Cheshire Firefighters Rescue Ice Fisher from Reservoir

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CHESHIRE, Mass. — Cheshire firefighters rescued a fisherman who had broken through the Cheshire Reservoir ice early Saturday afternoon. 
 
According to reports, firefighters were dispatched around noon on Saturday, Feb 24 after receiving a 911 call from the man's fishing partner.
 
Upon arrival, firefighters found the man clinging to the remaining ice surrounding him. Firefighters put on cold water rescue suits and using ropes, brought the fisherman to safety.
 
Cheshire firefighters took to social media to warn residents to stay off the ice as it is not stable.
 
MassWildlife warns that ice can never be judged by appearance or thickness alone.
 
  • New ice is stronger than old ice. Four inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person on foot. One foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not.
  • Ice doesn't freeze uniformly. Continue to check ice conditions frequently as you venture out onto the ice.
  • Avoid traveling onto ice-bound rivers and streams. Currents make ice thickness unpredictable. Many lakes and ponds contain spring holes and other areas of currents that can create deceptively dangerous thin spots.
  • If ice is 2 inches or less stay off.
 
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Cheshire Select Board Centralizes Public Records Requests Under Town Administrator's Office

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Amid an increase in public records requests, the Cheshire Select Board designated the town administrator's office as the town's records access officer to streamline the process. 
 
Public records requests have become increasingly complex and time-consuming, with some involving litigation, requiring redactions, or qualifying for response extensions and fees, Town Administrator Jennifer Morse said during the board's meeting Tuesday
 
One recent records request would have taken three hours of the fire chief's time, Morse said, when the individual withdrew it after being informed of a $25 fee. 
 
Morse said the current process can create confusion because Town Clerk Whitney Flynn will distribute the requests to everyone, making it difficult to track which requests have been responded to. 
 
"I think that having a lot of people involved in the process makes it more difficult to have that accountability, and it's a liability if we're not on top of it. So, certainly, it is important to streamline it," Flynn added. 
 
The board clarified that designating the town administrator's office as the records access officer would not change responsibility for maintaining town records, which will remain with the town clerk's office. 
 
Under the new arrangement, the Town Administrator's office will serve as the central point for incoming requests, route them to the appropriate departments, and track responses, Morse said. 
 
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