Week in Review: Oxford Files Suit Against Former Tax Collector, Accuses Her of Stealing $670,000 Plus

Purse Snatcher Sought

Police continue to investigate the theft of a purse from a locked car in the Great Hill Plaza. The theft occurred sometime on Friday, Dec. 10. Anyone with information is asked to call the Oxford Resident Trooper's Office at 203-888-4353. Click to see the story.

Toy Donations Sought

The Oxford Resident Trooper's Office is seeking toy donations for needy children. Anyone who wants to donate can do so by dropping them off at the office, 429 Oxford Road, until Thursday. Or they can be brought to State Police Barracks Troop A in Southbury at 90 Lakeside Road. The story is .

New Property Assessments Mailed

The Town of Oxford has announced on its web site that notices reporting new property assessments have been mailed to residents. The new assessments reflect 70 percent of the fair market value as of Oct. 1. Property owners may also review their assessment data on the Massachusetts-based Vision Appraisal website at www.visionappraisal.com. Click for the story.

Tax Bills Due

Section Sponsored By The tax collector's office is collecting the second half of real estate and personal property taxes at Town Hall.

The department will also collect the entire motor vehicle supplemental bill. All bills are for the Grand List of 2009.

The payments are due on Jan. 3 and residents have until Feb. 1 before they incur a late fee, according to a notice about the tax payments on the town's website, www.oxford-ct.gov. If people are paying by mail, all payments must be postmarked by Feb. 1 in order to avoid a late fee, the notice states.

Click to see the story.

Lawsuit: Tax Collector Stole $671,000

The town of Oxford has filed a civil lawsuit against former Tax Collector Karen Guillet in which it accesses the veteran. The town is trying to recoup some of the money and says that Guillet's home and property can be attached to her assets. See the story .

Lady Wolverines Lose to Seymour

The Oxford High School girls basketball team dropped a game to Seymour High School on Wednesday 46-33 to bring its record to 1-2. See the article and photos .

Police: Drunken Man Struck School Bus

Nobody was injured after Robert G. Maciulewski, 34, of 12 Roxbury Road in Woodbury, struck the bus on Good Hill Road in Oxford and drove away Tuesday afternoon, according to a news release filed at the Oxford Resident Trooper's Office. The bus sustained minor damage. Maciulewski was charged with driving under the influence and evading responsibility, among other charges. See the story .

State Rep. Named to Leadership Post

State Rep. David K. Labriola, R-Oxford, has been named Minority Whip of the House Republican Caucus by House Republican leader Lawrence Cafero. A Whip is traditionally responsible for helping to shape public policy, influencing fellow GOP lawmakers and making sure Republican House members are in attendance to vote for caucus positions, according to a news release from the House Republicans in Hartford. See the article .

Interesting Facts About the Town's Industrial Age Past

Oxford Town Historian Dorothy DeBisschop has discovered that the town's deep-rooted history during the Industrial Era is both rich and unique.

Some of the treasures she uncovered during her research include that lumber from Oxford was once used for ship building; a woolen mill in town was owned by a former aide to Gen. George Washington; and another business produced material that was made into clothing for slaves.

She also shares interesting historical nuggets about how Oxford residents were once responsible for creating mass quantities of hats for city folk; one business had a leather tanning process that turned the Little River red with its discharge; and people in town once paid their taxes with cow hides.

See Dorothy's column

Engineering Firm Sought to Help With OHS Field Repairs

A committee charged with looking into ways to improve athletic fields at is seeking help from engineers.

The New Oxford School Building Committee, or NOSBC, announced in a news release that it is looking for a qualified engineer or engineering firm capable of assessing the needs of outdoor athletic teams at the high school and proposing conceptual designs based on the findings. See the story .

State Police, Oxford Patch Toy Drive Collects More Than 80 Toys for Local Children

The Oxford Resident Trooper's Office and the Oxford Patch news site teamed up during a toy drive Saturday morning and collected more than 80 toys for local children. Thank you to all who donated.

See the article .