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VISIT www.AllOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S DAILY NEWSPAPER/ONLINE
Volume 212, No. 04
COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND
Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, January 23, 2020
Newsstand Price $1
Seward Era At End News Evokes Thanks, Wishes For His Good Health By JIM KEVLIN
Assemblyman Tague May Run To Fill Seat
N Ian Austin/The Freeman’s Journal
CCS Superintendent of Schools Bill Crankshaw and other members of the a cappella group Eight Is Eneuf, perform “MLK” by U2 during the NAACP’s annual birthday celebration for The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Sunday, Jan. 19, at First United Methodist Church, Oneonta.
2 Parties Plan Caucuses For Village Offices COOPERSTOWN
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epublicans and Democrats have scheduled caucuses this week to nominate candidates for three openings in the village’s Tuesday, March 18, elections: a two-year mayoral term and two three-year terms for trustee. The Democratic caucus was planned at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Village Hall, 22 Main St. The Republican caucus is at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Casale Group office, 25 Chestnut St. The incumbents are seeking nominations for another term: Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch and Trustees Joe Membrino and MacGuire Benton. All are Democrats. Check results at:
AllOTSEGO.com
www.
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AllOTSEGO.com
►democrat chad mcevoy, announced he will run again in the 101st District against Republican Brian Miller. This year’s election is Nov. 3.. ►CCS’ PIPER SEAMON scored her 1,000th career point in the Hawkeyes’ 57-39 win over Waterville at home on Wednesday, Jan. 15
ov. 6, 2019, came the troubling news to his many fans and wellwishers in Otsego County and the 51st state Senatorial District. Veteran lawmaker James L. Seward’s cancer, vanquished in 2016, was back. Treatment followed, “and a scan at the end of December found I’m responding well. The tumor shrank,” the Milford Republican said in an interview following his Monday, Jan. 20, announcement that he won’t seek another term – it would have been his 18th – this fall. When the legislative session began Jan. 7, he was back in his Albany office, and in his seat on the Senate floor, where he’s been a familiar figure since 1985, ticking Please See SEWARD, A7
By JIM KEVLIN
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hris Tague, Schoharie, 21-month assemblyman in the 102nd District, plans to decide by the end of the week whether he will seek to succeed state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal in the 51st District. Calling Seward “a dear State Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, is greeted by Tague friend,” he said he was former Cooperstown mayor Jeff Katz at the May 21, 2018, announcement of a $1 million grant for “distressed by the news” that the 35-year Doubleday Field’s renovation, now underway. At senator has decided not to run again as right is Katz’s successor, Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch. Please See TAGUE, A7
As Anticipated, HERO HOME Jeter Gets Nod Ask County Treasurer Ruffles About Elephant Attack COOPERSTOWN
of Fame president, on the MLB t was the moNetwork Tuesday ment baseball evening, Jan. 21, fans have been in his first inducwaiting for – and tion announcement expecting: Derek since taking the Jeter has been helm last summer. named to the 2020 “He has defined Baseball Hall of consistency and Fame. Derek Jeter leadership and joins “Derek Jeter is a distinguished list one of the most respected of Yankee greats as he takes ballplayers of his generahis rightful place in the tion,” said Tim Mead, Hall Please See JETER, A3
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Schenevus CS Students May Go To Milford By JAMES CUMMINGS MILFORD
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ilford and Charlotte Valley have emerged as possible refuges for Schenevus Central students if that financially strapped school district is forced to close its doors. At 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, Worcester Superintendent of Schools Tim Gonzales announced “tuitioning-in” Please See MILFORD, B4
Truitt On Trial For Fatal Fire
He must have made a sudden noise or movement, because suddenly COOPERSTOWN the video is flailing as Ruffles scrambles back nly once did Allen into the house to escape Ruffles feel he was a thundering herd. in any danger. Eventually, the A sergeant in the 403rd elephants settled down Civil Affairs Battalion, and went sedately on Army Reserves, he was their way. living in a small wooden Other than that, house in Uganda, training Ruffles’ 12-month assignlocal wildlife rangers in ment – he returned Sunanti-poaching techniques. day, Jan. 19, from Camp One morning, Ruffles Lemmonier in Djibouti – Otsego County treasurer to his Beech Street home in civilian life – heard a and wife Amy, daughter rumble and looked out the Mia, 11, and son Cooper, window at a herd of a few 6 – was uneventful. Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal dozen elephants. Grabbing Except everything was Ruffles with wife Amy, his cell phone, he slipped eventful, he related in an daughter Mia, 11, and son outside to capture a video. Cooper, 6. Please See RUFFLES, B6 By JIM KEVLIN
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FRIENDS ELECT BRESEE PRESIDENT
By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA
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he brother and the ex-girlfriend of Gabriel Truitt, 33, may be called to testify in the trial underway in Otsego County Court. They are Terrence Truitt and Heather Engler, and Gabriel is the Oneonta man charged with arson and first-degree Please See TRIAL, B4
FOTOT Aims To Buy City Theater By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA
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y the end of the year, Bob Brzozowski hopes, the newly revived Friends of the Oneonta Theater hope to have site Ian Austin/The Freeman’s Journal control of the theater. “We’ve seen places like Walton, Norwich, Bob Brzozowski discusses new plans for the Oneonta Theatre. Please See FOTOT, A6
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD