Tolland County News

“If there were a Good Guy Hall of Fame, he would be elected on the first ballot”

On the celebration of his 20th anniversary as town manager, John Elsesser was saluted Monday night by everyone from the governor's emissary to the local police chief.

But the most piercing tribute came after the crowd cleared, during public comment before the regular council meeting. That was when a former councilman, Tom Pope, told the story of Elsesser's behind-the-scenes work to get a senior center built.

'What a waste of bronze to have the town council's name on that building,' said Pope, who was on the council at that time. 'It should have been called the Elsesser Senior Center.' Read more

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The case of a 55-year-old man accused of trying to have a state's attorney, deputy chief state's attorney and a state police detective killed is going to trial.

Judge David P. Gold told Ralph Malito Tuesday that his trial will start some time this summer in Superior Court in Hartford. Gold put the case on the trial list after Malito rejected an undisclosed plea agreement offer.

'It's going to be a case that's going to get immediate attention,' Gold said.

Malito allegedly sought someone to kill Deputy Chief State's Attorney Paul E. Murray and Tolland County State's Attorney Matthew C. Gedansky for $250,000, and offered $200,000 more to have a police officer killed. Malito also has charges pending from 2003 when he was accused of trying to hire someone to kill his wife. Read more

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“They have to pay higher at the supermarket and when that happens, they have to take care of their own homes first, which then impacts their ability to give.”

It's been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but at least one local food bank said it is running low on its inventory of breakfast food as well as other staple items.Kathleen Lombardo, ... via Thehour.com

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“Connecticut spent most of 2007 defying the downward trends in neighboring states”

Slipping single-family home prices reflected in 3.3% dropoff in January Slowing sales might finally be translating into lower prices for the local housing market. via The Day

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University of Connecticut students received a text message Saturday via the University Text Message Alert System. via WFSB-TV Hartford

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“I can say to your honor the defendant was handed a gift on March 16, 2007, when he entered pleas to reduced charges of risk of injury to a minor and second-degree assault”

It was a challenging case for prosecutors to take to trial. There were no witnesses, and there was no physical or corroborating evidence. via Hartford Courant

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UConn worked hard to create an emergency notification system. Now it must be sure it works. via The Day

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A mysterious hole in the ice on Swan Lake on the University of Connecticut campus prompted a two-hour search by divers and other authorities Saturday morning before authorities determined no one had fallen in.

Campus police on general patrol noticed the hole at about 7:30 a.m., about 30 to 40 feet from shore, UConn police Maj. Ron Blicher said.

Police spotted footprints near the area, prompting concern that someone might have fallen through the ice. The hole was about 6 feet by 3 feet, in a portion of the lake where the water is 6 to 8 feet deep. The ice was about 4 inches thick, Blicher said. Read more

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A 27-year-old man charged in a barn fire in Hampton on Sunday, was ordered held on $400,000 bond after being arraigned in Superior Court in Danielson today on the charges, court officials said. via Connecticut's WB 20

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