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

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February 11, 2009

Prosecution rests in murder trial

NORWICH _ The prosecution in the George Ford. Jr. murder trial rested Wednesday morning and defense attorney Randel Scharf of Cooperstown immediately asked the judge to dismiss the indictment against his client.

Scharf said the prosecution had not proven intent in its case.

Presiding Judge Joseph F. Cawley of Broome County denied the request and stipulated that the defense in the case would begin at 9 a.m. Friday. The trial was adjourned until then.

Ford, 43, is accused of deliberately running down Shyanne Somers, a 12-year-old South Otselic girl, who'd come to his house late on July 7, 2007, to baby-sit.

Soon after Shyanne died, Ford was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment. Only after police learned that his truck was equipped with GPS and that its log contradicted Ford's account of driving the girl home was he charged with murder, police have said.

Chenango County Sheriff Thomas Loughren, who interviewed Ford on July 8, 2007, the day he was arrested, testified Tuesday that Ford had told his officers that he accidentally ran over the girl at about midnight but had not driven her to the hospital for hours.

Also testifying Wednesday was Stephen Jogush of the state police forensics lab in Buffalo. He said tests on Ford’s blood confirmed the presence of cocaine.

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  • Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving

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    May 11, 2010

  • Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving A motorist who continued driving after his truck rolled 360 degrees in Summit early Monday was charged with drunken driving, state police at Cobleskill said.

    May 11, 2010

  • Mary Lorraine Hawkins RICHFIELD SPRINGS _ Mary Lorraine Hawkins, 85, went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 10, 2010, she was at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.

    May 11, 2010

  • Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.

    May 11, 2010

  • Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.

    May 11, 2010

  • Evelyn E. Kinney MORRIS _ Evelyn E. Kinney, 81, of Morris, passed away Jan. 17, 2010.

    May 11, 2010

  • Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.

    May 11, 2010

  • Daisy Wagner Schultz WALTON _ Daisy Meda Wagner Schultz, 65, of Walton, passed away unexpectedly Sunday evening, May 9, 2010, at home.

    May 11, 2010

  • Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.

    May 11, 2010

  • Edward Luke Ryder MOUNT VISION _ Edward Luke Ryder, 71, passed away Monday, May 10, 2010, at his home.

    May 11, 2010

  • Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.

    May 11, 2010

  • Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.

    May 11, 2010

  • 3 area lawyers say Kagan likely to be confirmed Elena Kagan is likely to be confirmed as United States Supreme Court justice and seems qualified for the post, according to three area lawyers.
    Kagan, the nations solicitor general and a former dean of Harvard Law School, is President Barack Obamas choice to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.

    May 11, 2010

  • Alyce H. Roberts ONEONTA _ Alyce H. Roberts, 89, of Oneonta, passed away Sunday, May 9, 2010, at home.

    May 11, 2010

  • 3 area lawyers say Kagan likely to be confirmed Elena Kagan is likely to be confirmed as United States Supreme Court justice and seems qualified for the post, according to three area lawyers.
    Kagan, the nations solicitor general and a former dean of Harvard Law School, is President Barack Obamas choice to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.

    May 11, 2010

  • Outdoor biking program starts in city ONEONTA _ An outdoor biking program Tuesday nights has begun in Oneonta.
    The group meets at the Brenner Recreational Center near Hodges Pond in Neahwa Park at 5 p.m.

    May 11, 2010

  • Outdoor biking program starts in city ONEONTA _ An outdoor biking program Tuesday nights has begun in Oneonta.
    The group meets at the Brenner Recreational Center near Hodges Pond in Neahwa Park at 5 p.m.

    May 11, 2010

  • Marc E. Guy DELHI _ A graveside memorial service for Marc E. Guy, 79, of Delhi, who passed away Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, at Hospice of the Golden Isles,

    May 11, 2010

  • Bridge work to take place on I-88 today OTEGO _ Crews will be working on bridge maintenance on Interstate 88 eastbound between exit 12 in Otego and exit 13 in Oneonta beginning at 8 a.m. today, a media release said.

    May 11, 2010

  • David C. Yager ONEONTA _ Graveside services with military honors for David C. Yager, who passed away Feb. 7, 2010, will be at 1 p.m. Friday, May 14, 2010, in the West Oneonta Cemetery.

    May 11, 2010

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