Chili cook-off
raises nearly
$1,200 for youth
POMFRET — The Christ Church Pomfret raised almost $1,200 with its Chili Cook-off Feb. 11.
The fund-raiser supports its Youth Ministries and will help fund a pilgrimage for the Journey 2 Adult program for 14-17 year olds.
Patrons of the event were invited to try 18 different chilis and vote for their favorite. Three judges—Jennifer Hague and Patrick McCarthy of Pomfret along with Bishop Suffragan The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens—tasted and ranked all of them, then announced the winners.
The winners are: Meat–Philippa Paquette from Woodstock; Vegetarian–Nicole Nichols of Putnam; and Kristen Archambault of Dayville won in the Creative category. The youth group Rite 13 won the People’s Choice Award.

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Catalytic converter
thefts investigated
PUTNAM — The Putnam Police Department is currently investigating a number of catalytic converter thefts that occurred in the early morning hours of Feb. 16 around NAPA on School Street, Kelly’s Tire on School Street, and the Lofts at Cargill Falls Mill on Pomfret Street. A total of four vehicles are known to have been targeted then.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a dark-colored vehicle occupied by three individuals pull up near the targeted vehicle, quickly jack up the vehicle and remove the catalytic convertor with a reciprocating saw, and then leave.
Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has information is asked to contact officer Kristopher Bernier at 860-928-6565.  Tips can also be provided via the web site at www.putnampolice.com or on tip line at 860-963-0000.  

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Accused kidnapper
is arrested
PUTNAM — The Putnam Police Department Feb. 16 arrested an accused kidnapper.
Megan Klingensmith (aka Megan Johnson), 39 of no certain address was taken into custody by Putnam Police Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and extradited back to Connecticut.
Klingensmith was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by Danielson Superior Court related to an investigation initiated Nov. 29, 2015 and conducted by Putnam Police Department with assistance of the CT State Police Major Crimes Unit.  This is the fifth arrest related to that incident.  
Klingensmith was charged with: first-degree assault, first-degree kidnapping, cruelty to persons, second-degree threatening, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree conspiracy to commit assault and first-degree conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
The victim, a male who was 29 years old at the time, said he was assaulted by several people and forcibly transported from Putnam to the area of Pulaski State Park in Rhode Island where he was left.   The victim suffered significant injuries and was hospitalized.  
More arrests related to this incident are expected.  
All accused are innocent until proven guilty

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