Hometown Oneonta 01-09-20

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Volume 12, No. 15

City of The Hills

ONEONTA

& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch

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Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, January 9, 2020

Visit www.

AllOTSEGO.com

They Love Meg, But Debate Bipartisanship In End, She’s First Woman Vice Chair By JIM KEVLIN COOPERSTOWN

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hen the 9-4 vote affirmed Meg Kennedy as the first woman vice president of the Otsego County Board of Representa-

tives, Andrew Marietta leaned over and said, “Meg, you know I support you.” The Conservative for Hartwick, Milford and New Lisbon and the Democrat from Cooperstown and the Town of Otsego both shook hands and smiled. But for the preceding few Please See KENNEDY, A3

Reelected Chair, Bliss’ Goal: Make Administrator Happen COOPERSTOWN

O Meg Kennedy

tsego will now have a county administrator. Now, the question is how to fit the new job into the current system, and how to adjust the system for

the new job. “We have a few things to iron out,” said county Rep. David Bliss, RCooperstown/Middlefield/ Cherry Valley, in an interview as he enters his third Please See BLISS, A3

FREED INMATE ACCUSED OF STEALING TRUCK HOMETOWN ONEONTA

Newly elected Council member Mark Drnek wondered if Destination Oneonta has lost touch with its original mission.

Destination Oneonta May Be Cut $70K ONEONTA

C

oncerned Destination Oneonta has broadened its focus outside the city, the new Common Council tonight delayed approval of $70,000 for Destination Oneonta, formed to draw people downtown. “Looking at the projection of 200 members in 2020, clearly the geography is moving outward from the city,” said newly elected Council member Mark Drnek. “I think they do a terrific job, but if this becomes more of a Chamber of Commerce, are we still responsible for the $70,000,” he asked. More details at

AllOTSEGO.com

NEW DEPUTY: David Rissberger, Third Ward, dean of the Common Council, was elevated to deputy mayor by his colleagues Tuesday, Jan. 7. He succeeds Russ Southard., who retired from Council at year’s end.

ON

AllOTSEGO.com

►A SIDNEY COUPLE, Jessica and Jordan Fitzgerald, produced Bassett Hospital’s first New Year’s baby, little Jace. ►New YORK STATE slipped from 39th to 43rd in growth among American states, U-Haul found in its annual survey. ►MILFORD-COOPERSTOWN varsity wrestler won his 100th career bout Friday, Jan. 3, pinning a Carthage grappler.

Bail Reform Hits Home By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA

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ithin three days of being released from the custody of the Otsego County Corrections under the state’s new bail reform, James C. Sitts, 39, Laurens, allegedly stole a pickup truck from a residence in Laurens. “He was awaiting James Sitts trial on two home invasions,” said Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr. “But under the new law, he was released on Dec. 31.” Though in custody of Otsego County since December 2018, Sitts had been held on the count of burglary in the second degree at the Delaware County Jail, as the Otsego County Jail is undergoing repairs. “The jail put stipulations on his release,” said Devlin. “But, of course, Please See SITTS, A6

John Heller decorated his beard with Christmas lights. This year, so did his family.

IN HIS MEMORY John Heller Wore Lights On Beard – So Does Family By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA

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ast Christmas, Mike and Erika Heller bought a set of “beard ornaments” for John, Mike’s brother.

“We thought they were hilarious,” said Erika. “He just started putting them on, and my kids” – Donovan, Maddox, Macall and Rawley – “were showing him where else on his beard he could hang them!” They found those beard ornaments, boxed up with the rest of his Christmas gifts, at his Please See MEMORY, B4

What To Swear-In On? Bible, Constitution? By JAMES CUMMINGS ONEONTA

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he traditional swearing-ins were Thursday, Jan. 2, in Common Council chambers, but swearing-in with a hand on the Bible was one tradition that may be waning. When each of the 9 candidates approached the podium, City

Judge Lucy Bernier asked them if they would like to place their hand on the Bible, or on the U.S. Constitution. Three of nine – seven Council members and two county reps Jim Kevlin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA – chose the Constitution. Common Council member Scott Harrington prepares to “I figure upholding a politiPlease See OATHS, B4 take his oath on the Bible, as ►A SLIDE SHOW on Oneonta’s swearing-ins appears on ALLOTSEGO.COM

John Heller

SEWARD, SALKA UNITED AGAINST LEGALIZED POT

A

s recuperating state Sen. Jim Seward and Assemblyman John Salka headed back Wednesday, Jan. 8 to the state Legislative session in Albany, they were united on one goal in particular: To vote against marijuana legalization. They are also troubled by the state’s $6 billion surprise deficit. Details at

AllOTSEGO.com

www.

did his father Stan.

HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST CIRCULATION NEWSPAPER 2010 WINNER OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD


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Hometown Oneonta 01-09-20 by All Otsego - News of Oneonta, Cooperstown & Otsego County, NY - Issuu