WCDO Radio News

In April, the Department of Defense ordered a stop shipment at Amphenol of Sidney, which led to a layoff of about 100 employees, an expected 2 year wait for the order to be lifted, but today, U.S Senator Charles Schumer, Congressman Chris Gibson & Amphenol leaders announced that the ordered was revered in 4 months, the federal red tape was cut through & the employees have returned to the Sidney facility. Senator Schumer responded:

(Schumer 8-29-16)

Congressman Gibson also discussed the reversal of fortune for Amphenol:

(Gibson 8-29-16)

Others who addressed the press conference today were Sidney mayor Andy Matviak, Amphenol General Manager Ryan Fisher & Amphenol CEO Adam Norwitt.

The Ithaca Police Department is opening a homicide investigation after one of two Ithaca College students stabbed on the Cornell campus early Sunday morning, was pronounced dead at Cayuga Medical Center. 19-year-old Anthony Nazaire of Brooklyn was killed, a 2nd student was injured, and was treated and released from a Syracuse area hospital. The incident occurred at around 2:00 AM Sunday at the conclusion of a campus event, several altercations broke out as students left the hall, and police are looking at video recorded by witness on their phones.

A "major announcement" will be made at 3 p.m. today at Amphenol Aerospace in Sidney, according to the office of U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. Schumer will be joined by Amphenol Aerospace CEO Adam Norwitt, Sidney facility executives, employees and local leaders.

Chenango County Sheriff’s department arrested 32 year old Corey Weidman following a traffic stop in the Town of Norwich for an equipment violation. Weidman exited the car and dropped a warm marihuana pipe with burnt and un-burnt marihuana; he was charged with unlawful possession of marihuana & was released on an appearance ticket for Town of Norwich Court at a later date. Deputies then arrested Weidman’s passenger 26 year old Heather Steigerwald of Oxford for criminal contempt possession of a controlled substance, for allegedly possessing two narcotic prescription pills concealed in her bra and unlawful possession of marihuana, she was processed and released on an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

Governor Cuomo announced that the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and Office of Fire Prevention and Control will visit the state’s colleges and universities to conduct inspections, education programs, and a series of campus fire safety education training days. In the last year, Office of Fire Prevention and Control has conducted 23,689 inspections.

Governor Cuomo today announced $13.7 million in grants to support eight critical municipal water infrastructure projects across the Southern Tier. These grants are part of the second round of NYS Water Grants funded through the state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement Act. Locally the villages of Sidney, Delhi & Stamford, &the town of Guilford will receive grants for their drinking water improvement projects.

NYSEG is reporting that hundreds are still without power this morning following the damaging weekend storms. Chenango County had over 1100 without power late this morning, mainly in Norwich, New Berlin & Preston. In Otsego County, over 1300 were without power, scattered mainly in the middle & northern sections, Delaware County had a little over 100 without power, mostly around Andes and Downsville. NYSEG opened a distribution center at the Norwich Fire Department and is handing out free bottled water.

The New York State Health Department today announced that the more than 2.8 million people signed up for health insurance through the end of the 2016 open enrollment period on January 31, 2016. The data show that enrollment in the Marketplace increased by 33 percent, or nearly 700,000 enrollees from the previous enrollment period; 92 percent of those enrolled through the Marketplace report that they did not have health insurance at the time they applied.

State Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito today announced that OGS is hosting a free training seminar meant to familiarize local governments, schools, and nonprofit organizations with the use of new state contracts. The all-day training is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 24 at the Binghamton State Office Building. During the event, purchasing officials will receive a general overview on how to use new OGS contracts. To register for the training or learn more about upcoming training opportunities visit www.nyspro.ogs.ny.gov/roadshow.

A man injured in the July 13th house explosion & fire in Masonville, has died from the injuries sustained in that explosion. 31 year old Shayne Charles died Saturday at Upstate medical center's burn unit, calling hours will be held at C.H. Landers funeral home in Sidney Thursday from from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. Funeral Services will be held Friday at 11:00 AM at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel.

The Sidney Arts & Music festival will be held this Saturday in Downtown Sidney. Sidney Chamber President Stephanie Taylor comments:

(STEPH TAYLOR 7-26-16)

WCDO will be broadcasting live during the Cruise in Portion of the Arts & Music Festival Saturday.

A 2nd Sidney Rotary Club Grant has been awarded for local efforts in combating the Heroin crisis locally. The Recovery Coach Training Grant will allow for up to 25 people to be trained to assist those recovering from addiction, according to spokesperson Lorraine Keckeisen:

(Lorraine Keckeisen 7-26-16)

Keckeisen said that the efforts to create a coalition for the tri town area has been successful, the coalition will be called "the TRI-TOWN COALITION ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE". Also, plans are being formulated to schedule Narcan Training with Joseph Filippone of Catholic Charities at the Tri-Town Regional Hospital in Sidney in the fall.

The State Labor Department released the unemployment rates for southern tier area counties today. Chenango county registered 4.5% unemployment, Delaware County had an even 5%, Otsego county registered a 4.3 % for teh Month of June. The state wide unemployment rate for June was at 4.7% for the 2nd straight month.

The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce will host the next 4-Chamber mixer to be held today at Highway 7 Bar & Grill in Bainbridge. The meeting will begin at 6 :00, members of the Sidney, Bainbridge, Afton & Unadilla chambers are urged to attend.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 45-year-old Christopher Wormuth of Hancock on charges of felony grand larceny, & petty larceny. Deputies allege the defendant logged two separate properties in the Town of Hancock and in the course of doing so unlawfully removed greater than $1000 dollars in logs and firewood from those properties. Wormuth is scheduled to appear at Hancock Town Court at a later date.

Delaware County Deputies arrested 26-year-old Jesse Stefanelli of Bovina Center for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, and Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs. He was also issued tickets for unlicensed operation, failure to keep right and moving from lane unsafely, after a 1-car accident on County Highway 18 in the Town of Stamford. He was arraigned in the Town of Stamford Court and sent to the Delaware County Correctional Facility on $1500 cash bail. He is to return to the Town of Stamford Court at a later date.

The American Red Cross announced an upcoming Blood Drive at Tri-Town Regional Hospital in Sidney. The Blood Drive will be held on Wednesday, July 27th between 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the Tri-Town Regional Hospital Conference Room. Appointments may be made at redcrossblood.org, by calling 1-800-RedCross. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.

The Greater Chenango Cares IRT Event continues at the Norwich High School, it started Friday & runs through July 24th. Chenango County United Way was able to get over 500 volunteers together to assist the military effort in providing the much needed dental, medical, eye care & Veterinary services for the region, according to spokesperson Elizabeth Monaco:

(Elizabeth Monaco 7-18-16)

Col Erik Kirchen said that Medical personnel are not training for those fields, they are already fully accredited in their fields, they are training as part of their military commitments in case they are deployed because of their areas of expertise:

(Col Kirchen 7-18-16)

The event serviced 495 patients in the first 2/12 days, about 170 personnel are providing the services, and appointments are requested for dental or vision appointments at 337-4320. There is no cost for the services; there are no income, insurance or residency requirements. A similar IRT Event is also occurring through the 24th in neighboring Cortland County.

3 people were killed in a plane crashed in Esperance in Schoharie County Saturday evening. The FAA reported that the single-engine Piper PA-28 crashed about 6:45 p.m. Saturday in a heavily wooded area and was destroyed by fire. 1 person survived the crash & was taken to a burn unit. The plane was taking off from a small airport in the town of Esperance when it crashed about 1,000 feet from the facility. The investigation is continuing.

Local Police Agencies conducted an enhanced traffic safety enforcement campaign in the tri town area last Thursday. A total of 30 traffic summonses were issued for a variety of vehicle & traffic violations, there were also 7 arrests made for a variety o of charges including criminal l possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a controlled substance and failure to appear in court. The police agencies involved in the campaign were the Sidney Police Department, Delaware county Sheriff's office, state Police & The Delaware County Probation department. Delaware county Undersherff Craig Dumond told WCDO News that these combined efforts make communities & highways a safer place to live, work & travel.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 45-year-old Christina Kruger of Masonville Thursday for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of marijuana and operating with an expired inspection certificate following a traffic stop on County Highway 23 in the Town of Sidney. Kruger was later arraigned & was released on her own recognizance, & will face action in Town of Sidney Court at a later date.

The 1st Pine Ridge Grocery Dash For Cash race from Sidney to Bainbridge was run last night on the Susquehanna River. C2 winners were Ben Schlimmer & Trevor Lefever of Oneonta, Schlimmer told WCDO’s Nate Lull at the finish line that they started slow:

(Ben Schlimmer 5-25-16)

Lefever described the river conditions for the race:

(Trevor Lefever 5-25-16)

The C1 winner was Matt Rudnitsky of Gilbertsville described the experience:

(Matt Rudnitsky 5-25-16)

The Mixed C2 winning team was Mary Schlimmer & Pat Madden.

Chenango County area fire departments responded to a barn fire on Newton Road in Pharsalia just after 4:00 PM yesterday At Balsam View Dairy Farm. Fire fighters from Pharsalia, McDonough, and McGraw responded, no injuries were reported, but several cows were killed in the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The Town of Unadilla Highway Department announced that they will be paving Ben McCumber Road Today. The paving project will start at 6:30 AM and is expected to be completed at around 4:30 PM.

Delaware County Public Health is offering free one day training today from 8:30am-3:00 PM at SUNY Delhi, for therapists, parents, and educators. The morning session “Get Your Game On!” explores the power for play-based instruction through the implementation of cooperative learning games and identify the developmental benefits for individuals. The afternoon session titled Sensational Sensory Experiences-Enhancing Learning Opportunities through Sensory Play, to recognize the benefits of intentionally creating sensory experiences for individuals with sensory needs. Each session has includes “make and takes”, all supplies are provided.

Broome County Sheriff’s department reported that 1 person was killed when a disabled Jeep was struck by a tractor-trailer at 1:30 this morning on state Route 17 near Windsor. Deputies reported that a disabled Jeep stopped in the right lane of the highway was rear-ended by a tractor trailer, the Jeep & the tractor Trailer both went over an embankment. The Jeep's driver was pronounced dead at the scene, the identity of the driver has not been released pending family notification. The tractor trailer driver suffered head injuries and was taken to Wilson Memorial Hospital, the investigation is continuing.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office arrested 26-year-old Jennifer Hinman of Sidney following a burglary investigation in the town of Sanford. Hinman is accused of unlawfully entering a home & taking property from the home on May 18th. Hinman was charged with 2nd degree burglary, she was arraigned in Fenton town court and released on her own recognizance.

The State Economic Development Council announced that Otsego Now has been named a recipient of several 2016 Marketing, Literature and Promotion Awards. The awards will be presented at the Awards Banquet Tonight at the 2016 NYSEDC Annual Meeting in Cooperstown. Otsego Now was honored as Best in Class for its fiscal year 2014 Annual Report, & they received a Certificate of Excellence for its Workforce Training Center brochure, and an Honorable Mention for its web site at www.otsegonow.com.