State lawmakers & law enforcement agencies are all looking into ways to deal with the growing heroin epidemic. Sidney Police Chief Mike Hood comments:

(Chief Mike Hood 2-22-16)

Chief Hood participated in the Sidney Rotary club’s recent Heroin Awareness Night at the Sidney High School. Police Departments in Cooperstown & Oxford are participating in programs with an emphasis on helping heroin addicts get help to kick the habit.
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State Senator Jim Seward will be in Otsego County, Tomorrow from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 PM at the Hunt Union at SUNY Oneonta, where he will host a roundtable discussion to solicit input from area stakeholders on the heroin epidemic. The roundtable forum is one of several being conducted around the state, Freshman Senator Fred Akshar will also participate, the public is welcome and encouraged to attend and observe the proceedings.
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Governor Cuomo today announced a major enhancement to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles’ facial recognition program to help combat identity theft and fraud. The Department’s facial recognition software converts digital facial photographs into mathematical algorithms and presents trained staff with photo images that have been identified as having similar algorithms. Photos are run against more than 8,000 new photos taken each day at DMV offices statewide, as well as about 16 million photos already in DMV’s database.
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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 23-year-old William Effner of Hamden, on 4 counts of petty larceny and 4 counts of criminal possession of stolen property. Effner is accused of possessing a stolen credit card in the Town of Hamden and using the card for his own personal use on 4 separate occasions. Effner was arraigned and was remanded to the Delaware County jail in lieu of $2,500 bail.
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Norwich Fire Department Investigators reported that a smoldering piece of particle board between sidewalk concrete and a metal hatchway in front of McNeil’s Jewelers are to blame in this morning’s South Broad Street smoke investigation. The cause of the smoke has not yet been determined; Firefighters were able to pinpoint the smoke source before flames occurred. All business are open, they were unaffected.
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The Binghamton Mets announced that the annual “Welcome Back B-Mets” Dinner is Wednesday, April 6 at the Holiday Inn in downtown Binghamton. B-Mets players and mascots will arrive at 5:30 PM for the “Meet the Mets” autograph reception. Dinner will be served at 7:00 PM followed by a special baseball program with team and manager introductions. Tickets may be purchased by calling 723-METS or in person at NYSEG Stadium during normal business hours. The Binghamton Mets are set to open their 25th season on Thursday, April 7 at 6:35 PM at NYSEG Stadium against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

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State Police arrested 40-year-old Jason Rude of Unadilla, for 2 counts of 4th degree grand larceny, DWI, petty Larceny & 2 counts of attempted identity theft. The arrest occurred after troopers responded to a report of a man going through a parked vehicle outside a home in Unadilla. Rude is accused of stealing 2 wallets and other items from parked vehicles, He also tried to use one of the stolen bank cards to withdraw cash from an ATM but was not successful. Rude was arraigned in the Town of Unadilla court and was remanded to the Otsego County jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 property bond. His next court date in the Town of Unadilla is on March 1, 2016.
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The State DOT announced that sign and traffic signal work would be performed today & tomorrow from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the intersection of Chestnut and Main Street, City of Oneonta. Motorists are advised to be alert for workers who may be in the intersection. Flag personnel will guide motorists through the intersection when workers are in the roadway.
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A Town of Guilford resident was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office for Criminal Mischief. 18-year-old Kayla Perry was charged following an investigation into a report of a Domestic Dispute, where Perry is accused of using a baseball bat to break the victim’s pickup truck window. Perry was arraigned in the Town of Guilford Court & was remanded in lieu of $2,500 cash bail to reappear at a later date.
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