Governor Cuomo today requested that the federal government grant a Major Disaster Declaration for 8 counties devastated by flash flooding during severe storms in August. A Declaration would result in financial assistance from the federal government for emergency protective measures, debris removal, and repairs to public buildings and infrastructure. The 8 county request includes Broome, Chenango, & Delaware Counties locallly, after damage estimates exceeded $36 million in infrastructure repair, debris removal and structural damage as a result of these storms. Widespread power outages impacted more than 1,500 homes and businesses in the area, responders rescued and evacuated more than 200 people from campgrounds.
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47 year old William Holtslander of Unadilla was found guilty by an Otsego County Court Jury on 13 counts of 1st degree sexual abuse. Holtslander was convicted after 4 hours of deliberation by the jury, for molesting a girl under the age of 11, 13 times; he faces sentencing on November 13th.
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The Broome County Sheriff’s Office arrested 33 year old Scott Lord of Deposit Wednesday. Deputies stopped a vehicle on Upper Front Street in the Town of Dickinson for various violations, Lord is accused of lying about his name, possessing methamphetamine, heroin, crack cocaine, and LSD, he was charged with 4 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, plus Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Impersonation, and numerous Traffic violations. Lord was processed & was released on appearance tickets for Town of Dickinson Court at a later date.
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The Otsego County Department of Health reported that a raccoon tested positive for rabies in the town of Milford today. The raccoon was killed by a dog that was not current with rabies vaccination, it will be placed on 6 month quarantine, and there was no known human exposure to the raccoon. This is the 2nd rabies-positive animal in
Otsego County this year, more information about rabies is available at 547-4230, or at otsegocounty.com.
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Otsego County Sheriff Department attempted to stop a vehicle Wednesday afternoon on State Route 23 in the town of Morris for speeding. The vehicle’s operator failed to comply, a pursuit through the Village of Morris. Deputies reported that during the pursuit, the unidentified driver attempted to pass another vehicle when his engine exploded and the vehicle caught fire. The suspect was taken into custody, numerous charges are pending, and firefighters from the Morris Fire Department extinguished the blaze.
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The Jericho Arts Council will open their fall season with a variety of shows at the Bainbridge Town Hall Theater. Council Treasurer Phillip Wade said that the season starts Saturday with the award winning Beatles tribute band “Beatles For Sale” at 7:00 PM:

(Phillip Wade 9-13-18)

Tickets can be reserved by calling 288-3882, more information is available at JerichArts.com or at the council’s Facebook page.
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The Main Street Railroad Tracks in Sidney were re-opened Wednesday afternoon, following the conclusion of track work by crews from Norfolk Southern Railroad. Sidney Village crews began milling work on River Street & Division Street this morning.
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Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced the guilty pleas of Joseph Zupnik & Daniel Herman, the former owners and operators of Focus Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Cooperstown, for endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person. Herman and Zupnik’s guilty pleas included admissions that between May 28th and June 1st 2016, they recklessly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental, or moral welfare of a physically disabled person & failing to provide sufficient staff to provide the necessary care for one Focus resident, including, nutrition, medications, and incontinence care. Zupnik and Herman face sentencing on October 10, 2018.
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Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced her office’s Election Day Hotline, which is available to help troubleshoot and resolve a range of issues encountered by voters at the polls during the statewide primary election today. The Attorney General urges voters experiencing problems or issues at the polls to call the office’s hotline at 800-771-7755 or email civil.rights@ag.ny.gov at any time between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM on Thursday. The hotline will be staffed by attorneys and staff in the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau.
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Governor Cuomo announced more than 200 communities across the state have earned the Clean Energy Community designation, completing more than 1,250 total high-impact clean energy actions. The designation recognizes community leadership in reducing energy use, cutting costs and driving clean energy, all supporting the state’s clean energy goals. More than 450 communities are participating in the Clean Energy Communities initiative and have completed at least one high-impact action