Governor Cuomo announced that he would deliver his Budget Address to the legislature on Tuesday January 22^nd in Albany.  The presentation will begin at 2:00 pm at the Hart Theater at the Egg Center for Performing Arts, it will be streamed at the Governor’s website at governor.ny.gov.

———————————-

The Otsego county sheriffs department arrested 20-year-old Tiffany Marshall, of Davenport on drug charges.  Marshal was charged following an investigation into the sale of narcotics in Oneonta, she is accused of selling oxycodone powder on two separate occasions in 2011.  Marshall had already been indicted on charges of selling oxycodone, she was arraigned in Oneonta city court and was remanded to the Otsego county jail on $500 bail on the latest charges.

—————————

An Otsego county jury convicted 36-year-old Dante Major of Hobart in  October after being arrested  for operating as a major drug trafficker.  Major  was sentenced to 20 years to life and a $100,000 fine for operating as a major drug trafficker, 15 years with five years of post-release supervision and a $100,000 fine on the charge of 1^st  degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; and 10 years imprisonment with three years of post-release supervision and a $30,000 fine on each of 2 counts of 3^rd degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. All sentences are to run consecutively.

————————

State agriculture commissioner Darrel Aubertine announced that Thomas Ryan of Little Falls would replace Dan O’Hara as director of the great New York State Fair, on February 1^st.  Ryan is the current serves in the Thruway Authority, he has also held positions with the U.S. General Services Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and has served in a variety of positions for the late New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and former Governor Mario Cuomo.  O’Hara was the director of the last 6 state fairs starting in 2007, when he was appointed by then-Governor Eliot Spitzer.

————————–

Four of the state’s 700 school districts could lose state aid, if they do not adopt a teacher evaluation plan.   New York City school district was the biggest of the 4 that has not submitted the plan, which was enacted last year as a way to keep the best teachers teaching, and weed out the ineffective ones.   The new law stipulates that  20% of the ratings must be based on students’ growth on state tests, another 20% must be based on local measures and the remaining 60 percent must include classroom observations.

———————————

The  Chenango County Habitat for Humanity   is preparing for their 2^nd annual “Souper Bowl” to be held at the Family YMCA on North Broad Street in Norwich on march 16^th.  Officials reported that they are looking for donations of soup and bread, last year the event raised just over $1800.   On March 16, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., the public will come to taste and evaluate more than 20 soup choices, and breads donated by the county’s restaurants. More information is available at 656-8155 or habitat.chenango.org .

—————————

Country music legends the “Oak Ridge Boys” are celebrating their 40^th year in show business this year, with a tour that is coming to SUNY Delhi during the schools 100^th anniversary celebration.  Terry Potter of Millennia Entertainment explains:

(Terry Potter)