WCDO Radio News

Wilfredo Pica-Torres was sentenced to 70 years to life in
prison today in Broome County Court.   A
jury found Pica-Torres guilty in August for 2nd degree murder, attempted murder
and arson, in connection with an attack in February in Binghamton that left
61-year-old Victor Banayan dead and 27-year-old Heather Stroup severely
injured, following the attacks, Pica-Torres set the structure on fire.

3rd quarter local sales tax collections in New
York state totaled $4.8 billion, an increase of 6.3% over the same period last
year, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Tom
DiNapoli.   The report showed that since
January Sales tax collections were up by 4.3%, 51 of 57 counties had increases;
the worst performance was Delaware County, which had a decrease of 4.3% since
the beginning of the year.

State Police are investigating a
series of vehicle break ins in the village of Unadilla.  Police remind owners to always lock their
unattended vehicles, & do not leave any valuables in plain view inside the
vehicles.

54 year old Roy Niles of Nineveh was arrested Tuesday for
allegedly selling crystal meth in Binghamton.
Police recovered 29 grams of crystal methamphetamine, drug packaging and
cash during the arrest. Niles was charged with criminal sale of a controlled
substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and criminal use of
drug paraphernalia.

State Police issued 21,467 tickets and arrested 280 people
for impaired driving during the annual Halloween Enforcement Campaign, from
October 25th through November 1st.  Other
law enforcement agencies issued 40,272 tickets for various traffic violations,
including impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving, seat belt infractions
and move over law violations. The enforcement campaign was funded by the
Governor's Traffic Safety Committee.

The 12th Annual Binghamton Train Show, sponsored by Village
Train & Hobby of Windsor, will be held tomorrow at the American Legion on
Robinson Street in Binghamton, Village train & Hobby owner Jeff Olin
explains:

(Jeff Olin 11-15-19)

The show will run from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, more information
is available at 655-1700.

The Jericho Arts Council presents Danny Paisley & The
Southern Grass Saturday Night at the Bainbridge Town Hall Theater.  Tickets are available at the Box Office; they
can be reserved at 607-288-3882.

Final arguments were being delivered today in Chenango
County Court in the Ernest Franklin murder trial.  Franklin is accused of killing his special
needs son & setting the family home on fire in the town of Guilford in 2017,
watching the movie "Manchester by the Sea" with his wife, which
featured a similar plot.  Heather
Franklin will be tried separately at a later date, also in Chenango County
Court.

The Village of Unadilla
announced that crews repaired a small water main break, at Cone Lane & Old
Village Lane this morning.  Service
affected about 12 to 15 customers, customers should let the water run until it
is clear.

61-year-old Phillip Stein of Binghamton was charged with 3rd
degree attempted robbery in connection with Thursday's Bank robbery at
Citizen's bank in Binghamton.   Stein is
accused of entering the Bank at 10:25 AM and gave a bank teller a note that
demanded cash, he ran before taking any money.
Stein was apprehended near the bank in the area of Glenwood Avenue, he
was also charged with violation of parole.

International Women’s Day is today, and the Chenango County
Council of the Arts will be hosting a gallery exhibit At the Mareia Brown &
Raymond Loft galleries at 27 West Main Street in Norwich today.  Council Executive director Alecia O'Neill
explains:

(Alecia O'Neill 3-8-19)

The event is free & Open to the public, light refreshments
will be served, more information is available at 336-2787.

The Annual train Show will be held tomorrow in Binghamton,
Organizer Jeff Olin of Village Train & Hobby in Windsor explains:

(Jeff Olin 3-8-19)

This year is the 11th Annual Train Show, it is once again
being held at the Binghamton American Legion at 177 Robinson Street.

The 2nd Annual Casino Night will be held Saturday night at
the Sidney Elks Lodge on River Street.
The event will be a fundraiser for the Sidney EMS Squad & Delaware
Valley Humane Society.  The event begins
at 6:30 until 10:00 PM, tickets can be purchased at the Barking Cat in Sidney
or Jess Howe’s in Sidney Center, and more information is available at 434-3357.

The Sidney Rotary Club Pancake Day will be held Saturday at
the River Street Fire Station.  The
fundraiser will be held from 7:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.

The Next Binghamton Regional Train Show this Saturday at the American Legion Hall in Binghamton, show Promoter Jeff Olin of Village Train & Hobby in Windsor explains:

(Jeff Olin 3-8-18)

The show runs from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at 177 Robinson Street in Binghamton.

State Police arrested 19 year old Jacob Sprague of Worchester for felony Grand Larceny, Sprague allegedly took a credit card that was not his and spent over $747. Troopers located Sprague in the town of Westford and arrested him, he was released on an appearance ticket and scheduled to appear in town of Westford Court on March 20th.

The Toys for Tots train will make its annual appearance in Bainbridge Saturday, Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce President John Payne explains:

(John Payne 12-1-17)

The Toys for Tots train is also scheduled to stop in Oneonta at about 1:30 PM Saturday.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Teachers' Association is hosting its 7th Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, tomorrow at the Greenlawn Elementary School Gymnasium. BG High School Teacher Amy LaFever told WCDO News that the proceeds would benefit the BG Angel Fund:

(Amy LaFever 12-1-17)

Among the activities from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM tomorrow, will be crafts for children, a Chinese Auction, a bake sale, and $5 pictures with Santa, plus a pancake breakfast in the Greenlawn cafeteria, more information is available at 437-7896.

The 8th annual Binghamton Train Show will held tomorrow at the American Legion on Robinson Street. The event is sponsored by Village Train & Hobby of Windsor, owner Jeff Olin comments:

(Jeff Olin 12-1-17)

Olin said that about 60 vendors would be set up Saturday; more information is available at 655-1700.

The annual Afton Christmas Parade will be held downtown tomorrow, spokesperson Kyle James explains:

(Kyle James 12-1-17)

The event is sponsored by the Friends of Afton; more information is available at their Facebook page, or by calling 208-5005.

The Jericho Arts Council will have a performance with teh Binghamton Madrigal Singers Saturday evening at 7:00 PM at the Bainbridge Town Hall Theater, Spokesman Phil wade explains:

(Phil Wade 12-1-17)

Wade said that tickets atre avaialebl at the box office at the Bainbridge Town Hall Theater, Tickets can be reserved by calling 288-3882.

Tickets are still available for Carol of the King, The Irish Dance Christmas, at the Chenango Arts Council's Martin W. Kappel Theater Saturday night. Council CEO Alecia O’Neill comments:

(Alecia O'Neill 12-1-17)

Tickets are available at 336-ARTS or ChenangoArts.org.

Delaware County Public Health will be hosting a free training session called "Self Care: A Response to Vicarious Trauma". The program will be held on Monday December 11th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon & from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. The program is geared to professionals who treat people with physical or emotional traumas full time, and often find themselves in need of counseling. Registration is required at 832-5200.

Village Train & Hobby of Windsor will host their annual regional train show in Binghamton this Saturday. Village Train & Hobby owner Jeff Olin comments:

(Jeff Olin 11-29-17)

More information about Saturday’s train show is available at 655-1700.

Governor Cuomo announced today that $5 million dollars has been awarded to 16 high need school districts state wide, to expand their pre-k programs for 3 & 4 year olds. Locally, the Windsor School District will receive $137,000 to expand that program.

The Sidney American Legion announced that they would be holding their annual Children’s Christmas Party on Saturday December 16th. Spokesman Larry Halbert explains:

(Larry Halbert 11-29-17)

The Sidney American Legion is located at 22 Union Street; more information is available at 237-4762.

State Police arrested 38 year old Erik Barber of Syracuse, for the felonies of DWI & Criminal Possession of a Firearm and other traffic violations. Troopers were advised of an erratic driver on State Route 8 in the town of New Berlin; Barber was arraigned at the village of Sherburne Court and was released on his own recognizance. His next court date in the town of New Berlin Court is December 6th.

The Otsego County Board of Representatives has requested an employee file from Otsego County Sheriff Richard Devlin. The board wants to review potential violations of the county’s workplace violence prevention program & what if any disciplinary actions were taken, regarding the sheriff’s son, Corrections Officer Ross Devlin. Vice Chairman of the County Board of Representatives Ed Frazier of Unadilla told WCDO News that Ross Devlin’s Superiors came to the board:

(Ed Frazier 3-10-17)

Sheriff Devlin told WCDO News what actions he has taken to resolve the issue:

(Richard Devlin 3-10-17)

Ed Frazier also said that during their workplace violence investigation, other information came to light regarding disciplinary procedures and treatment of inmates at the Otsego County Jail.

The Sidney High School and the Tri Town Coalition on Substance Abuse prevention will hold a substance abuse education night on Wednesday march 22nd at 6:00 PM. Community Members, families & students of the Sidney, Bainbridge & Unadilla areas are encouraged to attend; free dinner will be served by the Sidney school. Pre-Registration is encouraged at 561-7707.

The 64th Sidney Rotary Pancake Breakfast will be served Saturday at the River Street Fire Station Training Center in Sidney. Breakfast will be served from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM; proceeds will benefit community service projects.

State Senator Fred Akshar told WCDO that he will hold 2 Town Hall Meetings with Constituents Saturday, first in Hancock & then in Windsor:

(Fred Akshar 3-1017)

Senator Akshar said that the received over 10,000 responses to his recent survey, the results will be released in the next few days.

The annual Train Show in Binghamton will be held this Saturday. The show is sponsored by Village Train & Hobby of Windsor, owner Jeff Olin comments:

(Jeff Olin 3-10-17)

The show will once again by held at the American Legion on Robinson Street in Binghamton, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Saturday.

A man whose name was synonymous with the General Clinton Canoe Regatta has died at the age of 78. Dick Davies died on Saturday; he was a 1970 Regatta champion, served for many years on the Regatta Committee and was instrumental in the development of the Regatta Museum & Hall of Fame. Friends may cal at the First Baptist Church of Sidney on Tuesday from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, followed by the funeral services at 11:00.

The annual Train Show in Binghamton will be held this Saturday. The show is sponsored by Village train & Hobby of Windsor, owner Jeff Olin comments:

(Jeff Olin 3-6-17)

The show will once again by held at the American Legion in Binghamton, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Saturday.

Tickets for the 2017 National Baseball Hall of Fame Classic over the Memorial Day Weekend, are now available online and by phone. Hall of Fame members Wade Boggs, Goose Gossage, Phil Niekro and Ozzie Smith will be joined by recently retired players representing all 30 major league teams for a seven-inning legends game on Saturday, May 27 at Cooperstown’s historic Doubleday Field. Tickets are now on sale via phone at 1-877-726-9028 or at www.baseballhall.org.

The Arc Otsego is accepting artwork submissions for its 13th Annual Voice! event, which will be held July 27, 2017 through August 11, 2017 in the Martin-Mullen Art Gallery in the Fine Arts Building at SUNY Oneonta. Any individual living in New York State who is 18 years of age or older and has an intellectual and/or other developmental disability may submit artwork for consideration. The artwork submission form is available at www.arcotsego.org. The deadline for submissions is June 9th.

Coldwell Banker/Timberland Properties have teamed up with Community Bank, Neighbors Insurance & State Farm Insurance in Sidney, to give away Green Light Bulbs to honor military veterans on Friday for Veterans Day. Steve Rose of Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties of Sidney explains:

(Steve Rose 11-10-16)

Rose told WCDO News this afternoon that he had acquired additional bulbs, as the first 300 were gone in about 2 days, More information about the program is available at Green Light a Vet.com, the bulbs will be handed out while they last at the Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties Community Bank building at their Union Street Sidney location, and at the State Farm/Neighbors Insurance office at State Route 7 Riverside Sidney.

The 6th annual Binghamton Regional Train Show, sponsored by Village train & Hobby of Windsor, will be held Saturday at the Binghamton American legion Hall. Jeff Olin of Village Train & Hobby explains:

(Jeff Olin 11-10-16)

Olin said that signs would be located around Binghamton with directions to the 177 Robinson Street location; the show will run from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Saturday.

The Houndstooth Bakery & Boutique will be hosting their annual Fundraiser where people can bring their pets in for Photographs with Santa or other Holiday related backdrops. Cassandra Vance of the Houndstooth explains:

(Cassandra Vance 11-10-16)

The event will be held Saturday at the Hound’s-tooth on Main Street in Sidney from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, more information is available at 563-2275.

The State DEC announced that Veterans Day would be a designated annual free fishing day in New York State. No license is required to fish in any of the state's 7,500 lakes and ponds or 70,000 miles of rivers and streams. A listing of free fishing events is available at the DEC's website.

The Oneonta city planning commission meeting scheduled for November 16th has been cancelled. The next regular meeting will be held on December 21st in the Common Council chambers at Oneonta City Hall at 7:00 PM.