34 Year Old Terrence Truitt of Oneonta will have his arson case go before a Grand Jury shortly. Truitt is accused of intentionally setting the fire at 5 Walling Avenue on Saturday December 29th, where former Oneonta fire fighter John Heller died in the blaze. Truitt was originally charged with 1st degree arson, he is being held without bail in the Otsego County jail pending Grand Jury action.
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Former New York Republican State Senate leader Dean Skelos reports to prison today to begin serving his 4+ year prison term for corruption. Skelos reports today to a federal prison at Otisville, New York, His son, Adam, reports to the federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, to begin serving his four-year sentence. Dean Skelos and his son were both convicted in July on charges of extortion, wire fraud and bribery, with the elder Skelos using his political influence to get his son high paying no-show jobs.
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Governor Cuomo today announced up to $10 million in capital funding is available to expand addiction treatment services. The funding is being administered by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, and will be distributed through a Request for Applications process. Selected applicants must develop and support a minimum of 16 beds up to a maximum of 40 beds. Funding is only available for new beds, not conversions of currently operating programs. The Request For Applications can be viewed at oasas.ny.gov. Responses are due by February 19.
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Chenango county residents 60 & older can get their income taxes prepared for free again this year through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program through Cormell Cooperative Extension in Norwich. Appointments are available from February through April, & they can be made at 334-5841, extension 11.
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Broome County is offering grants through the Small Community Fund for 2019, for local municipalities, non-profits, and local economic development entities that are working on projects to assist in carrying out the Broome County Comprehensive Plan. A total of $150,000 is available, last year, funds were provided for the demolition of a smokestack in Deposit to make way for their new community park, among several other projects around the county. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $50,000, with the average grant being approximately $16,000. The initial deadline for applications is March 31, 2019. The full plan is online at gobroomecounty.com/comprehensive plan
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Several upstate cites are teaming up for a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies, for misleading health care providers about the addictive dangers of opioid medications they manufactured. so far, the cities of Albany, Schenectady, Troy & Plattsburgh are on the lawsuit against several top manufacturers of prescription opioid medications, more are expected to join the suit, as the opioid crisis has continued to grow across New York State.
Bainbridge Fire fighters responded to 1025 Searles Hill Road Monday afternoon for a structure fire at a Barn that had been converted into Apartments. Fire Fighters from Afton, Coventry, Sidney & Masonville responded, no injuries were reported, but 1 dog died in the fire. The cause of the fire was a malfunction with the propane system, according to Bainbridge Fire Chief Fred Bell.
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The American Red Cross continues to ask for eligible residents to come forward & donate blood, as blood supplies are still quite low. A Blood Drive is being held today At the Delhi United Ministry on Church Street; another blood drive is being held at the Laurens American Legion Hall at 11 Main Street. Appointment can be made by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, logging on to REDCROSSBLOOD.ORG or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
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The Unadilla Town Board will hold their next regular meeting today. The Meeting will be held at the Town hall on State Route 7 beginning at 7:00 PM.
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The Walton Central School District Board Of Education will hold their next meeting today at 6:00 PM. The meeting will be held in the Board Room at the High School.
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