A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 2-19-15

American Red Cross blood drives are scheduled today. One blood drive will be held in Cooperstown from 1:00 to 6:00 PM at the Christ Episcopal Church, 69 Fair Street. Another will be held in Oneonta from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM at Hartwick College. Appointments can be made at visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.
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Pathfinder Village will host the 1st of 3 informational Open Houses today for their New “Otsego Academy” which is a 2-year post-secondary education program for young adults with intellectual disabilities. Today’s event will be at the Village’s Kennedy Willis Center in Edmeston from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, Director of Admissions Kelly Myers explains:

(Kelly Myers 2-17-18)

Additional open house opportunities have been scheduled at Pathfinder Village on Thursday, March 19th & Saturday, April 18th. Pre-registration is recommended at 965-8377, ext. 154 or visit otsegoacademy.org.
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The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting today in the District Conference Room at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

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P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 2-18-15

State Police in Norwich arrested 31-year-old Michael Holbert of Sherburne on 1 count of animal cruelty, in violation of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law. Holbert is accused of failing to provide adequate shelter and sustenance for his dog, which resulted in its death. State Agriculture and Markets Law requires that people must provide adequate food, water and shelter, and that they prevent their animals from being unjustifiably injured.
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Governor Cuomo announced the next phase of the statewide “Combat Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse” awareness campaign to address the opioid epidemic in New York. The campaign includes messages on billboards, posters, online advertisements, social media and commercials that will be aired across the state for four weeks. The “Combat Heroin” website hosts 22 videos of New Yorkers describing first-hand how they or their loved ones progressed from alcohol to marijuana to heroin or prescription opioids and the devastation the addiction caused. Four of these videos will be used in television commercials.
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New York State of Health Marketplace today announced that more than 2.1 million people signed up for health insurance by the end of the second open enrollment period earlier this week. 88% of Marketplace enrollees reported that they were uninsured at the time they enrolled.
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The state Department of Health failed to collect nearly $120 million in available rebates over a 33-month period from pharmaceutical manufacturers for the Medicaid program because of ineffective policies and processes, according to an audit by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Auditors determined that the Health department can improve its processes by following 12 recommendations from the report, to collect the unclaimed rebates and improve the collection process.
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The Chenango Arts Council is bringing back “Scot Bruce” and his band, to perform their “Elvis Presley, All Shook Up” show later this month. Council Director Diane Batson-Smith said that there are some tickets left:

(Diane Batson-Smith 2-18-15)

The show is Friday February 27th at 7:00 PM at the Martin W. Kappel Theater in downtown Norwich, Bruce sold out the venue in his previous appearance in November of 2012.
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A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 2-18-15

Delaware County Sheriff Deputies responded to a one-car property damage accident Saturday on County Highway 14 in the Town of Franklin. 55 year old Timothy Lynch of Treadwell, is accused of operating a motor vehicle while in an intoxicated state, he was arrested for driving while intoxicated and failure to keep right & will appear in the Town of Franklin Court at a later date
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Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that Maine and Maryland have joined the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Heroin Task Force that marshals the resources of top law-enforcement officers across Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, over half of law-enforcement agencies in these two regions reported “high heroin availability” in their jurisdictions in 2013. In New York State, heroin and synthetic opioid overdoses killed 2,051 New Yorkers in 2011, more than twice the number in 2004. Statewide there were almost 20,000 hospitalizations related to heroin in 2013.
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The Cancer Services Program of Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie counties will offer free health screenings to women 40 and older who are uninsured. The Bassett Cancer Institute’s mobile screening coach will be available today, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Family Planning of Oneonta, at 37 Dietz Street. Appointments can be made at 1-888-345-0225.

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P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 2-17-15

The 3rd murder trial of Cal Harris continued today in Schoharie County Court. Former Harris Family Nanny Barbara Thayer took the stand again this morning after a 5-day layoff. Harris is accused of killing his estranged wife Michelle in September 2001, he was convicted twice for murder in Tioga county Court, both convictions were overturned on appeal, the 3rd trial was moved to Schoharie County.
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Budget hearings are continuing for the state budget, with a looming showdown between Governor Cuomo & lawmakers about ethics reform tied to the budget & a possible government shutdown. Assemblyman Pete Lopez said that he is all for ethics reform…for everyone in state government:

(Lopez 2-17-15)

The state budget is due April 1st; governor Cuomo said that he would not sign a budget unless stringent ethics reforms are passed, following the most recent arrest of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
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State Police arrested 35-year-old Michael Winner of Otego for the felony of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a Child with a reportable BAC result of .17% and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The arrest followed a vehicle stop on State Route 28 in Oneonta, Troopers accuse Winner of driving the vehicle while he was intoxicated, which became a felony as he had a 15 year old passenger with him as well as a prior conviction for DWI within the last ten years. Winner was arraigned in the Town of Oneonta Court and remanded to the Otsego County Jail in lieu of a $5,000 cash bail.
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The water situation is back to normal for City & Town of Oneonta Residents, following last Friday’s water main breaks in the Upper west Street area. The pipes were repaired over the weekend, and the quality of the water was back to normal, all conservation restrictions were lifted over the weekend.
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Pathfinder Village will host 3 informational Open Houses for their New “Otsego Academy” which is a 2-year post-secondary education program for young adults with intellectual disabilities. The first event will be at the Village’s Kennedy Willis Center in Edmeston on Thursday, February 19 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, Director of Admissions Kelly Myers explains:

(Kelly Myers 2-17-18)

Myers said that the program started last November with 4 students, subsequent events will be hosted at Pathfinder Village on Thursday, March 19th & Saturday, April 18th. Pre-registration is recommended at 965-8377, ext. 154 or visit otsegoacademy.org.
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Empire State College will hold public information session about its associate and bachelor’s degree programs at its Binghamton location, State Office Building, Room 505, 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton next month. The session will be held on Wednesday, March 18th at 4:30 PM, more information is available at 721-8651.

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A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 2-17-15

New Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie will push for the passage of the “DREAM” Act, which would make state-level college tuition aid available to those in the country illegally. Heastie also called for expanding the Tuition Assistance Program. Heastie’s Heastie’s plan is opposed by Senate Republicans, Governor Cuomo supports the DREAM Act, and included it as part of his $142 billion budget proposal.
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The Oneonta Common Council will hold their next meeting tonight. The Meeting begins at 7:00 PM in the common Council Chambers at City Hall.
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P.M. NEWS MONDAY 2-16-15

The battle lines have been drawn this year between Governor Cuomo, the Legislature & the New York state teacher’s union, over edcuation reforms. Governor Cuomo said last month that the teachers evaluation enacted last year, was a joke;

(Cuomo 2-16-15)

State Senator John Bonacic said that public schools & charter schools need to be graded on a pass/fail basis:

(Bonacic 2-16-15)

Governor Cuomo last year told school districts to enact a teacher evaluation or face losing additional state aid, this year, Cuomo said he will kick in a lot more money for education if strongest reforms are enacted.
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The Delaware County Fair announced that 7 $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to current New York State High School seniors and also students enrolled in college. The New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs and the New York State Showpeople’s Association sponsor the scholarships. The qualifying students must be active at The Delaware County Fair or with The New York State Showpeople’s Association. All applicants from Delaware County must submit their applications through The Delaware County Fair P.O. Box 344 Walton NY 13856, no later then Friday April 10th. More Information is available at www.nyfairs.org using the scholarships link.
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Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that in the next two weeks he will resubmit the Abandoned Property Neighborhood Relief Act, to reduce the number of vacant and abandoned properties falling into disrepair across the state by informing homeowners of their right to stay in their home until a court orders the homeowner to leave, requiring mortgage lenders and servicers to identify, secure and maintain vacant and abandoned properties much earlier in the foreclosure process, and creating a registry of such properties to assist municipalities with enforcement of laws regarding property maintenance. Homeowners who need assistance are encouraged to call the Attorney General’s statewide foreclosure hotline at 855-HOME-456 and visit AGHomeHelp.com to connect with HOPP organizations and agencies in their area that can provide foreclosure prevention services.
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State Police arrested 54 year old Robert Emery of Newfield, for 1 count Robbery in the 3rd Degree, as well as 1 count Unlawful Imprisonment, 2 counts Criminal Mischief, & 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, connection with an investigation into a report of a physical altercation at a residence in Newfield Sunday, Emery was arraigned in the Town of Newfield Court and Released on his Own Recognizance. He is scheduled to reappear in the Town of Newfield Court Tuesday.
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The City of Oneonta is keeping the water conservation rules in effect today, following Friday’s water main breaks on Upper West Street. The breaks have been repaired; the city will update the water conservation status pending the result of water testing later today.
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A.M. NEWS MONDAY 2-16-15

Chenango County Sheriff’s Department arrested a New Berlin resident for 4th Degree Grand Larceny. 49-year-old Mary Gorman was charged for allegedly stealing over $4,500 from the victim by using a debit card that did not belong to her to make purchases. She was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court. She was released and is to reappear at a later date. She is also to appear in the Village of New Berlin Court at a later date for the same charge.
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IBM and a group of Endicott residents have agreed to settle a lawsuit over the toxic plume. IBM has acknowledged a spill of trichloroethylene in 1979, which was used in the circuit board manufacturing process. In the early 2000’s, it was discovered that vapors from the underground chemicals were entering basements. Financial terms for the 1,000 plaintiffs were not disclosed.
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Congressman Chris Gibson re-introduced the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act which gives presumptive Agent Orange exposure status to sailors who served aboard ships off the coast of Vietnam, who were exposed to water that was affected with the chemical, during the Vietnam War. Previously, the VA stopped giving benefits to off-shore, or blue water, Navy veterans and limited the scope of the Agent Orange Act to personnel who could provide proof of having “boots on the ground” in Vietnam, veterans who served in coastal waters were required to file individual claims to restore their benefits.

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P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 2-13-15

The City of Oneonta is experiencing a treated water supply shortage as a result of a break in an 8” high service line on upper West Street. All municipal water customers in the City and Town of Oneonta are asked to immediately comply with water conservation measures, until further notice. Residents with questions about water conservation measures can call the city water Department at 433-3470.
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Championship basketball involving local high school teams will be aired on WCDO Saturday. The Girls MAC championship game will be a contest between Delhi & Bainbridge Guilford, BG Coach Bob Conway comments:

(Bob Conway 2-13-15)

The BG Delhi game will be heard on WCDO beginning at 2:00 PM Saturday. The boys MAC Championship basketball game will follow, with Sidney facing Delhi, Sidney coach Mike Brazee comments:

(Mike Brazee 2-13-15)

The Sidney Delhi boy’s game is scheduled to start at about 4:00 PM on WCDO. Other games include the Tri-Valley girl’s championship between Laurens and Milford at about 6:00 PM, followed by the Tri-Valley Boys Championship game at 8:00 PM, also between Laurens & Milford. WCDO will have all 4 games Saturday starting with the Chambers & O’Hara Pre Game show at 1:45 on fm 101, am1490 & WCDO Sports.com
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Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County has announced a Climate Change Exchange Conference for teachers, educators and the public to help youth become more effective stewards of the future. The conference will be held March 13th from 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Delaware Academy School in Delhi. Registration for the Conference can be performed online at ccedelaware.org. More information about Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County’s is available at 865-6531.
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State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli reported that the State Common Retirement Fund’s overall return in the 3rd quarter of the state fiscal year was 1.9%, bringing the Fund’s estimated Value to $181.7 billion. The Fund’s value was $176.8 billion as of the end of the state fiscal year On March 31st 2014.
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Governor Cuomo today announced that more than 9,400 formerly incarcerated individuals have been hired through the Work for Success program since its implementation in February 2012. Cuomo said that It costs taxpayers $25,000 per year on average to house someone in a prison, the former prisoners are now adding to the state’s revenue by holding gainful employment, due to the training. Statistics also show that employment opportunities for the formerly incarcerated decreases the likelihood of a return to criminal activities. More information on Work for Success is available at the State Department of Labor Work for Success website, at labor.ny.gov.
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