A FINAL SALUTE – As a final tribute to Firefighter John Clasby, members of the Hull Fire Department approached his gravesite in pairs, saluted, and then placed their white gloves atop Clasby’s uniform jacket on the casket. [Roger Jackson photo]
Hundreds of mourners filled St. Ann’s Church on Monday morning for the funeral of Firefighter John Clasby, a Hull native who was paralyzed while fighting a massive inferno on Sunset Point in 1999.
Firefighters from across the state, as well as honor guard units from Boston and surrounding cities, joined Hull residents, friends, and family members in paying tribute to Clasby, 45, who died Nov. 11 after being hospitalized for infection.
Hull Fire Chief Robert A. Hollingshead said that, because of the circumstances of Clasby’s injury, his was considered a line-of-duty death, and he was afforded full honors and respect for his “ultimate sacrifice.”
The town manager and superintendent unveiled sweeping changes to Hull’s municipal government and school department this week during a preliminary review of budget cuts that could be made next year.
Town Manager Philip Lemnios and Superintendent Kathleen Tyrell told the selectmen that these, and many other service reductions, could potentially occur if the town does approve an override of Proposition 2-1/2 to fund the budget for fiscal year 2010, which begins on July 1. Lemnios estimates that without an override, the increase in fixed costs like health insurance, contracted raises, pension contributions, and utility bills would force the town to reduce its spending on other services by 15 percent.
A Hull man who got out of prison in June after serving five years for causing the death of a young mother during a police chase is again in jail, accused of stealing a truck and driving drunk.
According to court records, Joseph H. Buckley, of 42 Warfield Ave., hasn’t had a valid license since 1990. He has been arrested at least seven times for driving under the influence of liquor or drugs since the first set of charges in Hull in September 1984.
He has also been arrested on multiple other charges in a criminal career that spans nearly a quarter-century, resulting in a rap sheet with nearly 100 entries.
Joseph H. Buckley hasn’t had a valid Massachusetts driver’s license since 1990, but that hasn’t stopped him from getting behind the wheel. On Nov. 12 – two days after his arraignment on new OUI and other charges in Quincy – the Registry of Motor Vehicles revoked his license for life, as allowed under 2005’s Melanie’s Law.
Buckley’s driving record evidences a pattern of drug and liquor violations with a seeming disregard for whether or not he was licensed.
According to registry records, Buckley was arrested and found responsible for OUI charges in Hull in September and December 1984; in September the next year, his license was revoked for driving to endanger in Hull. In March 1988, his license was suspended for four months for refusing to take a breath test in Hingham; the same penalty was exacted for the same reason in Hull in July 1990.
Firefighters from across the state are expected to gather at St. Ann’s Church Monday morning for the funeral of John Clasby, a Hull firefighter who was disabled by injuries suffered while fighting a massive inferno on Clifton Ave. in 1999.
Clasby, 45, died Tuesday at South Shore Hospital after several recent hospitalizations for infection, according to his mother, Janet Clasby.
Although Clasby had been retired from the fire department for nearly a decade, “This is considered a line-of-duty death and John will receive all due respect for his ultimate sacrifice,” Hull Fire Chief Robert A. Hollingshead said today [Thursday], in announcing funeral details.
On Sept. 30, the first day of the Jewish New Year, Jacob M. Deitsch was arrested for taping a swastika to a Nantasket Ave. utility pole.
Ironically, Deitsch pleaded guilty to the act in Hingham District Court last Monday, the 60th anniversary of Kristalnacht – the “Night of Broken Glass” – when the Nazi militia in Germany and Austria mounted their first concerted action against Jews, ushering in the Holocaust.
Judge Patrick Hurley accepted, without comment, the 19-year-old Hillside Rd. resident’s plea offer and sentenced him to serve 20 months in jail concurrently with the same sentence imposed in Quincy court on Oct. 21, when Deitsch was convicted of drug possession.
QUITE A CATCH – As New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk chalks up the catches this season, Wellspring Multi-Service Center will chalk up contributions from Coastal Nissan of Norwell.
By Susan Ovans 13.NOV.08
Patriots’ fans have come to know they can count on running back Kevin Faulk to step up his team’s play whenever he’s on the field.
Faulk’s been particularly vital during third-down plays this injury-plagued season, and he’s become the go-to guy new QB Matt Cassel relies on to scrape out a first down.
![A FINAL SALUTE – As a final tribute to Firefighter John Clasby, members of the Hull Fire Department approached his gravesite in pairs, saluted, and then placed their white gloves atop Clasby’s uniform jacket on the casket. [Roger Jackson photo]<p><A HREF='http://hulltimes.com/link.asp?smenu=148&twindow=PhotoGallery1&mad=No&pform=' target='_blank'>Click here to see a slideshow of photos from Monday’s tribute to Firefighter John Clasby.</A><p>](clients/hulltimes/11-21-2008-8-09-37-AM-8889367.jpg)
