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Mailed free to requesting homes in East Brookfield, West Brookfield, North Brookfield, Brookfield, Leicester and Spencer Vol. 34, No. 27 Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.SPENCERNEWLEADER.COM ‘The crowd makes the ballgame.’ Friday, July 2, 2010 Joyous tribute follows a solemn vigil RIDE MARKS 11TH YEAR OF ‘WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP’ BY DAVID DORE SUPPORTING CHILD SAFETY NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER WARREN — Never forget. This year’s ride held a spe- That was the message of a cial significance, as it vigil Saturday, June 26 marked the 10th anniver- marking the 10th anniver- sary of the Warren teen’s sary of the disappearance abduction from her life- and death of 16-year-old guard post at Comins Pond. Molly Anne Bish. The first ride was held in Her family and friends August the year Molly disap- will never forget the impact peared and has been repeat- she had on their lives, both ed each of the 10 years since. before and after she van- Even though the motorcy- ished from her lifeguard cle rally was held at yet post at Comins Pond a little another location — the base past 10 a.m. June 27, 2000. of operations for the ride “Despite what a horrible has changed locales every sadness this has been, Molly couple of years — the has changed all of us, and by David Dore photos turnout topped last year’s her touching all of our lives riders by nearly 100 entries, everyone here has been With former state Rep. Reed Hillman, top left, and Heather Bish, top right, looking on, Magi Bish shows a butterfly to one of the young with 510 registered bikes at affected,” said her mother, Christopher Tanguay photo attendees of Saturday’s vigil. Magi Bish waves and blows kisses to supporters as she takes off the start of the ride. Magi Bish. “We have done near the front of the pack during the 11th annual Molly’s Ride for Prior to the ride, the foun- many good things because of offender registry and a Joseph Early Jr. said they Child Safety Sunday, June 27. dation held its annual can- what happened to Molly.Her national criminal DNA data- would never forget to keep dlelight vigil at Comins love sustains us all, and we base. looking for the person who Pond on Saturday evening. will never forget her and we “We know that in 10 years took Molly’s life. Tips con- BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY and Family Fun Day. Moments before the bikes STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER will never stop looking for there’s been sometimes baby tinue to come in and be More than 500 riders came came thundering out of the justice.” STURBRIDGE — Despite out to support the founda- steps and some big steps, but investigated, Early said at Center at Hobbs Brook Legislators have not for- we know that we’ve been the vigil. the heat and humidity, there tion and reaffirm the never- Sunday, Molly’s mother, gotten the calls from Molly’s was plenty of denim and ending commitment to keep- able to make some differ- Almost from the begin- Magi Bish, addressed the family and others to pass ence because of Molly,” Bish ning, names have surfaced leather at the Molly Bish ing children safe from crowd. She choked up as she laws such as the AMBER Foundation’s 11th annual predatory harm in honor of said. in the media as possible sus- Alert (used to find missing Law enforcement and Molly’s Ride for Child Safety Molly Bish. Turn To RIDE, page A13 Turn To VIGIL, page A13 children), the national sex Worcester District Attorney Fourth fireworks return to Spencer INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION AT FAIRGROUNDS BY TERESA A. FRANCO Celebrations Committee is respon- to help with future events (includ- NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER sible for piecing together the event. ing the Halloween party, Christmas SPENCER — For the first time in The Family Fun Day begins Parade and next year’s Family Fun almost a decade, the town of Saturday, July 3 at noon and wraps Day). Spencer will have an Independence up with a fireworks display at 9:45 Committee Chair Wendy Day celebration of its own — com- p.m. The event takes place at the Berthiaume said the board was plete with traditional fireworks. Spencer Fairgrounds. Admission is The newly orchestrated free, but donations will be collected Turn To FIREWORKS, page A7 Tea Party drops anchor in Spencer SEEN AS WAY TO SPOTLIGHT GOVERNMENT ISSUES BY JOY RICHARD NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER SPENCER — The nationwide Tea Party movement is taking on a more visible local following, with a group of residents from Spencer and the Brookfields banding together for what they describe as one common cause: a love for their country. Whether you agree or disagree with the sentiments of the recently established Tea Party, it is apparent David Dore photo North Brookfield residents Dan Meloche, husband and wife Larry and Diane Buzzell and John McRae of East Courtesy photo Brookfield are passionate about the growing organiza- HELLO BIRDIE SPENCER — Spencer Fire Lt. Jim Lapierre cups his hands to hold on to a baby tion and what its members stand for. Members of the recently established Knox Trail Tea Party Dan bird that came out of its nest in a tree in front of the fire station a couple of Meloche, John McRae and Larry Buzzell pose for a photo, with weeks ago. After this photo was taken, the bird was put back in the nest. Meloche in full 18th-century garb. Turn To TEA PARTY, page A7 INSIDE THE NEW LEADER ON PAGE A4 ON PAGE A9 Calendar......................B5 Police Logs ................A12 Classroom Corner..........A6 Public Meetings ...........A3 Around Heat stay alive in Little Obituaries ....................B2 Sports ....................A9-11 Our Towns League tournament Our Towns....................B4 Viewpoint.....................A8 2 SPENCER NEW LEADER • Friday, July 2, 2010 Spencer, Southbridge heist ties examined ALMANAC MONSON MAN ACCUSED OF ROBBING SOUTHBRIDGE BANK QUOTATION OF BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL police work, five minutes after the rob- THE EEK NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER bery.” W SOUTHBRIDGE — Police have arrested A vehicle similar to Vigneault’s was a man suspected of robbing the recently used to rob the Southbridge “It’s actually a little hair- Southbridge Savings Bank in the Big Y Savings Bank branch inside the Big Y in grocery store Monday, June 28. Spencer on Monday, June 21. The suspect, raising — there are no safety Brian K. Vigneault, 40, of 85 Maxwell in that incident, never showed a weapon. features. Really, the little Road, Monson, was charged with A search of the car “recovered $2,340 in unarmed robbery and was held at U.S. currency and an amount of crushed hairs on the back of your Southbridge Police Headquarters on methadone pills,” the police report stated. neck rise when you’re going $50,000 cash bail awaiting arraignment at “Sgt. Bellerose also recovered a baseball Dudley District Court Tuesday, June 29. hat and sunglasses believed to be used about 30.” As of press time, the investigation was during the commission of the robbery.” ongoing. Southbridge police, assisted by Southbridge Savings Bank Security — EAST BROOKFIELD DEPUTY FIRE detectives from the Spencer Police Officer Susan Keough declined to say after HIEF AUL ORMANDIN ON RIDING Department and other agencies, are look- David Dore photos the incident whether any cash was taken, C P N , ing into Vigneault’s possible involvement but said the branch was closed as a result. Southbridge police officers collect evidence from a silver ON THE DEPARTMENT’S ONCE-AGAIN- in other local bank robberies. Honda Civic coupe (owned by Brian K. Vigneault of The bank was to reopen by Tuesday, she OPERATIONAL 1929 AMERICAN Monday’s incident occurred at 4:19 p.m., said. She deferred additional inquires to Monson) at the corner of Hamilton and West Main streets LAFRANCE FIRE TRUCK. according to Police Lt. Shane Woodson. after a hold-up Monday, June 28 at the Southbridge Savings the police. A teller at the bank reported being Bank branch inside the Big Y in Southbridge. Sgt. Bellerose was the arresting officer, robbed by a male wearing a baseball hat assisted on scene by Auxiliary Officer and sunglasses, according to a press Christopher Iozzo. They were assisted by release issued by the Southbridge Police himself with sunglasses. Detective Sgt. Ryan Roettger, Sgt. Carlos THE STATS Department Monday night. All units were After receiving the call, Sgt. Steven Dingui, Sgt. Brian Haggerty, Officer Jason immediately dispatched to the scene. Bellerose passed the car in his cruiser near Bonadies, Officer Alex Berry and Auxiliary MAJOR ANCESTRY GROUPS (%) “Big Y called us and said they got robbed the intersection of Mill and Hamilton Officer Kevin Arena. REPORTED BY RESIDENTS by a masked man,” Woodson said. streets, turned around, and stopped the sus- SCOTCH IRISH The suspect, a white male in his early 30s pect, who was driving a silver Honda.