Truitt In Court To Face Charges…
Heller Might Not Have Been Target, Testimony Suggests Women’s Apartment Door ‘Covered’ On Floor Below Where Hero Died By JENNIFER HILL • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – A burned spray can was found outside the door of a woman’s apartment at 5 Walling Ave., state investigators told City Judge Lucy Bernier during testimony today. And the bottom of Heather Engler’s door was “covered,” state Fire Investigator Christopher Lupold testified. The testimony suggests the woman may have been the target, rather than…
Friday Funeral Planned For Heroic Firefighter ONEONTA – A funeral for John Heller, the former firefighter who died rescuing his four nephews and fiancee in the Saturday morning fire at his Walling Avenue home, will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4 at the Bookhout Funeral Home. Calling hours will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3. Heller served with the Oneonta Fire Department in an on-call and part-time capacity from 2002-2009.…
WALLING AVENUE FATALITY Oneonta Fireman Died Saving Kids, Sister-in-Law Says By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – John Heller, the former Oneonta firefighter who died when his home at 5 Walling Ave. caught fire Saturday morning, was trapped while helping his fiancee and his nephews escape the blaze, his sister-in-law reported. “What began as a fun sleepover with their uncle John and soon-to-be aunt Amber turned into a nightmare,” Erika Heller, his sister-in-law, wrote in a Facebook post…
Former Oneonta Firefighter Killed In Early-Morning Blaze ONEONTA – A former part-time city firefighter was killed in a fire in his Walling Avenue home early this morning, Mayor Gary Herzig reported. Herzig confirmed that John Heller, who had served with the Oneonta Fire Department in an on-call capacity, perished in the blaze, which started around 4 a.m. at his home at 5 Walling Ave.…