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November 24, 1989

A 25–60-year sentence awaits Richard Crafts for killing his wife, Helle, three years ago, although lawyers for the former pilot say they will appeal the conviction because of widespread publicity generated by the sensational case. Mr Crafts, 51, was found guilty of murder Tuesday in Norwalk Superior Court. The prosecution alleged he killed his flight attendant wife, cut the body into pieces with a chainsaw and ran some of the body parts through a woodchipper to destroy the evidence.

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An emergency in Newtown? Dial 9-1-1. That is the number of the new emergency service now in operation that makes it possible to summon police, fire, or ambulance service. According to Chief DeJoseph, when you dial 911 from most phones, you will immediately be connected to a dispatch desk at Police Headquarters. A highly-trained person on duty will promptly determine which service is needed and use the direct lines to police, fire, or ambulance to dispatch help. Enhanced 911 is being introduced on a town by town basis.

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Finally learning to ride a two-wheel bicycle is a momentous occasion in every child’s life. It usually takes a little while before the training wheels come off and then even longer before the child can master the art of riding. Newtown’s Troy Simek has mastered the art. At the age of two, Simek was able to ride his two wheeler and by his third birthday was not only riding confidently, but was actually racing BMX. Standing a whopping 36 inches tall and weighing in at 30 pounds, Simek recently finished up his first year of BMX bike racing, ranked second in the state of Connecticut.

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Tom Buchino, a quick thinking construction worker for Arcon, Inc, may have kept traffic from backing up for miles on Route 25, Monday, November 20, after a modular home was accidentally dumped on Dead Man’s Curve. Mr Buchino called in the accident and when police arrived, volunteered to use his payloader to remove the wreck. Needless to say, the police were thrilled and the roadblock was cleared within 15 minutes.

November 27, 1964

Parishioners and friends attended the reception given on Sunday evening in honor of the Rev and Mrs Alastair Clark Sellers and their children, Duncan, Alexandra, Clark and Lesley, in the Memorial Room of the Newtown Congregational Church, by the members of the congregation. Receiving the more than 350 guests with the Sellars family were Arthur Christie, chairman of the board of trustees and chairman of the pastoral committee which recommended Mr Sellars as new senior Minister, Mrs Christie, Curtis Titus, Robert Fox and Mrs Fox.

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St John’s Episcopal Church in Sandy Hook observed its 100th anniversary last Thursday with a Centennial Banquet in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall. Members of the church attended together with friends and invited clergy of the town, to mark this important event in history. St John’s Parish had a humble beginning in the fall of 1864 as a Church School of Trinity Parish.

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The Bee prides itself on deciphering indecipherable messages, but this time our crystal ball has failed us. A postcard mailed in Yonkers, N.Y., says “Please send me a copy of the Newtown Bee and subscription rates. I am interested in receiving your paper. Thank you.” That’s all. No name, no address. The Bee’s thanks will go, in turn, to any reader with a direct telepathic line to Yonkers, who can tune in our would-be subscriber.

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The 163rd AKC sanctioned match of the Newtown Kennel Club will take place Thursday evening, December 3, at the gymnasium in Edmond Town Hall. This is the big night of the year, for immediately after the judging of best in match, Mrs Jeanette Cross of Greenwich will select the dog of the year from the 1964 match show winners. Admission is 50 cents for adults, 25 cents for children and entries are $1 per dog.

 

November 24, 1939

Throughout the year and particularly around the Thanksgiving Season live animals and fowls, especially the latter, are given away as prizes. The Connecticut law forbids giving any live animal or bird as a prize or award. This law in many instances is violated because of ignorance of the statute. Nevertheless, this illegal practice causes agents of the Connecticut Humane Society a lot of work. They, therefore, urge fraternal orders and other organizations not to give living creatures as prizes. Dressed poultry is a more suitable prize than a live turkey and is more convenient for the winner.

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A fairly good crowd of touch football players were on hand Sunday afternoon for the workout held at the Country Club grounds. A hard scrimmage was participate in by the two elevens. A team led by Howard Shipley defeated the group captained by Paul Smith in a spirited tussle, 12-6.

***

While announcements have already appeared in the daily press that Grace Moore is to open a school of singing here in Newtown, residents of the vicinity will be particularly interested to know that Miss Moore, (or Mrs Parera as she prefers to be known by her Newtown neighbors) has written a letter to the Editor of The Bee. “I thought this might interest my Newtown neighbors. There has been widespread interest in this announcement and I have one of the world’s great vocal teachers and coaches coming from Rome, Italy, and the best to be found here in America. I’m hoping that we can develop some great future voices there in our beautiful Connecticut, where I shall soon be for my first Christmas in our new home… P.S. I know you want to share my wishes to make Newtown a great musical center and I plan to accept day students from Connecticut for the school also.”

***

Newtown’s oldest and probably most accurate weather prophet is back on his lofty perch once more after being “grounded” a short time for repairs and a new coat of gold leaf put on by “Bert” Nichols, veteran painter. We refer of course to the large metal weathervane which has perched high atop the Congregational Church for almost 175 years. Many local citizens, when in doubt as to the weather conditions, still look up to see “which way the rooster is pointing.” The copper “body” of the shining gold bird is covered with innumerable holes, which according to legend were made by British and French soldiers during the Revolutionary War. This legend was more or less substantiated Saturday when Rev Paul Cullens, Earle Meyers, and Bee Scribe shook from within the bird six lead bullets of the powder and ball type, used in Colonial days.

 

November 27, 1914

IF YOU WANT YOUR HENS TO LAY feed them “Lay or Bust.” If you want your chicks to grow feed them Park & Pollard’s growing feed or Park & Pollard’s scratching grains. Coger has just received another car load of this celebrated hen and chick feed. Try a few bags and see. Coger keeps it in stock. H.B. Coger, Newtown, Conn.

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Arthur D. Fairchild has added to his trotting stock a valuable young colt, bought at the Read auction in Dodgingtown. John J. Northrop has sold two cows and three calves to Samuel Strisik. William C. Johnson had one of a valuable pair of mules die, Sunday. The pair have been used the past year on the state road work. Mrs Alice Northrop bought a cow at the Read auction in Dodgingtown last Thursday.

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The thermometer registered eight degrees below, in Sandy Hook, Tuesday morning, the coldest weather on record for Thanksgiving week for many years.

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In order to properly handle the mechanical work in its office, The Bee is installing this week, in its composing room, a second Mergenthaler linotype. The machine has been set up by Charles Owen, one of the most affable and popular representatives of the company. These machines seem almost human, and accomplish wonderful results in “eating up copy.”

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