WCDO Radio News

Governor Cuomo announced that the driver of the limousine involved in Saturday's in Schoharie, did not have the appropriate license to be driving the vehicle. Cuomo also announced today that the vehicle in question was inspected last month & failed the inspection. State attorneys are seeking a cease and desist order to stop Prestige Limo from operating until the investigation into the accident has been completed. 18 people in the vehicle, including the driver were killed; also 2 bystanders were killed in a convenience store parking lot when they were struck by a vehicle that had been struck by the limo. The investigation is continuing.

The state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Fire Prevention and Control held their 21st annual ceremony Monday morning in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. 28 names were added today, many of the names added in recent years were from New York City Fire Department who died from illnesses associated with working at the World Trade Center after the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks.

Corning announced that they will invest 11 million dollars for upgrades to their Oneonta Plant. The upgrades will allow for the company to keep 175 jobs at the plant, local officials also expect that the Corning Expansion could help attract more businesses to locate at the railyard redevelopment project area.

Drug Overdose deaths from Opioids have declined in Broome County. In the first 9 months of 2018, Officials said that there were 22 overdose deaths, in 2016 there were 60 deaths, and in 2017 there were 55. Most of the deaths were male, the average age was 41.

The city of Oneonta Department of Public Service will flush water mains in a portion of the low-service area, starting at 9:00 this morning. Work will continue until 4:00 PM, Flushing is expected to take place through the end of the week. Streets where service will be affected include Main Street and various side streets in the City’s East End.

The Delaware County Board of Elections reminds area residents interested in voting the in the November 6th General Election, need to register by this Friday October 12th, which is the last day to register in person and to postmark a registration form for the November 6th General Election. Registration forms and applications for absentee ballots may be found online at co.delaware.ny.us/departments or by calling 832-5321.

State Police and the Schoharie County Sheriff's Department responded to a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of State Route 30 and S30A in the town of Schoharie. A Ford Excursion limousine was traveling in a southwestern direction on State Route 30 and failed to stop at the intersection with State Route 30A. The limousine traveled across the intersection into a parking lot and struck a 2015 Toyota Highlander which was unoccupied and parked; the Highlander then struck and killed 2 pedestrians. 20 victims were killed, all 18 in the limousine, including the driver, and the two pedestrians. The investigation is ongoing.

Otsego County Sheriff Department arrested 31 year old Joel Young of Exeter, after he pointed a shotgun at a Sheriff’s Deputy during a domestic dispute call. The deputy entered the residence and attempted to arrest the defendant, who fled from into his bedroom & retrieved a shotgun and pointed it at the Deputy. Young was taken in to custody following a physical struggle, he was arrested for Menacing a police officer, Criminal Possession of Weapon, Resisting Arrest & Harassment, he was arraigned in the Town of Otsego Court, & was remanded to the Otsego County Jail on $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond and he is scheduled to reappear at a later date.

State DOT announced the completion of a $2.7 million pavement resurfacing project on Interstate 88 in the town and city of Oneonta. The 3.9-mile improvement project between Exit 13 and 16 included the milling & repaving, the shoulders were also given a surface treatment and all pavement markings were replaced. Curb ramps at the ends of the Exit 14 and Exit 15 off ramps were improved to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Fire Prevention Week is this week & the Firemen's Association of the State of New York is urging New Yorkers to ensure their smoke alarms are in proper working order, they specifically encourage New Yorkers to install smoke alarms equipped with sealed-in, non-removable batteries that last for 10 years. According to the National Fire Protection Association, three of every five home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms or working smoke alarms. Firefighters frequently encounter smoke alarms with missing or dead batteries.

Physician Assistant Alyssa MacIntosh of UHS Women’s Health Center in Norwich will hold a discussion about Breast Cancer & earl y detection in a free presentation today at Bohemian Moon, 103 W. Main Street in Norwich. An optional buffet and cash bar will be available at 6 p.m., with the presentation and discussion to start at 7 p.m. The event is part of UHS Chenango Memorial’s 2018 Women’s Health Series, which will conclude on Monday, November 12 with a discussion on pre-diabetes and diabetes risk factors. More information is available at 337-4183.

The Peanuts gang will be coming to The Forum, Binghamton, on November 20th at 6:00pm for A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage. Tickets are on sale Monday, October 8th at 10:00am at the arena box office, Ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000. The Emmy and Peabody award-winning story by Charles Schulz originally aired on television over 50 years ago.

The Raymond Corporation in Greene announced that they will hold a Career fair on September 8th & September 12, as the international Forklift manufacturing leader looks to expand their workforce. Raymond Vice President Steve VanNorstrand told WCDO News that it is easy to register for a specific time frame for an interview at their career fair:

(Steve VanNorstrand 8-21-18)

Raymond Corporation is looking to add about 75 people to their current levels of about 1850 employees; Hours for the Career Fair on September 8th will be from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and on September 12th from 3:00 to 7:00 PM.

Tourism-related dollars spent in Delaware County in 2017 have grown to nearly $112 million, according to a report issued by Tourism Economics for New York State Empire State Development Division of Tourism; Delaware County Chamber of Commerce President Ray Pucci comments:

(Ray Pucci 8-21-18)

The report showed that tourist spending statewide increased by 4.4%, growth in the Catskills region increased by 7.1%, while Delaware County saw an increase of 11.6% in 2017. Pucci said that tourism dollars translates into 1,100 Jobs, which translates into $38 Million in Labor Income recirculating into the County's economy. More information is available at delawarecounty.org or 746-2281.

Broome, Chenango, Delaware and Otsego counties will all receive funding to support emergency response operations, as part of a statewide program administered by the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. Funding will be used for upgrades in call-taking and dispatching technology, including investing in new services such as text messaging, data communication and improvements to geo-location for emergency response. Local Assemblyman Cliff Crouch said that Broome County was awarded $194,069, Chenango County $179,215, Delaware County $168,096 and Otsego County $157,615.

The State Labor Department released the statistics for the month of July today, as unemployment statewide fell 2/10's to 4.3%. Locally, Chenango County had 4.1% unemployment, Delaware County had 4.7% & Otsego County had 4.3% in July.

State Police arrested 39 year old Christopher McMahon of Fenton for Criminal Mischief & Reckless Endangerment, following a complaint that McMahon was damaging a window of a vehicle. McMahon allegedly threw an item at the victim's windshield while both vehicles were in motion, causing damage. McMahon was arrested and released on appearance tickets; he will appear in the town of Fenton Court on August 23rd.

Reports from South Carolina said that it was a Union-Endicott teacher from Broome County New York who was attacked and killed by an alligator while walking her dog near her vacation home in South Carolina. 45 year old Cassandra Cline was a kindergarten teacher at the Johnson Elementary School, investigators said that the alligator went for the dog first, Cline tried to rescue the dog when the 9 foot alligator attacked her & pulled her several feet into the lagoon.

Governor Cuomo signed legislation to further protect children from exposure to secondhand smoke. The bill prohibits individuals from smoking in facilities that provide child care services, including private homes. All facilities required to be licensed or registered for child care services must comply with the smoking ban within 90 days.

The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce will hold their next general membership meeting today at the back of Bob’s Diner. The meeting will begin at 7:30 am.