WCDO Radio News

The Sidney Elks Lodge will hold a free Dinner this Saturday
at 1:00 PM for area veterans, service members & their families,
Reservations are requested at 265-3804 or 563-2175, last year, about 90 free
meals were served at the Sidney Elks Lodge.

Sidney Center will have their annual "Holiday In The
Hamlet" celebration Saturday starting at 5:15 with Santa Claus, the event
will be held at the Sidney Center Fire station.

"Breakfast With Santa" will be hosted by the
Chenango Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Saturday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, it will
be held at the Norwich VFW at 61 East Main Street in Norwich.

The Sidney Chamber of Commerce Holiday Parade & visit
with Santa Claus will be held to in Downtown Sidney, Chamber President Teri
Schunk explains:

(Teri Schunk 12-6-19)

Santa Claus will meet with the Children in Whitaker Way
immediately following the parade on Main Street.

The Friends of Afton Parade Committee will hold the annual
Afton Christmas Parade Saturday.  The
Parade line-up will be at Corporate Park on Route 7 at 4:00 pm, the parade
starts at 5:00pm & Santa will be in the NBT Bank after the parade. Food and
hot beverages provided by the Chamber of Commerce and VFW, located inside the
VFW. Community bonfire located in the First Baptist Church Parking lot after
the parade. More information is available at 208-5005, or the "Friends of
Afton" Facebook page.

Funeral arrangements for Brooke Ketchum of Unadilla are
being handled by C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel at 21 Main Street in Sidney.   Ketchum died in an automobile accident in
the town of Otego Friday, Calling hours will be on Wednesday, October 9 from
2:00 to 4:00 PM with the funeral immediately following at 4:00pm. The family
invites those in attendance to the Sidney VFW for a reception following
services; donations can be made to a memorial fund for her 2 daughters.

The Sidney Police Department, Delaware County Sheriff's
Office and State Police conducted a vehicle and traffic law detail Thursday
from 5:00 to 10:00 PM. The goal of the detail was to take drunk and drugged
drivers off the road as well as enforce vehicle and traffic laws, 15 traffic
tickets were issued which included 2 arrests for aggravated unlicensed
operation.

The Afton VFW is hosting the Veterans Awareness festival
tomorrow.  The event will start at 8:00
AM with a breakfast, at 187 Main Street in Afton, more information is available
at 639-1446.

The Tri-County Chapter of New York State Women Inc. is
sponsoring an AMBA scholarship fundraiser Saturday in Sidney.  The Amba Clinic will be held from 6:00 AM to
9:30 AM at the Sidney Elks Lodge on River Street; those looking to have their
blood drawn for a variety of tests can call 800-234-8888 for an appointment.

The 10th Annual Sidney Center Tractor Parade will be held
tomorrow through the hamlet of Sidney Center.
The parade is open to anyone with tractors, doodlebugs, antique or
muscle cars, participants can line up at Firemen’s Field between 9:00 AM &
11:45 Am, the parade starts at 12:00 Noon.
Other activities scheduled include raffles, a Chicken Barbecue,
children's games, more information is available at 369-9494, 369-9074 or
369-4538.

Catholic Charities in Sidney is once again offering free
backpacks to local children in need for the 2019-202 school year, Spokesperson
Penny McKnight explains:

(Penny McKnight 8-9-19)

McKnight said that the deadline to apply is August 12th;
more information is available by calling the Sidney Office at 604-4071 or
stopping at their office at Room 108 in the Sidney Civic Center.

The Afton VFW at 187 Main Street will host a Free Arts and
Crafts Morning for ages 4 years old thru - 4th grade level, Saturday at 10:00
AM.  More information is available on the
VFW Auxiliary Post 3529 Facebook Page, or by calling 206-4817.

The Delaware County Board of Supervisors recently
established a new Public Defenders office.
The Board appointed Sidney Attorney Joe Ermeti to head up the office at Wednesday’s
meeting in Delhi, Ermeti is scheduled to start on August 1st.

The Disabled American Vets
Mobile Service Office will be at the Sidney VFW at 133 West Main Street until
4:00 PM this afternoon.  Counselors are
on hand to assist Vets with any issues they may have.

State Police and local law
enforcement statewide will increase patrols to combat drunk, impaired and
reckless driving throughout Memorial Day weekend.   The special enforcement period runs from
Friday  through Monday, Memorial Day,
which is traditionally one of the busiest travel holidays of the year and
police will be out in force.

State Police released an update regarding the incident in
the town of Springfield that left 1 man dead & an Otsego county Deputy
injured.  The deceased suspect has been
identified as 23 year old Matthew All, of Sharon Springs, on Tuesday, state
troopers attempted to stop All for allegedly threatening someone with a knife, he
took off & police pursued him, until he apparently crashed head on into the
parked deputy’s vehicle near routes 20 & 80 in the town of Springfield. The
unidentified Deputy was transported to Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, with
serious but non-life threatening injuries, he was coherent at the scene. All
was pronounced dead at the scene by Otsego County Coroner Michael Fox.  The investigation is on-going.

The Sidney Chamber of Commerce announced their award winners
for this year.  Lorrie Roach is this
year’s recipient of the Citizen of the Years award & ABC Center for
Performing Arts is this year’s Recipient for Business of the Years.  Both will be honored at the annual Dinner in June.

The 9th annual "Spay-ghetti Dinner and Silent
Auction" for "All Animals Matter", will be held Saturday from
4:30 to 7:00 pm at the Norwich VFW at 61 East Main Street, Norwich.  This year's event will also feature adoptable
dogs and cats from the Delaware Valley Humane Society of Sidney.   Proceeds will benefit "4 Paws Friends
Club."