WCDO Radio News

State Police arrested 38 year old Nathan Mower of Harpursville, for criminal possession of stolen property, and arrested 43 year old Kristina Shuldt of Windsor for criminal possession of stolen property, after investigating a theft of a safe and over $50,000 cash from a home in the Town of Windsor on August 3rd. Mower and Shuldt were arraigned in the Town of Windsor court and remanded to the Broome County jail with no bail set at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

State Police arrested 18 year old Nathaniel Shaffer-Groover of Kirkwood, 17 year old Joshua Goetz of Windsor, NY and 16 year old Conor Collins of Kirkwood for 2nd degree burglary. Troopers responded to a Broome County 911 report of a burglary in progress at a residence on Dunbar Road in the Town of Windsor, after a caretaker saw teenagers stealing from it and fleeing in a red pickup truck. The 3 teens are accused of stealing a TV, binoculars and bullets; they were arraigned in the Town of Windsor court and remanded to the Broome County jail in lieu of $2,000 cash bail or $4,000 property bond.

Assemblyman Pete Lopez of Schoharie formally announced his bid to seek the Republican & Conservative nomination for the 19th Congressional District being vacated by House of Representatives Member, Chris Gibson of Kinderhook. Assemblyman Lopez travels extensively around his Assembly district each year, he has served in the State Assembly since 2007.

The American Red Cross is continuing with blood drives in Oneonta & Oxford today. A blood drive will be held from 1:00 to 6:00 PM at the Saint James Church at 305 Main Street in Oneonta, and the Oxford Blood drive will be held from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the New York State Veterans Home in oxford

Former State Senator Tom Libous of Binghamton was sentenced in Federal Court today to 6 months of home confinement, a $50,000 fine and two years of probation. Libous was convicted in July for Providing a False Statement to the FBI during an investigation of his son Matthew. Libous's attorney pleaded for leniency as Libous's cancer has worsened & was told by his cancer doctors that he has maybe a year to live.

Governor Cuomo today urged New Yorkers to protect themselves from identity theft and beware of scams on Black Friday, Cyber Monday and throughout the entire holiday shopping season. Cuomo said that Criminals would take advantage of the holiday shopping season to scam consumers and steal their money and identity. He urges New Yorkers to never give out any personal financial information to phone callers or through email to unknown entities. For more information or to file a complaint against a business, visit the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection website at http://www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection/ or by contacting the Division’s hotline at (800) 697-1220. The Consumer Assistance Hotline is open Monday to Friday, excluding Federal Holidays, 8:30am to 4:30pm.

The State Comptrollers office has completed their 3rd audit since 2000 of the Town of Sidney; the town supervisor does not review bank statements or canceled check images to verify that only those disbursements approved by the board are made, & that the board did not perform annual audits of the supervisor’s records. The Audit found no improper disbursements or unreasonable payroll payments, but the opportunity exists for inappropriate disbursements without oversight. The audit also questioned the Town paying 2 vendors for disbursements being paid over $16,000 a year. The Comptroller’s report stated that the Sidney Town Supervisor should Continue to review bank reconciliations and canceled check images, Approve payroll before checks are electronically signed and Maintain control over his signature & Perform a cost benefit analysis to determine if the bookkeeper Should be performing disbursements duties currently performed by the two vendors. The Board should perform the required annual audit of the
Supervisor’s records.

The New York State Department of Labor released today preliminary local area unemployment rates for October 2015. Between September and October 2015, the State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 5.1% to 4.8%, its lowest level since November 2007. Locally, Chenango County's unemployment rate was 4.6%, Delaware County was at 4.7% and Otsego County registered 4.3% unemployment for October.

The state DEC Announced that $2,000,000 in grants are available to organizations for projects to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in New York State's waterways, The grants are the latest action in the state's comprehensive efforts to combat aquatic invasive species and aim to foster outreach to users of water bodies, install decontamination stations and provide steward training programs in high priority areas. Applications & more information are available at dec.ny.gov.

Chenango County will be held next week, sponsored by Opportunities for Chenango. OFC Spokesperson Donna Wood-Craig told WCDO News about the panelists for the discussion:

(Donna Wood-Craig 11-24-15)

The community talk will be held at the Guernsey Library on December 1st at 6:30 and is open to all interested parties.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker urged New Yorkers to talk with their health care providers before asking for antibiotics because they may not be appropriate and may even pose additional health risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports said that at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics every year in the U.S. and at least 23,000 people die as a result of these infections, the over prescribing of antibiotics can Kill good bacteria in the body; Cause a serious allergic reaction that may require hospitalization; Result in an antibiotic-resistant infection. Resistant bacteria are harder to kill.

The State DEC announced that the 2015 regular deer and bear hunting seasons open at sunrise on Saturday, November 21, in New York's Southern Zone. These big game seasons close at sunset on Sunday, December 13. The Southern Zone Regular Season is New York's most popular hunting season, with participation from about 85 percent of New York's 550,000 licensed hunters. Harvest during this season accounts for nearly 60 percent of the total statewide deer harvest and 30 to 60 percent of the statewide bear harvest.

State Police and Oneonta Police Department arrested 33-year-old Godfrey Little of Oneonta for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, and 2 counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia. Police executed a Search Warrant, they Seized crack-cocaine, a set of digital scales, drug packaging material and over $22,000 cash and a Chevy Malibu, Little was arraigned in the Town of Oneonta Court and remanded to the Otsego County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 cash/$20,000 property bail.

State Police officially announced that they have located the 2 missing Afton teens in the Binghamton area at about 3:00 PM Thursday. Lindsey Seymour & Charles Weed were both in good health, the pair were missing after they left classes for the day on Tuesday. The investigation is ongoing.

State Police announced that merchants in the Otsego and Delaware County area have received numerous counterfeit $100 bills since October 30th. The trend has been to make a small purchase and pay with a counterfeit $100 bill in order to receive as close to one hundred dollars in authentic US currency. Troopers are asking local businesses to be alert, & if a suspicious person attempts to make payment with $100 bills, they should contact their local police department immediately.

Rebuild New York Now is a coalition seeking to raise public awareness about the issues impacting New York State's infrastructure, State Senator Fred Akshar and other local elected officials, members of organized labor, and private local businesses held a press conference at a bridge in disrepair in the town of Chenango & they called on the Legislature and the Governor to include funding parity between New York City & upstate in next year's budget plan. Akshar was joined by Broome County Executive Debbie Preston, & Assembly members Cliff Crouch & Claudia Tenney.

The State DEC announced that the 2015 regular deer and bear hunting seasons open at sunrise on Saturday, November 21, in New York’s Southern Zone Through sunset on Sunday, December 13. The Southern Zone Regular Season is New York’s most popular hunting season, with participation from about 85 percent of New York’s 550,000 licensed hunters. Officials said that the current deer populations are higher than desired. Following the regular deer and bear seasons in the Southern Zone, late bow hunting and muzzle loading seasons will run from December 14 to December 22.

The Otsego County Medical Reserve Corp is looking for volunteers to sign up & participate, in the event of an emergency. MRC Director Stefan Dunham comments:

(Stefan Dunham 11-18-15)

Dunham said that those interested in volunteering could show up a meeting on December 10th at 3:00 PM at the Meadows Office Building in Cooperstown, more information is available at 547-6477.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed an enforcement action Tuesday in New York State Supreme Court, seeking a preliminary injunction against DraftKings and FanDuel. The Attorney General's suit details alleged violations of law by DraftKings and FanDuel, as the State Constitution has prohibited bookmaking and other forms of sports gambling since 1894.

State Police arrested 45 year old Ronald Brennan of Oneonta for aggravated DWI with a BAC result of .25%, plus unlawful possession of marihuana and several other traffic violations. This arrest occurred after troopers observed Brennan driving without license plates in the Town of Milford. Brennan is accused of driving and unregistered and uninsured Honda Civic while intoxicated, he was found to unlawfully possess marihuana. Brennan was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Milford court on December 1st.

Delaware County Sheriff's Department Investigators arrested 35 year old Wilber Tyrrell of Hancock Tuesday as a Fugitive From Justice from the State of Pennsylvania. Tyrrell was incarcerated at the Delaware County Correctional Facility on an unrelated charge at the time of his arrest, Tyrrell will be arraigned as a Fugitive From Justice in the Town of Delhi Court at a later time.

Sidney Senior athlete Connor Decker signed her National Letter of Intent yesterday at Sidney High School. Decker will be playing Softball next year at Division-2 Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. Before coming to Sidney, Decker played at Afton High School. Decker says her time at both schools has been key in her success and has helped her get to the next level:

(CONNOR DECKER 11-18-15)

Decker is a 3-sport athlete for the Warriors and will look to help Sidney defend their league Softball title this spring.

Delaware County Deputies arrested 29-year-old Veronica Winchell of Andes, Monday as a fugitive from justice. Winchell is wanted by the State of Florida on an arrest warrant issued on October 22, for violating the terms of her probation that were imposed upon her conviction for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. She was arraigned in the Town of Delhi Court on November 10, 2015 and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail to await further court action.

State Police arrested 44-year-old Danny Stone of Conklin, for grand larceny. Troopers received a report that Stone had been paid a down payment of $2500 to build a shed in the Town of Kirkwood in January and was never seen again. Stone was issued a ticket returnable to the Town of Kirkwood court on November 17.

State Police arrested 25 year old Jon Speller of Oneonta, for criminal trespass, after troopers responded to a complaint from a woman sleeping at the Budget Inn on State Route 23 in the Town of Oneonta, who complained that she woke up to Speller crawling through her outside window and entering her room without permission. Troopers located him sleeping in another room when he was arrested. Speller was arraigned at the Town of Oneonta Court and released on his own recognizance. His next court date in the Town of Oneonta is on December 10th.

The State DEC announced that Veterans Day, November 11 is now a designated annual free fishing day in New York State. No license is required to fish in any of the state's 7,500 lakes and ponds or 50,000 miles of rivers and streams during state-designated free fishing days. Anglers are reminded that although the requirement for a license and enrolling in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry has been waived during free fishing weekend, all other regulations remain in effect.

The State DOT announced that construction work for the Prospect Mountain project will be performed and will require lane closures in the City of Binghamton and the Town of Dickinson, all this week from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Concrete pavement work will be performed on I-81 Northbound between Exit 4 Binghamton and Exit 5 Front Street, the highway will be reduced to one lane. Motorists are advised to be alert for slow moving traffic and sudden stops.

The Common Core Task Force announced its public meeting schedule, which includes 12 meetings across New York State beginning today in New Rochelle. The Task Force will then host 10 simultaneous regional listening sessions where members of the public are invited to deliver testimony. Following the presentations, Task Force members will engage in a Question & Answer period. The sessions will be open to members of the public and press and video of the session will be posted on the Task Force website. One session will be held in each region of the state (total of 10 meetings). Regional meeting details will be available on the Task Force website early next week.

State Police arrested 32 year old Phillip Williams of Endicott, who had made threats to hurt himself and others, and was armed with a rifle. Troopers attempted a traffic stop in Owego, Williams failed to comply, entered Pennsylvania & returned to Owego, where a pursuit eventually ended on State Route 434. Williams was arrested after a brief struggle after he threatened and menaced approaching police officers with a rifle. Williams was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, menacing a police officer, assault, fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment, aggravated harassment 2nd and numerous traffic violations. He was arraigned and was remanded to the Tioga County jail with no bail set.

State Police at Oneonta arrested 53-year-old Octavian Obeada of Sidney for driving while impaired by drugs. This arrest occurred after an Otsego County 911 report of an erratic driver on Interstate 88, in the Town of Oneonta. Obeada was taken to Fox Hospital for a blood draw and the lab results are pending, he was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Oneonta court on November 10th.

New York State will soon require all students in the 7th and 12th grades to be vaccinated against meningitis, after Governor Cuomo signed a bill into law this week. The governor signed the legislation, 20 other states already require the shot as part of standard immunizations. Statistics show that more than 1,000 people contract the disease each year, 10% to 15% die from the disease.

The state DEC announced that some deer management permits will be available to hunters again starting Sunday. The permits allow hunters to take antlerless deer in specified wildlife management units as a way to control populations. The permits will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis at state hunting license sales outlets. The application fee is $10. A list of units with available permits can be accessed at dec.ny.gov.

Tioga Downs in Nichols received the news from the State Gaming Facility Location Board, to go ahead with plans to expend for a full-scale casino, The board denied their bid last year, and gave the Southern Tier Casino license to the Lago resort about 85 miles north of the region. Groundbreaking on the expanded casino facilities is expected to be announced shortly.

Governor Cuomo today announced that the State Liquor Authority has approved a host of advisories to help support the continued growth and development of New York’s beverage manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers. Governor Cuomo convened the state’s 3rd Beer, Wine, Spirits and Cider Summit last week, where industry participants raised specific legislative and regulatory issues facing the industry. Bainbridge Native & Binghamton Brewing Company Owner Kristen Lyons participated in the summit:

(Kristen Lyons 10-15-15)

The new State Liquor Authority advisories are posted at sla.ny.gov, more information about the state's growing beer, wine, spirits and cider industries is available at taste.ny.gov.

Area Republican Congressman Richard Hanna made national headlines today, as he joined Kevin McCarthy in suggesting that an investigation into the Benghazi incident may have been an effort to damage Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton. In a radio interview in Utica yesterday, Hanna implied that McCarthy was forced to withdraw his bid for House Speaker, by his Republican peers because of his statements regarding the political damage that they tried to inflict on Hillary Clinton & her presidential bid.

State DOT officials today announced the scheduled reopening of the Interstate 81 southbound ramp to State Route 17 westbound, a major milestone in the $135 million project to reconstruct the Prospect Mountain Interchange of State Route 17 and I-81 in the city of Binghamton and town of Dickinson, Broome County. The I-81 southbound ramp to Route 17 had been closed since December 2014. An estimated $164 million project to reconfigure Interchange 4 will begin next spring and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

The New York State unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest level in over seven years in September, according to statistics released today by the State Labor Department. The statewide unemployment rate fell from 5.2% to 5.1% in September, the lowest level since April 2008, the state also added 11,400 private sector jobs in September.

The State DEC today urged outdoor adventurers to suspend exploration of caves and mine sites that serve as homes for bat hibernations. Human disturbances are harmful to the state’s bat population since the arrival of the disease known as white-nose syndrome, which has killed more than 90% of hibernating bats in New York. Officials warned that if you encounter hibernating bats while underground, leave the area as quickly and quietly as possible. 2 species of bats are currently protected under federal and state endangered species law, including the northern long-eared bat, which was prevalent in New York, but the current population for this formerly common bat is approximately 1% of its previous size.

Commerce Chenango will hold a “Meet the Candidates” session on October 27th. As part of the SFCU Business After Hours event. The session will be held at the SFCU Norwich branch, at County Road 32 & State Highway 23, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, among those confirmed to attend are State Senate candidates Fred Akshar & Barbara Fiala, among several local Norwich and Chenango County candidates. RSVP are requested by October 23rd at 334-1402 or johara@chenangony.org

On Saturday night, October 10th, Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 23 year old Erick Daly of Queens with Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana, following traffic stop on State Highway 17 in the Town of Hancock. Troopers initially stopped Daly for driving 83 mph in a 55mph zone, Deputies found Daly to be in possession of marijuana and an electronic stun gun. Daly was arraigned in the Hancock Town Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility in lieu of $500 bail.

Governor Cuomo announced today that state emergency responders & municipalities are gearing up for the possibility Hurricane Joaquin striking the state in the next few days:

(Cuomo 10-1-15)

Cuomo said that DEC has 250 staff from the Environmental Conservation Police, Forest Rangers and engineers ready in preparation for the storm. DEC will ready swift water rescue assets, assist municipalities to flooding preparation and work with 200 New York National Guard soldiers to perform the debris removal that began earlier today.

The Cuomo administration has awarded 175-million dollars to 5 new, large-scale clean energy projects. Officials said that the projects would help New York meet its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and rely less on fossil fuels. The projects include a wind farm, a biogas facility that turns food waste into electricity, and two hydroelectric facilities. The money comes from the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, a policy that aims to increase renewable energy, and is funded by small charges on electricity bills.

State Police arrested 30-year-old Daniel Korenyik of South Kortright, for criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and criminal mischief, after troopers responded to a dispute. Troopers accused Korenyik of attempting to attack his mother with a knife, & then damaged a wall by stabbing it with the knife. Korenyik was arraigned and was released he faces court action on October 30, 2015.

Governor Cuomo announced $3 million in prostate cancer research funding has been awarded to 20 research institutions across the state to explore new and innovative concepts in prostate cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment. Prostate cancer remains the second most common cancer among men in New York State, second only to skin cancer. An estimated 1 in 6 men will develop prostate cancer during his lifetime, occurring mostly in men aged 65 and older.

The Otsego County Department of Health announced today that a skunk in the town of Otego tested positive for rabies. Otsego County Health Department officials stated that 2 unvaccinated dogs were exposed & will be euthanized, the skunk was shot and the remains were sent to the state lab for testing. A free rabies clinic is scheduled for Otego at the fire department on October 7th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

State Senate candidate Fred Akshar hosted more than a dozen local farmers, agriculture students and professionals at a roundtable discussion on challenges and opportunities for Southern Tier agriculture in Whitney point Tuesday:

(Akshar 9-30-15)

Akshar faces former Broome County Executive & State DMV Commissioner Barbara Fiala in a special election to fill the seat vacated by the conviction of long time Republican State Senator Tom Libous.

The State DEC has adopted amendments to update and consolidate Petroleum Bulk Storage and Chemical Bulk Storage regulations. The changes clarify existing requirements and make it easier for those who store bulk amounts of petroleum or chemicals in tank systems to comply with equipment and handling standards needed to prevent contamination of soil, groundwater, surface water and public water supplies.

The New York State Police Academy held their Graduation exercises today for the 203rd class of State Troopers, at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. State Police Superintendrnt Joseph D'Amico addressed the class:

(DAmico 9-3-15)

Nearly 200 new Troopers were honored for their perseverance and dedication in completing the 203rd session of the Basic School of the New York State Police Academy.

State Police arrested 30-year-old Nathan Tuttle of Deposit for 3rd degree rape and criminal sexual act. The arrest occurred after an investigation determined Tuttle allegedly had sexual contact with a victim under the age of 17. Tuttle was arraigned in the Village of Deposit Court and remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 property bond. Tuttle was previously charged last week with 4 counts of Sexual Abuse and 3 counts of endangering the Welfare of a Child relative to an incident involving a different victim. Anyone with information involving Tuttle is asked to call the State Police at 775-1241.

The State DEC announced that the Fall CleanSweepNY program will be held the week of September 28, CleanSweepNY provides an opportunity to ensure proper disposal of unwanted and obsolete pesticides and other chemicals, Pre-registration is required, with a registration deadline of September 18th. This Fall's effort is focused on Delaware, Otsego, and Schoharie counties, among others in the capital region, It is directed at agricultural and non-agricultural professional pesticide applicators, schools and businesses like golf courses, cemeteries and marinas. CleanSweepNY services are not available to homeowners. Pre-registration is required by September 18, at cleansweepny.org or 1-877-SWEEPNY.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 42 year old Tina Garcia of Walton for Falsely Reporting an Incident. Garcia is accused of falsely reporting the theft of a vehicle owned by Shane Bellows after that vehicle was involved in a hit and run property damage accident on State Highway 10 in the Town of Walton on August 15. Garcia was issued an appearance ticket returnable to the Town of Hamden court on September 21st.

An accident in Otego on Sunday afternoon has left a Delaware County man dead and his wife severely injured. Otego Fire Department officials reported that the man and woman involved were apparently trying to drive a golf cart across the railroad tracks on a private agricultural crossing at the east end of the village and struck the Canadian Pacific train. The 2-engine train was pulling 31 freight cars. Oneonta State Police said that 57-year old Charles Turk of Bloomville was found dead under the overturned golf cart. His wife 58-year old Cynthia Turk was found lying nearby with 2 broken legs. Mrs. Turk was airlifted to Albany Medical Center. The investigation is continuing. She is listed in serious but stable condition at this time. The couple had been camping near the railroad tracks over the weekend. Medical personnel from Otego Fire and Rescue squads as well as Cooperstown Medical Transport, Otsego deputies and State Police all reported to the scene of the crash.

Improvements to the state DEC's sporting license-issuance and game harvest reporting system are in place in time for this year's hunting season. The 2015-16 hunting and trapping licenses go on sale Today and are valid beginning September 1st, Licenses and permits can be purchased at dec.ny.gov/permits, through the online License center at licensecenter.ny.gov or by calling 1 (866) 933-2257

The City of Oneonta will be painting the deck of the Pedestrian Bridge adjoining the 2nd level of the parking garage to the Main Street arcade walkway beginning this morning, The bridge will be closed today & Tuesday, during that time, Main street can be accessed from the Muller Park Stairs or by lower Chestnut Street. More information is available at 432-6465.

New York State had more than 9 million total jobs in 2014, a state record, but the increase was largely in New York City and the statewide labor force continues to decline. Battling back from the recession in 2008 and 2009, New York has added 538,000 jobs since 2009 and last year had the strongest growth since 2000 with 143,000 jobs added. The other upstate regions including the Finger Lakes and the Hudson Valley added jobs at rates less than half the national average during the same stretch. Jobs increased 2.4 percent in the Hudson Valley, 2.1 percent in the Finger Lakes and 1.5 percent in Western New York over the 5-year span, but were down 2.2 percent in the Southern Tier.

New York State is looking to be in good shape to meet President Obama’s mandated cut in carbon emissions from power plants. The state is on track to meet the mandate – which calls for a 32 percent nationwide cut – more than a decade before the Federal Clean Power Plan’s 2030 deadline. In June, the state committed to 3 major energy benchmarks for the next 15 years: reducing all greenhouse-gas emissions by 40 percent from 1990 levels, decreasing energy consumption in buildings by 23 percent from 2012 levels and making sure half of the state’s energy is produced from renewable sources.

The City Of Oneonta Will be painting the deck of the Pedestrian Bridge Adjoining the 2nd level of the parking garage to the Main Street arcade walkway beginning Monday morning, The bridge will be closed all day Monday & Tuesday, during that time, main street can be accessed from the Muller Park Stairs of by lower Chestnut Street. More information is available at 432-6465.

The State DEC adopted new regulations to address varying deer populations in portions of the state. DEC Acting Commissioner Marc Gerstman announced that several modifications to the Deer Management Assistance Program were designed to ease the application process for landowners while providing greater flexibility for DEC to administer the program. The full list of changes to the rules can be found a dec.ny.gov.

Governor Cuomo today announced that the new, redesigned NASCAR license plate series will be available to order at the Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International, taking place this weekend. Representatives from the State DMV will be on hand at the race to provide customer service, including to help visitors order the custom plates, renew their registrations, assist with address changes, schedule road and vision tests, and complete web transactions. Details are available at dmv.ny.gov.

A trial date of November 16th has been set for former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos & his son Adam, in a Manhattan federal courtroom. Skelos is accused of using his political influence to get his son a no-show job with a malpractice insurance company; he was previously accused of threatening an environmental technology company if his son was not hired as a consultant. Dean Skelos stepped down as head of the State Senate after his initial arrest in May, his deputy Senate leader Tom Libous was convicted of lying to the FBI about using his political influence get his son a job with a White Plains law firm.

Improvements to the state Department of Environmental Conservation's sporting license-issuance and game harvest reporting system are in place in time for this year's hunting season. The DEC also changed the Deer Management Assistance Program to streamline the program and expand opportunities for landowners needing deer management assistance. The 2015-16 hunting and trapping licenses go on sale on August 10 and are valid beginning September 1, 2015. Licenses and permits can be purchased at dec.ny.gov/permits, through the online License center at licensecenter.ny.gov or by calling 1 (866) 933-2257

The State DOT today announced that the right lane on I-81 northbound near the Exit 5 interchange at Front Street is closed to through-traffic until Monday morning at 11:00 AM, to accommodate the shuttle busses being used for the annual Spiedie Fest & Balloon Rally. I-81 northbound through-traffic will be shifted to the left and center lanes near Exit 5, the right lane will be used as a dedicated shuttle bus acceleration lane to enter and exit the highway, Motorists are advised to use extreme caution during Spiedie Fest, & they should be aware of slow moving traffic, & high traffic volume.

State Police at Sidney arrested 22-year-old Benjamin Stebbins of Gilbertsville for Criminal Trespass and Criminal Mischief. This arrest resulted from a complaint received in the Village of Gilbertsville, the investigation determined that Stebbins had mistakenly entered a residence on Maple Street and then fell asleep on the sofa. While attempting to gain access to the rear and then front door he had caused about $175 worth of damage, the noise caused a resident to wake up and call 911. Stebbins had been drinking alcohol when he entered the wrong house. He was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Butternuts Court on July 23.

Commerce Chenango will host a Natural Gas Update on This morning from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, at 15 South Broad Street, Norwich. The State DEC & Governor Cuomo have banned High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing, the discussion will focus on where natural gas development stands in New York, will there be lawsuits, what will the industry do & related businesses do?

Governor Cuomo is calling for stronger Health Department regulations to combat the sale of synthetic marijuana in New York State, following a dramatic increase in hospital visits and poison control center calls. The sale and possession of dozens of types of synthetic marijuana and bath salts were banned by the Department of Health at the urging of Governor Cuomo in August 2012. These new regulations will expand the existing list of banned substances to include new chemical compounds that drug producers have begun to make since 2012. Residents who are aware of locations where these products are being manufactured, sold, or distributed, please call the Synthetic Drug Hotline at 1-888-99-SALTS.

Bainbridge village officials stated that the water main break has been repaired. Residents may notice brown water for a short period of time, which should clear up after running the tap for a short time.

Commerce Chenango will host a Natural Gas Update on Tuesday July 21st, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, at 15 South Broad Street, Norwich.   The State DEC & Governor Cuomo have banned High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing, the discussion will focus on where natural gas development stands in New York, will there be lawsuits, what will the industry do & related businesses do?   RSVP's are requested today at 334-1402.

The State Office of General Services announced that they would hold 2 surplus vehicle, highway equipment, and miscellaneous property auctions in Cortland & Unadilla next week. Information on specific items and terms of sale are available at ogs.ny.gov. or at (518) 457-6335. the auctions will be held on Wednesday, July 22nd at 9:30 AM at the DEC office in Cortland at 1285 Fisher Avenue, & on Thursday, July 23rd at 9:30 AM at the State Police Troop C Headquarters at 823 State Route 7, Unadilla.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation today officially prohibited high-volume hydraulic fracturing in New York State by issuing its formal Findings Statement, completing the state’s 7-year review of this activity. The DEC claims that after their research and examination, Fracking may pose significant adverse impacts to land, air, water, natural resources and potential significant public health impacts that cannot be adequately mitigated.  Hyrdo-fracking was allowed in certain portions of the state from 1979 through 2008, a copy of their "Findings Statement" is available at dec.ny.gov.

State Police confirmed that 31 year old Yishori Hamata, also known as Tyrell Rogers of Morris was found Sunday, in good health, A missing person investigation began June 18, when Hamata's abandoned car was found in New Berlin, More details are expected to be released & the investigation is continuing.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released 2 audits revealing more than $70 million in questionable Medicaid claims and payments. DiNapoli’s auditors found the state reimbursed providers for excessive services, including 41 dental exams for one patient over three years and identified about a dozen providers that should have been kicked out of the system for wrongdoing. DiNapoli recommended the Department of Health review the overpayments identified and make recoveries, strengthen controls over claims processing to prevent improper payments for excessive services; and review the duplicate Medicaid payments identified and recover, as appropriate. DOH officials generally agreed with the recommendations, but indicated that certain findings were outdated because actions have already been taken to address system shortcomings.

Governor Cuomo announced the availability of free summer meals sites throughout the state to provide children from low-income households with fresh, healthy food when schools are out of session. about 360,000 children received free summer meals in New York in 2014, an increase of 9% from 2013. Children ages 18 and under, and disabled young adults over 18 who are enrolled in school programs for persons with disabilities, can receive the meals & snacks at the summer meals sites, a list of sites can be found at 1-800-522-5006 or visit summermealsny.org.

State Senate & Assembly Republicans have forwarded legislation to tighten up the restrictions on prison inmates, following the Richard Matt & David Sweat escape from the Clinton Correctional facility. Area Assemblyman Pete Lopez comments:

(Lopez 6-16-15)

The “Prisoner Privileges Limitation Law” seeks to prevent the violent convicts from having unfettered access to civilians at prisons and being able to wear civilian clothing while incarcerated, it would also take away a portion of the good behavior rewards program for the most violent felons, who committed crimes such as murder and rape.

The State DEC Officers and Forest Rangers issued 357 tickets for open burning-related charges during the spring statewide open burn ban, according to DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. DEC issued the tickets during the two-month burn ban that ran from March 16 through May 14th, for unattended fires, burning during the burn ban, unlawful disposal of solid waste and setting a fire that endangers the property of another. The number of tickets written this year is up 58% from 2014, many of the larger fires this spring were attributed to people violating the states burn ban, during excessively dry conditions.

The State Police, Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the DEC, Forest Rangers, U.S. Marshals, and the FBI have teamed up to conduct grid searches in Clinton County & into the North Country, to locate fugitives David Sweat and Richard Matt. Police concentrated their efforts this afternoon in Willsboro New York in Essex County; law enforcement in the Southern tier is also keeping up the search, as Sweat has ties to Broome County. Anyone with information should call 911, local law enforcement agencies, or State Police at 1-800 GIVETIP.

State Senator Jim Seward announced senate approval of a bill he sponsored that would amend several provisions of the New York-SAFE Act.

(Seward 6-9-15)

The bill was sent to the assembly where it will be sponsored by Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi of Utica, but the bill is not likely to be signed by Governor Cuomo.

State Lawmakers, law enforcement agencies, Department of judicial services & the department of Agriculture & Markets are working a bill for funding a program to give law enforcement officers a better understanding of animal cruelly issues on farms. New York Farm Bureau President Dean Norton explains:

(Dean Norton 6-9-15)

The bill has sponsors in both houses, and may be acted on in the last week of the legislative session.

Delaware County Deputies arrested and charged 42-year-old Kirell Lakhman of Holbrook, New York Monday, he was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation for traveling on State Highway 10 in the Town of Hamden while his license was suspended, he was arraigned in the Town of Hamden Court and released on his own recognize to re-appear on July 13th. Lakhman was arrested Again on Monday by Deputies on an Arrest Warrant issued by the Village of Walton Court, he was turned over to the Village of Walton Police Department for processing and arraignment.

Former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos & His son Adam have pleaded not guilty in a federal court for corruption charges. A federal indictment accuses Skelos & his son of conspiracy and extortion, they were arraigned Monday in a federal court room in Manhattan, Adam Skelos is accused of having a no-show job with a business that lobbied Dean Skelos on legislative matters, with the younger Skelos receiving about $300,000. Dean skeos resigned as leader of the state senate, but is still holding on to his senate seat representing his Long Island district.

The state DEC Announced that local governments and non-profit organizations in the Catskill region received $400,000 in Catskill Smart Growth Implementation grants. The grants will support projects in Catskill communities, in Delaware county, the Catskill Watershed Corporation will get $50,000 for the Catskill Park Wayfinding Sign Project, the Village of Fleischmanns will get over $45,000 for their Gateway Enhancement Project, the Town of Andes will get over $45,000 for the Ballantine Park Improvements Project.

State Police will be increasing patrols to ensure the safety of the traveling public this Memorial Day weekend. Troopers will be out in force cracking down on impaired drivers, enforcing distracted driver laws, and they will be looking out for reckless & aggressive drivers. Drivers can expect to see sobriety checkpoints, and more troopers on major highways during this holiday weekend, in marked & unmarked vehicles. On Memorial Day weekend in 2014 Troopers arrested more than 235 people for DWI and issued more than 12,000 tickets

State Police responded to an Otsego County 911 report of a 1 vehicle fatal accident on State Route 80 in the Town of Otsego early Thursday morning. 24 year old Brandon Lane of Prattsville lost control of a 2001 Mitsubishi, he exited the roadway, the vehicle became airborne and struck a tree on the passenger side. Lane's front seat passenger was 21 year old Julia Levandowski of Cooperstown, she was pronounced deceased at the scene, an autopsy will be performed at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton. Lane was charged with 2nd degree Vehicular Manslaughter & DWI, he was arraigned at the Town of Otsego Court and then remanded to the Otsego County Jail with no bail set at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

Rural fire departments can now apply for $400,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants, according to the State Department of Environmental Conservation. The grants help rural fire departments enhance their wildfire fighting capabilities. The deadline for applications to the federally funded program is June 30. Applications or further information is available at (518) 402-8839, or dec.ny.gov/regulations.

State Police arrested 56-year-old George Miner of Port Crane, for Sexual Abuse & Endangering the Welfare of a Child. State Troopers received a report of child abuse from the Broome County Child Protective Services, Miner is accused of subjecting a girl less than 14 years old to sexual contact, he will answer to the charges in Town of Fenton Court on May 28th.

The state Assembly passed a bill this week to try to get young adults into continuing the state's farming tradition, local Assemblyman Bill Magee Chairs the Assembly Agriculture committee:

(Magee 5-19-15)

Magee said that he also expects mandate relief & teacher evaluations legislation to be dealt with in the finale month of the legislative session in Albany.

The Attorney General offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, have filed a lawsuit against 4 phony cancer charities. The lawsuit alleges that the Cancer Fund of America, Children’s Cancer Fund of America, Cancer Support Services, and The Breast Cancer Society scammed more than $187 million from unsuspecting donors, including $3 million from New Yorkers since 2008. The Children’s Cancer Fund of America and The Breast Cancer Society have entered into settlements, Litigation is proceeding against the remaining defendants. The proposed settlement include judgments of $137 million and require that 2 of the charities be prohibited from working as not-for-profits.

Governor Cuomo announced new initiatives to streamline regulatory burdens placed on the state’s farmers. The Strategic Interagency Task Force on Lessening Obstacles to Agriculture suggested an Easier Pesticide Registration Process, Faster Recertification Process for Pesticide Applicators & Simplifying Categories for Pesticide Applicators. The changes are expected to be placed into effect in the coming weeks.

The State DEC is now accepting public comments through June 29 on 3 regulatory proposals for hunting and trapping of wild turkey, deer and fisher. The changes cover fall turkey hunting seasons in most areas of the state; modifications of antlerless deer hunting seasons in portions of the state, changes to the Deer Management Assistance Program procedures statewide & reduction of the current fisher trapping seasons in northern New York. regulation changes could be in effect this fall Pending review of the public comments, More information is available at dec.ny.gov.

State Senator Jim Seward announced today that legislation known as "The Domestic Violence Protection Act - Brittany's Law" received senate approval for a 5th time. The legislation would establish a statewide violent felony offender registry, which would require offenders to register with the State Department of Criminal Justice Services upon release from prison. Seward said that the bill has never advanced out of committee to the floor of the assembly for consideration.

After 11 weeks of testimony, & more than 50 hours of deliberations, the jury in the 3rd Cal Harris murder trial has been dismissed & a mistrial has been declared. The jury reported that they were deadlocked on a decision regarding Harris’s guilt for the murder of his estranged wife Michele in 2001. Judge Bartlett and the attorneys for both sides will reconvene & they will have to decide if a new trial will be ordered. Harris was convicted twice before in Tioga county court, both of those convictions were overturned on appeal.

19-year-old Joseph Mueller of Delhi has died from injuries sustained in the Wednesday night crash & explosion of a propane tank at the Delhi American Legion. Mueller died Thursday night at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse after suffering severe burns, after he drove a minivan into the propane tank, at about 8:25 p.m. Wednesday. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation finalized the 2,000 page Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Hydraulic Fracturing this week. The document was 7 years in the making, with thousands of public comments delivered to the DEC on the controversial issue. The documents discuss possible environmental effects, Governor Cuomo banned Fracking earlier this year, fracking was permitted in New York State from 1979 to 2008.

State Senator Republicans have elected Senator John Flanagan as the State Senate Majority Leader. Flanagan replaces Dean Skelos, who is facing federal corruption charges & was forced to step aside.

Governor Cuomo issued an update on this weekend’s transformer fire at Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant in Westchester, as the DEC, State Police & US Coast Guard continuing working at the scene. The DEC and Coast Guard, continue to clean up oil spills, as they evaluate the environmental damage, the DEC anticipates having an estimate of the amount oil recovered from the Hudson River by the end of the week. Some oil burned during the transformer fire or dispersed before containment was in place in the river.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies arrested and charged a Sidney Center man with being a Fugitive from Justice from the State of New Jersey on Monday. Deputies arrested 33 year old Dennis Lafferty Jr., on a Warrant and Bail Forfeiture issued by a New Jersey Superior Court in March 2014. Lafferty was originally charged in New Jersey with Theft, Lafferty, was already incarcerated in the Delaware County Jail on an unrelated charge, he is scheduled to be arraigned in the Town of Delhi Court This morning as a Fugitive from Justice.

State Police are currently looking for 2 teenaged sisters from Binghamton, who have been missing since April 27th, they were last seen at Susquehanna Valley School waiting to get on the school bus that afternoon. Ky-Lea Fortner is a 15 year old, white female, 5’ 6” tall and thin build, with medium red hair, blue eyes and a lip piercing, she was wearing a white shirt, army pants and gray boots. Shaeleen Fortner is a 13-year-old white female, who is about 5’ 2” and thin build, with short dark brown hair and brown eyes, she was last seen wearing a black tank top, black leggings and converse sneakers. Any one with information should contact the State Police at 775-1241.

A Schoharie County Jury has now deliberated for more than 30 hours over 8 days, with no decision on the fate of Cal Harris. Harris is accused of killing his estranged wife Michelle in Tioga County in 2001, he has been convicted twice before, and both convictions were overturned on appeal. The trial was moved to Schoharie county, testimony lasted over 11 weeks.

State DEC Officials are reminding area residents that the Burn Ban remains in effect through May 16th. The dry conditions along with the recent heat have led to a series of brush & grass fires across the Catskills. The regulations regarding open burning are available at DEC.NY.Gov.

State Senate majority Leader Dean Skelos of Long Island is expected to step down as leader of the state senate today, following his arrest on federal corruption charges, along with his son Adam. Skelos is expected to hold on to his seat in the state senate, just like former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver did earlier this year, after he was brought up on federal corruption charges. State Senator John DeFrancisco of Syracuse claims to have enough support to take over; as Senate majority leader should Skelos step down.

State Department of Health is reminding New Yorkers to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves against rabies exposure from stray and wild animals, like bats, which may find their way into people’s homes. If a bat is found inside the home, do not try to remove it by opening doors or windows; they should attempt to catch it safely using Doha’s guidelines. Once caught, individuals should contact their local health department so that the bat can be tested for rabies at the Rabies Laboratory in Albany. The Department has complied a listing of statewide free rabies clinics at health.ny.gov.

State Police and the Broome County Sheriff’s Department arrested 36 year old Jamie Blewett of Norwich in connection with 2 bank robberies at 2 Peoples National Bank Branches in Broome County. Friday State Police responded to a bank robbery at the Peoples National Bank in Conklin, the suspect was described as a white female, wearing a dark brown wig, operating a silver minivan with New York Plates, heading to Binghamton. A Trooper spotted the vehicle a few minutes later in Binghamton, Blewett was taken into custody. Blewett’s description closely matched details of the bank robbery on May 1st at The Peoples National Bank in the Town of Chenango. Blewett was arraigned and remanded to the Broome County Jail without bail.

Governor Cuomo acknowledged that thousands of gallons of oil leaked out following a transformer fire at the Indian Point Nuclear power plant over the weekend into the Hudson River. There was no escape of nuclear waste material; the governor said that the DEC is mentoring the situation closely, as Indian Point is the closest nuclear plant to a major metropolitan area in the world.

The State DOT announced that construction work will be performed requiring lane closures at various locations within the Prospect Mountain construction project today through Friday between 9:00 AM to 3 PM. Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for work zone infractions. Up-to-date travel information is available at 511 or visit 511NY.org.

The State DEC today announced a new 15-day public comment period on the re-submitted Water Quality Certificate application for the proposed, federally regulated Constitution Pipeline. Public comments on the proposed project will now be accepted until close of business on Thursday, May 14. Those who submitted comments during the first comment period which ended February 27, 2015 do not need to resubmit their comments. Written comments should be submitted to the DEC Division of Environmental Permits, 625 Broadway, 4th Floor, Albany, 12233. or email to dec.sm.constitution@dec.ny.gov. Copies of the documents can be viewed online at constitutionpipeline.com. Printed copies are available at libraries in Afton, Bainbridge, Franklin, Sidney, Deposit & Oneonta

State Police are investigating a 1 vehicle fatal collision on Saturday on Fredericks Road in the Town of Maine. A Jeep driven by 27-year-old Jason Coyne, of Newark Valley, went off the shoulder; Coyne overcorrected and hit a tree. Coyne was ejected and died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt and alcohol appears to be a factor in his fatal collision. The accident was discovered and reported to the State Police several hours after it happened; Troopers are asking anyone with any information to call 775-1241.

State Senator Tom Libous released the results of his "Pocketbook Survey" on his website. Senator Libous said that over 5,800 constituents responded, the first question was, Libous asked if State funding of political campaigns with taxpayer money was a good idea, 10% said yes, 80% said no and 9% were not sure. Another question asked was, should the 2% property tax cap should be permanent, 77% said yes, 10% said no and 12% were not sure. Another question was regarding the desire of some New York Border towns seceding to become part of Pennsylvania, 37% approved of the ides, 42% disapproved and 13% were not sure. The survey can be found at TomLibous.com.

The Chenango Arts Council announced the allocation of $99,400 in cultural funding to 50 non-profit organizations and artists through the 2015 Broome, Chenango & Otsego Decentralization Grant Program. An additional $10,000 in funding for Broome County has been provided by the Stewart & Willma Hoyt Foundation, bringing the total cultural re-grant amount to $109,400 through the 2015 DEC Program.

The Village of Sidney will held their 23rd annual Sidney Arbor Day program this morning at Bill Ray field, with the dedication of a tree in honor of Bill Ray, Sidney Mayor Andy Matviak commented:

(Andy Matviak 4-24-15)

A Crimson King tree was planted on the 3rd base side of Bill Ray field this morning, the dedication was attended by members of Bill's family, the Sidney Shade tree Commission & the state DEC.

Volunteer fire departments across New York State will open their doors to local residents this weekend as part of the 5th annual “ Recruit New York” program. Fire department volunteers will conduct tours of their facilities, demonstrate firefighting techniques, and allow visitors to try on turnout gear. Members will discuss the requirements and rewards that come with being a volunteer firefighter, & help interested visitors through the process of joining their local Department. Last year, over 500 fire departments across the state participated.

State Police at Oneonta arrested 42-year-old Shannon Suydam of Schenevus for 3rd degree Assault, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Resisting Arrest. This arrest occurred after Troopers responded to a Delaware County 911 report of a dispute in Schenevus; Suydam is accused of punching his 18-year-old son in the face causing an injury while his 3-year-old daughter was present. Troopers tried to arrest Suydam; he is accused of physically resisting them. Suydam was arrested, was arraigned and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 property bond pending court action on April 27th.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli today announced legislation to create an optional investment pool to help the state and local governments fund retiree health insurance and other post employment benefits. DiNapoli estimates the unfunded Benefits liability of the State is $68.2 billion with an additional $68.3 billion for local governments outside of New York City. DiNapoli’s proposal would Authorize the creation of irrevocable Benefits trusts, which would not be part of the State Common Retirement Fund; Establish an investment fund in the sole custody of the State Comptroller; Designate the president of the Civil Service Commission as the trustee of the state’s new benefits trust, DiNapoli’s proposal also sets no limit on how much or how little a government can deposit into the trust.

With the tax deadline fast approaching, Acting New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Kenneth Adams today offered tips to help last minute filers and avoid tax scams. Tips for last minute filers include: File electronically, Use New York’s free tax assistance at 518-457-5181, which has extended hours through April 15th. Representatives are available from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm Monday and Tuesday, and until 8:00 pm on Wednesday.

DEC Officials said that bear hunters took 1,628 black bears during the 2014 hunting seasons, setting a record harvest for the Southern Zone. Hunters took a total of 1,110 bears in the Southern Zone, an increase of approximately 13% from 2013, A complete summary of the 2014 bear harvest with results is available at dec.ny.gov.

State Police today announced a statewide crackdown on distracted driving, as part of April's designation as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. From April 10th to April 15th, Troopers in marked and unmarked vehicles will aggressively ticket drivers using handheld devices during Operation Hang Up. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,154 people were killed and 424,000 were injured nationwide in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2013. During the campaign last November, State Police issued 550 tickets for distracted driving, for either talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving, texting, or using an electronic device while driving. More information is available at safeny.ny.gov.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in New York are relatively good at seeing patients promptly, though some upstate veterans face waits of a month or more. 36 of the 58 VA facilities analyzed met the VA's timeliness goal, which calls for patients to be seen within 30 days - better than 99% of the time. Locally, the Binghamton VA Clinic successfully saw their patients within a month at a 96.5% rate.

Governor Cuomo announced more than $233 million in federal grants that will support counterterrorism and emergency preparedness activities in counties across the State. The funding is provided by FEMA through its Homeland Security Grant Program, it supports regional preparedness efforts, including planning, organization, and training activities that are critical to sustaining and improving community prevention, protection, response, and recovery capabilities. Locally, grants have been awarded to Broome County $365,000, Chenango County $110,000, Delaware County $100,000, & Otsego County $110,000

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says some $606,000 in legal defense fees incurred by ex-Senate Leader Joseph Bruno are unjustified and shouldn't be reimbursed by taxpayers. DiNapoli's office has approved another $1.8 million for Bruno's legal expenses. Bruno was acquitted last year on charges that he took bribes to direct state grants to a businessman he had previous convictions overturned & he has sought state reimbursement for $2.4 million of his legal bills. Bruno led the State Senate majority for 14 years before stepping down in 2008 as a federal probe continued about his alleged corruption, his attorneys reported that they will refile to get the rest of the reimbursement.

The State DEC today issued guidance on preventing conflicts with coyotes. Officials said that Coyotes usually avoid contact with people, however, conflicts with people and pets can occur as coyotes tend to be territorial around den sites during the spring as they forage almost constantly to provide food for their young. Officials recommend that you never feed coyotes, don’t feed your own pets outside, make sure that your garbage is secured, Fence or enclose compost piles so they are not accessible to coyotes. Also, contact your local police department and DEC regional office for assistance in dealing with coyotes on your property on a regular basis