And now for the rest of the story
COMMENTARY You read stories in the newspaper one day, and maybe the next day or week there’s a follow-up story. And then the news moves on. That’s just the nature of it. But once in a while, perhaps, you wonder what happened to so-and-so or how did that controversy turn out?
With that in mind, I’d like to update you on the people and issues in some of my columns since February — a news coda, if you will.
‘Oxford wife killer dies in prison, but pain remains’
This Feb. 1 column described the mixed feelings Merry and Doug Jackson had when they learned their daughter’s killer — their son-in-law — had died in prison.
Scott Gellatly had pleaded guilty to shooting to death Lori Jackson Gellatly on May 7, 2014, in the kitchen of the Jacksons’ home in Oxford. Gellatly also severely injured Merry as well as Nika, the dog trying to protect the mother and daughter. The 18-month-old twins, in an upstairs bedroom, were unharmed.
Scott died on Dec. 21, an inmate at the MacDougallWalker Correctional Institution in Suffield doing 45 years. Foul play was not suspected at the time, but then how did he die?
The state Chief Medical Examiner’s officer determined, after receiving the toxicology report, it was suicide by “acute intoxication.”
The cause of death was due to a combination of diphenhydramine and trazodone — an antihistamine and antidepressant.
An investigation by the state Department of Correction apparently isn’t completed, even though it’s been five months. Last week, I checked with spokesman Andrius Banevicius, who said the investigation continued. Thursday I called and emailed primary spokeswoman Karen Martucci about why the report is taking so long.
“Death investigations are quite extensive and often require a thorough review and assessment from both a medical perspective as well as an operational perspective,” she replied.
How could a prisoner obtain a deadly amount of drugs? What is Corrections doing or changing as a result? No answers yet, but it is in the public interest to know.
The fact that Scott killed himself doesn’t change anything for Merry and Doug Jackson. They miss their daughter every day, and always will.
‘Welcome to the land of bathroom penny pinchers’
On March 29 I wrote about the embarrassing welcome Connecticut gives visitors by closing bathrooms at rest areas from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. I interviewed Sarah and Phil Sayre, a pleasant couple from Maryland who were forced to resort to the portapotties at the state rest area in Danbury, minutes after crossing the border from New York.
“Let’s just say, it was moderately gross,” Phil said. “Welcome” to Connecticut? Hold your nose.
The state Department of Transportation had foolishly (my word) closed or reduced hours at seven rest areas and Welcome Centers in 2016 to save money, an estimated $1.1 million a year.
There is no estimate for what the state lost in tourism dollars, not to mention goodwill.
You might remember that a Blue Ribbon Panel on Tourism, established by House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, included reopening the Welcome Centers and Rest Areas in its recommendations issued Feb. 15.
This became House Bill 7306, which after going through a committee and winding along, passed by a unanimous vote by the 141 representatives present Wednesday at 9:09 p.m.
The bill includes the Department of Economic and Community Development placing a full-time, year-round, supervisor and a part-time assistant at the Danbury, Darien, North Stonington and West Willington centers to provide tourism information and “subject to funds” at the Greenwich and Westbrook centers. Westbrook has been closed.
“Subject to available funds,” — there’s that troubling phrase again — “the restroom facilities located at each visitor welcome center shall be open twenty-four hours a day,” the bill states.
OK, the intent is there. Now we have to make sure the funds go with it, and the Senate approves. Gov. Ned Lamont called the locked welcome centers “an embarrassment” (when speaking to the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce in March) so we can expect he would sign the bill. Right, Ned?
Let’s get this done. Contact your state senator, tell them to support the bill and back it up with funding and don’t make us wait for another study.
Help make Connecticut a place where visitors feel welcome and will want to stay, shop, eat and do all that tourists do right here.
‘Heartbroken wife fights legalizing pot’
You met Susan Klein in this April 19 column and learned why she vehemently opposes legalizing recreational marijuana.
She and her husband Kevin were driving home from an Infinity Hall concert in Norfolk the night of Oct. 25, 2015. It had been a beautiful Sunday and the couple married 25 years were defining life anew as empty nesters.
But an 18-year-old woman from New Jersey, who had been partying all weekend and was stoned, crushed their dreams forever.
Erica Weinman, heading east on Interstate 84 in Middlebury, lost control of her Ford Escape, careened across the grassy center median and struck the Klein’s west-bound car. The 3-5 years Erica is serving in prison are no compensation for the loss of Kevin’s life.
One of the big issues before the General Assembly is the legalization of marijuana, a step that Massachusetts and six other states have taken already.
State Sen. Tony Hwang opposes this action, out of concern primarily for the societal costs.
Here’s what happened: Tony spoke to Susan on the phone. He asked her to come to the Capitol and even offered her use of his parking spot.
Though she’s a woman who doesn’t like the spotlight, Susan agreed to testify at a Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee hearing and before that at a news conference on the steps of the building.
She expected reporters with notebooks, she told me, but not the bank of television cameras. But she summoned strength and told her story.
Susan was disappointed that committee members, who appeared moved by her testimony, nonetheless voted for the bill, one of three to make it out of committees. But as of last week, the march to pot seemed stalled and unlikely to get called for votes. Still anything can happen, especially in the late hours as the session nears its mandated June 5 close at midnight.
‘Run Like A Mother’
On May 10 I wrote about Megan Searfoss founding the annual Run Like A Mother 5K in 2008. The Ridgefield mother who has completed an amazing nine Ironman triathlons wanted to “help women feel as I do when crossing the finish line.” The Mother’s Day tradition is empowering.
This year the finish line was like every step of the 3.2 miles — wet. About 1,500 people registered for the race, but heavy rain, cold temperatures and wind kept some snug at home. But 760
persevere and finished the race — including me. It was hardly my personal best time — did I mention soaked sneakers? — but I did it. And felt good.