A former Binghamton landmark has been destroyed by fire.  Flames engulfed an empty warehouse at 115 Montgomery Street last night, with firefighters still on the scene this morning.  The building once house Pa’s Woodshed and a series of clubs, it had been vacant for several years.  Investigators will try to determine what caused the fire shortly.

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The Oneonta Common Council hired a police officer Anthony Capristo at last night’s meeting at city hall.  The council also approved 4^th ward alderman Michael Lynch to be acting mayor, and approved members of boards and commissions at last nights meeting, the first meeting of 2013.

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The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was passed by Congress and signed by the President, extending deadlines for Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) through December 2013.  The legislation allows the program to continue the same, as before, more information is available at labor.ny.gov.

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Oneonta city police charged 22-year-old Marissa Hetzel with 2^nd degree vehicular assault, leaving the scene of a person injury accident & DWI and several lesser charges, following the report of a bicyclist being hit by a vehicle Tuesday morning on the Lettis Highway.  Police reported that the unidentified bicyclist suffered multiple fractures, severe head and chest trauma, and was taken first to Fox Hospital and later to Bassett hospital in Cooperstown for emergency surgery.  Hetzel was arraigned in Oneonta City Court and was released on $2,500 bail, pending re-appearance in court at a later date.

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Oneonta police arrested an area woman on charges of DWI early Tuesday morning.  44-year-old Lisa Sperry of Oneonta was charged following an investigation into a property damage accident in the Clinton Plaza parking lot off of Main Street.  Sperry faces court action at a later date.

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The Delaware valley humane society is in need of bedding for the many animals currently house at the site on east Main Street in Sidney.  Karen Crawford at the humane society explains:

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Some local high school athletes have reached elite status this year, being tabbed with “All State” honors.  Unatego’s Tyler Butler earned first team honors for his play at Safety, second team honors went to Nate McDonald of Sidney, Jake Mazzarella of Bainbridge-Guilford and Mike Beers of Walton.  Third team honors went to Brandon Walters of Sidney; honorable mention went to Sidney’s Austin Dean and UV’s Kody Homann.

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Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today announced that his office has posted information online detailing charitable donations raised for Hurricane Sandy relief.  The 88 charities that have responded to the survey reported raising approximately $400 million for Hurricane Sandy relief. The five charities reporting the most contributions and pledges are the American red cross at 188 million, the robin hood foundation at 67 million, The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City at 45 million dollars, the empire state relief fund at 15.4 million and the salvation army at 14.3 million.  More information is available at charitiesnys.com.

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Blood supplies are very low traditionally following the holidays and this year is no exception.  A red cross blood drive is being held at Chenango memorial hospital’s basement conference room in Norwich on Monday January 7^th from 10:30 to 3:30 PM, appointments care requested at 337-4028 or 337-4093, walk-ins are also welcome.

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