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founded in 1808
ON ALLOTSEGO.COM: trump’s retreat from global governance VISIT www.ALLOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Volume 218, No. 4
Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, January 22, 2026
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Cooperstown Elementary School Launches ‘Walnut St. Journal’ Student Newspaper By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL COOPERSTOWN he Freeman’s Journal” has some new competition in Cooperstown: about a dozen elementary schoolers. Launched this school year, the “Walnut St. Journal” is the publication of the Cooperstown schools’ newspaper club, located, of course, on Walnut Street. The paper is staffed by 4th- through 6th-graders under the guidance of junior-senior high school English teacher Margaret
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Richtsmeier and fellow mom and community volunteer Maggie Dowd, who say the name emerged independently from Dowd and the students before being voted atop the masthead. The first issue of the paper, published in December and sent home with students schoolwide, covers everything from the impact of Hurricane Melissa on local community members to a music review for “Debut” by the Los Angeles based girl group Katseye. The “Bounce it by Bella” advice column by the eponymous Bella Continued on page 2
Co. Officials Consider Building New Jail, Public Safety Complex By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL
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OTSEGO COUNTY ounty officials are negotiating a contract with SMRT Architects & Engineers to develop designs for a new county jail and public safety complex. The move comes after years of advocacy by local corrections leaders and officers to replace the old jail, built in 1991 and with a design no longer endorsed by state corrections officials. Graham Vickers of SMRT gave a presentation detailing issues with the current jail and considerations for what a new one would need to members of the County Board of Representatives’ Public Safety and Legal Affairs Committee on January 15. He provided a ballpark estimate of $100 million to complete the overall project. “Your county is not unlike almost all the counties we work with,” Vickers responded to a board member’s question about the steep price tag. “A jail INSIDE ► EXPLAINER: ICE AGREEMENT, page 3 ► da muehl retires, di donna runs, page 3 ► AMPONG ON Dr. king’s legacy, page 4 ► civics as a student tool kit, page 4 ► kuzminski conserves, page 5 ► come to the cabaret, page 6 ► CALLING ALL CHESS PLAYERS, page 8 ► WHAT TO DO? page 10 Follow Breaking News On
facility is going to be your most expensive project until you build another jail.” The county’s 2026 adopted budget is $153.5 million. The case for a new jail has included that the old one is built with an outdated design that is less rehabilitative for incarcerated individuals and under new state rules requires heavier staffing, it is falling into disrepair, and does not have enough space for the jail population. Board members discussed the presentation and what to do next during executive session. Representative Daniel Wilber (R-Burlington, Edmeston, Exeter, Plainfield), the committee chair, told AllOtsego that the county is negotiating contract terms. “There’s going to be a discussion on that, and a negotiation between the county attorney and the firm,” SMRT, Wilber said. He said this is “phase one” to create “an evaluation of where we Continued on page 7
Leatherstocking Quilts Stitches Together a Creative Community By BRIANNA FERGUSON SUNY Institute for Local News ONEONTA s shopping increasingly moves online, one local store is banking on in-person shopping as a way to build community. Jeanne Turner, owner of Leatherstocking Quilts in downtown Oneonta, sees her store not just as a place to buy fabric and quilting tools, but as a community. “I think of quilting as a very communal hobby,” said Turner. “My goal was to provide high quality quilting fabrics, but also a place where people were happy to come in.” At Leatherstocking Quilts, located at 155 Main Continued on page 2
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Photo by PhotoJoe Photography-Joe Harmer
Oneonta’s Maddox Imperato takes the jumper over Cooperstown’s Cooper Coleman. The Hawkeyes defeated the Yellowjackets, 66-55.
Coop Boys Stay Undefeated in Local Battle COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown boys basketball preserved its undefeated season and handed Oneonta its first loss with a 66-55 non-conference victory on Saturday, January 17. Miles Nelen once again led the team in scoring with 20 points. Jackson Crisman recorded a double double with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Brody Murdock scored 18 points, all with three-point baskets. Christian Lawson added seven points and six assists. The Hawkeyes rose to 13-0 for the season and 5-0 in their division. They will host Utica Academy of Science after press time on Wednesday, January 21. Look for more photos from this game by Joe Harmer on AllOtsego.com.
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S AWARD-WINNING WEEKLIES 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD