Governor Cuomo today announced that the New York State Police issued more than 4,000 tickets during a special STOP DWI traffic enforcement campaign over Super Bowl Weekend. State Police increased patrols and conducted sobriety checkpoints to deter, identify and arrest impaired drivers during a 38-hour crackdown from 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 4 through 4 a.m. on Monday, February 6. The Southern Tier regional had 348 arrests during the Super Bowl weekend enforcement.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 18-year-old Korey Fisher of Meredith, following an investigation into a NYS child abuse Hotline referral. It is alleged that Fisher provided two 15-year-old children with marijuana, smoking marijuana with the children and then driving both students to Delaware Academy in Delhi.   Fisher is charged with two Misdemeanor counts of Endangering the Welfare of a child. He was processed and released on an appearance ticket directing him to appear in the Town of Meredith Court at a later date to answer the charges.

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State DEC officials reported that bear hunters killed 1,539 black bears during the 2016-hunting season.   Hunters took a total of 1,025 black bears in the Southern Zone, a 10% decrease from the year before, but slightly higher than the 5 year average.

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Anti smoking advocated are encouraging New York state to increase funding for smoking cessation programs, and to discourage young people from picking up the deadly habit. Group like the American heart association, American lung association, the American cancer society & the campaign for tobacco free kids report that the state spends far less on tobacco control programs than is recommended by federal authorities. Another tobacco related proposal this year also calls for raising the state’s smoking age from 18 to 21, New York City already has the smoking age up to 21.

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The public service commission announced that starting this weekend, people in the 315 area code must dial the area code along with a phone number, even for local calls, then on march 11th, the new “680” area code will be added as an overlay to meet the demands for new phone numbers. An overlay was also approved in the 518 area code, where those residents will also be required to dial the area code with phone numbers even for local calls starting in August, then in September, the new “838” area code will be implemented.

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Leadership Delaware, an initiative of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and SUNY Delhi, is seeking people committed to community service who would benefit from strengthening leadership skills while developing a personal professional network. The 2017 Leadership Delaware program is currently accepting applications for its six-month curriculum that begins in June.   Up to 15 individuals can participate.   Applications or more information is available by calling the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce at 746-2281 or email info@delawarecounty.org.

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Taste New York sales nearly tripled in 2016, surpassing Governor Cuomo’s goal of doubling sales of participating businesses in one year. Sales of New York products from Taste NY stores, cafes, bars, concessions and events topped $13.1 million last year, more information about Taste New York is available at taste.ny.gov.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Investigators arrested 2 Town of Deposit residents Friday morning on drug and weapon possession charges following the execution of a search warrant in Hale Eddy. Investigators seized 8 grams of bulk heroin, scales, packaging materials, a shotgun, prescription narcotics, marihuana, a kung-fu throwing star, several hundred dollars in cash & a Public Assistance Benefit card. Investigators charged 30-year-old Scott Hanrahan and 38 year old Shalayne Sherwood with 2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to sell, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, 2 counts Endangering the Welfare of a Child and 1 count of Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. 2 children were in the residence; they were turned over to a relative and resulted in a Child Protective Services Hotline Report being initiated.   Hanrahan and Sherwood were arraigned & were remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $250,000 cash bail or $500,000 bail bond. This investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.

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Chenango County Sheriff’s department arrested 35-year-old Joshua Faulkner of Oxford for Criminal Mischief, & Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Deputies responded to a Domestic Dispute in the Town of Oxford where it is alleged that Faulkner destroyed property of the victim in the presence of an eight-year-old child. Faulkner had fled the scene and a warrant was issued. Faulkner was located at a residence in the Town of Oxford and was arrested & arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $500 cash bail or $2500 bond. Faulkner is to reappear in the Town of Oxford Court at later date.

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56-year-old Julie Mae Clark of Coventry was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office for Grand Larceny. While working as the Coventry Fire Department Treasurer, Clark allegedly stole $10,000.00 dollars from April 2015 through January 2017. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.   Clark is to reappear in the Town of Coventry Court at a later date to answer to her charges.