Cuomo Takes Over Racing Association

Cuomo Takes Over NYRA

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has taken over control of the New York Racing Association.

The governor will choose a new chairman and members of a temporary board of directors.

The move comes after former CEO Charles Hayward and the association’s chief lawyer were accused of knowingly allowing horse race bettors to be cheated out of $8.5 million worth of winnings over the course of a year.

Both were fired from the board. The organization then appointed another top executive from the same management team, a move that didn’t sit well with the governor.

The association is in charge of the state’s three horse tracks -- Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga.

The board will return to private control in the summer of 2015.

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Transportation Department to Install Rumble Strips on State Roads

New York State’s Department of Transportation will begin installing something new on the highways.

The DOT will install rumble strips along the center, yellow line of roadways.

The idea is to reduce the number of head-on or opposite direction side-swipe accidents by letting drivers know they’ve crossed the center line with vibration.

There are about 2,000 miles of pavement to be marked at places where the speed limit is 45 mph or greater.

The project is part of the governor’s “New York Works” program and will take about a year to finish.

Dan Elwood Memorial Slated for Saturday

On Saturday runners and walkers will have the opportunity to join in the Dan Elwood Memorial 5K run or 1 mile walk to benefit Hospice of Chenango County. The run takes place at 9 a.m. Saturday at the General Clinton Park in Bainbridge as part of the annual regatta weekend.

Registration for Saturday’s Dan Elwood run/walk is $15 in advance and $20 dollars the day of the run. To sign up stop by the Hospice office at 21 Hayes Street in Norwich or call Hospice at 334-3556. Runners will pass by Dan’s childhood home, on Dingham Hill road, while walkers will walk around the new walking trail at the park.

Local Reservoirs Cleared to Open

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection says the pilot project to allow limited boating on the Cannonsville reservoir south of Walton was a success, and today they are opening up the Pepacton, Neversink, and Schoharie reservoirs.

The watercraft is limited to rowboats, sailboats, canoes and kayaks without power, and some sections of the reservoirs are out of bounds because there may be animals or birds nesting nearby.

The vessels must be steam-cleaned by a certified business before they can be launched.

The DEP and the Catskill Watershed Corporation have built special parking and launch areas along the roadways surrounding the reservoirs.

The Cannonsville Boating Pilot project has been in place since 2008.

McGrath Displays Her Internship in Radio

Graduating seniors from schools in the Delaware, Chenango, Madison, Otsego BOCES presented their BOCES senior projects to the public last night at the DCMO BOCES Norwich campus.

Among the displays was a project by our Norwich intern Shannon McGrath on her life in radio. Shannon presented a power point presentation showing what she gained from the experience complete with some candid photos of the studio. Shannon will be attending SUNY Oswego this fall to major in communications.

Norwich American Legion Gets New Flag

The Norwich American Legion Post 189 will be unveiling its new flag set up on Memorial Day following the parade and ceremony in West Park.

The parade begins on east Main Street at 10 am ending at West Side Park for a memorial service for members of the armed forces. A 21-gun salute will precede a wreath laying in honor of the fallen soldiers. Guest speaker this year will be Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino.