These are the top local stories of the past week.
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1 – Seven straight: Cortland continues Cortaca Jug winning streak
Cortland defeats Ithaca, 28-16, to continue Cortaca Jug streak — Sophomore Brett Segala (Webster/Webster Schroeder) completed 27-of-46 passes for 358 yards and four touchdowns and Cortland's defense recorded eight sacks, including four straight on Ithaca's final possession, as the Red Dragons defeated the Bombers, 28-16, to win their seventh straight Cortaca Jug rivalry game in front of an estimated 10,000 fans at the Cortland Stadium Complex.
2 – 2016 Election: Incumbent DA Mark Suben ousted
Patrick Perfetti unseats Mark Suben in Cortland County District Attorney race — At the Cortland County Republican Committee headquarters Wednesday night, Patrick Perfetti and his wife, Carol, anxiously awaited the results in the race for district attorney. Much to their dismay, the Cortland County Board of Elections was slow to post the results online, only providing initial vote totals until after 10 p.m. "Trump won Ohio, but I can't find out if I won Cortland County," Perfetti said. But by 11 p.m., the results were in: Perfetti received 9,018 votes (50.4%), while Mark Suben received 8,851 votes (49.4%).
Patrick Perfetti with his wife, Carol, at the Cortland County Republican Committee headquarters on Port Watson Street, Cortland. (Photo: Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice)
3 – New York's 22nd congressional district has a new rep.
Republican Claudia Tenney wins 22nd congressional district race — A hotly contested race to replace Republican Rep. Richard Hanna in the 22nd congressional district has ended in a victory for Claudia Tenney. Tenney narrowly defeated Democratic opponent Kim Myers, winning 44 percent of the vote to Myers' 38 percent. Independent candidate Martin Babinec secured nearly 12 percent of the vote in the 22nd district.
Claudia Tenney speaking to TWC news reporter Cara Thomas Tuesday night at her campaign headquarters in New Hartford (Photo: TWCNews)
4 – County lawmakers seek new landfill fix after another failed "ash" vote
With ‘ash for cover’ off the table, lawmakers may force haulers to dispose waste in Cortland County — A committee of Cortland County legislators is back to square one after intense public opposition to a proposed plan to import incinerator ash from Onondaga County forced the legislature to rescind the proposal last week. On Thursday, more than two-dozen people came to the Cortland County Legislature to speak out against the plan, voicing public health and environmental concerns over the metals and dioxins found in the ash. The plan was similar to one that was proposed in November 2015, which involved importing about 5,000 tons of incinerator ash as cover at the landfill. Legislators voted 9-7 against the measure after hearing similar public outcry. The county’s solid waste committee met Tuesday to discuss ways to increase revenue and reduce the debt of its landfill operation. Each year, Cortland County loses about $800,000 on its landfill. Committee members revisited the possibility of implementing “flow control” in the county, which would involve crafting legislation requiring all haulers who collect waste in Cortland County to dispose it at the county landfill.
Members of the Cortland County Solid Waste Committee met Tuesday morning to discuss ideas for generating revenue at the county landfill, which costs the county roughly $800,000 annually (Photo: Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice)
5 – Truxton charter school plans stalled
Truxton Charter School group withdraws request for state accreditation — In a surprising turn of events, organizers looking to form a charter school in Cortland County have withdrawn their request for accreditation from the New York State Department of Education. The Truxton Academy Charter School board announced Wednesday they would be pulling their application in light of alleged misinformation and "fear spread by those opposing the charter school," the group said in a statement.
The old Hartnett Elementary School building in Truxton was chosen by local charter school organizers as the location for their planned academy. Organizers secured the winning bid for the building at an auction in October 2015.
6 – State extends variance for Cortland County Jail
Cortland County gets extension for 30-bed jail variance — The New York State Commission of Correction has approved Cortland County's request for an extension of a variance that allows the county jail to house an additional 30 inmates beyond its authorized capacity. The commission approved a 6-month extension for the variance at its September meeting, according to correspondence last month between commission chair Thomas A. Beilein and State Senator James Seward, whose district includes Cortland County.
The Cortland County Jail, constructed in 1990, is an overcrowded and outdated facility, according to some local law enforcement officials (Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice)
7 – Another easy victory for State Sen. James Seward
Seward cruises to victory in State Senate race — New York State Senator James L. Seward (R-Oneonta) captured nearly 70 percent of the vote, defeating Democratic challenger Jermaine Bagnall-Graham in a landslide victory. Seward received 78,396 votes (68%) to Bagnall-Graham's 28,669 votes (25%). In Cortland County, about 70 percent of registered voters cast their ballots for Seward.
Senator James Seward with his wife, Cindy, addressing supporters during a victory celebration at his campaign headquarters in Oneonta (photo provided).
8 – Arrest made in murder of Ithaca College student
Man charged with Cornell murder pleads not guilty to charges — Ithaca man Nagee Green is being charged with second-degree murder and second-degree assault in the stabbing death of Ithaca College Student Anthony Nazaire at Cornell University Aug. 28. Green, 23, was taken into custody in Freeville Monday afternoon in Tompkins County while waiting for a bus. He was taken into custody without incident.
Nagee Green
9 – Local man attacked his mother, authorities say
Freetown man arrested for allegedly attacking his mother — A Cortland County man faces a felony assault charge after allegedly striking his mother in the face with his fist following a verbal argument at their home on Halloween night, according to the sheriff's office. An investigation revealed that David C. Bamberry, 36, had gotten into a verbal argument that turned physical after he attempted to prevent his mother and her husband from leaving the home where the three resided.
David C. Bamberry
10 – Sex abuse charges for Moravia man
Cayuga County Sheriff: Moravia man had oral sex with child — The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office has made an arrest following an investigation into the sexual abuse of a child under the age of 15, authorities announced Friday. Detectives with the sheriff's office recently received a report of an adult male having sexual contact with a child under the age of 15 years old, the sheriff's office said in a news release. Keith A. Hilliard, 38, of Moravia, is accused of having "oral sexual conduct" with the child, authorities said. Already a registered level 2 sex offender, Hilliard also faces charges for not reporting his use on a social media site to the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services.
Keith Hilliard (Photo: Cayuga County Sheriff's Office)
