Governor Cuomo today announced the launch of a statewide heroin task force charged with ending the heroin and opioid crisis in New York. The group is a coalition of experts in healthcare, drug policy, advocacy, education, and parents and New Yorkers in recovery, will build on the state’s previous efforts and use their expertise and experience to develop a plan to combat the state’s opioid epidemic. Members of the task force will hold public listening sessions across New York to inform their recommendations.
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A Broome County Grand Jury has indicted 2 people in connection with an incident involving gunfire at the SUNY Broome Dorms. 20-year-old Jermain Carr and 19-year-old Derris Robinson were each charged with felony Reckless Endangerment & criminal possession of a weapon for the incident last October 29th.
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The Broome County Sheriff’s department has been searching for 37-year-old Brenda Halpin of Chenango Bridge for over a month, since she disappeared from her home, without medication for health issues, which includes the degenerative Huntington’s disease. Halpin was last seen April 8th in the Poplar Hill Road area; her family is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Halpin is described as a White Female, about 5 feet tall, about 90 pounds, with long straight brown hair, Huntington’s diseases makes it difficult for her to sometimes walk or communicate clearly.
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The General Clinton Canoe Regatta committee has worked with the Sidney Chamber Of Commerce to have 3 sets of canoe races on may 21st, may 25th & the memorial day weekend. Clinton regatta Chairman John Harmon explains:

(John Harmon 5-10-16)

Harmon said that there used to be a few weeks difference between the Wessels and Clinton Races, which made it difficult for paddlers from outside the area to make 2 separate trips, paddlers would often chose just one race to participate in. The thought is that 3 races within a week could make it more reasonable for paddlers to stay for one week & race in all 3 races
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Governor Cuomo today honored 26 police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to communities across New York State. The officers from six local, state and federal law enforcement agencies were remembered at New York State’s annual Police Officers’ Memorial Remembrance Ceremony. Their names joined 1,387 others on the granite memorial at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

Otsego County Sheriff’s Department & Oneonta City Police arrested 26-year-old Haley Cornell of Oneonta, 26-year-old Shakeem Enang of the Bronx & 31 year old Michael Lightly of the Bronx on a variety of drug charges Sunday morning at 2 Rose Avenue. Officers seized heroin, crack cocaine, Oxycodon, hydrocodone, marijuana, hypodermic needles and $1,834 in cash. All three were charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Enang and Lightly were charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance & Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, and Cornell was charged with Possession of a hypodermic instrument. All 3 were remanded to the Otsego County Jail on Cash bail pending future court action.
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State Police arrested 36-year-old Michael Hall of South Otselic, for DWI & 2nd degree assault plus several other traffic violations. Troopers also charged Hall’s Girlfriend, 25-year-old Ashlee Simms of South Otselic, for DWI & other traffic violations. Troopers responded to a report of a woman yelling for help on South Chenango Street extension in the Town of Greene. Simms had been in a physical dispute with her boyfriend Hall who was a passenger in her vehicle, she stopped and ran for help, and Hall attempted to drive away & backed into a ditch and then fled on foot. Hall was arraigned and was remanded to the Chenango county jail on $250 cash bail or $500 property bond. Simms was also arraigned and was released without bail required. They face court action in the Town of Greene court on Thursday.
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The Sidney Central School District will be holding its Budget Hearing Tonight at 7:00 pm in the high school library. Superintendent Bill Christensen will be presenting the 2016-17-school budget. The public is invited to attend.
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Governor Cuomo today announced the award of $6,081,700 to help 122 behavioral health providers that offer children’s services improve or develop their technological infrastructure or update their Medicaid billing infrastructure. In the Southern Tier organizations will receive $548,350, those included in the funding are: Catholic Charities of Broome County, Chenango County Mental Health & Delaware County Department of Mental Health