P.M. NEWS MONDAY 4-4-22

Attorney General Letitia James announced that Cross Tie Disposal of Kentucky and company Vice President Harold Young are charged in a 42-count indictment that includes 30 counts of Falsifying Business Records and 11 counts of Endangering Public Health, Safety or the Environment. Cross Tie was supposed to dispose of old wood beams that were coated with creosote at a regulated site in Erie County but instead dumped the ties, contaminated with 11 hazardous substances at a property in Chenango County. The railroad ties have been removed as part of the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency’s Chenango County Rail Revitalization Services project in 2015 to repair and improve railroad tracks throughout the county.

————————————-

Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration has lifted a 3-month pause on a new law that will require nursing homes to meet minimum standards for staffing and patient care. The law creates minimum staffing ratios and requires that nursing home residents get at least 3.5 hours per day of direct nursing care, it was approved in 2021 in response to the nursing home crisis during the pandemic, when thousands of Nursing Home residents died from the virus.

—————————————————

New York State has reverted to calling the “TASC” program back to it’s original name “GED”, for those interested in earning their High school Diploma, local Program director June White told WCDO News of the programs origins & of their current programs:

(June White 4-4-22)

White said that a home study course call “GRASP” is available for those who can’t attend classes in person, more information about the GED programs is available by calling White at the Afton Central School at 639-2811.

——————————————————-

Another Area Middle School student is heading to the National Spelling Bee in Washington in May, Martha Ryan of the DCMO Boces told WCDO News that local funds are needed to send Daanya Butt to DC:

( Martha Ryan 4-4-22)

Daanya Butt is a middle school student at the Oneonta Central School District, she recently won The Daily Star Spelling Bee, BG Student Melodie Loya went to the National Spelling Bee twice. More information is available by calling 334-7526.

——————————————-

Delaware County Public Health & Friends of Recovery -Delaware Otsego announce Recovery Coach Academy & Ethical Considerations training next week in Delhi. Spokesman Kyle LaFever told WCDO News who they are looking for:

(Kyle LaFever 4-4-22)

LaFever said that the deadline to register is today, but that could be extended for the right interested candidate, the number to call for more information is 607-267-4435.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 4-4-22

Fire destroyed 3 commercial buildings in Worcester Friday Night into Saturday Morning. The buildings were not occupied when the fire broke out, several area fire departments assisted Worcester Firefighters with the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

———————————————

The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office assisted the US Marshals in executing an arrest warrant in the Town of Maryland on 59 year old Michael Hawkins for failure to register as a sex offender. Hawkins was convicted in 1997 for child molestation in Rhode Island, he faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

———————————————

Governor Kathy Hochul & the State Legislature failed to pass the state budget on time Friday. Negotiations over bail reform, to-go drinks and New York City casinos stalled the completion of the budget, If the budget isn’t passed today, paychecks for state government employees will be delayed, according to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

———————————————-

The 28th annual Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival will be held September 10th & 11th in East and West Parks in Norwich in Norwich. 95 exhibitors will be at the annual Arts Festival, organizers are also inviting all high school art seniors in Chenango and adjacent counties to apply for Colorscape’s 2022 Francis K. Wilcox Emerging Young Artist Scholarship. The application form is available at colorscape.org, The application deadline is June 17th.

———————————————-

State Senator Fred Akshar was filing his petitions to run for the office of Broome County Sheriff at the Broome County Board of Elections office in Binghamton today. Akshar has collected over 3,100 signatures from registered Republicans in Broome County in support of his run for Broome County Sheriff, Akshar declined to run for re-election after serving in the State Senate for 3 terms.

———————————————-