WCDO Radio News

State Police & Law Enforcement agencies around the state have increased patrols to combat impaired & reckless Driving through Halloween through this Friday. Last year over 46,000 tickets were written by Police during the Halloween Enforcement Period.

The Deadline to sign up families for Operation Merry Christmas is this Friday, spokesperson Lisa Streigler explains the process:

(Lisa Streigler 10-29-25)

The giveaway days will be on December 12th & 13th at the AO Fox Hospital Tri Town Campus on Pearl Street in Sidney again this year.

State Forest Rangers responded to Hancock Sunday following the report of 2 hikers from Brooklyn who were lost off trail at Jensen’s Ledges. Forest Rangers spoke with the lost individuals by phone and were able to obtain their coordinates. Rangers found the hikers in about 2 hours Sunday evening and assisted them back to their vehicle. Officials remind hikers that before entering the backcountry, visit the DEC's Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information, and Catskill Backcountry Information webpages for more information. Hikers should also put the Forest Rangers hotline in their phone, the number is 833-NYS-RANGERS, 911 can also be used, more information is available at dec.ny.gov.

Students with a total family income up to $175,000 will be able to attend Colgate University tuition-free, and those with family incomes of up to $200,000 will have their demonstrated aid need met without loans starting in the fall of 2026, as part of the expansion of the Colgate Commitment, program to increase access and affordability, first launched in 2020. More information is available at colgate.edu/colgatecommitment.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 10-29-25

The City of Oneonta is planing 3 days of events next July around the Independence Day holiday, Oneonta City Historian Mark Simonson told WCDO news that they are holding a meeting tonight to discuss their plans & gather input for "America 250":

(Mark Simonson 10-29-25)

The meeting will be held at 6:30 PM at the Huntington Memorial Library at 62 Chestnut street at the top floor meeting room, the public is encouraged to attend & participate.

UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital is collaborating with Canasawacta Country Club to launch a new series designed to educate, empower, and engage women in Chenango County, the series, called Her Health Matters, will kick off tonight at 6:00 PM, at the Country Club, spokesperson Melissa Stagnaro explains:

(Melissa Stagnaro 10-29-25)

The series will feature various health professionals from Chenango Memorial Hospital, for more information or to register, contact (607) 337-4510 or email cmh.foundation@nyuhs.org.

The State DOT will be closing Bridge 10, Sherwood Road over the West Branch of the Delaware River in the town of Delhi, to through traffic today starting at 9:00 AM to inspect the bridge. The bridge will be re-opened as soon as inspection is complete. The traveling public should use alternate routes.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 4-14-25

The New York State Budget is 14 days late, and budget extenders have been implemented to pay state employees and keep state programs functioning. Assemblyman Joe Angelino said that the hold-up is one that has come up many times over the last 3 decades in Albany:

(Joe Angelino 4-14-25)

Angelino said that the big sticking point is the reforms to the state's discovery laws, which involves including late evidence being turned in from District Attorney's to Defense attorneys prior to a trial, the Governor wants some reform, much of the legislature does not.

The annual Recruit New York Days will be on April 26th or 27th, where fire companies & EMS squads are looking to add to their ranks, Roger Barnhart of the Bainbridge Fire Department told WCDO News that at the Bainbridge & Unadilla events, there will be additional programs for the community:

(Roger Barnhart 4-14-25)

The full list of Fire Department participating in the RecruitNY program can be found at recruitny.org.

The Chenango County Department of Public works will close County Road 39 between Old Gifford Road and State Route 206 in Bainbridge, starting Tuesday for the replacement of a large culvert. The road closure is expected to last 1 to 3 days, depending on weather conditions.

The Sidney Chamber of Commerce is bringing back the Summer Music Series downtown, on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, Chamber President Teri Schunk explains:

(Teri Schunk 4-14-25)

Schunk said that more information about the music series & other events can be found at the Sidney Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

A.M. NEWS Monday 4-14-25

State Police arrested 37 year old Christopher Banks of Nineveh for Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child. A search warrant was executed on April 4th, Banks was found to be in possession of images consistent with child sexual exploitation. During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that 38 year old Mark Banks of Nineveh sexually abused a dairy cow while employed at a farm in the town of Colesville. Banks was charged with Sexual Misconduct, both were issued appearance tickets to the Colesville Town Court on April 24th.

Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force arrested 57 year old Bruce Hines of the town of Union after they executed a search warrant Thursday, Hines resisted officers and had to be detained after a brief struggle. Officers confiscated Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Digital Scales, Packaging Material and $304 in cash, Hines was charged with multiple Counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and 2 Counts Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, plus Obstructing Governmental Administration & Resisting Arrest, he was arraigned and remanded to the Broome County Correctional Facility.

The Otsego County Solid Waste Department Plastic Film Recycling Challenge ends today. Participating schools collected film plastics such as Grocery Bags, Bread bags, Bubble wrap, The winner of the each division will receive an ice cream social event soon, last year over 6 tons of the plastics were diverted out of the waste stream in otsego county.

Utica University has announced its commencement speaker for the undergraduate ceremony in 2025 will be Hamdi Ulukaya, the founder and CEO of Chobani, Ulukaya will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Utica University, he emigrated from his native Turkey in 1994 to the US, he purchased a closed factory in Edmeston in 2007 with a small business loan, Chobani became he biggest seller of Greek Yogurt in the world by 2012. The undergraduate ceremony is set for May 9th at The Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Delhi firefighters responded Sunday at around 12:00 Noon for a structure fire at 220 Rosa Circle. Early reports suggest that an electric car in a garage caught fire, the structure was a total loss, WCDO will have more information when it is released.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 2-18-25

Governor Hochul today announced preparations to call in the National Guard to staff the State Correctional Facility, if the Illegal Job Action staged by State Correction Officers; does not end tomorrow. The National Guard will be called in to protect correction officers who are currently on the job, individuals being held at Correctional Facilites as well as the surrounding communities. The Governor also directed Department of Corrections leadership and senior Administration officials to meet with leaders from the State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association to call for an end to the unlawful work stoppage. In March 2024, the union agreed to a collective bargaining agreement with the State of New York to improve working conditions for corrections officers.

State Police arrested 24 Year Old Fiona Taylor of Norwich & 47 year old Lauren McKinley of Norwich in connection with a case of animal neglect in Chenango County last month. On January 22nd, 56 animals were removed from a property on Mudge King Road in the town of North Norwich. During the execution of a search warrant, 30 horses, a pig, 7 sheep, 4 goats, 4 chickens, 7 dogs and 3 cats were in need of immediate care and were transported to various local animal rescue locations, 12 dead animals were observed on the property that included horses, goats, pigs and chickens. Taylor & McKinley have been charged with 16 counts of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals and 65 counts of Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals; Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance Both women were issued appearance tickets and are scheduled to appear at the North Norwich Town Court on February 26th.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrested 31 year old Skyler Smith of East Meredith for Criminal Possession of a Weapon. On Saturday Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Smith, who was found to be in possession of an illegal switchblade knife. Smith was additionally charged for a traffic violation and was released on appearance tickets and is to appear in the Town Delhi Court at a later date to answer the said charges.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office announced that a Oneonta man was arrested on an Arrest Warrant issued by the Town of Delhi Court. On June 29th, 2023, Sheriff Deputies responded to a reported Domestic Dispute in Delhi, Deputies had applied for & received an Arrest Warrant for Daquan Brown for Aggravated Harassment and Criminal Mischief, Monday evening, Town of Colchester Police responded to a report of a car in a snow bank, the operator was Daquan Brown who was taken in to custody by deputies on the warrant. he was turned over to the Delaware County Correctional facility for Arrangement.

New York State is waiving registration fees for out-of-state snowmobilers on 2 weekends this winter - February 28th through March 2 and again March 7th through the 9th, so that snowmobilers can ride on over 10,000 miles of snowmobile trails in New York State. Outside of these free weekends, snowmobilers from out-of-state and Canada are required to register their snowmobiles with New York State, more information is available at iloveny.com/winter (https://www.iloveny.com/things-to-do/winter/).

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 2-18-25

Calling hours & Funeral arrangements have been announced for Binghamton Firefighter John Gaudet, who died fighting a fire at 1 Main Street last Wednesday evening. The Gaudet family will receive friends at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, located in Binghamton, today from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, the funeral mass will be held Wednesday Morning at 11:30 AM at the same location. The official cause of death for Gaudet has not yet been announced, he served for 11 years with the Binghamton Fire Department.

Governor Kathy Hochul today is warning New York consumers of E-ZPass text message scams. Consumers have reported receiving SMS text messages attempting to collect tolls. These fake texts are often sent from an international number and request the consumer to reply with "Y" to receive a link to an unofficial website. Consumers should be aware that E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail will never send a text or email requesting sensitive personal information. More information is available at EZPassNY.com and TollsByMailNY.com.

On February 11th, State Police conducted an Underage Drinking detail in Otsego County. All of the businesses checked were in compliance and did not sell alcohol to an underage operative. The 14 businesses were in Worcester, Schenevus, Oneonta & Milford, During these investigations, businesses are checked utilizing a Trooper in plainclothes and one or several underage operatives who cannot lie about their age or provide a false date of birth (if asked).

Animal Adventure Park announced on February 15 that Johari the giraffe passed away at the age of 20, Cornell University will be conducting the autopsy to provide more details about the death of the popular Giraffe.