State Police arrested 20-year-old Brandon Sprague of Schenevus, for Sexual Misconduct and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, after troopers were advised of an incident in the Town of Maryland. Sprague allegedly had sexual contact with a victim less than 17 years old and also gave them narcotics. Sprague was arraigned in the Town of Maryland Court and was released without bail required. His next court date is on January 30th.
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State Police arrested 34-year-old Anthony Fedora from Windsor, for the felony Assault and Unlawful Imprisonment, after troopers responded to a report of a dispute in the Town of Windsor. Fedora allegedly struck the victim several times causing serious injuries & also kept the victim from leaving. Fedora was arraigned in the Town of Windsor Court and was remanded to the Broome County Jail with no bail set. An order of protection was issued. The victim was transported to Wilson Hospital and was treated for their injuries.
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28 year old Adam Alexander of Afton was indicted By a Broome County Grand Jury this week, for a fatal crash that killed a motorcyclist from Binghamton last September. Alexander was indicted on charges of 2nd degree Manslaughter, Vehicular Manslaughter, DWI, & driving a vehicle with a BAC of .08 of higher, in connection with the crash on September 5th in the town of Colesville, when Alexander failed to stop at the intersection of Route 7 & 235, and struck a motorcycle driven by Jason Smith, who was taken to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City, where he succumbed to his injuries.
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State Senator Jim Seward announced his committee assignments for this year’s session. Seward will continue to serve on the education, higher education, agriculture, and health committees; he has also been named to the new Senate Select Committee on Technology and Innovation. Seward stated that new technology and innovation companies are starting to grow in New York, the new senate committee will develop strategies to boost the tech sector, and lead to good paying jobs and careers.
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Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig announced that he has signed a letter along with 106 other mayors, to members of Congress, to build upon, and not dismantle the Affordable Care Act. The letter seeks to keep numerous protections intact, like treatment for those with mental illnesses, pre existing conditions or various preventative services.
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The New York State Legislature will again consider legislation that would authorize people with terminal illnesses to request life-ending drugs from a physician. The bill was introduced Monday, it would require 2 physicians to certify the patient’s illness is terminal. Physicians could refuse to agree to the request for any reason. The bill passed an Assembly committee last year but didn’t get a full floor vote & it is expected to be rigorously challenged again this year. Colorado, Washington, Vermont, California and Oregon already have similar laws on the books.
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The State Department of Labor released local unemployment rates for December today. Locally Chenango County had 5.2% unemployment, Delaware county 5.3% and Otsego County at 4.8%, the State’s unemployment rate decreased 2/10 to 4.9% in December.
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United Way of Delaware & Otsego Counties announced that taxpayers will be able to do their taxes free online through the CASH Coalition of Otsego & Delaware counties. United Way Executive Director Susan Kurkowski explains:
(Susan Kurkowski 1-24-17)
The website is unitedway.org/myfreetaxes.
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Another public meeting of the Oneonta Downtown Revitalization initiative will be held on Tonight at the Foothills Performing Arts Center Atrium. Updated information will be provided by Stantec Urban Planners, Otsego Now & the local planning committee, regarding plans to transform the downtown business district. Oneonta received 10 million dollars from the state last year for the projects. The public is encouraged to attend & participate in the meeting at 7:00 PM.
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State lawmakers are tackling various segments of the Governor’s proposed budget plan; Area Assemblyman Cliff crouch said that he hopes that this is the year that the school state aid formula is changed:
(Cliff Crouch 1-24-17)
Crouch said that the aid formulas were changed by Governor Spitzer about 10 years ago, but a lawsuit by downstate concerns and the recession put those changes on hold, to the detriment of poor rural school districts.
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Breastfeeding support is currently available every Tuesday at UHS Pediatrics in Sidney. Rene Stratton of Delaware County Public Health explains:
(Rene Stratton 1-24-17)
More information about the program is available at 561-2200.
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State Police responded to a report of a 1-vehicle crash on County Road 2 near Echo Lake Road in the Town of Greene, where the driver had fled the scene on foot into the woods. The driver was identified as 23-year-old Alexander Drost of Greene. A man had knocked on the door to a home nearby asking for help, Drost was found hiding in a large backhoe. He was arrested for DWI, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation and several traffic violations & was arraigned and remanded to the Chenango county Jail on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 property bond.
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