WCDO Radio News

A.m. news Tuesday 12-24-13

62-year-old  Barry Renert has been apprehended by the Richmond City Police Department in Virginia, shortly after midnight.  Renert was remanded to the Richmond City Jail, he was wanted for yesterday’s shooting at the 7th Inning Stretch store at 137 Main Street in Cooperstown.  Renert is expected to be extradicted back to Otsego county to face court action.

Another gas station robbery was reported in Binghamton, as police were called to the Mirabito store at 1178 Vestal Avenue last night.  A man armed with a gun walked into the gas station and demanded money, the suspect is described as white, standing 5 feet, 10 inches tall and with a thin build, wearing white sneakers, gray sweatpants, orange sun glasses, a black mask and a winter hat.  Police said he was last seen on foot on Mitchell Avenue.

The State Police Troop C Violent Felony Warrant Squad, and U.S Marshals Fugitive Task Force, apprehended 3 people wanted in Broome County.  Arrested were 20-year-old Shayne Bartow of Vestal, who was wanted for Felony Probation Violation & 2nd degree Burglary by the Broome County Sheriff's Office.  Also apprehended were 21-year-old Denzel Duncan of Binghamton, who was wanted for Felony Aggravated Family Offense by the Binghamton Police Department and 50-year-old Debbie Duffy of Vestal, who was wanted for Welfare Fraud by the Binghamton Police Department.  All 3 fugitives were turned over to the respective wanting agencies.

The Chenango county sheriff’s department arrested 33-year-old Timothy Heady of Norwich for Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs.  Heady was charged following a traffic stop for a moving violation in the Town of Columbus, during the stop, Heady was found to be operating the motor vehicle under the influence of marihuana, he was also found to be in possession of marihuana.  Heady was taken into custody without incident, was processed and released to a sober third party, he will appear in the Town of Columbus Court at a later date.

President Obama's visit to Binghamton University this Friday has been limited to a very small audience.  Tickets will be distributed Wednesday at noon via an online lottery pool.  There will only be one entry permitted per person, and only one ticket will be awarded per entry selected.  Participation is limited to students, faculty and staff at B.U., along with a few select local dignitaries including Broome County Executive Debbie Preston, Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan and Vestal Supervisor John Schaffer. The President will lay out a plan to make college more affordable, tackle rising costs, and improve value for students and their families.  The town hall event will take place inside the Old University Union at 12:45 on Friday, although attendees will need to be in place much earlier. Traffic will be disrupted on campus for much of the day with the main entrance and campus loop closed from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. The university is still working on determining designated areas for anti-fracking or gun rights protestors.

A two-car crash in Otsego County has left one man dead and sent two others to a hospital. At around 10:50 on Monday night, crews responded to the scene on County Route 22.  State Police said George Dahrough, 52, was traveling westbound when his 1994 Ford crossed into the eastbound lane.  He struck a 1990 Toyota driven by Jesse Snyder, 62, of Richfield Springs.  Crews declared passenger Cole Snyder, 36, dead at the scene.  Paramedics took Jesse Snyder to a nearby hospital in an ambulance and listed him in critical condition.  They also took Dahrough to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries.  Police said the crash remains under investigation.

A car drove into the M&T Bank on Upper Front Street Binghamton at around 11:10 a.m. Tuesday.  New York State Police and the Chenango Fire Department responded to the scene.  Paula Hamilton, 90, of Harpursville, hit the accelerator when she meant to hit the brake.  Her silver Honda drove through a handicapped space in the front of the building, knocked over a sign and drove through the front window.  Hamilton was taken to Lourdes hospital for precautionary measures.  No one else was injured.

A Johnson City man has been indicted in connection with the murder of his neighbor in Broome County Court.  Christopher T. Davis, 43, faces charges of murder in the first degree, two counts of murder in the second degree and robbery in the first degree.  Police responded to a 911 call for 36 Brown St. in Johnson City July 8th.  There, they found 50-year-old Patricia LaCaprara dead in her home as a result of traumatic head injuries.

State police at Oneonta arrested 44-year-old Sarah Helmes and 45-year-old David Helmes of Stuyvesant on felony drug charges Sunday in the town of Hartwick.  Both were charged with criminal possession of cocaine, Sarah Helmes also was charged with drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle, both face court action shortly.

The Broome County Health Department has confirmed two cases of E Coli, linked to people who went swimming at Cole Park in the Town of Colesville back on June 23rd.  Health department officials said that the 2 people affected are recovering, they also reported that the water at Cole Park is being monitored & is safe currently.  E Coli can be caused by cow manure affected vegetables, under cooked meat, or from run off after excessive rainfall in rural areas.

The Broome County Sheriff’s department arrested 17-year-old Katlynn Carangelo of Vestal, for allegedly taking funds that were donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association in retail established that she had been working at.   Carangelo was charged with 3 counts of Petty Larceny, she was released on an appearance ticket for Town of Union Court at a later date.

PM NEWS 7-11-13

Endicott Interconnect Technologies Inc. filed for federal bankruptcy protection Wednesday, saying it's 70 million dollars in debt left the 11 year old electronic packaging supplier with no other option. In a one page letter distributed to employees on Wednesday, EI's new Chief Restructuring officer David Van Rossum said the company had adequate cash on hand for daily operations on a go forward basis. The letter also stated that James Matthews Jr., who was named as the company's interim CEO in April following the retirement of former chief executive James McNamara Jr., has stepped down as the head of the company.

US Senator Charles Schumer is calling for more stream and river guages for New York State. Schumer is urging passage of the Obama Administrations 2014 budget, which includes 36.2 million dollars for the gauge program, an increase of 7.3 million dollars. The budget also includes 63 million dollars for the USGS Cooperative Water Program, an increase of 400 thousand dollars. Schumer would like see up to 300 new stream guages installed nationwide, with New York State being given particular focus. Schumer said that if approved, the funding would go into effect October 1st. You can view the river guages for our local area online 24 hours a day at our website, at WCDO Radio dot com.

Vestal police charged 36 year old Dale Paulhamus of Newark Valley with 3rd degree larceny after an investigation in misappropriation of car parts and money while he was the parts manager of Matthews Auto Group in Vestal and Norwich. During 2011 and 2012, Paulhamus is accused of ordering parts and creating fictitious purchase orders that were charged to the Matthews Auto Group. Paulhamus either used the parts or sold them for cash according to police.

More than $1.1 billion in unclaimed life insurance benefits have been recovered nationwide after an investigation by New York regulators. The state’s Department of Financial Services said many insurance companies are not using lists of recent deaths from the Social Security Administration to determine whether a policy holder had died. New York regulators will direct insurers to go to NYPolicyFinder.com, to help residents locate lost life insurance policies and annuity contracts.
During a visit to Ithaca yesterday, Gov. Cuomo shed more light on his conversations with FEMA representatives about getting money for flood victims in the Mohawk Valley. Cuomo continued to say that he was not optimistic about getting aid for homeowners. Cuomo said many of the people he visited in the flooded regions did not have insurance that covered their losses. He would have to call a special session of the state legislature to get funding for flood victims.

State police officials said nearly 1,500 qualified applicants have already signed up to take the upcoming trooper exam. The application period ends September 8. Exam dates are October 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2013. The online application can be found at the State Police Recruitment website at nytrooper.com

State regulators have scheduled a series of hearings on a proposal to reduce the volume of carbon dioxide emissions allowed in a nine-state region. New York is part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which plans to cap emissions at 91 million tons each year starting in 2014, down about 45 percent from the current 165 million-ton cap. The proposal would also set a $2 per ton price on allowances power plants can trade. The DEC hearings will be in late August.

New poll results show former Gov. Eliot Spitzer leading in the race for New York City comptroller, but allegations of his involvement in a prostitution scandal continue to dog him. Two women's rights group leaders held a news conference this week to denounce his decision to run again for public office. Spitzer resigned in 2008 after being identified as a client of a pricey escort service that was under federal investigaion. Spitzer was never charged with any crime. Spitzer topped fellow Democratic hopeful Scott Stringer by 42 to 33 percent among registered Democrats, according to a Wall Street Journal poll.

State troopers arrested 22 year old George Holbert of Guilford for 4th degree criminal mischief and 2nd degree Harassment following a dispute on State Route 8, in the Town of Guilford. Holbert was arraigned in town of Guilford court and sent to the Chenango County jail on $2,000.00 bail.

State troopers arrested 36 year old Rob Lane of Endicott for 2nd degree criminal impersonation following a traffic stop on I-81 in the town of Triangle. Lane used a false name and did not have a valid driver’s license. Lane was issued an appearance ticket for town of Triangle court July 15.

State Police will conduct a statewide "Buckle Up New York Summer Parks Initiative, July 13 – 28, and will focus on seatbelt use and child passenger safety violations at state parks throughout the state. Each year about 60 million people visit the parks throughout New York State; many of these guests include families with improperly restrained young children.

State police arrested 39 year old Jeremy Guy of Vestal for DWI with a BAC of .16& following a traffic stop on East Main Street in the Town of Union. Guy was issued an appearance ticket for town of Endicott court July 31.

A 47 year old former Unadilla resident was sentenced to 12 and half years in prison, with 10 years post release supervision, after pleading guilty to first degree criminal sexual act. Casey Callahan had been arrested in January by state police.

Some New York government employees will soon begin taking unpaid leaves as part of budget cuts mandated from Congress. More than 1,750 New York National Guard technicians will be forced to stay home one day a week without pay. The furloughs will continue for 11 weeks through the end of September, which is the end of the fiscal year. It's part of the Budget Control Act, otherwise known as the sequester. The Department of Defense expects to save $4.5 million in New York

State police responded to a 2-vehicle accident with 9 injuries at around 7:30 this morning in Madison County.  Reports said that a Department of Transportation dump truck hit a Sherburne Earlville school district van, after the district vehicle went through a stop sign in Smithfield.  Troopers reported that the school van was carrying 6 teachers to Syracuse, the DOT Truck had 3 passengers, both vehicles went off the road & both overturned.   All 9 were taken to area hospitals, the investigation is continuing.

The State Labor Department today released unemployment rates for May. The state's unemployment rate was 7.6% in May, locally Chenango County’s rate dropped ½% to 6.9%, Delaware County’s rate dropped 4/10’s to 7.9% and Otsego County’s rate dropped ½% to 6.9% in May.

The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested an unidentified 16-year-old female from Guilford on a charge of 2nd degree harassment.  The juvenile was arrested after an investigation into a fight on a school bus where the suspect struck the victim in the head and face several times.  The juvenile will appear in the Town of Guilford Court at a later date.

State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Vestal and Endicott Police Departments executed a search warrant this morning & arrested 37 year old Raheem Gibson & 35 year old Ann Vargas of Westover on charges of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Marihuana and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Police confiscated cocaine, marihuana, and a scale; both were issued appearance tickets returnable to the Town of Union Court at a later date.

State Police CNET Team and Vestal Police arrested 2 Johnson City residents for drug possession, following the execution of a search warrant Wednesday morning.  Charged were 34 year old Kevin Turner & 36 year old Kevin Andrews for 3rd degree Criminal Possession of Marihuana, Turner was also charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia.  Police seized 12 ounces of marihuana, plus cocaine, scales, packaging material and over $1,300 in cash.           Both were arraigned in the Village of Johnson City Court and remanded to the Broome County Jail without bail. The investigation is continuing.

The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 79-year-old Robert Huntley of Greene for 2nd degree Driving While Intoxicated.  Huntley was arrested following a traffic stop on State Highway 41 in the Town of Coventry; he was issued an appearance ticket and released to a sober third party.  Huntley will appear in the Town of Coventry Court a later date.

Norwich police have arrested 4 people in connection with the sale of heroin.  Charged were 25-year-old Ashley Babcock of Norwich, 35-year-old Eneth Davenport of Norwich, 28-year-old Randy Buck of Sherburne, and 24-year-old Michael Marshall of vestal, for 7th degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument and criminally using drug paraphernalia.  Babcock and Davenport were also charged with 1st degree criminal nuisance and Marshall was charged with 3rd degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.  All are being held in the Norwich City lockup pending arraignments scheduled for today in Norwich City Court.

34-year-old Francisco Torres of Oneonta has been indicted by an Otsego County grand jury and has been arrested by the Otsego County Sheriff’s department for allegedly failing to register as a sexual offender.  Torres was charged with 2 counts of failure to register as a sexual offender, for allegedly moving to Oneonta from state route 7 in Colliersville in December, and failing to notify authorities within 10 days of the move.  Torres may face additional charges for allegedly living in Albany, Hartwick & the town of Maryland without reporting those addresses, as required of level 2 sex offenders, he was arraigned and was released pending future court action.

Governor Cuomo today announced that New Yorkers would save more than $500 million on health insurance premiums in 2013 because the Department of Financial Services cut rate increase requests by insurers. Health insurers requested weighted average increases of approximately 12.4 percent, but DFS, cut the average increase to 7.5 percent. Additional Information is available at governor.ny.gov.

24-year-old Jovan Gresham of Vestal pleaded guilty to assault and weapons charges for shooting a man 8 times at the former Victoria’s Restaurant in Binghamton in 2010.  Gresham pleaded guilty to 1st degree assault and 2 counts of 2nd degree criminal possession of a weapon, for the shooting of Karlshen Marks, and for unlawfully possessing a loaded  handgun in the City of Binghamton.  Gresham faces sentencing on April 1st; he was released on a cash bail bond of $50,000.

The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 55-year-old Mitchell Farwell on charges of 2nd degree Harassment and Resisting Arrest.    Farwell was charged following an investigation into a noise complaint in the Town of Norwich, he is accused of pushing the responding Deputy during his investigation and then attempted to prevent an arrest from being made. Farwell was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and remanded to the custody of the Sheriff on $500 cash bail.

Children in the Walton central school district have been receiving death threats as well as Violent & suggestive images through Facebook.  About a dozen students were targeted, through their Facebook accounts; Walton police hope to have an arrest shortly.

The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 19 year old Joseph Daring of New Berlin on a 2nd degree harassment charge.   Daring is accused of grabbing of an unidentified victim by the neck during an argument.  Daring will appear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.