The Sidney Chamber of Commerce today announced that Dr. Riaz Lone has been named as their “Citizen of the Years”; And Unalam was named as the “Business of The Years”. Dr. Lone commented about the honor:

(Dr Lone 4-4-18)

Craig Van Cott of Unalam was surprised & honored, when he learned that his company was selected as the “Business Of the Years” at this Mornings Sidney Chamber Meeting:

(Craig Van Cott 4-4-18)

Both Dr. Lone & Unalam will be honored at the Sidney Chamber’s Annual Dinner on June 1.
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Binghamton Police announced the arrest of 23 year old Travon Sanders of Brooklyn, in connection with the shooting of 40 year old Grady Hunter, while Hunter was sitting in his car in front of 121 Susquehanna Street Sunday. Sanders were arrested in Endicott, he was charged with attempted 2nd degree Murder, he is being held in the Broome County jail pending future court action. Hunter was listed in critical condition at a Syracuse area Hospital.
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State Police announced a statewide crackdown on distracted driving, as part of April’s designation as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. From Thursday April 12th to Monday April 16th, Troopers will ticket drivers using handheld devices, like smartphones, during “Operation Hang Up”. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 3,450 people were killed in distraction-related crashes in 2016. During Last year’s event, State Police issued more than 2,000 tickets for distracted driving.
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State Police arrested Dylan Rodriguez for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Impaired by Drugs, after troopers stopped him for speeding on East Main Street in Oneonta. Troopers also located marijuana in the vehicle and charged Rodriguez with Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. Rodriguez was arraigned in the town of Oneonta Court and released on $500 cash bail. He is scheduled to reappear in court on April 12th.
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Governor Cuomo announced that $35,370,000 was returned to 36,446 victims of wage theft in 2017. In addition, $1 million in continued funding was secured in the new state budget to support the expansion of the Department of Labor’s staff of investigators. In the Southern Tier, $666,000 was returned to 581 workers who were denied their due wages.
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The Unadilla Chamber of Commerce announced that this year’s Business of the Year is the House of Consignment, Owner Kirsty Roefs comments:

(Kirsty Roefs 4-4-18)

The Unadilla Chamber announced that the Good Neighbor Award will be awarded to Carl French for 55 years of volunteer service with Unadilla Fire Department. The Annual Unadilla Chamber Dinner will be held on Sunday, April 22 at Unadilla United Methodist Church Social at 4:30 PM. Dinner reservations are requested by April 17th, more information is available at 369-2614.
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The Binghamton Rumble Ponies are expecting big crowds and an enthusiastic welcome to former Football Player turned Baseball Outfielder Tim Tebow, when the team starts their season tomorrow Night at NYSEG Stadium, Spokesman Eddy Saunders comments:

(Eddie Saunders 4-4-18)

Saunders said that some tickets are still available for the season opener at the NYSEG Stadium box office or online at BINGRP.com.
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Hunters in New York State harvested an estimated 203,427 deer during the 2017-18 hunting seasons, according to the state DEC. The 2017 deer take was about 5% less than the previous year. Past harvest summaries are available at dec.ny.gov.
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State Senator Jim Seward announced that the recently adopted 2018-19 New York State budget includes $200,000 for the City of Oneonta to help offset public safety costs generated due to being a SUNY host community. Seward’s legislation includes a formula to distribute state aid to municipalities hosting 4-year SUNY schools; it has received the backing of the New York Conference of Mayors. The bill been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, Companion legislation has been introduced in the state assembly.
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Norwich police arrested 32-year-old Andre Bryant of Norwich following a domestic dispute call. Bryant is accused of unlawfully entering a Diamond Street residence and assaulting a victim & intentionally damaging the victim’s property. The victim was treated and released at Chenango Memorial Hospital, Bryant was charged with 2nd-degree burglary, 3rd-degree assault, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and endangering the welfare of a child. He was sent to the Chenango County jail with bail set at $20,000 cash pending future court action.
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State Police arrested Nathanial Ford of Norwich, for Aggravated DWI with a reported B.A.C of .25%. Troopers initiated a traffic stop after they observed traffic violations on Ford’s vehicle. After an investigation, Ford was arrested & was arraigned in the village of Oxford Court and released to a third party.
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Governor Cuomo announced that the law requiring law enforcement agencies to video record custodial interrogations with individuals accused of serious crimes, is now in effect. The law will help ensure the reliability of evidence that is later presented at trial and guard against false confessions. The law stipulates that law enforcement investigators are required to video record interrogations of individuals accused of most serious non-drug felonies, failure to record interrogations could result in a court determining that a confession is inadmissible as evidence.
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A Public Scoping Session regarding the Draft Scoping Document for the preparation of a generic environmental impact statement for the Oneonta Rail Yards Project will be conducted this evening at 6:30 pm at Riverside Elementary School, and on Thursday at 6:30 PM at Greater Plains Elementary School. The city has received money to prep the former railyards for future development.
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The Sidney Chamber of Commerce will hold their next meeting this morning at Trackside Dining on Main Street. The meeting will begin at 7:45 am.