WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 10-19-20

Governor Cuomo today announced that 78,993 tests were reported for Sunday, yielding 898 positives or a 1.13% positivity rate.  Patient Hospitalization went up by 21 to 934, the number of patients in an ICU beds decreased slightly to 198, the number of patients on Ventilators went up by 4 to 106, 14 New Yorkers died due to COVID-19 Sunday, bringing the total to 25,659.

The Broome County Health Department reported 2825 COVID 19 cases on Monday, an increase of more than 200 since last Thursday.  They report 86 deaths, 2176 recoveries, the Health Department is monitoring over 4600 people.

Chenango County Public Health announced that they are at 313 cases of COVID 19 since March.  Currently there are 49 Active Cases with 4 Hospitalizations, 223 Quarantines, 7 deaths, 246 recoveries & about 33,550 tests have been conducted.

Governor Cuomo announced the state's Micro Cluster Management strategy, designed to zero in on the cluster's origins & keep any restrictions to a much smaller area:

(Cuomo Micro Clusters)

Governor Cuomo Announces Ski Resorts Allowed to Reopen With 50 Percent Indoor Capacity Beginning November 6th.  Masks will be Required When Not Eating, Drinking or Skiing, Lifts will be Restricted to Members of the Same Party, Thorough Cleaning and Disinfection of Rented Equipment and Other Health and Safety Protocols will also be Required.

The State University of New York Athletic Conference announced that they are cancelling all winter sports seasons.  The sports that are impacted include the conference schedules and championships for men’s and women’s basketball, as well as men’s ice hockey.  The championships for men’s and women’s swimming & diving and indoor track & field are also cancelled.  SUNYAC will continue to plan for the possibility of spring sports, that decision will be made at a later date.

The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce "Commitment to Community Dinner" tickets are on sale until Tuesday, October 20th at Bob's Diner.   The Guest Speakers will be Kerri Green; President & CEO of Commerce Chenango & Assemblyman Cliff Crouch.  The dinner will begin at 6:00 on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, at Club 55, on Union Street, Sidney, more information is available at 967-8700.

Delaware County Sheriff's department announced the arrest 20 year old Jarett Griffin of Walton, following numerous complaints of roadside campaign signs being stolen. A State Forest Ranger patrolling the Steam Mill Forest in the Town of Masonville last week recovered more than 20 stolen campaign signs that were dumped on the state owned land.  Griffin was charged with petit larceny following an investigation and review of video surveillance images by Deputies and the candidate; he faces court action in Town of Walton Court at a later date.   The Sheriff's department encourages anyone witnessing the theft or destruction of campaign signs to report their observations to them, Delaware County Sheriff's Office.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Investigators arrested and charged a Parksville man in connection with a January 2nd burglary at the Hancock County Store.  Investigators noted similarities to the December 9th 2019 burglaries at the Hancock Mirabito Convenience Store and the Hancock Post Office.  Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested and charged 57-year-old Julius Leonard, Jr., of Parksville with 3rd degree burglary & petit larceny in relation to the Hancock Country Store burglary & for a parole violation. Leonard was arraigned & was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility without bail pending further court action.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 10-19-20

Governor Cuomo held a COVID 19 briefing Sunday, he said that the next big project will be how to deliver prospective vaccines to New Yorkers, how much federal help will there be & how do they store the vaccines that may require -80 degree refrigeration, for anywhere from 20 to 40 million doses:

(Cuomo 10-19-20)

The State had 1390 positive tests on Saturday, there were 913 hospitalized, 200 in ICU beds, 102 on ventilators, & 7 died from the virus.

Governor Cuomo announced that movie theaters outside of New York City can reopen at 25 percent capacity under state guidance starting October 23. No more than 50 people are allowed in front of each screen in each movie theater at once. Theaters can only open outside of New York City in counties that have COVID-19 positivity rates of less than 2 percent on a 14-day average and do not have any cluster zones.   Theaters cannot reopen in Broome County due to their current cluster situation.

Delaware County Public Health announced another positive case of COVID 19 Sunday.  They now report 140 cases, with 8 deaths, 121 recoveries, 96 are in quarantine, there are 11 active cases, and no one is hospitalized.

Otsego County Department of Health announced 2 new COVID 19 cases; both are in SUNY Oneonta students. Otsego County reports 927 total confirmed cases, 8 active cases, 2 hospitalizations, 7 deaths, there are 744 probable and confirmed cases linked to SUNY Oneonta & 21 confirmed cases in Hartwick College students

Delaware County Sheriff's Department responded Friday to a crash where 3 people were transported to O’Connor Hospital.   The 2-car, head-on collision occurred on State Highway 28 in Delhi, at 10:45 AM,   87 year-old Robert Helt of Margaretville crossed into the opposing lane and struck an on-coming car being driven 54 year-old FaithAnn Hill of Delhi.  Helt was extricated from his vehicle by a homeowner and passerby immediately following the collision.  Hill and a passenger in her vehicle, 31 year-old Corinne Wheeler of Delhi were extricated from their vehicle by members of the Delhi Fire Department, all 3 were transported to O’Connor Hospital in Delhi for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.  Sheriff’s Deputies are continuing their investigation of this accident.

New York State will begin fully enforcing a ban against the distribution of plastic bags.  A ban on the distribution of plastic bags in New York started March 1st, a lawsuit by the plastic bag industry then held up the state's enforcement of the bag ban. That lawsuit was rejected by the New York State Supreme Court, which issued a decision upholding the ban. The State DEC is set to begin enforcement of the plastic bag ban today.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 9-24-20

Governor Cuomo held a COVID 19 briefing in New York City today, he announced that a COVID report card for every school in the state is up & running today at schoolcovidreportcard.health.ny.gov:

(Cuomo Schools)

The Governor also reminded Law Enforcement Agencies that time is running out to comply with an Executive order by April 1st, to meet with residents & re-imagine their functions in their communities:

(Cuomo Police)

The Governor said that 146 Law Enforcement agencies have started the process since he signed the Executive Order in June.

Governor Cuomo stated that there were 955 positive COVID tests Wednesday statewide out of almost 93,000 tests, or 1.2% of all tested.  The state now has almost 453,000 positive tests since March, there were 500 people hospitalized, 145 were in an ICU, 72 were on ventilators, there were 2 deaths Wednesday, the state death toll is 25,439.

Broome County Health Department updated their COVID 19 numbers Wednesday, reporting 1365 total cases, 82 deaths, 1229 recoveries; the Department is monitoring 680 people currently.

Chenango County Public Health remains at 248 cases of COVID 19, with 2 active cases, 78 quarantines, no one is hospitalized, 226 have recovered & there have been 7 deaths, the have conducted over 27,600 tests.

Delhi Village Police reported a traffic stop on September 15th led to the arrest of 20-year-old Marcelino Romero of Delhi. Romero was charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Impaired by Drugs, Unlawful Possession of Marihuana, Failure to Keep Right, and motor vehicle equipment violations.

He was released on traffic summonses returnable to the Delhi Town Court.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released his annual School District in fiscal distress audit for 2019 today.  4 districts statewide were listed in significant fiscal stress, including the Norwich City School District. , Oxford Academy was listed in the 3rd category of "Susceptible to Fiscal Stress"

Small businesses and not-for-profit corporations with fewer than 50 employees are eligible for grants up to $500 for the purpose of acquiring personal protective equipment or installing fixtures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, during the period in which the Governor’s Executive Order is in effect.  For specific information on how to obtain these grants, visit the Otsego Now Web page at otsegonow.com.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 9-24-20

Governor Cuomo and SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras announced that the individual saliva swab diagnostic test for COVID-19, developed by SUNY Upstate Medical University and Quadrant Biosciences has been granted emergency use authorization by the FDA.  The saliva test allows for about 10 to 25 people to be screened in one COVID-19 test, using saliva swabs rather than nasal swabs. Individuals administer the tests themselves, swabbing their mouths, and provide the saliva samples, which are currently processed at SUNY Upstate Medical Center's laboratory.

Delaware County Public Health reported Wednesday that they were still at 120 total COVID 19 cases, with 3 active cases, 1 is hospitalized, 10 are quarantined, 7 have died & 110 have recovered.

Otsego County Department of Health reported their Current COVID numbers Wednesday, with 2 new cases reported, giving them a total of 867 cases.   There are 19 active cases, 1 hospitalization, 7 deaths, 702 cases are linked to SUNY Oneonta & 17 confirmed cases in Hartwick College students

The next Tri-Town Coalition On Substance Abuse prevention will be tonight at 6:00 PM on Zoom.  More information is available at 315-471-1359.

Governor Cuomo today had former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg teleconferenced into his daily Coronavirus briefing, Bloomberg said that his Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Bloomberg School of Public Health at John Hopkins University, Vital Strategies & “Resolve To Save Lives” are teaming up with others, to for a "Tracing Army" to investigate those who came in contact with the latest people to test positive for the Coronavirus:

(Mike Bloomberg 4-30-20)

State Budget Director Robert Mujica discussed the issue of Child Care and summer camps, as Phase 1 is implemented to send back the first group of workers, who have children at home:

(Mujica 4-30-20)

New York State now has over 304,000 cases of the Coronavirus, with over 11,500 hospitalized, and another 306 deaths Wednesday bringing the state death toll to 18,321.

Chenango County Public Health announced today that they are up to 96 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, they've had 3 deaths, 67 recoveries 7 people are hospitalized & 68 are quarantined.

Broome County Health Department announced that they are up to 282 positive Coronavirus cases; they have 21 deaths, 164 recoveries, and 194 in quarantine.

The Village of Sidney announced that May 4th "SPRING CLEAN UP"  Curbside pickup of bagged leaves, bagged lawn debris and brush must be out by Monday May 4th. Due to Covid-19 and safety, there will be no drop-off of electronics, appliances, metal and tires this year. Village residents may take electronics, appliances, metal and tires, free of charge (year round) to the Delaware County Solid Waste Management Center located at 32230 State Hwy 10 Walton, and they need make an appointment for drop off at 865-5805.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 38 year old Dennis Lafferty of Unadilla for violating an order of protection earlier this month.  Deputies received a complaint from an Otsego County domestic violence victim earlier this month, reporting receiving a phone call from the Delaware County Correctional Facility where the victim’s alleged abuser was being housed for the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, Lafferty allegedly violated the terms of an order of protection issued by the Hartwick Town Court last November, by making calls to the protected party following his incarceration on April 13th.  Lafferty was charged with 4 counts of criminal contempt & he remains incarcerated in the Delaware County Correctional Facility, pending a court appearance in the Town of Delhi Court on a later date.

The Annual Re-dedication Ceremony at the Sidney Veterans Memorial Park originally scheduled for May 23rd has been canceled for this year.  Also the June 7th Annual Sidney Veterans Memorial Park Association Golf Tournament has been canceled for this year, due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced today that its Board of Directors has voted unanimously to cancel 2020 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend events as a result of health and safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Class of 2020 – consisting of Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker – will be inducted on Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Cooperstown, alongside any new members elected as part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

Congressman Anthony Brindisi will hold Telephone Town Hall this afternoon at 5:00 PM regarding the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic.  To receive a call, go to brindisi.house.gov/live or call (315) 732-0713.

The Dick's Sporting Goods Open has been canceled for 2020.  The PGA TOUR Champions event was scheduled for August 10-16 at En Joie Golf Club in Endicott.  The Cancellation is due to the impact from the pandemic in the state of New York.  Anyone who has questions pertaining to tickets purchased for this year's event is advised to contact the Dick's Sporting Goods Open office at 607-205-1500.

The Tri Town Coalition on Substance Abuse Prevention will their next meeting today at 6:00 PM through Zoom.   Today's Presenter is Amanda Decker of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County,  more information is available at 437-4274 or 265-9273.

Delaware County Public Health received one positive lab report for COVID-19, which was transferred to the county the person resides in.  The Positive Results reported to Delaware County is 70, with 12 Positive Lab Reports Transferred, 44 have recovered, 8 are Isolating at Home, 2 are Hospitalized, 4 are Deceased, & 22 are under Mandatory Quarantine.

A few more cases of the
Coronavirus have been confirmed in some upstate counties today.  1 positive test was reported in Delaware
County this afternoon by Governor Cuomo, Positive test were confirmed for a
student at the University of Albany, a staff member at Union College in
Schenectady and 3 cases have now been confirmed in Saratoga County.    Governor Cuomo stated that the state would ban all
gatherings with 500 or more people to battle the coronavirus, the ban would
start at 5:00 PM Friday. The total number of confirmed cases in the state are
up to 328.

New
Yorkers are urged to call 1-800-697-1220 to report Price Gouging of certain
items like household cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer, following the
reports of the coronavirus in the state over the last week & a half.  The State has a complaint for online, along
with more information regarding potential price gouging at
dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection.

Hartwick
College announced their Coronavirus plans today.  Classes will continue on campus for the
remainder of this week, Hartwick faculty will continue spring 2020 instruction
through remote instruction only beginning March 23, there will be no in-person
instruction.  Students should remove all
instruction related materials and any belongings by 5:00 PM on Sunday March 22,
after that, students will not be permitted to return to campus until the
College resumes normal operations.
Effective March 20th at 5:00 PM, all campus-based activities, including
athletic competitions and training, are suspended until further notice.

Several
Fire companies as well as police agencies are on the scene of a structure fire
at 288 Ketchum Hill Road in Port Crane.  The
fire started earlier this afternoon, the home was recently purchased & was
going through renovations, it was not occupied at the time the fire broke
out.  WCDO News will have more details as
they become available.

The
Unadilla Chamber Of Commerce announced their award winners for 2020.  The Business of the Year will be awarded to
Covered Bridge Farm Market, The Good Neighbor Commitment to Community award
goes to Erin Insinga of Unadilla, who is the Director of the Delaware Valley
Humane Society, she commented about the recognition:

(Erin
Insinga 3-12-20)

The
Unadilla Chamber Annual dinner will be held on April 19th at 5:00 PM at the 1st
United Methodist Church in Unadilla.

State
officials are looking to add more census takers this year for the 2020 census
count.  States receive federal funding
based on the results of the census every 10 years,  related to health care, education, housing,
economic development and transportation, as well as congressional
representation in Washington. Those interested in a census job can get more
information at 2020 census.gov.

Governor
Cuomo announced that New York State will contract with 28 private labs to
increase testing capacity for the coronavirus; the labs will begin testing as
soon as they are ready. The Governor also announced the State University of New
York and the City University of New York will implement plans to maximize
distance learning and reduce in-person classes, beginning March 19th, for the
remainder of the spring semester.
Distance learning and other options will be developed by campuses.    43 additional cases of the coronavirus were
confirmed, bringing the statewide total to 216, only 3 cases are north of
Rockland County.

The
Bassett Healthcare Network is taking several actions to combat a possible
Coronavirus outbreak in their 8 county coverage area.  Bassett is developing a central phone number
to triage individuals who may have symptoms and need further evaluation,  Screening sites are being installed outside
the outpatient clinics,  External
evaluation areas are being established at the network's hospitals,         Telemedicine capabilities are being
expanded to be able to screen more patients remotely, information will be
posted at Bassett.org.

The
Chenango County Sheriff’s Office 911 center received a call of an individual
who had shot a rifle in the direction of 2 people in the Town of Plymouth
Monday.  Upon arrival, officers located
27 year old Zachary Ketchum, who was charged with 2 Counts of Reckless
Endangerment & menacing & 1 Count Criminal Mischief.  Ketchum was arraigned, released, &
Temporary orders of protection were issued for the victims.  The investigation is ongoing and additional
charges are pending.

Delaware
County Public Health will hold another Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic today for
dogs, cats and ferrets.  The Clinic will
be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at a new location; at the SUNY Delhi Farm, Arbor
Hill Road in Delhi.   More information is
available at 832-5200 or delawarecountypublichealth.com.