Haverhill this week honored former police officers and officers who have fallen in the line of duty during a ceremony at the police department’s memorial organized by the Haverhill Police Relief Association. Speakers included Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett and Haverhill Police Chief Robert P. Pistone, who described what could be the “day in the life” of an officer. “A police officer may issue a traffic citation to a good citizen, deliver a death message to parents of a child, testify in court, listen to a citizen complain that his stolen property has not been recovered, get into a life or death struggle—all in a single shift,” he said. Pistone said more than 120 police officers nationwide fell in the line of duty last year, and according to the website Officer Down Memorial Page, almost 60 officers have fallen in the line of duty this year.
Haverhill will soon begin designing renovations for its 47-year-old wastewater treatment plant. A $1.5 million loan, which city councilors authorized Tuesday night, goes toward creating the schematics contractors will follow, the first step in a years-long overhaul. Public Works Director Robert E. Ward said the loan makes up the difference left from $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act money used for the project.
The Department of Fish & Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration yesterday said it has selected a road-stream crossing in West Newbury as one of two sites for future ecological restoration studies. The River Road Culvert in West Newbury is located on an unnamed stream off the Merrimack River. According to the state, “This crossing currently faces challenges with flooding and erosion and has the potential to be heavily influenced by increased storm events and sea level rise in the future.
Haverhill plans its second spring curbside leaf and grass clippings collection at the curb Saturday. Leaves and grass clippings should be bagged or in open barrels and on the curb by 6 a.m., Saturday. Bags and barrels must be limited to 40 pounds.