P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 8-15-14

State Police said more than 20,000 tickets were issued from August 6th through August 12th as part of its “Speed Week” campaign. 10,000 tickets were issued for speeding, 200 tickets for texting while driving, 550 for cell phone use, 200 DWI’s and more than 600 tickets in violation of the “Move Over Law.”
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New York State’s private sector job count grew by 17,300, or 0.2% in July according to the State Labor Department. The State’s overall private sector job count is 7,603,300, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.6%. July marked the State’s 20th consecutive month of private sector job growth.
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New York’s public university system is the first to support a bipartisan federal effort that would strengthen colleges and universities’ assistance, for sexual assault victims while establishing penalties for non-compliance. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said that the Campus Accountability and Safety Act l creates new standards for training, and calls for an anonymous annual survey of students, to provide an accounting of campus sexual assaults at colleges and universities.
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A Grand Opening Ceremony is scheduled for August 25th for the new Skateboard Park in Keith Clark Park in Sidney. Ronnie Haag of the Sidney Youth Advocate program comments:

(Ronnie Haag 8-15-14)

Haag said that the new Skateboard Park is located between the Baseball Field & the Volley Ball Courts in Keith Clark Park.
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The Sidney central school district capital improvement projects are nearing completion. Sidney Superintendent Bill Christensen explains:

(Bill Christensen 8-15-14)

Christensen said that the baseball & softball fields would be completed in time for those 2 spring sports.
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The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will host a blood drive, sponsored by the American Red Cross & Bassett Healthcare on Saturday, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in Cooper Park adjacent to the Hall of Fame. Blood donors will receive free admission to the Museum on Saturday.
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New York state students in grades 3-8 improved their performance in math in the 2nd year of Common Core testing, but their performance in English & Language Arts was the same. This year scores also showed significant gaps between racial and economic subgroups again. Common Core is expected to be a hot political issue in the coming gubernatorial campaign, with Republican & Conservative candidate Rob Astorino and Liberal Democrat Zephyr Teachout both vowing to get rid of the Common core standards if elected.
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The Public Employees Federation endorsed Democratic candidate Zephyr Teachout over incumbent Andrew Cuomo, after contentious contract negotiations during his first term in office, and changes to the pension system for future state employees with lowered benefits. The New York State United Teachers declined to endorse a candidate in this year’s governor’s race.
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The Cancer Services Program of Delaware Otsego & Schoharie Counties will offer free health screenings to women 40 & older who are uninsured. The screening with the Bassett Mobile Mammography Coach will be at the Delaware County Fair tomorrow in Walton from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Appointments or more information is available at 1-888-345-0225.
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A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 8-15-14

State Police announced that 6 year old Delila Miller & 12 year old Fannie Miller kidnapped in St. Lawrence County, have been found unharmed after being dropped off at a house in Richville Thursday.  The 2 Amish girls were abducted by 2 men, who took them to a home in Bigelow, at about 8:30 pm and left them there, the girls fled & went looking for help. Nearby residents in Richville took the girls in & contacted police; the 2 kidnappers remain at large.
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The 2nd Rock in the Park concert will be held this Sunday at General Clinton Park. Organizer Jason Hall comments:

(Jason Hall 8-15-14)

Hall said that Janson & Singletary have switched times, Chris Janson will perform from 3:00-4:15, Singletary will go on at 4:30 to 6:00PM.
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A successful Delaware County Fair will wrap up this weekend, highlighted by the annual Saturday Night concert, featuring Danielle Bradbery & Easton Corbin. Fair organizer John Jackson comments:

(John Jackson 8-15-14)

The full lineup of remaining events is available at Delawarecountyfair.org.
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The annual Chenango blues festival gets underway today at the Chenango County Fairgrounds, with free performances today. A full lineup is featured for tomorrow’s show, with tickets still available at the gate. The full line up is available at chenangobluesfest.org.
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Missing Amish Girls Found Unharmed

Authorities in northern New York said Thursday night that Delila Miller, 6, and Fannie Miller, 12, the two Amish girls presumed kidnapped in the Oswegatchie area of St Lawrence County, have been found unharmed in Richville. Sheriff Kevin Wells said the two girls were abducted by two men, who took them to a home in Bigelow, a hamlet near Richville at about 8:30 pm and left them there, telling the girls not to leave. Instead, the girls fled, and went looking for help. According to District Attorney Mary Rain, the residents at another home in Richville took the girls in after they knocked at the door and apparently had nothing to do with how the girls went missing. The two kidnappers remain at large.

 

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P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 8-14-14

State Police and New York Alert announced the disappearance of 2 Amish children from the North Country. Missing are 12 year old FANNIE MILLER, with Brown Hair, Brown Eyes, about 5 feet tall and weighing about 90 pounds, Police said that Fannie is Cross-eyed. Also missing, 7 year old Delila Miller, also with Brown Eyes & Hair, about 4 feet tall and weighing about 50 pounds, she has a round scar on forehead and is missing front teeth. Both victims last seen wearing dark blue dresses with blue aprons and black bonnets, Police said that both girls went to a roadside stand to wait on customer in a small white 4-door sedan. A Witness saw the suspect throw something into back of car then get into the back seat, the Vehicle then left scene and victims were gone. Any one with information is asked to call 1-866-NYS-AMBER or 911.
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Published reports out of Albany suggest that the FBI and state Attorney General’s Office raided the home of State Senator Tom Libous of Binghamton last Friday. Libous and his son were indicted in July in connection with a FBI investigation; Senator Libous is accused of using his influence to get his son a job with a downstate Law Firm. Records and a computer belonging to Frances Libous, the wife of Senator Libous were seized.
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Emergency Crews from North Norwich & Norwich responded this afternoon to State Highway 12 and County Road 32 for a tractor-trailer accident. Initial reports stated that the tractor-trailer was flipped onto its side, & the driver was out of the vehicle. WCDO will have further details as they become available.
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The Chenango Arts Council has a new executive director, Diane Batson-Smith; she brings major theater & film industry credentials to Norwich venue. Batson-Smith told WCDO News of her plans to make the Martin W. Kappel Theater a community hub of activity:

(Diane Batson-Smith 8-14-14)

A line up of events is already scheduled through next may, the lineup and membership applications can be found online at chenangoarts. org.
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The Upper Susquehanna Watershed Project will hold its annual conference on August 21st at 1:00 PM at Sidney High School. Students and teachers from the project will present reports on their research on the chemistry, biology,& hydrometeorology of the upper Susquehanna River basin. The project is an effort between area high schools from Cooperstown to Afton, and is directed by teachers from Sidney High School. The program is funded by ACCO & private donations. The public is invited encouraged to attend.
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NYSEG is warning customers about callers who say they represent NYSEG about billing matters. Some customers have been contacted and warned that their service would be shut off & they should purchase a “Green Dot MoneyPak Card” and contact the caller with the card information. Customers who have any questions about a call for an overdue payment are urged to contact NYSEG at 1-800-572-1111.
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The latest Siena College poll asked New Yorkers about the most important issues for the fall election. 28% said jobs, 21% said taxes, and 20% said education and 17% corruption. Only 2% of those polled said hydraulic fracturing natural gas reserves was their top issue, 1% involved guns and the state’s gun-control law.
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Governor Cuomo signed a new law that bans direct contact between people and lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars and cougars. The “Tiger Selfie” bill, is also directed at roadside zoos that charge people for photos with big cats. The governor said despite any level of training, big cats have instincts to kill. The penalty is $500 for the first offense.

 

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A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 8-14-14

State Police responded Wednesday afternoon to 1562 County Route 18 in the Town of Butternuts, for a 911 call of a home invasion Burglary. 4 subjects fled into a wooded area after forcibly stealing property, 1of the subjects was reported to be armed with a handgun.  Patrols from the State Police, Otsego & Chenango County Sheriff’s Offices, Town of New Berlin Police, and the City of Norwich Police responded, After a 9 hour search. Police arrested Michael Mack, Ricky Woods, Shirley Lamphere & Jyra Nash, all of Utica, for 2nd Burglary, all were scheduled to be arraigned last night.

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Participants in a seminar in Delhi today will learn the 4 basic steps to recognize persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them with help.  Delaware County Pubic health director Bonnie Hamilton comments:

 

(Bonnie Hamilton 8-14-14)

 

The state Office of Mental Health and the Delaware County Suicide Prevention Coalition are sponsoring a safeTALK Suicide Prevention Training this morning at Delaware County Public Safety Building, in Delhi, from 9:00 AM to 12: 30PM.

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A woman wanted on four warrants, was taken into custody Wednesday by the Broome County Sheriff’s Office.   Deputies witnessed a woman passing unidentified items to another woman outside a window of the hotel, she drove off in a car with out-of-state plates, Deputies arrested the driver, Victoria Scott, of Florida, she was found to have suspended driving privileges in New York for failing to pay tickets issued in Binghamton. The passenger, 24-year-old Tiana Boer of Dunmore, Pennsylvania gave deputies a fake name and date of birth; Boer was charged with Criminal possession of a weapon, Criminal impersonation, and on warrants for Petty larceny, Prostitution, Resisting arrest & EscapeScott was released after being issued traffic tickets.

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The Butternut Valley Alliance’s 6th annual Summer Harvest Festival will take place today in Guy Rathbun Park in Morris from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m.  Admission is free and everyone is invited.  The festival is held in conjunction with the weekly Morris Farmers’ Market.

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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 7:30 PM.

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P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 8-13-14

60-year-old Almond Upton of Florida pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and 10 other charges in Broome County Court this morning.  Upton is accused of intentionally swerving on northbound Interstate 81 & hitting Trooper Christopher Skinner, who was conducting an unrelated traffic stop on the side of the highway.  Upton is charged with 1st degree murder, 2 counts of 2nd degree Assault, 3 counts of criminal mischief & 5 counts of reckless driving, he faces court action again on August 29th.

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State Police reported that 4 people were injured in an accident on State Route 7 in the town of Unadilla on Sunday.  The accident occurred at around 2:45 Sunday afternoon, between a car and motorcycle occurred in a driveway near the juncture of Sheep Pen Road and Sanly Road, Police said that 21 year old Benjamin Newman of Bainbridge; & 68 year old Richard Lewis of Birmingham, Alabama collided, 4 people suffered a variety of injuries.

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State Police at Oneonta arrested 43-year-old Ramnarine Baldeo of Schenectady for False Personation and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation.  The arrest resulted from a stop for not wearing his seatbelt on I-88 in Oneonta; Baldeo is accused of giving the Trooper a false name and date of birth, to keep his suspended driver’s license from being found out.   Baldeo was arraigned and was remanded to the Otsego County Jail in lieu of $1,500 cash bail.

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State Labor Commissioner Peter Rivera today announced that through a partnership with the US Department of Treasury, New York leads the nation in the number of recoveries made, with more than 19,000 individuals who filed fraudulent Unemployment Insurance claims & had their federal tax refunds intercepted.  The Program returned $21 million over the past 6 months to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. New York was the first state in the nation to implement this program and has recovered more than $139.4 million since February 2011.

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Hunting and trapping licenses, and Deer Management Permits for the 2014-15 season are now available for purchase through the State DEC.  Sporting licenses and permits can be purchased at one of DEC’s 1,100 license sales outlets statewide. Licenses can also be ordered at dec.ny.gov/permits.  The 2014-2015 hunting and trapping licenses are valid for 1 year beginning this September 1st

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Republican gubernatorial hopeful Rob Astorino, and the GOP statewide ticket, filed 4,400 pages of signatures in an attempt to create a “Stop Common Core” ballot line this fall.  Astorino’s campaign filed 62,000 signatures from voters in support of the effort, if certified by the state Board of Elections, the effort would give Astorino a 3rd ballot line against Governor Cuomo in the November election.

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New York is getting new restrictions on the sale of ivory or rhino horn to prevent the slaughter of the endangered animals. Gov. Cuomo signed legislation into law that prohibits the sale of ivory or items containing it unless they are antiques or used for educational or scientific purposes. The rules would also apply to rhino horn. Federal law already restricts ivory imports and interstate sales. The Wildlife Conservation Society said New York is the nation’s No. 1 importer of ivory.

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Governor Cuomo is using his campaign money to pay the cost of travel for himself and his staff to Israel. The three-day journey to Israel is officially a government trip. But members of the delegation are using campaign funds to pay their way. State Senator Jeff Klein and Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver are also using campaign funds. The group was scheduled to meet with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu today & return tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

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A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 8-13-14

A.m. news Wednesday 8-13-14
Anndrea Starzak kicked off her campaign for the New York State Senate today with a series of rallies in Tioga, Broome and Chenango counties. A Delaware County event is expected to be announced for Thursday, Starzak is running in the New York 52nd Senate district on the Democratic and Working Families party lines, seeking to unseat long time incumbent republican Tom Libous. More information can be found at starzakforsenate.com or on her Facebook page: StarzakforSenate.
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Staff and students from the Oneonta Job Corps Academy will be holding Job Corps Day at the Norwich Memorial Guernsey Library from 3:00pm to 6:00pm today. Spokesperson Lynn Price comments:

(Lynn Price 8-13-14)

The Oneonta Job Corps programs offer hands-on career training and education those at ages 16 to 24.
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Town of Guilford residents can attend a Public Hearing on the proposed Town of Guilford Comprehensive Plan tonight at 7:00 PM. The Hearing will be held in the Guilford Town Hall on Marble Road in Guilford Center.

 

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P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 8-12-14

A new poll from the Siena College Research Institute found that Governor Cuomo still holds a 32-point lead over Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Rob Astorino.  The survey found 58% of likely voters choosing Cuomo and only 26% were choosing Astorino.  Only 33% of Upstate voters said that they would vote for Astorino, 48% would vote for Cuomo.

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Monday might have been a record day for attendance at the Delaware county fair in Walton this year.  Fair spokesman John Jackson told WCDO News about the attendance that the fair normally sees:

 

(John Jackson 8-12-14)

 

Today, Emily Lapinel received the Milt & Douglas Thomson agriculture Scholarship, to help pursue studies at SUNY Cobleskill.  In attendance were Assemblymen Cliff Crouch, Pete Lopez, State Senators John Bonacic and Jim Seward and many members of the Delaware County Board of Supervisors.

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Chenango county Sheriff’s Deputies and New Berlin Police arrested Michael Gincerowski of Binghamton for Felony DWI, Refusal to submit to a breath test, Open container in a motor vehicle and leaving the scene for a property damage accident following an investigation where Gincerowski allegedly struck a vehicle at the Unadilla Race Track in the Town of Columbus and left the scene. New Berlin Police located the vehicle on State Hwy 8 in the Town of New Berlin and determined Gincerowski was operating a motor vehicle in an intoxicated condition, he was arraigned in the Town of New Berlin court and remanded to the Chenango County Jail pending future court action.

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State Police in Binghamton arrested 27 year old Shakira Garner of Freeport, Long Island on 5 counts of 3rd degree Grand Larceny, 2 counts of 4th degree Grand Larceny 4th, 9 counts of Forgery, 2 counts of Identity Theft & Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument.  Garner is accused of fraudulently opened accounts at both the Visions and State Employee Federal Credit Unions, & stealing a total of $25,000.00 from the two credit unions.  She was arrested on a Town of Chenango arrest warrant in Nassau County, she was transported back to the Town of Chenango Court for arraignment and then was remanded to the Broome County Jail without bail set at this time.

 

 

 

Otsego Express is providing public transportation service on a new route, known as Route 14.  The new route will provide public transportation service between Oneonta, Morris, Gilbertsville, Mt. Upton, and New Berlin, five days per week. The schedule can be found at www.otsegoexpress.com or call 800-388-9853 for more information.

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State Supreme Court Justice Edgar Walker ruled on Monday that Democrat Zephyr Teachout has enough proof that she has been a continuous resident of New York for 5 years and is eligible to be on the ballot in the September 9th primary election.   Teachout currently teaches at Fordham University in the Bronx and has resided in Brooklyn since 2009.

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Governor Cuomo announced the IFISHNY Challenge, that calls upon anglers to show off their largemouth & striped bass catches, with the New York Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife app. The Challenge runs through Labor Day, winners will be announced in September, for 1 free lifetime fishing license to be awarded for the longest largemouth bass & 1 for the longest striped bass caught. More information is available at dec.ny.gov

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State residents pay a Monthly state surcharge on utility bills; the money goes to help balance the state’s budget, but ratepayers may have been overcharged.  The Public Service Commission said the utility over-collections may have totaled $250-million. The “temporary state assessment” surcharge was enacted in 2009, since then the state has collected about $2.9-billion from the tax. The surcharge was supposed to sunset this year, but it was extended in last year’s budget. Governor Cuomo and the legislature have agreed to phase it out in 2017

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