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

November 27, 2009

Area News Roundup


NWS expects rain and snow in area

The weather will turn nasty today as a storm off the coast brings rain, strong winds and possibly some accumulating snow in the higher elevations, according to the National Weather Service.

The forecast for Oneonta is calling for a 90 percent chance of rain during the day.

Up to .25 inches of rain is expected before the precipitation turns to all snow early Saturday morning.

Snow accumulation will be less than an inch in lower-lying areas including Oneonta, according to the NWS.

But 1-to-3 inches is possible in the higher elevations.

Winds are expected to increase Saturday with gusts approaching 40 mph, according to the NWS.

2 plead innocent to drug charges

DELHI _ Sealed grand jury indictments charging two people with selling drugs in the village of Sidney were opened in Delaware County Court on Monday.

Terry Wingo, 54, of Sidney, was charged with a felony count of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance for allegedly selling cocaine Nov. 6.

Megan Meade, 21, of Binghamton, was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance for allegedly selling heroin Aug. 10 and Aug. 21.

Pleas of innocent were entered on behalf of both defendants. Both Wingo and Meade requested assigned attorneys, and they will reappear in court Monday to continue the arraignments.

Wingo and Meade are being held in Delaware County jail without bail to await further court action.

Donations being accepted for family

MIDDLEFIELD _ The Middlefield Fire Department will be accepting donations Saturday to assist a local family rendered homeless by a fire Sunday.

Donations of items including clothing, food and toiletries may be dropped off at the fire hall on county Route 35 during the day.

Officials from the fire department said volunteers will be at the hall during the day to collect donations.

The blaze heavily damaged the home of William R. Miller Jr., Renee Darling and their four children. The children include 7-year-old, 6-year-old and 21/2-year-old boys and a 14-month-old girl.

Taxes for city schools due Mon.

ONEONTA _ Monday will be the final day for tax collection for the Oneonta City School District, according to a media release issued Monday by the district school-tax collector.

Payments may be mailed to P.O. Box 248, Oneonta, NY 13820. Payments postmarked by Monday will not be charged a penalty or interest fees.

Payments may also be made in person between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week, and 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday.

School-tax information is available online at www.taxlookup.net.

After Monday, any unpaid tax bills will be turned over to county treasurers for collection. Any property owner within the district who has not received a bill should call Beverly Vigna, school-tax collector, at 433-8226, ext. 307.

The office will be closed through today for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Man arrested for assault with glass

ONEONTA _ City police arrested a 22-year-old Waterford man for allegedly smashing a beer glass into another man's face last weekend.

Chad M. Bouchard, 22, was charged with second-degree assault, disorderly conduct and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Bouchard was at the Old Spanish Tavern at 195 Main St. when the incident occurred at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, police said.

The 21-year-old victim, a State University College at Oneonta student from Rensselaer, was treated at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital for facial lacerations and later released.

Bouchard was carrying a switchblade knife at the time of his arrest, which resulted in the lodging of the misdemeanor weapon charge, which carries a maximum one-year sentence, police said.

He faces up to seven years in state prison if convicted of the felony assault charge, police said.

The disorderly conduct charge is a violation punishable by up to 15 days in jail.

Bouchard was arraigned in Oneonta City Court and sent to Otsego County jail without bail pending further court action.