Chobani is ‘Success of the Year’ — and the Rest of Your Local News and Sports

U.S. Small Business Administration Names Chobani ‘Success of the Year’

The Chenango County maker of Chobani Greek yogurt has been named “entrepreneurial success of the year” by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The award is based on the company’s dramatic growth in sales, employees and business size as well as its charitable donations. Chobani received a small business association loan to purchase a closed Kraft Foods plant in New Berlin in 2005. The company started with 5 employees and now has more than 1,200. It plans to add 400 more at a new plant in Idaho. Chobani now sells 1.7 million cases of yogurt each week.

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NYS Senate Passes Bill to Help Farmers

State Senate passed a bill this week that will help keep some of New York’s farmers on their land. The bill sponsored in the senate and assembly would allow farmers with outstanding tax liens on their property to pay the oldest liens first.

Current law says you are required to pay the most recent liens first, allowing for older liens to build additional fees and penalties. New York currently has 36,000 farms, 300 less than last year. They also face a generation crisis with the current generation aging.

Because of high energy costs, property taxes, and regulations. Some farms are struggling to stay profitable and the younger generation is discouraged from coming back to the farm.

Equal Justice for All New Yorkers Facing Foreclosure, Schneiderman Says

NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that every New Yorker is afforded equal justice under law in a speech yesterday marking law day. The attorney general cited his efforts to protect the rights of New Yorkers facing foreclosure by ensuring that they are represented by lawyers. Schneiderman delivered his speech at the court of appeals in Albany.

NYS Medicaid Spending Reduced Last Year

Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced New York Medicaid spending has been reduced. During the last fiscal year it was $14 million less under the global Medicaid spending cap. Cuomo says that’s without reducing benefits and providing health insurance coverage to an additional 140,000 low-income New Yorkers. Initiatives proposed and adopted last year by the Medicaid redesign team are expected to save a total of $34.3 billion over the next five years, according to the governor’s office.

Chief Judge Orders New Lawyers to Perform 50 Hours Pro Bono

New York State’s chief judge says lawyers who want to practice in the Empire State will have to perform 50 hours of lawyer services for the poor first.

Chief judge Jonathan Lippman says new applicants to the bar will have to begin performing pro-bono work starting in 2013.

New York will be the first state to require volunteer work. The judge says there’s a shortage of people to do legal services for the poor at the moment.

Law schools already have programs to provide pro-bono work as part of the curriculum, and there’s a legal aid society in many communities.

There are about 10,000 applicants to take the bar exam each year to become lawyers in New York.

Oneonta’s Neahwa Park to get $95,000 Playground

The Oneonta City Council has approved money for a new playground at Neahwa Park last night.

The project will cost about 95-thousand dollars. A company called Parkitects will do the work. Three companies bid on the project. There’s no word on when the work will begin.

Police Continue Search for Chenango County Man

Police officials in Chenango County are still looking for a man who’s been missing from a group home since Sunday.

Charles Stever, 52, frequently takes walks, sometimes looking for cans and bottles along County Routes 4 and 10a between Preston and Norwich.

Searchers have used helicopters and people on foot to look for him.

Stever was last seen wearing a tan hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Those who may know where he is can call the sheriff’s office at 334-4040.

Smokers Claim New Parks Ban is Unconstitutional

A smokers’ advocacy group has challenged new state rules against smoking in New York State’s parks and recreation areas.

The group known as “citizens lobbying against smoker harassment” claims the anti-smoking rule is unconstitutional since it was not established by legislation from the assembly and senate, just an executive policy.

The parks department responds that the authority to make such rules comes from the legislature in the first place.

The state has established smoke-free zones around playgrounds, beaches, pavilions, around food areas or anywhere outdoor education is provided. Other states have similar rules. Those who violate the smoking rule will be charged with disorderly conduct.

Sports

High School Softball

Worcester blanked Richfield Springs 4-0

Margaretville zeroed out South Kortright 20-0

Roxbury shut out Windham 14-0

Harpursville handed Unatego a 1-0 loss

Greene grabbed a win from Bainbridge 20-3

Davenport dropped Hunter Tannersville 11-5

High School Baseball

Harpursville edged Unatego 10-8

Davenport dropped Hunter Tannersville 19-5

Brookfield beat Edmeston 5-1

Richfield Springs stumped Worcester 9-3

South Kortright mastered Margaretville 5-1

Cooperstown clipped Westmoreland 3-2

High School Tennis

Susquehanna Valley sqeaked by Oneonta 4-3

Hunter Tannersville clipped Davenport 4-3

Windham shut out Andes 7-0

High School Golf

Cooperstown topped Owen D. Young 181-211

Delhi topped Unadilla Valley 216-222

Women’s College Lacrosse

Yesterday, host Hartwick trailed Oneonta State by just a 5-4 margin with under 18 minutes left in the first half but the visiting Red Dragons controlled the next 40 minutes as they scored the next 15 goals in a 22-6 victory. The Hawks close out the season with a 5-11 mark. Oneonta State’s season comes to a close at 12-4 overall.