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Honored

Aaron Auclair was honored for his heroic service. He is holding the large gold plaque. Courtesy photo.

 

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC column is dedicated to long time Putnam resident Donald Steinbrick.  A graduate of Putnam High School, Steinbrick is very involved in the community helping others in need, especially veterans.  He’s a member of American Legion Post #13, where he serves as the organization’s chaplain.  Steinbrick recently celebrated a birthday but he’s not revealing what number of candles was on the cake.

It seems that every time we pick up a newspaper these days there are stories of shootings involving police and individuals often depicted as victims.  These types of stories are unfortunate in that police have a duty to carry out and often it involves split second decision making.  When someone is killed in an incident, the story often escalates in the media.

Without being judgmental, the recent stories in Ferguson, Missouri, Cleveland, Ohio and New York City have created not only tense situations for the citizens of those communities but have put police officers in a position of defending their actions.

In August 2014, a former Putnam resident and current New Jersey State Police Officer, Aaron Auclair was involved in a harrowing and life-threatening situation.  Despite suffering long-term debilitating injuries from his action, the ending to Auclair’s story is one where the bad guy was arrested and charged.

Auclair, a former three-sport star at Putnam High School and baseball player at Western Connecticut State University, currently works undercover in New Jersey.  He’s involved with crimes relating to drugs and carjackings, which are numerous in the New York - New Jersey region.

Last year Auclair came upon an individual attempting to steal an automobile from an Alamo rental center in Newark, N.J.  After the carjacker slammed the stolen vehicle into a jersey barrier, he tried to escape on foot.  The carjacker then ran into the street and jumped into a car stopped for a red light, throwing the stunned driver from his vehicle.

While this was going on, Auclair in his undercover SUV, approached and jumped into the stolen car and attempted to subdue the carjacker.  With Auclair partially in the vehicle, the carjacker threw the car into reverse, pinning Auclair between the automobile and his SUV.  At this point, Auclair unloaded his service revolver, firing 11 shot into the hijacked car.

The carjacker then drove off and was able to escape in the stolen vehicle, leaving Auclair with serious bodily injuries, especially to his back.  Seven months later, Auclair continues to go to therapy, while recovering from his injuries.      

In an episode, where the good guy wins, the carjacker was later captured when he went to a hospital in Queens, N.Y., suffering from gunshot wounds.  He was arrested and has been charged with attempted murder.

For his heroic action, Auclair was selected as the “New Jersey State Trooper of the Year.”  In February he was presented his award by the Commandant of the New Jersey State Police at a ceremony recognizing his heroic action.

Officer Auclair and his wife live in Denville, N.J.  They are the parents of two young children.  Auclair is the son of Tom and Jan Auclair of Putnam and Avon Park, Fla.

Demystifying ‘Deflate Gate’

This year’s Super Bowl XLIX was surrounded by the controversy of the alleged deflated footballs used by the New England Patriots in their victory over Indianapolis in the AFC Championship game.  You read it here, in RPC; there were no deflated footballs in that game.  How do I know?  Here’s the real story.

On Super Bowl Sunday, my wife, Donna and I hosted a small group of friends and relatives for a Super Bowl gathering.  In preparing for the gathering, Donna purchased two inflated Mylar footballs with the words “Go Patriots” just to add atmosphere to the man cave.

Those footballs, attached to ribbon are still flying proudly, nearly six weeks after the event.  They’re still filled to capacity with little or no sign of deflating any time soon.  This certainly is a sign from some higher power that there was no truth to the allegations posed by those attempting to make our beloved Patriots look like cheaters.   Whatever way you cut it, put “Deflate Gate” to bed.  The New England Patriots are the NFL and World Champions.

Spring Training and Baseball

Although our New England countryside, blanketed in snow, isn’t an indication that spring is right around the corner.  The sound of wooden bats against the baseballs at spring training is certainly an indicator that we’re headed in the correct direction.

Reports from Florida indicate that the young men from Eastern Connecticut who are on Major League teams are in the mix of the action.  Two Norwich Free Academy grads have already seen live game action.  Eric Campbell, the utility player with the New York Mets, doubled and drove in two runs for the Metropolitans in their opening 8-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Dominic Leone, also an NFA grad, who is with the Seattle Mariners, pitched one inning in a 4-3 win.  He allowed one unearned run during his stint on the mound.

Matt Harvey, the much ballyhooed pitcher for the Mets, who’s returning from Tommy John surgery, had two impressive innings in a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers.  His former teammate at Fitch High School, Jesse Hahn, who pitches for the Oakland Athletics, tossed one inning in a 9-2 victory.  He allowed three hits and two runs.

In the Red Sox camp, former Thompson little leaguer Brian LaHair, is a long shot to land a job in Boston.  The much-travelled LaHair will likely end up in Pawtucket, where he’ll see duty as a designated hitter and backup first baseman.  LaHair, who is probably the most powerful hitter to come out of the Thompson Little League, has had Major League stops with the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs.

And what would spring training be if Roger LaFrancois wasn’t involved?  LaFrancois is in Jupiter, Fla., working with the St. Louis Cardinals as a coach.  This summer he’ll be the hitting coach with the short season team in College Park, Penn.

In Search of the PGA Tour

Tom Auclair reports from Florida that he ran into local golfing prodigies Matt Smith and Cody Semmelrock this winter.  The duo was participating in a qualifying event for what Auclair describes as the Latino Tour.  The pair was very competitive during the first three days of the event but their scores ballooned on the final day.  Pomfret resident and Quinnatisset Country Club member Earl Semmelrock was at the event carrying the bag for his son Cody.

Basketball Shorts

Former Marianapolis big man Ousmane Drame ended his personal collegiate career on a high note at Quinnipiac University.  Despite the Bobcats being eliminated in the MAAC Tournament 80-74 by Marist College, the 6-foot, 9-inch Drame posted 27 points in the loss.  Quinnipiac closes the books on the 2014-2015-season with a 15-15 log.

Putnam Elks Hoop Shoot produced three young shooters who did well in recent competition.  Nick Renshaw finished second in the boys 8-9 age bracket; Alex Hutchins also finished second in the girls 10-11 age bracket.  Kayleigh Lyons was the lone Putnam participant to finish first.  She captured the crown in the girls’ 12-13 age category.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “Always do right.  This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”  Mark Twain

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