Archive: Around Town

On Thursday June 16th, phones rang off the hook at Cayuga Radio Group as callers pledged donations towards a worthy cause: aiding Tompkins County with the cost of a new Police K-9.

Starting at 6AM, all seven of Cayuga Radio Group's broadcast stations worked together to promote a fundraiser aiding Tompkins County with the loss of its only Narcotics K-9, "Major". Major passed away in late March after a brief battle with cancer, leaving the Tompkins County Sheriffs Department without a K-9.

The cost of a new Police K-9 is $6,500, not including the additional expenses of training, veterinary, supply, and equipment costs. The Tompkins County Sheriff's Department looked to the community for aid, and Cayuga Radio Group put the power of all its stations behind the fundraiser. Cayuga Radio Group is made up of seven stations: WHCU/ WNYY/ WQNY/ WYXL/ WIII/ Hits 103.3/ 98.7 The Vine.

By 10 am, the initial goal of $6,500 was already met and shortly surpassed, due to the generosity of the community. Susan Johnston, General Manager of Cayuga Radio Group, said "I'm overwhelmed by the outpouring of this community, and I'm so proud of the Cayuga Radio Group staff for fully supporting this cause. It is obvious that the Tompkins County Sheriffs Department had the community's full support with raising funds for a new Police K-9."

Canines assist officers and serve the community by helping locate lost or missing persons, aiding in arrests, preventing the escape of offenders, tracking suspects, reducing the threat of serious injury or even death of an officer, and detecting illegal drugs.

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