Granville Chief of Police Suddenly Resigns, Interim Chief Named
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JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Westfield Granville VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents 350 lecture Chief of Police to explore suddenly Westfield’s resigns, one room interim schoolhouses By PETER CURRIER Correspondent chief named WESTFIELD- The Westfield 350th By GREG FITZPATRICK Historical Lecture Series will feature Correspondent Walter Fogg as a solo presenter Wednesday GRANVILLE – Granville Police Chief Scott Flebotte March 13th at the First Congregational suddenly resigned from the position on February 16 Church at 6:30 when he will speak about after holding the position since 2013. the history of one-room school houses in Declining to comment on Flebotte’s resignation, Westfield. 66th Annual Pops Concert Granville Town Administrator Matt Streeter did pro- Fogg was a co-presenter in last week’s vide the Westfield News with a copy Flebotte’s resig- lecture with Dr. Beth Ann Rothermel and The Westfield High Band brass section belts out “Slow Ride” at Friday’s Pops nation letter that was addressed to the Select Board. Dr. Mara Dodge. Fogg touched upon the Concert. See additional concert photos Page 8. (Photo by Marc. St.Onge) In the letter, Flebotte states, “I am writing to single room school houses in that lecture announce my resignation from the Town of Granville, as well, but this week he will dive deeper effective February 16, 2019. This was not an easy deci- into their history in Westfield. Many of the sion as the Chief of Police. I have enjoyed working for structures no longer exist, but some are you and managing a very successful team dedicated to still present in the city. community service.” “This presentation will have a little dif- “Thank you for the opportunities that you have pro- ferent focus,” said Fogg, “It will be about Support group for parents of children vided me. I wish you and the Town of Granville the many of the school houses where I have best.” been able to identify their locations and if with special needs meets Wednesday The Westfield News was unable to reach Flebotte for the structure is even still there.” a comment on his reason for resignation. Many former school houses have been By AMY PORTER On February 15th the Select Board held an executive appropriated for other uses such as resi- Correspondent session to “investigate charges of criminal misconduct dences, business, or storage. One could WESTFIELD – A parent/guardian sup- or to consider the filing of criminal complaints.” drive by the building and never know what port group for families with students on That discussion was followed by another executive it once was. Fogg will feature pictures of IEPs will be held on Wednesday, March session “to discuss the reputation, character, physical the existing schools from their early days 13, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Forum House, 55 condition or mental health, rather than professional and today, side by side. Broad St. The group is free and confiden- competence, of an individual, or discuss the discipline “Each of the school houses has an inter- tial, and offers support to parents and or dismissal of, or complaints or charges against, a esting story,” said Fogg, “My purpose of guardians with the emotional journey of public officer, employee, staff member or individual.” the presentation is to identify the school raising a child with special needs, said At their next meeting on February 25, the Select houses and tell each of their stories.” Jennifer Bogin, a board certified behavior Board held the same two executive sessions. Fogg noted one school house in analyst who runs the group with Alice When speaking with the Westfield News, both Streeter and Select Board member David Ripley Westfield in which an abolitionist gave a Barden, a certified mental health coun- Support group co-facilitators Alice lecture in the early 1860s at the onset of declined to comment if any of the executive session selor. Barber and Jennifer Bogin. (Photo sub- the Civil War. Protestors were present, and discussions were related to Flebotte’s resignation. Bogin is an autism specialist who has mitted) a fight broke out, causing one person to be done training in the Westfield Public Due to the abrupt departure from Flebotte, the Select pushed into the building’s stove, causing Schools. When the special education there can be quality of life issues. It may Board appointed Rick Rindels on February 25 as the the building to burn down. A new one was department recently received a grant, be different than people imagined,” interim Chief of Police. Prior to the appointment, constructed in its place. That school house administrator Martha van Mering asked Bogin said. She said the purpose of the Rindels had been the Lieutenant of the Granville Police was located in the area of what is now the parents from the Special Education group is to help parents on this particular Department for five years. Russellville Road, then called the farm Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC), journey, to talk about what it’s like, and A three-month appointment for Rindels as the chief, district. After the area was split into sev- who suggested using the funds to support the impact on them of having a child the Select Board will now go through the process of eral areas, the school was referred to as the families. Mering agreed this would be a with special needs. hiring a permanent Chief of Police in the next coming West Farms Schoolhouse, and it still good place to put resources, and SEPAC “It doesn’t mean that it’s always nega- months. stands to this day under ownership by the approached Bogin. tive. People tend to say negative things. “In the meantime, the (Select) Board has the utmost city with many of the original supplies still Bogin said the group is for parents of We also celebrate what a gift it is to have confidence in (Rick) Rindels,” said Streeter. inside. It is not currently open for public children with all different kinds of special Ripley echoed Streeter’s statement on appointing viewing. needs. “Having a child with disabilities, See Support Group, Page 7 Rindels as the temporary chief. “It’s going to make a really fine muse- “I think we’ve got a good person coming in for the um piece,” said Fogg. position and going to move the department forward,” Fogg first took interest in these school said Ripley. Rindels declined to comment on his appointment at See Westfield 350 Lecture, Page 7 Southwick firefighters battle this time. truck fire on College Highway By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – On Thursday afternoon around 1 p.m. the Southwick Fire Department received a report of a truck fire in the driveway of the Valvoline Express Care on College Highway. According to Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson, a fire occurred in the back-end storage section of a residential trash truck. When pulling off College Hwy into the business the driver, and sole occupant, saw that the vehicle was catching fire. While fire personnel are unsure of the exact cause of the fire, there seemed to be Flebotte (middle) is seen speaking to Granville resi- See Truck Fire, Page 7 dents at a public meeting in December of 2017. (WNG WALTER FOGG File Photo) District Attorney’s office holds mock trial at Westfield Middle School By PETER CURRIER cases. The District Attorney also donates phone. Correspondent school supplies to the selected classes A Massachusetts State Trooper had WESTFIELD- Eighth graders from who, this year, were Hollister’s class and pulled the pair over at approximately Westfield Middle School were shown another eighth grade class in Agawam. 12:50 a.m., but the victim, who the troop- what it is like to go through a criminal “I think the court system is very inter- er said was crying, maintained at the time trial Friday morning as part of a program esting,” said Simmons, “It’s not at all like that she was just sick and not in danger. put on by the Hampden County District what you see on TV where it moves fast.” When the vehicle was later pulled over Attorney’s Office. He added that most court cases are typi- again, the victim and defendant were Antonio Simmons, the Director of cally very slow moving and tedious. separated so the officers could speak with Community Safety and Outreach for the The case on which the mock trial was them without either influencing the other. District Attorney, as well as Assistant based on was a 2012 incident where a It was then that the victim said she was District Attorneys Ingrid Frau and man was charged with kidnapping and being held against her will and the defen- Clarissa Wright came to Crystal witness intimidation in Massachusetts. dant was arrested. Hollister’s eighth grade class to conduct a The man was alleged to have asked his The students in Hollister’s class took mock trial based on a real court case.