A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 8-6-14

by wcdonews Posted on August 6, 2014

The Otsego county health department will hold a free rabies clinic today for dogs & cats at least 3 months of age.  The clinic will be held at the Neahwa Park from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.  Delaware county Public Health also will hold a Free Rabies Vaccination ClinicFor dogs, cats, and ferrets today, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Franklin Fire Hall on Main Street in Franklin.

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The Walton Farmer’s Market will continue through the fall.  The market is located at the Delaware Valley Hospital parking lot from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM today, as well as August 20th, September 3rd & 17th and October 1st & 15th.   More information is available at 865-6531 or
CCEDELAWARE.ORG.

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NEWS 8-5-14

by wcdonews Posted on August 5, 2014

Governor Cuomo signed a bill designed to provide support for women facing maternal depression during pregnancy and following childbirth. The new law provides information and guidelines on maternal depression screening; information on follow-up support and referrals; and public education to promote awareness of and de-stigmatize maternal depression.  The legislation is also intended to ensure that New Yorkers are informed of the public health services that will help them understand, identify and treat maternal depression.
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33-year-old Michael Buck is attempting to withdraw his guilty plea fro first-degree manslaughter in Otsego county court. Buck pleaded guilty earlier this year in a plea bargain deal, for the shooting death of his father Joseph Buck last September in the town of Middlefield. Buck was due to be sentenced in Otsego county court Monday when his attorney requested to withdraw the guilty plea.
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A Wall Street Journal/ Marist College/ NBC News poll released Monday showed that Governor Cuomo’s favorability rating decreased by 5% points compared to last month, down to 53%. Republican Rob Astorino’s ratings were down by 1% to 22%. Cuomo’s drop in numbers is attributed to a controversy that Cuomo’s aids may have interfered with the 2012 Moreland Commission on ethics reforms, Astorino’s numbers remained low as 53% of those polled, had never heard of him.
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Southern Tier residents are advised to sign up soon to be a disaster volunteers with Southern Tier Volunteers until August 31, 2014, and receive a free personal disaster preparedness kit. The Offer is limited to the first 300 new signups. Volunteers must reside in the 8-county Southern Tier Region more information is available at southerntiervolunteers.org.
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The Chenango county sheriffs department arrested 45-year-old Michael Ruland of Guilford for Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Ruland was charged following an investigation into a Domestic Disturbance, he is accused of subjecting a 10-year-old child to unwanted physical contact. Ruland was arraigned in the Town of Guilford Court and was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $5000 cash bail pending future court action.
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Governor Cuomo has hired an attorney, to be paid for out of his campaign chest, top refute allegations of possible interference with the Moreland commission. Cuomo set up the Moreland Commission in 2012 after the legislature refused to act on ethics reforms, they agreed to a reform package in March 2013, and the commission was deactivated as dictated by state law. Cuomo is accused of interfering with the commission’s work, and he is being questioned about using campaign money to pay for an attorney. State law dictates that taxpayer money is used for lawsuits against a sitting governor.
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The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 38-year-old Kendra Baker of Greene on an active Bench Warrant, issued out of City of Norwich Court, for failure to appear to pay restitution on a Welfare Fraud charge. Baker was arraigned in Town of Norwich Court and sent to the Chenango County Jail on $1,000 bail
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With schools set to open next month, a new report ranks schools in New York state 20th in the nation. The report, released by WalletHub, a personal finance social network, conducted an analysis of schools in all 50 states. It used a dozen metrics — from student-teacher ratios and drop-out rates, to test scores and bullying incident rates, along with data from the Census Bureau, the National Center for Educational Statistics and other sources, to compile its list. New York did not appear in the top five in any of those categories
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1of the nation’s biggest credit-rating firms warned New York officials the state’s improved rating is at risk as the federal government tries to get back nearly $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments. Moody’s Investors Service said the potential Medicaid repayment is a “credit negative” for the state. Officials with Medicare and Medicaid accuse New York of wrongfully paying out money in 2010 for about 1,300 developmentally disabled people in 9 state facilities. Medicaid officials also said they might demand further repayments once reviews of the state’s 2011 and 2012 fiscal years are finished. State officials said the state is in good financial shape and windfalls from civil settlements from banks and financial firms will cover any future bill owed to the federal government.
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P.M. NEWS MONDAY 8-4-14

by wcdonews Posted on August 4, 2014

Windsor Firefighters & those from surrounding communities were called to a 2 alarm blaze at about 10:00 AM, at an apartment building at 1075 Old State Route 17 this morning. Firefighters knocked down the blaze quickly, all occupants escaped without injury. The Windsor Fire Department was assisted by firefighters from West Windsor, Deposit, 5 Mile Point, Binghamton & Harpursville with Afton on standby, Broome County Fire Investigators are working to determine the cause.
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Governor Cuomo announced that Agencies that help crime victims have been awarded $36.2 million in grant funding. The grants will be administered by the state Office of Victim Services, locally, funding will go to the Crime Victims Assistance Center, the SOS Shelter, Catholic Charities of Chenango County, & Delaware Opportunities.
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State Troopers arrested 31 year old Jeremiah Craver of Guilford for Driving While Intoxicated with a BAC result of .14%. The arrest resulted from a vehicle stop for failing to keep right on County Route 3 in Unadilla, Troopers accuse Craver of driving while intoxicated, he was was issued tickets returnable in the Town of Unadilla Court on August 11th.
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The Village of Franklin and the Delaware County Local Development Corporation announced the successful completion of a New York Main Street program in the Village of Franklin. Franklin was awarded $255,000 through the program to commercial building owners for renovations of 14 buildings that improved commercial and mixed-use buildings, creating more functional commercial space and safer apartment rentals. More information is available about business initiatives, programs and funding opportunities DCecodev.com or 746-8595.
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New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman is giving police agencies, in 23 counties across the state, funds to help buy new or replacement bulletproof vests. The awards in the program use money from criminal and civil forfeitures. In June, Schneiderman pledged $3.5 million from forfeitures to help outfit police statewide to fill the funding gap in a federal grant program. The office will approve about $2.8 million in matching funding to 147 agencies statewide to buy more than 7,800 vests
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U.S. Senator Charles Schumer has called on the FAA, and the Commerce Department, to develop and release privacy rules and guidelines for the use of small-unmanned aircraft systems by the end of the year. The unmanned aircrafts, or drones, are being used by the U.S. to aid military operations, and Schumer said they have become more common in commercial uses as well. Schumer is concerned the increasing use, by private investigators to spy on unaware parties, such as people in their residences, as well as drug dealers to deliver illegal drugs, poses serious public safety concerns for New Yorkers.
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Governor Cuomo signed legislation to strengthen the vetting process for volunteer firefighter organizations, by requiring applicants to submit to a background check for any prior sex offense convictions. Volunteer firefighters frequently work in the presence of vulnerable individuals, including children. The bill will require prospective volunteer firefighters to authorize a background check for sex offense convictions if the individual wishes to proceed with his or her application.
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The New York Lottery has drafted regulations to enter a new multi-state lottery game, called Monopoly Millionaires’ Club, that is set to launch nationwide Oct. 19th. The game, which will have weekly Friday drawings, is projected to generate more than $34 million annually in lottery revenue, which is then put in the state’s general fund and designated for education. For the current fiscal year, which ends March 31, the state estimates the game could bring in $10 million in new revenue.

 

 

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A.M. NEWS MONDAY 8-4-14

by wcdonews Posted on August 4, 2014

Governor Cuomo signed “Vince’s Law” Friday that extends the time frame in which multiple DWI’s can be considered to automatically invoke a felony.  The bill is Named after Vincent Russo, who died after being struck head-on by a driver with multiple DWI’s, Vincent’s Law will raise the penalty levels for offenders who commit 3 or more DWI-related offenses within 15 years, with a maximum determinate prison sentence of up to 7 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000—where previously such repeat offenses might not have been prosecuted as a felony at all.

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New York’s property-tax cap limit will be 1.56% next year for counties, towns and most cities that run on a fiscal year that starts Jan. 1st. It was 2 percent the previous two years. The cap limit each year is set at either the rate of inflation or 2 percent, whichever is lower. The tax cap can be overridden by a 60 percent vote of the local governing board or in the case of schools, by a 60 percent vote of the public. In the current fiscal year, about 70 percent of local governments stayed within the cap, while about 95 percent of schools did

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A former Walton teacher accused of having sex with underage students will go on trial today.  Stephanie Fletcher pleaded not guilty Thursday in Delaware County Court to two counts of rape and four counts of criminal sexual act. 29-year-old Fletcher is charged with having sex with two young men under the age of 17 between January and March of 2012.  In February, a judge dismissed the original indictment because the grand jury did not receive one of the victim’s written statements. That statement would have said the victim was 17 years old at the time of the alleged incident, which is the legal age of consent in New York.  Her trial is scheduled to begin on August 4.

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Police are reporting scams against elderly residents. The grandparent scam involves a phone call or email from someone claiming to be the victim’s grandchild or other family member who is in trouble and in need of money. The victim is instructed to wire money or to send cash in the form of gift cards to an address out of the country. The “grandparent scam” has been circulating nationwide since about 2008. Police remind people never to wire money to someone who cannot prove their identity or pretends to be a representative of the government.

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P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 8-2-14

by wcdonews Posted on August 1, 2014

An Oneonta teenager was arrested for allegedly restraining an acquaintance against her will and had forcible sex. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office arrested 19-year-old William Hilgers following the incident this week in Davenport. Hilgers was charged with rape, criminal sexual act, sexual abuse and unlawful imprisonment. He was taken to the Delaware County Jail on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.

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Governor Cuomo today signed legislation to ensure stronger penalties against individuals who repeatedly commit sex crimes during a ten-year period.  The crime of “persistent sexual abuse” is intended to impose harsher penalties on criminals who commit certain sex crimes on multiple occasions during a ten-year period, The law excludes time spent in prison from the ten-year period so that individuals who commit persistent sexual abuse are held fully responsible for their actions.

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Tickets will be available Monday as the Eastern League is allowing the Binghamton Mets to start selling tickets for the 1st 7 2nd round of the playoffs in September.  B-Mets Spokesman Jim Weed explains:

 

(Jim Weed 8-1-14)

 

Playoff Tickets go on sale Monday at the NYSEG Stadium box office, 723-METS or at BMETS.com.

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The American Red Cross needs people to donate blood. Officials said every summer they experience a shortage of blood donations.  The Central New York Donor Center is seeing an eight percent reduction in donors compared to other parts of the year. Blood is needed for accident victims, trauma patients, and anyone treated at local hospitals. To make an appointment or to learn more call 1-800-REDCROSS.

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The Sidney Elks Lodge will hold their annual “Looking Back” car Show tomorrow behind the lodge on River Street. Elks Lodge Ladies Auxiliary President Robin Little said that there are a few changes this year:

 

(Robin Little 7-1-14)

 

Little said that in addition to the classes mentioned, they are also looking to increase participation of the younger enthusiasts to display in the “Tuner” class.   The event will run from 9:00 to 3:00 PM tomorrow behind the Elks lodge on River Street, the main sponsor of the event is Chambers & O’Hara Car & Truck Center of Sidney.

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The Sidney Center Improvement Group and the Maywood Historical Group are having a retrospective film night Saturday, looking back on the evolution of the O&W Railroad and the Maywood Depot Station. It will be an Outdoor film event, participants are reminded to bring their won chairs, & to arrive at 8:00pm, the Show begins at 8:30 pm.

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On Sunday, at 2:00 PM in the Overlook Park at Gilbertsville, the dedication of a National Register of Historic Places marker will take place.  The marker commemorates the placing of the entire municipality of Gilbertsville on the National Register of Historic Places in December of 1982.  The public is invited In the event of rain the ceremony and reception will be held at the Major’s Inn.  More information is available at 783-2820.

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A BENEFIT SOCKHOP TO SUPPORT THE SIDNEY FOOD BANK AND THE DELAWARE VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY WILL BE HELD SUNDAY FROM 2:00  TO 6:00 PM AT THE AMERICAN LEGION ON UNION STreet IN SIDNEY. THERE WILL BE LIVE MUSIC, FOOD, A SILENT AUCTION, DOOR PRIZES AND 50/50 DRAWING. ADMISSION IS 1 FOOD ITEM. DONATIONS CAN ALSO BE LEFT AT THE AMERICAN LEGION ON UNION ST., IN SIDNEY THIS WEEKEND.

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A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 8-1-14

by wcdonews Posted on August 1, 2014

State police arrested 27-year-old Jacob Fink of Oneonta for 2nd degree burglary.  Fink is accused of participating the burglary of a dwelling In Milford June 26th.  Police previously arrested 19-year-old Emily Ives of New Berlin in connection with the burglary.  Fink is being held and the investigation is continuing.

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The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division located 20 packets of heroin on an inmate at the Chenango County Jail Wednesday the narcotics were located in the body cavity of 28-year-old Conroy Robinson who is currently incarcerated on a separate charge.  Robinson was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Promoting Prison Contraband, & Criminal Mischief, He was arraigned at the Town of Norwich Court Thursday.

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Governor Cuomo state that there are more than 100,000 available jobs listed on the Jobs Express website. The site sorts thousands of jobs by region and occupation, and also allows users to search jobs based on zip code and travel distance. The occupational categories with the most jobs listed include: Sales, Clerical, Management, Computer/Mathematical and Business/Financial Operations. The website is located at jobs.ny.gov.

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Congressman Chris Gibson announced the House adopted the bipartisan Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014, which requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to permit veterans to be seen by non-VA healthcare providers if they reside more than 40 miles from the nearest VA medical facility or are unable to secure an appointment at a VA facility within 30 days.  The VA reform bill also provides $5 billion to hire more physicians and medical staff and improve infrastructure, authorizes 27 new leases for VA facilities across the country, and permits the VA to fire or demote senior staff for poor performance.

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P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 7-31-14

by wcdonews Posted on July 31, 2014

Otsego County Sheriff, The state DEA, the Otsego County DA’s office, & Oneonta Police arrested 22-year-old Nicholas Michael Torres of Mohegan Lake, following a 4-year investigation into heroin and oxycodone powder trafficking in and around Otsego County.  Torres allegedly distributed narcotics that were stolen from Covidien Pharmaceuticals in Hobart plant, he was taken into custody in Carmel, he was arraigned and was remanded to the Otsego County Jail on $25,000 bail returnable in the Town of Oneonta Court on August 21st
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State Troopers arrested 19-year-old Victoria Niedbalec of Laurens for 3rd degree Assault. The arrest was the result of a dispute that occurred at a residence in Laurens, Niedbalec was arraigned in the Town of Laurens Court and remanded to the Otsego County Correctional Facility on $250 cash bail. An order of protection was issued by the town court against the suspect.
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The Chenango County Sheriff’s department arrested 25-year-old Christopher Bonno of New Berlin for Criminal Possession of Stolen Property. Bonno is accused of being in possession of a DeWALT Jig Saw, which was reported stolen on an earlier date from a parked vehicle in the Village of New Berlin. Bonno faces court action at a later date.
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While voters in the Southern Tier support casino development, the majority of residents would not frequent a new gambling parlor once it’s up and running, according to a Time Warner Cable News/Siena College poll. Southern Tier voters support casino development, 45 to 36%, 57% of the same voters said they would not likely frequent their region’s casino. The Gaming Commission said the casino applicants would make presentations in front of the Gaming Facility Location Board on Sept. 8th and 9th in Albany. Public hearings are scheduled for Sept. 22 to 24th.
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The state Education Department has produced a preliminary parents bill of rights on the use and security of student data. Lawmakers in April required the bill of rights, the appointment of a chief privacy officer and other changes to protect student data, after there was a statewide backlash against the Education Department’s plans, to share identifiable student data with inBloom. The law forced New York to pull out of the inBloom project, which closed shortly thereafter.
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Empire State Development has approved SUNY Broome Community College’s plan for the START-UP NY economic development initiative, which establishes tax-free business areas around college campuses. The college plans to offer information sessions about the initiative, more information is available at 778-5012.
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SUNY Oneonta has made Forbes magazine’s ranking of America’s Top Colleges. The State University College at Oneonta was ranked 167th in the Northeast and 520th overall on the annual list. Factors taken into consideration were student satisfaction, post-graduate success, student debt, graduation rate and academic success.
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Up to $300 million has been made available through the State’s NY Rising Housing Recovery Program, to support home elevations for 6,575 homeowners. Individuals eligible for funding experienced damage to their homes as a result of Super storm Sandy, Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. The Optional Home Elevation and Mitigation Initiative is being offered, in addition to other housing recovery assistance that has been made available through NY Rising. More information is available at stormrecovery.ny.gov.
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A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 7-31-14

by wcdonews Posted on July 31, 2014

Congressman Chris Gibson announced the House Energy & Commerce Committee approved the Tick-borne Disease Research Transparency and Accountability Act of 2014. Gibson’s legislation forms an interagency working group consisting of federal agencies, Lyme physicians and patient advocates, who are tasked with ensuring coordination among federal agencies to maximize research priorities.
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State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced that State sales tax collections grew by $177 million, or 2.4% for the 1st half of 2014 compared to the same period last year. The gains were driven primarily by New York City collections up 4.8% or $152 million, Upstate sales tax collection were nearly flat, Central New York had a 1.5% increase in the first half of the year.
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The Blues Festival Free Summer Concert Series will feature the New Riders of the Purple Sage tonight in Norwich. The concert will be held in Eastside Park, in downtown Norwich from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, more information is available at chenangobluesfest.org.
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The Sidney town board will hold a special meeting tonight at 6:30 PM at the former Sidney Center Elementary school. The meeting will begin at 6:30 PM, regarding the Sidney center wastewater project.
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