal possession of stolen property, petty larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument & forgery. Hyer was arraigned in Sidney village court and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $10,000 cash bail, pending future court action.

Governor Cuomo today announced that maple syrup production in New York reached its highest level in 70 years, allowing the state to retain its standing as the second highest producer of fresh maple syrup in America. New York’s maple farmers persevered through a challenging winter to produce a modern record of more than 601,000 gallons of syrup from more than 2.3 million taps across the state during the 2015 season. Vermont is still the top Maple producer with 1.39 million gallons of syrup. More information can be found at nysmaple.com.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County will be sponsoring three farmers’ markets for the 2015 season in Sidney, Walton and Deposit. The Deposit Farmers Market will be located at the 1st United Methodist Church, 107 Second Street on August 20th & September 17th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Sidney Farmers Market will be at the Video Entertainment Plus parking lot, at 89 Main Street every Thursday between July 2nd & September 24th from 2:00 to 6:00 pm and at the Sidney Civic Center on July 28th, August 25th & September 22nd from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Walton Farmers Market will be located at the Delaware Valley Hospital parking lot, on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays from July 2 to October 15, from 10:00am-2:00pm

Governor Cuomo today announced that nearly $2 million in Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program checks would be distributed across the state. The program provides checkbooks to low-income New Yorkers age 60 and older to purchase $20 worth of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables from local farmers' markets. In upstate communities, checks will be available for eligible seniors starting June 17 at county Agencies on Aging.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Investigators arrested 30-year-old Gregg Johnston of Walton & 31 year old Chad Stafford of Sidney Center for 1 count of Criminal Mischief. Both subjects were incarcerated in the Delaware County Correctional Facility on unrelated charges, they are accused of intentionally damaging property at the County Facility. Both subjects remain in DCCF custody on the unrelated charges and will be arraigned in the Town of Delhi Court at a later time.

The Oneonta Stallions will play 3 Football games at the new Sidney High School filed this summer. Team Owner Angela Eardley comments:

(Angela Eardley 6-11-15)

Eardley has owned the team for the last 6 years, in the 15 team Northeastern Football Alliance, The Stallions play 10 regular season games from Late May through August, they fell just short of the league championship by 2 points last season.

The Village of Sidney will held their 23rd annual Sidney Arbor Day program this morning at Bill Ray field, with the dedication of a tree in honor of Bill Ray, Sidney Mayor Andy Matviak commented:

(Andy Matviak 4-24-15)

A Crimson King tree was planted on the 3rd base side of Bill Ray field this morning, the dedication was attended by members of Bill's family, the Sidney Shade tree Commission & the state DEC.

The Otsego County Conservation Association will hold its annual “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Garage Sale on Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26 in the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market building at 101 Main Street (in Pioneer Alley), Cooperstown. More information is available at 547-4488.

The Sidney Central School Observatory will be open tonight, from 8:30 TO 10:00 PM. The featured attractions will be the 1st Quarter moon & Jupiter. Several telescopes will be available for viewing, including the Main Scope inside the DOME. The event is free & open to the public, THE observatory is Located behind the Sidney High School building.

The Otsego County Conservation Association will hold its annual “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Garage Sale on Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26 in the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market building at 101 Main Street, Cooperstown. The official collection dates for the OCCA garage sale will be today through Thursday. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. more information is available at 547-4488 or e-mail admin@occainfo.org.

The Sidney Dollars for Scholars Scholarship application process closes at midnight on Sunday, April 26th. Sidney Dollars for Scholars has money to award; the scholarships application period will be closing at midnight on Sunday, April 26th. Applicant can apply Online now is the time by logging into the Scholarship America website scholarshipamerica.org.