Vigil today for murdered ECSU student

20-year-old Alyssiah Marie Wiley, the missing ECSU student who was found murdered – a vigil in her memory will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, May 20 at the clock tower on the Eastern campus in Willimantic, CT.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

A vigil will be held today (May 20) at 3 p.m. on the campus of Eastern Connecticut State University, to gather in memory of 20-year-old Alyssiah Wiley, who was found dead after weeks of searching.

Wiley was reported missing on April 24, but was last seen on Main Street in Willimantic on April 20. She had told friends and roommates she was going home, to West Haven, CT.

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Police arrest suspect in the murder of ECSU student

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

CT State Police report that the remains found with the aid of police dogs on Friday in Trumbull near the Bridgeport line is the body of the missing Eastern Connecticut State University student Alyssiah Wiley.

Police also say they have arrested a suspect in connection with her death, a 30-year-old man, Jermaine Richards, of Bridgeport.

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Devastating fire in Willimantic at St. Mary’s Church

Smokes billows from St. Mary’s Church on Valley Street after a fire broke out sometime before 6:30 p.m. Photo copyright 2013 by Brenda Sullivan.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

While sounds of live music and other entertainment drifted from Main Street, coming from the first Willimantic Third Thursday Street Fest of the season, huge clouds of brown smoke billowed from the nearby St. Mary’s Church on Valley Street.

Next door to this stately landmark, firefighters cut through the Willimantic Food Co-op fence in order to allow access to fire trucks.

Firefighters from surrounding towns – including Scotland and Storrs/University of Connecticut – as well as other departments in Windham were on the scene of the fire that was reported sometime before 6:30 p.m. on May 16.

Small crowds gathered on the Jillson Square green as well as on Maple Street – the back side of the church, which is where the majority of the smoke was pouring from.

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Statewide art contest includes four students from Mansfield

For the 2013 Secretary of the State’s annual poster contest, Secretary Merrill (last row, far right) honored 40 students – selected from a field of more than 500 entrants from nearly 50 participating elementary schools – for their posters depicting acts of good citizenship happening in their community. Contributed photo.

Press Release

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill joined dozens of 4th graders from across Connecticut on Thursday, May 16, 2013 in the Old Judiciary Room at the State Capitol in Hartford for an awards ceremony honoring the winners of the Secretary of the State’s 18^th annual poster contest.

Secretary Merrill honored 40 students – selected from a field of more than 500 entrants from nearly 50 participating elementary schools – for their posters depicting acts of good citizenship happening in their community.

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Fun Run to support Mansfield Community Playground

You are invited to support the creation of the Mansfield Community Playground by participating in the “5K Fun Run, Walk, or Stroll” on Saturday, June 8.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

You are invited to support the creation of the Mansfield Community Playground by participating in the “5K Fun Run, Walk, or Stroll” on Saturday, June 8.

There also will be races for kids, so it’s fun for the whole family. No pets, please.

Kids’ races will start at 9 a.m. on the E.O. Smith High School track.  The (untimed) 5K will start and end at the Mansfield Community Center, beginning at 10 a.m.

Want a T-shirt to commemorate the event? Then register by May 17. After that date, specific sizes may not be available.

Also on race day, you can make your own footprint tiles that will become part of an art installation in the playground. Tiles are $25 each and must be paid for on race day.

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Paving Storrs Road – Route 195 in Mansfield

Milling and paving of Storrs Road (Route 195) – part of improvements being made to this main roadway associated with the Storrs Center development – is expected to begin on Friday, May 17, 2013.

Press Release

Milling and paving of Storrs Road (Route 195) – part of improvements being made to this main roadway associated with the Storrs Center development – is expected to begin on Friday, May 17, 2013.

During this work, traffic will be restricted at times to alternating one-lane patterns.

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New East Hampton Police Chief is former Mansfield trooper

New Police Chief Sean Cox of Mansfield, CT was sworn in at a Special Meeting of the East Hampton Town Council on May 2, 2013. A 21-year veteran of the Connecticut State Police, Cox’s most recent assignment was Commanding Officer of the Governor’s Security Detail for Gov. Malloy.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

Approximately four months ago, East Hampton, CT launched a nationwide search for its next Chief of Police to replace longtime Chief Matt Reimondo, who retired in January but then was called back by the town to serve as interim police chief.

After receiving 52 applicants, the town undertook a two-part process running candidates through an oral board of current and former police chiefs and then reviewing the five proposed candidates with a small committee composed of local residents Dale Maynard and Greg Pugatch and Town Council members Kyle Dostaler, Barbara Moore and Sue Weintraub.

The Committee recommended two of the five candidates for Town Manager Michael Maniscalco to review.

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