Southern Tier New York Local News You May Have Missed

Every Monday, I recap some of the essential local news we reported on 1290 AM/92.1 FM WNBF, our Townsquare Media Binghamton sister radio stations on-air, on our websites, and social media platforms.

Catch up here on local, regional, or state news items in a short recap we reported on for the week of December 4, 2023, from various agencies and news reporting from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff. For the complete article (if available), click on the headline.

Three Reported Hurt in Fire on Court Street in Binghamton

(Bob Joseph)
A large house in downtown Binghamton was damaged in an early-morning fire. The blaze in the two-and-a-half-story wood-frame structure at 213 Court Street was reported shortly before 5 a.m. Monday. Four people reportedly were in the building at the time of the fire. Three of them required medical attention. One man sustained burns to his face. A person familiar with the matter said the man who was burned initially was able to safely get out of the house. He was injured after he went back into the building. Firefighters on the scene reported he then refused to leave.

Broome County Warns Of Local EBT Skimming Scam

(Don Morgan)
Recently, dozens of applications have been submitted by Broome County residents to the Broome County Department of Social Services, where benefits were stolen because of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) skimming. A skimmer device is placed on top of a retail store's card reading machine, allowing the skimmer to copy the card and personal identification, referred commonly as a PIN by EBT cardholders. That allows the scammers access to the Electronic Benefits Transfer account which in turn allows them to spend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance cash benefits.

Car Crashes at Route 17 On-Ramp After Binghamton Shooting

(Bob Joseph)
One person was hurt when a car crashed at an entrance ramp to Route 17 in Binghamton after someone fired gunshots at the vehicle. The incident occurred late Friday night at the expressway on-ramp off Prospect Street in the First Ward. A car with four occupants crashed at the Route 17 entrance early Saturday morning. The person who called for help said the crash was caused by a shooting. One of those in the vehicle sustained minor injuries from the crash and was taken to a hospital for treatment. No one was reported hurt as a result of the gunshots.

Men Used Fake $100 Bills At Marathon New York Store

(Don Morgan)
According to the New York State Police release, two males entered a Dollar General store on West Main Street in the Village of Marathon on Monday, October 30th, 2023, at around 1:16 p.m., and purchased a gift card worth $500. The gift card was paid for by using five fraudulent $100 bills. New York State Police at Homer noted that the fake bills closely resembled real bills but were missing some security features. The men spent a few minutes inside the Marathon Dollar General and then left in a dark-colored sedan with what appeared to be a white license plate.

Broome County Bald Eagles Lose Their Home in Wind Storm

(Bob Joseph)
The beloved "Bald Eagles of Port Crane" were displaced when their large nest was blown down in a ferocious wind storm. The primary home for the birds of prey had become a fixture in a tree towering above the Chenango River just off Route 369 in the town of Fenton. Nature lovers who have routinely kept an eye on the bald eagles were saddened when their big nest was lost due to a strong wind gust just before Thanksgiving. According to the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation, established pairs of bald eagles return to and defend the same breeding territory each year.

New York Air Guard Fire Department Named Best For 2022

(Don Morgan)
According to the New York National Guard website, the department is a mix of uniformed airmen from the 174th Attack Wing and civilian firefighters. Together, they have been recognized for outstanding performance, providing continuous fire protective services for the Hancock Field Air National Guard Base and the Hancock International Airport in Syracuse.

Guthrie Clinic to Borrow $140 Million to Buy Lourdes Hospital

(Bob Joseph)
The planned sale of Binghamton-based Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital to Guthrie Clinic of Sayre, Pennsylvania is moving forward. Guthrie Clinic plans to borrow $140 million to acquire Lourdes and its affiliated facilities in Broome, Tioga, and Delaware counties. The proposed sale of Lourdes from St. Louis-based Ascension was announced last June. Lourdes employees have been told the deal is expected to be finalized around February 1.

Southern Tier NY Civil Air Patrol Cadets Earn Prestigious Award

(Don Morgan)
Three local cadets from Civil Air Patrol’s Southern Tier Cadet Squadron have recently earned the “General Billy Mitchell Award”. Mitchell is regarded as the "Father of the Independent Air Force."  According to the Civil Air Patrol, the General Billy Michell Award Mitchell Award marks the completion of Phase II of the CAP Cadet Program, recognizing sustained excellence in all four areas of cadet life: leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character. An awards ceremony was held on Thursday, December 7th in Johnson City for the three cadets.

One Person Dead, One Firefighter Hurt in Binghamton Blaze

(Bob Joseph)
A resident of a Binghamton home died as the result of a fast-moving late-night fire that also injured a city firefighter. Authorities said the blaze at 72 Colfax Avenue in the First Ward was reported around 11:30 p.m. Friday. Several people called 911 after the fire broke out in the single-family house. The first police officers on the scene reported flames were shooting from the front of the structure. By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze had spread to a neighboring house at 74 Colfax Avenue. It also engulfed a pickup truck that was parked between the two homes. A second alarm was called minutes later as people at the scene advised firefighters residents were trapped inside 72 Colfax Avenue.

Join The 2024 First Day Hikes At Broome County New York Parks

(Don Morgan)
How about taking a nice hike? Well, if that sounds good, you'll be pleased to know that in January, you can join in on one of three 'First Day 2024' hikes with the Broome County Parks and the Triple Cities Hiking Club. The three 'First Day 2024' hikes are open to the public, and there is no cost. The term 'First Day 2024' refers to the fact that these three hikes will take place on Monday, January 1st, 2024. Each 'First Day 2024' hike will begin at 1 p.m. at Aqua Terra Wilderness Area off Maxian Road in Binghamton, Otsininto Park off Bevier Street in Binghamton, and Greenwood Park in Lisle.

New Effort to Redevelop Building at Closed Binghamton Power Plant

(Bob Joseph)
An abandoned electricity and steam generating facility in Binghamton's First Ward could be repurposed in the future. The cogeneration plant at 22 Charles Street was built by Anitec Image Corporation to provide power for its massive manufacturing complex. Natural gas was the primary fuel it used, although it sometimes was powered by oil that was stored at the site. A California-based company acquired the facility in 2012 to generate power only at times of peak demand. Wellhead Electric pulled the plug on the plant after losing millions of dollars on the venture.