Southbridge Last Override to Pay for the Salaries of Two March
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Mailed free to requesting homes in Webster, Dudley and the Oxfords 508-764-4325 Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.WEBSTERTIMES.NET “Strive for excellence, not perfection.” Friday, March 19, 2010 AA leagueleague ofof theirtheir ownown OXFORD TEENS HOPEFUL NEW LEAGUE BLOSSOMS BY ADAM MINOR TIMES STAFF WRITER OXFORD — Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is on the hori- zon, but players in one local league have their eyes set on their own first pitch. The Oxford Wiffle Ball League (OWL), established in 2007 by Oxford teens Ryan O’Toole, 16, and Andrew Gray, 17, is set to return in April, and the boys are dreaming big. The genesis of the OWL three years ago began as many activities do — in the back yard. “We’ve been friends since middle school,” O’Toole said last week while preparing to hit some balls with Gray at Ruel Field on Locust Street. “We started in my back yard, then my back yard got com- pletely destroyed, so we cancelled that and we moved it here to Ruel Field in 2008.” “We knew of each other [in middle school],” added Gray, “but we became friends in fifth grade at Oxford Middle School.” O’Toole said the upstart league started with about 10 of his friends, including Gray, and four teams. After the inaugural season, it started to gather some steam. “It kind of took off,” O’Toole said. “Everyone started getting inter- ested in it.” Adam Minor photos The league today consists of 10 teams (with room for expansion if Above: Oxford Wiffle Ball League co-founders Ryan O’Toole, left, and popularity demands it) — The Padres (last year’s OWL Champions), Andrew Gray, at Ruel Field, site of the upcoming OWL season. The Red Sox, Marlins, Braves, Reds, Nationals, Angels, Royals, Dodgers duo plays for the Padres, the defending OWL Champions. At right: Tyler Olson cranks a big swing on an Andrew Gray pitch. Turn To OWL, page A15 Med examiner: Rams’ season cut short Police Death of Messier override a homicide placed on FAMILY TO FILE SUIT VS. STATE BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL warrant STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER The death of a young Charlton man last year after a struggle at a state mental hospital has been ruled a homicide, according to the death VOTERS TO DECIDE certificate issued by the state’s Medical Examiner Office. FATE OF WOJNAR’S Joshua K. Messier, 23, of 78 North REQUEST Sturbridge Road, died in the morning hours of May 4, 2009 at BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL Brockton State STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER Hospital after a scuffle DUDLEY — Voters will have only with guards. He was one Proposition 2 1/2 tax override to staying at the facility Nick Ethier photos consider at the ballot this May. after having allegedly While Ali Tyburski (21) looks on, Shepherd Hill's Mary Barbale attempts a 3-pointer. After previously considering over- attacked three employ- rides, selectmen Monday, March 15 ees at Harrington voted to place a question on the ballot Memorial Hospital in DROPS TOUGH ONE TO EAST LONGMEADOW asking residents approve a $122,000 Joshua Messier Southbridge last override to pay for the salaries of two March. BY NICK ETHIER “I didn’t want to come down and fire [a police officers for one year. The elec- Now, Messier’s mother, Lisa, wants someone SPORTS STAFF WRITER shot] up [right away],” Shepherd Hill coach tion is scheduled for Monday,May 3. If held accountable. SPRINGFIELD — The Shepherd Hill girls Jim Hackenson explained. “Whoever is open approved, taxpayers would see an esti- “I think this is going to be the only way I will had what they wanted in the final 26 seconds shoots. I wanted to use a little bit of the time, mated $28.80 increase in their bills. get a bit of relief from this horrendous void and of the game. but I don’t care who shoots, as long as it’s “We decided to unspeakable pain,” Lisa Messier wrote last week Down 54-53, the Rams had possession of their shot. Every one of my players knows go with just one in an e-mail about her family’s plans to file a the ball. Score and they would probably win. their range, and that’s not a bad shot for this year,” said Miss and their magical basketball season Selectmen Turn To MESSIER, page A19 would likely come to a close. Turn To RAMS, page A12 Chairman Paul Joseph. “The one that has the great- est rationale is the police depart- ment.” Three other pre- Paul Joseph Crime viously proposed Crime overrides have died. A month ago, selectmen voted to kill proposed overrides for the Fire and Highway departments, according oonn tthhee to Joseph. Highway Superintendent Dan Gion had proposed a $56,000 over- ride for an additional employee to sup- plement his crew of 10, while Fire rise Chief Jeffrey Phelps had planned on a rise $61,000 request for another firefighter. A third considered override has fall- Courtesy photos en by the wayside. Town Last week was a busy one for police, as a pair of robberies — one in Webster and one in Auburn — had the authorities looking for two local men. In Webster last Administrator Peter Jankowski had Tuesday, March 9, a man held up Commerce Bank in Webster, while in Auburn, a man not only held up One Stop Convenience Store, but he also left his wallet behind planned on proposing a $5,000 over- on the counter and left his nine-month-old son waiting for him in the car. For the stories, turn to page A3! Turn To OVERRIDE, page A15 Seniors ................. A5 Obituaries ............. B2 RELAY PLANNING Learning .............A6-7 Events Calendar ...... B3 WEF GRANTS EARLY STAGES Viewpoint ............. A10 Real Estate ........Sect.B PAGE A3 Sports ..................A12 Legal Notices ..... Sect.B PAGE A4 INDEX 2 • THE WEBSTER TIMES • Friday, March 19, 2010 www.webstertimes.net School settles for $1.6M ALMANAC INSURANCE PAYMENTS PUT BLANCHETTE CASE TO BED — ALMOST QUOTE OF THE WEEK BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL ent ways, LaFleche said, such as to relieve the larities in its account with Fleet Bank. “We play it all the STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER financial burden on Bay Path’s member As a result of the scam, the school borrowed Ten years after falling victim to an embez- towns. $5 million to cover expenses, which it finished time in our back yard zlement scheme, Bay Path Regional Approximately $300,000 has been put toward repaying in 2008, according to LaFleche. Vocational Technical High legal fees stemming from the lawsuit, “It was our hope quite frankly that the … It’s our favorite School has received an insurance LaFleche said. Exactly $1,092,000 will insurance money would have been applied to settlement. go toward lowering each town’s con- the [loan repayment] plan,” he said. game [in the summer], According to Business tribution to the district, he said, and so why not make it a Manager John LaFleche, the the school will not ask for transporta- BUDGET school has received a $1.6 million tion money from them. An additional Even with the additional money from the little more serious?” bond settlement from insurer $421,000 of the total settlement will be settlement, the school’s $17.1-million budget Utica Mutual as compensation used for work on the school’s water for the next fiscal year is still tight. - Oxford Wiffle Ball League (OWL) system, which means the district for an embezzlement scheme “This budget … by law can’t go any lower in co-founder Ryan O’Toole, on why he won’t charge its towns for the project, years ago by former assistant terms of the operations piece,” LaFleche said. decided to start up the OWL. superintendent for business Paul LaFleche said. The state Department Overall, the budget has increased 4.52 per- Blanchette. of Environmental Protection cent over last year, but the state is contribut- The school has actually been requires the project be done. ing an additional $400,000 in Chapter 70 educa- receiving payments, stemming The settlement puts part of the tional aid stemming from the federal econom- Paul Blanchette. from a now settled court case legal suit to bed, according to ic stimulus program. OPEN TO CLOSE over the amount the insurer LaFleche. Utica had argued that it The assessments for five member towns will DUDLEY owed, over the past year, with the final arriv- only owed the school $150,000 because the increase, while the remaining five will see a ing last August, LaFleche said. school had been renewing the same bond each decrease, LaFleche said. Overall, assessments DUDLEY TOWN HALL (508) 949-8000 In January 2001, Blanchette, then a 48-year- year. are estimated to increase by $7,842, since Board of Selectmen (949-8001) old Thompson, Conn. resident, pleaded guilty “It was our contention that because we paid $274,000 from its reserve fund will be used to Monday-Thursday . .8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to one federal count of embezzlement from an a premium each year … they owed us nine lower assessments. Fridays . .8 a.m. to 1 p.m. entity that receives federal funds and five times $150,000,” LaFleche said. “Quite frankly, The budget also contains a 3-percent pay Evening appointments if needed. Note: Office counts of tax evasion. Blanchette was also up until this time, there was no clear-cut case increase for both teachers and administrators. hours are for selectmen’s secretary and town law.” convicted on similar state charges and sen- In response to any criticism, LaFleche said administrator.