COOPERSTOWN – Jan Ann Kerr, 83, lost her determined and courageous battle with multiple myeloma just after midnight, Dec. 8, holding hands with her children. Her will to live and love of her family gave her extraordinary strength, and her love kept her family close.
Jan was born in Ayer, Mass., to David and Alice Sargent, who predeceased her in 1994 and 1995, respectively. She loved life on her family farm in Groton, Mass., and graduated valedictorian of her 1953 high school class. College led her to UMass, where she graduated in 1957. She earned her master’s degree from SUNY Oneonta.
MILFORD – Conservation officers have charged three Otsego County hunters with 146 charges in the with killing of eight deer Nov. 22 in fields along Route 35 in the Town of Milford.
Wayne Shutters, 20, Town of Maryland, Joziah M. Underwood, 19, Schenevus, and a 16-year-old youth, also of Maryland, were charged with multiple counts of Environmental Conservation Law violations, including taking deer with the aid of an artificial light – known as “deer-jacking” – discharging a firearm from a public highway, possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, hunting big game during closed hours, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling.
Spurbeck’s proprietor Mike Swatling and his Aunt Kristi posed in front of a huge, beer-can-festooned wreath that has caused much comment since it was hung in the past couple of days. Before it became Cooley’s in 2003, the wreath would hang annually on the Bold Dragoon Tavern, 49 Pioneer St. Kristi, who worked at the Dragoon, used to decorate it annually, and inherited it when the business changed hands. This is her nephew’s first Christmas season since buying the venerable Spurbeck’s, so his aunt dusted off the wreath and is launching a new tradition. Drive by Railroad and Leatherstocking and take a look. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
COOPERSTOWN – At the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Cooperstown Central School is organizing a meeting Wednesday evening so parents and members of the community can get their questions answered on the Justin Hobbie case.
Attending will be Beth Coombe, who heads the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Albany, and a representative of the National Center of Missing & Exploited Children, according to Supt. of Schools Bill Crankshaw.
Amanda Boomhower of Greene County, who has held staff positions with three congressmen, will be district director in the 19th Congressional District, which includes Otsego County, Congressman-elect Antonio Delgado announced today.
She would be the point of contact for local constituents, and oversee county offices.
The former Oneonta Hotel, 195 Main St., in its glory days during the first half of the 20th Century.
ONEONTA – In an order by county Judge John Lambert, owner Melania Pervu must make all repairs to the building at 195 Main St. before the Jan. 11, 2019 deadline or she could be held in contempt of court, according to a decision made Friday, Dec. 7.
“The city believes she violated the order, but understands the reluctance to issue a vacancy order before Christmas,” said City Attorney David Merzig.
Newyorkupstate.com’s reporter Ben Axelson followed up on last week’s article on the three highest-paid teachers in each of the 53 Upstate counties with the three highest-paid superintendents.
They are: Oneonta’s Joe Yelich, Cooperstown’s Bill Crankshaw and Laurens’ Ramona Wenck.
UNADILLA – Mary E. Bunt, 69, of Unadilla, who with her husband, Fred, depicted Mrs. Claus and Santa locally for many years, passed away Saturday morning Dec. 8, 2018, at her home surrounded by family.
She was born on May 12, 1949, to Floyd & Beulah (Bell) Jones. She married Frederick Bunt on May 29, 1971, in Hartwick; he predeceased her. She was also predeceased by her sisters, Luella Lyons, Lillian Rogers & Georgia Lorraine Jones, brothers, George, Paul & Walter, and Floyd Arnold Jones.
COOPERSTOWN – Yankees owner and manager George Steinbrenner received fewer than five votes from the 16 member Today’s Game committee, denying him a chance to be enshrined at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile, relief pitcher Lee Smith and White Sox designated hitter Harold Baines will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Today’s Game ballot.
COOPERSTOWN – Cooperstown Central schools’ “crisis response teams” at the elementary and junior-senior high school levels have prepared an “excellent plan” to address concerns students and staff may have as the result of Friday’s arrest of phys-ed teacher Justin Hobbie on charges of distributing child pornography.
In a message sent to the community at 6:04 p.m., Supt. of Schools Bill Crankshaw said both teams had met today to discuss the “very serious charges” against Hobbie, 41, who was arrested at his Springfield Center home by state police and officers of the federal Department of Homeland Security.
