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Agawam, MA

CT Woman Crashed Car Full of Ammunition While Drunk, High In Mass: Police CT Woman Crashed Car Full of Ammunition While Drunk, High In Mass: Police
CT Woman Crashed Car Full of Ammunition While Drunk, High In Mass: Police Drunk, high, and armed to the teeth. That's how Massachusetts State Police described a Connecticut woman they arrested Thursday, Oct. 19, after she crashed her car into another vehicle in Hampden County while intoxicated.  Catherine Hansen, 45, of Enfield, Connecticut, faces a slew of charges after police said they found a pistol and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in her wrecked car in Agawam, authorities said.  Hansen is accused of speeding when she crashed into a car just before 1 p.m. at the Agawam Rotary on Route 57, State police said. Several people in the car she hit were injured. …
CT Corrections Officer Suspended Over Alleged $87K Workers' Comp Fraud: Police CT Corrections Officer Suspended Over Alleged $87K Workers' Comp Fraud: Police
CT Corrections Officer Suspended Over Alleged $87K Workers' Comp Fraud: Police The agency responsible for policing standards has suspended a man who was an officer in Connecticut and Massachusetts and who lives in Massachusetts after he was charged with illegally receiving nearly $87,000 in workers' compensation benefits while working in Connecticut.  Matthew Hubbard, age 55, of Agawam in Hampden County, was one of four officers suspended by Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training.  Hubbard had worked as a corrections officer at a Connecticut prison and claimed he was hurt responding to a call on Aug. 7, 2020, the Connecticut Division of…
Prostitution Sting: 5 From Region Busted Trying To Pay Cop For Sex Prostitution Sting: 5 From Region Busted Trying To Pay Cop For Sex
Prostitution Sting: 5 From Region Busted Trying To Pay Cop For Sex Police continued their assault on prostitution this week as they arrested five more Western Massachusetts men in an undercover "anti-John" operation, authorities said.  This is the second time in as many weeks Springfield Police Department officers have targeted men who try to pay for sex, as they busted 11 on Thursday, June 15.  The operation on Thursday, June 22, targeted the High Street area and the South End neighborhood after several residents had complained of drugs and prostitution, Springfield police said.  RELATED: 11 Men Busted In Undercover Prostitution Stin…
Sushi Sold At Supermarkets In CT, MA Recalled Due To Undeclared Allergens Sushi Sold At Supermarkets In CT, MA Recalled Due To Undeclared Allergens
Sushi Sold At Supermarkets In CT, MA Recalled Due To Undeclared Allergens A company has recalled several sushi products that were sold at supermarkets in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Food, Standards and Product Safety issued a food safety warning on Thursday, Aug. 11, for EZ Noble Sushi, which was available for purchase during the week of Monday, Aug. 8, at Geissler’s Supermarkets in Connecticut and Massachusetts. EZ Noble Sushi recalled several products that contain undeclared eggs, wheat, and milk. “Properly labeling food products is critical to protecting the health and safety of consumers,"  Consu…
Western Massachusetts Man Dies After Falling From 100-Foot Cliff, Reports Say Western Massachusetts Man Dies After Falling From 100-Foot Cliff, Reports Say
Western Massachusetts Man Dies After Falling From 100-Foot Cliff, Reports Say A 20-year-old man from Agawam has died after calling from a 100-foot cliff in Southwick, multiple news outlets report. Southwick Police, Agawam Fire and Agawam Police all responded about a search of a person believed to be in a quarry on Provin Mountain around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26, Western Mass News reports.  Police told the outlet the young man “was determined to have died due to injuries from a fall." At least a dozen emergency vehicles were reportedly on scene, WWLP reports.  The man's death remains under investigation. 
One Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash In Region One Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash In Region
One Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash In Region An investigation is underway after a driver was killed in a fiery single-vehicle crash in Western Massachusetts.  Police responded to the crash in Hampden County, at around  3:40 a.m. on Tuesday, March 22, in the city of Agawam. Massachusetts State Police said investigators determined that a 2021 Lincoln Navigator was traveling west on Route 57 at the Garnder Street overpas when, for reasons not yet known, it went off the road and struck the bridge abutment.  The Lincoln caught fire and was engulfed in flames when emergency personnel responded, police said.  After exti…
Teen Dies After House Fire Breaks Out In Region Teen Dies After House Fire Breaks Out In Region
Teen Dies After House Fire Breaks Out In Region A teen was killed and an adult seriously injured during a raging house fire in Western Massachusetts, authorities announced. It happened in Hampden County around 9 a.m., Wednesday, March 9 at a home in Agawam. Agawam firefighters responded to the area of Squire Lane following a 911 call, said Agawam Fire Chief Alan Sirois.  On arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke and flames on all sides of the two-story structure, and a second alarm was ordered a short time later, Sirois said. Sections of the roof collapsed over the main house, as well as the attached garage during the fire, offi…
Local Man Purchases $1M State Lottery Ticket At Stop & Shop In Region Local Man Purchases $1M State Lottery Ticket At Stop & Shop In Region
Local Man Purchases $1M State Lottery Ticket At Stop & Shop In Region A local man has won a $1 million lottery prize after purchasing a ticket at a Stop & Shop in the region. Hampden County resident Stanley Godere, of Chicopee, claimed a Massachusetts State Lottery's "Diamond Millions" grand prize, according to an announcement from the lottery on Friday, Jan. 14. He plans to invest the money and share it with family, Massachusetts Lottery said. Godere purchased the winning ticket at the Stop & Shop, located at 1282 Springfield St. in Agawam.  The lottery said the store will receive $10,000 for its sale of the winning ticket.
Alligator Spotted In River Near CT Border Captured, Officials Say Alligator Spotted In River Near CT Border Captured, Officials Say
Alligator Spotted In River Near CT Border Captured, Officials Say An alligator that has been spotted by numerous fishermen and kayakers for several months in Western Massachusetts has been captured. MassWildlife reports an alligator that has been the subject of sightings in West Springfield in the Westfield River was finally captured by a Good Samaritan on Tuesday, Dec. 7, said Massachusetts Wildlife spokeswoman Marion Larson. "The capture was fortunate as this cold-blooded animal would not have survived the winter," Larson said.  Sightings and pictures of the alligator near the Morgan Sullivan Bridge in West Springfield, Massachusetts, were first repor…
Man Charged With Attempted Murder At Connecticut Hotel Man Charged With Attempted Murder At Connecticut Hotel
Man Charged With Attempted Murder At Connecticut Hotel A Western Massachusetts man is facing an attempted murder charge after allegedly attacking a family member with a blade during an altercation at a Connecticut hotel, police said. Shortly before 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26, officers from the Enfield Police Department in Hartford County responded to a reported stabbing at the Motel 6 on Hazard Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located a 63-year-old man in distress with a wound to his throat, police said, though he was able to identify his attacker, Alex Arslanian, of Agawam, Massachusetts in Hampshire County, who was located near the scene as his…
Man Nabbed With 24-Inch Machete, Drugs In Region Man Nabbed With 24-Inch Machete, Drugs In Region
Man Nabbed With 24-Inch Machete, Drugs In Region A Western Massachusetts man was arrested after being busted during a traffic stop with drugs, paraphernalia, and a 24-inch machete, police said. Members of the West Springfield Police Department’s Narcotics Unit spotted Hampden County resident Raymond Michael Boissonault driving a specific Honda Accord in the area of Birch Park Circle that he was known to illegally operate. Police said that prior to the stop, the department had received a tip that Boissonault was dealing drugs in West Springfield and in Agawam, and that his driver’s license was suspended. On Thursday, Sept. 9, police said …
Police Search For Stolen Vehicle Suspect Police Search For Stolen Vehicle Suspect
Police Search For Stolen Vehicle Suspect Police investigators in Western Massachusetts are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a wanted suspect who may have been involved in the theft of vehicles that were later recovered. The Agawam Police Department in Hampden County released video of a suspect who may have stolen a vehicle and was caught on camera attempting to open other parked vehicle doors in the area. According to police, the vehicle was stolen in Agawam in the early hours of Saturday, July 24, and later recovered in Suffield, Connecticut in Hartford County. A second stolen vehicle out of Suffield …
Passenger Killed In Deadly Western Mass Crash Identified Passenger Killed In Deadly Western Mass Crash Identified
Passenger Killed In Deadly Western Mass Crash Identified Officials have identified the passenger who died in a two-vehicle crash in Western Massachusetts last week. According to Lt. Dan Bonafilia of the Agawam Police Department, 36-year-old Matthew Coach, of Westfield, was killed during the crash which took place on Tuesday, July 6. A preliminary investigation has revealed the operator of one motor vehicle crossed over the center double yellow line while driving north on North Westfield Street, said Bonafilia. The operator then struck a vehicle traveling southbound. The two occupants of the vehicle that crossed the centerline were transported to…
One Killed, Two Hurt After Driver Crosses Yellow Line In Head-On Western Mass Crash, Police Say One Killed, Two Hurt After Driver Crosses Yellow Line In Head-On Western Mass Crash, Police Say
One Killed, Two Hurt After Driver Crosses Yellow Line In Head-On Western Mass Crash, Police Say One person was killed and two others injured in a two-vehicle crash after one of the drivers allegedly crossed the yellow line and hit the other vehicle head-on. The crash took place in Hampden County, around 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 6, in the area of North Westfield Street in Agawam. A preliminary investigation has revealed the operator of one motor vehicle crossed over the center double yellow line while driving north on North Westfield Street, said Lt. Dan Bonafilia. The operator then struck a vehicle traveling southbound. The two occupants of the vehicle that crossed&nbs…
Seen Him? Police Issue Alert For Missing Western Mass Man Seen Him? Police Issue Alert For Missing Western Mass Man
Seen Him? Police Issue Alert For Missing Western Mass Man An alert has been issued by police investigators in Western Massachusetts for a man who has been missing for weeks. The Agawam Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Todd Polacco, who has been missing since April and hasn’t been seen or heard from since the end of April or the beginning of May this year. Police said that Polacco, age 54, lived alone in an apartment in Agawam and was not employed when he went missing. Polacco was known to ride his mountain bike through Western Massachusetts and frequented local hiking and fishing areas, including Bear Hole in West …
Suspects Nabbed After Armed Robbery, Crashing Into Police Cruisers In Western Mass Suspects Nabbed After Armed Robbery, Crashing Into Police Cruisers In Western Mass
Suspects Nabbed After Armed Robbery, Crashing Into Police Cruisers In Western Mass Multiple suspects were apprehended in Western Massachusetts following an armed robbery at an AT&T store, police said. The West Springfield Police Department received a report of an armed robbery from the AT&T store on Riverdale Street at 4:52 p.m. on Sunday, June 6. According to police, a patrol officer and narcotics detectives spotted the suspect's vehicle and attempted to conduct a stop, but the vehicle sped off and a pursuit began southbound on Riverdale Street. The pursuit ended at the Route 5 rotary in Agawam after the suspect crashed into multiple police cruisers. Police sai…
Police Officer Recovering After Being Hit By Vehicle In Western Mass Police Officer Recovering After Being Hit By Vehicle In Western Mass
Police Officer Recovering After Being Hit By Vehicle In Western Mass A police officer directing traffic in Western Massachusetts was hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle early on Thursday morning, the department announced. An officer from the Agawam Police Department is recovering in the hospital after being struck by a vehicle around the Morgan Sullivan Bridge Replacement at approximately 7:45 a.m. on Thursday, May 6. Only one car was involved in the collision, and the driver remained at the scene to cooperate with the investigation. The officer’s injuries were described as being non-life-threatening. The crash led to a closure of Main Street in fr…
COVID-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas COVID-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas
Covid-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas Two communities in western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, March 18, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the late…
Eatery Emerges As Go-To Destination For Italian Cuisine After One Year Eatery Emerges As Go-To Destination For Italian Cuisine After One Year
Eatery Emerges As Go-To Destination For Italian Cuisine After One Year Just ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the Valley’s most popular fine-dining restauranteurs opened a little Italian spot in Longmeadow. Posto by The Federal is located in The Longmeadow Shops and serves “old-school new Italian” dishes. While Posto and The Federal share the same executive chef, Michael Presnal, Posto is more casual than the Agawam fine-dining destination. Whereas The Federal does service with elegance on white lenient, Posto does service with elegance on newspaper tissue printed to look like vintage news articles. Since opening in October 2019, online reviews have pra…
Acclaimed Steakhouse Draws Diners From Near, Far Acclaimed Steakhouse Draws Diners From Near, Far
Acclaimed Steakhouse Draws Diners From Near, Far The Federal in Agawam has a reputation for being a go-to restaurant for special dinners and celebrations - even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The venerable fine-dining establishment has been able to package that celebratory spirit into its new curbside pickup service. Take-out from The Federal can be ordered Tuesday-Saturday, 4-8 p.m. The menu includes house favorites like “a bucket of balls” (risotto balls with black truffle butter and snipped chives), chef’s hand-cut steak tartare, roasted rosemary duck breast, wild forest mushroom tagliatelle, fig and prosciutto pizza, and warm Nutella c…
No Data Caps For Now: Comcast To Delay Heavily-Criticized Plan To Limit Internet No Data Caps For Now: Comcast To Delay Heavily-Criticized Plan To Limit Internet
No Data Caps For Now: Comcast To Delay Heavily-Criticized Plan To Limit Internet Comcast’s highly-criticized move to implement internet data caps is being delayed. On Friday, Feb. 18, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued a statement welcoming Comcast’s announcement that they will postpone, what he called an “ill-timed” data cap until 2022. Comcast’s planned data caps went into effect on Jan. 1, in 12 states - including Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania - plus Washington, D.C. The data caps were envisioned long before the pandemic hit. “Delaying this ill-timed data cap until at least 2022 is the right call. I have heard from…
COVID-19: Cases Skyrocket As UMass Reigns In Partying, Shuts Down Campus COVID-19: Cases Skyrocket As UMass Reigns In Partying, Shuts Down Campus
Covid-19: Cases Skyrocket As UMass Reigns In Partying, Shuts Down Campus The COVID-19 incident rate shot up dramatically in Amherst where UMass is attempting to tamp down on the virus’s spread. The daily average COVID-19 rate in Amherst per 100,000 people was 26.6 last week, Feb. 4. As of Thursday, Feb. 11, Amherst’s COVID-19 rate is 78.8. The uptick in infections comes on the heels of the University of Massachusetts Amherst shutting down its campus to stop the virus’ spread. The roughly 13,000-member student body has been asked to self-quarantine. A spike in COVID-19 cases in Amherst has been linked to one or more “massive” frat parties thrown over the Feb. 6 w…
Town So Irked By Comcast Internet Cap, It May Just Build Its Own Broadband Network Town So Irked By Comcast Internet Cap, It May Just Build Its Own Broadband Network
Town So Irked By Comcast Internet Cap, It May Just Build Its Own Broadband Network At least one town is so irked by Comcast’s new internet service cap that it’s looking into starting a municipal internet option. On Thursday, Feb. 11, the creation of a Municipal Fiber Task Force to study implementing an internet network throughout Agawam was announced by Mayor William P. Sapelli. Sapelli said that a town-owned and managed network is just one option Agawam will explore as an alternative to Comcast. The town could also partner with a third party to provide service, make another arrangement, or not change anything at all.  Among the factors that will be studied by the …
New England's First - And Only - Selfie Bar Opens Here Friday New England's First - And Only - Selfie Bar Opens Here Friday
New England's First - And Only - Selfie Bar Opens Here Friday A new bar is promising to make each of its patrons feel like an “Instagram celebrity.” Opening Friday, Jan. 29, Pour Bar and Social Lounge claims to be New England’s first - and only - selfie bar. Located on Springfield Street in Agawam, Pour offers 15 interactive, professionally lit, photo-worthy experiences, according to its website, as well as a bar and snacks. Pour is owned by Anneliese Townsend, who launched it as a standard bar in January 2020. Amid the economic turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, Townsend decided to get creative with her business. Thus the selfie bar was born.  …
Junior Firefighter/Youth Football Volunteer Faces Child Porn, Stalking Charges Junior Firefighter/Youth Football Volunteer Faces Child Porn, Stalking Charges
Junior Firefighter/Youth Football Volunteer Faces Child Porn, Stalking Charges A man claiming to be a junior firefighter and youth football volunteer has been summonsed to court on child pornography and stalking charges. Daryl A. Gagne, 18, of West Springfield, was issued a court summons on Thursday, Oct. 8 on the charges of: - Stalking - Criminal harassment - Possession of child pornography - Distributing obscene matter to a minor - 6 counts of making telephone calls/electronic communications, annoying - 2 counts of threat to commit a crime, according to the Agawam Police log. Gagne is a graduate of the Agawam High School Class of 2020. On his LinkedIn pro…