39-year-old Ganesh Ramsaran was sentenced to 25 years to life in jail this morning, for the murder of his wife Jennifer in 2012. Ramsaran received the maximum penalty for 2nd degree murder in Chenango County court today, he was found guilty of the murder of his wife in September. Ramsaran faces court action later in the week for allegedly bribing a Chenango county corrections officer in helping him plan an escape from the jail in exchange for $100,000 cash.
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Operation Merry Christmas is underway and will be coming to a close later this week at 19 locations. Program coordinator Ginny Ireland explains how the program works:

(Ginny Ireland 12-1-14)

Ireland said that the deadline to get a present is December 5th; the giveaway will be on December 12th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Sidney Civic Center for those who signed up, more information is available at 563-8119 or 967-8119.
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State police at Oneonta arrested 7 people for allegedly stealing from the Oneonta Wal-Mart. The theft occurred at about 9:00 AM Friday. 26-year-old Donovan Howard; 28 year old Kawanda Mathis; 32 year old Misheena Watson; 17 year old Shanya Nevith; 27 year old Joshua Hervey and 18 year old Takell Henry of Utica and 19 year old Quinnasia Berry of Herkimer were charged with 3rd degree grand larceny. All 7 were sent to the Otsego County jail pending future court action. .
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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 34 year old Amy Fultz of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for 3rd degree Criminal Mischief, following a domestic dispute in which it is alleged that Fultz caused over $1,000 damage to a vehicle.
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2 Otsego County residents were arrested on Friday after investigators from the sheriff’s office found nearly 13 pounds of marijuana in a Town of Morris home in October. 55-year-old Michael DeLuca of Pittsfield and 62-year-old Sallie Lewis Jacoby of Morris were charged with 1st degree criminal possession of marijuana. Investigators found Deluca and a bedroom full of freshly cut marijuana in Jacoby’s home on Pegg Road. Deluca and Jacoby will appear in Morris Town Court December 15th.
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The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is offering a one-day online-only deal on three-year park passes. The special price will be available today only for Cyber Monday. The 3-year Empire Passport will be discounted to $130, a $35 savings off the usual price. An Empire Passport gives unlimited vehicle access to all state parks, nature centers, recreation areas, boat launches and preserves. Information is available at nysparks.com
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Teacher retirements in New York have risen 10% since 2010, while staff members have fallen 5.5% over the same time period. The rise in retirements is an ongoing trend as staff reaches retirement age, faces new testing standards and cashes out pensions. State Teachers Retirement System records show the number of teachers in retirement jumped from 141,716 to 155,931 between the 2009 and 2014 school years. At the same time, the number of active members in the system fell from 285,774 to 270,039. New York State United Teachers, the state’s teachers union, attributed new testing standards and tougher teacher evaluations to the reason why teachers are leaving the workforce.
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