WCDO Radio News

The Otsego County Office of Emergency Services and the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control Fire Investigators have determined that the fatal structure fire in Richfield Springs on November 16th was due to an electrical malfunction.   Richfield Springs Teacher Mary Weingates was killed in the fire, investigators believe that the fire started in the rear of the structure, which allowed it to spread to other section of the structure unnoticed.

Houndstooth Bakery of Sidney and the Delaware Valley Humane Society have teamed up  to bring toys to the animals at the sherlter in Sidney this Christmas.  Cassandra Vance of Houndstooth explains:

(Cassandra Vance 11-25-13)

More information about the program is available at 563-2275.

State troopers from Deposit arrested 39-year-old Theresa Serino of Deposit for aggravated driving while intoxicated with a reportable BAC result of .21%.  The arrest followed a 2-car accident on State Route 17 in Sanford.  Serino was issued tickets returnable to the Sanford town court on December 2nd.

The New York State economy added 33,800 private sector jobs in September and October 2013, according to preliminary figures released Friday by the State Labor Department.  The State’s unemployment rate increased from 7.6% to 7.7% in the fall, as Layoffs related to the recent federal government shutdown may have contributed to the increase.

New York consumers are being alerted about a phone or email scam from individuals claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service or the State Department of Taxation and Finance. Scammers are threatening New Yorkers with fines, deportation, arrest, and other penalties if they do not immediately pay a claim of owed taxes, through wire transfers or a pre-loaded debit card.  Officials said that many of the scam calls have come from the 530 area code. To report fraudulent activity, contact the State Tax Department at (518) 435-8523 or the State’s Division of Consumer Protection at (518) 474-8583.

Several fire departments responded to a fire at 333 Old Route 17 in Windsor this morning.  Fire fighters from Windsor, West Windsor, West Colesville, Harpursville and Oquaga responded.

Commerce Chenango and Chenango County businesses will celebrate Small Business Saturday this Saturday.  Commerce Chenango will be offering FREE coffee; tea or cider from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for shoppers who provide a sales receipt from a local retailer dated November 30th. Shoppers can also enter to win other prizes.  Any business that joins the Chamber between November 30th and December 14th will get $25 off their membership fee, more information is available at 334-1402.

Hundreds of business leaders and CEOs from around the globe met yesterday for the official launch of START-UP New York, governor Cuomo’s plan to jump-start the state’s economy, especially in the struggling upstate regions, and around the upstate colleges.  Governor Cuomo commented at yesterday’s summit:

(Cuomo 10-23-13)

Governor Cuomo said that Businesses that are looking to startup or expand, and most importantly create jobs, should Visit www.startup-ny.com (http://www.startup-ny.com/) to learn more about the program.

The League of Women Voters of the Oneonta Area has set up debates tonight for a number of Otsego county races.  The Debates will begin at 7:00 PM  & will run until 9:30 this evening, at the Otsego Grille in Morris Hall at the State University of Oneonta.  The debates may be viewed on Time Warner Cable public access channels or at lwvoneonta.org.

A state loan program to assist first responders is changing  under legislation signed into law by Governor Cuomo.  The legislation was sponsored by area State Senator Jim Seward; it increases the amounts of allowable loans under the emergency services loan fund.  The program is financed by repayments to the fund, budget authority and a 911 surcharge on wireless telephone calls. Fire and EMS officials who are interested in the program may contact the Office of Fire Prevention and Control at 518-474-6746 or online at http://www.dhses.ny.gov.

Town of Guilford residents are invited to participate in a special planning workshop l on Saturday October 26th at 9:30 AM.  The event will be held at the Guilford town hall on marble road, more information is available at 895-9966 or 895-6827.

Natural gas production from the Marcellus Shale region is growing faster than expected, according to a new federal report issued Tuesday.   The Energy Information Administration report found production has now reached 12 billion cubic feet a day, which is the energy equivalent of about 2 million barrels of oil a day, and more than 6 times the 2009 production rate. The majority of the Marcellus gas is coming from Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the Marcellus shale is also under Ohio & New York, but Ohio has concentrated on oil production, and New York has a moratorium on shale gas drilling while comments were collected & health studies are continuing.

A new poll finds New Yorkers divided over whether the state is on the right track. A Siena College poll of registered voters found respondents evenly divided, 44 to 44% on whether the state is headed on the right or wrong direction. People who live in upstate New York tended to be more pessimistic, with 57% claiming that the state is headed in the wrong direction.  51 percent of New York City and downstate voters felt the state was headed on the right track.

Nearly 92% of teachers were rated highly effective or effective in the first year of a new evaluation system according to the state Education Department. The results are for 126,829 teachers outside New York City. The results come after the state released new student assessment scores as part of the Common Core program last summer, that showed just 31% of New York students in elementary and middle schools were proficient in math and reading.

State police are investigating the report of a fatality on the railroad tracks in Otego.  The incident occurred at around 6:00 PM Wednesday evening; WCDO will have more details as they become available.

State troopers issued 1,489 tickets in Troop "C" for violations of the state’s mandatory seatbelt laws, including 51 child restraint violations, during the recent two-week Buckle Up New York campaign.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that seatbelts alone reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 45% for front seat passenger car occupants – and by 60% for pickup truck, SUV, and van occupants.  During the 2-week initiative, troopers made 39 DWI arrests, ticketed 689 drivers for speeding, and issued 145 distracted driver tickets.

State Troopers arrested 23-year-old Alexander Throssell, of East Meredith for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. The arrest was the result of a traffic stop in the Town of Stamford; Throssell was issued an Appearance Ticket returnable to the Town of Stamford Court on June 11th.

Governor Cuomo released the Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act, which will establish 3 destination resorts with gaming Upstate, to boost tourism and economic development in the region. The Resorts will be selected only on merit by the gaming commission or a separate board, none of the Resort will be authorized in New York City until a minimum of 5 years after the first upstate Resort opens.  The legislation can be viewed at governor.ny.gov.

The Broome County's Special Investigations Unit arrested 29 year old Susan Smith of Binghamton on 1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Smith is accused of possessing 20 envelopes containing heroin, marijuana, and more $7,000 in cash in her apartment.  Smith faces court action shortly.

The Afton girl’s softball team will play in the state semi-finals Saturday in Queensbury, against Hamilton.  Crimson Knights Coach Cindy Bostelman comments:

(Cindy Bostelman 6-6-13)

The Afton Crimson Knights went 21-1 this season; their game against Hamilton will begin at 11:30 AM Saturday.

State Senator Jim Seward announced final legislative approval of a bill he sponsored to increase the amounts of allowable loans under the emergency services loan fund. The bill will adjust the loan rates available to account for inflation and help departments with equipment purchases and other necessary upgrades. The program is financed by repayments to the fund, budget authority and a 911 surcharge on wireless telephone calls. Those interested in the program may contact the Office of Fire Prevention and Control at 518-474-6746 or online at .

State police announced that one woman was killed in a fire in Port Crane.   State Police,  the Broome County Fire Investigation Team, the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and the Broome County Coroner’s Office are investigating a fatal structure fire occurring Tuesday morning at 311 Tunnel Road in the Town of Fenton.  Fire Departments from Sanitaria Springs, Port Crane, and Harpursville responded to the blaze at 4:29 AM, they located a deceased female inside, the   Identification is undetermined, The investigation is continuing.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a multi-count indictment resulting in the arrest of11 Syracuse-area residents on drug trafficking charges Tuesday. The 69 count indictment includes counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First, Second and Third Degree, as well as Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First, Second & Third Degree, as well as Conspiracy in the Second Degree.  The drug network transported cocaine from Puerto Rico, Arizona and New York City for distribution in Syracuse and Watertown.  The Attorney General office’s seized in excess of six kilograms of cocaine and approximately six ounces of heroin.

Today is “National Denim Day”, a day to wear jeans to commemorate a 1998 court decision in Italy that is viewed as a slap in the face to victims of rape.  Mike Middaugh of the child advocacy center in Norwich explains:

(Mike Middaugh 4-24-13)

Those who would like more information on crime victims’ issues can log on at cc of cc.com.

Habitat for Humanity of Delaware County will be much closer to starting their next build, after receiving a generous gift toward future projects.   The Habitat chapter plans call for a 41 acre property, located on Spring Valley Road in Delhi, for an affordable home and a separate parcel to accommodate a structure to store the inventory of building materials donated to the organization.  More information about Habitat for Humanity of Delaware County can be accessed at 746-9987; or online at Habitatdelawarecounty.org.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting today in the District Conference Room to discuss district business, vote on the DCMO BOCES Budget and Board Member Election. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM.