COLUMN: REGIONAL DIGEST

Woman held in fourth DUI case

DUDLEY - A 40-year-old Oxford woman is being held without bail after being charged last week with driving while under the influence of alcohol for the fourth time.

Cindy L. Dronzek, 119 Federal Hill Road, pleaded

Ms. Dronzek was charged with drunken driving, fourth offense; driving with a revoked license; reckless driving; speeding; possessing an open container of alcohol in her vehicle; and a civil infraction of not wearing a seat belt.

According to a police report, Officer Marek Karlowicz was standing beside his cruiser monitoring traffic on Oxford Avenue about 5 p.m. Thursday. He saw Ms. Dronzek speeding in a Jeep Liberty headed north. The officer's radar clocked her at 59 mph.

The officer said she did not slow down when he stepped into the roadway to flag her.

"The vehicle was going to strike me if I didn't move out off the roadway," he wrote. He pulled her over at Oxford Avenue and Pine Street. She allegedly failed sobriety tests and refused to take a Breathalyzer.

Judge Neil G. Snider held a hearing at Assistant District Attorney Krista Farese's request on whether Ms. Dronzek is a danger to the community; a prosecutor cited Ms. Dronzek's criminal record, dependency on alcohol, being out on bail for a prior charge, and her record of convictions.

Judge Snider ordered Ms. Dronzek held for up to 90 days, pending a trial "as soon as reasonably possible." A pretrial hearing was set for Sept. 18.

Earlier this year Ms. Dronzek served 21 days in jail for shoplifting. On March 26 she pushed a cart filled with groceries valued at $205.90 out of Price Chopper in Webster without paying. She was found guilty April 24.

Southbridge pushes cleanup

SOUTHBRIDGE - Town Manager Christopher Clark, who began the job last week, has initiated a cleanup program in which he and various enforcement officials will select neighborhoods to tour during late summer and early fall. The officials will "proactively look at violations of various properties."

The manager said in his weekly report that he will make an effort to reach out to property owners to work with the town officials, and that the program should yield positive results for owners, tenants and the town.

New Southbridge fire inspector

SOUTHBRIDGE - Firefighter-Paramedic Steven Lavoie starts his new role today as the Fire Department's inspector, Fire Chief Richard Ciesla said.

"I think he's more than qualified," the chief said Friday. "He's a good fit for the position."

An eight-year veteran of the department, Firefighter Lavoie replaces James W. Philbrook, who left the Fire Department to become director of the Health Department.

There were no other applicants for inspector, Chief Ciesla said, and there is still an opening within the 26-member department.

N. Brookfield PTA seeks aid

NORTH BROOKFIELD - The Parent Teachers Association is looking for two parents to be representatives on the Elementary School Improvement Council.

The PTA will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5 in the elementary school cafeteria to elect elementary school improvement council representatives and to discuss programs, fund-raisers and related activities.

Those interested in serving on the council should submit a letter of intent to the North Brookfield PTA, 10 New School Drive, North Brookfield, MA 01535. Letters of interest should be received by the PTA by Sept. 5, or brought to the meeting that evening.

The School Improvement Council meets each month from 6 to 7 p.m. before the School Committee meetings and assists the principal with adoption of educational goals; identification of the educational needs of the students; review of the school building budget; and development of the school improvement plan, to be implemented after review and approval of the superintendent and the School Committee.