Calvin Harris, speaking, is pictured with two of his four children, 15-year old Tanner and 18-year old Cayla. Calvin Harris and his four children arrived at the Owego Treadway Inn and Conference Center in Owego, N.Y. in March of 2014 to announce a Tip Line at (607) 215-5166 for confidential calls with any information regarding Michele Harris’ disappearance. (Photo by Wendy Post)
The year 2014 has certainly had many trials and tribulations in the judicial, political and economic arena. As we welcome the New Year, we also take a look some the events that shaped it.
January
Cal Harris Case Moved to Schoharie County. In an order dated Jan. 14, 2014, a Change in Venue Motion was granted by the State of New York Supreme Court’s Appellate Division for Calvin Harris, the Tioga County businessman who was charged and then convicted twice of murder in connection with his wife, Michele Harris’ disappearance. The change of venue ensured that the Harris’s third trial would take place in Schoharie County. The trial is scheduled to take place in the early part of
Bill Chandler, Veterans Memorial Chairman, introduces, from left, John Chandler, Neil Lewis, Justin Hulslander, and Keith Lewis during the Memorial Day ceremony held on May 26, 2014 in Owego, N.Y. These four were instrumental in helping Chandler renovate and install the new memorials at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial Park in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
2015.
New Bishop Visits Owego. Just weeks after being installed as bishop for the Rochester Diocese of the Catholic Church, on Jan. 18 Salvatore Ronald Matano came to speak at St. Patrick’s in Owego. Bishop Matano is the ninth Bishop of the Rochester Diocese.
Chamber of Commerce Announces New President. Effective Jan. 22, Gwen Kania became the new president of the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce. Kania began working for the Chamber of Commerce in 2008 and began serving as the director of operations in 2009. Martha Sauerbrey, the previous chamber president, had held the office since 1999 and is now serving as Chair of the Tioga County Lesgislature.
Officers protect the crime scene on Harrison Avenue in Johnson City, N.Y. on March 31, 2014. Johnson City Police Officer David Smith, 43, was fatally wounded by his own weapon when he responded to a disturbance at the Southern Tier Imaging building located there. The suspect, James Clark, age 43 of Greene, N.Y., was fatally wounded by return fire. (Photo by Wendy Post)
Senator Schumer Visits Owego. On Jan. 24, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) visited the Lockheed Martin in Owego to announce the inclusion of $333.5 million for the Air Force Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) Program included in the spending bill deal agreed to by Congress.
February
Newark Valley Welcomes Studio 34. Studio 34, a hair and nails salon, held a grand opening on Feb. 6. The new business, located a 9 Main Street in Newark Valley, is owned by Patsi Spoonhower of Berkshire. The grand opening attracted more than 30 people, including Mayor Jim Tornatore and Newark Valley Chamber of Commerce President Chris Leach.
On Dec. 23, 2014 Senator Tom Libous (R-52), pictured, addresses media and dignitaries during a conference in which Traditions at the Glen partner Pete Walsh announced that they would drop their proposed casino plans and unite to assist Tioga Downs in gaining the fourth gaming license that was pulled from the table on Dec. 17 by the gaming location board in Albany; and support them for a re-bid for the license in the ‘true’ Southern Tier area. The conference was held at Traditions at the Glen in Johnson City, N.Y., which was the proposed site for Traditions Resort and Casino. (Photo by Wendy Post)
On Dec. 17, 2014, Tioga Downs’ owner Jeff Gural reacts to the selection of Lago Resort and Casino as the sole recipient of the Southern Tier’s full gaming license. Gural later noted that Lago Resort and Casino, in Tyre, N.Y., is not even part of the ‘true’ Southern Tier, and the re-bid for a fourth license for the Southern Tier is now being recommended by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo. As of this date, a response from the Commission has not been received on record. (Photo by Wendy Post)
Van Etten Man Arrested for Manslaughter. On Feb. 24, New York State Police arrested 19-year-old James Crosby of Van Etten in connection with his role in a 2013 car accident that caused two fatalities. When the accident occurred on New Year’s Eve, Crosby was traveling northbound on Route 34/96 around 5 p.m., when he lost control and entered the southbound lane, striking a 2001 Jeep Cherokee, operated by Samantha Aarnio, age 31 of Spencer. Although Aarnio and Crosby both survived, one passenger in Crosby’s car – 20-year-old Derek Nichols – and one passenger in Aarnio’s car – 67-year-old Kathy Lattimore – died. Crosby was hit with a slew of charges, including two counts of manslaughter, two counts of assault, one count of reckless endangerment, and one count of reckless driving.
March
Barton Resident Dies in House Fire. On March 22, 37-year-old Valentene Mazzella died when she was overcome by smoke caused by a fire in the Route 34 residence she shared with 32-year-old John Gerhard. The cause of the fire was determined to be an overheated pan on the stove.
Johnson City Police Officer Shot with His Own Weapon. In a tragic turn of events, 18.5-year veteran officer David Smith was shot with his own weapon after responding to a disturbance at Southern Tier Imaging. According to Johnson City Police Chief Joseph Zikuski, 43-year-old Smith arrived at the Harrison Street health service building and was immediately attacked by the suspect, 43-year old James Clark of Greene, N.Y.
Owego Mayor Retains Seat in Village Elections.
In September of 2014, Tioga Downs held a ceremony to celebrate the opening of their new parking garage. Pictured, is the parking garage nearing completion at Tioga Downs, in Nichols, N.Y. (Provided Photo)
In the March 18 village elections, Kevin Millar was reelected as Owego’s mayor, despite a then-recent DUI arrest. He was the only member of the Rebuild Owego Party who was voted back into office. Mike Phelps, Earl Hartman, and Steve May were all either elected or reelected on the A Positive (A+) Change Party. Another A+ member, Rod Marchewka, was elected as clerk/treasurer.
April
Owego-Apalachin Proposes Major Cuts. At its April 9 meeting, the Owego Apalachin Board of Education put forth a budget that proposed a zero tax levy increase, but eliminated 21.5 position in the district. The $42 million budget came in under the tax levy, but required the use of $361,000 in reserves. On May 20, voters approved the budget proposal.
May
New Veterans’ Monuments Unveiled in Owego. On Memorial Day, in a ceremony just after the annual Memorial Day parade, Bill Chandler, chairman of the Honor our Veterans Monument Fund and president of Vietnam Veterans Chapter 480, spoke about the five-month-long process of finding funding for and installing three new monuments in Owego’s Tioga County Memorial Veterans Park. The new monuments include an additional World War II monument, a Modern Warfare monument, and a Civil War monument.
Owego Hosts its First Big Splash Sustainability Fair. On May 24 and 25, Owego hosted its first ever Big Splash Sustainability Fair, a family event that was a combination music festival and sustainability expo. Presented by the Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance, Big Splash has previously been held in Hector, N.Y. and in Binghamton, N.Y., but this year Binghamton chose not to renew the festival’s permit, and so the event came to Owego instead. The event was held at Marvin Park in Owego.
June
Owego Passes 2015 Budget. On June 23, the Village of Owego passed its budget for fiscal year 2015, staying safely under the tax cap. The budget included a 1.13 percent levy increase, generating a tax rate of $18.78 per thousand dollars of assessed value. Public works spending in the village for fiscal year 2015 will be $1,282,126, a half a percent increase over 2014, but down from the post-flood high of $2,100,633 in 2012.
Arrest Made After Meth Lab Explodes. Just before 3 p.m. on June 20, firefighters responded to an explosion in a Newark Valley home located at 6506 State Route 38. According to the Tioga County Sheriff’s Office, the explosion was caused by the manufacture of methamphetamine. One person was taken to the hospital as a result of the explosion, while Melissa Callahan, 23 of Newark Valley, was arrested and charged with manufacture of methamphetamine in the third degree.
July
Nichols Man Arrested in Hit and Run. On July 26, Jason Townsend of Nichols, was arrested as the suspect in a hit and run accident that occurred at 6:30 a.m. that morning. Daniel and Karen Manwaring were jogging along West Whitcomb Hill Road in the Town of Tioga when a blue Nissan XTerra hit them. According to the police, Daniel Manwaring, age 41, was pronounced dead at the scene and his wife Karen Manwaring was transported to Wilson Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Farmhouse Brewery Opens in Owego. Marty and Nicole Mattrazzo were already running a successful business supplying malt and barley to brewers, but on July 13 the couple held a grand opening for their new brewery at 16 George Street in Owego.
August
Village of Owego Decides Not to Fill Vacant Police Positions. At its Aug. 4 meeting, the Owego Village Board of Trustees narrowly voted not to fill two vacant police positions at the Owego Police Department. Two candidates had interviewed for the positions and their pay was included in the Owego Police Department’s current budget. Though nobody has yet formally suggested abolishing the department as was hotly debated nearly three years ago, the decision not to fill positions drew much criticism in some corners.
Wagner Lumber Holds Groundbreaking. On Aug. 12, the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce held a groundbreaking ceremony at Owego’s Wagner Lumber located on Gaskill Road. The structure had been destroyed in a fire in February.
September
Owego Approves Dog Park. At its Sept. 2 meeting, the Town of Owego approved an agreement with Owego Dog Owners Group (ODOG). The agreement allowed for the creation of the Rebecca Weitsman Memorial Dog Park, to be located at Hickories Park in Owego, and fully funded by Rebecca’s brother, Adam Weitsman, owner of Ben Weitsman & Son and Upstate Shredding.
Legislature Votes to End Bus System. In a Sept. 18 meeting, the Tioga County Legislature unanimously voted to end Tioga’s bus system. The decision came as a result of a statewide Medicaid restructuring that impacted how Medicaid patients were transported. Legislative Chair Marte Sauerbrey said closing the gap in the bus system funding caused by the Medicaid changes would have cost Tioga County taxpayers $500,000 in 2015. The legislature voted to end the bus service effective Dec. 1.
October
Owego-Apalachin Employee’s Association Union Treasurer Sentenced. Amy Wales, age 45, of Chestnut Street in Owego, was sentenced on Oct. 27 in Tioga County Court to 120 days of incarceration and five years of probation. Amy Wales was originally arrested in late 2013 for grand larceny after embezzling more than $50,000 while serving as the union’s treasurer.
New Redemption Center Opens. Shelly’s Redemption Center opened in Tioga Center on Oct. 11. Shelly Forrest said that he opened the business because he felt there was a need for a can and bottle redemption center in Tioga Center, as previously the nearest redemption centers had been in Owego and Waverly.
November
New York’s Governor Cuomo Reelected. Although Republican Rob Astorino received 56 percent of the vote in Tioga County, incumbent Andrew Cuomo was reelected as governor. In federal contests, Representative Richard Hanna, a Republican, retained his seat in the 22nd district in an uncontested race. In the 23rd Congressional District, incumbent Republican Thomas Reed soundly defeated Democratic challenger Martha Robertson.
Douglas Every Found Guilty. After nearly two days of deliberating, the jury in the murder trial for 63-year old Douglas Every, of the Town of Tioga, rendered a guilty verdict on manslaughter charges for the stabbing death of 39-year old Milton Jump Jr. – a fatal series of events that took place on Oct. 23, 2013 at the defendant’s Thorn Hollow Road residence in Tioga. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 30 at 10 a.m.
December
New York to Ban Fracking. On Dec. 17, Governor Cuomo announced that he will ban fracking in New York State. After a six-year review process, state officials announced that the health and environmental effects were considered too great to allow fracking to occur in the state. Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens said that Governor Cuomo will officially issue the ban in early 2015.
Tioga Downs Loses Out on Gaming License. In a controversial announcement in Albany on Dec. 17, the Gaming Site Selection Board announced that Lago Resort and Casino in Seneca County will be the recipient of the Southern Tier casino gambling license. Traditions Resort and Casino in Johnson City and Tioga Downs in Nichols were also vying for the license, and subsequently Traditions announced that it would be withdrawing its application in hopes that Tioga Downs could receive the fourth gaming license. On Friday, Andrew Cuomo sent a letter to the Gaming Commission to reconsider issuing a re-bid to the Southern Tier Region for a fourth gaming license. Senator Libous (R-52), has also joined in to push for the fourth license within the Southern Tier Region.
