P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 12-28-22

State Police were dispatched Christmas day at about 12:30 PM to assist the Oneonta City Fire Department with a fully engulfed single wide trailer at the Oneida Village Mobile Home Park on Oneida Street. Fire personnel located a deceased male in the residence. State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to the scene, the deceased man has been identified as 50 year old Aaron Blakeslee, who resided in the trailer. Oneonta Fire Department reported that 1 dog and 2 cats also died in the fire, there were no injuries to any firefighters. Investigators are working with the City of Oneonta Fire Department and State Fire Investigators to determine the cause of the fatal fire.

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The State Department of Public Service announced it has expanded its investigation into NYSEG and sister company Rochester Gas & Electric, for potential mismanagement of their utilities’ billing systems and protocols. The Department’s Consumer Advocate will host a series of public forums in affected areas starting in January to hear consumer concerns first-hand, after over 4700 customers complained of sudden spikes in their electric bills of about 60% on average earlier this year. Customers t should contact the Department’s Office of Consumer Services to file a complaint at dps.ny.gov.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a Hamden man on charges stemming from a Menacing Complaint Tuesday. Deputies responded to a reported menacing complaint, Upon arrival Deputies interviewed 49-year-old Hayes Hathaway, deputies determined that Hathaway had pushed the victim from behind, displayed an axe while verbally threatening to cause harm to the victim and then terminated the victim’s electrical supply. Deputies charged Hathaway with 1 count of each of Menacing & Harassment, & was released & ordered to appear in Town of Hamden Court at a later date.

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Governor Kathy Hochul signed a legislative package to crack down on pandemic fraud. The Legislation increases the award amounts given to individuals who report fraud related to a State of Emergency. Currently, private citizens can file civil lawsuits on behalf of the government to help recover defrauded money and may be rewarded a percentage of the money recovered. With this new law, whistleblowers may be eligible to receive additional money if the fraud was perpetrated during a state of emergency.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 12-28-22

Delaware County Emergency Services announced that crews from East Meredith, Pindars Corners, Stamford & Trout Creek Fire Departments were deployed to Erie County to assist with the disaster in Western New York. All were equipped with UTV’s & brought necessary supplies for a 72 hour deployment.

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The State Department of Health urges New Yorkers ages 6 months and older to get a flu shot, with the Department’s latest report showing an additional pediatric death, bringing the total to 5 so far this season. The Department’s new flu surveillance report shows a total of 217,094 positive influenza cases across all 62 counties in New York have been reported to date. Outside of New York City, week-over-week lab-confirmed flu cases are up 4 percent to 36,047, the report is available at nyshc.health.ny.gov.

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Cortland County Sheriff’s Officers responded to the Town of Homer for a motor vehicle accident, the driver, 20 year old Lucas Walley of Walton is accused of being intoxicated & driving off of the road. Walley was charged with Driving with .08 of 1% or More of Alcohol, Driving While Intoxicated, Driving Across Hazard Markings, he was processed and released on his own recognizance with appearance tickets returnable to the Town of Homer Court.

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State Police remind motorists that they are continuing to crack down on speeders, distracted drivers, intoxicated drivers & aggressive drivers, through the Holidays. State police and local law enforcement agencies will continue to keep patrols on the roads through the New Year’s holiday weekend, they also remind drivers to obey the “Move Over” Law when emergency vehicles are responding to issues on the highways.

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