WCDO Radio News

A Free Christmas Dinner will be served at the Sidney Fire Department Training Center on River Street on Christmas day. Area resident Gene Schmidt is organizing the dinner:

(Gene Schmidt 12-23-15)

The free Dinner is from 1:00 TO 4:00 PM. More Information is available by calling SCHMIDT AT 610-4030. .

The Otsego county Sheriff's department arrested 3 people on drug charges. 33-year-old Jason Foster of New Lisbon is accused of selling marijuana from the Oneonta Wal-Mart parking lot, while also working at the store. Foster was charged along with his wife Alice for felony possession of marijuana after 12 ounces of marijuana and 11 pot plants were seized from their home, along with a scale, rifles and equipment used to grow marijuana indoors and outdoors. 28-year-old Joseph Lukeman of Mount Vision was charged with evidence tampering and criminal possession of marijuana after he allegedly removed a quantity of marijuana from the Fosters' home after the investigation began.

Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order directing the Department of Corrections and the Office of Children and Family Services, to implement a plan to remove minors from adult prisons in the state. The plan will transfer all female youths and all medium and minimum security classified male youths from adult facilities to a juvenile facility. The facilities will provide specialized programs of treatment geared for younger offenders while also ensuring the safety of staff, inmates and the surrounding community.

Delaware county Solid waste facilities will have limited hours during the upcoming Christmas & New Years holidays. Solid Waste Director Sue McIntyre explains:

(Sue McIntyre 12-23-15)

McIntyre said that the county recycling center currently takes plastics 1-7 with a market for each type of plastic.

The Mohawk Valley Regional Development Council, which includes Otsego County, won over 100 million dollars Thursday for assorted projects. Locally, the Oneonta Rail Yards will be completely rebuilt, and developed, plus the Upper Susquehanna Agriculture Center will be built in Oneonta. Other projects include a State Route 205 Corridor Study, an Oneonta Airport Logistics Development Project, The villages of Cooperstown and Milford will identify the feasibility of a rail service connection & the ARC Otsego Community Residential Facilities will use Funds to make improvements to 10 group homes.

Area Resident Gene Schmidt is coordinating the 3rd Christmas Community Dinner on Christmas Day, which has now been moved back to the Sidney Fire Department's Training Center on River Street. Schmidt said that they still are looking for volunteers & donations:

(Gene Schmidt 12-11-15)

Schmidt can be reached at 610-4030, Donations can be sent by check to the Sidney United Methodist Church, with Community Christmas Dinner on the memo line. Schmidt said that last year they served about 250 dinners on Christmas day.

The Sidney Chamber of Commerce will hold their annual children’s Christmas Party tomorrow. Chamber Spokesperson Kerri Green comments:

(Kerri Green 12-11-15)

Green said that the Chamber would hold their annual Holiday House decorating contest the following weekend.

The Operation Merry Christmas giveaway day this year is tomorrow, at the Sidney Civic Center 2nd floor location. The program started in 1940 in Sidney, More information is available at 967-8119, 563-8119 or on the Operation Merry Christmas Facebook Page.

The Sidney Center Improvement Group will hold their annual "Holidays in the Hamlet" Christmas celebration in Sidney Center Saturday. Spokesman Mike Sellitti comments:

(Mike Sellitti 12-11-15)

Sellitti also said that they would accept donations of canned goods for area food pantries during Saturday’s event.

Governor Cuomo today announced nearly $710,000 in state grants to 51 police departments and sheriffs’ offices across the state for the purchase of electronic fingerprinting equipment. This new equipment will replace existing devices that either malfunction or are obsolete. Locally, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office received $10,000 & the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office: $18,131 for two devices

Basil Seggos will be the new commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection. Seggos was Governor Cuomo’s deputy secretary for the environment; he replaces Joseph Martens, who resigned from the post in July.

The Official launch & open house of the Otsego Now Regional Workforce Training Center initiative and announcement of significant grants, will be tomorrow morning in Oneonta. State Senator Jim Seward helped to secure the grants and guide the through the CFA process, for capital improvements to outfit the center. Seward is scheduled to attend the ceremonies beginning at 10:30 AM Tuesday at the Offices of Otsego Now at 189 Main Street on the 5th floor.

Camp Hope Veterans Outreach announced a Launch party Fundraiser on Sunday October 18th, at the Unadilla Community Field, from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM. The organization seeks to build a facility in Sidney, where dogs will be trained to assist veterans suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. More information is available camp hope veterans.org. or at the Camp Hope veteran Outreach Facebook page.

Fire fighters from 3 area departments responded to the report of a Structure fire at 1133 Webb Hill Road in the town of Davenport. The fire was reported at about 10:50 this morning, WCDO News will have more details as they become available.

The Sidney Police Department is investigating a motor vehicle accident in the early morning hours of October 4th on Grand Street Extension. A garbage dumpster was flipped up on its side and a utility pole next to the dumpster was almost severed in half. An eyewitness reported that a white female operating a black SUV had struck the dumpster and utility pole after leaving the village parking lot. The Sidney Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying the person and vehicle involved in this accident. The vehicle should have extensive damage to its front end. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sidney Police Department

Fire Prevention Week is underway, and the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York is reminding all New Yorkers of the importance of having working smoke alarms throughout their homes. The National Fire Protection Association urges everyone to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement, to connect all smoke alarms throughout the home so that all sound when one initially goes off. Everyone is also encouraged to test alarms monthly, replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old & make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.

The Delaware County Department of Economic Development will hold three public meetings to discuss the proposed “Bed Tax” for Delaware County in the lodging and accommodating businesses. The public meetings will be held in Delhi today, in Margaretville on October 7th and Hancock on October 12th. All meeting will be at the town halls and will begin at 6:00 PM. More information is available at 746-8595.