WCDO Radio News

Emergency rooms and law enforcement are noticing increased Problems with prescription painkillers and heroin in Delaware County & surrounding areas in recent months.  Dave Ramsey of the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County said that doctors, law enforcement & parents all have roles in trying to reverse this trend among teens:

(Dave Ramsey)

More information drug abuse, underage drinking and interventions are available by calling the council at 746-8300 or checking out their website at adaconline.org.

State police at Troop C in Sidney are continuing the investigation, after the discovery of a dog left at the side of state route 28 in the town of Franklin last weekend. The male mastiff was left at the site with food & water, he was taken to the Delaware valley Humane Society in Sidney, police are following up based on evidence left at the scene.

The Norwich Common Council will hold a special meeting tonight at 6:00 at the city offices, for the purpose of conducting 2 public meetings.  The common council will hold a hearing on the a proposal to override the states 2% property tax cap, the 2nd public hearing will be on the proposed 2013 city budget, which seeks a 9.8% tax increase.

State Police at Oneonta arrested 30-year-old Randy Moore of Portlandville for 2nd degree Criminal Contempt, following an investigation into a complaint on State Route 28 in Portlandville.  Moore was issued an Appearance Ticket returnable in the Town of Milford Court on December 18th; he was turned over to the City of Oneonta Police Department, for action on a City of Oneonta Court warrant of arrest.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey made one last trip around the Broome county portion of his congressional district yesterday to say goodbye to long time supporters.   Hinchey decided to retire at the conclusion of this year’s session, after 20 years in Congress, which followed a lengthy stint in the state legislature.  Hinchey’s district was split up into surrounding districts during the re-districting process this year, his constituents will be served by 2nd term republican congressmen Chris Gibson in the Hudson valley, and Richard Hanna in the southern tier.

The Boys & Girls Club of Sidney announced that the Sidney Youth Basketball Program is returning on Saturdays Morning starting on February 2nd, 2013 at the Sidney Middle and Elementary Gym. The program is open to all Sidney students in kindergarten to 6th grade.  The fee for registering is $10 and registration forms can be picked up at the Boys & Girls Club on the 2nd floor of the Sidney Civic or at www.bgcsidney.com (http://www.bgcsidney.com/). Registration forms need to be returned the Club by January 4th, information call (607) 561-2311 or email tritownbgclub@yahoo.com (mailto:tritownbgclub@yahoo.com).

The Federal Court of Appeals has upheld the convictions of 3 people who killed a Mohawk valley officer in 2006.  The court decided today that to upheld the convictions of Toussaint Davis, Marion Pegese and Robert Ward for the 2006 death of New Hartford Police Officer Joseph Corr. The trio had argued that their case should be re-tried due to legal errors, the court decided otherwise.

The New York Wine and Grape Foundation reported that 2012 was a record setting year for that industry.  The foundation stated that 17 new licenses were issued in 2012, bringing the number of wineries to 328 with nine more still pending.  In international wine competitions, New York wines received 88 "Best" designations, 565 gold medals, and 80 "double gold" medals which require unanimous decisions by the judges.  Governor Cuomo recently held a wine & spirits summit in Albany to seek input on ways that the industry can expand 2012 levels.

Governor Cuomo said yesterday that the state will have to file for an extension for Thursday’s deadline on hydrofracking rules, which could mean the DEC would have to issue an updated set of proposals. Joint Landowners Coalition of New York president Dan Fitzsimmons said that the delays might be costing the state millions of dollars in tax revenue:

(Dan Fitzsimmons)

The coalition issued a statement claiming that they are cautiously optimistic that an end is in sight to the over four and a half year long regulatory process & they are encouraged that the Governor and DEC have a plan to avoid expiration of
the regulatory review process.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 27-year-old Shawn Wheeler of Earlville on an active Bench Warrant for failure to pay fines. Wheeler was arraigned in the Village for Sherburne Court and was released on his own recognizance after he paid his fines.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a court victory in defense of the State’s gun safety laws. In a unanimous decision, a 3-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals rejected a constitutional challenge to New York's handgun licensing statute, ruling that the law requiring individuals to demonstrate “proper cause” to obtain a license to carry concealed handguns in public does not violate the Constitution’s Second Amendment.

The Chenango county sheriff’s department arrested 46-year-old Michael Stevens of New Berlin for Possession of a Loaded Firearm in a Motor Vehicle. Stevens was charged after deputies uncovered a loaded rifle following a traffic stop in the Town of New Berlin. Stevens was issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of New Berlin Court at a later date.

Newly re-elected congressman Chris Gibson, stated that he has joined a growing number of Republicans in congress to abandon the "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" forwarded by party leader Grover Norquist last year. Gibson represents Otsego & Delaware Counties in his new district, he had signed the pledge last year, but he said that he recognizes the need for more flexibility in his position. Richard Hanna represents Chenango & Broome Counties in Congress and recently won re-election as well, he did not sign Norquist’s pledge last year, and will not sign it this year.

State Police conducted graduation exercises Tuesday for its 2012 Basic Canine Handler School, at the State Police Academy in Albany. The 12 graduates include members from the New York State Police, Albany County Sheriff’s Department, Otsego County Sheriff’s Department and the Schenectady Police Department. The graduation is the culmination of 20 weeks of training at the Division Canine Training Facility located in Cooperstown, the state now has 74 Canine Units counting these weeks’ graduates. Among those graduating teams, Otsego county sheriffs department Deputy Keith Sheldon and his canine partner “Ricky”

The Chenango county sheriff’s department arrested 34 year old Eneth Davenport of Greene, for 2nd degree Promoting prison contraband and 2nd degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, following an investigation in which Davenport allegedly was found to be in possession of a crack pipe and several glassine envelopes while being processed into the Chenango County Jail.

Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 34 year old David Zaleski of Greene for Driving While Intoxicated and other charges following a traffic stop in the Town of Greene, after striking a construction barrel on State Highway 12 and crossing into the other lane. Zaleski was arraigned in the Town of Greene Court and remanded to the Chenango County jail on $500 cash bail. Zaleski is to re-appear in the Town of Greene Court at a later date to answer to the charges of Driving While Intoxicated, Failure to keep right, refusal to take a breath test, and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana.

Chenango county sheriff’s deputies arrested 29 year old Justin Hurlburt of German for 2 counts of 3rd degree Criminal Mischief.  Hurlburt was taken into custody following a Domestic Dispute where Hurlburt damaged the victim’s property in German and McDonough. Hurlburt was issued appearance tickets for the Town of German Court and the Town of McDonough Court to appear in court at a later date.

The Oneonta zoning & housing board of appeals meeting for today has been cancelled. More information is available at 432-6450.

Former state senate majority leader Joe Bruno faces 2 counts of fraud in his next trial early next year. Bruno resigned as Senate majority leader in 2008, after allegations that he used his office for financial gain, he was found guilty on 2 charges of "honest services fraud”, which were overturned by an appeals court. Bruno’s next trial will start on February 4th.

State Troopers in Oneonta arrested 40 year old Charles Gould of Oneonta, for Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol. The arrest resulted from a traffic stop in a DWI Checkpoint on State Route 23 in Oneonta, Gould was issued Uniform Traffic Tickets returnable to the Town of Oneonta Court on December 11th.

Oneonta police arrested 42-year-old Donald Lane of Schenevus Sunday, of charges of torturing or inuring an animal, resisting arrest, open container and littering for tossing the can. Lane is accused of riding a horse into Oneonta, late Sunday night in an intoxicated manner, and striking the animal with a stick repeatedly. The horse was turned over to an area veterinarian for leg & feet injuries, Lane was in the Oneonta city jail Sunday night and was released Monday, he will appear in city court to answer to the charges at a later date.

Newbauer construction of Bainbridge is accepting flood relief donations through December 1st, at their location next to Dunkin Donuts. A variety of items are being accepted for delivery to areas hard hit by hurricane sandy in October.

Hartwick College will receive a $75,000 grant from The Hearst Foundations to support students with a high degree of financial need. The funding will to help defray their tuition costs of qualifying juniors, as they get closer to graduation. Hartwick is among 49 colleges to receive funding from The Hearst Foundations in 2012.

COMMERCE CHENANGO announced that on DECEMBER 4TH, the NBT BANK ANNUAL HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR will be held at 49 South Broad Street, Norwich. The event runs from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, holiday shoppers can purchase items to support the Chenango County Council of the Arts, Colorscape Chenango, Made in Chenango, The Place and The SPCA, also members are encouraged to bring boxed or canned goods to benefit Roots and Wings.