Charlton Lions to Sponsor Night Golf Tournament
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Mailed free to requesting homes in Charlton, Charlton City and Charlton Depot Vol. 3, No. 33 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.CHARLTONVILLAGER.COM “Our concern is not how to worship in the catacombs but how to remain human in the skyscrapers.” Friday, Aug 14, 2009 Why was he behind the wheel? BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL NEWS STAFF WRITER HARLTON MAN BUSTED ON TH CHARGE CHARLTON — A 39-year-old local C 11 OUI man is facing his 11th charge of driving under the influence, adding held without bail for a dangerous- Lt. Mark Gagnon said. going to deny it. Don’t worry about another chapter to a long and dan- ness hearing scheduled Aug. 18. Wetteland also pleaded not guilty it, you got me man,” Wetteland told gerous record. Police arrested Wetteland to driving after having a suspended police, according to Gagnon. Jason W. Wetteland, who already Saturday, Aug. 1 in Amesbury at the license, subsequent offense, and pos- Police also found eight containers has been convicted of driving under intersection of routes 495 and 110 session of open container. of beer, and an open can of beer, the influence six times, pleaded not after observing him driving errati- Police found Wetteland with an Gagnon said. Wetteland refused to guilty in Newburyport District cally.Wetteland turned off Route 110 open container of Blackberry take a Breathalyzer test and field Court Monday,Aug. 3, to operating a and into a gas station before quickly Brandy between his legs, after stop- sobriety exam. vehicle under the influence of alco- darting back out onto the road and ping the vehicle he was driving If convicted, he could land in jail hol (fifth or subsequent offense), nearly colliding with another vehi- erratically, according to Gagnon. for as many as five or as few as two according to the Essex County cle. Wetteland made no attempt to hide years. District Attorney’s Office. “A number of cars had to slam his condition. Jason W. Wetteland Judge Allen Swan ordered him their brakes on,” Amesbury Police “I’m drunk, you know it. I’m not Turn To OUI, page 11 RMV opens office on Pike BY GUS STEEVES NEWS STAFF WRITER CHARLTON — The grand opening of the new Registry of Motor Vehicles went off without a hitch Monday, but left quite a few cus- tomers grumbling anyway. “I’ve seen the state do asinine things before, but this has to be the biggest,” said Southbridge resident Chris Crosbie, who was there help- ing his mother get a photo ID. “The Shawn Kelley photos immensity of this insanity is too big for me to comprehend.” To Registrar Rachel Kaprielian, ALL REVVED UP! however, the motivation was simple — budget cuts. Again citing $13 mil- CHARLTON — Above, Bill Roland and his son, Zachary Roland, 8, both of Charlton, sit next to their lion sliced from the RMV budget 20th anniversary edition, 1987 Iroc-Z 28 during last weekend’s Hot Rods for Homeless car show since fiscal 2009 began, she claimed at Trolley Crossing. They were no doubt hoping to draw favorable views from judges like William the move was “a fire drill, a scram- Gammetto of Charlton, right, who carefully makes his way through the rows of cars. For more pho- ble” to make sure her agency was tos, turn to page A8. Turn To RMV page 11 Hwy. garage on road to fruition? BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL STAFF WRITER NEW BARN PROJECT STILL HAS LEGS Officials here are discussing ways to revive the proposed highway department garage project a Glickman-Kovago has offered the building up for ions of the possible site. year after voters shot it down. sale to the town and others. Highway Barn Building Committee member “We really need a new facility,” Selectmen Town meeting voters rejected a debt exclusion Joseph Haebler suggested obtaining a cost esti- Chairman Rick Swensen said last week. “To me I proposal last year, but Election Day voters in mate to retrofit the building done before dismiss- thought it warranted just having a discussion.” November passed the ballot measure. Both meas- ing the new site. He also suggested paring down Selectmen and Highway Barn Building ures are required to approve the project. the original plans to reduce the cost, but making Committee members are discussing whether the Originally,plans called for the building to be next sure it still meets the department’s needs. building at 6 H. Putnam Road that currently hous- to the landfill currently being capped on Flint Highway Superintendent Gerry Foskett, who Gus Steeves photo es Johnson Tool & Die company,could be retrofit- Road. also serves as the committee’s chair, said he ted to serve the department’s needs. The business Southbridgian Chris Crosbie, left, helps his While no action was taken last week to further opposes using the building because the road, is moving to another location and realty company mother, Ada, get a photo ID. revive the project, officials discussed their opin- Turn To GARAGE, page 11 No ‘Here, kitty’ for this cat rare, but the cat’s presence in BOBCAT STROLLS THROUGH BACKYARD the area is nothing new. “That’s not uncommon. BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL through his yard. noticed, Paul Newman said, They are definitely in that STAFF WRITER “It kind of freaked my wife and moved away, but not area. Typically you don’t see CHARLTON — He didn’t [Janet] out a bit,” he said. before his wife took the photo- them in a back yard setting have an invitation to the The bobcat, whom Newman graph. all that often,” Division of house, but a bobcat recently said was just passing through “It just kind of moved Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) dropped in on a Charlton fam- around 7:30 p.m., stopped for a across the back of the proper- Biologist Laura Hadjuk said. ily. moment to stare at him and ty,” Paul Newman Jr. said. “They are elusive animals.” Paul Newman Jr. was in his his wife. Wanting to remem- “[He was] just kind of cutting There have been two kitchen at 53 Smith Road ber the moment, Janet through I guess.” reported sightings of bobcats Courtesy photo in Charlton between 1989 and Sunday, Aug. 2 when, sudden- grabbed a camera and quietly Although it is unclear what It’s a little blurry, but the Newman family managed to snap a quick pic- 2007, according to Hadjuk. ly spotted an unwelcome visi- lifted the window shade to attracted the bobcat to the ture of this A bobcat as it strolled through their yard at 53 Smith Road, tor — a bobcat traipsing snap a picture. The feline yard, Newman’s sighting was Turn To BOBCAT, page 11 home to the Newman family.) TRIVIA EIGHTEEN SEASONS Besides each being a member of Almanac ................. 2 Learning................. 4 YARD SALERS the Baseball Hall of Fame what do Obituaries ............. 13 Calendar ...............13 GEAR UP FOR OF COMPETITION Earl Averill, Tony Gwynn, Yogi Police Logs .............. 5 Real Estate ...B Section Berra, Eddie Collins, Freddie TOWN-WIDE EVENT AND PASSION Lindstrom, Connie Mack, Ed Walsh, INDEX INDEX Opinion ................ 10 Sports .............. 15-16 Jim O’Rourke and Tony Pérez all PAGE 4 PAGE 16 have in common? Answer inside. 2 •THE CHARLTON VILLAGER• Friday, August 14, 2009 www.charltonvillager.com THE WEEKLY QUESTION Would you be in favor of the town Area police department net grants appropriating money to help build a skate park? BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL offs, he said, which he has avoid- et to hire them. hire officers, Oliver said, “I don’t Last week’s question: Would you be in favor STAFF WRITER ed. With the money, Hurley and Charette defended his decision see anything that says you can’t. of taxpayers coming up with $80,000 per Area police departments are his officers plan to attend more by saying the benefits of continu- Personnel is one of the uses,” year, for three years, for the town to join a receiving a welcome gift from the community meetings to gauge ing the two programs outweigh adding departments can use for it mosquito control program? federal government in the form of residents’ concerns. that of an additional officer. The for “whatever they decide.” • Yes — 19 percent stimulus money. “It is a partnership, so that we move is also necessary, he said, Allowed uses also include train- • No — 58 percent Webster is by far the recipient are all going in the same direc- because the state cut the commu- ing, technology upgrades, crime • Unsure — 23 percent of the largest amount of money, tion,” he said. nity policing money that he typi- research, and crime prevention We want to hear from as many readers as possible for receiving $496,000 to hire two offi- Although he is not sure cally receives. and education, Oliver said. every question each week. Please keep responses brief. cers. The grant comes from the whether the program would last, “One officer for one year could After being told of the DOJ’s They may either be e-mailed to charltonquestion@stone- bridgepress.com or phoned in to the editor at 508-909-4107. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Hurley said he wants to start offi- not possibly replace all of our belief, Charette said, “That is the Please specify you are calling with an answer to the Community Oriented Policing cer bike patrols. Future cuts in community policing and juvenile first I heard of it.” Charlton Question of the Week. All responses must be received by noon Monday, so that we may tabulate the Services (COPS) program, meant local aid, he said, could force him programs,” he said.