lock p 8 10-31-24
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Putnam Police: Lock your car!
PUTNAM — Last week the Putnam Police Department responded to multiple reports of auto burglaries which occurred during the previous overnight hours in the north end of Putnam. A motor vehicle was also reported stolen from Woodstock Avenue. Nearly all the vehicles entered were the result of being left unlocked.
In one case a car window was smashed out and a purse left in view was stolen. The stolen vehicle was the result of the keys being left in the vehicle and unlocked. That vehicle was later recovered in East Hartford.
The Putnam Police Department is urging residents to always lock their vehicles and remove the keys. It is also strongly recommended that you hide your valuables from view inside of your vehicle or just take them into your home. Police Chief Christopher D. Ferace said, “I cannot stress enough, these were crimes of opportunity, if you eliminate the opportunity by locking your vehicles, removing your keys and other valuables, you significantly reduce the chance of being victimized.”
Anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in their neighborhood overnight last Wednesday into Thursday or may have video camera footage is encouraged to contact the Putnam Police Department at 860-928-6565, use the anonymous tip line 860-963-0000 or email: www.putnampolice.com
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gould pg 8 10-31-24
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Gould served with 2 warrants
PUTNAM — Oct 25, Kayla P. Gould (aka Kayla P. Link), 24, was served with two valid arrest warrants while at GA 11 Danielson Superior Court during a scheduled court appearance for other criminal cases.
The two warrants stem from separate attempts by the Putnam Police to conduct a motor vehicle stop on her while she was driving. In both cases she fled from police to avoid apprehension on other outstanding arrest warrants.
On Aug. 27 officers Nick Ustin and Roy Hicks of the Putnam Police Department observed Gould driving on Providence Street at the intersection of Powhattan Street. Officer Ustin attempted to initiate at traffic stop at which point Gould allegedly drove into the police cruiser, striking it, and then fled. Officers pursued the vehicle onto I-395 northbound and the pursuit was later terminated for the safety of the motoring public. No Putnam officers were injured, and the cruiser sustained non-disabling damage.
On Sept. 18 Putnam Police observed Gould operating a motor vehicle on Church Street. Sergeant Louis Cinque initiated a traffic stop in an effort to arrest her on the outstanding warrants. Again, she accelerated away from police in an erratic manner to avoid apprehension. The pursuit was immediately terminated for the safety of the public.
Arrest Warrant 1: Criminal Attempted Assault on Public Safety Personnel; interfering with police personnel; Criminal Mischief 1st Degree; Engaging Officer in Pursuit; Reckless Driving; Misuse of Plates; Failure to Drive Right; Speeding.
Arrest Warrant 2: Engaging Officer in Pursuit; Reckless Driving; Failure to Obey Stop Sign; Failure to Obey Traffic Light.
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Mere pg 1 11-7-24
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caption:
Solemn
Veterans Park's Court of Honor moves visitors. More photos on page 4. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photo
Mere concrete pavers? No. Honor is set in stone
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
Dull gray concrete transformed Veterans Park into a sacred place.
Families bought pavers to help raise funds to revitalize the park, not knowing that the pavers transformed into headstones, of a sort.
Rob Challinor, chair of the Veterans Advisory Committee and one of the organizers of the park’s transformation, said he’s witnessed how powerful a paver can be. “It’s not just a brick,” he said.
The effect on visitors is powerful, he said. Some have told him they didn’t think that it would hit them so hard. Some start to tear up. “That’s my buddy there, I haven’t thought about him in a while.”
“I’m not sure why some tear up and some don’t,” Challinor said.
In his conversations with visitors, Challinor said he’s learned that the pavers are transformative. “There’s something about that park,” he said.
Some visitors leave coins on the pavers (see editor’s note below). Some will not walk on the pavers – as though it is a grave. Challinor respects that. The Court of Honor is designed to be interactive. When all the pavers are in, most visitors will have to walk onto the sea of pavers to see their loved one.
The goal is for the Court of Honor to be interactive. Down the road, there will be a listing of the pavers so loved ones are easily found. In addition, they are planning to involve school children with a program where kids can take rubbings of the pavers. The intent is for it to be interactive and to that end, the sealer on the pavers will be refreshed each year.
“It’s important to note it’s an interactive monument,” Challinor said. Hans Lowell of the VFW said “Yes, it’s a living interactive monument."
Pavers were ordered from around the world. One order came in from Thailand. He said he received a call from the mother of James Silvia (Desert Storm) wanting to order a paver for him. She was calling from out-of-state. She was told that was already taken care of. He is also listed on the Desert Storm monument installed Tuesday under killed in action.
The respectful goal is to honor veterans. “The goal is they are not forgotten,” he said. “The park gave us a chance to make sure veterans past and future will never be forgotten.”
The dedication of the park will be at 1 p.m. Nov. 10 but that’s just the beginning of honors and respect for veterans. Challinor said the park has given the veterans committees the impetus to continue honoring veterans. They are planning to revitalize veterans’ graves in the town cemeteries.
When he passes by the park at night, it’s somber.
It is a sacred place.
Editor's note: Coins left on headstones are a tradition that symbolizes respect and honor for the deceased. The denomination of the coin can have different meanings: Penny - A visit to the grave; Nickel - The visitor trained with the deceased at boot camp; Dime - The visitor and deceased served together; Quarter - The visitor was present when the deceased died. (from Google)
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No pg 1 11-7-24
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No rain? NO BURNING!
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
No significant rain in a month and none on the horizon. And there’s a ban on burning. Well, no big deal. I’m not lighting a campfire.
Maybe not but how about:
Discarded smoking materials, sparks from power tools or from welding or from grinding or from chains dragging. Or sparks from a passing train or from downed power lines or from burn barrels or from grills or from campfires or from fireworks or from guns/rifles/muskets. Or from the catalytic converter on a vehicle on tinderbox grass/fields. Or from ATV’s or UTVs without spark arrestors.
Or from any lawn care equipment that might generate a spark.
One recent brush fire in Sterling was started by sparks from a lawnmower.
And it’s out of control in the blink of an eye.
In Putnam alone this past weekend there were at least seven outside fires reported, according to fire marshal Scott Belleville. One was from a woman who decided to burn some documents. Another was from a gentleman who lit a bonfire (not a campfire, a bonfire).
Belleville said on the first visit there’s a warning. If the town has to respond again, he said it’s a $200 fine — and that’s a promise. If the fine is not paid, the town will put a lien on the property.
How serious is every over-worked fire department? All the nearby departments have cancelled their live-burn fire training, Belleville said.
He added 6 inches of snow would be excellent.
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