WCDO NEWS THURSDAY 1-3-19

Governor Cuomo signed the “Cancer Bill” for volunteer firefighters into law late last year, and it went into effect January 1st. The gap insurance policy that volunteer fire departments are required to carry for each member will provide tax-free disability and death benefits to volunteers with 5 years of service if they’re diagnosed with specific cancers covered under the new law. New York’s previous law did not cover all types of cancer. There are an estimated 96,000 volunteer firefighters in New York State.

Sears Holdings, owners of Kmart and Sears stores, announced that 80 more stores will be closed this year. The stores will all be closed by the end of March, with Texas and Florida having 7 stores closed, New York State had 5 stores closing; however no local stores were affected.

Broome County District Attorney Steve Cornwell today released drug overdose death statistics for 2018. Cornwell reported that there were 31 overdose deaths in Broome County, there were 76 overdose deaths in 2017. Cornwell said that the average age for opioid deaths was 40, 71% were male & 29% were female, 56% were in the city of Binghamton, while 44% were in other parts of Broome County. Cornwell said that 94% of the overdose deaths were from heroin or other opioids; 6% attributed to other drugs.

New York State passed legislation requiring all New York businesses – regardless of size – to provide sexual harassment prevention training to their employees. The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with New Haven Consulting Group to provide members with an online “Preventing Sexual Harassment” workshop that meets New York state requirements and can be taken by your employees online. More information is available through the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce at delawarecounty.org or at 746-2281.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 40-year-old Crystal Gager of Franklin for Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Harassment, following an investigation of an altercation in December in the Town of Franklin. Gager is accused of knowingly acting in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of a child less than 17-years-old; Gager also allegedly subjected another individual to unwanted physical contact by striking the individual in the face. Gager was arraigned in the Town of Sidney Court and released on her own recognizance. Gager is scheduled to appear in the Town of Franklin Court at a later date.

UHS Chenango Memorial, Commerce Chenango, Chenango Health Network and Care Compass Network are hosting an event related to Substance Use/Abuse in the Workplace on Thursday, January 31st at 7:45 AM at The Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich. Speakers will be from the legal & health care communities, Registration is requested at 334-1400 or by email: register@chenangony.org, no later than January 23rd.

Oneonta Police & Fire Department officials held a press conference Wednesday regarding the fatal fire at 5 Walling Avenue Saturday morning that killed former Oneonta Fire Fighter John Heller. Oneonta Police Chief Douglas Brenner commented:

(Chief Brenner 1-3-18)

Chief Brenner said that Truitt resided in an apartment at 5 Walling Avenue at the time of the fire, the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information can contact the Oneonta Police Department at 432-1111, or through the department Facebook page, or through the city’s Nixle web page. The Calling hours for John Heller will be held today from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Bookhout Funeral Home, 357 Main Street in Oneonta. Funeral services will be at 1:00 PM Friday at the Foothills Performing Arts Center, a celebration of Heller’s life will be held at the East Meredith Fire Department, immediately following the funeral service.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting Today in the Guilford Elementary School Cafeteria at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

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