WCDO Radio News

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce will recognize several businesses and groups for their service to the county’s business community at its 2024 Business Awards celebration on October 16 at The Meredith Inn at Stonewall. Chamber President Ray Pucci comments:

(Ray Pucci 9-11-24)

The new businesses that will be honored include Bakers Grimm in Delhi, Bizzy Bees Learning Academy in Delhi, Catskills Junction in Stamford, Delhi Work Station, Galloping Horse Graphics in Hancock, The Hobart Exchange, The Lost Bookshop in Delhi, and The Walton Diner. Tickets for the dinner event are $60 per person. Reservations are required and may be made under the Events column at DelawareCounty.org.

An American Red Cross Blood Drive is being held today in Downsville from 9 am. - 2 pm., at the Downsville Fire Department, State Highway 30, appointments can be made at RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 6-10-24

State Police responded Saturday Afternoon to a report of a single car crash with entrapment in the town of Franklin. 74 year old Gjeto Vulaj of Delhi was traveling south on County Highway 16 in a 2005 Jeep Wrangler, he went off the road into a ditch and his vehicle became engulfed in flames. Vulaj was trapped in the vehicle when a family member who was traveling behind him and another citizen attempted to remove him from the vehicle but they were unsuccessful. Vulaj was ultimately extricated by fire personnel from Franklin and Treadwell Fire Departments. He was transported to A.O Fox Hospital but did not survive. The family member who attempted to free Vulaj suffered smoke inhalation and burns. The investigation is continuing.

49 year old Keith Audette of Hamden was indicted for Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs by the Delaware County Grand Jury last week. The Indictment alleges that on April 9th, Audette was driving in the Village of Walton while impaired by methamphetamines, he was previously convicted of operating a motor vehicle with .08 BAC in 2015 in Chenango County, where he was required to have an interlock device in any vehicle he operates. Audette was also charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle as well as driving without an Interlock Device, & he faces court action shortly.

37 year old Eric Black of Walton was indicted by the Delaware County Grand Jury last week on a 2 Count Indictment for Grand Larceny, he is accused of stealing 2 guns from his mother’s residence which were secured in locked storage cases. Black faces court action on the indictment shortly.

Delaware County Public Health will hold a Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic For dogs, cats, and ferrets today from 5:30PM to 7:30PM, at the Franklin Fire Hall, 351 Main Street, Franklin. Dogs must be on a leash & under proper control. Cats and Ferrets should be in a carrying case, more information is available at Delaware County Public Health at (607) 832-5200.

The Butternut Valley Alliance has announced a partnership with SFCU, to take the necessary measures to open a full-service branch in Morris. This development comes after the "Save Our Bank" task force was formed, as Community Bank NA had announced plan last year to close their Morris Branch. Butternut Valley Alliance Vice Chair Maggie Brenner explains:

(Maggie Brenner 5-14-24)

Brenner said that the BDD process can take 6 to 12 months, meanwhile, SFCU plans to begin offering limited services with a representative assisting businesses and residents in opening accounts, The Alliance will try to find out Community Bank's plans with their former office in Morris, to see if it can become a new branch for SFCU.

A.M. NEWS Tuesday 5-14-24

Broome County Sheriff's Office arrested a Kirkwood man for 3 gas station robberies. The 1st Robbery was on May 9th, at the Speedway gas station on Route 7 in Sanitaria Springs, where a male with a black shirt wrapped around his hand, implying he had a weapon, and grabbed a cash register & fled the scene in a gray Ford F-150 pickup truck. The 2nd Robbery was at the Mirabito gas station on Old Route 17 in Windsor, Sheriff Deputies identified the suspect vehicle and potential suspect as 46 year old Clint Loomis of Kirkwood. On Friday, a 3rd Robbery occurred at a gas station in Greene, Loomis was located on Route 12 in the Town of Chenango, A Deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Loomis resisted, a Taser was deployed but Loomis drove off, Tire deflation devices were set up, Loomis damaged his tires but continued to flee, eventually leaving the vehicle on foot, he was apprehended. Loomis was wanted on a warrant, & was charged with Robbery, Obstructing governmental administration, reckless endangerment, unlawfully fleeing Police, Resisting arrest & 26 traffic violations, he was being held for arraignment.

Oneonta Fire Fighters responded to a fire Sunday morning on Columbia Street, several occupants escaped, the fire began on the 1st floor, The cause of the fire is under investigation, the house is uninhabitable.

Blood Supplies are still critically low, there will be 2 Red Cross Blood Drives locally today. A Walton blood drive will be held from 1:30 pm. - 6 pm., at the Pines Brook Church, Another will be held from 10 am. - 3 pm., at Springbrook, 105 Campus Drive in Oneonta, appointments are requested at RedCrossBlood.org, 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrested 62 year old Bert Mullineaux of Walton on January 9th. Deputies were dispatched to a 1 car motor vehicle accident on Bobs Brook Road in the Town of Tompkins, Deputies determined that Mullineaux's driving privileges are revoked for DWI since 2006, he was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, Moving from a lane Unsafely, and Speed not reasonable and Prudent, he will appear in Tompkins Town Court at a later date to answer those charges.

Fire fighters in Morris were able to quickly extinguish a trailer home fire Sunday night. Morris Firefighters were called to 422 Pegg Road just before 6:00 PM Sunday night, crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly, with only minor damage reported, no injuries were reported.

The Sidney Center Improvement Group annual meeting will be held tonight at 6:30pm at the Sidney Center Fire Hall. The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend. The Improvement Group Board is seeking new members and more involvement in order to continue bringing programming, events and improvement projects to the Hamlet of Sidney Center and for the Town of Sidney.