Did You Catch These Southern Tier New York News Stories?
Every week, we recap some essential local news we reported on 1290 AM/92.1 FM WNBF, our Townsquare Media Binghamton sister radio stations on-air, our websites, and social media platforms.
Catch up on local and regional news items in a short recap we reported on for the week of September 30th, 2024, from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff. For the complete article (if available), click on the headline.
Man Dies After Being Struck by Stray Gunshot in Binghamton
(Bob Joseph)
A Binghamton man died after he was shot in the head while in his apartment on the city's North Side. Authorities said 41-year-old Tyrell Norris was wounded by a bullet that was fired during a dispute in the parking lot outside building two at Town and Country Apartments at 100 Roberts Street. Police were called to the apartment complex around 10:15 p.m. Monday. Officers found Norris in an apartment with a gunshot wound to the face. Norris was taken to Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City where he was pronounced dead. Shortly after police arrived at the apartment complex, they learned there was another man with a gunshot wound about a block east of the shooting scene.
Supporting Autism Awareness: Broome County's Blue Envelope Program
(Don Morgan)
On September 30th, The Broome County Sheriff's Office announced a new program to create a safer, more understanding environment for interactions between law enforcement and individuals and families with autism. Traffic stops can be overwhelming for individuals with autism, Facilitating Communication and Promoting PreparednessAccording to the Broome County Sheriff's Office, the Blue Envelope Program focuses on Enhancing Awareness and Understanding, Alleviating Stress, and Reducing Anxiety. Individuals with autism and their families are provided with a blue envelope, insert card and Blue Envelope Program vehicle sticker. Outside of the blue envelope contains instructions for the driver, and the officers what to do as well.
Vestal Home Damaged by Two-Alarm Fire
(Bob Joseph)
Firefighters from three departments battled a two-alarm blaze that broke out in a single-family house in Vestal. Authorities said the fire at 912 Murray Hill Road was reported shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday. Police and firefighters were sent to the house to investigate a dryer fire. Smoke and flames from the lower front portion of the split-level house were visible when the first emergency units arrived at the scene. It appeared the body of the fire was confined to a basement area in the front of the house. No serious injuries were reported but medics evaluated one person at the scene for possible smoke inhalation.
Rise In Thefts Through Common Phone And Email Scams
(Don Morgan)
Recently, the Town of Vestal Police alerted the public of another scam that is trying to extort money out of residents, stating that there has been a rise in thefts through phone and email scams. These scammers ask to make an immediate payment for one of several reasons, including to free a loved one from jail or claim they are from a federal agency such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Border Patrol, or a law enforcement agency. The call or email is presented as a sense of urgency to try to get a person to pay. The Town of Vestal Police Department stresses that a Law Enforcement Agency will never ask to provide credit card or banking information over the phone. Nor does Law Enforcement ask a person to purchase gift cards or other redeemable items.
Transformation Underway at Abandoned Binghamton Power Plant
(Bob Joseph)
A project to develop a manufacturing facility at a former cogeneration plant in Binghamton is moving forward. Firomar New York has received approval from the city planning commission to construct an addition to the existing structure at 22 Charles Street in the city's First Ward. Project manager Paolo Maccabrunni said the new facility will make products for the construction industry. He said the company has the technology to manufacture large energy-efficient panels for use with existing and new buildings. Maccabrunni said Firomar now has equipment in Connecticut that will be moved to Binghamton for the future manufacturing plant.
Binghamton's Unemployment Rates Have Changed in Past Year
(Don Morgan)
August 2024, preliminary local area unemployment rates were released for July 2024 by the New York State Department of Labor, comparing it to July 2023. 15 New York State metro areas are included in the report, including the Binghamton area. For July 2024, the Binghamton area had an unemployment rate of 3.7 percent according to the New York State Labor Department report. For July 2024, the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent for a year-to-year increase of 0.7 percent. Statewide, from July 2023 to July 2024, the unemployment rate rose from 4.3 percent to 5.0 percent.
Big Changes Coming to Vestal's Iconic Skate Estate Fun Center
(Bob Joseph)
A popular Vestal recreational facility has been sold and the new owner is preparing to renovate the site and to drop a couple of longtime features. Skate Estate Family Fun Center on Vestal Road was acquired by a unit of Marchuska Development from Vestal Road Associates. Property records list the sale price as $880,000. Justin Marchuska said discussions about purchasing Skate Estate began more than two years ago. Not many changes have been implemented yet but they are coming. Plans call for the construction of several private party rooms. New ceilings and flooring will be installed inside the complex. Marchuska said the outdoor attractions - the water slide and the miniature golf course - will be removed.
New Change to Life-Saving Hotline in New York
(Don Morgan)
In December of 2023, U.S. Congressman Marc Molinaro announced the introduction of the 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2023, designed to get the Federal Communications Commission to implement technology that reroutes calls to the National 988 Crisis Lifeline to local call centers. According to Congressman Molinaro's Office, this Month (October 2024) the F.C.C. announced it will vote on the legislation. If passed. the F.C.C. would require all U.S. wireless carriers to implement georouting technology, so those who call the 988 Crisis Lifeline, are directed to local call centers. Congressman Molinaro's Office notes that while 911 calls are routed to a local call center based on the caller’s current location, currently, anyone who makes a 988 Crisis Lifeline call, will find that it will be routed based on a person’s area code.
Cooking Oil Spill Causes Greasy Mess in Downtown Binghamton
(Bob Joseph)
Workers from a company that collects used cooking oil for recycling spent hours cleaning up what was described as a "malicious" spill in Binghamton. The incident happened next to the city-owned State Street parking garage downtown. Garth Charpentier, president of Clean Green Service of West Monroe, on Friday said he didn't know exactly when the spill occurred. Charpentier told WNBF News it appeared that someone had drilled a hole near the bottom of the plastic storage container located in Commercial Alley, just south of Henry Street. Charpentier said it was a "malicious" act that resulted in about 10 gallons of waste vegetable oil onto the pavement adjacent to the parking ramp.
Broome County New York Earns Perfect Fiscal Score
(Don Morgan)
On September 3, 2024, an announcement was made from Broome County Executive Jason Garnar that the County of Broome had received a perfect fiscal score. According to the announcement, the report produces a score out of 100 for each municipality in the state using a variety of metrics. The score then correlates with one of four fiscal stress designations: significant, moderate, susceptible to, or no designation. The higher the score, the higher the designation. Comptroller DiNapoli's Office explains that the report is the result of evaluating local governments on financial indicators. This includes year-end fund balance, cash-on-hand, short-term borrowing, fixed costs, and patterns of operating deficits to create fiscal stress scores.
Rare Development: "Spec House" Being Built in Endwell
(Bob Joseph)
For the first time in years, a builder is constructing a single-family "spec house" on a lot in the town of Union. A developer acquired the land for the project at the corner of Taft Avenue and O'Day Drive in Endwell in early July. The house is being built on speculation that a buyer will be found shortly after it's been completed. The site is about two miles north of Country Club Road. Long-time builder Michael Malarkey said he started work on the house a couple of months ago. While working at the site Wednesday morning, he told WNBF News he expects construction to be finished in about three months. Robert Mack, the town of Union supervisor, said he's excited by the project, noting it appears to be the first spec house project built locally in many years.
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Gallery Credit: Ryan Reichard