Whitman-Hanson Express

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Arrests in Hanson incidents

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HANSON — Hanson police officers made arrests this week in two cases crediting police work, and alert witnesses for providing valuable information.

On June 14 just before 9:30 p.m., a masked male armed with a knife attempted to rob the Dunkin Donuts on Liberty Street. The employees reportedly fled the building to get help and the suspect left empty handed.

Officers were lead to the suspects after Officer Meegan of the Hanson Police had observed a similar car at Shaw’s matching the brown 2002 Ford Taurus that was seen leaving CVS at the time of the robbery and had obtained a plate number.

Subsequent interviews and video led Hanson Police to contact Quincy Police, said Chief Michael Miksch in a prepared press statement. The Dunkin Donuts manager assisted police in viewing the surveillance video. The footage showed a male party holding a knife in his hand, take the tip cup and attempted to open two cash registers.

Hanson Police were able to secure and execute two arrest warrants in the city of Quincy for Nicole Gallagher, 38, and Kenneth Gosselin III, 33, both of whom reside in Quincy.  Mrs. Gallagher is being held on $100,000 bail for arraignment in Plymouth District Court on Monday. Mr. Gosselin is also being held on $100,000 cash bail for arraignment Monday in Plymouth  Police were led to the suspects after interviewing the witnesses who observed a vehicle that matched the description of Mrs. Gallagher’s vehicle.

charges

Gallagher was arraigned on one count each armed and masked robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon. Gosselin  was arraigned on one count each of armed and masked robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon. They are both scheduled to be in court again on Tuesday, July 11. The investigation was led by Sgt. Andrews and Officer Meegan of the Hanson Police Department. Detective O’Brien, Officer Hughes, Officer Vigneau, Officer Peterson, and Officer Godwin were also instrumental in solving this case. The Hanson Police Department would like to thank the Quincy Police for their assistance as well as the area businesses and witnesses who provided valuable information.

Hanson Police received a report of a breaking and entering to a motor vehicle at Shaw’s Supermarket on Liberty Street just after 5 p.m. on Friday, June 16.

One of the vehicle’s windows was smashed and the perpetrators stole a purse. Witnesses reported seeing a green Mitsubishi Galant occupied by a male and female party in the area. A broadcast was sent out to area police departments with the vehicle later being located in Whitman at the CVS on Bedford Street. Whitman Sgt. Bombardier and Officer Young held the vehicle and the occupants until Hanson police could identify the parties.
Officers found the stolen pocketbook from the vehicle in Hanson. Police found numerous cell phones and pocketbooks in the car after obtaining a search warrant.

pair charged

Nicolas Flores, 24, of Brockton  and a 17-year-old female from Ohio were taken into custody and charged with breaking and entering to a motor vehicle, larceny over $250, and destruction of property over $250. The female was being held in custody by Department of Youth Services until her arraignment in Plymouth Juvenile Court Monday. Flores was being held on $2500 cash bail at the Plymouth House of Correction.  He was arraigned on Monday in Plymouth District Court. Flores was arraigned on in Plymouth District Court June 19. He is next due in court on Aug. 8.

The Hanson Police are working to locate the owners of this merchandise. Sgt. Peter Calogero, Officer Elisha Sullivan, and Sgt. Michael Bearce  assisted in the case. The cooperation of witnesses and the Whitman Police were also greatly appreciated, said Miksch.

Hanson man aids in rescue after crash

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A 52 year old Cape Cod man is fortunate to be alive after a fiery crash Tuesday afternoon when he veered off the road and into a tree near 113 Monponsett Street by the Halifax-Plympton line.

The unidentified male was partially ejected from the impact when witnesses reached him they pulled him to safety through the vehicle window.

Andy Lewis of Hanson reportedly told first responders he heard the crash from across the street in a field where he was using a brush mower.

A few cars back, off-duty firefighter Richard Moroge of Wareham witnessed the Jeep Grand Cherokee going off the road.  They jumped into action dragging the male approximately 20 feet away from the burning vehicle. The vehicle had a fully involved engine fire after striking the tree; however the driver cab had not caught fire in the minutes that ensued, according to Halifax Fire Chief Jason Viveiros.

Moroge’s department website lists him as a Wareham firefighter since 1984.

Multiple 911 calls were received by passersby at the Regional Old Colony Communications Center in Duxbury   at 1:23 p.m. The male sustained non-life threatening injuries and was ground-transported by Halifax EMS.

Halifax and Plympton police and Plympton Fire Chief Borsari all assisted at the scene. Halifax police are investigating the accident.

Gas main ruptured: No injuries reported as repairs made

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WHITMAN — A mushroom-like plume of brown debris was seen drifting over homes on Hogg Memorial Drive in Whitman around 8:20 a.m. on Thursday, June 1 after workers in the street hit a gas main while replacing water pipes — an ongoing project in the neighborhood, according to Fire Chief Timothy Grenno.

A Whitman officer on a detail at the scene reported the initial gas break alerting officials to the incident. The area was shut down to traffic and residents in approximately 15 homes on the street, out of an abundance of caution, were evacuated. There were six people combined and the Whitman Middle School on Corthell Avenue was used as a brief place of shelter for those closest to the accident zone, Grenno stated in a press release.

National Grid was on scene later around 9:30 a.m. and began to repair the pipe. Later in the day a Clean Harbor crew was preparing to sanitize the area after 5 p.m. A worker said he was unable to comment on what was being cleaned or tested and referred the Express reporter to National Grid for comments.

The initial incident was startling to neighbors who said they did not hear anything just voices and shouting following the incident as the crew realized they hit the gas main.

Jennifer Grady, who lives at 201 Hogg Memorial Drive where the digging was occurring and quickly realized there was something serious as she saw brown smoke covering her windows. She exited her home and later was directed to leave the area for safety reasons.

Two homes closest to the scene were covered in brown and reddish dirt and rust. There were no reported injuries.  Residents were able to return home at about 10:20 a.m. according to Grenno.

“When you have a leak of that size, it clears all the rust and dirt out of the line, because of this, a brown gas cloud covered the south and west end of town and began blowing into the center of town,” Grenno said.

Whitman is at the end of the National Grid line in a highly pressurized area.  Firefighters secured the scene and set up hoses to protect nearby structures, anticipating possible ignition of the gas, he said.

EMS was also on scene to assist a male resident on the street who was unable to exit his home due to his medical status and sheltered in place at his residence.

Whitman Police assisted on scene and were instrumental in evacuating homes. The East Bridgewater Fire Department provided station coverage for Whitman and responded to several emergencies in town.

Whitman Fire Rescue cleared the scene around 11:30 a.m. National Grid was on-site completing repairs, and Hogg Memorial Drive was closed until all crews cleared.

“We’re thankful that no one was hurt and we appreciate residents’ cooperation and patience during this incident,” said Chief Grenno  “At no time was anyone in serious danger.”

Hoax bomb threat forces Rt. 18 closure

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WHITMAN — Early morning traffic was snarled in Whitman Tuesday as traffic was re-routed to avoid a section of Bedford Street (Route 18) during an investigation of a bomb threat — determined to be a hoax.

In a joint press release Whitman Police and Fire departments stated they investigated a report of a bomb threat at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, May 30,  which was later determined to be a hoax similar to one in another state.

Officials made the decision to close Bedford Street during the investigation out of an abundance of caution, the chiefs said. The business, an insurance office, and surrounding businesses, including a fast food restaurant, were evacuated for a short time.

Police Chief Scott Benton and Fire Chief Timothy J. Grenno both responded to the scene. The Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad responded and conducted a search that discredited the threat.

“While we regret the inconvenience this incident may have caused, we hope that citizens and motorists understand that these precautions can sometimes be necessary,” Benton said. “These cases require the utmost caution, because being wrong even once can result in dire consequences.”

The Whitman threat was reportedly received by a business owner via fax. Police stated the hoax was nearly identical to another reported incident in London, Ky., at a newspaper printing company. In both messages, the owner was instructed to wire $25,000 to a Brazilian national in Chicago. Whitman Police warn business owners that these faxes are hoaxes, and any money wired to anonymous individuals will be lost forever and cannot be recovered.

During the investigation, Whitman Police and Fire were assisted at the scene by Abington and East Bridgewater Police units.

The incident is under investigation by the Whitman Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, and federal authorities.

Hanson honors the fallen

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HANSON — Residents turned out, despite a light rain, to watch ceremonies featuring selectmen and other town officials gathered at the town’s Civil War memorial on the Town Green after marching down Liberty Street Monday, May 29.

Keynote speaker, retired Army Col. Robert Huke of Hanson spoke to residents who displayed their support and commitment to the town’s observances despite the wet weather.

Wrapped in blankets, sharing colorful umbrellas and lining the street to show solidarity and respect countless residents remained present to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to country.

Huke touched on the meaning and history of Civil War General John A. Logan, who was a leader of that war’s Union veteran’s group, the Grand Army of the Republic. Logan was a driving force behind the observances we now celebrate as part of Memorial Day, Huke reminded the crowd.

“Enjoy your day, enjoy extra time with family and friends but I ask you this, please don’t forget why we celebrate. This is why the many gather here to honor our veterans the few who were so willing to give of themselves to defend their brothers and sisters and their country,” he said. “There is a difference about today Memorial Day isn’t just about honoring veterans it’s about honoring those who lost their life.”

Other traditional portions of Hanson’s observances included a reading of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address by Bruce Young and a ceremonial rifle salute by the 22nd Mass. Vol. Infantry re-enactment group.

Guilty plea in tax fraud case

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A former Whitman Police sergeant pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday, May 16 to wire fraud, preparing false income tax returns for clients of his tax preparation business, obstructing the internal revenue laws and misappropriating funds from the accounts of disabled veterans while he was a fiduciary appointed by the U.S.  Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

The plea was announced by Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney William D. Weinreb for the District of Massachusetts in a press release from the Public Affairs Office of the Department of Justice-Washington.

Glenn P. Pearson, 61, admitted to causing a tax loss of more than $1.5 million.

Pearson used his position as a fiduciary to misappropriate and embezzle more than $250,000 in VA-issued benefit money from the accounts of several veterans, according to the statement.

In court documents, officials stated Pearson obstructed the IRS by falsifying statements and documents for his clients, who were being audited.

“Mr. Pearson now finds himself on the opposite end of the very laws he was once sworn to uphold,” said Special Agent in Charge Harold H. Shaw of the FBI’s Boston Field Division.  “He took advantage of his position as a fiduciary to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from disabled veterans. The FBI will do everything we can to protect citizens against fraud, and stop those who steal from them.”

Pearson is scheduled for sentencing Sept. 19, facing a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for wire fraud, five years for misappropriation of funds by a fiduciary, three years for preparing false tax returns, and three years for attempting to interfere with the administration of the internal revenue laws.  As part of his plea he must make restitution to the veteran’s, the VA and IRS.

Pearson was reportedly fired as a Whitman police officer in early 2001 amid allegations of numerous inappropriate actions while on the job.

Special delivery: Baby girl makes a roadside debut

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WHITMAN — She was only a week early, but newborn Rebecca Bennett certainly has made a grand entrance, arriving in the family car on the side of Route 27 in Whitman Tuesday morning.

In labor but not expecting such a quick delivery, her parents were driving to the hospital — as they have with their four other children, who happen to be all boys.

“We thought we could make it to the hospital but she had other plans,” said local mom Sara Bennett, in a phone interview from Signature Health Care Brockton Hospital on Wednesday morning.

They finally got their girl, who has also given them lots to talk about.

Sara told her husband to pull over as the baby was already there.

Although the delivery was “easier” for the experienced mom of five the roadside delivery was not something she would want to do again by herself, she said

“Whitman Fire/ EMS arrived and asked what we needed and I said, ‘nothing … she is already here,” Bennett recalled Wednesday morning.

Mom, dad and baby are all healthy, she added. The pink bundle of joy weighs 7 pounds 8 ounces and is 19 ½ inches long.

Calling 911, little Rebecca’s dad pulled to the side of the road so paramedics from Whitman Fire could secure the baby’s airway and cut the umbilical cord, then wrapped and transported mom and baby in the ambulance.

Bennett said the guys (Whitman firefighters) “were wonderful and so nice.”

She even found some time to post a note to the department on their public Facebook page it read:

“A special thank you to Whitman Fire/Rescue for the transport to the hospital after having my baby on the side of Route 27 in our car…they were professional and so caring!”

Chief Timothy Grenno replied on Facebook extending congratulations to the family and acknowledged the recognition of gratitude for his department members.

“With all the tragedy we and (my guys) see on a daily basis it’s nice to see a positive and heartwarming incident that really shows the qualifications and skills of our paramedics and firefighters,” said Grenno.

Time to ‘Play ball!’ in Hanson

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HANSON — Hanson Little League’s annual parade and opening day festivities were held Saturday — and it finally felt like spring had arrived.

With the smell of burgers on the grill at the snack shack, and the crowd overflowing inside and outside the gate and field, many families joined their players on the walk from the Hanson Town Hall to Botieri Fields for ceremonies and first pitches.

A moment of silence was observed, and blue balloons were released, in honor of longtime Hanson baseball volunteer and mom Lori Sawtelle who passed away last month after a long battle with cancer.

Christopher O’Brien received the Botieri Award for his dedication and respect on and off the field as a member of Hanson baseball.

Lily Andrews threw the first pitch for the girls’ softball and former board member Greg Collins threw the first pitch for baseball.

Hanson Little League board member Paul Clark was master of ceremonies at the event.

Abby Godwin, 11, of Hanson sang the national anthem bringing cheers from the crowd as Hanson kicked off the beginning of the season for 2017.

Hanson mourns a devoted volunteer

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HANSON — A familiar face inside the snack shack at the Botieri Field, Lori Sawtelle of Hanson always dedicated her time to helping others and shared her love of baseball with hundreds of Little Leaguers.

There will be an un-fillable void as baseball season begins next week, friends have said.

Lori Sawtelle lost her courageous battle with cancer last week. She was only 47 years old. A mother to Ryan and Ashley and married for 24 years to husband Scott, who has also been a staple at the field, Sawtelle is described as a dedicated and giving woman by all who knew her.

A committed volunteer in the community and an employee of the Hanson Middle School, Sawtelle is remembered by former Hanson Little League Board member Greg Collins.

“In a global perspective she literally was there running the snack shack nearly every night,” Collins said. “We knew she was there and it was in good hands. Things ran smoothly. … As a board member we were confident things were done right. She was loved by all.”

Collins said Sawtelle “literally knew everyone” — all the kids by their first name and their parents, as well.

“She was always at the ballfield and a constant in a positive sense,” he recalled. “It was always about the kids and making a better experience about the greater good of the town. She was a baseball mom through and through but it was more than that. She has left a mark. There is a void and she will be missed.”

Hanson Fire Lt. Rob O’Brien, also a HLL board member, knew Lori as a principal at the snack shack and echoed her unwavering commitment to the youth in the community.

O’Brien’s son Chris would often volunteer to assist Lori, who welcomed the hands at the snack shack. She even gave him a few catching tips as he developed his skills at that position, O’Brien recalled.

“Chris would get a hot dog from Lori at the end of the night. It was the kind of lady she was.  She was always kind to him,”said O’Brien.

Those who remember Lori extend throughout the community at-large.

“The passing of Lori Sawtelle is a great loss to the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District and the community of Hanson,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for her many contributions to the school system and community.  At Whitman-Hanson, we are keeping Lori’s family, co-workers, students, and friends in our thoughts and prayers”

Scott Sawtelle has also been active as a coach since his son was 4. Hanson LL Board of Directors President Mike Joselyn spoke of Scott and Lori as friends and former neighbors.

Although Sawtelle’s health was failing she made sure to attend and cheer on the boys championship games last season, Joselyn said. Photographing each player with the trophy and emailing a copy of the photo to their family.

“She was selfless.  It is just what she did and she made other people better because of who she was,” he said.

Last fall Paul Clarke of Hanson, also a board member for HLL, was a driving force in establishing a fund to assist in defraying the cost medical care for Lori. She was present at the walking event and at the finish line, which coincided with the Damien’s Freaky 5K run.

Many who participated in the event have commented through Facebook upon hearing of her passing.

Hanson Little League posted photos of Lori from last year’s fall event and commented on the tremendous loss.

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Lori Sawtelle. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Sawtelle family during this difficult time. Lori fought her cancer with courage and always had an upbeat outlook. She was always there for Hanson Little League through the years. She will be missed.”

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High School baseball team, on which Lori’s son Ryan plays, attended both her wake and funeral in support of their teammate, according to Whitman Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green, whose son is on the team.

“The entire W-H community is saddened by the passing of Lori Sawtelle, a Hanson Middle paraprofessional and most importantly husband to Scott and loving mom to Ashley and Ryan,” WHRHS Athletic Director Bob Rodgers Tweeted Friday, March 24. “Ryan is one of our best student-athletes who is loved by all of his teammates.”

Whitman’s Board of Selectmen honored her memory in their pre-meeting Moment of Silence Tuesday night.

A memorial fund has been set up in her name to reduce the financial burden on her family at the web site You Caring  at: youcaring.com/sawtellefamily-783695.

Content from Lori Sawtells’ obituary [See page 13] was used in this article.

They’re drawn to reading

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HANSON — Practice doesn’t always make perfect but practice makes better.

Guest Author Illustrator Brian Lies of Duxbury reminded students of this small but powerful lesson, which made a big impact on the students at Maquan Elementary School on Friday — a visit sponsored by a grant through the Hanson Cultural Council.

He is currently working on his 30th book and has a series of stories featuring bats, which has made the New York Times Best Sellers list.

He read to the students but not before a short animated talk about how he became an author/illustrator.

He shared relatable life lessons with the students and even did a side-by-side comparison of a drawing his mother had saved when he was in second grade. The short, colored illustration had a few words and four photos. Students’ eyes brightened as they mumbled about his poor drawing skills.

Lies used the pictures to demonstrate how he was not perfect as his work and took years of development, classes, schooling and practice. He also shared how he, too, had received notes on his English papers asking him to add more detail.

He spoke with enthusiasm and encouragements letting the students know that you can acquire a certain skill, then become better by working at it.

Lies was born in Princeton, N.J., and graduated from Brown University in 1985 with a degree in British and American Literature. He attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston for two and a half years, and then created Op/Ed page illustrations for numerous publications, including the Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune and Christian Science Monitor.

He showed the students dozens of drawing pads in which many of his top sellers were sketched.

Lies explained writing, rewriting and editing his drawings was part of his process to get the exact message, and art work to completion before the publication of a book.

In developing his character of the little bat who wears floaties Lies was inspired as a father and recalled as an adult how young people can feel left out in different circumstances.

He illustrated his first children’s book for Houghton Mifflin Company in 1989, and has since illustrated more than two dozen others, such as his New York Times bestselling bat series (“Bats at the Beach,” “Bats at Library,” “Bats at the Ballgame”  and “Bats in the Band”).

Lies work has garnered numerous awards, and can be found in galleries around the country, according to his website.

After question-and-answer times, students helped Lies brainstorm what bat should be doing in a drawing he then autographed and donated to the Maquan Library .

He explained his drawing techniques using an example of shading with peeled crayons and soon the white sheet of paper was dancing with a little bat that may have had a job as a dog walker.