Conference 7.286::maynard

    I just heard it was a 28-year-old man from Concord who was walking
    on a foot bridge in Maynard late last night.  The news said the 
    local police were looking for him but no more than that.  It 
    suprised me to hear it on my car radio news on the country western
    station WBCS!
    
    Lin
    

    The diving search was called off early this afternoon.  The current is 
    just too swift for the divers to continue.  From this point on until the
    "tide" goes out, the search will be from shore only.  
    
    Frank

    
    They have State Police Helicopters looking right now, we can hear
    them circling overhead here at the Mill.
    
    Dianne

    Frank, I saw two helicoptors scoping out the river this morning. I'm
    assuming it was the state police. I haven't heard if they were
    successful in their search. Have you heard?
    
    Also, when that foot bridge was built, the thought had crossed my mind
    that this sort of thing could potentially happen. Weren't we better off
    not having a bridge? Is there any real reason for folks needing
    to cross there?
    
    Regards,
    
    Michelle

    Well, I've answered my own question. Ron Cassidy, the Maynard Fire
    chief is my neighbor. I talked to him at lunch and he confirmed that
    they have not found him yet. They have a good idea of where he may be
    but he too said that the river is so raging at this time that they
    don't want to put any of the divers in jeopardy.

    re. .4
    
    From what I hear, this person was sitting on the rail.  Clearly not a
    good enough reason to shut down a walkway.  I would think a 28 year old
    man was wise enough not to sit on the rather high railing!
    
    -sandy
    

re .4:

>    Also, when that foot bridge was built, the thought had crossed my mind
>    that this sort of thing could potentially happen. Weren't we better off
>    not having a bridge? Is there any real reason for folks needing
>    to cross there?

I don't see anything particularly dangerous about that bridge.  If it didn't
exist people who would use it would cross at Main St. instead.  It's just as
easy to fall off at Main St. as it is at the footbridge.

re .6:

The Herald did say he was sitting on the railing.

-Mike

    RE .4:  I don't think the Tobin Park Foot Bridge is particularly 
    dangereous.  Consider:  
    
    There are eight bridges over the Assabet in Maynard and the
    Tobin Foot Bridge has the highest railing of them all.  Stand on the
    sidewalk on the downstream side of the Florida Road bridge when the
    river is raging like it is now if you want a scare.
    
    Prior to the Tobin Park Foot Bridge there was a double bridge at that 
    location. The lower span was a vehicle bridge for the old Maynard Coal 
    Company.  This was at the same height above the river as the Tobin Foot 
    Bridge, which uses some of the same abutments.  About 25 feet ABOVE that 
    bridge was a railroad trestle, with NO railings and only spaced rail 
    ties for a decking (as in: you could see through the bottom).  It was quite
    a experience riding a bike over that bridge.... 
    
    As for the park and bridge, the intent was to provide a link from the
    downtown to additional parking along the old railroad tracks.
    
    Frank

    Has the person's name been released yet?
    
    Jim

I think his name was listed in yesterday's Herald.

-Mike

    RE: .8
    
    Frank, you are bringing back memories.  I remember when I first started
    in the Mill.  It was the evening shift and our dinner break was at
    6:00.  We used to head to Mr Take-out for a large onion rings, then
    next door for a bottle of liquid refreshment....then we would sit out
    back under the trestle with the locals.
    
    Going back even further, I remember as a kid having contests to see who
    could run the length of the trestle, on the outside tie.  This was very
    scary being that high over the river, but none of us ever fell in.
    
    TG

    Yeah, Frank.  Memories. 
    
    Remember being double dog dared to run across the railroad tracks at
    full speed and the closer you went to the edge of the track the more
    brave you were???
    
    How did I get through my childhood, I'll never know!!!
    
    -sandy
    

    I didn't grow up in Maynard. I didn't know there were tracks and a
    trestle in that area years ago. Your're right about the bridge. You
    would think that a 28 year old man would beware of such potential
    dangers. I actually was thinking more of kids trying stuff like that 
    when I expressed concern about the bridge being there. I usually see
    alot of young kids around that area. But as you daredevils have proved, 
    kids are going to try those things!
    
    Also, someone was telling me that about 7 years ago someone fell into 
    the river and drowned too. This would have been around the time we
    moved to town. What's the story behind that?

    The search for the missing person ended Friday afternoon with nothing
    found.  All areas that could be searched without endangering the divers 
    and spotters were searched not only once, but twice, and sometimes three 
    to four times.  As the river recedes due to the rain last Monday and 
    Tuesday, we were hoping that a trace of the missing person could have been
    noticed.  
    
    The only area that could not be searched, was the middle of the river 
    between Walnut and Waltham Streets, due to the swift current of the 
    river. The divers tried many times to search that area but couldn't.  Once
    the river's current slows down some, there is a possibility that the 
    divers will try again.    
    
    One thing we ask of the public, (Frank, I think you will agree with me
    on this..) PLEASE, do not walk the river bank to look for the missing
    person.  Please leave it up to the emergency personnel.  The police
    have spotted people walking the banks and have informed them that they
    are walking at there own risk.      
    
    Many thanks should be given to the Maynard Police and Fire department's
    for the hard work that they encounted last week.  There were alot of
    hard decisions that Chief Cassidy and George Murphy had to make. In my
    own opinion as far as I could see, they made the right decisions.
    
    Many thanks go out to the Town of Acton, who have been searching with the 
    Maynard crew all week.  The town of Concord assisted Wednesday with a crew
    and their boat, along with the Mass State Police helicopter in the morning.
    Thursday was more of the same, Acton and Maynard continuing the search.  
    Friday, the town of Hudson sent their boat and divers, and Digital let us 
    use one of their copters to search in the morning.  Thanks should also go 
    out to the Elks (Ralph Cantino), for feeding the crew on Friday.  Even 
    though it was a Holy Day, the beef stew was good.
    
    Ken Priest