WCDO Radio News

A Winter storm warning is in effect through Thursday afternoon, according to the national weather service.  Sidney High School Science teacher and Meteorologist Rich Townsend told WCDO news what he thinks of this storm:

(Townsend)

A full look at the forecast follows this newscast.

NYSEG planners are closely monitoring the potential for a strong winter storm with damaging winds and snow or mixed precipitation. Strong winds and related tree damage could result in power interruptions. This storm could affect some of the same customers who lost power as a result of destructive winds late last week. Those who experience power outages should call NYSEG at 1-800-572-1131, they can also call that number to report downed power lines.

Governor Cuomo announced that $250 million is available for a broad range of renewable energy generation projects. The funding is a component of Cuomo's Energy Highway Blueprint to upgrade and modernize New York's aging energy infrastructure.  Funding for these renewable projects is administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority through the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard for projects that use wind, hydroelectric, solar, biomass or other clean-energy resources.  More information about the RPS program can be found at nyserda.ny.gov/main-tier.

The Chenango county sheriff’s department arrested 48-year-old Richard Pollock of Norwich for 2nd degree criminal contempt.  Pollock is accused of violating an order of protection signed by the Norwich City Court Judge, he was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and was released on his own recognize. Richard Pollock is to reappear in the town of Norwich court at a later date.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies investigated a 1-car motor vehicle accident on Holiday Brook Road in the Town of Colchester.  52-year-old Anca Ticusan of New York City lost control of her vehicle on the snow covered road and struck a tree, deploying both of her vehicles air bags.  Ticusan was uninjured and no tickets were issued.

Details have been released regarding the schedule of events for the first night Oneonta celebrations on Monday December 31st.  Events will run from 4:00 to 10:00 pm, starting with the annual parade along Main Street, 25 area musical & entertainment acts will participate in festivities in 14 city locations throughout the rest of the day.  The full schedule is available at firstnightoneonta.com.

State Police at Sidney arrested 34-year-old Scott Fitch of Walton and 52-year-old Donald Barnes of Walton, for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. Both subjects were charged on Monday December 24th, they were issued Appearance Tickets returnable to the Village of Walton Court at a later date.

A brand new Fender electric guitar, autographed by Bruce Springsteen & A new boxing glove autographed by Muhammad Ali will be among the featured items up for auction at Chenango River Theatre’s annual Winter Gala, on January 19th at the Silo Restaurant in Greene.  Bill Lelbach of the Chenango River Theater explains:

(Bill Lelbach)

The auction will be from 6:00 – 9:30 on January 19th at the Silo in Greene, Both the guitar & the boxing glove are currently on display at the Silo Restaurant. More information is available at chenangorivertheatre.org.

The Chenango County sheriffs department arrested 35-year-old Brian Copeland of Norwich for Petty Larceny.   Copeland is accused of selling a go-cart to another subject without the permission of the owner; he was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

The Delaware county sheriff’s Deputies arrested 29 year old Patrick Ladd and 30 year old Walter Lewis of Pennsylvania, after the two men allegedly sold 73 bags of Heroin to a confidential informant under the supervision of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. The drug deal and subsequent arrest took place in the parking lot of the Downsville Country Store Friday; Both men were charged with one count each of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Both men were arraigned at the
Town of Colchester Court and remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000.00 cash bail each.

The State Health Department announced that influenza is widespread, with laboratory confirmed cases in 52 counties.  The State Health Department recommends that everyone six months of age or older receive a flu vaccination. Children under six months cannot get a flu vaccination. Flu season generally runs from October through May. Over the last four years, there have been a total of 34 pediatric flu deaths in New York State and an average of more than 4,400 flu-related hospitalizations a year.  Additional information is available at the State Health Department web page at health.ny.gov (http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/seasonal/).

The Broome County Sheriff's Office arrested 29-year-old Randolph Staats of Unadilla earlier Saturday morning, for allegedly shooting his gun close to homes in an intoxicated state in the Town of Maine.  Deputies reported that Staats faces charges from both the Sheriff's Office and Environmental Conservation Officers, he is being held in the Broome County Jail on $2,000 bail on charges of Reckless Endangerment, Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a residence, Discharging a Firearm from the roadway.

Norse Energy (http://online.wsj.com/public/quotes/main.html?type=djn&symbol=NEC.OS) Corporation of Norway has filed for bankruptcy protection in US Bankruptcy court in Buffalo last week, as the state moratorium on natural gas drilling left the company unable to drill in 133,000 acres of in Central New York.  The company stated that they were unable to pay their bills as they waited for the State DEC to wrap up work on their gas drilling regulations, and begin drilling again after a 4-year wait.  The company has 32 million dollars in debt, and listed no assets.

The United Way of Delaware/Otsego Counties will be distributing the final donations made to the Hurricane Irene/Tropical Storm Lee at the Delaware County Board of Representatives meeting Wednesday in Delhi. The United Way collected $112,500 with 51% of this being designated to assist Delaware County needs.  Organizations that will be receiving funding are the Delaware County Department of Social Services, Watershed Agriculture Council & the fire departments in Sidney Center, Trout Creek, Masonville & Franklin.

State Police at Sidney arrested 24-Year-Old Ryan Olsen of Guilford, for Petty Larceny and 4th degree Criminal Mischief. The arrest resulted from an investigation into the theft of five hens and damage caused to a chicken coop on Crest Drive in Bainbridge; Olsen was issued an Appearance Ticket returnable in the Town of Bainbridge Court today.

Area municipalities will divide up $16,000 in grant money from the Preservation League of New York State.  Sidney will get the largest amount of $6,000 for placing downtown buildings on the state & national registry of historic buildings.  Other grants will go to New Lisbon, Garrattsville, Hartwick and Guilford.

State Troopers arrested 23-year-old Joshua Vannamee of Binghamton, for 2nd degree Aggravated Harassment and 2nd degree Criminal Contempt. The arrest resulted from an investigation regarding harassing phone calls; Vannamee was arraigned in the Town of Fenton Court and remanded to the Broome County Jail on $100 cash bail.

Sidney Elks Lodge will hold their annual Free Throw “Hoop Shoot” contest on Saturday, December 22nd, at the Boys & Girls Club of Sidney located in the Sidney Civic Center. Registration for the Elks “Hoop Shoot” will begin at 9:00am on the day of the event.  The free throw Contest is free and open to all Tri-Town area boys and girls age 8-13. Contestant eligibility and age groups will be determined by their age as of April 1st of 2013. More information is available by calling Steve Crawford at 563-2012.

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit announces the arrest of seven suspects in connection with an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking in the Village of Walton and the surrounding area. Deputies arrested 30 year old Edna Cering, 21 year old Brittany Bakker, 27 year old Ryan McGovern, 25 year old Robin Jordan, 23 year old Frank Mastrorocco, 30 year old Christopher Pashley & 29 year old Kimberly Pashley-Johns, all from Walton, on a variety of drug charges. All were remanded to the Delaware county jail, the investigations are continuing and more arrests are pending.

A portion of interstate 81 between exits 3 & 4 was closed for several hours this morning, following a collision of 3 tractor trailer trucks, 2 of which burst into flames.  The accident occurred shortly before 6:00 AM this morning, 2 lanes of traffic were opened at around 12:30 this afternoon.  The investigation is continuing and charges might be forthcoming.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office arrested 23-year-old Tyrone Lester of Binghamton on an active bench warrant issued by the Town of Norwich Court.  Lester failed to appear to answer the charges of Petty Larceny and 6th degree Conspiracy; he was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $500 bail.

38 year-old Thomas Lancaster of Windsor was convicted of sexually assaulting 2 women, by a Broome County jury.  Lancaster was found guilty of 5 rape and sexual abuse counts, for assaulting a 32 year-old woman in the Town of Colesville in 2010, and a 21 year-old woman in the Town of Windsor back earlier this year.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 20-year-old Benjamin Babcock of Roscoe for 4th degree Criminal Mischief.   The charge follows an investigation into a domestic dispute Babcock; he was given an appearance ticket to return to Colchester Town court at a later date.

State Police at Sidney arrested 43-year-old Thomas LaFever of Unadilla for Driving While Intoxicated.   The arrest resulted from a traffic stop on County Route 3A in Unadilla, LaFever was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Unadilla Court on December 10th.

State troopers in Oneonta arrested 41-year-old Frank Furlan of Laurens for Driving While Intoxicated with a BAC of  .18.  The arrest resulted from a traffic stop on State Route 28 in Milford; Furlan was arraigned in the Town of Milford Court and remanded to the Otsego County Jail in lieu of $1,000 cash bail.

The Oneonta city council is considering a number of fare increases and adjustments for Oneonta public transit at tonight’s meeting.  The adjustments do not affect bus routes inside the city, but are deemed necessary due to high fuel costs and maintenance of the city’s aging bus fleet.  A public information hearing will be held Tuesday evening at 6:00 PM at city hall.

Oneonta Police report that Main Street in front of the Post Office will be down to one lane of traffic today due to a gas line repair that NYSEG needs to perform. It is expected that this closure will remain in effect into the later afternoon hours.

Governor Cuomo today announced that the state has secured a $27 million federal grant that will help put more than 5,000 unemployed New Yorkers to work helping clean-up communities still recovering from Hurricane Sandy. Individuals who are interested in applying for a job under this grant can call the Department of Labor at 1-888-4-NYSDOL or at labor.ny.gov/sandyjobs.

State police arrested 24 year old Nathan Seymour of Butternuts on charges of assault with a weapon, 1st -degree reckless endangerment, 2 counts of 3rd degree criminal mischief, 3 counts of 2nd degree reckless endangerment, 1 count of 2nd degree unlawful imprisonment, 2 counts of reckless driving, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Seymour was arrested Thursday, he faces court action shortly.

Delaware County sheriff’s deputies are investigating a fatal crash Sunday, where an unidentified 53-year-old man from Ridgewood, New Jersey crashed into a parked tractor-trailer. The accident occurred Sunday at around 4:30 PM just outside of Downsville, The driver was declared dead at the scene, the investigation is continuing.

The Chenango county sheriff’s department announced today that they are looking for Jonathan Record, who is wanted on an active Bench Warrant for Violation of Probation. Record has been witnessed in the Hamilton area; he has also been known to frequent the Sherburne and Earlville area. Any one with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s department at 337-1935.

The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 30-year-old Shawn Kessler of Taberg on an active Arrest Warrant, and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. Kessler was charged following a traffic stop in Earlville, he was arrested on an active Arrest Warrant from Oneida County Family Court, for failing to pay child support, he was also found to be in possession of marihuana. Kessler was processed and issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Village of Earlville Court at a later date; he was turned over to an Oneida County Investigator.

State Police at Oneonta arrested 45-year-old Jeffrey Hart of Oneonta for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. The arrest resulted from a traffic stop on Turner Road in Davenport; Hart was arraigned in the Town of Davenport Court and is scheduled to reappear at a later date.

The Delaware County Sheriff Deputies arrested 24-year-old Richard Brown of Walton, on 1 count of endangering the Welfare of a Child. Brown was arraigned in the Town of Colchester and released to appear at a later date in the Village of Walton Court.