WCDO Radio News

Otsego County Office of Emergency Services reported that an early morning fire at about 4:45 this morning at 451 County Highway 21 in the town of Plainfield resulted in a fatality. The fire destroyed the home, Unadilla Forks Fire Department received aid from the West Winfield Fire Department, The fire was reported by a passing motorist, indicating that the house was fully involved. The Cause of this fire is currently under investigation, and the Otsego County Office of Emergency Services is being assisted with the investigation by the New York State Police and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control

Dave Johnson of Unadilla has organized a meeting in Unadilla on April 17th, called "Introduction to Preparing for the Inevitable", with a series of experts on what to do before your final days:

(Dave Johnson 4-17-24)

The meeting will be held April 17th at the Unatego Elementary School Cafeteria from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

Broome County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 49 year old Christopher Merwin of Chenango Forks following a domestic incident in the Town of Chenango. Deputies responded to a residence on Marshman Road, the victim informed patrols of repeated incidents of verbal and physical disputes, including threats on her life with a firearm, deputies submitted a request for an Extreme Risk Protection Order, which was granted by the Town of Chenango Court. While serving the order of protection, deputies located a loaded 9mm “ghost” handgun and methamphetamines, Merwin was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Obstruction of Breathing, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance & Harassment, he was taken into custody without incident, arraigned at Central Arraignment and remains in custody at the Broome County Sheriff’s Correctional Facility.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 3-28-24

32 year old Nicholas Durbin of Deposit appeared for a conference in Delaware County Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to Attempted Sexual Abuse. Durbin was accused of having inappropriately touched a 4-year-old child in the Town of Deposit between February 1, 2022, and April 25, 2022, while in a relationship with the child’s mother, he was sentenced to one- and one-half years in state prison, to be followed by three years of post-release supervision, he was also ordered to register as a sex offender upon his release from state prison.

2 people were arrested following a traffic stop in Norwich regarding a stolen motorcycle, that led to a chase that ended in Unadilla. Norwich Police had attempted a traffic stop, the driver, Cody McCrady of Chenango Forks & passenger, Nichole Wiggins of Greene, fled. The pair were taken into custody in Unadilla. The investigation revealed that the Motorcycle was stolen from Manlius and the license plates were reported stolen from Johnson City. McCrady was charged with Reckless Endangerment, Criminal possession of stolen property, & criminal possess of a controlled substance, Wiggins was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Wiggins was released on an appearance ticket, McCrady was being for arraignment.

Sidney Police Department arrested 33 year old Jesse Terry of Unadilla Wednesday, for criminal possession of stolen property, unlawful fleeing a police officer, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, driving while under the influence of drugs & resisting arrest amon other charges. Sidney Police received an alert about a stolen vehicle out of Oneonta, the vehicle was observed at a car wash, with State Police assisting the traffic stop, Terry did not comply and rammed the Sidney Police car, police pursued along West Main Street, the pursuit ended at the Circle Drive Apartments, where Terry hit 1 of the apartment buildings with the vehicle, he fled into an apartment building and was taken into custody, he was treated at the hospital & was later arraigned in the Village of Sidney Court & was remanded to the Delaware County Jail. More charges are pending.

Delaware County District Attorney's office announced that 58 year old Mark Seeley of Walton, was sentenced to 2 years in the County Jail for Aggravated Harassment and Criminal Contempt. On September 11, 2022, Seeley, threatened several individuals, the Court issued orders of protection for the victims, Seeley violated the orders of protection multiple times. On May 8th, Seeley agreed to a plea deal in County Court, but on May 31st, State Police were contacted by the victims who had discovered that Seeley posted about the victims on social media. Due to the numerous violations the District Attorney’s Office voided the plea & Seeley was sent to jail.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 7-13-23

State Police and other law enforcement agencies continue to search the State Route 79 area and continue to maintain a presence searching for a man that may be a threat to himself and others in Chenango Forks. State Police said that the man may be armed, residents from Route 369 to Richards Road were advised to stay inside, keep their doors and vehicles locked. State Route 79 has been re-opened to traffic. The suspect is described as a white male, with dark hair, approximately 6 foot 1 inches tall and 275 pounds, last seen wearing a black shirt, light-colored pants or shorts and may be wearing glasses. Anyone with information should call 911, & should not approach the suspect..

Sidney Native Nancy Sue Burns passed away at the age of 85 on December 8th, Nancy Sue worked at the former Tri-Town News starting in 1975 & worked there for 43 years, rising to "Editor" of the weekly newspaper. A celebration of life for Nancy Sue will be held at a later date. In memory of Nancy Sue, donations can be made to the Chenango County Hospice in Norwich, more information is available at the CH Landers Funeral Chapel website.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 12-14-22

State Police at Norwich arrested 62 year old Thomas Brick of Chenango Forks, on 2 counts of Grand Larceny, Troopers were contacted by a victim who had made an agreement with Brick to complete home renovations but no work had been completed. The contract was made in May and the victim paid Brick $18-thousand but called the State Police after several months of no work. Brick was arrested and processed at SP Norwich. He was arraigned and scheduled for his next court date in the Greene Village Court on January 5.

The Unadilla Valley Central School District is proposing a capital project totaling $17.8 million, with voting scheduled for today. The renovations and improvements would be funded through state aid and an allocation from the district’s reserve funds, with no affect on taxpayers. Voting will be from 12:00 Noon to 8:00 PM in the Storm Alley.

State Police arrested 26 year old Peter Tarallo of Sidney for 2nd degree Assault, after Troopers were dispatched to a report of an assault at an apartment on State Highway 8 in the town of Unadilla. The troopers discovered that a victim was struck with a sauce pan over the head several times, leading to an injury. The victim was transported to Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich for further evaluation. Tarallo was located with the assistance of village of Sidney Police, he was transported to the State Police headquarters in Sidney and processed & was transported to the Otsego County Jail for Centralized Arraignment and Processing.

The Broome County Sheriff's Department arrested 2 area men for several counts of Criminal possession of a weapon, after they posted a Facebook live stream Monday. 42 year old Nicholas Skiba of Johnson City and 23 year old Keith Hall of Chenango Forks were arrested, a handgun was seen in the live stream and Skiba was wearing Ballistic Body Armor, The Whitney Point & Chenango Forks schools were on lock out, along with Wilson Medical Center and Binghamton General Hospital. Sheriff's Deputies obtained a search Warrant for Skiba's cell Phone & Facebook page, they discovered the location of the 2 men at a residence on State Route 12 In Chenango Forks, they were taken into custody, Deputies seized 5 handguns, 4 rifles 3 shotguns 2 black powder pistols and large capacity magazines, the investigation is ongoing.

Fire Companies from Broome and Chenango Counties responded early this morning to a house fire at 101 Sapbush Road in the Town of Barker at about 3:30 AM. Fire Fighters from Chenango Forks, Whitney Point, Lisle, Greene, Smithville among others were called to the scene, occupants in nearby houses were evacuated, no injuries were reported, the cause of the fire is under investigation.

State Police & Emergency crews responded to the report of a concrete truck rollover today on I-88 in the town of Unadilla. No tickets have been announced, more information will be released following the investigation.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 8-8-22

The Delaware County Department of Public Works will be closing County Route 16 in the Towns of Delhi and Franklin to through traffic beginning at 7:00 AM today, through this Thursday to replace several culvert pipes. The road will be reopened at the end of the day each day. The traveling public should seek alternate routes.

State Police arrested a Mount Upton twice in a 30 hour
period on June 22nd & 23rd.   42 year
old Karlton Tompkins was charged on June 22nd, after he made a U-Turn to avoid
a Police DWI Road Check on State Route 7 in Unadilla, he was apprehended along
with 41 year old Jason Lowe & 25 year old Erica Marble of Sidney on drug
charges,   On June 23rd, Tompkins tried
to flee a trooper in his vehicle, which he crashed on Loomis Road in the town
of Afton, he fled on foot, followed by 2 troopers & a police Dog, a scuffle
ensued with 1 trooper injured and Tompkins bitten by the Police dog.  Tompkins was charged with Reckless
Endangerment, Reckless Driving, Driving While Ability Impaired, Resisting Arrest
and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.   Tompkins was treated at Tri Town Hospital in
Sidney; he was arraigned & was sent to the Chenango County Jail on Cash
Bail pending court action.

State Police are investigating the death of a kayaker in
Chenango Forks.   State Police at
Binghamton were dispatched to the Chenango River at approximately 6:03 p.m.;
the body of a male kayaker was located shortly thereafter.  The kayaker was with a group of people and
his kayak capsized.  The cause of death
is undetermined at this time and the name is being withheld pending family
notification.   More details will be
released later today.

State Police at Norwich arrested 56-year-old Thomas Brick of Chenango Forks, for the felony Grand Larceny and Petty Larceny. The investigation determined that in March 2016, Brick had entered into an agreement to do repair work on a residential trailer and was given a down payment of $8,000. At no time did he start the work or return the down payment to the victim. Brick was being held at the Gowanda Correctional Facility on an unrelated charge, was transported to the Chenango County Court for his arraignment. He was then transported back to that state prison. Brick’s next court date in Chenango County is pending.

The Unadilla Chamber of Commerce will hold their Chamber Dinner this Sunday, honoring the Unadilla Drive In as the Business of the Year and Dave Welch for the Commitment to Community Award. The dinner will be held at Unadilla Methodist Church starting at 4:30 PM.

Otsego county sheriff's deputies arrested 36-year-old Delphina Vance of Unadilla on a variety of drug charges, for allegedly possessing over 30 bags of heroin, plus marijuana & drug paraphernalia, and for driving with a suspended license. Vance was arraigned & was remanded to the Otsego County Jail on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bong pending court action on Monday.

State Police charged 28 year old Adam Youngblood of Binghamton was issued traffic tickets for failing to stop for a school bus, driving on the shoulder and leaving the pavement to pass on the right illegally, when he passed Chenango Forks school bus October 6th. Youngblood turned himself in after seeing the video of his vehicle on TV & Social Media; 15-year-old Alex Menard narrowly missed being hit by the Youngblood vehicle while exiting the school bus on state route 369.

State Police arrested 41-year-old Gary Crosby of Chenango Forks, for 1 count 1st degree Assault, for allegedly stabbing of a 15-year-old male early Tuesday morning in the town of Union. Crosby was arraigned and was remanded to the Broome County Jail without bail.

State Police arrested 23-year-old Jamie Schreiber of Otego, for DWI, following an accident on State Route 7 in the Town of Unadilla. Schreiber’s BAC was .14%; he was processed & is scheduled to appear in the Town of Unadilla Court on July 18th.

State Police were dispatched to a complaint of shots fired at a residence on December 14th, on State Route 79 in Chenango Forks. 1 round was fired from a rifle through a window of a house with 2 adults and 3 children inside. Police arrested; 31 year old Joseph Spencer; 23 year old Chelsie Boyce; 30 year old Joseph Wolcott; and 29 year old Brian Stevens all of Binghamton, for 1 count each of Reckless Endangerment, and Criminal Mischief, Walcott was additionally charged with Criminal Contempt. All 4 were arraigned and remanded to Broome County Correctional Facility. The investigation is continuing and additional charges are pending.

State Police arrested 47-year-old Shannon Morrison of Unadilla, for DWI, following a motor vehicle accident on State Route 28 in Franklin. Morrison was issued traffic tickets returnable to the Town of Franklin Court on January 14th.

“Rock Of Ages” is coming to the Broome County Forum in Binghamton Thursday evening.  The show will feature 2004 Chenango Forks High School Graduate Stephen Michael Kane in the ensemble cast, he told WCDO News about the show and being able to perform at home:

(Stephen Michael Kane)

Kane will also host the Devin Spears Scholarship Talent Showcase at the Endicott performing Arts Center Saturday at 8:00 PM, Kane was the first ever recipient of that scholarship, it will be his 2nd time hosting that event.

Lawsuits from both sides of the hydrofracking issue are looming, as the DEC’s  February 27th regulations deadline approaches.  1 lawsuit has been filed by the National Resources Defense Council and Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy, they claim that the town of Sanford is violating residents’ First Amendment rights to free speech, by refusing to hear any more public comments for and against gas drilling.  Meanwhile, Attorney Michael Joy represents Lenape Resources Incorporated, a natural gas company that has signed drilling leases in Otego, Unadilla and Butternuts, the suit claims that gas companies are entitled to receiving their expected revenue from leases, if they were signed before any drilling bans or moratoriums are passed, the Otego town board is expected to act on a 1-year moratorium at this week’s meeting.

State Troopers in Sidney arrested 44-year-old Melissa Thomsen  of South New Berlin for Driving While Intoxicated.  The arrest resulted from a motor vehicle accident on County Highway 3A in Unadilla,  Thomsen was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Unadilla Court on February 25th.

State Troopers in Binghamton arrested 52-year-old James Harder of Conklin for Felony DWI, following a motor vehicle accident on Conklin Forks Road.  Harder was arraigned before the Town of Conklin Court and remanded to the Broome County Jail pending future court action.

Tomorrow is the deadline for Sidney chamber of commerce members to notify the chamber office regarding attendance at the CHAMBER COLLABORATION DINNER MEETING on MONDAY, JANUARY 28th. The dinner meeting will be hosted by the Unadilla chamber of commerce beginning at 5:30 pm; with dinner at 6:00 at the Unadilla Community Center on Main Street.  The Sidney chamber office number is 561-2642.