These are the top local stories of the past week.

Remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for real-time news updates.

[do_widget id= text-6 ]

1 - Mark Helms holds lead in race for Cortland County sheriff

Helms leading tight race for Cortland County sheriff – Mark Helms, the democratic nominee for Cortland County sheriff, is leading a tightly contested race for the top law enforcement position in the county.

Village of Homer Police Chief Mark Helms at the Cortland County Dairy Parade in June

2 - Herb Barnhart waiting for absentee ballots before conceding

Barnhart won't concede in sheriff's race until absentee votes are counted – The Republican candidate for sheriff of Cortland County says he won't concede the race until all of the absentee ballots are counted.

3 - Megivern, Carpenter claim victory in Common Council races

Two Common Council members unseated in Cortland election – In the fifth ward, alderperson Clifton Dutcher, a Republican, was handily defeated by his Democratic challenger, Bill Carpenter, receiving 63 votes compared to Carpenter's 225. In a three-way race in the seventh ward, alderperson Linda Ferguson, a Democrat, appears to have been defeated by her Republican challenger, Adam Megivern, who is also the executive director of the Cortland Downtown Partnership.

4 - Cortlandville lawmakers revisit speed limit debate

Citing recent death, Cortlandville officials revisit plans to lower speed limit on McLean Road – Despite repeated unsuccessful attempts in the past, officials in the town of Cortlandville plan to again ask the state to reduce the speed limit on a county road that some see as dangerous.

5 - Preparations underway for Cortaca weekend

With Cortaca Jug one week away, Cortland police prepare for the worst – For the past month, the city of Cortland Police Department has been been holding meetings with local stakeholders and communicating with state officials to ensure that the riots that broke out during the 2013 Cortaca weekend do not happen again.

6 - Joey Maynard and Pig Vycious BBQ expand business in Cortlandville

Cortland's favorite food truck has big plans for the future – On the surface, Joey Maynard’s food truck, Pig Vycious BBQ, demonstrates itself as a successful business that was thrown together without much effort. However, for Maynard, getting his business to where it is today has been anything but easy.

7 - CRMC tests for Legionella at hospital facilities

Official: No Legionella bacteria at Cortland hospital – Health officials at Cortland Regional Medical Center tested the hospital's facilities for Legionella bacteria, which causes Legionnaires' disease, after several patients tested positive for the disease, a hospital official confirmed Thursday.

8 - A Cortland County man is accused of rape

Cortlandville man charged with rape – A Cortland County man was arrested on a rape charge following a domestic dispute at an apartment in the town of Cortlandville.

9 - Norfe Pirro, a Groton landlord, is not going quietly

Groton landlord challenges village nuisance law – A legal battle has been brewing on Main Street in the village of Groton, NY. At the urging of many of its citizens, the village of Groton wants to temporarily close two rental properties owned by landlord Norfe Pirro.

10 - Four years after the alleged crime, a McGraw man faces child sex abuse charges

McGraw man charged with sexually abusing child in 2011 – A McGraw man, 22-year-old Jonathan Saxe, was recently arrested by the city of Cortland Police Department for allegedly sexually abusing a child in 2011.

[do_widget id= text-7 ]