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Trahan Celebrates Appointment to House’s Armed Services Committee

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Reps. Lori Trahan and Andy Vargas touted the importance of cybersecurity measures locally during the launch of a new UMass certificate program in Haverhill Jan. 7 (WHAV News photograph)

Less than two weeks into her new job as a 3rd District Congressional representative, Lori Trahan is already hard at work on Capitol Hill fighting for her constituents back at home. On Tuesday, Trahan’s team announced the freshman legislator has been appointed to the House’s Armed Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over U.S. defense policies relating to cybersecurity and key military personnel issues, among others. In a statement, Trahan called her seat on the “critically important” committee an honor.

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Jet Blue, Black Tie Limousine Help Haverhill Police Attend Shinners Funeral

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Supporting Michael and Thomas Shinners (far left) were Officer Justin Graham, Detective Sean Harrison, Detective Dana Burrill Jr., Officer Guy Cooper, Sergeant Joseph Ingham, Detective William O’Connell, Officer Daniel Trocki, Officer James Keenan, Detective Sergeant Nicholas Brown, Detective Taylor Anderson, Officer Jason Pearl and Andover Officer Nicole Trelegan. (Courtesy photograph)

Nearly a dozen members of the Haverhill Police Department were able to support their coworker Detective Michael Shinners over the weekend at the funeral of his brother thanks to the generosity of companies like Jet Blue. The airline provided service to and from Utah for 11 Haverhill officers and a police colleague from Andover so they could pay respects to Officer Joseph Shinners Saturday in Orem, Utah. Ward Hill’s Black Tie Limousine offered transportation and the national nonprofit Brotherhood For the Fallen assisted with lodging and other logistics during their stay in Utah. “The unwavering support that has been shown for Joe and our family will never be forgotten,” Haverhill Detective Michael Shinners said in his brother’s eulogy.

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Food Pantry Offering Free Groceries to Haverhill’s Furloughed Federal Employees

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Haverhill’s Liz Murphy Open Hand Food Pantry is helping federal employees with food expenses in the midst of the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history. Organizers tell WHAV employees who are currently furloughed may receive groceries from the pantry free of charge each Tuesday until they’re able to get back on their feet. Food is distributed from 2-7 p.m. and a Massachusetts ID and proof of Haverhill residency is required. The pantry is located at 16 Ashland St. in the basement of the Universalist Unitarian Church and drop-ins are welcome.

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Police Arrest Haverhill Man for Allegedly Assaulting Officer

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A city man was taken into custody on several charges Monday after an incident at the Grill Next Door, WHAV has confirmed. Police responding to Broadway’s The Grill Next Door restaurant Monday confiscated a firearm and arrested a 63-year-old city man, charging him with disorderly conduct. Officer Albert Betances arrived at the restaurant just after 4:30 p.m. Jan. 14 after workers called to report an unwanted person. The officer found an allegedly intoxicated Daniel Jennings milling about after management asked him to leave the property.

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Today’s Obituaries: Tuesday, Jan. 15

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Michael J. Barry, 66, of Plaistow, N.H., and formerly of Haverhill, died on Sunday, Jan. 13, at the High Pointe Hospice House, Haverhill. He was the loving husband of Jane (Meader) Barry. Calling hours are Friday, Jan. 18, in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 South Main St., Haverhill from 4-8 p.m. Services will be Saturday in the funeral home at 11 a.m. with U.S. Air Force honors.

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Council to Act on Plan to Replace Four School Roofs; Unlikely to Win All From State

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A 2016 plan to replace the roof at Haverhill High School while adding solar panels was defeated by the Haverhill School Committee. (Courtesy photograph.)

With all eyes on school repairs and maintenance, Haverhill city councilors are prepared tonight to ask the state for help paying for roofs at four schools. Councilors are expected to authorize Superintendent Margaret Marotta to seek emergency money to replace “leaking, defective and obsolete” roofs at Haverhill High, Golden Hill, Silver Hill and Moody Schools. Raised recently by School Committee member Richard J. Rosa, members of that body approved of the Statement of Interest last Thursday. Member Scott W. Wood Jr., quoting energy consultant Orlando Pacheco, told his colleagues it is unlikely the state will accept all of the schools at once.

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State Highway Dept. Begins I-495 Lane Closures as Part of Bridge Replacement

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And, so it begins. As part of the $90 million project to replace I-495 bridges crossing the Merrimack River near Ward Hill, the left, northbound lane is closing during morning rush hour and will remain closed daytimes for the rest of the week. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation said the lane, between exits 48 and 49, will be closed each day between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. “to allow crews and contractors to safely and effectively conduct construction operations.”

SPS New England was awarded the design-build contract last spring and construction is expected to run through spring 2022. Construction of the northbound bridge and subsequent demolition is expected to be complete by September 2020, while southbound work runs through September 2021. During the project, southbound lanes will temporarily cross over to the new northbound bridge.