State And Local News April 23rd with Don Perkins

Listen below as Don Perkins brings you State and Local News.  We also have your Local Sports Round-up below.

LOCAL NEWS 4/23/12

MEDICAID

NEW YORK STATE COMPTROLLER THOMAS DINAPOLI REPORTS DATA PROBLEMS AND DELAYS HAVE CAUSED MORE THAN 36-MILLION DOLLARS IN IMPROPER PAYMENTS TO PROVIDERS AND ANOTHER 6-MILLION DOLLARS IN OVERPAYMENTS ON CLAIMS. DINAPOLI SAYS NEW YORK HAS THE LARGEST MEDICAID SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY, AND HE’S FOUND THAT TOO MANY TIMES, SAFEGUARDS ARE NOT IN PLACE. MANY OF THE PROBLEMS HE FOUND WERE IN CASES WHERE PATIENTS WERE ENROLLED IN BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE PLANS. THE AUDITORS ALSO FOUND A NUMBER OF IMPROPER PAYMENTS WHERE ONLY COPAYS WERE REQUIRED. THE COMPTROLLERS OFFICE IS WORKING WITH COUNTIES TO GO OVER LISTS OF THOSE ENROLLED IN MEDICAID TO INSURE INFORMATION IS ACCURATE. HIS OFFICE IS ALSO MAKING RECCOMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO PROTECT TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SUNY DELHI STUDENTS

THE DELAWARE COUNTY TOWN HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDANTS HAVE GIVEN OUT SCHOLARSHIPS TO THREE SUNY DELHI STUDENTS. THE CONSTRUCTION MAJORS ARE DOMINIC GALASSO OF HOBART, ERIC VANTYLE AND CODY TWEEDIE OF WALTON. THEY EACH RECEIVED 500-DOLLARS TOWARD THEIR EDUCATION AT DELHI. THE ASSOCIATION HAS SUPPORTED CONSTRUCTION MAJORS SINCE THE MID 1960’S. THE ASSOCIATION ITSELF WAS FORMED 10 YEARS BEFORE TO HAVE THE TOWN HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS WORK TOGETHER AND COMPARE BEST PRACTICES. DELHI’S CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION.

NEW HOME FOR DRUGS

THE NORWICH POLICE DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION HAS SCHEDULED A NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION TAKE BACK DAY THIS SATURDAY FROM 10 AM TO 2 PM. THE DROP OFF LOCATION WILL BE AT THE REAR OF THE NORWICH POLICE STATION, 18 EAST MAIN STREET IN NORWICH. SATURDAY FROM 10 AM TO 2 PM. THERE WILL BE NO QUESTIONS ASKED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEA WILL PICK UP THE COLLECTED. NARCOTICS AND TAKE THEM TO A CENTRAL WAREHOUSE WHERE THEY WILL BE WEIGHED AND DESTROYED. COLLECTION SITES WILL ALSO BE AT THE CHENANGO COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, SO. OTSELIC SUB STATION; AND SMITHVILLE TOWN HALL; THE SUNY ONEONTA POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE CITY OF ONEONTA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

EARTH DAY

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION IS COMMEMORATING THE 42ND ANNUAL EARTH DAY THIS WEEK BY SPONSORING EVENTS AROUND THE STATE TO EDUCATE NEW YORKERS 0N THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT. IN CHENANGO COUNTY VOLUNTEERS TURNED OUT FOR A CLEANUP DAY AT THE ROGERS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER IN SHERBURNE YESTERDAY, CLEANING UP TRAILS, GARDENS AND AREAS AROUND THE CENTER. ROGERS, LOCATED ON ROUTE 80 IN SHERBURNE IS OPERATED BY THE NON PROFIT FRIENDS OF ROGERS,INC., A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO TOOK OVER THE CENTER AFTER THE DEC COULD NO LONGER PROVIDE A STAFF DUE TO BUDGET CUTS.

REPAIRS

THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS ANNOUNCED PAVEMENT REPAIRS ON INTERSTATE 88 TODAY. THE WORK WILL BE DONE ON THE EASTBOUND SIDE BETWEEN THE OTSEGO EXIT 12 AND ONEONTA EXIT 13. DRIVERS WILL FIND LAND CLOSURES IN THE DRIVE LANES IN THE ONEONTA REGION THROUGH MAY 4TH. THE LANES WILL BE CLOSED DURING THE NIGHT. ALL THE WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED BY MAY 4TH, WEATHER PERMITTING. THE D-O-T REMINDS DRIVERS THAT FINES FOR SPEEDING ARE DOUBLED IN WORK ZONES AND TWO OR MORE VIOLATIONS CAN RESULT IN A SUSPENDED LICENSE.

Weekend Local Sports Round-up

High School Baseball
In the I Turn Pro Tournament Saturday at Union Endicott, Oneonta topped Vestal 5-3 and was beaten by Union Endicott 2-1.
In a non-league game, Valley Stream South edged Unatego 5-4 at Double Day field in Cooperstown.
Richfield Springs ran by Remsen 12-3 to win the Sports Booster Tournament.
Schenevus upended Gilbertsville Mt. Upton 14-8 in the consolation game.
Greene stopped Sidney 8-3
In a double header, Delhi Swept Walton 10-1 in the first game and 9-7 in the second.
Milford defeated Morris 14-8

High School Softball
At Afton Saturday, Oneonta clipped New Hartford 2-1 and also topped Greene 9-6.
Afton edged Greene 3-2
New Hartford defeated Afton 9-6
Greene handed Afton a loss 6-1
Cooperstown won a double header at Mudville. They outdid Mayfielf 4-1 and then beat Camden 13-1.
Hancock shut out Roxbury 12-0
Schenevus stumped Greenville 8-7
Gilberstville Mt. Upton ousted Richfield Springs 11-5 to win a Tournament with Remsen topping Richfield Springs 18-9 in the consolation game.
South Kortright shattered Stamford 41-17

In High School Track
At the New York Penn Invitational at Windor:
Horseheads boys ran to first followed by Binghamton, Bainbridge Guilford/Afton, Sayre, Montrose, Vestal, Onoenta, Chenango Valley, Susquehanna Valley, Solvay, Unatego, Sidney, Elmira, Greene, Windsor, Union Endicott, Harpursville, Susquehanna, Johnson City and Seton Catholic Central New York Radio Group

For the Girls: Horseheads was first followed by Union Endicott, Oneonta, Vestal, Bainbridge Builford/Afton, Montrose, Johson City, Sayre, Susquehanna Valley, Windsor, Seton Catholic Central, Chenango Valley, Binghamton, Sidney, Susquehanna, Unatego, Greene, Elmira and Harpursville.

High School Lacrosse
Whitney Point dropped Oneonta 17-6

High School Tennis
Hunter Tannersville edged Roxbury 4-3

In SADD Strides for Safety 5K Run/Walk yesterday, Justin Wood of Delhi came in first over all and for the 20-29 year old men category. Michael Hamilton was right behind him in the same division. Celia Alterio of Oneonta was first for women 20-29. Krista Poore of Webster was first for girls 15-19. Levi Andersen of Oneonta placed first in his division of 15-19 year olds. Taylor Hitchcock of Oneonta was first for girls 11-14. Mathew Longo of Oneonta was first for boys 11-14.

College Baseball
On Friday, The Oneonta State baseball team fell at home to nationally ranked SUNY Cortland 4-1 in the first of a three-game series in the SUNYAC. Then on Saturday, Oneonta State was defeated twice by visiting SUNY Cortland.

College Softball
Friday, Oneonta State had a doubleheader split at Brockport. The Red Dragons won game 1 of the twin bill with the Golden Eagles.

Women’s College Tennis
Friday, The Oneonta State women's tennis team defeated SUNY Cortland 7-2 at home.

Women’s College Lacrosse
Hartwick outscored host Nazareth 8-4 over the final 45 minutes on Saturday, but the Hawks couldn’t overcome an early deficit in a 12-8 loss. Then On Sunday, Host St. John Fisher used a big second half to break open a tight game at the intermission in a 19-5 win over Hartwick.

Oneonta State dominated visiting Oswego Saturday en route to a 21-9 win.

Men’s College Lacrosse
Hartwick fought a tough defensive battle against #24 Ithaca in a low-scoring contest as the visiting Bombers pulled out a 5-4 win at a rainy Wright Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Oneonta State men's lacrosse team put themselves in the thick of the SUNYAC tournament race with its 15-10 win at home Saturday versus Oswego.