(607NewsNow) — This year, the top stories on 607NewsNow were as follows:

Trumansburg teen killed, Ithaca teen injured in Schuyler County crash:

Deputies in Schuyler County say 18-year-old Michael Blake’s vehicle struck trees around 11:45 a.m. on Monday, September 29th on County Road 1 in the town of Hector after he failed to negotiate a turn and veered off the road. Multiple departments responded to the scene, including the Trumansburg Fire Department and Trumansburg Ambulance. 17-year-old Marcus Knight, who was the passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene. Blake was airlifted for treatment of serious injuries.  

DEC releases more details about deceased man found in Connecticut Hill State Forest:

On October 15, the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from Forest Rangers in the search for a missing man from Alpine. According to the DEC, the 36-year-old was last seen two days prior, and the search at Connecticut Hill began after a friend located the missing man’s car in a parking area near Connecticut Hill.

Forest Rangers joined the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office, Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, Amigo Search and Rescue, and 40 volunteers from eight different fire departments in the search effort. Crews conducted linear searches and used drones and K9 units to no avail.

On October 17, the man’s body was discovered in the woods around 1:10 p.m. in the Town of Newfield. The investigation was turned over to the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office. The deceased’s name has not been released.

Authorities recover, ID missing kayaker from Cayuga Lake:

On August 18, search teams located John Choi, of Flushing, in 70 feet of water around 11:15 a.m. His death was ruled an accidental drowning.

The 35-year-old had been missing since about 1:30 a.m. on August 17 after his kayak capsized near Sheldrake Point in the Town of Ovid. A friend in the boat with Choi was rescued by people nearby. Multiple agencies began searching extensively for Choi. The search continued throughout Sunday (August 17th) before it was called off due to darkness. Crews returned to the lake early Monday (August 18th) morning.

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office says neither of the men wore life jackets.

No charges for student hunters who skinned bear in Cornell dorm:

No charges have been filed after students brought a dead bear into a Cornell dormitory.

A University spokesperson says the two unnamed undergraduates are both licensed to hunt in New York, and they took the bear legally over the weekend. The pair brought the animal to a communal kitchen in Ganedago Hall to skin and process. A police report was filed late Sunday night after a complaint.

Cornell did not respond to inquiries about potential conduct violations, the bear’s age, or whether the students stored their weapons in the residence hall.

WHCU to conclude historic broadcast partnership with Cornell Hockey:

News-Talk WHCU (870 AM / 97.7 FM) and Cayuga Media Group announced that beginning with the 2025-2026 season, WHCU will no longer broadcast Cornell University men’s ice hockey games. This change follows a decision by Cornell University Athletics to move in a new direction with its multimedia rights.

This marks the end of a remarkable broadcasting era that has spanned more than 80 years. Since the early days of radio, WHCU has proudly been the home for Cornell hockey, sharing countless unforgettable moments with listeners across Ithaca, Tompkins County, and beyond.

“We want to thank Cornell University for the opportunity to carry Big Red hockey all these years, and for entrusting us with such a treasured tradition,” said Chet Osadchey, President and General Manager of Cayuga Media Group. “We’re also grateful to all the special players and coaches who made those decades so memorable legends like Ken Dryden, Joe Nieuwendyk, Chris Grenier, Lance Nethery, and Brock Treadway, along with longtime head coach Mike Schafer. And of course, we are proud of the talented broadcast teams, starting with Sam Woodside, play by play Cornell Hockey announcer on WHCU back in 1940, to today’s incredible team of Jason Weinstein and Tony Eisenhut, who brought the excitement of Lynah Rink to life for so many years. We are so very proud of our history of bringing Cornell hockey to the airwaves for over 80 years.”

That history includes the iconic 1969-70 season when the Big Red completed an undefeated run to win the NCAA Championship, an achievement still revered in college hockey lore. Over the decades, WHCU’s broadcasts have been a trusted companion for fans, students, alumni, and families, connecting the Cornell community through the heights and heartbreaks of each season.

While the broadcasts may be ending, WHCU and Cayuga Media Group remain committed to supporting the university, its student athletes, and the entire Big Red community in new and meaningful ways.