WCDO Radio News

The Centers for Disease Control confirm that Sullivan County is the latest New York county to test positive for Polio, Sullivan County has a 62.33% polio vaccination rate, their residents are urged to get vaccinated. New York State reported the first polio case in the United States since 2014, when an unvaccinated Rockland County man was hospitalized after traveling in Europe in July. The CDC began testing Rockland County residents and water samples, polio has also been found in Orange County and New York City wastewater, and testing is continuing.

New York Motorists are reminded, as school gets ready to return in the coming weeks, that it is illegal to pass a New York School Bus that has its flashing lights on & is receiving or dismissing students. The 1st conviction can result in a $250 to $400 fine, 5 points on a license, and up to 30 days in jail, a 2nd conviction within 3 years could result in a $600 to $750 fine, 5 points on a license, and up to 90 days in jail.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 8-31-22

The Broome County District Attorney's Office announced that 44 year old Michael Carley of Johnson City and South Carolina pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. Carley was stopped for a traffic violation, he was wanted on an unrelated warrant and was taken into custody, he was also found to be in possession of methamphetamines. Carley will be sentenced to 2 years in New York State and 2 years of post-release supervision on November 28th.

The State Health Department reported that the COVID 19 positivity continues to trend downward, down to 4.78%, the 7 Day Average Positivity rate to 6.35%, Patient Hospitalizations were down to 2,329, with 248 ICU patients, with 94 on ventilators.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the deployment of the New York Army and Air National Guards To support fire suppression efforts at the 150-acre wildfire currently burning in Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County. 2 Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopters, capable of dropping 600 gallons of water at a time, began aerial operations, the Air National Guard have been deployed, the State DEC Forest Rangers are serving as Incident Commanders, with more than 200 wild-land firefighters and volunteers, local firefighters, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, State Police Aviation, and State Fire also fighting the fire.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 8-26-22

Otsego County Department of Health & the CDC recommends that everyone who is not fully vaccinated to contact their Health Care Provder & complete the polio vaccination series as soon as possible, especially children. In Otsego County, only 80.4% of 2 year olds are recorded as having the recommended doses of polio vaccine, locally, Delaware County has a vaccination rate of 89.4%, and Schoharie County 88.8%. So far, 8 polio cases are being investigated in Rockland, Sullivan and Orange Counties.

The Broome County Health Department reports a continuing increase in Overdoses in 2022, with 54 fatal overdoses & 333 Non fatal overdoses from January to this week. Broome County had as many as 76 fatal overdoses in 2016, the number was down to 32 in 2018, but the number of cases has increased every year since, with 54 last year. More information is available at gobroomecounty.com/boac.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 8-26-22

Delaware County Public Health’s Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs program is sponsoring Art in the Park, hosted by The Oneonta World of Learning, tomorrow from 1:00 pm to 4:00 PM, at 167 Youngs Road in Oneonta. More information is available by calling Oneonta World of Learning at 607-353-9503.

Delaware County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their next Business & Breakfast event this Friday Morning at 8:30 at the Hamden Inn. Delaware County Chamber President Ray Pucci explains:

(Ray Pucci 7-12-22)

Chambers members can register for Friday's discussion at delawarecounty.org.

Chenango County Health Department is conducting a county-level Community Health Assessment. The Assessment helps identify the specific health needs of local communities, The survey can be found at surveymonkey.com.

The Otsego County Department of Health is holding a Rabies Vaccination Clinic at the Edmeston Town Barn from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. More information is available at 607-547-4230.

A.M. NEWS Tuesday 7-12-22

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a free hotline for people who test positive for COVID-19 but do not have a health care provider. The hotline, 888-TREAT-NY, was launched by the State Department of Health after reaching an agreement to utilize the Virtual ExpressCare Platform operated by NYC Health + Hospitals. The hotline is available to all New York residents.

Broome County District Attorney Mike Korchak announced that 62-year-old James Sullivan of Vestal pleaded guilty to felony charges of the criminal sexual act and 1st degree sexual abuse. Sullivan admitted that he engaged in sexual conduct with a male child under the age of 11 for a 6 year period, Sullivan will serve 7 years in prison followed by 10 years of post-release supervision, when he is Sentenced in October.

New York State now has Early Voting, for Delaware County registered voters it will take place at the Board of Elections Office, 3 Gallant Avenue in Delhi. Hours for Early Voting for the June 28th Primaries will start Saturday June 18 & run through Sunday June 26th. The polls for the Primaries for in person voting will be from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm on June 28th, more information is available at 607 832-5321.

32 year old Anthony Schorer of Burlington was sentenced to 10 years probation in Otsego County Court. Schorer pleaded guilty to a 2nd degree criminal sexual act against a child, State Police originally arrested Schorer on January 4th and his brother, 33 year old Timothy Schorer of Hartwick on January 11th, he is due in court on June 24th. The alleged crimes happened between 2003 and 2010, the victim was between the ages of 5 and 11 years old.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 6-8-22

The State Department of Health today announced the 1st confirmed orthopoxvirus case outside of New York City, following testing at the Wadsworth Lab in Albany. The Sullivan County health department is treating the case as a probable monkeypox case, and contact tracing efforts are underway. The State Health Department 9 confirmed monkeypox cases, including 8 in New York City. For more information on monkeypox, go to health.ny.gov/Monkeypox.

Broome County Transit premiered their new fully electric buses that the county will be transitioning to in the coming months. The Busses are manufactured by Nova Bus of Plattsburgh, Broome County will be the only county in the state to transition to an all-electric public transit system.

Delaware County Public Health Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic For dogs, cats and ferrets Today from 4:00 TO 6:00 PM, at Arkville Fire Hall. For questions or more information call 607-832-5200 or delawarecountypublichealth.com

Delaware County Public Health will be conducting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for people 12 and older on Thursday at 97 Main Street in Delhi. Pfizer 1st or 2nd doses will be available from 2:00 to 3:00 PM for walk-ins only. Pfizer boosters will be available from 2:00 to 3:00 PM for those who pre-register at apps2.health.ny.gov. For more information, call Delaware County Public Health at 607-832-5200.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced the results of an audit of the Otsego County Industrial Development Agency regarding the Oneonta Rail Yards Acquisition. The audit stated that the agency did not adequately plan for the 2017 acquisition of the rail yards, which was acquired based on a $6 million to $20 million development plan, but without an interested developer. Auditors found no indication that the board of directors had significant discussions of the pros and cons of developing the property, they then learned that a large-scale timber operation would be the only type of local industry that could profitable at the Rail Yards property.

The Friends of Recovery of Delaware and Otsego Counties will be expanding into Chenango County with a new site being prepared in the City of Norwich. The new location will be located at at 24 East Main Street in Norwich, they hope to open up the facility sometime this spring, more information about the program is available at friendsofrecoverydo.org.

The Chenango Arts Council’s annual Chenango Student Art Show will take place from March 4th to March 31st, the exhibit will open with a reception and awards ceremony on Friday March 4 beginning at 5:30 pm. In addition to a number of awards for different categories, 2 scholarships will be awarded for Chenango County seniors intending to pursue a degree in the Arts. The exhibit will be displayed in the Mariea Brown and Raymond Loft Galleries, located at the Chenango Arts Council, 27 West Main Street, Norwich and on the Arts Council’s social media. More information is available at 607-336-2787.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 2-15-22

The Otsego County Office of Emergency Services were requested to respond to a reported structure fire at 22 Maple Street in the Village of Gilbertsville Monday morning at about 9:15 AM. Firefighters from Gilbertsville, Morris, Mount Upton, Otego, Sidney, Wells Bridge and Otsego County EMS, all responded to the scene, 64 year old Louise Dubben was located deceased inside her residence. The Otsego County Office of Emergency Services, New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the New York State Police are leading investigation efforts. An investigation into the fire is ongoing.

The City of Oneonta Police Department has arrested 29 year old Elijah Vergari of Oneonta in connection with the NBT bank robbery that occurred at 1 Wall Street in the City of Oneonta on December 29th. An indictment was handed down by a Grand Jury for the arrest of Vergari, Vergari was delivered to the Otsego County Court Monday, he was arraigned for 3rd degree Robbery, Due to the existence of pending felony charges in Delaware County, bail was set for $10,000 cash bail and he was remanded to the custody of the Otsego County Sheriff. The Oneonta Police Department worked in conjunction with the New York State Police Forensic ID unit, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and NBT bank security services.

An Oneonta man died in a two-car crash on Route 365 in Westmoreland late Sunday night. The Oneida County Sheriff's Office stated that 20-year-old Joshua Parker of Utica, was driving westbound on Route 365 when he started to have car trouble and put his flashers on while trying to make it to a gas station, Parker's vehicle was hit from behind by 40-year-old Lance Johnson of Oneonta, who was transporting medical test samples to a lab. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. Parker was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center to be treated for injuries that are not considered to be life-threatening. The investigation is ongoing.

Assemblyman Joseph Angelino is announcing his re-election campaign. Angelino is serving in his first term, He is the ranking Republican on the Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation. Angelino will be running in the new 121st Assembly District which includes the majority of Chenango and Broome counties, and portions of Madison, Otsego, Sullivan and Delaware counties.