Governor Cuomo today announced that recreational marijuana will not be passed as part of this year’s State Budget, which is due on April 1st.   The Governor said that there is still a chance for it to pass separately by the legislature before their session ends in June.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 24 year old Mohammed Rahman of Queens for Criminal Possession of Marihuana, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, Driving While ability impaired by drugs, speeding & other traffic violations.  Rahman was stopped on State Highway 268 in the Town of Hancock, he was found to be in possession of more than 10 pounds of Marihuana.  Rahman was arraigned at Hancock Village Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $15,000 cash bail pending future court action at a later date.

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A Broome County Sheriff’s Deputy on Route 79 observed a vehicle traveling off the road & into a ditch, the vehicle continued driving down the ditch for approximately 600 feet before stopping. The Deputy made contact with Kristen Oropallo of Susquehanna Pennsylvania, the investigation led to Oropallo being charged with DWI; also her driving privileges in New York State had been suspended. Oropallo was transported to the Broome County Sheriff’s Office for further processing where she refused to submit to a Breath test, she was issued several tickets to return to the Town of Windsor Court at a later date.

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Oneonta Finance Director Meg Hungerford will resign from that position at the end of the month.    Hungerford has accepted a position with the Walton Central School district.   No interim director has been appointed by the city; they will start a search for a replacement shortly.

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The State Department of Transportation today announced that preliminary work has begun on a $1.1 million project to replace a culvert underneath Dilly Road in the Town of Colesville. The new culvert will allow a stream to more efficiently flow underneath the road, reducing the possibility of erosion and enhancing safety for motorists traveling to and from nearby State Route 7.  While preliminary site work, including tree removal, has begun, the bulk of construction will not take place until the summer to minimize disruptions to school bus routes and comply with DEC stream work restrictions. Traffic will be detoured on to Martin Hill Road during construction, which is expected to be substantially complete by September.

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A.O. Fox Hospital has prioritized combatting hunger as a population health improvement initiative in 2019. The hospital, in collaboration with several agencies, is working to reduce local food insecurity with hunger screenings and goals of establishing a new food pantry for employees and a patient food pharmacy while continuing to supplement other area food pantries. A recent assessment identified hunger in Otsego County as a major community health concern Fox is working with organizations like Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army, Friends of Recovery – Delaware & Otsego Counties, Opportunities for Otsego, and many others.

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Governor Cuomo’s job approval rating has improved to 50% for the first time since last May, according to polls released this week.   A Quinnipiac Survey released today said that 50% percent of voters approve of the job Cuomo is doing as governor, with 41% registering disapproval.  About 2/3rds of those polled believe that Cuomo should also continue to try to convince Amazon to revisit their plans to open a facility in Queens & add 25,000 jobs.

Village voting took place & there were a few races to decide, in Sidney, Andy Matviak was re-elected as Mayor over Jeffrey Stefanek & Elected to the Village board were Ray Baker & Barry MacPherson.  In Walton, Stephen Condon won the election for a two-year mayor seat over incumbent Ed Snow.  In Gilbertsville, the new Mayor is Mark Muller who defeated incumbent Ken Nolan; Trustees that won are Glenn Foster & Randolph Palada,  in Afton, the 2 village board seats were won by DeAnna Lawrence & Sally Muller.

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58 year old Julie Clark of Coventry pleaded guilty to 3rd degree Grand Larceny for stealing Thousands of dollars from the Coventry Fire Department while serving as treasurer.  Clark was sentenced to a 3 year conditional discharge & was ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution.

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Delaware County Public Health has a Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic today in Delhi from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.  The clinic will be held at the Delhi Fire Hall at 140 Delview Terrace.  More information is available at 832-5200 or delawarecountypublichealth.com

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