Our ‘Mr. Bojangles’ IA
DG
E WIL
L
COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND
www.
OUNDED
JU
Volume 212, No. 44
•F
1808 BY
SUBSCRIBE TO
Cooperstown’s Newspaper
R
IN
are s e g n a h c BIG 2 B . g p e e S here!
O M C O PE
JERRY JEFF WALKER, OTSEGO COUNTY ORIGINAL/B1
For 212 Years
AllOTSEGO.com • Your COUNTY ONLINE DAILY NEWSPAPER
Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, October 29, 2020
Newsstand Price $1
MAN of THE HOUR Can Dennis Craig, Hero Of Purchase, Rescue SUNY Oneonta? By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA
F The Freeman’s Journal
Trained as a metalurgical engineer, Father Michael Cambi has been pursuing his second career, the priesthood since Labor Day Weekend at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of The Lake” pastor/DETAILS, A2
Explosion Injures 2 At Bassett COOPERSTOWN
T
wo construction workers were injured when a “small explosion” occurred near the hospital’s receiving dock this morning, with one injured severely enough to require transport to Upstate Medical in Syracuse. The accident happened Tuesday, Oct. 27, when a contractor was transporting equipment in an exterior service stairwell connected to a construction site. A second worker was also injured and treated at Bassett’s emergency room. FULL COVID STORIES ON
AllOTSEGO.com ►defendant in worcester slaying gets 22 years to life. ►salka brings bail reform repeal drive to county. ►First time ever, Otesaga stays open year-’round. ►at lwv forum, Assembly candidates debate safety issues. ►as justice is sworn in, protestors remember RBG. ►rights commission supports review of “savagery” plaque. ►oneonta, cooperstown schools reopen after COVID case.
or SUNY Oneonta’s interim President Dennis Craig, 55, it’s all about how you react to a crisis. “In tough incidents, sometimes you’re more defined by your response than by the incident itself,” he said, whether cheating, an instance of bias, a suicide, even a murder. When that happens, “I’m all about transparency and giving people more information, and letting them decide what they need to know,” he said in his first local interview since arriving on campus Thursday, Oct. 15. SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras picked Craig to Ian Austin/The Freeman’s Journal succeed Barbara Jean Coming from a family of firefighters and police officers, SUNY Oneonta interim President Dennis Craig Morris, who resigned after senses when trouble is coming – it’s in his DNA. COVID-19 raged out of control at the local campus, “pivoted” in March, closWestchester County tested Three generations were several siblings and cousins infecting more than 700 ing the campus and shifting positive. firefighters – father Thomas were police officers. students, more than on any to remote learning. In the A native of Merrick, Long Richard; grandfather Thom“I’m a first generation campus in the nation. end, only 25 students on the Island, Craig jokes he is the as Aloysius and great-grand- college student,” he said As interim president at 4,200-student campus in “black sheep” of the family: father Peter Thomas – and Please See CRAIG, B3 SUNY Purchase, Craig
19 Positives Traced To 75-Guest Wedding, Including CCS Staffer By LIBBY CUDMORE COOPERSTOWN
I
f you were at that 75guest wedding in the Town of Otsego, you better get tested for COVID19. According to Heidi Bond, Otsego County Public Health director, 19 people have tested positive for the virus following a wedding at a local home. “Our challenge with this wedding is that they have not been the best at cooperating,” said Bond. “We have not yet received the guest
Many People Are Casting Votes Early
►COVID-19 CLAIMS 8TH COUNTY VICTIM
A
man who had been hospitalized for more than two weeks succumbed to COVID-19 on Tuesday, Oct. 27, the eighth county resident to die since the start of the pandemic. The man was “over 60,” the most vulnerable category for COVID complications, said Heidi Bond, county public health director. “We know people over 60 are at most risk for severe illness,” Bond said in her press release. “We need to do all we can to protect our seniors.” It’s the first COVID-related death in the county since late September. All victims have been over 60.
By JIM KEVLIN COOPERSTOWN
I
n 2018, the first year early voting was permitted, 340 people took advantage of it. This year, by noon Tuesday, Oct. 27, three days into early voting, 2,053 early voting For covid updates, visit www. OTSEGO.com ballots had already been cast. “Saturday this year, more list, so we have not been Last week, a Cooperstown people voted early than in the able to notify everyone that Elementary School employentire nine days last year,” they need to quarantine so ee tested positive, promptsaid Mike Henrici, Demowe can stop the spread.” Please See COVID, B5 Please See VOTE, B5
All
JENNA UTTER HIRED
Barown’s Successor Recruited By LIBBY CUDMORE COOPERSTOWN
J
enna Utter was worried. She had three children at home – Lucas, 10, Jenna Utter Dawson, 6 and Leah, 5 – and had lost her job as a paralegal in County Attorney Ellen Coccoma’s Please See UTTER, B5
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD