Archives for January 2019

A truck accident Tuesday evening in Hamden takes the life of the driver. Police say 77-year-old James Updyke of Homer was on State Highway 10 heading northbound when the truck and trailer failed to negotiate a curve resulting in the rig running off the southbound shoulder where it then struck a utility pole and tree landing on its side. State Highway 10 was closed until early Wednesday morning for the accident cleanup and restoration of power.

Source: Press release

The Otsego County Conservation Associaltion is partnering with the Mohican Farm again this year for its Be Informed! lecture series. It kicks off with an encore of last year’s presentation of ‘Ticks & Lyme Disease: What You Need To Know’ on Wednesday, February 20 at 6:30pm. The program will take place in the Embury Room at the First United Methodist Church of Oneonta on Chestnut Street. The program is free and open to the public. Other lectures are scheduled for May, August and November.

Source: Press release

With the recent cold snap and snowfall the American Red Cross offers tips to stay safe. The number of heating-related fires goes up this time of year and one important tip is to keep exterior furnace vents clear of snow and ice so carbon monoxide doesn’t accumulate. Extra care should be taken with space heaters to not ignite drapery or furniture. Never leave a lit fireplace unattended and use a glass or metal fire screen to keep fire and embers in the fireplace.

Source: Press release

This Tuesday the Oneonta Common Council will hear a presentation to acquire all of the more than 1,000 street lights throughout the community that currently are owned by NYSEG and, after being purchased by the City, change over the street light system using new LED fixtures. This proposal is part of the State-sponsored “Smart Street Light NY” program which works to convert existing street lighting systems throughout New York for greater energy efficiency. The proposal will be heard at the council’s 7:00 p.m. meeting.

Source: Press release

O’Connor Hospital, part of the Bassett Healthcare Network, has begun using an advanced patient monitoring system that hospital officials say will help save more lives. It provides assessment of heart and respiratory rates at more than one hundred times per minute then sends that info to a display adjacent to the patient’s bed. A small monitoring box worn by the patient interfaces with the monitor to increase the efficiency and frequency of messages arriving to nurses’ stations, allowing care teams to quickly recognize when patients need intervention.

Source: Press release

Those between the ages of 12-16 are invited to discover drones and drone technology Saturday, February 9 at Schenevus Central School on Main Street from 8:30 a.m. – Noon. The day will start with a “show & tell” exhibit of recreational and commercial drones followed by hands-on sessions including the science of flying, a drone flight challenge, and operating a guided drone test flight. The event is free but registration is required and we’ve posted the details at our website cnynews.com.

Source: cnynews.com/4-h-drone-discovery-day-at-schenevus-central-school-feb-9/

It’s been more than three months since the fatal Schoharie stretch limo crash that killed 20 people and now the National Transportation Safety Board has access to the wreckage under an agreement Tuesday. The Daily Gazette reports the accord resulted from a conference between the NTSB, state police, Schoharie County District Attorney Susan Mallery and the defense lawyer for Nauman Hussain, the operator of the limousine company who is facing criminal charges in connection with the crash. The NTSB may withhold some of its findings until Hussain’s case is over.

Source: dailygazette.com/article/2019/01/29/ntsb-to-be-granted-access-to-limo-in-fatal-schoharie-crash

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office issues a warning about a bug in Apple’s FaceTime app that could permit eavesdropping. The bug was introduced in iOS version 12.1 or later and Cuomo’s office recommends disabling the app until Apple releases a fix. That’s done by going to Settings, then FaceTime and toggling the button so the green isn’t showing. Apple tells CNBC that they expect to release a fix later this week.

Sources:www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-issues-consumer-alert-facetime-bug-reportedly-lets-people-spy-users#

and

www.cnbc.com/2019/01/29/how-to-disable-facetime.html

A Smithville Flats is arrested in connection with a 2018 child rape. Police say an investigation into an anonymous complaint found that 20-year-old Heaven Parrish had sexual contact with the victim in the village of Oxford on two separate occasions. Parrish was charged with the felonies of second-degree rape and second-degree criminal sex act plus two other charges. She was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and sent to the Chenango County Jail on $5,000 cash bail.

Source: www.nyspnews.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=66363

Three area school districts are among 26 statewide identified by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office as fiscally stressed. According to a report released last Thursday the Norwich City School District and Schenevus Central School district are considered to be in significant fiscal stress meaning the fiscal stress score is higher than 65 percent. Last year the two districts were listed as moderately stressed. The Oxford Academy & Central School District was again ranked as susceptible to fiscal stress meaing its score was higher than 25 percent.

Source: www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/fiscalmonitoring/schools/pdf/2018/stress-list.pdf