Vice mayor resigns; WF officer wrecks during pursuit

The Webbers Falls Board of Trustees at their July 12 meeting accepted the resignation of the town‚s vice mayor and announced one of their police officers had been involved in an accident.

The board accepted the resignation of vice mayor Toni Cox and then elected Trustee David Chase as the new vice mayor.

Webbers Falls Police Chief Wayne Cartwright reported one of their officers was involved in a single-vehicle accident while involved in a pursuit. Cartwright said the officer is recovering and the suspect was apprehended.

“The officer was trying to conduct a traffic stop on a car traveling over 100 mph. When the officer activated his emergency lights to do so, the car involved slammed on their brakes in the middle of the highway, coming to an abrupt stop with other vehicles around,” Cartwright said.

“This cornered the officer in one path of travel into the vehicle he was in fact trying to stop. This caused injury to our officer. He is stable and going to be okay,” he said.

Cartwright said the suspect vehicle had two occupants and one fled on foot. He said the other suspect was taken into custody for causing the accident, as well as trafficking narcotics.

“Another car was running with this vehicle and did get away. Further updates will be available as the Webbers Falls Police Department gets them,” he said.

After a discussion with the town attorney on possibly taking action to start selling burial plots at Vaughn Cemetery, there was no action taken. It was noted the topic would be discussed again at a later date once the plotting and mapping is completed.

Following an executive session to discuss the employment of Cartwright, Clint Powell and Curtis Elkins, the board reconvened and announced they were tabling the employment issues. Hannah Sturgell expressed her concerns over the speed limit on E. 173rd Street South that is located in front of her residence. Sturgell asked the board to consider lowering the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph. After some discussion, the board voted to take no action on lowering the speed limit.

Under communications, it was announced the county had paved in front of the school and patched holes on E. 173rd Street South.

In other news, the board voted to approve Invoice #123524 from Emergency Apparatus Maintenance for Engine I repairs and a renewal with Vyve Broadband A, LLC.