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Mo. deputy gives escaped monkey a lift home

By Brian Burnes
The Kansas City Star

LIVINGSTON COUNTY. Mo. — A capuchin monkey that fled his owner’s home and spent several days in the northwest Missouri wild had had enough by Tuesday.

When Livingston County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Mueller called him by name — Harley — the 6-year-old monkey jumped right in his truck.

“I had been worried sick about him,” said Mueller, a friend of the monkey’s owner.

The friend, who owns several monkeys, reported Harley missing over the weekend. Harley had bolted from his home through a briefly opened door.

On Tuesday, a caller told the sheriff’s office he thought he had seen the monkey on a county road northwest of Chillicothe, the county seat.
Mueller drove out, saw Harley and stopped his truck.

“I started talking to him by name,” Mueller said. “Then I just opened the door to my truck and asked if he wanted to go for a ride and he came right in.”

It’s possible that Harley recognized Mueller, who had held him several times in the past.

“More than anything, I think he was just really hungry,” Mueller said. “He tried to eat everything on my floor mats.”

Harley and his fellow monkeys all are registered, as required by state exotic animal laws, Mueller said.

Copyright 2015 The Kansas City Star

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATIVE AWARDS DINNER

On Thursday March 12th, the NEPBA Legislative Committee joined by members of the Executive Committee, and other Local members, held the Inaugural Massachusetts Legislative Awards Dinner at the Best Western Royal Plaza in Marlborough, MA.

For 2014, the Legislative Committee unanimously voted to recognize four Massachusetts Legislators who, in their opinion, went above and beyond for NEPBA members and their families. The recipients for 2014 are,

State Representative James Miceli

State Representative Harold Naughton

State Senator Michael O. Moore

State Senator James Timilty

The festivities began with a short social hour in which the Legislators had a chance to speak with NEPBA members in attendance. Dinner immediately followed.

Opening remarks and introductions were made by NEPBA Massachusetts Legislative Director Paul Larkham. He praised the work accomplished by the four Legislators on behalf of the NEPBA in 2014. He explained how the NEPBA has established a great many contacts within the Statehouse and attributed it to the hard work of the 17 members of the MA Legislative Committee. Larkham pointed out the successes gained in Massachusetts also came from the strong support the Legislative Committee received from the Executive Committee and made a point of thanking NEPBA President Marty Conway and NEPBA Treasurer Bill Ryan who were in attendance.

The podium was then turned over to NEPBA President Marty Conway who with Executive Vice Presidents Deborah Batista and Tom Daly made the award presentations. President Conway thanked the efforts of the Legislative Committee and said he was happy that his choice of Tom Daly and Deborah Batista to serve as the Co-Chairs was the right one.

President Conway presented the 2014 Legislative Special Recognition Award to State Representative James Miceli for his demonstrative efforts in helping to defeat House Bill 59, (Healthcare for Retirees). As previously reported HB59, as written and filed by Governor Patrick, would have had financial devastating effects on NEPBA members and their families. Representative Miceli made it clear at the large hearing on this Bill, held in the Gardiner Auditorium,  that as a Senior member of the House he would be voting to further study the Bill and would hold to the promises made to public employees. This single Act led the way to the Bills’ ultimate demise.

Legislator of the Year Awards were bestowed on State Representative Harold Naughton along with State Senators Michael O. Moore and James Timilty. Each of these Legislators clearly supported NEPBA members inside and outside of the Statehouse throughout 2014. This included filing and fighting for passage of Bills specifically filed on behalf of NEPBA.

Each Legislator took a few moments to address the crowd after receiving their awards and then closing remarks were offered by Legislative Committee Co-Chairs Tom Daly and Deborah Batista. Both thanked the members of the Committee for their hard work throughout the year.

The evening continued with photos of the award recipients and more socializing which went well beyond the scheduled time of the event.

NEPBA LOCALS 75 & 80 PREVAIL AT JLMC

The New England Police Benevolent Association Local 80 and local 75, in Somerset, Massachusetts ended nearly four years of contract negotiations when on Friday, February 27, 2015 the Joint Labor – Management Committee (JLMC) handed down the Interest Arbitration Award. The Arbitration Tri-Panel was made up of the neutral Arbitrator and Chair of the Arbitration Panel Richard G. Boulanger, Esquire; Police Representative Ken Scanzio; and Management Representative, Gerry Hayes. The New England P.B.A. Locals 80 & 75, last contract with the Town of Somerset expired June 30, 2012.

“I am very pleased about the outcome of this award as the Town was only offering a one percent pay raise over this three year contract period. The Arbitration Panel review all of the documents present and handed down a fair arbitration award in favor of the hard work members in Somerset” said New England Police Benevolent Association State Director Sean R. McArdle.

“The members of Local 80 are very pleased with the decision in our recent arbitration case. The decision is a positive outcome after years spent at the table in unsuccessful negotiations. We thank the NEPBA, and specifically Sean McArdle, for guiding us through this lengthy, but ultimately successful, process” said Somerset Police Patrol Association, Local 80 President William Tedford.

“This was our first time ever as a group at contract arbitration. As we have come to expect, the NEPBA was extremely well prepared and ready to present our case to the panel in a highly professional fashion” said Somerset Police Superior Officers’ Association Local 75 President Jeff Cote. “We recently received an Award, which we all feel is a fair resolution to this long process. This would not have been possible without NEPBA and Sean McArdle”.

NEPBA Local 75 President Cote continued “NEPBA and Sean have represented both locals in Somerset for many years. Our membership and Executive Boards have the utmost respect and trust in his work ethic, and NEPBA’s representation. The entire membership of the Somerset Police Department would like to take this opportunity to thank the NEPBA for their diligent work on this difficult contract and for the exemplary representation that we receive each and every day, on issues both large and small.”