Week in Review: Top 10 Cortland stories | January 17 - 24

These are the top local stories of the past week.

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1 – No suspects identified in drive-by shooting, car chase on I-81

Police investigating drive-by shooting in Preble – Investigators are still working to determine a motive behind a car chase and drive-by shooting on Interstate 81 in Preble early Wednesday morning that sent a Syracuse-area man to the hospital.

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2 – Cortland's Local Food Market expands in Tully

Through grassroots effort, Tully gets grocery store –After going almost a decade without one, residents in the village of Tully are now within safe walking distance of a locally owned grocery store housed in a once-burned out building with a rich history.

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The Local Food Market Tully at 8 Clinton Street (Photo courtesy of Build Hope, LLC).

3 – Local car dealer sentenced to probation in felony tax fraud case

Cortland County car dealer convicted of tax fraud sentenced to five years probation – The owner of a car dealership in Cortlandville was sentenced Thursday to five years probation for failing to file hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax returns to New York State. Joseph Fezza, who previously owned JF Auto World at 991 Tompkins Street, pleaded guilty in March to five felony charges, including one count of second-degree grand larceny, a class C felony; two counts of third-degree criminal tax fraud, a class D felony; and two counts of repeated failure to file tax returns, a class E felony.

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Cortland Voice file photo

4 – The Firefighter Winter Games are returning to Cortland

Cortland set to host NYS Firefighters' 'Winter Olympics' – More than 300 firefighters from 32 fire departments across New York state are expected to take part in the weekend-long event beginning Friday, Feb. 5 in Cortland. That’s the largest field of competitors to date for the nine-year old event organized by the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York and co-sponsored by the Cortland County Firemen’s Association.

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Photo courtesy of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York

5 – A propane truck rolls over on East River Road

Propane truck rolls over in East Homer – East River Road was closed to traffic for several hours Wednesday as crews cleared the scene of an accident involving a propane truck.

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First responders on the scene at East River Road in Homer Wednesday afternoon (Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice).

6 – Former paramedic becomes Cortland firefighter

Cortland Fire Department swears in newly hired firefighter –Newly hired firefighter Will Fox was sworn in as the newest member of the department on Tuesday. Fox, who was employed as a paramedic with Bangs Ambulance in Ithaca, lives in Trumansburg with his Rosa and their 11-month-old daughter, Frances.

Will Fox, left, shakes hands with Cortland Fire Chief Frank Glover (photo provided)

Will Fox, left, shakes hands with Cortland Fire Chief Frank Glover (photo provided)

7 – Fire destroys Route 11 business

Early morning fire near Cortland County line draws large response – A garage belonging to a private business owner is a total loss following an early morning fire in northern Broome County. The Route 11 garage was used for storing tractors and other farm equipment by Martin Williams Repair & Restorations.

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Photo courtesy of Marathon Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps

8 – Three injured in Cortlandville crash

Update: Authorities identify three injured in Cortlandville crash – The Cortland County Sheriff's Office identified three people who were involved in a crash on Bennie Road that sent two people to the hospital. Adam Cox, 19, of Vestal, has been identified as the driver of a Hyundai Elantra that spun into oncoming traffic on Bennie Road at around 6 p.m. Tuesday. Cox was transported to Upstate Hospital in Syracuse with non-life threatening injuries. His passenger, Kimberly Bosket, 25, of Endicott, remains in critical condition at the Syracuse hospital, according to Lt. Rob Derksen with the sheriff's department.

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9 – Fire at Groton home was likely started on purpose

1 seriously injured in Groton fire; arson suspected –A fire that broke out at an apartment building in the village of Groton that left a man in critical condition was intentionally set, according to the results of a preliminary investigation.

Photo courtesy of the Village of Groton Police Department/Facebook

Photo courtesy of the Village of Groton Police Department/Facebook

10 – YMCA holds benefit for new mom

Cortland YMCA event to benefit mom who gave birth to premature twins – The Cortland County Family YMCA hosted a Spin-a-thon and shopping event Saturday to benefit longtime member Ellen VanSlyke Batzer, who recently gave birth to two twin daughters born three months premature.

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