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JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 Barroom 75 cents incident brings attempted murder charge By PETER CURRIER Correspondent SOUTHWICK- A West Springfield man was arraigned Thursday in Westfield District Court on charges including attempted murder after an incident The City of Westfield police headquarters located on Washington Street. (WNG file photo) Tuesday evening at a Southwick bar in which he alleg- edly struck a man – intentionally – with his motor vehicle. Southwick Police Officer Paul Miles reports in a court document that he responded to a call at The Police investigating alleged murder Skybox bar and found a victim in the parking lot who said that he had been struck by a vehicle operated by By PETER CURRIER Local, state and county officials are investigating the matter. an intoxicated a man who had been denied service at Correspondent Few details are available at this time, but police officials the bar. WESTFIELD- Westfield police are investigating a alleged reported that a suspect is in custody and is expected to be Miles reports he was told that a known customer, murder that was reported on White street Sunday evening. arraigned in Westfield District Court Monday morning. Nathan Gibson, 40, of 179 Ashley Street, West Springfield, had been intoxicated when he arrived at the bar and became irate when he was refused service. Miles reports the bartender and several other witnesses said that Gibson threw a bar stool at the bartender before leaving the bar. Sand bucket program launches The victim followed Gibson when he left and By GREG FITZPATRICK attempted to take a picture of Gibson’s vehicle – and Correspondent license plate – but Gibson drove into him and then fled SOUTHWICK – Friday morning, six volunteers from the area. The man had been thrown away from the the Southwick Fire Department, along with volunteers vehicle rather than pulled under which probably limit- from the Council on Aging and DPW, delivered 27 buck- ed his injuries, according to Miles ets of sand to senior’s homes, as part of a new program The bartender told Miles that she had also had to created by those three town departments. refuse to serve alcohol to Gibson about a month earlier According to Council on Aging Director Cindy Sullivan, when he had also been intoxicated. the goal was to deliver 30 buckets of sand. Miles reports that Gibson was not immediately “The fact that we got 27 people for it is awesome,” said located and a warrant for his arrest was granted. Sullivan. Gibson was arraigned Thursday on two counts of Senior citizens having a high risk of falling from the assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault rough conditions that the winter can bring, and Sullivan is and battery, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, grateful for the assistance she’s received for the program. vandalism and attempted murder. He was released “Our community is lucky to have caring individuals on upon payment of $1,000 cash bail pending a March 28 the fire Department who are willing to help the Chief and hearing. I implement these programs,” said Sullivan. Sullivan also touched on the positive impact of the younger members of the fire department taking part in a community program like this. “It was nice because there were some younger guys from the fire department that are getting involved in the department and it’s great,” said Sullivan. Reported by the Westfield News on December 27, the program involves the fire department providing a five- gallon bucket of sand from the DPW facility to seniors in town. To be eligible, a resident must be at least 60-years- old, own their own property, and don’t live in a develop- ment that already has a company taking care of snow and ice removal. Southwick Council on Aging Director Cindy Sullivan mentioned that Easthampton and Granby already have this type of program in their respective communities. If anyone is interested in signing up for the sand bucket program, call the Council on Aging at 413-569-5498. Members of the Southwick Fire Department deliver a sand bucket to Sullivan said that the next round of sand buckets will be an elderly resident in town that signed up for the program. (Photo from delivered to those who sign up once bad weather approach- Cindy Sullivan) es. The Sky Box Sports Bar. (WNG File Photo) Gateway presents draft line item budget in new program By AMY PORTER cial comparison. In addition, $100,000 from an anticipated that part-time position will Correspondent town officials participating in residential placement; but the hopefully be the district’s HUNTINGTON – At a the budget discussion will be cost of oil has gone up. share of support for Hilltown joint budget session with able to insert comments and “Once we move it to `live,’ Economic Development town officials last Wednesday, questions in the document. the community will have Director Jeanne LeClair, a Gateway Regional “We’ve talked so long access to it,” Hopson said. position currently funded by Superintendent David B. about having an open pro- Hopson said the new bud- the six member towns. Hopson presented an initial cess,” Hopson said, adding get represents a 2.2% increase Chester Finance committee look at a draft line item bud- that the budget would be over last year, including funds member Andy Myers said it get of $16,618,428 for FY20, available for comments later for a full-day pre-school in will be difficult to present the created through a new pro- in the week, and for discus- Chester, a Chapter 74 voca- increase to his town, which is gram, ClearGov.com. sion at the next joint budget tional program for Early already facing a substantial Business manager Stephanie session scheduled for Jan. 23. Childhood, and a curriculum tax increase of $1.60 per Fisk said she believes that Fisk said that there are no director; the only three items thousand. He said the town’s Gateway is the first regional revenues in the budget at added to the budget. increase is in part due to valu- district in the state to try out present, but they would have The budget also replaces ations in the town going the program. a better idea by the Jan. 23 the fulltime district grant down. ”It will be a hard sell,” The ClearGov.com pro- meeting. She said as of now writer position, currently held Myers said. Chester’s tax rate gram allows viewers to click there is no increase in the by Wendy Long who will be is $21 per thousand this year. on each line item to bring up health insurance premium, The stone sign at Gateway Regional Schools on Littleville retiring this year, with a part- details and a four-year finan- and that they had saved Road in Huntington. (WNG File Photo) time position. Hopson said See Budget, Page 7 PAGE 2 - MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Westfield police and SRS Jillian Gaugh and her mother arrived by police escort to Southampton Road School this week by Officer Eric Hall. Jillian won the free ride to school when she attended the city’s Breakfast with Santa. (Photo submitted) ODDS & ENDS LOCAL LOTTERY LAST NIGHT’s numBERS Stephen King MASSACHUSETTS TONIGHT TUESDAY WEDNESDAY MassCash 05-13-21-28-34 concerns spurs Mega Millions Estimated jackpot: $55 million newspaper Numbers Evening 1-7-9-7 Numbers Midday subscription drive 9-5-6-4 PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Sunny. Powerball Partly Cloudy Maine newspaper that horrified author Estimated jackpot: $112 million Stephen King by dropping its local book review coverage used his com- 33-36 35-39 plaint to boost digital subscriptions. Today, generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 33F. To- King, who lives in Bangor, com- night, clear to partly cloudy. Low near 15F. 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