State Police arrested 36-year-old Jeffrey Oakley of Delhi, for 3rd degree Assault, after troopers were advised of a dispute Monday in the Town of Meredith. Oakley allegedly grabbed the victim by the hair and bounced the victim’s head off the floor causing a neck injury, with a child present. The victim was treated at a local hospital and was released. Oakley was arraigned in the Town of Delhi Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 property bond. An order of protection was issued for the victim.
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Hartwick College announced that the State Education Department has approved Public Health as the 5th new major to be offered to students beginning in the fall 2017. The Bachelor of Arts degree program joins Criminal Justice, Environment, Sustainability and Society, Actuarial Mathematics and Global Studies as new majors. More information on the new Public Health major can be found at www.hartwick.edu/publichealth.
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Governor Cuomo today announced the results of the State Liquor Authority and DMV joint efforts to combat underage drinking. On March 2nd the Governor announced operations running through April to deploy Enforcement Investigators to over 500 licensed locations throughout New York. At the halfway mark into the statewide crackdown, The Liquor Authority underage buyers have already visited 339 establishments, finding 92 locations making illegal sales. Additionally, DMV enforcement operations have resulted in 83 arrests of persons under 21 attempting to purchase alcohol and confiscated 92 fake IDs. Locally, 3 stores in Binghamton were charged for allegedly selling alcoholic beverages to minors.
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Efforts are underway to include in the final state budget plan, an increase in pay of direct care Workers across the state, who take care of the infirmed & disabled. Assemblyman Cliff Crouch supports the pay increase:

(Crouch 3-29-17)

The state lawmakers have until April first to get the budget passed by the state of the new fiscal year on April 1st.
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The State DEC announced that for the 11th straight year, no White Tailed deer tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. Since 2002, DEC has tested more than 40,000 wild white-tailed deer for the disease. In 2005, Chronic Wasting Disease was found in captive and wild white-tailed deer in Oneida County. After intensive disease response efforts, no subsequent cases have been detected. Recently 2,447 samples were tested from hunter-harvested deer and 102 clinical deer that appeared sick or abnormal, none were infected with the disease, more information is available at dec.ny.gov.
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Governor Cuomo today announced $45 million has been awarded for counties across the state to upgrade critical technology and improve emergency communications systems. This funding will enable local governments to expand their ability to communicate and streamline information through their systems to enhance collaboration and assist first responders. Locally counties received between $400,000 to almost $800,000 for Emergency services equipment upgrades.
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Oneonta Police Department were dispatched to a reported stabbing at 12 Division Street early Friday Morning. Police found a 24 year old man bleeding from lacerations to his head and hand, after he tried to break up a domestic dispute among neighbors. The stabbing victim confronted the male, he was then assaulted with a knife & was transported to Fox Hospital, where he was treated and released. Police arrested 53 year old EDDIE BURNS of the Bronx for 2nd degree Assault, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Reckless Endangerment, & Criminal Possession of a controlled substance. Burns was arraigned and was remanded to the custody of the Otsego County Sheriff’s department without bail.
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28-year-old Travis St. Denny of Norwich has been arrested following an investigation from information from the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment Hotline. St. Denny was arrested for promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child and endangering the welfare of a child, , he was arraigned in Norwich City Court & was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $20,000 cash bail, or $40,000 bond. Norwich Police is asking anyone with information to call 334-1212 or 336-TIPS.
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The Tri-Town Coalition on Substance Abuse Prevention meets this evening, following last week’s education dinner held in Sidney. Coalition President Lorraine Keckeisen comments:

(Lorraine Keckeisen 3-29-17)

The meeting begins at 6:00 PM at Sidney High School Library, the following Coalition Meeting will be held on April 26th.
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New York officials are reminding volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers that they could be eligible for a personal income tax credit. The credit is designed for state residents who were active as volunteer firefighters or ambulance workers for the full tax year. The credit is worth $200 for individuals and $400 for couples filing jointly, if both spouses qualify. New York tax officials say that more than 79,600 volunteers received $15.9 million in 2014, the latest year for which figures are available. Residents who already receive a property tax exemption for their volunteer service cannot claim the credit.
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Sidney senior Carolee Pierce signed her NCAA National Letter of Intent at Sidney High School to play Basketball at Division-3 Marywood University in Pennsylvania next year. She was joined by family, friends, teammates and school administrators for her official signing. Pierce was a 2nd team All-MAC League selection this past winter for the Lady Warriors & was the league leader in blocked shots for the 2016-2017 season.
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