Week in Review: Top 10 Cortland stories | Aug. 21 - 28

These are the top local stories of the past week.

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1 - Toys for Tots finds needed space

Toys for Tots in Cortland County is back on — Toys for Tots Cortland County has found a home in the former Sears store in the Riverside Plaza. Mr. David Muraco of Empire Management Co., saw a news story about the need for space and was compelled to help.

toys for tots

2 - Ithaca College student killed on Cornell campus

Family IDs 19-year-old Ithaca College student killed in stabbing at Cornell — A 19-year-old Ithaca College student who was stabbed to death in an early Sunday morning brawl in front of Ho Plaza at Cornell University has been identified. Anthony Nazaire, 19, was an Ithaca College sophomore from Brooklyn who's just returned to the area after spending the summer with his family, his cousin Channelle Nazaire said.

Family_Ithaca_College_student

3 - Local manufacturing firm closes Dryden facility

Dryden manufacturer relocating to Florida, 185 jobs lost — A local manufacturing firm will be closing its Dryden facility and moving to Florida as it consolidates operations in the Sunshine State. Mettler Toledo Hi-Speed Inc will be relocating to a new factory in Pasco County, Florida, which comprises the northern suburbs of Tampa Bay. According to a report filed this week in the Tampa Bay Times, the new plant will employ over 500 people, but it comes at a major cost - the Dryden plant will be closing, taking 185 jobs with it.

Mettler Toledo

4 - Standoff in Dryden ends peacefully

12-hour standoff ends peacefully in Dryden; man taken into custody — A 12-hour standoff in Dryden, which began Thursday afternoon and lasted into the early morning hours ended peacefully with a man being taken into custody. Robert Predmore surrendered to police just after 4:30 a.m. Friday, Lieutenant Dan Donahue, of the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office, confirmed.

Lt. Dan Donahue

Lt. Dan Donahue

5 - Plea deal for Groton man

Groton man takes plea deal after being found with about 67 pounds of marijuana — A Groton man accepted a plea deal Tuesday after police found him and another man with about 67 pounds of marijuana, packaging material and a stolen gun. Christopher Herson pleaded guilty to felony first-degree criminal possession of marijuana and third-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon.

marijuana

6 - Cayuga Lake drowning victim identified

McGraw man identified as Cayuga Lake drowning victim — Police have identified a man from McGraw who drowned in Cayuga Lake Saturday. Timothy J. Butler, 58, was found at 11:31 p.m. Sunday in 63-feet of water north of Myers Park by the New York State Police Dive Team.

Cayuga Lake

7 - More than $2,000 raised for Kaelynne Driscoll at benefit

Benefit for Kaelynne Driscoll at Greenstar — The Tompkins County Youth Advocate Programs held a fundraiser for Kaelynne Driscoll on August 27 at The Space at GreenStar.

Kaelynne Driscoll. Photo courtesy of Kaelynne's Army.

Kaelynne Driscoll. Photo courtesy of Kaelynne's Army.

8 - Cortland Comeback draws hundreds to Courthouse Park

Second annual Cortland Comeback set for Saturday — The second annual Cortland Comeback took place Saturday, Aug. 27, from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. at Courthouse Park.

Courthouse Park. Photo by Tim Davis

Courthouse Park. Photo by Tim Davis

9 - Radio station hands out free backpacks in Cortland

Z95.5 handing out free backpacks and school supplies in Ithaca, Cortland — Buying school supplies fills some people with the nostalgia of new paper, crisp folders and sharpened pencils – unless buying school supplies is a financial burden. That's where Z95.5 steps in to help.

school supplies

10 - Cortland man arrested on drug charges

Police: Cortland man drove while impaired by drugs with child in vehicle — A Cortland man was arrested on a felony DWI charge after he was driving while impaired by drugs with his four-year-old child in the vehicle, according to state police. At about 8:54 p.m. Saturday, James P. Platt, 29, was seen failing to keep right as he drove on State Route 38 in the town of Harford.

state police