The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY - Otsego, Delaware, Chenango and Schoharie County News, Sports and Opinion

Hudson scholar to speak at SUCO
ONEONTA _ The State University College at Oneonta will host a presentation on Henry Hudson at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
News roundup
NetSummary
County seeks more trash
COOPERSTOWN _ Otsego County will operate a fall cleanup program in the next two months, allowing residents to discard certain household items for free.
Drug, theft cases heard in court
NetSummary
OPT hearing still pending
An administrative hearing for a suspended Oneonta police officer has not yet been scheduled, the city's personnel director said Thursday.
The officer, identified by sources close to the matter as Daniel Fetterman, was suspended without pay Oct. 15.
The Common Council voted Oct. 20 to appoint an outside arbitrator Peter Prosper of Clifton Park.
Reporter's Notebook: Fire chief leaves big shoes to be filled
Debate draws strong viewpoints
Gas drilling has become a dominant issue in central New York, with money to be made and risks to be taken.
Thousands of landowners have signed leases to permit drilling, some with bonuses of $2-an-acre and others, near major pipelines, as in Deposit, at $2,500.
That's a mere fraction of what landowners might earn in royalties if the wells on their land are good producers.
Man faces pot charges
A North Norwich man has been accused of growing and selling marijuana. Walter J. Russell, 57, was charged Thursday with third-degree criminal possession of marijuana and unlawfully growing marijuana, said Chenango County deputies, who executed a search warrant at his home.
Delhi board approves tractor store variances
DELHI _ The Delhi Village Zoning Board of Appeals has approved a request for use and area variances to locate a Tractor Supply Company store at the former Great American store on Main Street in Delhi.
Ongoing Walton project relocates
WALTON _ A project to build housing units and construct a factory in Walton has changed venues but is still moving forward, according to Craig Northacker, executive director of Vets-Help.org. Northacker said Thursday that the nonprofit organization is purchasing the former Buteau Motors location on Delaware Street in Walton.
On the Bright Side: Dance classes make learning fun at school
Whether they were wriggling like snakes or flying like geese, students at the Oneonta Nursery School were having fun Thursday. Nine 3-year-olds and one 4-year-old participated in a half-hour dance-fundamentals class started last month by Oneonta resident Bhala Jones. Another class is given on Fridays.
Elsey takes lead in race for supervisor
According to updated election results posted to Otsego County's website, Bill Elsey is now in the lead in the Springfield town supervisor's race, with 206 votes to Thomas Armstrong's 192.
Crowell picks up 54 votes on errors
In Otsego County's extremely close treasurer's election, Democrat Daniel Crowell's unofficial margin grew by 54 votes Thursday. In results posted election night, Crowell, who lives in Middlefield, led Republican Edward Keator Jr. of West Oneonta by just five votes, 5,869 to 5,864. However, while checking votes cast on lever machines, the staff at the Otsego County Board of Elections found errors Thursday in reporting in Laurens and Plainfield. ``When we checked the numbers, Ed lost 10 votes and Dan gained 44,'' said Lori Lehenbauer, the county's Republican deputy elections commissioner.
Barnes to retire next month
Fire Chief Robert Barnes is retiring next month after a 36-year career in public safety, including 18 years at the helm of the Oneonta Fire Department. Several current and former city officials on Thursday lauded Barnes' service and said he will be hard to replace, especially in his role as the city's emergency manager.
Court Report
Professor to present address at college
Professor Candace Young of the political science department at Truman State University will present the keynote address at the sixth annual Celebration of Teaching on Thursday, November 5, in the Hunt College Union at the State University College at Oneonta. At the event, several SUNY Oneonta faculty and staff will offer workshops and poster presentations related to teaching. The program is free and open to the public.
SUNY Oneonta will host veteran's discussion today
ONEONTA _ American veteran Paul Reed, whose relationship with Vietnamese veteran Nguyen Van Nghia was the topic of the documentaries "Kontum Diary" and "Kontum Diary: The Journey Home," will appear at the State University College at Oneonta today to lead a discussion in conjunction with a screening of the second film.
Otsego grapples with '10 budget
Budget woes dominated Wednesday's meeting of the Otsego County Board of Representatives, with the county over budget for 2009, while it tries to get ready for 2010.
Community prepares for water-bottle deposits
The nickel deposit on bottled water will generate some handling hassles but will be better for the environment, local consumers and retailers agreed Wednesday.