Police Continue Search for Missing Annie Hubbard

ONEONTA -- The search continues for 56-year-old Annie Hubbard of Oneonta. Hubbard was last seen a week ago.

City Police say an Oneonta Public Transit bus driver remembered picking Hubbard up on the bus’ route to Walmart, where surveillance video captured her shopping there later that day.

No information regarding her whereabouts has developed since then. Hubbard has an apartment on Main Street and she works at the First United Methodist Church, at 66 Chestnut St. Police.

Hubbard has no outstanding medical issues and doesn't drive. She was described as Caucasian, 5-feet-6-inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds. Her grey hair is below shoulder length, and she has hazel eyes and wears glasses with black frames. She was last seen wearing a long-sleeved jacket, a white shirt with a flower pattern, white/khaki pants, and black sneakers or shoes.

Cuomo Signs Legislation on Teacher Evaluations

Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed legislation that will require the public disclosure of teacher evaluation data.

The new law strikes a balance between a teacher’s right to privacy and the parents’ and public’s right to know.

NYSEG Begins Enormous Project to Inspect 80,000 Poles

Rochester, NY – NYSEG has begun traversing thousands of miles of transmission line rights of way to inspect nearly 10,000 wooden transmission poles for decay and other damage.

These inspections help head off potential problems that could lead to power interruptions. The company’s objective is to inspect all of its over 80,000 wooden transmission poles every 10 years.

In June, NYSEG has checked or will be checking transmission poles in the company’s Brewster, Mechanicville, Oneonta and Liberty divisions, as well as the poles from Homer City, PA, to the New York State border; in July, work will be done in NYSEG’s Binghamton , Plattsburgh , Lancaster and Lockport divisions. NYSEG expects to complete work in August in its Hornell, Elmira and Ithaca divisions.

$1.9M Paid by State in Interest

New York State paid more than $1.9 million in interest for late payments to vendors during fiscal year 2011-12, according to State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, an increase of 38 percent over fiscal year 2010-11.

The Department of Health topped the list with interest payments of $1.3 million, up 130% over the last fiscal year.

FEMA Proposes Way to Prevent Future Flood Damage

ALBANY, N.Y. - During last year's floods, trees and other debris in the Mohawk River got caught up in flood control gates in the New York State Canal System, causing extensive damage.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is proposing improvements to prevent future damage by installing gates which would fold down under the pressure of floodwater, allowing debris to pass through. The folding gates would replace the chain-raised gates currently in place which are difficult and dangerous to raise during flooding events.

FEMA estimates the project would cost $30.5 million to complete. In addition to the mitigation project for the Canal Corporation, FEMA has written 43 projects worth $62 million to repair damage to the Canal System caused by Irene and Lee last fall. Of these, 31 projects worth $17.3 million are in process to be obligated.

The Canal System is also scheduled to receive over $8 million in federal grant funding announced last week to clear sediment and debris from the waterway in the wake of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

Senate Election Today

ALBANY — Don't let the summer weather fool you: There's an election today.

Polls are open between noon and 9 p.m. as the election was moved from September to June by a federal judge.

Republicans can pick among three candidates vying for their party's nomination against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. They are: Bob Turner, George Maragos and Wendy Long.

Two Democrats are competing for their party's line in the 19th District, which covers the mid-Hudson Valley and Catskills as well as parts of Rensselaer and Montgomery counties. Former federal prosecutor Julian Schreibman faces Joel Tyner, a five-term Dutchess County legislator.

DiStefano to Announce Candidacy Today

At noon today a 3rd candidate for the seat of Chenango County retiring judge Howard Sullivan will officially declare her candidacy. In East Side Park in downtown Norwich attorney Diane DiStefano, a democrat, will announce her candidacy for county judge.

Chenango county democratic party chairman Patrick O’neil says Diane is committed to families and would be proud if she became the first democrat and woman to be elected to the position.

Route 12 Construction Set to Work Near Raymond Corp.

At a press conference yesterday on State Route 12 south of Greene state senator Tom Libous was joined by Jack Williams, regional director of the state Department of Transportation, and Marsha Miller, Village of Greene mayor, to update the media on the $14 million construction project on a 6-mile stretch of State Route 12 around Greene.

In the coming weeks when Raymond Corp closes for two weeks, construction crews will concentrate on widening the area around Raymond and the intersection of routes 206 and 12 to make it easier and safer for the many large trucks that visit Raymond daily.

When that project is complete, work will begin on the section of Route 12 north of the intersection of 206.

All 10 NYS Regions Receive $1M Development Funding

It was announced yesterday that all 10 New York State regional economic development council regions have been awarded funding of up to $1 million to develop and implement smart growth plans for regional sustainability.

According to a press release issued by governor Cuomos office, Otsego County also won a million dollar award and so did Tompkins County in the southern tier region.