The Public Safety & Legal Affairs Committee of the Otsego County Board of Representatives announced that they continue to investigate the situation regarding Sergeant Ros Devlin of the Otsego County Corrections Department, who is also the son of Otsego County Sheriff Richard Devlin. Ros Devlin was accused of using excessive violence as a corrections officer, he is also accused of making threats, possibly against area schools and the public in general that led to his pistol permit being revoked, and he was banned from being on County Property, and his behavior was being investigated by the County District Attorney’s office, The County’s Labor Attorney, the Sheriff’s Department & State Police. Sheriff Devlin was requested to recuse himself from the investigation due to an obvious conflict of interest, which he initially refused; County officials said that the Sheriff did not advise them of his original disciplinary action until April 10th. The investigation is continuing.
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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 21 year old Alissa Young of Hancock, Thursday for 1 count of Driving While Ability Impaired Drugs plus other charges, Following the report of a vehicle going off the road and into a ditch on State Highway 97 in the Town of Hancock, she was arraigned and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 bail bond. Deputies also arrested Young’s passenger, 26-year-old Anthony Rhinebeck of Hancock, for Criminal Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument, he is accused of possessing 3 hypodermic instruments, Rhinebeck was arraigned and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bail bond.
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The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance announced that they have extended the hours of its Income Tax Call Center through the April 18 filing deadline to assist taxpayers. On Monday & Tuesday, the call center at 518-457-5181 will remain open until 7:30 p.m. to assist taxpayers with last minute tax return filing questions. For taxpayers using a home computer or mobile device, many questions can be answered at tax.ny.gov.
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A special meeting for Afton Village Residents meeting will be held on Sunday, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Bolster Community Center, on Main Street. Residents will hear about 2 grants that could benefit the Village, & ask questions to the consultants from GeoEco Design, regarding the Economic Revitalization Strategic Plan. More information is available at 639-4849.
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Rotary District 7170 has received a Rotary Global grant to help with the local fight against heroin & Opioid abuse in 7 local counties, including Chenango, Delaware Otsego & Broome Counties. District Grant Committee Chairperson Lana Rouff told WCDO News what the money would be used for:

(Lana Rouff 4-14-17)

Rouff said that the money will also be used of an Internet program to target those who may be using Opioids and get them the help they need.
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The Delaware County Tourism Advisory Board is now accepting applications for funding under the newly created Tourism Promotion & Development Grant program. This program will provide funding assistance to eligible applicants for projects that seek to attract visitors to Delaware County and enhance the overall tourism industry. Applications for grant assistance must be hand-delivered to the Delaware County Department of Economic Development or postmarked by 5:00pm on May 17th. More information is available at 607-832-5123.
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4 Chenango County Farms will benefit following an announcement by Governor Cuomo, to address the impact of climate change on agriculture. The Chenango County Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $67,716 to work with four farms to plant 1,015 acres of cover crops over a three year period, to improve soil quality, reduce erosion, increase soil organic matter and improve resiliency to the farm from extreme weather conditions like floods & droughts.

State Police arrested 34 year old Rachel Howard of Burlington Flats for the Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a B.A.C. result of .18 and other traffic violations. This arrest occurred after a traffic stop when Howard was observed driving across hazard markings while on County Route 22 in the Town of Exeter. An investigation determined that she was driving while highly intoxicated. Howard was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Exeter Court on April 19, 2017.
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The New York State Museum is opening a new exhibit on the Empire State’s experience in World War I. The exhibit titled “A Spirit of Sacrifice: New York State in the First World War” opens on Saturday, just over a week after the nation marked the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into the conflict fought from August 1914 to November 1918. The exhibit’s highlights include a life-size recreation of a trench on the Western Front. The exhibit at the downtown Albany museum runs through June 3, 2018. More than 500,000 New Yorkers served during WWI, the most of any state. Nearly 14,000 lost their lives.
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The State DEC is opening spring turkey season on May 1 in the upstate counties. The DEC’s annual youth turkey hunting weekend is scheduled for April 22 & 23, for junior hunters ages 12-15. The DEC encourages experienced hunters to take a novice hunter afield this spring, more information about turkey hunting in New York, see the 2016-17 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or visit the “Turkey Hunting” pages of DEC’s website at dec.ny.gov.
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Today is the last day to sign up for free income tax preparation in Chenango County through the Colgate University Volunteer income tax assistance program. Residents who earned less than $54,000 may be eligible to participate, more information, can be made through Cornell Cooperative Extension at 99 Broad Street in Norwich, at 334-5841. The deadline to file state & federal income taxes is Tuesday April 18th this year.
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The city of Oneonta department of public service announced that curbside pick up of brush & yard waste will begin again on Monday April 17th. Wards 1-4 will get their waste picked up stating on Monday, wards 5 through 8 will get their first pick up April 24th. More information about what is collectable or the city schedule, can contact the department at 432-2100 during regular business hours.