WARN System Up Next Month


WINSTED — Within the next month, emergency services and town officials will have a new way to communicate important information to the residents and businesses in Winsted.

Funded by homeland security grant money, the town of Winchester has purchased the WARN system and plans to have it fully operational by the end of February.

Wide Area Rapid Notification (WARN) is an emergency alert system that many municipalities have recently adapted. Used to notify residents in a wide range of situations, from weather alerts to evacuations, the system is essentially a reverse 911 program. Whereas now, when you have a problem, you can call 911, with the new system 911 will be able to call you.

"It contacts all town residents in times of an emergency," said Winsted Fire Chief Robert Shopey II.

Shopey said an example of when the WARN system may be used is if there was a chemical spill in town and residents need to remain in their homes. Instead of opening up the phone book and making phone calls, a message could quickly be recorded and sent out to a specific neighborhood or the entire town.

"Within seconds, everyone’s phone would ring at the same time and would receive the same message," said Shopey.

Fire and Police training for on the WARN system has already been completed and Shopey said the company is in the process of collecting contact information for all the residents and businesses in town.

At some point residents will be able to update contact information with WARN and provide cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses as a secondary way of receiving important information should the system be activated; however, Shopey is not yet clear on how and when that will take place.

"I see this as a positive thing for everyone. We are actually going to have some type of communication to alert [residents] and direct them when there is some sort of problem," said Shopey.

While some towns use the WARN system to notify residents of school closures, special meetings and even a reminder to vote, Shopey said the plan is not to do that in Winsted. However, the schools are looking into a system to notify of early dismissals and other events important to parents.

"Right now the intention is to only use it for emergency situations. We don’t want people to think of it as an unimportant phone call and not answer it," said Shopey.

The system is expected to be fully functional by the end of next month and will be in place for at least the next three years.

Latest News

Cornwall saxophone sensation goes viral

Donald Polk, right, performed “Flight of the Bumblebee” at Cornwall Consolidated School’s winter concert. A video posted online by his mother has garnered millions of views.

Photo by Tamara Polk

CORNWALL — Donald Polk, an eighth grader at Cornwall Consolidated School, had only been playing alto saxophone for two years when he performed the notoriously challenging “Flight of the Bumblebee” at his school’s Winter Holiday Concert. His mother, Tamara Polk, posted a recording of the performance to TikTok, not expecting that Donald’s audience would quickly come to outsize that of a school auditorium.

When The Lakeville Journal interviewed Polk Saturday, Dec. 21, the young musician’s scorching saxophone solo had accrued more than 1.7 million views, 360,000 likes, and 2,500 comments.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Terance Martin

NORTH CANAAN — Dr.f Donald Terance “Doc” Martin, 86, of North Canaan, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at his home in North Canaan, which was his last wish. Dr. Martin was a dentist in Canaan, retiring in 2014. He served the community and their needs whether they could pay or not, and at all hours of the day and night. They do not make men like Don “Doc” Martin anymore.

Born on Aug. 27, 1938 in Walla Walla, Washington, he was the youngest of George T. and Anna Mae (McGrath) Martin’s eight children. Don proudly served in the US Navy with the Seabees during the Vietnam War. He adopted the Seabee’s “Can Do” attitude that served him for the rest of his life. Don married Lynne Horner in 1964.

Keep ReadingShow less
Paul Winter to celebrate the winter solstice at Saint James Place

The Paul Winter Consort will perform at St. James Cathedral in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Saturday, Dec. 21.

Photo by Matthew Muise

Seven-time Grammy winning saxophonist Paul Winter, with the Paul Winter Consort, will return to celebrate the Winter Solstice on Saturday, Dec. 21, with sold out shows at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Saint James Place, 352 Main St., Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

A uniquely intimate solstice celebration, in contrast to the large-scale productions done for many years in the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York, it promises to deliver everything audiences have come to love and expect.

Keep ReadingShow less
Developers withdraw application to expand Wake Robin Inn

Wake Robin Inn is located on Sharon Road in Lakeville.

Photo by John Coston

LAKEVILLE — Aradev LLC has withdrawn its application to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a special permit to redevelop the Wake Robin Inn.

In a letter submitted to P&Z Chair Michael Klemens on the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec. 17, law outfit Mackey, Butts & Whalen LLP announced its client’s withdrawal.

Keep ReadingShow less