WCDO Radio News

Chenango Memorial Hospital is closing the long-term care unit located on the hospital’s second floor as of January 31st. CMH will no longer be accepting new residents and, over the next 2 months, they will work closely with our residents and their families to ensure their placement in other long-term care facilities. 19 residents are currently at the facility, and employees of the facility will be transferred to other positions across the Hospital's departments. The hospital’s board and leadership team are currently exploring options for alternative uses for the second floor of the hospital.

A Lawsuit was filed in Broome County Supreme Court against the Vestal School District where a former Vestal High School student alleges that economics teacher Robert Carr asked her to meet him, he allegedly kissed the victim numerous times, groped her inappropriately and continued to force sexual activity upon her until she moved to the state of Texas and changed her phone number. The lawsuit claims that School Officials did not take any action against Carr after learning of the accusations.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 11-29-23

On Tuesday, Broome County Sheriff’s Deputies assigned to the US Marshal’s Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 22 year old Nathan Williams Jr. of Endicott, at 68 Thorp Street in the City of Binghamton. Williams was wanted by the Endicott Police Department for Murder in connection with the shooting death of 25-year-old Molique Dawson in Endicott in July. The Metro SWAT Team of the Binghamton Police Department executed the search warrant and Williams was successfully taken into custody after a 5 hour standoff, Williams was transported to the Broome County Sheriff’s Correctional Facility, arraigned at Central Arraignment and is currently being held without bail.

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.

State Police reported that 16 year old Emily Clapper was located in good health in the city of Oneonta by Oneonta Police. Clapper was reported missing on October 2nd.

The Matthews Auto Group announced their 5th Annual Matthews Walk-A-Thon to benefit 10 children's charities in Binghamton, Syracuse, Norwich, & other locations this Saturday, October 7th from 7:30AM to 6:30PM, Spokesperson Kathy Breno told WCDO about the Norwich walk a thon:

(Kathy Breno 10-3-23)

The Norwich & Vestal Walk-a-thon will be the only in-person events, the rest will be virtual, the Chenango County Child Advocacy Center in Norwich is one of the charities that will benefit from this effort. Walkers should register in advance with estimated miles to be walked at MatthewsWalkathon.Com or at Weiler Park on the day of the event. Matthews will distribute up to $150,000 to the charities based on the miles walked and the percentage of votes each charity receives during registration.

The Chenango County Department of Health is hosting a drive through Flu Shot Clinic Saturday from 9:00 to 11:00 AM, at the Chenango County Fairgrounds in Norwich. Pre-registration is required at apps2.health.ny.gov or by calling 607-337-1660.

The Broome County District Attorney’s Office announced that 34 year old Bayso Vannavongso pleaded guilty to 3 counts of criminal possession of a weapon, he admitted that on July 26, 2022, he illegally possessed a loaded .38 revolver, a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun and a semi-automatic rifle, in the Town of Binghamton. Police responded to the Vestal Hills Country Club in the Town of Binghamton to a report of a man shot with a crossbow. Vannavongsa was shot by Carson Vanco after a dispute, where Vannavongsa fired shots at Vanco from the revolver but missed, he recovered from being shot with the arrow.

The Delaware County Sheriff's Office is once again teaming up with the National Child Safety Council, who help fund a variety of programs benefiting Delaware County Children, according to Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond:

(Sheriff DuMond 6-7-23)

Sheriff DuMond said that County Residents received a legitimate mailing from the Sheriff's Department with an envelope, Checks can be placed in the envelop & they should be made out to the National Child Safety Council, or call the Council at 1-877-472-3377

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 5-16-23

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office announced an update following the issuing of an Executive Order By County Executive Jason Garnar last week, that prohibits hotels and multiple dwellings from contracting with municipalities to house large groups of individuals. The Sheriff’s Office learned that a least 2 local hotels in Vestal were contacted by a New York City officials 2 days before the executive order, to try to house migrants then in New York City, to Broome County, both hotels declined. Sheriff Fred Akshar stated that they began their investigation prior to the state of emergency declaration & Deputies are continuing to monitor the situation and have been ordered to turn away any vehicles involved in exporting the migrants.

Delhi Village Police, assisted by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and the State Police Computer Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at 2 residences in the Town of Walton, where a quantity of electronic devices was seized by the police. Officers arrested former Waton Town Supervisor Joseph Hanley on a Sealed Indictment Warrant issued by the Delaware County Supreme Court, he was charged by Grand Jury indictment with Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to a Minor. Hanley was remanded to the Delaware County Jail pending arraignment before the Delaware County Supreme Court.

The United States Department of Justice announced Tuesday that 30 year old Shelby Ortiz of Maryland, New York was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison and a 20-year term of supervised release, for distributing child pornography. Ortiz also will be required to register as a sex offender upon her release from prison. Ortiz pleaded guilty in October 2022, she admitted that she subjected a 7-month-old boy to sexual contact which was video recorded and sent to to a person living in Florida with whom she was participating in an online and telephone dominant/submissive sexual relationship. The case was investigated by U.S. Homeland Security, the Oneonta Police Department, and the State Police

The Village of Sidney Police Benevolent Association endorsed Acting Delaware County District Attorney Shawn Smith in this year's race for the the Delaware County District Attorney's Position. The Association stated that they reached this decision following an increase in communication, transparency & compassion from the DA's office & Staff since Smith became the Acting DA January 1st. Smith faces a primary in June from fellow Republican Joe Ermeti of Sidney, who announced his candidacy recently for the DA position.

The City of Oneonta announced that there will be one lane traffic at the intersection of Main Street and Gardner Place in order to tie the new sewer pipe into an existing sanitary sewer manhole. Temporary traffic signals with stop bars will be used to direct traffic and maintain a steady flow. For questions or concerns related to this project, please contact the Department of Public Works by emailing dpsinfo@oneonta.ny.us, or calling 432-2100.

The New York State Department of Transportation is advising motorists to expect daily single lane closures along both directions of State Route 434 (Vestal Parkway) between Murray Hill Road in the Town of Vestal and Pennsylvania Avenue in the City of Binghamton, weekdays from 6:30 am. to 6 pm. through approximately October 15. The lane closures are necessary to facilitate construction of a multi-purpose pedestrian path.

State Department of Health announced that the XBB.1.5. variant is now the most dominant strain in New York, accounting for more than 50 percent of COVID-19 infections statewide, which may indicate that XBB.1.5. is more transmissible than other circulating variants, though there is not yet clear evidence of the severity of strain. The percentage of those testing positive for COVID 19 is down to 6%, with Patient Hospitalization down to 3,029, ICU patients numbers are down to 313 with 124 on ventilators, with 33 deaths reported over the course of the latest 3 day testing period.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 1-26-23

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is currently looking for Kara Yager on an outstanding warrant and asking the residents of Broome County for assistance. Yager was last known to frequent the Kirby Street area of the Town of Bainbridge, she is described as a white female, 5'4, 115 pounds, with blue eyes, and brown hair, she is wanted for violation of probation for criminal possession of a controlled substance. Anyone with information on the location of Yager is asked to contact the Broome County Sheriff’s Office at gobroomecounty.com/sheriff/warrants or by calling the Broome County Sheriff’s Office tip line at (607) 778-1196.

Otsego County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the report of a tractor-trailer and a pickup truck colliding on I-88 in near Exit 15 Wednesday morning. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage, the driver of the pickup truck was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. State DOT crews, state police and the Oneonta Fire Department also responded to the scene, part of the highway was closed temporarily for the clean up & investigation, the cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Broome County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Division arrested 36 year old Matthew Hackel of Vestal, for failing to register an address with the State Sex Offender Registry. Hackel was processed and is currently in the custody of the Broome County Sheriff’s Correction Facility.