P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 7-24-15

by wcdonews Posted on July 24, 2015

Former Broome County Executive & former State DMV Commissioner Barbara Fiala is the first to announce a possible run for the vacated 52nd state senate district seat. Fiala already received the endorsement from Governor Cuomo, for the seat vacated by the conviction on federal charges of Tom Libous this week, the conviction automatically removed Libous from the Senate seat that he occupied since 1988.
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About 170 military uniformed personnel provided services to Chenango County area residents with the 10 day “Greater Chenango Cares” event The about 2500 people were provided with medical, dental, eye care & even veterinary services over the 10 day event held at the Norwich High School. He event provided military personnel with an opportunity to train in the event of a major emergency that they may have to respond to.
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Local sales tax collection growth across New York State slowed to 1.6% in the first 6 months of 2015, compared to 3% growth last year, according to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. County sales tax collections, increased only 0.5%, Locally, Chenango county had a 1.7% increase, while Delaware county had a 5.3% decrease, and Otsego had a 2.3% decrease in tax collections.
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The State DOT announced that structural repairs to the State Route 79 Bridge over the Chenango River in Chenango Forks were completed Thursday evening and the bridge was reopened to traffic ahead of schedule. Bridge Maintenance workers worked extended hours on the repair while the bridge, also as a result of this repair, the previous weight restriction of 20 tons will be lifted.
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Oneonta Acting Mayor Maureen Hennessy has called a special meeting for Saturday morning at City Hall. The meeting will begin at 9:00 AM in the common council chambers on the 2nd floor, & is open to the public.
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Delaware County Fair Organizers are looking to receive more entries for this year’s Talent Show. Danny Hodges of the Delaware County Fair Committee explains:

(Danny Hodges 7-24-15)

Hodges said that the deadline to sign up for the Talent Show has been extended to August 7th, the Talent show will be held during the Delaware County Fair on Tuesday August 18th at 1:00 PM
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A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 7-24-15

by wcdonews Posted on July 24, 2015

Roofing materials caught fire at the East Middle School in Binghamton yesterday afternoon. The building was having roof work done, none of the workers were injured, the fire was knocked down in about an hour, and a structural engineer will inspect the roof as soon as possible.
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It will be a busy weekend in Cooperstown this weekend, as the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be held. Padres announcer Dick Enberg will be honored with the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award Saturday, on Sunday, The annual Induction Ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Clark Sports Center, Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez and John Smoltz will be inducted.
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The Sidney Chamber of Commerce Arts & Music festival will be held in downtown Sidney tomorrow. Sidney Chamber Spokesperson Kerri Green comments:

(Kerri Green 7-24-15)

Arts & craft Vendors will be lined up on Main Street starting at 9:00 AM, there will be food and The Cullman Child Development Center will hold their annual Community day event on main street.
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Tomorrow from 9:00 am to 3:00pm, on Genesee Street, in Greene, The Greater Greene Chamber of Commerce is holding the 39th annual craft festival. More than 200 artisans exhibit their arts and crafts on the streets of Greene, more information is available at greenenys.com, or 656-8225.
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The annual Mount Upton Community Days will be held tomorrow from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. There will be various kid’s games, a variety of vendors, Town wide garage sales & a Chicken Barbecue.
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WCDO NEWS THURSDAY 7-23-15

by wcdonews Posted on July 23, 2015

State Senator Tom Libous of Binghamton was found guilty by jury of lying to the FBI, for using his political influence to get a son Matthew a job with a Westchester County Law firm. The verdict means that Libous is automatically expelled from the state Senate. Matthew Libous was convicted earlier this year of tax evasion, a special election to replace Libous in the 52nd Senate district will be scheduled shortly.
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33-Year-old Wayne Spratley faced additional charges in Norwich City Court This morning, for criminal use of a firearm and assault. Spratley was charged with attempted murder over the weekend for allegedly shooting an unidentified victim in the stomach early Sunday morning in a parking lot on Lackawanna Avenue. Spratley is being held in the Chenango County Jail on $50,000 cash bail.
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The New York State Wage Board Voted in favor Wednesday of incrementally raising the minimum wage for Fast Food Workers in New York State over the next 6 years. The board voted in favor of raising the wage to $15 an hour, to be phased in by 2021. Fast Food workers in the Tri-County area would see the minimum wage increased to $9.75 on December 31, 2015, $10.75 on December 31, 2016, $11.75 on December 31, 2017, and eventually up to $15.00 on July 1, 2021. The board also stipulated that these wages would be in effect for fast food chains with 30 or more locations nationwide.
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Town Of Unadilla officials announced that the Butternut Road repaving project has been completed. Officials expected the project to last through Friday, but the road was open to traffic in both directions this morning.
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State Police arrested 27 year old Megan Madore of Stamford, for felony DWI following a traffic stop for driving with a loud exhaust while on State route 28 in the Town of Oneonta. The arrest was a felony because she has a prior conviction for DWI within the last 10 years. Madore was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Oneonta Court on August 4th.
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Emergency Crews in Norwich responded to a 2-car crash yesterday afternoon, on state route 12 near B&D Pool & Spa. Chenango County Fire officials reported that 3 passengers from both vehicles were taken to area hospitals, and that the Water Department responded as a Fire Hydrant was damaged in the accident. NYSEG was also dispatched to the scene. The names of the injured have not yet been released.
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Broome County Executive Debbie Preston announced details of the upcoming auction of tax foreclosure properties in the County. The auction is Saturday, August 1st, at the Holiday Inn, on Hawley Street in Binghamton at 10:00 AM; Auction bidders must register between 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM that morning. 130 properties are being auctioned off, as is, last year the county sold 120 properties, netting $805,000.

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Commerce Chenango’s next Business After Hours event is today, hosted by Leadership Chenango. The event will be held at the Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
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Otsego county officials announced another free rabies clinic today. The clinic will be held at the Morris fire department from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
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The State Office of General Services will hold a surplus vehicle, highway equipment, and miscellaneous property auction today at 9:30 AM, at the State Police Troop C headquarters on Route 7 in Sidney, information on specific items and terms of sale are available at ogs.ny.gov.

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LIBOUS GUILTY

by wcdonews Posted on July 22, 2015

State Senator Tom Libous of Binghamton was found guilty by jury of lying to the FBI, for using his political influence to get a son Matthew a job with a Westchester County Law firm. The verdict means that Libous is automatically expelled from the State Senate. Matthew Libous was convicted earlier this year of tax evasion.
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P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 7-22-15

by wcdonews Posted on July 22, 2015

Former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos & his son Adam are facing new charges in a federal corruption case. A rewritten indictment Tuesday adds more conspiracy and extortion charges against Dean Skelos for allegedly having at least $300,000 illegally steered to Adam, the new indictment also accuses Adam Skelos of obtaining a no-show job through his father’s influence, Dean Skelos stepped down from his leadership role earlier this year after his arrest, but he still holds a seat in the Senate.
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State Police in Sidney arrested 49-year-old Donald Mercer of Columbus for 3rd degree Rape, 3 counts of Criminal Sexual Act & Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Mercer is accused of having sexual contact with a girl less than 17 years old; he was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $10,000 cash bail.
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State Police arrested 34-year-old Michael Swatling of Oneonta for Aggravated DWI & Endangering the Welfare of a Child, following a vehicle stop for using an electronic device while driving on State Route 28 in the Town of Milford. Swatling is accused of was driving while intoxicated with an 11 year old girl as a passenger, the DWI charged is a felony due to a prior conviction for DWI within the last 10 years. Swatling was arraigned & was remanded to the Otsego Jail in lieu of $1,500 cash bail or $3,00 bond pending court action on August 11th.
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Investigators in Utica are trying to determine how a train accident occurred yesterday at the Union Station. Officials reported that a rolling train-car slammed into a locomotive on display at Union Station in Utica Tuesday afternoon, investigators believe that the rail car rolled about 1.5 miles before the collision, it is also being blamed for a 2 vehicle motor vehicle accident at a nearby intersection. The display and a covered bridge linking Union Station with a platform north of the tracks sustained significant damage, engineers are trying to determine the safety of the covered pedestrian bridge.
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Preparations are underway for the 6th annual Sidney Elks Lodge car show on August 8th, Spokesman Mark Little told WCDO news that they have more classes & trophies to award this year:

(Mark Little 7-22-15)

The event is free to get in for the general public; there is a charge for those entering antique cars, muscle cars, military vehicles, tractors & Tuners, more information is available at 563-2175.
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A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 7-22-15

by wcdonews Posted on July 22, 2015

Jury Deliberations will begin at 9:30 in a Federal courtroom, in the trial of State Senator Tom Libous of Binghamton. Libous is accused of lying to FBI Investigators regarding his alleged use of political influence to get his son Matthew a job with a Westchester County Law Firm, Matthew Libous was convicted of filing false tax returns to the IRS.
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53 baseball Hall of Famers are scheduled to be in Cooperstown to honor the Class of 2015 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum this weekend. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, honoring Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez and John Smoltz, will be held Sunday, at 1:30 p.m. at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown. Admission to the Induction Ceremony is free.
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P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 7-21-15

by wcdonews Posted on July 21, 2015

UHS officials released a statement that an inspection of the collapsed parking garage site and a comprehensive engineering review are currently underway at Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City,. Officials said that Patient care services that were relocated on Friday due to the proximity to the collapse have been returned to the Picciano building on Monday. Officials also stated that a full assessment of the collapsed parking deck was completed in 2013, the suggested repairs were made in 2014. The clean up is continuing.
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The State Labor Department released preliminary local area unemployment rates for June. Locally, Chenango County’s unemployment rate dropped 1/2% to 5.2%, Delaware County’s rate dropped 6/10th to 5.7% and Otsego County’s rate dropped 2/10ths to 5.1%.
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Property tax growth for local governments will be capped at less than 1% for the 2016 fiscal year, according to a report issued by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. The report noted the allowable tax levy growth factor would be 0.73 percent for all counties, towns, fire districts, 44 cities and 10 villages. DiNapoli estimates that next year more than 1,800 local governments will have roughly $88.3 million less in tax levy growth compared to what they had in 2015 the full report is available at osc.state.ny.us
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The Sidney Chamber of Commerce is looking for volunteers to help with this weekend’s Arts & Music Festival in downtown Sidney. The event runs from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM, those who would like to volunteer, can contact Kerri Green at kgreen0628@gmail.com or at 267-8541 or the chamber office at 561-2642.
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The New York State Public Service Commission today announced that the North American Numbering Plan Administrator has assigned a new area code for Central New York. The new 680 area code will effect phone users in 18 counties, that use the 315 area code. Local phone companies have been directed to activate the new 680 area code by the first quarter of 2017. The geographic area associated with the new 680 area code includes parts of Chenango & Otsego counties locally.
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A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 7-21-15

by wcdonews Posted on July 21, 2015

State Police at Sidney arrested 22-year-old Benjamin Stebbins of Gilbertsville for Criminal Trespass and Criminal Mischief. This arrest resulted from a complaint received in the Village of Gilbertsville, the investigation determined that Stebbins had mistakenly entered a residence on Maple Street and then fell asleep on the sofa. While attempting to gain access to the rear and then front door he had caused about $175 worth of damage, the noise caused a resident to wake up and call 911. Stebbins had been drinking alcohol when he entered the wrong house. He was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Butternuts Court on July 23.
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Commerce Chenango will host a Natural Gas Update on This morning from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, at 15 South Broad Street, Norwich. The State DEC & Governor Cuomo have banned High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing, the discussion will focus on where natural gas development stands in New York, will there be lawsuits, what will the industry do & related businesses do?
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The Oneonta Common Council will hold their next regular meeting tonight. The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall.
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