Governor Cuomo today announced that an investigation by the Department of Public Service’s Consumer Advocate has resulted in 1,566 utility consumers receiving $950,700 in energy bill refunds from Ambit Energy, following customer complaints filed against the company. The investigation was launched after the Department of Public Service raised concerns over Ambit’s customer disclosure statements and renewal notices, particularly for customers who were moved from a guaranteed-savings plan into a variable rate plan charging significantly more. Ambit has made major adjustments to customers’ bills in an effort to both resolve concerns raised by the Department and satisfy customers who were charged more after being moved out of the guaranteed-savings plan.
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The Broome County Sheriff’s Office have charged a man with DWI, following an accident involving 3 tractor trailers Monday morning. The accident occurred on Colesville Road in Kirkwood, where a tractor trailer driven by 54 year old Daniel Masonic of Binghamton, crossed over the double yellow lines and struck two other tractor trailers who were headed the opposite direction. Masonic’s truck then went off the road, up an embankment, and struck a group of trees. Masonic’s BAC was .18%. He was issued tickets to appear at a later date in the Town of Kirkwood court.
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The Binghamton Mets have formally announced a new owner; Buffalo area businessman John Hughes & his group are the new owners of the team.
(John Hughes 12-29-15)
Hughes is the head of Evans Street Baseball, Incorporated, they will honor the player development contract with New York Mets through 2020, and the NYSEG stadium lease through 2022. General Manager Jim Weed and staff have been retained.
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The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to donate blood today. Appointments can be made with the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, at redcrossblood.org or 1-800-RED CROSS. A Blood drive will be held in West Oneonta today from 1:00 to 6:00 PM at the West Oneonta Fire Department.
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The murder trial of 57-year-old John Guzy is scheduled to begin in late March in Chenango County Court. Guzy is accused of fatally shooting 26 year old Derek Prindle of Afton, and shooting in injuring Prindle’s father, 60 year old Derek Prindle, in a case of alleged road rage on October 27th 2014, on state route 7 in Bainbridge. Guzy turned himself in to state police at the Troop C headquarters after the shooting; he remains held at the Chenango county jail pending the upcoming trial.
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Empire State Development Announced that Amphenol Corporation in Sidney will receive $750,000 for propane to their Sidney factory while they wait for a natural gas pipeline to be built through the southern tier. The ESD Board approved of the Monday to divert up to $750,000 in an existing incentive package that allowed Amphenol to stay in Sidney after the 2 serious floods in 2006 & 2011. Amphenol operates a new closer to the I-88 Corridor, where they will be able to acquire natural gas service from the planned Constitution Pipeline.
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Governor Cuomo signed a bill into law that will help prevent future home fire deaths in New York State. The bill provides that batteries in battery operated single station smoke detecting alarm devices shall be non-replaceable, non-removable and capable of powering the devices for a minimum of ten years. The bill was proposed as Firefighters frequently encounter homes without smoke alarms or working smoke alarms, where residents fail to replace old batteries. The law goes into effect in 2017.
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State Troopers arrested 34 year old Nathaniel Dendler of Windsor for DWI, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Inadequate Exhaust and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. Dendler’s passenger, 19 year old Caleb Harris of Windsor was found to be in possession of heroin and suboxone and was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. Both arraigned in the Town of Windsor Court, Dendler was remanded to the Broome County Jail in lieu of $2,000 cash bail. Harris was released on his own recognizance.
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Binghamton Police arrested 41 year old Harry Johnson for 3rd degree Grand Larceny & Falsely Reporting an incident. Johnson is accused of reporting an armed robbery at Joseph Guardi Auto Sales in Binghamton, as he opened up the business Saturday morning. Detectives determined that a robbery did not happen, Johnson was arraigned and is being held in Broome County Jail.
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