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Police Blotter: Troop B
Lakeville Journal
Apr 14, 2026
Police Blotter: Troop B
John Coston
The following information was provided by the Connecticut State Police at Troop B. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Rollback accident
On the afternoon of April 9, Margery Rollins, 85, of Torrington was driving east on Route 4 near the intersection with Toomey Road in Cornwall when she attempted to pass a freight vehicle stopped in the eastbound lane due to mechanical issues. While starting to pass, the vehicle rolled back unexpectedly and struck the front of Rollins’ Honda CR-V, disabling it. No one was injured in the incident, but the driver of the freight truck, Benjamin Palinkas, 37, of Goshen, was issued an infraction for unsafe movement from a stopped position.
Intoxicated driving arrest
Just before 5 p.m. on April 9, troopers were dispatched to the intersection of Music Mountain Road and Route 63 in Falls Village, where they arrested Tyler Duplin, 26, of New Hartford on three charges: illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs (second offense), failure to take sobriety test and interfering with an officer/resisting. Duplin was released on a $2,500 cash bond and is scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court on April 23.
Stop sign rear-end
At around 5 p.m. on April 10, Karen Whitbeck, 68, of Salisbury came to a stop at the intersection of Route 41 and Route 44 in downtown Salisbury. As she did, Belle Reel, 31, also of Salisbury, was following too close behind going south on Route 41 and rear-ended Whitbeck’s Subaru Forester. Both the forester and Reel’s GMC Terrain SLE sustained minor damage, and there were no injuries reported in the incident. Reel was issued a written warning for following too closely resulting in a collision.
The Lakeville Journal will publish the outcome of police charges. Send mail to P.O. Box 1688, Lakeville, CT 06039, Attn: Police Blotter, or send to editor@lakevillejournal.com
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Cornwall median home price dips to $880K
Christine Bates
Apr 14, 2026
Built around 1800, this well-maintained historic farmhouse on 10.35 acres in Cornwall sold for
Christine Bates
CORNWALL — The 12-month trailing median price for a single-family home in Cornwall dropped slightly at the end of March, falling to $880,000 for the period ending March 31, 2026.
The figure marks a 7% decrease from the $950,000 median recorded for the 12 months ending March 31, 2025, but remains 23% higher than the $498,000 median for the same period ending March 31, 2024.
The unit sales of single-family homes in Cornwall, measured on a 12-month rolling basis, have remained relatively stable after reaching a high of 43 annual sales in 2021.
A total of 17 single-family homes were sold in the 12 months ending March 31, 2026, with 22 transactions in the year ending March 31, 2025, and 15 sales for the 12 months ending March 31, 2024. Historically, sales volume of single-family homes in Cornwall is low, ranging between 15 and 25 transactions a year.
There’s no sign of an uptick in listings, with supply being limited. As of April 10, there were four single-family homes on the market, two parcels of land, two furnished summer rentals and two commercial retail buildings listed for sale or rent. Single-family home inventory is now at an all-time low.
First Quarter 2026 Cornwall Transfers
January
23 Johnson Road - 3 bedroom/3 bath home on 10.35 acres sold by Theophile Meneau and Darcy Boynton to 23 Johnson Road Trust, Kareen Rahma Trustee for $960,000
15 Johnson Road - .67 acres of vacant land sold by Cheryl Thibault to Robert Burke and Lisa Hornberger for $100,000
11 & 12 Popple Swamp Road - 6 bedroom/3 bath antique home on 24.5 acres sold by Barton and Deborah Jones to Pascal and Annabel Noth for $2,377,000
February
26 Kent Road South - Commercial building with 1 bathroom sold by 26 & 24 Kent Road LLC to Red Bird House LLC for $770,800
March
21 Hall Road - 2 bedroom/1 bath house on 6.3 acres sold by Linda Turow to Donald Polk II for $201,000
* Town of Cornwall real estate transfers recorded from January 31, 2026 to March 31, 2026, provided by Cornwall Town Clerk. Transfers without consideration are not included. Current market listings from Smart MLS and market statistics from Infosparks. Note that recorded transfers frequently lag sales by a number of days. Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Salesperson with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in CT and NY.
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Salisbury discusses speeding, transfer station
Patrick L. Sullivan
Apr 14, 2026
Salisbury Town Hall
Aled Linden
SALISBURY — Three months after being introduced to the community, the town’s resident state trooper has left the position for another role within the Connecticut State Police, First Selectman Curtis Rand announced at the Board of Selectmen’s regular meeting Monday, April 6.
Rand said Trooper Ryan Cooper had applied for the other position before accepting the Salisbury assignment and chose to make the transition when it became available. Cooper was introduced to the public at the Jan. 6 selectmen’s meeting.
“We will have a replacement soon,” Rand said.
Selectmen also discussed ongoing concerns about speeding in town, an issue Selectman Kitty Kiefer said residents frequently raise with her.
The selectmen discussed possible solutions, including approaching the state Department of Transportation again about installing traffic-calming medians on Route 44 – near the Lion’s Head condominiums at the eastern end and west of the Route 44/41 intersection in Lakeville.
Other ideas included the often controversial installation of speed cameras, which automatically issue tickets.
Rand expressed caution about the use of speed cameras, saying “There’s a reason other towns aren’t doing it.”
In other business, Rand said he attended a Connecticut General Assembly hearing on the future of the Torrington Transfer Station, where state funding is set to end in June, prompting debate over whether the facility should remain publicly owned or be privatized.
The transfer station serves as a regional hub where towns bring household trash, recycling and bulky waste to be consolidated and transported in bulk to disposal and processing facilities.
Rand said he attended the hearing online and waited seven hours before testifying.
The message from Northwest Corner towns was, Rand said, “overwhelmingly” in favor of the state keeping control of the facility until the newly-formed Northwest Regional Recovery Authority develops a plan for potential control.
“None of us are interested in managing it,” Rand said. “We want to own it.”
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Underground pedestrian tunnel approved for Route 44 in Salisbury
Alec Linden
Apr 14, 2026
The tunnel is to be installed just beyond the current crosswalk, providing a safer way for Salisbury School students and staff to cross the busy roadway.
Alec Linden
SALISBURY – A proposal to build a pedestrian tunnel beneath Route 44 at the Salisbury School was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission April 6, a move that would allow students and community members safer and more efficient passage across the busy roadway.
The tunnel is meant to provide a permanent fix for what has been a documented safety issue at the crossing, which connects the private boarding school’s main campus with sports fields and access to Washinee Lake on the north side of the road. Speaking at Monday’s meeting, Salisbury School Associate Director of Facilities Dawn Marti said that there have been three incidents of vehicles hitting students or community members in the past several years.
She added that the tunnel will also improve traffic flow, since the large sports teams that need to cross the road to travel between athletic facilities and the campus will no longer hold up vehicles.
The 15-foot-wide, 9-foot-tall concrete culvert is planned to be installed just west of the current crosswalk across the roadway, and will run just under 90 feet in length.
Following a nod from the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission in late March and several reviews by the town engineer Tom Grimaldi, the April 6 unanimous approval marks the final town hurdle for the project.
Project engineer Robert Barneschi Jr., of WMC Consulting Engineers, told the Commission during Monday’s meeting that pending a final review by the state Department of Transportation, construction could begin as soon as mid-May and is expected to be completed within four to five months.
Construction is planned to take place in two phases. The first will involve excavation on the north side and is expected to have only a minor impact on the roadway. During the second phase, Barneschi said Route 44 will “shift to the north” for a short distance using temporary pavement and jersey barriers. The road is planned to remain open to two-way traffic throughout the construction process.
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North Canaan Scoutmaster recognized with top award
Patrick L. Sullivan
Apr 14, 2026
From left, Daniel Moran, David Moran, Sandy Rhoades, Dylan Deane and Walter Deane, scoutmaster of Troop 22 in North Canaan.
Provided
NORTH CANAAN – Walter E. Deane, Jr. of North Canaan was named as a recipient of the 2026 Silver Beaver Award, the highest council-level honor awarded by Scouting America. The award recognizes adult volunteers for exceptional service to youth.
Deane, 53, was nominated by Sandy Rhoades of Falls Village.
Deane said he began his Scouting career to support his son’s den and was promptly promoted to Assistant Den Leader, which led to around 13 years of service.
His proudest accomplishment in Scouting, according to a statement, was during the COVID-19 pandemic when he was able to provide a “virtual Pinewood Derby” for his council.
The most meaningful moment came a decade ago when Deane set out to help a group, but they ended up helping him.
“In 2016, I took my Bear den to Camp Workcoeman for a mini week. I was there to help watch out for them, but the first night there, I was bitten by a spider, which caused trauma to my leg and overall health during the rest of our time at camp. My Scouts took care of me to make sure I was safe.”
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North Canaan board down to two selectmen, likely to remain short-handed
Christian Murray
Apr 14, 2026
North Canaan Town Hall
Photo by Riley Klein
NORTH CANAAN —The Board of Selectmen is operating with just two members — both relatively new to their roles — and could remain that way through the end of next year following Selectman Brian Ohler’s announcement last month that he was going on medical leave.
North Canaan is governed by a three-member Board of Selectmen, meaning Ohler’s absence leaves the town with only two active officials. The town is still able to conduct business, however, as two members constitute a legal quorum, according to town officials.
That leaves First Selectman Jesse Bunce and Melissa Pinardi, who was elected to her first term in November. Bunce, elected as first selectman in November, has served on the Board of Selectmen for about 2½ years.
Bunce said Ohler formally notified the town on March 12 that he would be stepping aside “until further notice” based on medical advice after an apparent stroke.
There is no defined timeline for his return, and under the town charter, no replacement can be appointed. Bunce said town counsel has indicated the seat could remain vacant for the remainder of Ohler’s term, which is scheduled to finish at the end of 2027.
“There’s no defined period,” Bunce said.
Ohler did not respond for comment as to a likely return date.
As a result, Bunce and Pinardi — who gave birth last month—have taken over during a critical stretch that has included the budget process.
The board was forced to cancel its regular meeting early last month after both Ohler and Pinardi faced personal circumstances. Pinardi gave birth the day of the meeting, and Ohler had his medical emergency just days prior.
“I had no choice but to cancel it; we didn’t have a quorum,” Bunce said, whose wife gave birth to their third child at the end of January.
Despite the reduced board, town business has continued.
Bunce and Pinardi held multiple meetings in late March — including a special meeting on March 23 — to develop a proposed budget, which they agreed upon and then presented it to the Board of Finance on April 8.
The budget is now headed to a public hearing scheduled for April 20, with copies now available on the town’s website.
Bunce said working with a two-member board during budget season has been challenging but manageable.
“It went well,” he said of the process, noting that collaboration was key despite the circumstances.
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