Editor’s Notebook

Editor’s Notebook

The Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, is upon us. As Dec. 21 nears, so does Christmas, a time when families and friends will gather to celebrate. Along with these celebrations, agencies like CASA-Trinity are reminding residents to drive safely this holiday season. We will have more on that message in an upcoming edition.

At The Owego Pennysaver, we have been busy covering local events, and gathering news of interest for our readership. The Editor’s Notebook offers our readership a glance at some of the stories being worked on, and to highlight stories that are important to our community. 

We can start with Owego’s DRI grant of $10 million, and where the local planning committee is at within the process. A meeting held Wednesday in the Board Room of the Owego Central School District was one of several taking place on the second Wednesday of each month. The next public engagement meeting, however, is planned for Wednesday, Jan. 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Tioga Opportunities, Inc., located at 9 Sheldon Guile Blvd. in Owego. 

During Wednesday’s meeting, it was announced that 44 project proposals were received by the deadline of Dec. 7, 2018. According to the officials, project costs range from $60,000, with the largest request amount being $2.7 million. A total of $15.1 is being requested through the DRI proposals, which exceeds the amount available.

The local planning committee will now have the task of going through the proposals, and finding those that can either be combined with another effort or sought after for further leverage.

You can visit www.villageofowego.com/downtown-revitalization-initiative to view documents from the meeting and for a timeline. We will also continue to follow this initiative, and will report more about the proposed projects as the details become available.

In other news authorities are looking for the person or persons that tossed two Beagles out of the window of a moving sports utility vehicle on I-81 near Marathon at around 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 12, injuring both of the dogs. 

Editor’s Notebook

Pictured, is one of the dogs thrown out of a vehicle on Wednesday. Police are looking for any information on a dark-blue Dodge Durango. You can call the New York State Police at (607) 775-1241. Provided photo.

A truck driver who witnessed the incident stopped to help the animals, and with the help of the New York State Police they worked to stabilize the dogs. One of the dogs is in very bad shape and is currently at Colonial Veterinary Hospital being treated. The other dog is recovering at the Broome County Humane Society.

At the time of this report, the State Police were asking anyone with information about a dark-blue Dodge Durango, a description the truck driver offered, to call (607) 775-1241. Troopers say they hope a dash cam on the trucker’s vehicle may provide some information as well. 

The Broome County Humane Society’s Facebook page includes an appeal to help pay for the care of the injured dogs. Information on the Binghamton shelter can be found at www.bchumanesoc.com.

Also, in Broome County, the first name has been placed on Broome County’s new Animal Abuser Registry.

Forty-year-old John Elmer of Binghamton now appears on the registry, which is maintained by the sheriff’s office.

Elmer, who records indicate lives on Clinton Street, was convicted under the state’s Agriculture and Markets Law of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals. He also was convicted of failure to provide proper sustenance.

Elmer pleaded guilty in October, and was sentenced last week and directed to report to the sheriff’s office to be processed for the Animal Abuser Registry, located at www.gobroomecounty.com/sheriff/animal-abuser-registry.

The county legislature voted last year to create the online registry. Information about first-time offenders is maintained for 15 years, and individuals convicted of repeated animal abuse will be on the registry for life. Those placed on the registry are also required to pay a $125 registration fee.

People who sell, give away or adopt an animal in Broome County are required to check the registry before an ownership change occurs; it is a violation, as well, to provide an animal to someone on the registry. 

Several individuals in Tioga County, one that is affiliated with a non-profit, are working to get a similar animal abuse registry in this area. We will have more on that as the efforts continue.

In other news, a head-on crash on Dec. 10 in Candor, and on Route 96 and near the Iron Kettle Farm resulted in one person being air-lifted to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre. The other driver was transported by ambulance to Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center in Johnson City.

No information is being made available on the condition or identities of either driver.

In the upcoming weeks we will have more about the DRI and the proposed projects, as well as a year-end review of local government and events.

Wendy Post is the editor of The Owego Pennysaver Press in Owego, N.Y. and The Troy Pennysaver Plus in Troy, Pa. 

Be the first to comment on "Editor’s Notebook"

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*