WCDO Radio News

State Police investigated a 2-car accident at state Route 206 & Case Road in the town of Bainbridge, at about 7:00 PM last night. 3 people were injured; 1 person was ejected from 1 of the vehicles & was taken by LifeNet to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City.

Oneonta City Police have arrested 2 people on drug charges, following their investigating into the death of Daniel Michaels at a frat house earlier this month. 20-year-old Steven Fleming of Levittown was charged with possession of marijuana, 20 year old Luke Spencer of Mineola was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, both are students at the State University in Oneonta, and they shared an apartment at 34 Academy Street, where Michaels was found on December 2nd.

The Oneonta Police Department is investigating the death of State University student Daniel Michaels of Dix Hills Saturday, preliminary reports suggest that a combination of drugs & alcohol led to a cardiac arrest, which led to the death the 18-year-old. Michaels was found passed out at a fraternity at 34 Academy Street in Oneonta early Saturday, he was taken to Fox Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. The full toxicology report is not expected for another 4 weeks, the investigation is ongoing. State University of Oneonta announced that they are offering additional counseling services to students affected by the Michael's death.

Tri Town Regional Hospital in Sidney will have a new name as of January 1st, following the recent decision to have the hospital affiliated with Fox Hospital in Oneonta, rather than Bassett hospital in Cooperstown. State regulations stipulate that a satellite emergency department must be within 35 miles of an acute care facility, Fox is about 23 miles from the Sidney facility. The new name will be A.O. Fox Hospital- Tri Town Regional Campus; services that are available will be unchanged with the new name.

Oneonta Police Detectives arrested a 52- year-old man from New Rochelle Thursday afternoon following a 2-month investigation into narcotics trafficking. Search warrants were obtained for the suspect's person and for an 85 Ford Avenue. The suspect was transported to the City's Public Safety Building. A 2nd warrant was served that permitted officers to conduct a body search, the suspect became combative, officers observed that the suspect placed a substance believed to be cocaine in his mouth, which was swallowed after a struggle with 4 officers. EMT’s responded, the suspect was taken to Fox Hospital in Oneonta, where he died at 7:40 PM. The body was taken to Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton for an autopsy and toxicology screening. The suspect's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The incident remains under investigation by the Oneonta Police Department under the supervision of the Otsego County District Attorney's Office.

Officials at SUNY Broome have confirmed that freshman Miranda Gifford of Rome, has died from injuries she sustained in a car crash on State Route 12 in Oxford Monday. The Chenango County Sheriff's Office said Gifford veered in to oncoming traffic around 12:00 noon & struck a truck operated by Danny Hall of Barton. Gifford was extricated from her vehicle and airlifted to University Hospital in Syracuse, where she died Wednesday afternoon. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Gifford was enrolled at SUNY Broome, they are offering counseling for students affected by Gifford’s death.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office investigated a 2-vehicle crash on South Canal Street in the Village of Oxford that shut down the road for about 4 hours at about 12:30 Monday afternoon. A Vehicle operated by Miranda Gifford of Rome veered into oncoming traffic & she struck a truck operated by Danny Hall of Barton. Gifford was extricated from her vehicle and airlifted to University Hospital in Syracuse by LifeNet. Hall and his passenger were uninjured. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, & the Chenango County Bureau of Fire, is investigating a fire at 108 County Road 21 in the Town of Plymouth that claimed the life of Plymouth Fire Chief Frank Fowlston Monday. The fire was reported at about 2:00 AM, it appeared to have started in the living room. Fowlston was discovered inside the residence, the autopsy was conducted at Lourdes Hospital, it was determined that Fowlston died of smoke inhalation. Fire Departments from Plymouth, Norwich, North Norwich, Smyrna, and Sherburne fought the blaze, the cause is still under investigation.

The Tri Town Regional Hospital's 3rd Annual Health Fair will be held this Saturday at Keith Clark Park in Sidney, spokesperson Amy Beveridge explains:

(Amy Beveridge 9-13-17)

The event will run from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and was made possible by area sponsors including Amphenol, Cooperstown Medical Transport, SFCU, The Sidney Alumni Association & Tieco Ty-ups of Unadilla.

Former Syracuse University Collegiate basketball stand outs Roosevelt Bouie & Dale Shackleford visited Springbrook in Oneonta yesterday, to conduct a basketball clinic for the Springbrook Scorpions basketball team. Springbrook COO Seth Haight & Security Mutual Life Insurance COO Bruce Boyea coordinated yesterday's event, Haight comments:

(Seth Haight 9-13-17)

Bouie & Shackleford were teammates for 3 years at SU in the late 70's, Bouie made a name for himself for 16 years in the Italian Basketball league, Shackleford played professionally in Italy & Chile after college.

Chenango County Sheriff's Department responded Sunday evening at 7:12 PM, to a 2 car crash on State Route 12 in the Town of Norwich. A vehicle operated by 37 year old Amber Ryan of Norwich NY, made a left turn into the path of a vehicle operated by 61 year old Randolph Smith of Earlville. Ryan was transported to UHS Wilson Hospital with minor injuries, her front seat passenger 26 year old Nicholas Ohl was transported to Wilson Hospital with serious injuries. Randolph Smith was transported to UHS Chenango Memorial with minor injuries; Robin Smith, a front seat passenger in Randolph Smith’s vehicle was also transported to UHS Wilson with minor injuries. Two rear passengers in Smith vehicle were uninjured. State Route 12 was closed for approximately 3 hours due to the investigation. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Campus sexual assault was the topic of a daylong training session Monday by State Police. More than 120 campus administrators, victim advocates and others attended the session at the State University of New York at Geneseo. Topics included domestic violence, stalking and how to preserve digital evidence. The training was presented by the State Police Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit.

Broome County District Attorney Steve Cornwell announced that 27-year-old Aizaz Siddiqui of Binghamton pleaded guilty in City of Binghamton Court Friday to leaving the scene of an accident, in connection with the December 3rd 2016 death of Binghamton University student Stefani Lineva. Siddiqui hit Lineva on State Route 434 in Binghamton, she was pronounced dead at Wilson Hospital. Siddiqui will be sentenced on August 4th.

Governor Cuomo announced that the possible repeal of the Affordable Care act would adversely affect 2.7 million New Yorkers. Over 1 Million New Yorkers Face Significant Loss of Health Care Coverage Under House GOP Plan The cost of the repeal would mean that Over $4.5 Billion would be Shifted to State, Local Governments and Hospitals, $400 Million in Tax Credits would be lost to Purchase Health Insurance. The Department of Health's Analysis is Available at health.ny.gov.

Vulto Creamery of Walton has been named in a wrongful death lawsuit by the widow of Richard Friedman of Vermont, Veronica Friedman. Mr. Friedman died November 2nd 2016 after suffering a massive stroke caused by the Listeriosis infection he suffered from eating the raw milk cheese manufactured by the Vulto Creamery, which was contaminated with Listeria. The Friedman’s purchased Vulto cheese last October and Friedman's symptoms caused him to go to the Emergency Room at Brattleboro Hospital on October 11th; he was later transferred & suffered a stroke and died at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital. 6 other people were hospitalized and 1 other person died in connection with the Vulto Creamery Listeria.

The State University of New York Board of Trustees today announced the appointment of Kristina Johnson as the 13th chancellor of SUNY, replacing Nancy Zimpher, who will step down as Chancellor in June. Johnson’s appointment is effective September 5 at an annual state salary of $560,000.

State Police arrested 36-year-old Jeffrey Oakley of Delhi, for 3rd degree Assault, after troopers were advised of a dispute Monday in the Town of Meredith. Oakley allegedly grabbed the victim by the hair and bounced the victim’s head off the floor causing a neck injury, with a child present. The victim was treated at a local hospital and was released. Oakley was arraigned in the Town of Delhi Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 property bond. An order of protection was issued for the victim.

Oneonta Police Department were dispatched to a reported stabbing at 12 Division Street early Friday Morning. Police found a 24 year old man bleeding from lacerations to his head and hand, after he tried to break up a domestic dispute among neighbors. The stabbing victim confronted the male, he was then assaulted with a knife & was transported to Fox Hospital, where he was treated and released. Police arrested 53 year old EDDIE BURNS of the Bronx for 2nd degree Assault, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Reckless Endangerment, & Criminal Possession of a controlled substance. Burns was arraigned and was remanded to the custody of the Otsego County Sheriff's department without bail.

Sidney senior Carolee Pierce signed her NCAA National Letter of Intent at Sidney High School to play Basketball at Division-3 Marywood University in Pennsylvania next year. She was joined by family, friends, teammates and school administrators for her official signing. Pierce was a 2nd team All-MAC League selection this past winter for the Lady Warriors & was the league leader in blocked shots for the 2016-2017 season.

Binghamton Police responded Saturday to 92 Front Street on a report of a male who fell from a 4th floor balcony. The deceased was identified as 18 year old Conor Donnelly of Pearl River, New York, he was transported to Wilson Hospital and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Donnelly fell when he attempted to climb to a third floor balcony from the fourth floor balcony, his death has been ruled accidental, the autopsy stated that Donnelly had been drinking, Donnelly was a student at Binghamton University and was attending a frat house party, Police said that they do not believe that Donnelly’s death was the result of hazing. the incident is still being investigated, anyone with information is asked to contact the Binghamton Police at 772-7080.

Binghamton Police charged 27-year-old Liz Ayala of Binghamton for 2nd Degree Murder, for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend, 26-year-old Gerrard Davis, during a domestic dispute. Binghamton Police responded to 97 Broad Avenue after receiving a 911 call, Davis was taken to an area hospital, where died shortly after arrival. Ayala was arraigned in City Court and remanded to the custody of the Broome County Sheriff Office. 2 children were home at the time of the incident; the Broome County Child Protective Services removed them. The investigation is continuing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact to contact the Binghamton Police Detective Bureau at 772-7080.

A certificate of need has been submitted to the New York State Department of Health to make Tri-Town Regional Hospital in Sidney; a satellite emergency department under the leadership of Fox Hospital in Oneonta. Tri Town Regional Hospital CEO Dr. Carlton Rule explains:

(Dr Carlton Rule 1-25-17)

Dr. Rule said that both hospitals are part of Bassett Healthcare Network; he said that if the Certificate is approved, the conversion to a satellite Emergency Department model would take effect in the third quarter of this year. Dr. Rule said that services would not change; state regulations simply stipulate that a satellite emergency department must be within 35 miles of an acute care hospital. Fox Hospital is 23 miles from TRH in Sidney while Bassett Medical Center is just over 45 miles away.

New York Lawmakers will begin several weeks of hearings on Governor Cuomo's proposal in the 152 billion dollar budget plan. The 1st hearing will be focus on the Governor's plan to make state & City university free again, for students in families making less than 125,000 a year, the 2nd hearing will be dedicated to workforce development, following hearings will deal with taxes, state spending on public safety, economic development, health care & social services, education and the environment. The legislature has until April 1st to pass a budget.

Former Bassett Hospital Doctor, John Davis will speak to the Hartwick Historical Society tonight, regarding his book on Dr. Mary Bassett & The history of Bassett Hospital. The event will begin at 7:00 PM tonight at the Kinney Memorial Library; more information is available at 293-7530.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will present the Governor's State of the State and Budget Proposals this morning at Binghamton University at 11:30. The presentation will be held in the Innovative Technologies Complex Engineering and Science Building at 85 Murray Hill Road. This afternoon Commissioner RoAnn Destito of the Office of General Services will give a presentation of Governor Cuomo’s 2016 Budget Address today at 4:00 PM. The presentation will be held at the Foothills Performing Arts Center on Market Street in Oneonta.