WCDO Radio News

Press
Conferences were held around the state today by sheriff’s District Attorney,
lawmakers & victim’s advocacy groups, against the state’s new bail reform
measures that go into effect January 1st, which were passed as part of the
state Budget.  Delaware County Sheriff
Craig Dumond called a press conference in Delhi today about that bail reform
bill, which will allow people arrested on a variety of non-violent & even
violent charges, to be released after arrest & arraignment on only an
appearance ticket.  Delaware County
District Attorney John Hubbard said that crime victim’s will have fewer rights
now than the criminals:

(John
Hubbard 11-21-19)

Sheriff
Dumond said that he was concerned that those who are arrested on drug charges
will not get the help they need to get clean, under this law:

(Sheriff
Dumond 11-21-19)

WCDO
News asked State Senator Fred Akshar if he thought that Governor Cuomo was
using this bill as a political negotiation ploy get something else passed:

(Fred
Akshar 11-21-19)

Jeff
Bishop, from State Senator Jim Seward’s office told WCDO News that Senator
Seward is proposing several bills to give discretion back to judges to make
bail decisions that are being removed with this new law.

The
Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship is co-hosting a free
workshop and resource expo for agriculture and food and beverage businesses to
meet and network with potential sources of funding for their operations. The
workshop will include panel presentations covering both traditional funding
sources and newer, alternative models. The event will be held at SUNY
Cobleskill’s Bouck Hall Ballroom on December 3rd from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  Registration or more information is available
at cadefarms.org/events-1

A State
Police patrol vehicle was stuck by a tractor trailer Tuesday night in Tioga
County.  The trooper had just issued a
traffic ticket to a vehicle on State Route 17 in the town of Nichols & was
inside his marked patrol vehicle when a tractor trailer struck him from behind,
shearing off most of the driver’s side of the patrol car.  The tractor trailer did not stop & Troopers
and officers from Owego Police Department and Tioga County Sheriff’s Deputies
located and stopped the vehicle in Owego.
35-year-old Darvi Moreland of Florida was charged with DWI and several
vehicle and traffic tickets, he was arraigned in the town of Owego court and
remanded to the Tioga County Jail.   The
trooper was transported to Lourdes Hospital, treated and released.

The
State Liquor Authority has suspended the liquor license of the Sip & Sail
bar in Oneonta.  The bar was found to
have 140 patrons with fake or altered ID's recently, which was about 90% of the
people in the bar at that time.

Hartwick
College’s Center for Student Success will present a screening on Thursday of
the film “This Business of Autism,” followed by a Q&A with Director Stephen
Mackey.  The documentary demonstrates
about the economic and societal benefits of employing young adults with autism
centers on Spectrum Designs, a custom screen-printing and embroidery business
in Port Washington, NY; 75% of the company’s employees are on the autism
spectrum.  The screening, which will be
held at Shineman Chapel House on Thursday, November 21 at 4 p.m., is free and
open to the public.

The Unadilla Chamber of Commerce announced that their Santa
Saturday & Holiday Magic Parade will be held on Saturday November 30th this
year.  Those who would like to participate
in the Parade need to submit their entry forms to the Chamber by November 22nd,
to Linda Bickos at 1004 State Highway 7 Suite c in Unadilla.

Binghamton Rumble Ponies owner John Hughes today held a
press conference regarding the potential for Major League Baseball of shutting
down about 1/4 of the minor league teams in the country, including the Rumble
Ponies.  Hughes said that NYSEG Stadium
is greatly improved & fully compliant with existing standards:

(John Hughes 11-19-19)

Hughes said that another factor
in closing down teams is the proximity of the team to the Major League Franchise;
obviously Binghamton is within 200 miles of Citi Field in Queens.  So far no decisions have been made, no
meetings have been held regarding this proposal & the 2020 season will be
played as scheduled.

State Police arrested 2 Pennsylvania residents following a
drug bust in Chenango County that seized thousands of dollars’ worth of
drugs.  28 year old Jordan Melendez and
24 year old Kimberly Rivas were arrested Thursday following the execution of
search warrants at multiple locations in Chenango County.  Police seized 1.5 pounds of Crystal Meth,
pure Fentanyl, 20 pounds of marihuana, 4 handguns, 16 illegally possessed long
guns Scales, Packaging materials & $3,350.00 in cash. Melendez & Rivas
were charged with Criminal possession of a controlled substance & were
arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and remanded to Chenango County Jail
with no bail. The case remains under investigation, additional charges are
possible.

Oneonta police seized 140 fake or altered IDs at a raid at
the Sip & Sail bar on Friday night.
140 tickets were issued; The Sip & Sail faces possible action from
the State Liquor Authority

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce announced their
"Community Heroes Awards” are George Bergleitner, of Delaware County Real
Estate of Stamford,   Eric Wedemeyer,
founding broker of Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties, & Patty Wood of
the Walton Town Council.  A reception
will be held tonight from 5:30 - 7 p.m., at the Delaware County Historical
Association at 46549 State Highway 10, Delhi, more information is available at
delawarecounty.org or at 746-2281.

The Village of Sidney + County & State officials will host a meeting on Wednesday at the Sidney High School Auditorium. Sidney Village Mayor Andy Matviak said that a lot of items would be discussed:

(Andy Matviak 12-13-16)

The meeting will run from 6:30 to 8:30 PM Wednesday, more information is available at 561-2320

34-year-old James Williams of Oneonta was arrested by Oneonta Police following a disturbance at the Sip & Sail Tavern on Water Street. Williams was charged Saturday with criminal possession of a weapon, plus menacing, reckless endangerment, obstructing governmental administration, false personation & trespassing, Police accused Williams of using a chain as a weapon, and giving police a false identity. He was held at the Oneonta Police Department pending arraignment in the Oneonta City Court.

State Police arrested 25 year old Andrew Carnrike of Smyrna for the felony Assault, plus Criminal Obstruction of Breathing and 2nd degree Harassment, after troopers responded to a dispute on East Main Street in Smyrna. Carnrike allegedly pushed & grabbed the vicitm by the throat and followed the vicitm to a neighbor’s home, Carrike is also accused of assaulting the neighbor, causing injuries. Carnrike was located, arrested & was arraigned in the Town of Smyrna Court and was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $10,000 cash bail, he faces court action on Thursday.

Aizaz Siddiqui of Binghamton was released on $50,000 Bail today from the Broome County Jail. Siddiqui was accused in connection with the hit & run death of Stefani Lineva along State Route 434 on Binghamton Southside on December 3rd.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli proposed changes to the state’s procurement practices in the wake of criminal charges and allegations of corruption in the awarding of state economic development project contracts. By state law, the Comptroller’s office is responsible for reviewing and approving state agency contracts above $50,000 and certain contracts over $1 million for state public authorities, In recent years, executive and legislative actions have eroded the Comptroller’s contract oversight. In 2015, state agencies issued over $6.8 billion in contracts without Comptroller review. DiNapoli suggested restoring previous powers to his office that have been steadily removed in the last 5 years, Create tougher ethics requirements and penalties for those who abuse the procurement process, & Increase transpoarency over the entire process.

Governor Cuomo's office and state lawmakers are discussing a plan to authorize Uber, Lyft & other ride-sharing services statewide as part of current negotiations, which may lead to a special session of the legislature being called back to Albany befroe the end of the year. State lawmakers have been lobbying for a pay raise for teh first time in 17 years, while the Governor has been lobbying for more stringent ethics reforms to be passed. Uber & Lyft have been allowed to operate in New York City under the same rules & taxis & limosines, they would not have to operate under those rules in other locations around the state.

The next meeting of the Oneonta Downtown Revitalization Initiative local planning committee is tonight at 7:00 PM at the Foothills Performing Arts Center. 2 more committee meeting are scheduled for December 20th & January 3rd, both at the Foothills Performing Arts center.

Oneonta Police arrested 20-year-old Divonte Geiger of Rochester early Saturday morning, at the Sip & Sail Tavern.  Oneonta police responded to a disturbance where Geiger was denied entry into the tavern, & allegedly punched an employee. Geiger also is accused of striking the responding police officer in the face & attempting to flee the scene, but was apprehended following an additional scuffle. Geiger is charged with 2nd degree assault, resisting arrest, forcible touching, and trespassing, He was held pending arraignment in the Oneonta City Court.

Small Business Saturday will be held this Saturday, to promote small businesses in communities across the country. Steve Craig of Commerce Chenango explains:

(Steve Craig 11-22-16)

More information about Small Business Saturday & various programs & benefits associated with that can be found through your local chambers of commerce.

The New York State Department of Health today announced that it will award $7.2 million to 6 organizations over the next 5 years to establish Breastfeeding Friendly community support networks for families. The funded entities will advance broad-based policy, system and environmental changes that protect and promote breastfeeding within community settings and businesses, & will also work to help child care and healthcare providers support families who opt to breastfeed their infants.

State Police, the State Liquor Authority and the State University at Delhi conducted an Underage Drinker Initiative detail on Saint Patrick’s Day.   3 college students were used as operatives at bar checks in Stamford & Oneonta.  John’s Tavern in Stamford, the Sip N’ Sail Tavern in Oneonta, & the Red Jug Tavern in Oneonta all passed, however State police arrested 23 year old Chelsea Jordan of Cobleskill with Unlawfully Dealing with a Child & Unlawful Sale of Alcohol to a Person Under 21, for serving alcohol to a minor at Legend’s in Oneonta.  Jordan was issued for the City of Oneonta Court. Additional State Liquor Authority charges are pending against Legend’s.

State Senators Jim Seward & John Bonacic have been selected to serve on a new drug task force, to deal with the growing epidemic of Heroin.  Federal statistics show that more than twice the amount of people admitted to heroin use from 2007 to 2012, The Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction will organize meetings across the state shortly.

Governor Cuomo announced that the New York State Board for Historic Preservation has -recommended the addition of 21 properties, resources and districts to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.  The State Review Board recommended 1 local site, which is the Loomis Family Farm in Oxford.  The farm was settled in 1801 & includes an 1832 stone farmhouse, a large dairy barn, and other smaller farm buildings.  More information about the recommended sites in online at paththroughhistory.ny.gov.

State Senator Jim Seward commented on the state budget agreement reached in Albany among state leaders late Wednesday:

(Seward 3-22-13)

Voting in the state senate & Assembly on the budget bills will begin Saturday; the budget should be finalized before the April 1st deadline for the first time in 37 years.

The Broome county Sheriff’s department has arrested 29-year-old Megan Gismot of Binghamton, following an investigation into missing controlled substances.  Gismot was charged with 1st degree falsifying business records and 3rd degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, she is accused of falsifying records and stealing controlled substances while working as a pharmacy technician at an area hospital.  Gismot was arraigned & was released pending further court action.

State police arrested 40 year old Adrian Origoni of Oneonta for 1st degree unlawfully dealing with a child and prohibited sale to a person under 21, Origoni is accused of selling alcohol to the underage person at the Sip n’ Sail Tavern at 80 Water Street in Onoenta.  Origone owns the tavern, it was targeted by a state police  after they had received complaints that the underage patrons were served alcohol there.