Look What I Got, Mom!
Transcription
Look What I Got, Mom!
• Sheriff’s Office to be first agency in Chenango County to use body cameras www.evesun.com Published by The Evening Sun ‘Look what I got, Mom!’ Ashley Babbitt Photos The three above photos were taken at the first ever ‘Shop with a Sheriff’ event. BY ASHLEY BABBITT SUN MANAGING EDITOR [email protected] CHENANGO COUNTY – Many changes are on tap in 2016 for the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office following a steady year of work in 2015. • One of the most noteworthy events the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) participated in was the December 2015 event ‘Shop with a Sheriff.’ Children from throughout the county were paired with a member of the CCSO for the ‘Shop with a Sheriff’ event, hosted by the Chenango County Law Enforcement Association (CCLEA). Road patrol deputies took more than a dozen children Christmas shopping at the Norwich Walmart. The children selected for shopping at the event were selected by each school district from Chenango County. Once paired with their deputies, they took to the aisles of the store, where each child was permitted to spend $100 on themselves and $50 on their family members for the holidays. “Can we look for stuff for my grandpa first?” said one participating child to his deputy. “I really don’t need much for me right now.” One deputy said that his child wanted to head directly to the clothing department for a coat and warm clothes. Other deputies later said the clothing department was a popular section for their chosen children as well. “I’m so happy we get to do this,” said CCSO Deputy Max Loiselle. “It would have made my day when I was little. Having kids recognize us as friends is awesome.” Deputy Dustin Smietana said at near the checkout line, “Just the looks on their faces is priceless. They’re so appreciative and so selfless. I’m so glad this turned out so well.” Smietana added that he is excited the children will have some nice things for the holidays that they were able to select themselves. A child in the sporting goods section said, “Do I have enough left for this ball? If not, that’s okay, I can put it back.” His paired deputy did some quick math and let his child know that he had plenty of money left to get the ball for himself. A participating detective said the most popular shopping sections seemed to be the clothing section. Other popular areas of the store included the toys section, sporting goods and housewares for pillows or fluffy blankets. Chenango Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr. was in attendance, and received ‘thank yous’ and handshakes from shoppers in the store for what the law enforcement officers were doing for the children. Shoppers who witnessed the event also took to social media to show their appreciation for the event. “I just left the Norwich CONTINUED ON PAGE 60 Norwich sees first alleged hate crime since 2008 Frank Speziale Photo Above are member of the Norwich Police Department. Pictured are: Officer Brandon Clarke, Officer Alicia Woodard, Detective-Sergeant Reuben Roach and Officer Daniel Sheehan. The story appears on page 63. 60 PROGRESS CHENANGO 2016 PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN Drug arrests by the CCSO have been steady – CONTINUED FROM PAGE 59 Walmart in tears,” said Kobie Decker Natoli. “I want to recognize and thank the Chenango County Sheriff's who were doing Christmas shopping with children. Watching the kids pick out their treasures, asking if they could have this and that, seeing them running through the toys and clothes, with the officers following behind ... It left me speechless. It simply tore my heart out. It's things like this that make me appreciate my roots even more. To see [deputies] I went to school with, who have children of their own, taking the time to make a difference in the life of a child in need makes me so proud of my hometown.” Shelly Evans took to Facebook to say, “Their job is not always pleasant, but I am so touched to see these men and women take the time to make one day out of these kids lives special. I was there when everyone was getting ready to go shopping. I am not sure who was more excited, the kids or the deputies. Chenango County is truly blessed!” Sheriff Cutting said the turnout for the event was fantastic and all involved were truly appreciative. Deputy Smietana said, “We hope to do this again next year, this was a great success.” Sponsors for the event included Thomas M. Lindsey Foundation, VonBanks’s Collision and Repair Service Center, Advanced Fire Protection, Norwich Glass, Dunkin’ Donuts, Paynes Craines, Inc., Vitanza & age 27, from the Town of Greene. Both men were said to be responsible for committing two burglaries in the Town of Greene as well as another burglary in the Town of Oxford. During those burglaries the men made forced entry into homes or garages and stole various items. Several pieces of stolen merchandise were recovered during the investigation. The New York State Police and Broome County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation. “They personally admitted to committing two burglaries per day for months,” said Cutting. “They would knock on doors, no one would answer, and they would go inside.” Along with recovered property, it was said that the CCSO recovered drug paraphernalia, alleging the defendants were committing the crimes to support their habit. With regard to drugs, Submitted Photo Cutting said that while there weren’t “huge” heroin busts, This photo provided by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office shows a quantity of narcotics and a false-bottom can. arrests have been steady and DiStefano Attorneys at Law, Sheriff Cutting. “This is just ning for more than two here,” said Cutting. “We try consistent. Wilson Funeral Home, phenomenal.” decades. to have a good rapport with “There have been several Skillin’s Jewelers, NBT “Look at what I got, “Nationwide, there are neg- the community and do the heroin arrests in Sherburne, Bank, R.J. Fahy Funeral Mom!” said one child after ative opinions of law enforce- right thing.” Greene, Norwich and New Home, Chobani, LLC., checking out with her deputy. ment,” said Cutting. “These • The CCSO saw some Berlin,” Cutting said. “They Chenango Valley “Wait, don’t look too much things bring a balance.” major cases in 2015, of which were not huge amounts, but Technologies, Shaver because there’s something for With regard to the national were highlighted by the sher- we are continuing our work Contracting, Bagnall Electric, you.” focus on law enforcement, iff. doing it, keeping the arrests Inc., Guys Auto Repair, Sheriff Cutting said that the Cutting said law enforcement The CCSO arrested two steady.” Natoli & Natoli, LLP., The hopes are to expand the event officers are sometimes forced men responsible for commitThe sheriff said the two O’Hara family, Joseph and for 2016, with the hopes to to make snap decisions in a ting multiple burglaries in major drugs in the county at LouAnn McBride, Mrs. T. reach more children and matter of seconds. “Some Chenango County and many this time are heroin and Maestro and the Deputy bring more smiles. make poor decisions,” he more throughout the methamphetamine (meth). Sheriffs of Chenango County. Cutting said another annual said. “They are judged on Southern Tier and Northern “There are users, addicts, The CCLEA hopes that this positive of the CCSO is the those decisions and the deci- Pennsylvania. and dealers,” said Cutting. event will be held annually, summer camp for children, sion that person made in Following several investi- “We are not seeing the largegrowing each year. which is “always a hit, and those few seconds.” gations, the CCSO arrested scale mainstream dealers as “Thank you so much for positive thing for children “Knock on wood, we Nicholas N. Neer, age 28, what you’re doing for the within the community.” He haven’t faced any challenges from the Town of Port Crane CONTINUED ON PAGE 67 kids,” said a shopper to said the camp has been run- like that of that national level and William M. 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INSIST ON LOW FEES. COME TO US. Reg. $1599 Each GE MONOGRAM Reg. $10,99999 • Large Capacity • Smart Phone Diagnostics • Easy Reach Front Controls Whirlpool Caprio Washer & Dryer Same Service as before Frigidaire Gallery Range • Stainless • Convection • Electric Reg. $899 $ NOW 599 ON ANY SERVICE CALL expires 2/28/15 1 Main Street West Smyrna 48 Hale St. Norwich 607-627-6811 607-336-4657 Fax: (607) 627-6816 Fax: (607) 336-1628 Scott Clippinger PUBLISHED BY 61 PROGRESS CHENANGO 2016 THE EVENING SUN Braiding a sense of pride into the fabric of Chenango BY MATTHEW WHITE Sun Staff Writer [email protected] SOUTH OTSELIC – Nestled off the beaten path in the hamlet of South Otselic, a small manufacturing company has steadily been churning out its catalogue of high quality braided products for over a century. Correction: Two centuries - all right here in Chenango County. In 2016 Gladding Braided Products will have been the oldest continuously operating manufacturing facility in Chenango County, and likewise one of the eldest in the southern tier of upstate New York. With 200 years of internal development under its belt, Gladding has found its niche in the textile (fabric) and wire (metallic) braided products industry in 2016. As one might expect, identifying those fortes didn't happen overnight, and years of trial and error combined with experience and innovation led to the success that the company enjoys today. “We’ve really turned this company around in the last 10 years,” Christakos remarked, “when we re-acquired the property and business there was a very high turnover rate due a mismanagement of the former owners. Accounts we neglected and, and many of the employees were under represented; it was a real shame to see it in the state that it was in.” But one of the keys to Gladding's continued success has been its foundation of quality work force. It's Gladding's employees that make the company what is today, and their pride and sense of accountability are infectious according to Christakos. Thanks to a dedicated core team of long-time employees - many with 40 or more years of dedicated service to the rural manufacturer - and the under the new guidance of Christakos and his V.P - slash - right hand man Michael Radziwon; the Gladding company would see its underdog story realized. One can fully understand the depth of the tight-knit community spirit that inundates South Otselic when examining the symbiotic relationship that the Town and Gladding share. The two entities work tirelessly to work hand in hand for the good of the entire community. “Many of our employees walk to work, they’re all extremely local and would have to travel at least 35 minute in good weather for work if we weren't here,” said Christakos; “And that’s a responsibility that we very seriously,” he added. “We’re a very important part of the town,” explained Christakos as he looked back on a local tragedy that took place in late 2014. “We lost our [the town’s] historic landmark Cox block to a very devastating fire. “That was a big deal for Gladding and it’s employees - our plant manager, who serves on the Town board was very active in assuring the safety of the general public by making sure that the building was finally taken down, cleaning up the site,” said Christakos. Radziwon and Christakos shared that Charles Bishop Jr. -or ‘B.J.’- also had a hand in persuading the owner of the small town’s general store to stay in business at another location, and did everything within his power to make it so. “B.J. went above and beyond to make sure that the people of this small town could hold on to that one small convenience, and a lot of it had to do with how important it was for our employees to have a place to buy essentials here in town,” said Christakos, “We all rely on each other a great deal.” But it takes more than just ‘good people’ to write a success story. Wide business choices and nimble market navigation are also a closely held secret weapon the Christakos and Radziwon wield with precision. “We don’t like to talk much about who and what, but what we can say is that we’ve spent a lot of time targeting the markets that we can compete best in and trimmed service to markets that would extend us beyond our means,” said Radziwon. Gladding is a major supplier of a number of specialty products and has seen great success through diversification. Since the early 1800's, Gladding has braided some of the world's finest fishing lines. Today's ever-changing marketplace and advanced scientific achievements in raw materials have allowed us to continually expand our product and customer base. Using Spectra, Kevlar, nylon, and polyester—in filaments as fine as human hair—and We Live Here We Work Here We Care About Our Community Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County providing professional, compassionate, quality end of life care. Specialistst in end of life care. today Gladding now serves the needs of the medical, automotive, aeronautics, electronics, and commercial fishing and netting markets. One of those scientific achievements exclusive to Gladding is its implementation of Duravet products. Dravet is one of Gladding's strongest cords with multiuse applications. Duravet's construction has a parallel core of filament polyester with a tightly braided polyester cover which produces a very firm and stiff cord. The wear resistance, firm construction, mechanical termination capability, lightweight and non-corrosive nature makes it suitable for articulated revetment mats and is an ideal alternative to wire rope. Servicing the marine industry is yet another demonstration of how the company has fine-tuned itself to profitable industry. Glading one of the United States leading manufacturer of braid-on-braid-or double-braid, or yacht braidcordage. Yacht braid is a synthetic cord made up of a braided jacket which surrounds a braided core to provide quality high abrasion resistance and gripping properties. The product is unique in that it is fully spliceable, its rounded configuration provides maximum surface contact on drums, winches, and cleats. Available in nylon and polyester, this braid maintains excellent flexibility, stores well, and is unaffected by mildew, rot, or most chemicals. Though its advances in innovation from market demand, Gladding found that by combining the tough fibers of nylon with their durable double-braided construction they could create strong shock-absorbing line. That controlled elasticity CONTINUED ON PAGE 62 Please note that you must be an AARP member to enroll in an AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan. If you are not a member, you can join AARP when you enroll. * From a report prepared for UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company by ORC International, “Substantiation of Advertising Claims Concerning AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans,” March 2014, www.uhcmedsupstats.com or call 1-800-523-5800 to request a copy of the full report. AARP endorses the AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, insured by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company. UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. AARP does not employ or endorse agents, brokers or producers. Insured by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, Horsham, PA (UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, Islandia, NY, for New York residents). Policy Form No. GRP 79171 GPS-1 (G-36000-4). In some states, plans may be available to persons under age 65 who are eligible for Medicare by reason of disability or End-Stage Renal Disease. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Federal Medicare Program. This is a solicitation of insurance. A licensed insurance agent/producer may contact you. Call a licensed insurance agent/producer at the number in this advertisement for complete information, including benefits, costs, eligibility requirements, exclusions and limitations. AS2794ST NM DEER PATH RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE Route 8 North, New Berlin • 607-847-9976 Good Food • Good Time • Good Choice - 12 Noon - 5 pm Open: Thursday - Saturday 11 am - 9 pm Thursday Friday Clams! Clams! (607) 334-3556 hospicechenango.org Clams! Saturday Sunday FISH Steaks FRY & FRIDAY Lunch & Dinner Haddock & Seafood Other Specials Specials Specials Now Booking Wedding Receptions, Birthday Parties, and Corporate Events Welcome to our Sales Team! Kelly Smith Retail Advertising Consultant 29 Lackawanna Ave., Norwich • 337-3023 • FAX 336-7318 e-mail: [email protected] 62 PROGRESS CHENANGO 2016 PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN A company with a sense of pride – Gladding’s line of finely braided products. And, while the finished product might not never carry the household recognition once enjoyed by Gladding fishing line, the company still prides itself on dutifully exceeding customer need. “The diversity of our customers, the precise nature of their requirements, and the potential for future growth provide our company with enormous, though relatively anonymous, opportunities,” said Christakos. One of the company’s largest customers in 2015 is Uncle Sam. Since World War II, Gladding has provided cable harness braiding for aircraft, automotive, marine, and electrical applications. Gladding is an approved vendor of the United States Department of Defense, passing all of the government's Matthew White Photo quality control, first-article inspection requirements. Gladding earned its reputaGladding has productivity down to a science. A single employee tends to an entire room of braiding machines, resulting in an overtion for quality cordage all output of more than a million linear feet of braided product daily. among Yankee clipper ship sailors who insisted on the CONTINUED FROM PAGE 61 most dependable and durable provides consumers with cordage as they sailed to all excellent products for parts of the world. “We provide ‘sweaters’ anchoring, docking, mooring, and towing - and is easy to over the most complex harrecognize by Gladding’s dis- ness assemblies; be it with tinct gold and white color one branch or multi-branched cables, and materials vary scheme. Gladding offers a diverse from synthetic fibers to a line of products, but is espe- variety of metallic wire reincially proud of the manufac- forcements,” said Christakos. During World War II, the turing processes that competitors can’t; such as U.S. and Allied governments called upon Gladding's expertise for the manufacture of parachute cords, tow lines, bomb lanyards, shroud lines, survival kit items, and cordage for many other special needs. Gladding offers in-house design and engineering service for all of its customers. Reinforced hose braiding ranging in between small diameter surgical catheter tubing and reinforced mechanical or fluid transmission hoses several inches in diameter, they do it all. But none of Gladding’s triumphs could be realized without an astute emphasis on quality control throughout the entire manufacturing chain from start to finish, which is why the Gladding’s certified and calibrated laboratory's policy is one of continuous product improvement and development. Constant monitoring and testing of incoming raw materials, inprocess manufacturing inspections, and final product specification testing assure that all components meet and often surpass government standards. Gladding’s work with the military continually serves to reemphasize, the significance of quality for its employees. Said Christakos, “Not only do we believe that the stringent standards required by the government serve to uphold a high level of quality throughout our manufacturing process, but it also brings us together as a company with a sense of pride.” How about a new surround sound system... or a home theater! We do both commercial and residential. *Proud to be part of this year’s “Take A Shot At Diabetes” Fundraiser at Canasawacta Country Club on Saturday, April 9th at 5:00 p.m. Millennia A/V Installations Terry Potter (607) 316-2870 Rhett Genung (607) 316-1491 Success Story Miller Movers Founded in 1954, Miller Movers has been a cornerstone of the local community for over 60 years. We understand that moving can be a busy and stressful time. With all that you have to worry about, let Miller Movers do the heavy lifting for you. We specialize in professionally packing, protecting and moving your items into your new home in a safe and effective manner. As of August of 2015, Miller Movers has been under new ownership. The new owner, Ross Tumminia, has been a long time local resident and cares about this community and it’s residents. In 2014 Ross retired as a Police Sergeant from the Norwich Police Department. Although he enjoyed his 20 year career of serving the residents of the City of Norwich, he knew it was time to move on. Ross states “over the years I’ve had a lot of positive interactions with the public, but also a lot of negative interactions. Through it all, I always tried to leave people with a positive impression, no matter what they’ve been through or what kind of day they were having.” Although Police work and running a moving company are vastly different ventures, the manner in which he conducts business will be the same. Ross’s father, John Tumminia, founded Norwich Plumbing and Heating in the 1970’s. Ross credits his father’s example for putting the customer first, as his business model. “He was well liked and did what was right over what was profitable”, said Ross. “If something was wrong, he made it right”. Although Ross admits that he’s had little moving experience prior to August of 2015, since then he has worked with his movers who have a combined experience of over 10 years, and has learned a lot from them. “I have a lot of repeat customers who remember the guys who moved them. They always remember how efficient, pleasant and professional they were.” Ross states that nothing has changed except for the new ownership. Customers can expect to see the same movers, the same level of professionalism and the same low rates. If any changes are made, it will be to make the moving process more efficient and cost effective for the customer. Miller Movers looks forward to serving Chenango County and all of central NY in the year 2016 and beyond. Ross knows that the name Miller Movers has earned a reputation as an honest, fair and dependable local business. He will strive to maintain or improve on that reputation and make sure you are 100% satisfied with their service. Miller Movers can be located on the web at www.millermovers.com, www.millermovers.net, reached by email at [email protected], or contacted at 334-4184. Also, look for us on facebook! Bring Us Your Ideas... TOGETHER WE WILL CREATE YOUR DREAM BEYOND CLOSETS KITCHENS & BATHS Designer Floors et arp C f to ck men In Sto p i Sh nts New emna R Carpet, Vinyl, Ceramic Tile, Hardwood & Laminate, Bamboo, Carpet Remnants. Add Color to Your Closet FREE “A place for everything and everything in its place.” Both located inside Kuntriset Kitchens 607-336-8688 ALSO Ask About “Pick A Premium” Savings Event any 40% OFF with flooring purchase - granite, marble & concrete Kuntriset Kitchens & Baths Design Center... Kuntriset Kitchens & Baths Design Center... ! y d e r C c M r o f y d a e R e You’r 159-163 So. Broad St., Norwich, NY 607-334-3234 or 607-674-2971 Monday - Friday, 8 am to 6 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm or by app’t. SALES STAFF: Spencer McCredy, Mike McCredy, Tom Morrone, Hank Scudder, Scott Seiler www.McCredyMotors.com Kuntriset Kitchens & Baths Design Center... Kuntriset Kitchens & Baths Design Center... Schedule Your Appointment Today... Free Estimates Kuntriset Kitchens & Baths Design Center... Kuntriset Kitchens & Baths Design Center... Kuntriset Kitchens & Baths Design Center... Kuntriset Kitchens & Baths Design Center... PUBLISHED BY 63 PROGRESS CHENANGO 2016 THE EVENING SUN Norwich Police Department sees violent crime, drug crime, and system upgrades – BY ASHLEY BABBITT SUN MANAGING EDITOR [email protected] NORWICH – 2015 was a busy year for the Norwich Police Department, and a shooting in July is still on the minds of many, as the City of Norwich has been known to be low on violent crime. • Norwich Police Chief Rodney Marsh said the shooting was one of the ‘biggest’ cases the department saw last year. A man employed with the New York State Department of Corrections is now facing hate crime charges, among other felonies, after he allegedly shot an unarmed black man in July of 2015. Wayne Spratley, of Greene was charged per grand jury indictment with attempted murder in the second degree as a hate crime, assault in the first degree as a hate crime, and criminal use of a firearm in the first degree as a hate crime. These charges are in addition to the original charges of attempted murder in the second degree; a class A-1 felony, assault in the first degree; a class B felony, and criminal use of a firearm in the first degree; a class B felony. “Investigation revealed that the allegations are that in the course of an altercation or argument with a gentleman in the City of Norwich on the 19th day of July 2015, that the defendant used racial slurs to taunt the victim. During the process of that, the defendant pulled out his weapon while continuing to call the victim racial slurs. As the argument spilled over into a parking lot in the City of Norwich, the defendant whose weapon was drawn and pointed at the victim, pulled the trigger and shot his weapon, shooting the victim in the lower left abdomen,” said District Attorney Joseph A. McBride. With regard to the victim, McBride confirmed that the victim was in intensive care, but has since been released and is with his family, while no longer being in the immediate area. McBride officially confirmed the victim was a black male and the defendant was a white male. The name of the victim has still not been released. “Allegation is that the defendant displayed his weapon and fell to the ground in front a group of people. This lead to an argument between the defendant and victim in this case,” said McBride. A hate crime is generally defined as a crime committed or intended to be committed in whole or in substantial part because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of a person. McBride said that this is not the first hate crime he will have prosecuted since being elected Chenango County’s District Attorney in 1999. He cited the prior hate crime that W ì h ile heroin is the most prominent, meth is on the rise.” RODNEY MARSH NORWICH POLICE CHIEF took place at the Norwich Jewish Center in 2008. Spratley was originally arrested on July 19, 2015 for the class B felony of attempted murder following a shooting in a parking lot on Lackawanna Avenue in Norwich at approximately 3:30 a.m. that Sunday morning. The day of the shooting McBride said that the Norwich Police had interviewed every available lead and every available witness with regard to the shooting. Lead investigator on the case, Detective-Sergeant Reuben Roach said, “It is alleged that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol.” Spratley was then arraigned in front of Chenango County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr. that same day, and was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond. Spratley has since posted bond and is no longer in custody. According to members of the Corrections Division at the CCCF, Spratley was released at 1:35 p.m. on July 21, 2015, just two days following his arrest. Two days following Spratley’s release from the CCCF, additional charges were placed against him, including the class B felony of criminal use of a firearm in the first degree, and the class B felony of assault in the first degree. No additional bail was set when Spratley was arraigned on these charges. On the attempted murder charge alone, McBride said Spratley could face up to 25 years in state prison. If found guilty of all prior charges, plus the new hate crime charges, Spratley – if found guilty of what’s alleged – could serve a much more substantial sentence in prison. Marsh said that the response time to the shooting was a matter of seconds, as an officer on duty was right near the location of the crime. Marsh added that the investigation was a lot easier than other cases, as members of the NPD were there so quickly to begin the investigation. Additionally, Marsh said there are zero open homicide cases in the City of Norwich. • With regard to the drug epidemic in the area, Marsh said – without the exact figures prepared yet – that drug arrests in 2015 were “down a little” from 2014. He did say that there are calls to the station every day regarding dirty hypodermic needles that have been located by residents, and the officers go safely pick them up and dispose of them. The chief noted the Mitchell Street raid in April 2015. A ‘no knock’ warrant was executed by The Norwich Police Department on Mitchell Street in Norwich in April, resulting in four arrests. The warrant was issued after an investigation into the sale and manufacture of narcotics that spanned several months. According to the NPD, the department had been in contact with Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride, and Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr. signed the warrant. Of the four arrested, three were charged with manufacturing meth. The Norwich Police reported the confiscated methamphetamine had an estimated street value of more than $2,000. According to police, several ‘one-pot’ meth cooking containers were located inside the residence. “Because of the dangerous chemicals involved with the manufacturing of methamphetamine, the Norwich Police requested the assis- tance of the New York State Police – CCERT (Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team). The Norwich Police and NYSP CCERT were on the scene for several hours while the chemicals, containers and evidence were collected,” read the release. The New York State Police – CNET, the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office and the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Norwich Police Department with this investigation. The Norwich Fire Department also assisted NYSP CCERT during their collection of the chemicals and containers. “In recent years there have been numerous reports involving the manufacturing of methamphetamine in Chenango County as well as surrounding counties. This was the first time we’ve encountered methamphetamine actually being manufactured in the City of Norwich,” said Norwich Police Chief Rodney Marsh at the time of the arrest. “These type of cases sometimes take long periods of time to ensure they are successful. Residents are encouraged to continue contacting the NPD Tips line with suspected drug activity.” “Meth is on the rise,” said Marsh. “Manufacturing meth is definitely up, it was not really inside the City previously.” He stated a one-pot was recovered on West Main Street that someone had CONTINUED ON PAGE 64 • Over the River and Through the Woods MARCH 4-6, 2016 • South Pacific A special free concert in the park MAY 7, 2016 • Singing in the Rain AUGUST 19-21, 2016 NORWICH TIRE CO. 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Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9 am-10 pm, Sunday Noon-7 pm LIKE US ON Gift Cards Available 64 PROGRESS CHENANGO 2016 PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN ‘Prescription drug abuse continues to be a problem not only in Norwich, but the whole county ...’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 63 dumped on the side of the road. “It’s evidence that it is being manufactured, but there was no way to know who dumped it there.” Marsh assured that the proper team was called to ensure the area was cleaned up. Marsh additionally said the use of meth is up among residents. “While heroin is the most prominent, meth is on the rise,” he said. Marsh said discussions have taken place regarding a program similar to what the Cooperstown Police Department has implemented – allowing addicts to walk into the station with their drugs and ask for help. “It takes a lot of work and effort from the community,” said Marsh. “There are a lot of entities required to make it a reality.” Marsh noted a large bust by the NPD that involved prescription pills, which are commonly a precursor to heroin use. Police pulled over 18-yearold Tiger D. Gould and 19year-old Amiel P. Reynolds, both of Afton, for a traffic violation on Columbia Street with guaranteed credit approval! NORWICH DODGE CHRYSLER - JEEP HALE STREET EXTENSION - NORWICH, NY www.norwichdodgechryslerjeep.com 607-336-2277 shortly before 4 a.m. in September 2015. Upon investigation, police claimed more than 400 oxycodone pills from the vehicle with a street value of more than $2,200. Both Gould and Reynolds were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony. “Prescription drug abuse continues to be a problem not only in Norwich, but the whole county,” said Marsh. “The officer did a good job of turning a traffic stop into a drug interdiction stop and was able to get these pills off the street.” Another bust was a typical trespass call-turned drug bust on 88 East Main St. in Norwich in late November. Crack, heroin, marijuana, hypodermic needles, and other drug paraphernalia were recovered by the NPD. The marijuana charges allege the subjects did knowingly and unlawfully possess marijuana with an aggregate weight of more than 25 grams. At the time of the incident, Marsh said, “During the initial contact with the individuals inside the garage, one of the suspects shoved the officer out of the way and ran past him. After shoving the officer, the same suspect shoved and knocked down a civilian that was with the officer conducting a ride-along with the Norwich Police. The suspect was able to exit the garage and evade capture. The Norwich Police Department is continuing its investigation into the identity of that seventh individual, and additional charges are pending.” • The NPD has a new officer who graduated the academy in November, Alicia Woodard. Marsh said one officer left to go to another agency. The City of Norwich is on a hiring freeze, so the department will remain an officer down for the time being. Marsh additionally said that the NPD now has one K9 rather than two. K9 Nitro works with his handler Officer Thomas Miller. Marsh said that while the K9 is currently working the day shift, he can be called in at any time to assist if needed. According to records, K9 Nitro has assisted in dozens of drug investigations in the past year. Additionally, Nitro and Miller do demonstrations at schools, childrens’ wards at hospitals and churches. • Marsh said all of the NPD officers are trained to administer Narcan, in the event that an officer is the first on the scene of a potential overdose. He said it has been administered. The officers have also gone through active shooter training in the event that something happen at a workplace, school, or other public area in the city. All officers have the basic active shooter training, and he said four officers have advanced shooter training. “We like to take part in as much training in as many areas as we can,” said Marsh. “There is free training for law enforcement for various aspects of the job. It runs year round, and police and first responders can work together in staged training exercises. The officer training is a great benefit to the community,” Marsh said. • Looking forward to 2016, Marsh said the NPD is looking into grant opportunities for equipment upgrades. When asked about body cameras for the officers, Marsh said they would be an asset, yet there isn’t enough money to pay for the storage required to save the video at this time. “Cameras would be a positive thing,” said Marsh, “It’s just not something we can do right now due to constraints. Marsh said this year he would also like to finish up the new network that has been set up at the station. “We’re now technology dependent and are getting caught up with our software,” said Marsh. “It’s a work in progress, but we’re looking to have it all up to date and up to speed as soon as possible.” Open to the public, the Canasawacta Country Club has been a cornerstone of the Norwich community since 1920. The Carson Family has owned and operated the club since 1984. We have a proud reputation for friendly service and a beautifully maintained golf course and facilities. Our 185 acres includes a fun and challenging 18 hole golf course, indoor banquet facilities with rooms that hold up to 300 people, an onsite gazebo for wedding ceremonies, and outdoor pavilion areas. Our restaurant and lounge are open to the public 7 days / week in season, with a full bar and open air deck overlooking the golf course. The Canasawacta Country Club is located at 261 County Rd 44, just off of Route 12 North of Norwich. It continues to be a favorite spot for major events, class reunions, golf outings, fundraising events, weddings and receptions. The Carson family and all their staff take great pride in providing the area with a place to count on to gather, whether returning to the area for a short visit, or a weekly or even daily place to relax and enjoy life. Chef Todd Park and his staff know that each event, each guest, expects, deserves and can count on their dedication to consistent quality food service, a key to the continued success of the club. With the addition of Heather McShane as restaurant manager and banquet coordinator for 2016 we foresee a busy season. Heather is well known in the area for her dedication to friendly and professional service. Golf Course Superintendent Deneen Ziegler takes tremendous pride in the condition of the golf course. The natural beauty of our layout is greatly enhanced by her attention to detail throughout the grounds. The clubhouse and golf course are always being upgraded. The club is home to over 300 members who enjoy the friendly atmosphere on a regular basis in leagues and tournaments. A focus on keeping the game of golf fun for all has increased the growth of golf outings as well as daily play. Golf outings are all treated to full service, start to finish attention to detail with an emphasis on a good time for all. The golf course provides the challenge for the better players and great opportunities for higher handicappers to get involved as well. We have leagues for women, seniors and all levels of playing ability. Every year we receive great compliments like this one; “We simply cannot thank you enough for the hospitality we receive each year for the Ken Stewart Memorial. The grounds team had that place in amazing shape. The teams in the clubhouse and snack bar were amazing to us all weekend long. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. So many of us look forward to that weekend every year and for so many reasons, but none more than the Canasawacta Country Club.” – Matt Fern Canasawacta Country Club www.canasawactacc.com • Country Club Rd., Norwich 607-336-9214 PUBLISHED BY 65 PROGRESS CHENANGO 2016 THE EVENING SUN For us, it’s impulse and eyeballs RICHARD SNYDER President, Snyder Communication Corp. In this era when there is so much digital information and advertising messages flooding the information world, we are often asked how is it you are still successful in what is supposed to be a digital world? My answer is simple. We can provide our advertisers something that nobody in this region can do. We provide eyeballs and impulse. Because our publications have the most circulation and the largest readership in the markets we serve we bring more eyeballs to an advertiser’s message than any other type of publication. Next is impulse. 76% of our readers say they regularly purchase items advertised in the Pennysaver, and much of that may be a result of impulse. How many times have you seen an ad for a chain saw, a truck, a pizza, and even entertainment and respond to that ad. That’s impulse and you bring that potential response to our advertisers each time you pick up one of our publications. As many of you know one of our successful companies is Circulars Unlimited which, over the last 30 plus years, has become one of the country’s largest producers of advertising circulars. And fortunately for us, business has been very good and growing. How is this happening when many will offer that print is dead? Well it’s not, and the title of an article that ran during the past year in the Wall Street Journal called “Retailers Can’t Shake the Circular Habit”, may explain why. This article went on to quote several retail executives and research professionals such as a former CEO of Toys “R” US who pointed out that “Retailers are constantly testing alternatives to circulars… the difficulty is finding something as effective”. Or a quote from another research executive who stated “Circulars are like crack…It’s hard for retailers to walk away from them, because they are ingrained in how people shop.” It appears that digital is fun but digital alternatives just cannot do what circulars and print can do. For those of you who are not familiar with Snyder Communication Corp. we are deeply rooted in the printing and publishing industry. Not only do we produce the paper you are currently reading, The Evening Sun, we also produce the weekly Gazette, along with the Norwich Pennysaver and 6 other free community publications stretching from the edges of Cortland County to Albany County. All of these products are printed by another of our companies known as Sun Printing Inc. and 2015 was an important expansion year for Sun Printing. Based in Norwich, Sun Printing Inc. was the recipient of several large improvements last year. Not only did we expand from 12 to 16 press units, we greatly increased the number of pages we could print in full We are a full service, family run, family oriented funeral home. We work with you, making it as easy as possible. Proud to be Norwich’s ONLY locally owned funeral home. color. These new units and upgrades have significantly improved our full color reproduction quality. A second piece of key equipment that was added was a stitching and trimming machine which has allowed us to produce stitched booklet size publications for our use and for the use of our commercial customers. Even though we represent several national companies, there is nothing more important than what we do locally to service our local readers and advertising customers. To better understand the buy- ing trends of our reader’s, we annually hire a private company to do a circulation and readership audit in all 7 of our publication market areas. They gather information about our delivery system and gain valuable demographic insights about our readers. I always find the results to be of interest and over the last few years I have shared the most recent audit results with you. As part of this audit we asked our readers several questions including “Which of the following products or services do you plan to purchase during the next 12 months”? The audit actually covers almost 40 categories but given below is a sample of some of the major ones. In what has become the norm for this article I am going to show the results within our Norwich and Sidney Pennysaver Market area and compare those with answers given by readers in the Oneonta & Cooperstown market area. To help with the market identifications I will use N/S for the Norwich & Sidney Market areas and O/C for the Oneonta & Cooperstown areas. The question: Which products and services will our readers be purchasing over the next 12 months? Purchasing a new or used vehicle: 34% for N/S and 39% for O/C. N/S was down 3% points over last year while the O/C is up 4% over last year. Purchasing Furniture: 42% for N/S and 40% for O/C. N/S was up 1% and O/C was up a surprising 5%. Carpet and Flooring: 12% for N/S and 13% for O/C. Purchasing major appliances: 16% for N/S and 16% for O/C. Both were up 1%. Purchasing home improvement items: 30% for N/S and 29% for O/C. A good sign as both markets were up over last year. Lawn & Garden Supplies: 27% for N/S and 32% for O/C. This is a new category for this summary. Purchasing auto parts and services: 54% for N/S and 61% for O/C. Both markets were up significantly in this category. Purchasing woman’s apparel: 69% for N/S and 70% for O/C. Both markets were down over last year. Purchasing real estate: 9% for N/S and 9% for O/C. Good news in that both markets were up 2% over last year. Purchasing tax services: 53% for N/S and 56% for O/C. N/S up slightly and O/C was up 4%. Purchasing dining & entertainment 81% for N/S and 81% for O/C. Obviously we love to eat and party but both markets were down about 4% over last year. Florists & Gifts: 20% for N/S and 25% for O/C. Purchasing TV and electronics: 23% for N/S and 24% for O/C. Both markets were up 3% over last year. Purchasing Jewelry: 19% for N/S and 17% for O/C. N/S stayed the same but O/C dropped 2% over last year. Veterinarian: Both markets were showing 26% in this new category. CONTINUED ON PAGE 66 LLC Wilson Funeral Home, Inc. South Broad St., Norwich, NY 607-336-3993 Member of the Pre Plan since 1988. Doug Wilson - Owner John Gawronski - Manager Success Story Chenango Speech & Hearing Chenango Speech and Hearing is happy to celebrate its 22nd year as a provider of excellent hearing health care in our local community and surrounding areas. On July 1st, 1993 Dr. Horovitz opened the doors of her practice with no patients and no employees. She quickly gained a loyal client base from far and wide due to her outstanding skills and high patient satisfaction. Her patients come from as far away as Great Bend, PA and Walton, NY just to see her. Today she has over 1500 patients, and an amazing office staff. Rebecca Cummings started in August of 2014, and has quickly become an extremely valued employee. She has even started training to become a hearing care provider herself! Dr. Horovitz is the only NYS licensed, nationally certified audiologist in Chenango County. She works with ear nose and throat doctors in Syracuse, Albany, Cooperstown, Binghamton and Norwich, NY. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology, as well as a member of the American and New York State Speech, Language and Hearing Associations. Dr. Horovitz stated that she never gets tired of seeing the amazement on people’s faces when they “hear what they’ve been missing”. Communication is so important in our modern world, and to have the ability to help people hear and understand better is a privilege that no one should miss out on. Research has shown that untreated hearing loss can lead to cognitive decline, and Chenango Speech & Hearing is committed to helping people avoid such health effects by helping them find hearing devices that work best for them. They see both children and adults and work to find the best possible hearing solutions for any age group. Last year Chenango Speech & Hearing moved to a bigger office, and has since thrived in their new surroundings, being able to provide even more service to patients with newer technology and equipment. They also hold monthly events, and are passionate about helping people begin their journey to better hearing. Dr. Horovitz’s reputation continues to grow as a beloved hearing care professional in the area. Come visit us today! Visit us on the web at www.chenangospeechandhearing.com. At the light in Downtown Oxford PRE-OWNED VEHICLES Complete Mechanical Service Complete Auto Collision Service 66 PROGRESS CHENANGO 2016 Snyder Communications – CONTINUED FROM PAGE 65 I hope you found these figures interesting and another interesting item is that the Norwich Community is one of only 4 communities in the state that still has an independently owned daily newspaper. With this in mind I would like to encourage everyone to become a subscriber of The Evening Sun, and here’s why. If you are a print subscriber you receive the best of both worlds as you also get the complete on-line package at no extra cost. Evesun.com is great when you are traveling or if you want to check out that days edition while at work or over a sandwich at lunch. As an online only or print subscriber, you get to see The Evening Sun’s on-line “Print” edition presented to you just the way you are used to reading The Evening Sun when it’s delivered to your home. Click on the day that you want to see and it comes up just as if you were holding it in your hand. Plus having complete access to all parts of our website gives you hundreds of photos that we simply could not fit into our regular editions. As a paid print or paid on-line only subscriber, you also have access to daily editions of The Sun going back many years. Not only are you rewarded with lots of extra information and features you are also helping to keep us alive and we sincerely appreciate it. Throughout our various companies we are blessed with an excellent group of employees and an outstanding management team. Even though she now has her own company, New Media Retailer, Jeanne Brightman continues as part of Brightman Management Services who along with Rick Brightman provides first-line management for all of our companies. For almost 39 years, Russ Foote has been our leader and the “go to guy” for our sales team. His title is Corporate Sales Manager and that includes heading up the sales teams for The Evening Sun and our 7 free community papers. Dan Hayward leads the graphics and typesetting team that produces 100% of the ad content for The Evening Sun, The Gazette, and all 7 of our free publications. Circulars Unlimited benefits from the excellent support and leadership provided by General Manager Mona Noble, and Sales Manager Pam Laughlin. General Manager Marty Conklin and head pressman Ernie Arduini lead the way at Sun Printing making sure the paper you are holding looks great and that our team of carriers gets it to your door on time. What is too long to list here are the names of all of the talented and dedicated employees who work in our many offices. Norwich, Sidney, Cobleskill, Richfield Springs, and Nelliston. To all of them I say thank you and know that none of our success would be possible without you. My sincere appreciation also goes out to Evening Sun Managing Editor Ashley Babbitt and to her team of reporters who each year do an excellent job on the Progress Edition but also on “The Sun” throughout the year. My special thanks also goes to our advertising department, our press team, our insert staff, our carriers, and to all of the advertisers who have made this year’s Progress Edition such a wonderful publication. I see a lot of publications around the state and the one you are holding in your hand right now is the very best Progress type edition out there. As I do each year I want to sincerely urge you to visit, shop, and support your local retailers, restaurants, entertainment sources and service providers. What they add to our quality of life is irreplaceable and whenever we lose one of these gems, unemployment and property taxes go up and sales tax revenues go down. 5004 Co Rd 32, Norwich Rates * as low as PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN Best of Chenango: Quality over quantity BY CAMERON TURNER Sun Staff Writer [email protected] NORWICH – The Norwich community has now played witness to over 20-years of success when it comes to the Gus Macker basketball tournament held each summer in July. The Gus Macker Tournament encompasses and encourages everyone interested to get involved as there are divisions and courts for all ages and experience. Gus Macker, now in its 21st consecutive year of existence in the Norwich community was once just an upstart community event, many years back. “21-years ago we were just the second tournament in the State of New York, and the furthest east in the United States. It used to be mainly a mid-western event back then,” said James Mullen, CEO and director of Member Services at the Norwich YMCA. Gus Macker was founded in 1987 and since then the basketball tour has expanded significantly, as there is now 972 tournaments with over 2.2 million players nationwide. Since its upstart beginnings, through the efforts of many volunteers, as well as Mullen and Thomas Revoir, Sports director of Youth and Adult Sports at the Norwich YMCA, the event has seen extraordinary growth and success in a Norwich community of only around 7,000 individuals. “Several years ago we decided to cap the maximum teams, it is now capped at 400-teams so around 2,000 players,” said Mullen. “The largest year ever we had about 550 teams. I think we could have grown the event to no lie, like 1,000 teams with courts all the way to the fairgrounds and even cross over and go up past the library. We had visions of this happening at one time.” The cutback and cap of teams allowed to participate in Gus Macker each year, was a proactive move in an attempt to perfect the tournament for all involved. “We felt we overworked the volunteers back then. So we had a choice, to go for quality or go for quantity, and we chose quality,” said Mullen. Mullen explained that by cutting the number of teams back to 400, it let the staff and volunteers plan ahead for each year, as they had a set number of how many shirts, port-o-johns, vendors, volunteers, basketball courts, etc. that would be needed to run the event smoothly. “We have a pretty good idea budget wise what it will cost to run the event every single year now,” said Mullen. Gus Macker will see no major changes in 2016, as their system seems to have been working for the past two decades with much success. Despite having no major changes scheduled, Mullen did allege that Gus Macker is looking to potentially partner with Mathews-Ford for a possible addition to the basketball weekend. “We are looking at partnering with Mathews Auto body, for their mustang rally. They contacted us and asked if we would be receptive to them having the rally the same weekend as Gus Macker,” said Mullen. “We saw no problem with this, it may even generate some more interest down on their end, but in doing so Saturday evening they always have a fireworks show. So this a possibility of what may be to come, nothing is set in stone yet.” Most recently, Mullen and Revoir traveled to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for a presentation in early January, 2016. “We were asked to be presenters to their annual conference. I think when you have done it for as long as we have, well we have mastered some ways of doing things in a small community,” said Mullen. “They wanted us to present to other communities so they can learn from us and why we have been able to do it for 21-years, when some larger city cant make it go. It is going to be easy for us to report to them because of such a strong volunteer base in the community that continues to come back year after year.” Volunteer support was a key aspect Mullen highlighted as why Gus Macker has had the successes over its span of years existing in the local community, and moved to thank everyone who has helped out over the years. “The city has been graciously supporting us, and there are around 400-500 volunteers. When we lose volunteers it is noticeable and it hurts, but the others will pick up the slack because they know it is such a significant event for the community,” said Mullen. Gus Macker is always looking for new volunteers, and anyone interested in helping out this coming July, 2016, should contact the Norwich YMCA at (607) 336-9622 for more information. “It is a festival of basketball, it brings families together, and it is a great community event that we are very proud of,” said Mullen. 334-8542 1.9% We NEVER buy up! Great Cars, Fair Prices! 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Dr. Thurber is an oral maxillofacial surgeon who performs general anesthesia and iv sedation, wisdom teeth extractions, biopsies, implants, facial surgeries, cancer consultations, and treatment of head pain and trauma. Besides staff, the office added modern procedures such as non surgical and painless treatment of periodontal or gum disease. Secondly, crooked teeth can be straightened with clear aligners or Fastbraces. Thirdly, TMJ and headaches can be treated with computer balancing or a mouth appliance. Broken or cavity stricken teeth can be treated with metal free fillings or crowns. Finally, the office caters to those choosing holistic or natural options. Everyone is welcomed at Enlightened Dentistry . The staff really enjoy what they do and they are happy to see you. Even if one hasn't been to a dentist in a long time or one is afraid of the dentist, one will feel comfortable. They give many treatment and payment options. They look forward to helping. PUBLISHED BY 67 PROGRESS CHENANGO 2016 THE EVENING SUN Sheriff’s Office to be first agency in Chenango County to use body cameras – CONTINUED FROM PAGE 60 they have kind of caught on and only carry what they can dispose of quickly.” • The CCSO has zero open homicide cases at the moment, which was not the case last year. The William H. Danielson case was wrapped up in 2015 as Danielson entered a plea of guilty to killing his estranged significant other, Lucinda Knoll. “I think he would have challenged it in court if he didn’t see the evidence against him,” said Cutting. “The writing was on the wall.” Lieutenant Richard Cobb added that the trial preparation was (and often is) almost as much work as the original investigation into a crime of that nature. After a jury was selected, Danielson opted to enter a guilty plea and was sentenced to 20 years to life in state prison. The sheriff also mentioned a cold case that has a potential suspect. The CCSO is continuing its investigation into the murder of Thomas Lee Francisco, age 38. On July 7th, 1999, Francisco was found dead by friends at approximately 5:00 p.m. at his residential trailer located on One Eye Road in the Town of Pharsalia. An autopsy revealed that Francisco was shot a number of times. Investigators are maintaining a Command Post at the Sheriff's Office in Norwich, and there is still a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the murder. Cutting said the potential suspect they have for the case is currently in state prison, and Lt. Cobb added that the CCSO receives approximately two tips per year regarding the case. In a more recent case, Ganesh R. Ramsaran returned to Chenango County from state prison for the purpose of bribery charges against him. It was alleged that while being held in the Chenango County Correctional Facility, Ramsaran offered Mark Chesebro, a Chenango County Corrections Officer, $100,000 to help him escape from the jail. Ultimately, Ramsaran entered a plea of guilty to the charge in December 2015. He is currently serving 25 years to life in state prison for the murder of his wife Jennifer. • With regard to staffing, the sheriff said that full time law enforcement is up to staff at the moment, but there is one anticipating retirement. He said a part-time employee was hired last year, and there are a few candidates for the position once the retirement takes place. Cutting said the Communications Division is down three part-time position, and two Corrections employees recently left the jail. The Corrections Division has more than a dozen female employees on staff. Cutting said the jail is down ten full-time employees and ten part-time employees. “We brought some on last week,” Cutting said. “We are still hiring and the test is offered in April.” He said it includes a civil service test and background check. The sheriff additionally added that the CCSO is down on nursing staff. “The jail is a tough place to work,” said Cutting. “The inmates try to get one over on the officers, and there are a lot of challenges, many on the medical side. There are inmates going through withdrawals, DTs, and other dependency issues. Some have other medical issues. Some inmates are incorrigible. The last thing they want is to be told what to do.” In 2016, Cutting said he would like to take care of the challenges in the jail, including fulling staffing the CCSO. “When we’re down [on staff], we’re spending a lot in overtime,” he said. • The most noteworthy change to the CCSO coming in 2016 is the implementation of body cameras for both patrol and corrections. 54 body cameras have been purchased and the CCSO is building the infrastructure to support the storage of the recordings. “We have purchased and installed a server to support it,” said Cutting. “The server and storage is so that we can search and find specific videos we may need.” Cutting said they’re in the final stages of completely the policy on how the cameras will be used. He explained that the cameras worn by the Corrections Division employees will not be permitted to record the inmate’s cell, shower area, or bathroom. With patrol deputies, the cameras are to remain on when dealing with the public, and turned off during certain times including using the restroom. “By the same token, some inmates have made statements about being abused,” said Cutting. “A female we were housing from another county claimed she was abused. Her allegations did not match anything we had on video from central command.” “I think the cameras will help everyone,” Cutting added. “It goes both ways. When someone knows recording is taking place, they will act differently. It also makes us more transparent and accountable.” “We can simply never have enough infrastructure to save and store every single thing recorded,” said the sheriff. “We will have to be selective in what we save. It will be policy driven as to how long we maintain them on the server.” Cutting said several different types of body cameras were tested before a purchase was made. “The deputies want the cameras,” said Cutting. “They understand the value of it.” The cameras will be rolled out within the next 30 days as the finishing touches are being made to the server and infrastructure. Once that’s finished, the intention is to get the cameras rolling. “What it will do for us is well worth it,” Cutting said. The cameras run $300 a piece, and the money was used from drug seizures for the patrol side and jail phone commissions for the corrections side. “No taxpayer dollars went into this at all,” said Cutting. “Taxpayers did not have to fund this at all. We want to be proactive and transparent. We want to be up front, and found a way to improve everything that we do.” The CCSO will be the first law enforcement agency in Chenango County to wear body cameras. • With Homeland Security grant funds, the CCSO was able to obtain active shooter shields. “In an active shooter situation, a deputy can pull the shield out to attempt to stop the active shooter,” Cutting said. “Through a similar grant, were were able to obtain similar shields and we distributed them to each police agency in the county. Now the rest of the agencies have something they’ve never had before.” The agencies who received active shooter shields included Sherburne, New Berline, Bainbridge, Afton, Greene, Oxford and Norwich. “There are schools in those communities, we these are tools those agencies can use until backup can arrive,” said Cutting. Cutting added that Oxford, Sherburne-Earlville, and BOCES have a School Resource Officer, a position he said to be important. He said there are talks with Otselic Valley to get a School Resource Officer in their school. Cutting said two deputies are trained as SROs. “As we go forward, OV is requesting someone [from law enforcement] everyday,” Cutting said. “If something were to happen, OV is 30 minutes away from the nearest help. They have no law enforcement outside of the CCSO and State Police, leaving that school one of the most vulnerable.” THORNTON ELECTRIC Norwich, NY 607-336-7164 Specializing in Electric Remodeling, Residential & Commercial The Evening Sun Chenango County’s Hometown Daily Newspaper Since 1891 I’d like to extend my gratitude to the community as a whole for being opinionated, expressing support when they so choose, and for subscribing to the newspaper to which I am proud to say I am the Managing Editor. I sincerely hope you enjoy this edition of Progress Chenango. www.evesun.com OFFERING IN HOUSE: Part Design Mold Design Mold Making Injection Molding Distribution 3D Printing Chenango Valley Technologies (CVT) is a custom injection molding company located in Sherburne, NY. Key personal include: Shawn Baker, President ; John Davis, VP tooling and engineering Norm Wynn, Production Manager and Cole Williams Quality Manager. Injection Molding is a process used to manufacture plastic parts. The parts produced at CVT are sold to many industries including: Medical, Electronics, Lawn & Garden, Cosmetic, Consumer, Automotive, Marine and RV. Many of the customers have been working with CVT for over 30 years. CVT began in 1972 as a tool and die company and has grown to include: Part design, mold/tool design, mold making and injection molding. Having all these services in house allows CVT’s customers a single source for their plastic parts. The volume of plastic parts produced range from hundreds of pieces to millions of pieces per year. In an average year CVT processes over 1 million pounds of plastic resin. 2015 was a record year for CVT and we look to a prosperous 2016. New this year is a 3D printer for prototypes and short runs. “Some students are having difficult times emotionally,” said Cutting. “We have responded, and other agencies have responded to the schools too. Having a SRO opens up dialogue and a lot of students are interested in not only what they have to say, but with what they have to do.” Cutting said that when the fire happened in South Otselic, the CCSO lost its substation there. Additionally, Cutting said he is working with the Town of Afton to get a substation set up there, as well as preliminary talks with the Smyrna Supervisor to get a substation set up. He said in Smyrna, the village would provide the building and electricity, and the CCSO would pay for their equipment. He said he will be working with the town supervisors in the Northern portion of Chenango County to get a substation in that area – Lincklaen or McDonough for example. Cutting said a main focus of the CCSO is for the employees to “treat everybody like you would treat your most loved and cherished persons.” He said sometimes force is used, but he stresses that the least amount of force should be used as possible. “We’re here to protect the community, and I look forward to continuing to do so with the improvements we’re making, and I’m looking forward to moving forward in 2016,” Cutting said. 68 PROGRESS CHENANGO 2016 PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN