State Police investigated a commercial bus accident on Interstate 81 in Cortland County Monday. The bus was owned by Covered Wagon Tours LLC of Hornell, and was occupied by 40 9th grade students and 5 adult chaperons from Rochester to New York City for a school field trip. The driver was 55-year-old Joseph Rallo of East Rochester; he attempted to avoid two other uninvolved vehicles that had lost control in snowy conditions, the bus slid off the shoulder and overturned on its side in the median. 10 students and the driver were transported to Cortland Regional Medical Center for minor injuries and were released.
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Governor Cuomo today kicked off the 2016-17 skiing and snowboarding season and announced that Whiteface Mountain will open on Thursday, November 24, and Gore and Belleayre Mountains will open on Friday, November 25. Every winter season, skiing and snowboarding at New York’s 51 mountains attracts millions of visitors and generates $1 billion for the state’s economy.
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Oneonta Police arrested 20-year-old Divonte Geiger of Rochester early Saturday morning, at the Sip & Sail Tavern. Oneonta police responded to a disturbance where Geiger was denied entry into the tavern, & allegedly punched an employee. Geiger also is accused of striking the responding police officer in the face & attempting to flee the scene, but was apprehended following an additional scuffle. Geiger is charged with 2nd degree assault, resisting arrest, forcible touching, and trespassing, He was held pending arraignment in the Oneonta City Court.
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The state labor department released their county unemployment rates for October today. Locally, Chenango County was at 4.8%, Delaware County was also at 4.8% and Otsego County was at 4.2%. The statewide unemployment rate went up 2/10’s to 5.2 % in October.
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Small Business Saturday will be held this Saturday, to promote small businesses in communities across the country. Steve Craig of Commerce Chenango explains:
(Steve Craig 11-22-16)
More information about Small Business Saturday & various programs & benefits associated with that can be found through your local chambers of commerce.
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Organizers are coordinating this year’s Afton Christmas Parade, to be held on Saturday December 3rd this year. Spokesperson Kyle James explains:
(Kyle James 11-22-16)
More information is available at 208-5005 or 222-6272; the parade will begin at about 5:00 PM on December 3rd in Afton.
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The New York State Department of Health today announced that it will award $7.2 million to 6 organizations over the next 5 years to establish Breastfeeding Friendly community support networks for families. The funded entities will advance broad-based policy, system and environmental changes that protect and promote breastfeeding within community settings and businesses, & will also work to help child care and healthcare providers support families who opt to breastfeed their infants.