The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY - otsego county news, delaware county news, oneonta news, oneonta sports

December 30, 2008

Area News Roundup: Snow, wind today


A storm set to race across the state Tuesday night into today will leave behind several inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

Blustery winds were expected for much of the day today, as temperatures remain well below freezing.

The storm was expected to drop 1 to 2 inches of snow overnight Tuesday and an additional 3 to 5 inches during the day Wednesday, according to a winter weather advisory issued by the NWS on Tuesday.

Temperatures are expected to drop to the low 20s during the day Wednesday and Thursday with overnight lows in the single digits.

High winds are accompanying and following the storm, according the NWS forecast.

{"headline18"/}Two men face more charges

COBLESKILL _ Two jailed men face additional charges in connection with snowblower thefts, authorities said Tuesday.

Darwyn Dery, 35, of Albany, and Richard Burton, 38, of Amsterdam, were charged with felony fourth-degree grand larceny Dec. 22, Sgt. Rich Bialkowski of Cobleskill police said Tuesday.

They were arraigned in village court and held on $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond bail each, according to a police media release issued Monday. Bialkowski said village court will next hold hearings Jan. 6.

Dery and Burton were charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and second-degree reckless endangerment Dec. 20 by Schoharie County deputies.

The men were accused of loading the snowblowers from in front of the Sears store in the village onto a pickup truck. They fled and were pursued to Amsterdam, where they were arrested.

Bialkowski said the two snowblowers, together valued at less than $2,000, were recovered.

{"headline18"/}Cable channels in danger

Time Warner Cable customers may enter the new year with 19 fewer channels than they have today, according to a statement from the owner of the affected channels and several media reports.

At 12:01 a.m. Thursday, unless a deal is reached, 19 channels including Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and MTV will go dark for Time Warner customers, according to a report on www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com. Viacom, owner of the networks, said it has not been able to reach a deal for renewal. It is seeking an increase in affiliate fees for subscribers.

Both sides said they hope to make a deal before the deadline, according to a New York Times report.

{"headline18"/}Man arrested after stop

ONEONTA _ An Oneonta man was arrested after he fled following a traffic stop in the city, Otsego deputies said.

James C. Sitts, 28, was charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, failure to comply, resisting arrest, reckless driving, unlawful possession of marijuana and operating a motor vehicle without headlights, deputies said.

After the stop in the city, he led police on a foot chase to his residence, police said. He was being held in Otsego County jail on $1,000 bail.