For new marshal, firefighting is a family tradition By Julie Rancourt Special to The Citizen
Plainville has a new fire marshal and he comes from a long line of firefighters.
Dievert, 48, a retired Wallingford firefighter and instructor at the Connecticut Fire Academy, was destined to go into the family business. His grandfather was a career firefighter in New Haven, his uncle served as a firefighter in Hamden, and his father joined the volunteer force in South Meriden.
How Central Connecticut towns are responding to COVID-19 By Everett Bishop Record-Journal staff
Across the state, communities are responding to coronavirus in a variety of ways in an effort to keep residents safe while maintaining normalcy. As of Monday afternoon, Connecticut had a total of 2,571 confirmed cases of the virus. Of those, seven were in Plainville.
Ronald Dievert, Jr., Plainville’s new fire marshal.
preparing for the position over the last couple years, completing the necessary training modules to be considered.
The town fire marshal is responsible for inspecting buildings and facilities used by the public and investigatPlainville’s new marshal ing the cause of fires. The served the town of Wallingford for close to 30 years. He marshal also issues permits has also served as a firefight- for use or transportation of explosives. er instructor for 17 years. In a time when fewer and Dievert always dreamed of being a fire marshal after re- fewer people are going into tirement and has been
See Marshal, A7
Nearby, 11 cases were confirmed in Berlin, one was confirmed in Durham, and there was one in Middlefield and two in North Haven.
A researcher at Protein Sciences in Meriden moves a vial in a lab on Thursday, March 12. The biotech company is currently researching a vaccine for COVID-19.
matter of time before there was a confirmed case in Durham, given that community spread has already been established in our region," said First Selectman Laura Francis. "We must assume that there are other Durham, which concases already in our comfirmed its first case of munity at this time, and coronavirus on Thursthat the number will inday, March 26 has been crease. If someone is sick closely coordinating with with a fever and has a its health department to cough, you need to assume monitor the virus in they have COVID-19. I town. strongly urge all Durham residents to heed instruc"We knew it was only a In response to the encroaching threat, North Haven, Durham, Middlefield, Plainville and Berlin have all closed town offices and public buildings.
AP Photo/Jessica Hill
tions by public health officials to 'flatten the curve' and slow the spread of the disease by practicing social distancing." In order to smooth the transition into self-isolation, the Durham recreation department has been hosting programs and activities over the video communication service Zoom for residents to enjoy. Durham also continues to See Response, A7
Plainville’s oldest funeral home with over 130 years of serving the community. Blaire L. Bouchard – Funeral Director 48 Broad Street Plainville, CT 06062 • 860-747-2295 • Bailey-FuneralHome.com
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Ronald Dievert, Jr. was sworn in on March 9, in an informal ceremony at Town Hall due to the COVID-19 crisis. He replaces Larry Sutherland, who retired in February after serving as fire marshal for two decades.
Thursday, April 2, 2020
www.plainvillecitizen.com
Volume 19, Number 8