A Halifax man faces charges in connection with a rollover crash in Hanson Tuesday night that caused serious, but non-life threatening injuries to his passenger and himself.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., Oct. 23, Hanson Police received numerous 911 calls reporting  a motor vehicle crash in the area of 863 Monponsett Street (Route 58). Upon arrival the officers found that a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze had struck a utility pole and rolled over.   The vehicle was traveling south when it crossed the northbound lane striking the pole and rolling over.    

The vehicle sustained extensive damage in the crash. A small fire was extinguished by a passerby prior to the first responders’ arrival.

Hanson and Halifax Fire also responded. The road was closed for a short time and National Grid restored power.

The operator, Brian Alden, 36, of Halifax and his passenger Kelly Doherty, 31, also of Halifax both sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries in the crash.

Doherty was transported to South Shore Hospital by Halifax Fire.   

Alden initially refused treatment and was taken into custody.   Alden was charged with OUI liquor second offense, OUI liquor with serious bodily injury, operating after revocation of license, operating to endanger, and marked lanes violations.

Alden requested treatment later at the police station and was transported to Brockton Hospital. He was later transferred to Boston Medical for further treatment.

He was held on $1,000 bail and was expected to be arraigned Wednesday, Oct. 24 on the above charges.   

Speed limits in Massachusetts are different than in most of the rest of the country, according to documents from the state’s department of transportation (MassDOT) Highway Division.

Several Massachusetts General Laws govern speed limits on all streets and highways throughout the Commonwealth, with the exception of the Massachusetts Turnpike.

Uniquely, the basic premise under Massachusetts law is: “No person operating a motor vehicle on any way shall run it at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and proper, having regard to traffic and the use of the way and the safety of the public.”

This is important, they say, as no regulation supersedes it. A road may be legally posted for 30 mph, but weather conditions, traffic, construction or other hazards may mean the “reasonable and proper” limit is lower than the posted limit.

An easy phrase to remember is that speed limits are for the, “daytime, conditions permitting.”

Under proper conditions, limits can be split into two categories: posted or regulatory speed limits and statutory speed limits which are unposted.

Statutory speed limits exist in the absence of special speed regulations (which are simply posted speed limits). With the exception of school zones, if a special speed regulation exists it will supersede the statutory speed limit, according to MassDOT.

But, “It shall be prima facie evidence of a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and proper if a motor vehicle is operated in excess of 50 mph on a divided highway outside of a thickly settled or business district for at least 1⁄4 of a mile, 40 mph on an undivided highway outside of a thickly settled or business district for at least 1⁄4 of a mile, 30 mph in a thickly settled or business district for at least 1⁄8 of a mile and 20 mph in a legally established school zone.”

A regulatory speed limit is one that has completed a traffic engineering study, has a special speed regulation that has been signed by the road’s owner, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, the MassDOT Traffic and Safety Engineering Section and has the appropriate signage erected to clearly define the special speed zones. If this procedure is not followed, the speed limit is in violation of the law and is considered unenforceable, says MassDOT.

The traffic engineering studies that set special speed regulations consider the speed that drivers actually are traveling. Curiously enough, there is an assumption that most drivers are “prudent and capable of selecting safe speeds.”

After completing a speed study, considering crash data and historical conditions in that area, the observed 85th percentile speed, which is “a measured value of prevailing speeds at which 85 percent of all vehicles are traveling at or below in free-flowing traffic” is the basis for establishing a limit.

After the 85th percentile speed has been calculated, the value is rounded to the nearest multiple of five to determine the limit. With few exceptions, this is the speed limit that is set.

Should a municipality wish to challenge a speed limit on a municipal roadway, they can do a speed study at their own expense, and even then MassDOT does not guarantee a change in the limit, according to the Plympton Highway Surveyor, Scott Ripley.

In Halifax, voters recently turned down a Special Town Meeting article to set a fundamental speed limit across the town, so that it would be lower than the statutory speed limit, an option that is being explored by Plympton officials who are concerned about the state raising speed limits there.

Halifax selectmen announced at their meeting Tuesday that the assessment center tasked with bringing qualified candidates for the Chief of Police position interviewed five candidates, all which Town Administrator Charlie Seelig said came back with passing scores.

Selectmen Chairman Kim Roy and Selectman Troy Garron both wanted to hear from all the candidates given that all passed and none stood out above the others.

“I think it’s only to our benefit to interview all five,” Roy said.

Interviews are scheduled for October 17 and 18. The schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, October 17

• 9 a.m. – Wayland Police Detective Jamie T. Berger

• 10:15 a.m. – New Bedford Police Lieutenant Joao A. Chaves

• 11:30 a.m. – Wrentham Police Sergeant Barry McGrath

Thursday, October 18

• 2:30 p.m. – Lakeville Police Lieutenant Sean Joyce

• 3:45 p.m. – MBTA Police Lieutenant David F. Albanese

Interviews will be held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room in the Halifax Town Hall at 499 Plymouth Street. The interviews are open to the public.

Recycling Abatement Review

At the previous selectmen meeting on September 25, the board announced its intention to deny any recycling abatement request submitted after the set deadline. Residents Jaclyn Conley and Andrew Stalker came to plead their case that they submitted their request on time, but there was no proof as the letter was never time stamped.

Stalker told the board he knows he submitted the abatement request because it was the day before his father passed away.

He added that he put the flag up on his mailbox before putting the letter there. Roy and Garron said they were both sympathetic to the situation but could not extend the deadline because there was no proof, and the board had issues after extending the recycling abatement deadline last year.

“If we do it for one, we have to do it for everyone,” Roy explained to Conley and Stalker.

Selectmen’s Assistant Pam McSherry said the letter likely would have gone to the distribution center at Brockton first. Roy said the deadline meant at the town hall that day rather than in the mail.

Other News

• According to Seelig, algae levels at Monponsett Pond are again at safe levels, which allows the pond to open again. He said he’s happy the algae didn’t keep the town beach at West Monponsett from being open most of the summer, but said before the next season a plan will have to be made to keep the beach better maintained. He suggested setting up a future meeting with the Recreation Department.

• Seelig announced the Highway Department restriped the road lines at Thompson Street on Route 105. The town had received a formal complaint from a Middleborough resident who said lane visibility was difficult at night.  The next selectmen’s meeting is October 23. Open session begins at 7:30 p.m.

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PLYMPTON — The Dennett School Committee on Sept. 24 approved Vice-chairman Jason Fraser and Principal Peter Veneto pursuing a plan to renovate the playground at the elementary school.

These renovations include a second swing set, additional wood chips to a depth of at least 9 inches for any fall of ten feet or less, and an expansion of the path for wheelchairs in the recess area. Fraser also wants to modernize the dinosaur-shaped jungle gym.

Additionally, Fraser and Veneto’s plan involved adding rubberized safety mats near the end of the slide and entrance to the playground fixture. There would also be additional matting near one of the swings. Fraser said all of this would be Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant.

“Our playground is not ADA compliant, and if we ever had a child with mobility issues, we’d have a real moral dilemma of what to do to allow equitable access for all children,” Fraser told the committee.

Veneto said the playground is essentially the only thing tailored for younger kids during recess. He said most of the older kids are playing soccer, so this would be a great benefit to the younger grades.

Addressing the playground was first discussed in May 2015 and has been a permanent agenda item since June 2016. Priorities were shifted when the water treatment facility at Dennett needed replacing. Now that students have safe water, Fraser said the time to purchase a new playground is approaching.

According to Fraser, the budget for the playground is roughly $256,505.86. That budget includes 20 percent in contingency costs, but some of the larger costs are the playground equipment, which estimates at about $97,000 and swings costing roughly $36,000.

Fraser said the school hasn’t spent any of its school choice fund in the budget, which has accumulated $92,258.61 from out of district families. Another $40,000 is projected to come in by Fiscal Year 2019. By July 2019, Fraser and Veneto expect there to be $132,258 in that fund that they want to use for one-time expenditures such as playground renovations.

The committee would need about another $125,000 to complete the project. Fraser said the rest could be paid for if a Capital Plan request is approved and/or applying for grant funding through the Community Preservation Act.

Fraser said he believes some of the infrastructure is already there and the school just needs an engineer to look at the playground through a study. The contingency plan funding planned for a study, Fraser said.

School Committee Chairman Jon Wilhelmsen said he liked Fraser and Veneto’s idea for using the school choice funds. He said it’s the perfect use because the money goes right back to the students.

School Drop-Off Procedures

According to Veneto, parents are doing a much better job following school drop-off procedures that do not allow students to be dropped off until 8 a.m.

He said kids can be dropped off then and wait in the cafeteria until 8:15 a.m. before going to class. There will be staff in the cafeteria then, but not any earlier.

“Having those kids there without any supervision of any kind, that’s a disaster waiting to happen in my opinion,” Veneto said.

Roof Audit

Silver Lake Superintendent Joy Blackwood informed the school committee that an assessment of Dennett Elementary’s roof concluded that the school’s roof needs repairs. Blackwood said there have been issues with leaking.

For the repairs to be eligible for grant funding, Blackwood said the roof needs to be at least 20-years-old.

According to Wilhelmsen, some of the roof was built in the ‘90s while the rest was built in 2001. He said it would be worth looking into if the parts of the roof that were built in the ‘90s would be eligible for grant funding.

Principal’s Report

Dennett Elementary School started out with 200 students this September, according to Veneto.

He said some families left for whatever reason, but many homes are for sale in town. He believes it’s possible enrollment will increase by the end of the year.

Calendar

“The Dennett Goes Gold” for childhood cancer research fundraiser started this week. Veneto said there is a gold boot in the office to collect change for childhood cancer research. The campaign culminates with all students being asked to wear gold on Sept. 28

There is no school on Oct. 8 because of Columbus Day.

Parent-teacher conferences are Oct. 18. It’s also an early-release day.

The Halloween dance is Oct. 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

PLYMPTON– On Thursday, Sept. 20, Plympton voters turned out in unexpectedly large numbers in support of a special Town Meeting article that authorized the selectmen to purchase a 133-acre parcel off Prospect Road for $800,000 as conservation land.

The article was the only one on the warrant and it passed with near-unanimity. It required a two-thirds vote of Town Meeting, and only a handful of residents in the standing-room only gymnasium at the Dennett School voted against the article.

Mark Russo, who sits on the Board of Selectmen and chairs the Community Preservation Committee, moved the article on behalf of the selectmen, and spoke passionately about the acquisition.

He noted, “The project went through all the usual CPC project reviews,” and announced that the CPC and selectmen both unanimously recommended the article.

Linda Leddy, of the Open Space Committee, said she thought it appropriate that a special Town Meeting was voting on such a “special” project. She said that there will be no impact on the tax-rate.

The subject of the property, that was enrolled in the Chapter 61A tax relief program, came before the Plympton Selectmen when a bona fide purchase and sale had been signed. Under 61A, the town has a right-of-first-refusal, to take over that purchase and sale, which the selectmen voted unanimously to exercise in July.

The total amount of money authorized for the project by Town Meeting was $820,000. Of that, $10,000 had already been placed as a deposit, and $30,000 was a contingency, standard to all Community Preservation Committee projects in town.

The remaining $790,000 came from the Community Preservation Fund Open Space Reserve in the amount of $22,000 and $298,000 from the Community Preservation Fund Undesignated Fund Balance.

A sum of $470,000 will be borrowed in short-term municipal bonds, that will be paid for by selling up to three small lots with frontage on Prospect Road. Private donations, of which $93,000 have already been raised, will cover the rest, said Leddy. If more than $175,000 in donations is raised, fewer lots may have to be sold or the money can be used for other purposes, including future maintenance of the preserve, said Russo, in a phone interview following the meeting.

Brian Wick, the Town Moderator, kept the mood light. He joked that the peace officer, Doug Mazzola, “would not be needed.” At one point, due to so much applause and enthusiasm for the article and those that spoke in favor of it, he stated that he didn’t want anyone to be uncomfortable and asked the audience to hold their applause. Their excitement couldn’t be contained, and they did not comply with the request.

Several residents spoke in favor of the project, including Frannie Walsh, of West Street. “When we take from nature we have to stop and give back,” she said.

One resident, Harry Weikel, who sits on the Board of Health, had a septic-related question which seemed to be answered by Leddy to his satisfaction, and another resident, also on the Board of Health, spoke against the article.

Arthur Morin, of Granville Baker Way, who several times complimented all the hard work that had gone into the process so far, said he did not feel that Town Meeting should vote “Yes” for the article until there was something in writing guaranteeing that tax-payer money wouldn’t be spent on the preserve if the lots couldn’t be sold or donations weren’t raised.

“I don’t want one cent in taxes [to pay for the project]. That’s my concern,” he said.

But Leddy replied that the lots were desirable, according to real-estate experts. “People feel the lots will sell,” she said.

When Wick, only 40-minutes or so into the meeting, asked if there was any further discussion, and there was none, he called for a vote, and those in favor all rose their hands high in the air. When he called for a vote from those opposed, the residents who rose their hands did so with markedly less enthusiasm.

Thunderous applause filled the room following the vote, lasting for several minutes.

HINGHAM– Edward Savage and Christine Savage entered the court separately Sept. 13, 2018, on a slow, rainy Thursday for a motion to dismiss a shoplifting case against them. Although they stood together when their case was called, they did not sit together while waiting and rushed out of the courtroom following the arguments. Their motion was denied on Wednesday after being taken under advisement.

The Savages, Plympton residents accused of shoplifting from Kohl’s a year ago April, have been involved in a drawn-out legal saga ever since. The case has caught the eye of local media because Edward Savage is the former Hanson police chief, who resigned in 2012.

According to a complaint issued by the Hingham Police Department April 30, 2017, the Savages were caught on surveillance camera by the Kohl’s Department Store, 100 Derby St., Hingham, apparently shoplifting clothing in an amount more than $100.

The two were originally summonsed to appear before the clerk magistrate at Hingham District Court, Joseph Ligotti. The clerk agreed to dismiss the charges, with the agreement of the Hingham police prosecutor, if the Savages stayed out of criminal trouble for eight months and wrote letters of apology for the shoplifting, to the Hingham Police and Kohl’s department store at Derby Shops in Hingham, according to transcripts and recordings of the closed-door hearing, which were released to the media.

The Savages did not write apology letters before Feb. 28, 2018, the end of the probationary period.  A new acting clerk magistrate replacing Ligotti, who retired, seeing that the apology letters had not been received,  issued criminal charges against the Savages, according to court officials.

At the hearing, Daniel Webster, their attorney, argued that the acting clerk magistrate, Andrew Quigley, had no right to issue the criminal charges, and that he in fact, “violated the integrity of the Magistrate’s hearing,” by doing so, because the Savages thought they had until the very last day before the charges were dismissed to write apology letters.

Quigley never held a probable cause hearing of his own, according to records.

During the hearing on the motion to dismiss, held before Judge John P. Stapleton, who was engaged and asked many questions, Webster read a quote from Ligotti’s hearing:

“Okay, I am getting two letters written, signed by both people. I’m going to continue this matter until 2/28 of ’18 for dismissal. It will automatically dismiss on that date, no need to be back. Should you be dumb enough to do anything else illegal, this will automatically kick in and will automatically come back…and it [charges] will be issued,” he said.

Despite the lack of a due date for the letters, Stapleton denied the motion to dismiss the charges noting that the court had not found that the acting clerk magistrate, Quigley, had violated the integrity of the clerk magistrate hearing.

The Savages are being prosecuted by an outside prosecutor, Frances Cannone, of Essex County.

They will be back in court at a date to be determined to face the criminal complaint. A court official noted that it looks like the case will be headed for either a trial or settlement.

The case is ongoing.

PLYMPTON– On Monday, Sept. 10, Plympton Selectmen met at Town House for about an hour. They prepared for the Special Town Meeting, discussed an earth removal permit and talked about restoration projects at Old Town House.

Special Town Meeting

The warrant for the Thursday, Sept. 20, Special Town Meeting is ready to go and has been mailed to residents. With one article only, to purchase the property known as the Twin Brooks Preserve, the Special Town Meeting warrant is short.

Selectmen Chairman Mark Russo will speak for the board at the meeting, recommending the article.

The Community Preservation Committee and the Open Space Committee are also expected to present at the 7 p.m. meeting at the Dennett School.

For weeks, town officials have been diligently putting together this article that allows the town to exercise its right of first refusal on the sale of the property. The property, that would otherwise be sold for gravel excavation, is classified as a Chapter 61A agricultural property, allowing the town this option because of the change in ownership.

Earth Removal Permit

The board discussed another Chapter 61A property, this time bogs owned by Harju Limited Partnership, abutting Main Street, Pleasant Street and Mayflower Road.

Many years of sand and gravel have built up on-site as part of the cranberry-growing process, and the partnership wishes to remove the excess.

The board voted to exempt them from an earth-removal permit, not only because they are not actually removing earth in the traditional sense per-se, but because the property is Chapter 61A agriculture property, and does not need a permit for the work sought.

Rick Burnet, of the Conservation Committee, mentioned that his board wished for some silt barriers to be in place before the work, and that his committee would do a site visit.

The Selectmen made a motion to approve the work, as it is exempt from a permit, pending any requirements from other boards and committees.

Restoration at Old Town House

Elizabeth Dennehy, Town Administrator, reported that bids for the windows and doors at the Old Town House (the Historical Society Building) came in higher than anticipated. Jon Wilhelmsen, of the historical society, is currently checking references on the bidders, according to Dennehy.

“The ball’s in their court now,” said Russo, but Dennehy noted that the ball would eventually be back in the Selectmen’s court for final approval of any money being spent.

Selectman John Traynor noted that he had seen birds flying behind the clapboard in the eaves of the building.

He stated that it would be a shame to do all of the planned work and not address the clapboard.

He hoped that money to fix this problem could come out of the Building and Maintenance budget.

In other news:

• The board is in very early discussions regarding the purchase of software that would assist in planning paving and road maintenance.

• Email addresses will be changed in the near future at Town House. A date for the rollover has not been set.

• Selectman John Traynor received two informational bids to add amplifying speakers to the Large Meeting Room of Town House.

One bid was around $10,000, the other was around $4,000. Russo will bring the information to Area58 TV for their input.

• Construction at the Public Safety Building is going slower than expected, but there may be money found to build a permanent driveway, that had been previously deferred.

• Special Town Meeting is Sept. 20, 7 p.m. at the Dennett Elementary School with the single warrant article being the proposed purchase of Prospect Road acreage from the Atwood Family Trust.

• Selectmen will next meet Monday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m.

Turnout was higher than expected in Tuesday’s primary elections, according to clerks in both Plympton and Halifax and unofficial election data.

By 9 a.m. turnout was high in Plympton, and town clerks in both Plympton and Halifax anticipated a busy day.

In Plympton total turnout was 24 percent, with 548 ballots cast, more than twice the ballots from the last primary. In Halifax there were 1,309 ballots cast, representing 23 percent turnout.

Many races were not contested in either primary, although a few were close.

The Republican race for Representative for the 12th Plymouth District, which includes Duxbury, Halifax, Kingston, Middleborough, Plymouth and Plympton, was too close to call until Tuesday night. It was the most watched contest locally. Late Tuesday night, Summer Schmaling, who won handily in Plympton and Halifax, conceded the nomination to Joseph Truschelli, who won overall, by just a few votes.

“I think it was a great race. I commend my opponent for getting into the race. It was an issues-driven campaign. I look forward to working with her [Schmaling], and hopefully this goes our way,” said Truschelli in comments to the Express Wednesday via cellphone. “It was a very tight race…there was good turnout,” he added.

Schmaling did not respond to a request for comment as of press time.

Truschelli will face Kathy LaNatra, a Kingston selectman and business-owner, in the General Election Nov. 6.

Geoff Diehl bested John Kingston and Beth Joyce Lindstrom for Senator. He will face Elizabeth Warren in the state-wide race for Senator in November.

For the race of Governor, Charlie Baker, the Republican incumbent, will face Democrat Jay Gonzales, who won against Bob Massie, in the General Election.

Karyn Polito, a Republican, will run against Quentin Palfrey, a Democrat, for Lieutenant Governor.

James McMahon, III, in a close race, bested Daniel Shores in the Republican primary for Attorney General. He will face Maura Healey, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary in the General Election.

Anthony Amore, who ran unopposed in his Republican primary, will now face incumbent William Galvin, who beat Josh Zakim in the Democratic primary, for Secretary of State.

The Treasurers’ primaries were both unopposed. Keiko Orrall will face Deborah Goldberg, the Democratic incumbent, in the General Election.

The Auditor’s race was also unopposed. Helen Brady will face the Democratic incumbent Suzanne Bump in the General Election.

Peter Tedeschi, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary will face Bill Keating, the Democratic incumbent.

Christopher Iannella, Jr. a Democrat who ran against Mark Rooney, will be Councilor, as he has no opponent.

Michael Brady, the incumbent Democrat for State Senator, will run against Republican Scott Hall in the General Election.

Timothy J. Cruz, the Republican incumbent for District Attorney will remain in that office as he has no opponent, as will Democrats Robert Creedon, Jr. as Clerk of Courts and John Buckley, Jr. as Register of Deeds.

There was one person who pulled the Libertarian ballot in Plympton, which only had one race.

HALIFAX – Hingham resident Bob Demaggio has vacationed at Halifax’s Lake Monponsett for over four decades. His wife and kids have continued to go there every summer and take out the boat. Last Tuesday, Demaggio brought up a safety concern regarding the lake to the Board of Selectmen.

“I had an incident at the beginning of the month where I was taking my whaler with my wife,” Demaggio said.

Demaggio was going north on East Monponsett Lake when he said he hit an obstruction. Even going only at a trolling (slow) speed. Demaggio said the boat flew out of the water. His wife almost fell from the boat.

“I lost the prop (propeller), that’s no big deal, but I didn’t wat to lose a wife. That’s the important thing,” Demaggio said.

Demaggio and the Board of Selectmen believed the obstruction was some sort of glacial erratic. Glacial erratics are large rocks transported by glaciers and left behind when they melt.

So far, Demaggio said he’s spoken to the town, state, and Watershed Authority. He said it bothers him that there isn’t a sign warning people about the moving glacial rocks.

Selectman Thomas Millias said Demaggio’s request sounds reasonable. Selectman Tory Garron agreed. He said the Board will talk to the town’s other boards and will see what can be done.

New Board/Committee Appointments

The Halifax Housing Authority filled a vacancy on its committee with both the Board of Selectmen’s and Housing Authority’s appointment of Paula Walker.

Walker is used to a fast pace style of work having worked 50 years in the media industry including time with the Patriot Ledger, Brockton Enterprise, and the Boston Globe.

When asked by the Board of Selectmen why she wants to join the Housing Authority, Walker said she’s bored in retirement. Garron joked saying Walker will have to serve another 50 years with the Housing Authority.

Both boards unanimously approved Walker’s appointment.

Peter Veneto was unanimously appointed to the  Central Plymouth County Water District Advisory Board. Laurie Monahan was appointed as an alternate.

Other News

Town Administrator Charlie Seelig announced that several weeks ago, Gov. Charlie Baker signed an expansion on what types of cancer are covered by insurance for police officers and firefighters. Seelig sent a note to the state auditors office asking specifically what is in the mandate. The mandate is expected to cover all types of cancer.

The Board of Selectmen approved changes to the job description for the application process for a new police chief. At the suggestion of the Police Chief Assessment Center the Board of Selectmen voted to require at least a Bachelors degree for the position and a Masters degree to be the preference.

The next Board of Selectmen meeting is Tuesday, September 11. Open session starts at 7:30 p.m.

PLYMPTON– Although it never affected Plympton’s 911 service, handled by the Regional Old Colony Communications Center in Duxbury, last Saturday’s torrential downpours apparently knocked out the business line of the Plympton Fire Department.

It is still not working as of press time.

Captain John Sjostedt has taken to Facebook to communicate with the public. According to him, 911, which should be used for emergencies, and 781-585-0783, a direct line to the fire station which can also be used for emergencies, are both in working order.

The business line for the ROCCC in Duxbury also works.

But the business line for the PFD, 781-585-2633, rings twice and then goes to an error message stating that the number is out of service.

Capt. Sjostedt, reached via email, said, at first that this was a technical problem at the ROCCC.

The director of the ROCCC, Michael Mahoney, said that it was a problem in Plympton.

“We are more than capable of handling any emergency calls at our center,” said Mahoney. “I believe it is an internal problem [at Plympton] and they have technicians on it.”

Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy said Monday night that Verizon, the town’s telephone provider, is looking into the issue.

The Express contacted Verizon for comment, and Verizon stated they would look into the issue.

But after contacting Verizon, Sjostedt followed up and stated that he didn’t believe that this was a Verizon problem at all.

“It is actually not a Verizon issue,” he said. “That’s part of the hang up. There is another service involved and I’m having difficulty figuring out who the other involved company is.”

Internet searches reveal the number to come back to the PFD, but do not report which phone carrier issued the number.

Always call 911 in an emergency, officials say.