Jury Selection began Monday in Chenango County Court for the murder trial of Ernest Franklin. Franklin & his wife Heather are accused of killing their special needs son Jeffrey & then setting fire to their town of Guilford Home in March of 2017, after watching a movie “Manchester By The Sea” which contained a similar plot. Heather Franklin will be tried separately.
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Governor Cuomo announced a proposal to remove fraud from the School Tax Relief program known as “STAR”. Cuomo proposes a 6-year ban imposed on those who knowingly provide false information on a STAR credit application. In 2013, Governor Cuomo enacted reforms to the STAR program to crack down on delinquent taxpayers, in 2015, the State Department of Taxation and Finance was authorized to recoup STAR benefits from property owners who unlawfully received those state benefits, a power that previously was held by local assessors. The STAR program provides $3.4 billion in relief from school property taxes, the Basic STAR benefit is for homeowners with incomes under $500,000, and the Enhanced STAR benefit for seniors with income of $86,300 or less.
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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 57 year old Gerald Walke of Franklin Monday on a charge of Felony Driving while intoxicated following a traffic stop for an obstructed license plate on County Highway 21 in the Town of Walton. Deputies allege the defendant operated a motor vehicle while in an intoxicated condition and additionally while having a prior conviction of Driving While Intoxicated. Walke was arraigned in front of Judge Hall at Walton Village Court, and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail in lieu of $2,000 bail.
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33 year old Robert West of New Berlin was arrested Friday by the Otsego County Sheriff’s department on 10 counts of failing to notify of an internet change within 10 days, which is a requirement for a registered sex offender. West was remanded to the Otsego County Jail pending future court action.
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Governor Cuomo has removed a proposal from his executive State Budget plan that would have banned modified limousines, like the one involved in the fatal crash in Schoharie last October that killed 20 people. Cuomo may still forward a bill this session for the legislature to consider regarding limousine modifications.
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A benefit “Sock Hop” will be held this Saturday, at the Sidney Elks Lodge at 5:30 PM. All proceeds will benefit the Delaware Valley Humane Society.
Governor Cuomo directed an investigation into Facebook’s collection of personal information after a Wall Street Journal report on Friday said the company was obtaining “intimate secrets” from smartphone apps. 11 widely used smartphone apps, including programs that collect health information, were relaying information to Facebook, even when users are not Facebook members or logged into their accounts. The Department of State, the Department of Financial Services and other state agencies will conduct an investigation.
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Current statistics show that the leading cause of death among women is heart disease. Sue Button of UHS Cardiology Norwich will discuss the topic Today at Bohemian Moon, 103 West Main Street in Norwich, as part of the UHS Women’s Health Series, The event will begin at 6:00 PM, the presentation and discussion will follow at 7:00 PM. More information on the series is available at 337-4183.