P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 9-30-21

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, held a video press conference to address the rising rate of suicide in the military, the Department of Defense released its annual report on suicide, showing that 580 service members died by suicide in 2020, a large increase from 2019’s report of 498 service members. Gillibrand said that she told top Military Brass this week that mental health issues can no longer be swept under the rug:

(Gillibrand 9-30-21)

Gillibrand said that 3 10th Mountain Division soldiers at Fort Drum lost their lives to suicide within 48 hours, two weeks ago & She is also renewing her push to pass the Brandon Act, named in Brandon Castera’s honor, which would expand access to mental health care services for active-duty military personnel, including access to confidential mental health evaluation referrals without fear of retaliation.

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Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that because of the low percentage of 12 to 18 year old getting vaccinated against COVID 19, more & more pop up vaccination sites will be set up at school around the state:

(Hochul 9-30-21)

Hochul said that the statewide positivity rate on COVID tests has been hovering around 2.8% for the last week, State officials are also working at getting pop up vaccination sites at houses of worship around the state, to continue to get the percentage of New Yorkers vaccinated higher & higher.

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The Raymond Corporation will host a virtual Manufacturing Day event tomorrow, between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This is the 2nd year that Raymond’s Manufacturing Day will be an entirely digital and virtual event, Raymond Executive Vice President of Human Resources Steve VanNostrand told WCDO news about the event:

(Steve Van Nostrand 9-29-21)

Van Nostrand said that Raymond is looking to add to their workforce over the next years & decades, Overall, manufacturers seek to fill 4.6 million jobs over the next decade.

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Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $45 million in state grant funding has been awarded to counties statewide for improving the operability of emergency communications across the State. This funding will enable local governments to expand their ability to communicate, exchange valuable data, and streamline information to enhance collaboration and assist first responders. Locally, Broome County receives $710,422, Chenango County gets $511,743, Delaware County gets $604,415 & Otsego County receives $663,885.

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Delaware County Public Health reported 29 new cases of COVID 19 on Tuesday & Wednesday, with a positivity rate over 8%. Public Health reports 145 active cases, 6 are hospitalized & 320 quarantined. Only 50.6% of the total population are vaccinated, 74% of the positive cases are unvaccinated 26% of the positive cases are Pre-K-12th students/employees

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 9-30-21

The American Red Cross continues to ask for eligible people to donate blood, as blood supplies are at their lowest since the summer of 2015 locally. Blood Drives are being held locally today in Morris from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Zion Episcopal Church, at 162 Main Street, and in South Kortright from 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM at the South Kortright Central School on State Highway 10. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

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State Police were dispatched to State Route 28 in Andes for a State DOT truck struck by a vehicle. An investigation at the scene revealed that 4 DOT workers were in a truck retrieving cones in a work zone. 2 of the occupants of the DOT truck exited the vehicle when a 43-year-old male rear ended it. The 43-year-old male was not injured. The driver of the DOT truck, a 53-year-old male sustained a shoulder injury, A 24-year-old male passenger in the DOT truck was not injured, the 2 DOT workers that had stepped out were injured after they jumped over the guiderail; one had a minor Knee injury, the other sustained a laceration to the arm, he was transported to O’Connor Hospital for further medical care. Impairment was not a factor in the crash.

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The Northeast Classic Car Museum announced today is the last day to purchase a raffle tickets for the 1970 Candy Apple Red Ford Mustang convertible. The drawing will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, October 7th in the Lobby of the Museum on Rexford Street in Norwich, to enter and for Official Rules visit classiccarmuseum.org, Tickets must be purchased or postmarked by 4:00 PM today.

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A new study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture appears to indicate white-tailed deer can carry the COVID-19 virus, but health officials say the chances of a human getting infected by a COVID-positive deer are low, but they still urge hunters to take precautions. The study analyzed serum samples from free-ranging white-tailed deer in four states, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois, 40% of deer tested were positive for antibodies, meaning they had been exposed to the virus at some point. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation said that the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is low.

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Democratic Candidate for Norwich Mayor, John Quattrocchi is hosting a Town Hall meeting tonight from 6:30 – 8:30 PM, at Creative Works & The Artist’s Palette at 17 & 19 South Broad Street in Norwich. Quattrocchi faces Republican Brian Doliver on Election Day in November,

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