www.StonebridgePress.com Friday, May 10, 2019 Newsstand: 75 cents Firefighter accused of assaulting dispatcher BY ANNIE SANDOLI Sunday, April 28 at the judge ordered that he be outcome of his next court of court proceedings as of grabbing, kissing, and CORRESPONDENT Sturbridge Public Safety released on a $200 bail date. Auburn Fire Chief well as our own internal groping her without her Complex. with the condition of his Stephen M. Coleman, Jr. investigation on the mat- consent multiple times STURBRIDGE— According to Timothy release being that that released a statement on ter. As this is a person- after he returned from Auburn firefighter Adam J. Connolly, Director of he stay away from and social media recognizing nel matter, we will not responding to an ambu- P. LaFlash of Sturbridge, Communications for have no contact with the the incident. comment further until lance dispatch for a car who is a full-time fire the office of Worcester victim. He is due back in “We are aware of the this case makes its way accident. She also said lieutenant for the County District Attorney court on Monday, June allegations against one through the court system he had been sending her Auburn Fire Department Joseph D. Early, Jr., 10. of our members that and all investigations are inappropriate messages and has been working LaFlash, 36, was charged The Town of Sturbridge occurred in the Town of complete.” over text and through as a part-time call fire- with and pleaded not has suspended LaFlash’s Sturbridge while work- According to a police Facebook. The two had fighter for the Sturbridge guilty to three counts part-time position, and ing secondary employ- report, the Sturbridge exchanged messages Fire Department for of indecent assault and the Town of Auburn has ment with the Sturbridge Police Department began prior to this occurrence nearly three years, has battery on a person 14 placed LaFlash on paid Fire Department,” he investigating later in the in 2018, but she blocked been accused of sexually or older and two counts administrative leave said. “The employee day on Sunday, April 28 him after becoming and physically assault- of assault and battery at from his full-time posi- has been placed on paid starting with an inter- uncomfortable with his ing a female dispatcher Dudley District Court tion until they do an administrative leave view with the dispatch- messages and said she early in the morning on on Monday, April 29. A investigation and see the pending the outcome er. She accused LaFlash Please Read ASSAULT, page A2 Juvenile suspects arrested for vehicle break-ins BY JASON BLEAU CORRESPONDENT CHARLTON – Charlton police made four arrests on Saturday, May 4 after a local resident observed a group of juveniles breaking into vehicles in the early morning hours. According to a release from the Charlton Police Department, calls were received at around 3:16 a.m. from the area of Roberts Boulevard where a resident was letting his dog out and observed the youths breaking into vehicles in the neighborhood. The juveniles fled in a stolen vehicle which the resident described to police in a call to 911. Charlton Officer Christopher Birtz was the first to spot the vehicle on Daniels Road and pursued the Courtesy Photo car onto Colburn Road. The vehicle did not stop after Officer Birtz activated his blue lights and sirens. The suspects then went onto A.F. Putnam Road eventually making their way down Oxford Road and Muggett WALK FOR HUNGER Hill Road, turning onto Freeman Road Extension Several members of Auburn High School’s Student Council took part in the annual Project Bread before crashing into the nearby woods at the intersec- Walk For Hunger held May 5 on Boston Common tion of Old Muggett Hill Road. One juvenile male was taken into custody at that time but the three remain- Please Read JUVENILE, page A14 Community rallies to help Leicester girl BY KEVIN FLANDERS to let her family know when she is donated the last $2,500 we needed STAFF WRITER about to have a seizure. from the proceeds from their Taste LEICESTER – Madison Cole and Maddie’s family is thrilled by the of Leicester event.” her family have always enjoyed rapid response of the community. Maddie’s family is partnering strong support from the communi- Whenever a family in town is in with the 4 Paws for Ability orga- ty, and residents once again rallied need, Leicester residents and orga- nization, which required $17,000 behind Maddie this spring. nizations are always quick to offer to start training a personal service In just a few weeks, residents and assistance. The Deja New organi- dog for Maddie. It will take roughly organizations teamed up to raise zation played a significant role in two years to fully train the dog, the $17,000 needed to train a sei- this latest fundraising effort. and the process can get started zure alert dog for Maddie. Forced “I am speechless. We were able right away thanks to residents’ to raise all the funds in less than donations. to battle multiple refractory sei- Courtesy Photo zures each day due to epilepsy, two weeks,” said Maddie’s mother, The fundraising campaign in Residents and organizations recently teamed up to raise the the 10-year-old Leicester Memorial Lisa Cole. “The Deja New team was $17,000 needed to train a seizure alert dog for 10-year-old School student needs the alert dog with us every step of the way and Please Read MADDIE, page A5 Madison Cole. Annual 5K supports melanoma research BY ANNIE SANDOLI New Haven University and always open up a conversation about mel- CORRESPONDENT kept a positive attitude about her anoma and help people learn more condition. about the importance of getting FISKDALE—For the 14th year After Tietgen’s death, her fam- checked for it, because although in a row, runners and supporters ily started the Jennifer Linscott it can be very deadly, it is pre- will be participating in the annual Tietgen Foundation to help edu- ventable and treatable if its caught BB5K Run/Walk and Festival at cate others and all the proceeds before it has metastasized. Hyland Orchard on Saturday, May from the BB5K, which stands for “We’ve had several people who, 25 at 9 a.m. to raise awareness for Tietgen’s motto ‘Be a Believer,’ because they’ve come to the race, and educate people on melanoma, are used to support that founda- have gotten to a dermatologist and the most deadly type of skin cancer tion, the Melanoma Education caught melanoma early,” said Hall. that can affect anyone but is most Foundation, and Roswell Park A major part of what the prevalent in people ages 25 to 29 Comprehensive Cancer Center in Melanoma Education Foundation and women ages 30 to 35. Buffalo, N.Y. The race was founded in 2005 in “I hope that the 5K continues Please Read 5K, page A14 honor of Jennifer Tietgen, a local to be another way to educate victim of melanoma who died in family and community members 2002 at the age of 27 after undergo- about melanoma, because it’s so ing five years of unsuccessful medi- preventable if caught early,” said cal procedures and chemotherapy. Tietgen’s sister Peg Hall, a resi- She was hardworking and deter- dent of Sturbridge. “This really Annie Sandoli Photo mined, and despite her diagnosis isn’t about getting a lot of runners For the 14th year in a row, runners and supporters will be and rigorous treatment, she grad- or running a long distance, but participating in the annual BB5K Run/Walk and Festival at uated on time with a 3.9 GPA and about educating people in our own Hyland Orchard on Saturday, May 25 at 9 a.m. to raise aware- a master’s degree in Industrial/ community.” 6 5652510391 9 ness for and educate people on melanoma. Organizational Psychology from The main goal of the race is to 2 • THE AUBURN NEWS • Friday, May 10, 2019 Teamwork leads to success addition to slightly more than be able to work with a profes- I likewise appreciate being a ocKETS 30 articles being given their As per Dictionary.com, by sional team of colleagues from part of such a dynamic, ded- R careful consideration, with definition, teamwork means, across the Auburn communi- icated and forward-thinking REVIEW healthy discussion on some “a cooperative or coordinated ty in helping to achieve our team. warrant articles being clear effort on the part of persons common mission: the success DR. MARYELLEN evidence of democracy at its acting together as a team or of the Auburn community for On another note, with BRUNELLE best. in the interests of a common each and every one of its res- Mother’s Day being celebrated SUPERINTENDENT cause.” I have long lived with idents. Some volunteer their on Sunday, May 12, it seems OF SCHOOLS A recurring theme – that the belief that, “none of us can time, others are employees and only fitting to extend best wish- has been notable for numer- do it alone,” but in reading a still others hold various lead- es to the many “Moms” read- ous years – was the positive recent quote by an unknown ership positions. Regardless of ing today’s column as well as to Henry Ford said, “Coming and collaborative working author, it seemed to best epit- the role each plays, the contri- those who may only be with us together is the beginning. relationships that exist across omize the power of team, sim- butions made by each helps to in spirit.