Danbury, Fairfield County | featured news

SOUTHBURY - State environmental officials were forced to euthanize a large black bear Saturday afternoon after the animal attacked two miniature horses, killing one of the animals.

Chris Collibe, a spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said they were called in by state police to assist at a home near Bucks Hill Road on a report of a bear attacking the horses.

When environmental officers arrived, Collibe said, the bear was attacking the miniature horses inside a closed pen.

KENT — A stretch of Route 341 closed for five hours Friday night following a crash near South Street.

Just before 10 p.m., state police from Troop L were called to Route 341, known as Segar Mountain Road, for a one-car accident. The car had been driving westbound when it veered off the road, hitting several trees before crashing into a pole, police said.

The driver was taken by LifeStar to Hartford Hospital. Police said there were no other passengers.

The stretch of Route 341 was closed from shortly after officers arrived until nearly 4 a.m.

aquinn@newstimes.com

NEW MILFORD - Route 7 is closed near the intersection with Route 37 after a dump truck rolled over, police said.

According to authorities, the dump truck rolled over near the intersection with Sherman Road, and that Route 7 was closed in both directions of travel while crews work to remove the truck.

No major injuries were reported as a result of the crash.

dperrefort@newstimes.com

BETHEL -- The town warned residents recently that School Street will be under construction over the next few weeks. The road may be reduced to one lane of traffic at times. “Every effort will be made to limit disruption to businesses along this route,” the town said in an announcement on its website. “We appreciate your patience and understanding.” Residents can contact Public Works at 203-794-8549 with questions.

BROOKFIELD — Candlewood Lake’s senior Marine Patrol staff have filed a vote of no confidence in the lake authority’s chairwoman, claiming she has interfered in staffing decisions concerning patrol officers. All but one of the senior staff members decided after a heated exchange during the Candlewood Lake Authority’s monthly meeting Wednesday to declare no confidence in Chairwoman Phyllis Schaer. The staff contends that Schaer “meddled” in their recommendation against the return of several patrol officers next season.

SOUTHBURY — A tractor trailer burst into flames and shut down both sides of the I-84 in Southbury early Saturday morning after an accident with another tractor trailer, according to police.

The accident occurred just before 5 a.m.

DANBURY - A local man was killed Thursday after a three-car accident along Interstate 684 in New York.

Authorities from New York said the accident occurred during the early morning hours when a commercial dump truck entered the northbound lane of the highway from the median. A car driven by Jon Slater, 54, rear-ended the dump truck and was then pushed into an adjoining lane where he hit another car.

Slater was pronounced dead at the scene, police said, adding that the accident remains under investigation.

NEWTOWN - Police arrested two juveniles Monday who authorities said stole cars from both Newtown and Danbury before running from police.

Police said they received a report from Danbury detectives around 2:30 a.m. on Monday that an Audi that had earlier been stolen from Newtown was involved in a car accident. The occupants of the Audi fled the scene of the accident and stole a Honda Civic that was parked nearby, police said.

Authorities again got a call around 4:30 a.m. from a resident on Sleepy Hollow Road reporting that a suspicious car was stuck in his driveway.

DANBURY—A Bridgeport man was charged Friday night after he used a credit card stolen from a car in September, police said.

Luis Cuevas, 35, was arrested around 9 p.m. in connection with a Sept. 26 car break-in on Cottage Street, where a wallet and credit cards were stolen.

The Community Culinary School of Northwestern Connecticut is recruiting members for its new session, which will start Jan. 8.

Tuition is free for qualifying candidates.

The Culinary School was established in 2007 to provide unemployed and underemployed men and women with the skills they need to find jobs with career paths in the food service industry. It is open to any adult.

Students learn all aspects of a professional kitchen and food safety during the 12-week course, which is taught by Chef Justin Elander.