Former Army Captain and valley resident Ray Gilmore spoke on veteran suicide at VA New England’s recent conference to share resources. He previously sat down and had a conversation with Mt. Washington Radio News Director Tony Zore. He told Magic 104, “My best friend and roommate committed suicide. You know- Sapper qualified, ranger qualified, combat adviser- just like me. Five kids- six kids! He was an over achiever. Thanksgiving weekend, midnight, find out through Facebook that Doug offed himself. It was a shock. He was not the guy, it never is but when 20 to 22 soldiers a day are committing suicide there’s no such thing as ‘not that guy,’ that guy is everywhere. It can be anybody.” Keita Franklin, Executive Director Suicide Prevention, VHA Office of Mental Health noted at the conference that both male and female veterans have a higher rate of suicide than those who didn’t serve. The Department of Veterans Affairs says their top priority is to eliminate suicide among veterans. Department officials say, “If you are a Veteran, service member, National Guard or Reserve member there is support no matter what you are experiencing.  If you are a loved one, family or a friend there is help and guidance for you.  Call the Veterans Crisis Line for free confidential support at 800-273-8255 Press 1; or find support online.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency is taking steps to ensure a Ukrainian-born truck driver whose collision with motorcyclists in New Hampshire left seven dead remains in custody even if his criminal case were dismissed. Volodymyr Zhukovskyy is being held without bail. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday to negligent homicide in Friday’s crash. The ICE detainer means even if the case were to be dismissed, Zhukovskyy would be turned over to the organization. (Associated Press)

US Senator from New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen is touting an increase in Federal funds to New Hampshire her office says she helped secure. New Hampshire and other hard-hit states by the opioid epidemic have received an increase in Federal funding to help combat the trend. Last year New Hampshire received $22.9 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to help treat those afflicted with opioid addiction. That’s a significant boost from the $3.1 million New Hampshire had received in 2017. Shaheen’s office touted the increase in funding to the State saying, “We cannot grow numb to this tragedy and need to keep finding ways to save lives and deliver treatment before it’s too late.” Last month the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New Hampshire put out the official state tally for drug deaths in 2018. Opioids were responsible for the vast majority of deaths with roughly 420 deaths due to opioids compared to the annual total of roughly 470 deaths. That total represents a very minor drop but it’s the first drop since the start of the spike in deaths by opioids that began in 2013.

The driver of the pick-up truck involved in a deadly motor vehicle accident has now been identified, arrested, and charged. The driver, identified as 23-year-old Volodymyr Zhukovskyy was arrested at his home in Springfield, Massachusetts at 8:00 this morning. Massachusetts State Police arrested Zhukovskyy on a Fugitive from Justice charge after an arrest warrant was issued for seven counts of negligent homicide. Associated Press reports that Zhukovskyy had two prior drunk driving incidents, one last month in Connecticut and one in Massachusetts in 2013.

Authorities originally received notification of the accident off Route 2 in Randolph, New Hampshire at around 6:29 this past Saturday evening. The accident involved seven motorcyclists associated with a New England motorcycle club called the, ‘Marine JarHeads.’ They have been identified as Michael Ferazzi, 62; Albert Mazza, 59; Daniel Pereira, 58; Joanne and Edward Corr, both 58 years old; Desma Oakes, 42; and Aaron Perry, 45. New Hampshire Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jennie Duval determined all seven died due to blunt force trauma.

 

 

 

A previously planned Blessing of the Bikes ceremony on Sunday became a solemn moment of mourning and reflection in the immediate aftermath of the crash that has shocked the New England region and country at large. The Associated Press reports roughly 400 people paid tribute to the bikers at the event. Governor Chris Sununu announced later on Sunday that flags would be flown at half-staff on Monday. He announced the statewide gesture yesterday saying, “Words cannot express the grief we all share in the loss of these seven individuals. The State will ensure that the families affected will have the necessary resources to provide closure to this tragic event.”

 

 

 

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.