Considering I’ve been at this court and crime beat for well over a year now, I really shouldn’t be surprised by some of the things I hear and see on a daily basis from my little corner of the newsroom (or from my post in the courtroom, obviously). And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this ... drugs and alcohol can be traced to the source of most crimes we see here in Chenango County, minus the welfare fraud recipients and not-so-occasional sexual predators who pass through the courtroom.

Sad, I know, and more than a little discouraging, but the truth is the truth, no matter how much we might want to avoid it.

And this is not a problem that is suffered only here, but across upstate New York, really. In fact, it was a special report on WBNG last night that caught my eye and was the inspiration behind today’s column. And I quote, “A gritty, oftentimes dangerous undercurrent runs through the quiet towns and serene countryside of Delaware County, and it’s costing resources and constant attention of law enforcement, who teeter daily on winning and losing the battle.”

Insert Chenango County into that sentence and ... well, I think you get my drift.