News & Notes: Swine Flu Invades North County; School Mourns Conn. Teen
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ADAMS, Mass. — C.T. Plunkett Elementary School and Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown have each had two confirmed cases of swine flu, according to the North Adams Transcript.
The Plunkett pupils, who were not named, will be out of school for the remainder of the school year, which ends this week. Principal Kristen Gordon said the school was taking every precaution to prevent any further cases and that a memo went home to parents on Monday.
Meanwhile, two students at Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown have also been diagnosed with the swine flu. Mount Greylock Superintendent William D. Travis said the school learned Sunday night the two boys, who are both juniors, had been diagnosed with the flu strain H1N1. Neither student was in the building last week; Travis said they were attending a school-sponsored activity. In an automated message sent to parents, school officials said the school would remain open Wednesday for students who have to make up finals.
Former Adams Administrator Sues Town
ADAMS, Mass. — Former town administrator James Leitch is suing the town of Adams for allegedly violating terms of his contract.
The suit was filed seeking compensation after his supplemental retirement payments were stopped in 2003. Leitch started receiving his payments when he opted for early retirement in 2002. The town meeting voted in 2003 to
stop funding a line item in the town budget allowing for the payments and the payments simply stopped. Leitch entered into an agreement with the town in 1999 for his services as administrator, and also giving him the supplemental payments upon retirement.
Housatonic Valley Mourns Student Lost to River
FALLS VILLAGE, Conn. — Housatonic Valley Regional High School is mourning the drowning death of 15-year-old Kaelan Paton of Sharon, whose body was found in the Housatonic River early Tuesday morning.
The high school is offering support services for students at the school today from 9 until noon. The school is located just across the state border from Sheffield.
Paton, a freshman, was swept away by the surging river water last Tuesday afternoon. Severe storms across South and Central Berkshire and northern Connecticut on Monday had dumped hail and heavy rain across the region, causing flooding and swelling the river.
The teen, who had reportedly gone swimming with friends to celebrate the end of the school year, was missing for a week despite intensive searches along the river. Police and firefighters were able to rescue his two friends, according to the Hartford Courant.
