These are the top local stories of the past week.

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

1 – Victim in Homer fire identified

81-year-old DeWayne Block, of Homer, was the sole victim in a blaze that ripped through the historic Wheadon Block building in the village of Homer. Brian Bermudez, 31, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter in Block's death.

2 – Cortlandville considers lifting ban on new gas stations in aquifer zoning district

On Wednesday, the Cortlandville Town Board discussed lifting a moratorium on new gas stations above the town’s aquifer, which supplies drinking water to the city of Cortland, the town of Cortlandville and several other municipalities in the county. The proposed law would permit gas stations on an additional 700 acres of land in 11 different areas of the town, according to Dan Dineen, director of the Cortland County Planning Department.

Pat Reidy, water quality specialist for the Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District, addressing the Cortlandville Town Board Wednesday evening (Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice)

3 – Employee of assisted living home accused of stealing from patients

Meghann White, 36, of Groton, was arrested Tuesday and charged with felony grand larceny, identify theft and one count of scheme to defraud, according to the Cortland Police Department. White allegedly used identification information from several residents to make purchases for herself while she was working as a manager at the Friendship House at 13 Leon Street.

Photo courtesy of Friendship House Apartments website

4 – No show: Cortland man misses sentencing in felony drug case

A judge issued an arrest warrant for a Marathon man after he failed to show up for a court appearance Tuesday. Michael J. Gohl, 34, was scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday afternoon in Cortland County Court on two felony drug-related charges. He is currently out on bail. His attorney, Kevin Jones, told Judge William Ames that he had been in contact with Gohl and expected him to appear in court. After Gohl failed to make his court appearance, Judge Ames issued a warrant for his arrest.

The Cortland County Courthouse (Cortland Voice file photo)

5 – Union workers get locked out of Dryden compressor station

Even as Tompkins residents raise concerns about the proposed Dominion gas pipeline expansion, the company faces its own internal struggle. As of Wednesday, union workers at the Borger Compressor Station on Ellis Hollow Creek Road in Dryden found that they, along with around 900 workers from across six states, were locked out and barred from working.

The Borger Compressior Station on Ellis Hollow Creek Road in Dryden.

6 – Cortland man killed in Tully crash

A Cortland man was killed in a one-car crash on Interstate 81 in the town of Tully Thursday night, according to New York State Police. The crash occurred at around 11 p.m. Thursday, when the driver of a 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo traveling southbound on I-81 lost control of his vehicle, exited the highway at Exit 14 and continued down an embankment and struck a tree, police said.

7 – Man hospitalized after driving truck into ditch in Homer

A truck driver was taken to a hospital after his vehicle veered off into an embankment Tuesday morning. Shortly after 11 a.m., the Cortland County 911 Center received a report of a tractor trailer in a ditch on Route 90. The driver was unable to get out of the truck himself, but crews were eventually able to extricate him from the vehicle, according to emergency radio reports.

Photo: Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice

8 – Motorcyclist in critical condition after colliding with tractor trailer in Locke

The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office is investigating an accident involving a motorcyclist and a tractor trailer that occurred in the town of Locke early Wednesday morning. At about 6:16 a.m., a 2007 Honda motorcycle being driven by 41-year-old Karl D. Bush, of Locke, was traveling westbound on Route 90 when he made a left turn onto Creek Road and collided with a 2002 Kenworth tractor trailer traveling eastbound.

Photo: Google Maps

9 – Inmate at Cortland County jail charged with assaulting corrections officer

A Cortland man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly assaulted two corrections officers in the Cortland County Jail last week. At about 5 p.m. Friday, two correctional officers at the jail were assaulted by David N. Wegner, who attacked them both with a closed fist, according to the sheriff’s office. With the help of other corrections officers, the two officers were able to gain control of the inmate, authorities said.

David Wegner (Cortland County Sheriff's Office)

10 – Police ID masked man who allegedly robbed DeRuyter bank

State police have made an arrest in connection with a bank robbery in Madison County that occurred late last month. On Aug. 26, a masked man entered the Citizens Bank in DeRuyter and stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

Police believe Michael Butler, 39, of LaFayette, was responsible for robbing the Citizens Bank in DeRuyter on Aug. 26