29th Drug Takeback hits 120+ lbs.
PUTNAM — The 29th Drug Takeback day in Putnam took in 120.2 pounds of prescription drugs.
Substance Abuse Program Director at the Hale YMCA Romeo Blackmar said over the past 28 years Takeback days have averaged more than 120 pounds of unused, expired and unwanted medications turned in for safe disposal.
“This amounts to over one and a half tons of medications that have been removed from possible misuse by teens and adults,” he said.
He added that combined with the Prescription Drug Drop-Off box in the Putnam Police Department lobby since 2012, another ton of medications have been safely disposed of by the Putnam Police Department.
The Drug Takeback days are conducted on the last Saturday in April and in October.
Putnam Police Department Captain Justin Lussier said since the last Drug Takeback last October, the police station lobby box has taken in about 500 pounds.
He said the lobby box has taken in “thousands of pounds of unwanted medications. We routinely empty the box about once a week and they typically weigh anywhere from 25-40 pounds.” The box is available 24/7, no questions asked.
Blackmar said the program started in 2010 with the Putnam Police Department and members of the Local Prevention Council (LPC) beginning with PRIDE and now Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center Drug Prevention. The twice-yearly Takeback is sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.
Drug Takeback
Despite the rain, at least four boxes of prescription drugs were gathered at the 29th Drug Takeback Day held April 26. From left: Putnam Police Officer Kyle Maheu, Substance Abuse Program Director, Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center, Romeo Blackmar; and Deb Barbour, secretary for the Putnam Lions Club. Linda Lemmon photo.
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Training
The Woodstock EMS members and local fire departments took part in a joint Life Star/UMass Memorial LifeFlight training program at the Woodstock Agricultural Fairgrounds. Linda Lemmon photo.
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Successful Food Drive
The annual Good Friday food drive for Daily Bread was a success. More than $4,000 in monetary donations and two truckloads of nonperishables were donated by the community. Helping were the Putnam Rotary Club, the Putnam Lodge of Elks, the Putnam Lions and Leos, and the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club. Heritage Valley Ford provided the truck to move the donations to Daily Bread. Linda Lemmon photo.
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
March 14
Nicholas Jon Holmes, 43, South Main Street, Putnam; third-degree criminal mischief.
Christopher Michael Laprey, 48, Myers Street, Putnam; fifth-degree larceny.
March 16
Jesse Dean Rickets, 41, Pomfret Street, Putnam; operate/parks unregistered motor vehicle, falsify marker/license registration, illegal operation of motor vehicle without minimum insurance counts, use of drug paraphernalia
March 17
Benjamin Kenneth Beasley, 43, West Thompson Road, Putnam; disorderly conduct third-degree assault.
March 18
George Michael Lombard, 46, Barber Street, Putnam; cruelty to animals, disorderly conduct.
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