WCDO Radio News

Several Area Fire Departments responded to a reported structure fire at 8 Pearl Street in Bainbridge last night. The fire was reported on the 2nd floor, local firefighters responded again this morning for a rekindle. No injuries have been reported.

The State Department of Labor announced the next steps in the state’s $15 minimum hourly wage phase-in. The minimum wage rate in local counties will rise by $1 per hour, from $13.20 to $14.20,on December 31st. The Division's analysis found evidence of pressure for wages to rise in the midst of a continued pandemic-driven labor shortage.

Tomorrow On Tuesday, State Senator Fred Akshar, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, Johnson City Police Chief Brent Dodge and representatives of the State Department of Transportation will join local officials, family and community members to dedicate a portion of New York Route 17C the Patrolman David 'DW' Smith Memorial Highway in the Village of Johnson City. The dedication will begin at 11:00am at the Johnson City Police Department, Officer Smith served with the Johnson City Police Department for 18 1/2 years, in 2014, he was fatally shot after responding to a disturbance at a local business.

The Chenango County Sheriff's Office has received numerous complaints involving a scam that is occurring nationwide. The callers are identifying themselves as Chenango County Sheriff's Office personnel and informing people by phone that they have an active arrest warrant and requesting gift cards be sent to rectify the outstanding warrant. Chenango County Sheriff's Office personnel will never call to request money or gift cards for any criminal matters.

A.M. NEWS Monday 10-3-22

State Police are searching for 16 year old Connor McLean of Peru New York, who was last seen on September 27th, at 8:00 pm near his residence. McLean is approximately 5’10 feet tall, and weighs approximately 190 pounds, he was wearing blue hoodie, shorts, brown slippers with socks, & was carrying a black backpack. Anyone with any information is asked to please contact State Police at 518-563-3761

State Police are looking to identify 2 people in connection with a September 4th report of a wallet that was stolen from the Mount Upton Dollar General.. The wallet that was stolen from a cart, A woman is seen in surveillance video taking the wallet, a male is with her while at the store. The empty wallet was later found at a gas pump at Speedway at State Routes 7 and 8, & was turned in to the store by a patron, Anyone with information is asked to call State Police at (607)-561-7400, Pictures of the people in question can be viewed at the WCDO Facebook page.

State Police responded to a report that an 85-year-old woman with dementia left her residence on foot several hours prior and could not be located. An organized search was formed in the town of Andes. Troopers and New York State Police K9 were assisted by State Forest Rangers and Delhi Village Police. The woman was located deceased about a mile from her residence, There is no indication of any foul play.

State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon issued an order accepting the recommendation of the Farm Laborers Wage Board to lower the current 60-hour threshold for overtime pay to 40 hours per week by January 1, 2032, allowing 10 years to phase in the new threshold, following a 2-year process and 14 public meetings and hearings. Farm work in excess of 40 hours per week would be required to be compensated at overtime rates, as it is in other occupations.

Governor Cuomo gave a Coronavirus update this morning; he said that all New Yorkers should get tested at 1 of the 750 sites around the state:

(Cuomo 7-1-20)

The State Health Department reported that hospitalizations were at 879 statewide, the number of deaths Tuesday was 11, the state Death toll of 24,866, the total number of cases since March was about 394,000.  The Southern Tier rate of positive tests was .7% Tuesday.

State Police continue their crackdown on people bringing illegal fireworks into the state; Troopers arrested 2 people Tuesday for Unlawfully Dealing with Fireworks.  A trooper initiated a traffic stop on I-81 in the town of Kirkwood, after he observed a driver commit a traffic violation. An investigation resulted in the discovery of illegal fireworks totaling over $500.  Arrested were 31 year old Xavier Santos of Syracuse and 34 year old Aristides Lopez-Robles of Syracuse, Both men were released on appearance tickets to the town of Kirkwood court on July 15th.

State Police arrested 25 year old Casey Jean of Tully for Unlawfully Dealing with Fireworks, after a trooper initiated a traffic stop on Interstate 81 in the town of Dickinson.  An investigation yielded numerous illegal fireworks in Jean’s possession totaling over $2,700 dollars.   He was arrested, processed then released on an appearance ticket to the town of Dickinson court on July 14, 2020.

The Chenango County Health Department announced their Coronavirus numbers for today, they have had 146 positive cases, there are 25 people under Quarantine, no one is Hospitalizations, there have been 6 deaths, 137 Recoveries & the Total number of Tests Performed is 10907.

New York State has joined with New Jersey and Connecticut in jointly issuing a travel advisory for anyone returning from states that have a significant spread of COVID-19.   All travelers entering New York who have recently traveled within a state with either a positive test rate or a testing positivity rate of higher than a 10% over a 7-day rolling average, will be required to quarantine for 14 days. Analysis of the metrics will be conducted weekly to determine if travelers from other states qualify.

State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon announced that as the Southern Tier continues to reopen there are a growing number of positions available on the Jobs Express website, at jobs.ny.gov. Currently more than 4,400 jobs are available in a number of different fields from businesses looking to hire immediately.

2 people were injured in a collision between a dump truck & a car on State Route 23 in the Town of Oneonta Wednesday afternoon. Police reports stated that the dump truck was operated by 50-year-old Roger Hamilton of East Meredith; he had pulled into traffic & was struck by a vehicle operated by 60-year-old Deborah Sutch of Prattsville. Sutch & a passenger were taken to Fox Hospital with minor injuries, no tickets were issued.

Mike & Anna Banks of Sidney announced that "My Home Gym" on State Route 7 between Sidney & Bainbridge will open tomorrow at the site of the former "Peak Fitness" facility. Mike Banks told WCDO News that all new equipment is going in currently prior to the opening:

(Mike Banks 1-5-18)

More information is available at the "My Home Gym" Facebook page, where there is a link to a website for membership registration.

State Police arrested 65-year-old Roland Cross of Afton for 2 counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, following a joint investigation conducted by State Police and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department involving the theft of farm equipment in the town of Hamden on December 23rd. The round bailer and horse trailer were recovered in the town of Afton, the bailer is valued at $15,000 and the horse trailer is valued at $10,000. Cross was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Afton court at a future date.

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce will begin its 2018 monthly networking breakfasts today at SUNY Delhi’s Alumni Hall from 8:30 to 10 a.m. The presentation will be on the New York Paid Family Leave Law, the featured speaker is New York Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon.

State Police responded to Huckleberry Brook Road in the town of Middletown Tuesday for a Motor Vehicle Accident, the initial investigation determined that 32 year old Rion Gavette of Margaretville drove his vehicle off the road and entered a roadside creek coming to rest on the passenger side. Gavette was deceased at the scene, an autopsy has been ordered.

A name change is coming to Tri Town Regional Hospital in Sidney, as the facility is required to have its Emergency Department within 35 miles of an acute care Emergency room, as provided by Fox Hospital in Oneonta. Fox CEO Jeff Joyner explains:

(Jeff Joyner 12-6-17)

The Change takes effect on January first, the facility in Sidney will be known as A.O. Fox Hospital-Tri Town Campus.

Delaware County Sheriff-Elect Craig DuMond announces the selection of long-time Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Timothy Buckley to be the Undersheriff. Buckley began his career as a police officer with the Village of Hancock Police Department in 1996; in 1998 he served as a Sheriff’s Deputy and a School Resource Officer with the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office before transferring to the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office in 2000.

New York State hunters have been more successful in 2017 than last year through the first several weeks of big game seasons, according to the state DEC. Through the 3rd weekend hunters reported 69,550 deer, compared to 61,184 through the same period in 2016. Hunters have reported taking 814 bears so far in the Southern Zone, compared to 775 last year. A final tally of the seasons’ deer and bear harvests will be compiled and released early in 2018.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman released an updated Brochure "Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Know Your Rights"; to inform New Yorkers sexual harassment laws. The guidance provides victims of sexual harassment with information on the appropriate agencies to consult should they seek to file a complaint or take legal action, along with help lines for further support. The brochure is available at ag.ny.gov.

The 2018 State of the State Address will be held on Wednesday, January 3 at 1:00 p.m. at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. Seating is limited and tickets are non-transferable. In the event that the number of requests exceeds available seating, attendees will be selected by lottery. Guests will be notified of their selection via email on Monday, January 1. Registration will close on Friday, December 15 at 5:00 p.m. Request to attend are available at governor.ny.gov.

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce will begin its 2018 monthly networking breakfasts on January 5 at SUNY Delhi’s Alumni Hall from 8:30 to 10 a.m. The presentation will be on the New York Paid Family Leave Law, nearly all private sector employees in New York will be eligible for Paid Family Leave, the featured speaker is New York Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. Cost is $10 per person. Reservations are required at delawarecounty.org or 746-2281.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is leading a coalition of 15 state Attorneys General, they filed a lawsuit against the EPA and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt for failing to meet the Clean Air Act's statutory deadline for designating areas of the country impacted by unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone pollution. The lawsuit, was filed jointly by the Attorneys General of New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington DC & 10 other states Tuesday.