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HARTDEGEN in motor Correspondent WESTFIELD – City police are seeking two black men who reportedly mugged a 19-year-old woman on Notre Dame Street while she was walking to work very early vehicle crash Thursday morning. By PETER CURRIER Police received a call at 4:14 a.m. from Correspondent a State Police dispatcher who reported that GRANBY, CT — A motor vehicle crash left one woman a woman had said that she had been dead Sunday evening on Route 10 in Granby in a crash that “jumped” in the area of the gas station at involved three vehicles according to Granby police. the top of Clay Hill. Holly Norton, 58, of Southwick, MA, was driving on The city dispatcher reports he was Route 10 when her vehicle was involved in a collision unable to reach the woman on her cell- with at least one other car. Norton, who was the sole occu- phone but he was able to speak with her pant of her vehicle, was transported by Emergency when he called the Citgo station. The temporary exterior structure hous- The filtration system for Westfield’s Medical Services to St. Francis Hospital where she later Officer Taylor Derrig arrived at the gas ing Well 2 is seen in this December 2018 well 2 is seen set up within the tem- died from her injuries. station at 4:18 a.m. and the woman said image. (WNG file photo) porary structure. (WNG file photo) The crash occurred shortly before 5:30 p.m. Sunday and that she had been robbed while she was resulted in the closure of Route 10 until the scene was walking from her home on Montgomery fully investigated and cleared of debris. Granby Police Street to the gas station where she works. Captain William Tyler said that one of the other two The victim told Derrig that she had been involved vehicles contained one man and his two chil- on Crown Street when she first saw a sil- Well 2 filtration system dren. The third vehicle contained only its driver. According ver colored sedan drive past her and it to Tyler, all parties besides Norton declined medical atten- passed her again when she reached Notre tion. Dame Street. The victim said she was not up and running Route 10 re-opened at 10:30 that evening. Traffic was concerned when the vehicle parked nearby detoured through Floydville Road and Canton Road. It is on Carpenter Street. However, she said By AMY PORTER the chemical injection, including chlo- unclear what caused the crash. The North Central moments later she heard someone running Correspondent rine, inside the well house underground Municipal Accident Reconstruction Team responded to behind her and turned to see two men who WESTFIELD — The temporary fil- over to the filter through heated pipes, the crash and is assisting the ongoing investigation. No had exited the car rushing toward her. ter on Well 2 is “up and running, and which was done in-house. They also charges have been filed in relation to the crash. The victim said that one of the men had supplying the water we’re needing,” enclosed the entire vessel with scaffold- said Francis Cain, assistant director of ing and tarping, a more cost effective See Mugged, Page 3 the Department of Public Works. Cain solution; and ran 300 ft. of natural gas said the filter has been operating “close line to bring heat to the space so it to a month,” after waiting to get October wouldn’t freeze over the winter, Cain Police Commission test results back. said. Systems engineer Heather Stayton “It runs just like any of our other Blandford highway said they did a round of testing in sources; it’s just filtered now,” Cain discusses staff, October prior to Well 2 starting up. She said, adding, “Given the cards we were superintendent said the testing showed low levels of dealt, the city’s pretty lucky that we PFAS before the water enters the filtra- picked up on that and did what needed overtime tion system; and non-detect for any to be done.” resigns PFAS mid-treatment and after treat- For the permanent structure on Wells By AMY PORTER ment, the three places they test. 7 & 8, the concrete was poured on budget shortage Correspondent Stayton said they are expecting to Friday for the footing. He said a legion BLANDFORD – The Board of By PETER CURRIER sample again this week, and should see of folks continue to work on the struc- Correspondent Selectmen reluctantly accepted the resig- the results in two weeks. ture every day. The piping underneath nation of highway superintendent Brad WESTFIELD — The Westfield Police Commission Both Cain and Stayton said the the slab is all installed, and they are convened Monday at 5:30 p.m. for its first regularly Curry on Monday. Curry has been with demand for water is down significantly working on the foundation walls, which the department since 2005, and superin- scheduled meeting since Police Chief John Camerota from the summer, so Well 2 is running they expect to pour next week. returned from a leave of absence. tendent since 2006. He has accepted a job a couple of times a day, when the tank The construction will continue as highway superintendent in the town of The meeting began with a public participation section. gets to a certain level. The system is on throughout the winter. Cain said At-Large City Councilor Matt Emmershy spoke up to Sandisfield. a data program which runs it automati- because the bond was delayed, winter Before voting to accept the letter of cally. Stayton said with the wet weather conditions are applied, which are more See Police Commission, Page 3 resignation, selectman Bill Levakis in the fall, outdoor use diminished costly. “The cost and nature of the busi- attempted a last minute appeal. “I’d be greatly from the summer. She said ness,” he said. curious to see if there’s any kind of wig- demand typically goes down in the Stayton said the city is currently in gle room to negotiate to keep you on winter. the design process for the permanent board,” Levakis asked, adding, “Can we Cain said putting the filter up and the structure for Wells 1 and 2. She said hold this off a little while?” temporary housing on it went fairly once Wells 7 & 8 go online, the Well 2 Curry said it was not a decision he smoothly, with just a couple of hiccups. temporary plant will go offline. She made lightly, but he felt it was time for “You should be proud of the people expects Wells 7 and 8 to start producing him to move on. Later, he admitted that who do it, and got it done,” Cain said. water next summer. Levakis had talked him out of leaving The job involved pouring a 30-by-30 The East Mountain tank, which will twice before. ft., two-ft. thick concrete slab for the also be paid for by the water filtration vessel. They also had to run piping in bond, is in the permitting process, and See Highway, Page 8 the well, over to the vessel, and connect they are getting ready to bid that project it to discharge piping for the city. Cain sometime over the winter. “We want to Left to right: Commission Chair Karl Hupfer, said some of the work was done in- bid at a time when there is good pricing Commissioner Felix Otero, Commissioner Leonard house, some by an outside contractor. and to minimize risk to the system,” Osowski, and Police Chief John Camerota at Monday’s Another part of the job was to bring Stayton said. Police Commission meeting. (Photo by Peter Currier) Brad Curry, left and Greg Day of Time is running out to Ballard Truck Center speak with the Southwick looking to purchase Board of Selectmen on Monday. (Photo by Amy Porter) preserve North Pond new voting machines By GREG FITZpaTRICK By GREG FITZpaTRICK In an effort to combat that chal- Correspondent Correspondent lenge, Southwick has qualified SOUTHWICK – The Franklin Land Trust wants to remind SOUTHWICK – The Town of under the state to purchase four the community that time is beginning to run out to save a vital Southwick is looking to purchase new machines. According to Hill, WSU recognizes piece of land in Southwick. four new voting machines by the three of the machines will become According to Mary Lynn Sabourin of the Franklin Land spring of 2019. working machines for future elec- two dignified Trust, the deadline to raise a total of $5 million in order to save During last month’s elections a tions, while the fourth one will 146 acres of North Pond on Congamond Lake is June 30, 2019. couple of voting machines at the serve as a backup in case any of However, Sabourin wants to make sure the community is aware Southwick Town Hall broke the remaining machines happen graduates that the state agencies want to know by March if the Franklin down.