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Massachusetts Trader Joe's Becomes First To Unionize: 'This Victory Is Historic' Massachusetts Trader Joe's Becomes First To Unionize: 'This Victory Is Historic'
Massachusetts Trader Joe's Becomes First To Unionize: 'This Victory Is Historic' Employees at a Trader Joe's in Western Massachusetts are celebrating as they became the first store to form a union at their company. "This victory is historic, but not a surprise," Trader Joe's United said in a statement on Twitter. "Despite the company's best efforts to bust us, our majority have never wavered." The union vote passed 45-31 at a store in Hadley with 81 Trader Joe's employees casting their votes, Boston.com reports. The next step is to negotiate a contract with the company.  WE WON!!! pic.twitter.com/T0lXTtOykp — Trader Joe's United (@TraderJoesUnite) July 28, 2022 "W…

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by David Cifarelli
News
Western Mass Man Found Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting Disabled Woman While Driving Her To Work Western Mass Man Found Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting Disabled Woman While Driving Her To Work
Western Mass Man Found Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting Disabled Woman While Driving Her To Work A bus driver from Western Massachusetts was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman who was incapable of providing consent, the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office said.  Joseph Lamb, age 36, was convicted of sexually assaulting a person over the age of 14 with intellectual disabilities, on Tuesday, July 19, the office reports.  The charge stems from an incident where Lamb inappropriately touched the victim without her consent while driving her to and from work in early 2000, the office reports.  “I thank the victim for coming forward and sharing her story,"&n…

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by David Cifarelli
News
Western Mass Father Pleads Not Guilty To Infant Son's Death By Adult Sleep Medication Western Mass Father Pleads Not Guilty To Infant Son's Death By Adult Sleep Medication
Western Mass Father Pleads Not Guilty To Infant Son's Death By Adult Sleep Medication A father from Western Massachusetts has pleaded not guilty to several charges in connection with the death of his 4-month-old son almost three years ago, the Northwestern District Attorney's office said.  Isaac Villalobos, formerly of Amherst, is facing several charges after allegedly gave he after his infant son a lethal dose of adult sleep medication on September 15, 2019, the office reports.  After being indicted by a Grand Jury, Villalobos was arrested last week in Maryland and brought back to Massachusetts on Thursday, July 14, the office reports.  The charges…

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by David Cifarelli
Business
'This Has Become Our Second Home': Western Mass Eatery Closing After 34-Year Run 'This Has Become Our Second Home': Western Mass Eatery Closing After 34-Year Run
'This Has Become Our Second Home': Western Mass Eatery Closing After 34-Year Run A family-run restaurant in Western Massachusetts has made the difficult decision to close after 34 years of service.  Fernandez Family Restaurant in Holyoke announced they will be officially closing their doors on Friday, July 22, the family said on Facebook.  The family thanked their loyal clientele for supporting them through "uncertain times" and said this was not an easy decision.  "This is a bittersweet time for us, as this has become our second home and to many that have walked through our doors, generation after generation," the family said. "Thank you for letting us …

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Western Mass EMS Crews Rescue Fellow Firefighter Pinned Under Dump Truck Western Mass EMS Crews Rescue Fellow Firefighter Pinned Under Dump Truck
Western Mass EMS Crews Rescue Fellow Firefighter Pinned Under Dump Truck A group of firefighters from Western Massachusetts are being hailed for their quick efforts in saving a fellow firefighter who was trapped under a dump truck earlier this week.  Great Barrington firefighters to a report of a person underneath an overturned vehicle on Burning Tree Road in around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 6, the department said. Upon arrival, crews found a man in his 50s pinned under the cab of a large dump truck that was on its side.  As paramedics worked to stabilize the victim, the truck was lifted within 10 minutes and the victim was freed, the department said.  He w…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Police Search Connecticut River After Report Of Body Police Search Connecticut River After Report Of Body
Police Search Connecticut River After Report Of Body Authorities are on the scene at a portion of the Connecticut River after a report of a body being observed in Western Massachusetts. At approximately 10:05 Sunday, July 3, a call came in reporting the possible body in the river in Chicopee, authorities said.  The Chicopee Police Underwater Recovery Team as well as the Holyoke Fire Department are on the scene.  Both motorists and pedestrians are asked to avoid the area of Catherine Street and Sheppard Street "as this is an active operation," Chicopee Police said. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.

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by Joe Lombardi
News
No Arrests Made After More Than 18 Shots Fired In Western Mass Neighborhood, Police Say No Arrests Made After More Than 18 Shots Fired In Western Mass Neighborhood, Police Say
No Arrests Made After More Than 18 Shots Fired In Western Mass Neighborhood, Police Say No arrests have been made after more than 18 shots were fired in a Western Massachusetts. The incident took place in Hampden County in Holyoke around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15 in the area of lower Westfield Road. Holyoke Police received several calls of automatic gunfire in the area of dd, said Capt. Matthew Moriarty. Several Holyoke police units responded and secured and searched the area finding 18 spent casings in the roadway, Moriarty said. No injuries or property damage were reported. Earlier report: 18 Casings Found On Roadway After Shots-Fired Incident In Western M…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Five Charged After Meth, Cocaine, Heroin Seized In Western Mass Five Charged After Meth, Cocaine, Heroin Seized In Western Mass
Five Charged After Meth, Cocaine, Heroin Seized In Western Mass Five people will be spending time behind bars after they were busted for various drug trafficking offenses in Western Massachusetts, authorities said.  All five are residents of Pittsfield, authorities said. Michael Rogan, age 39, and Shane Rohane, age 38, were arrested after police at a residence at 291 First Street in Pittsfield on Thursday, June 8, Pittsfield Police said.  Police seized quantities of crystal meth, heroin, money and other drug paraphernalia during a search of the property and charged both men accordingly. Police believe this was the first seizure of crysta…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Police In Western Massachusetts Report Missing 15-Year-Old Has Been Found Police In Western Massachusetts Report Missing 15-Year-Old Has Been Found
Police In Western Massachusetts Report Missing 15-Year-Old Has Been Found Update: Police in Western Massachusetts reported that a 15-year-old boy who was reported missing has been located. Michael McCaul has been found, according to an update from the Pittsfield Police Department. Police previously reported on Sunday, June 12, that Michael had last been seen by family on Thursday, June 9. Original report: Police have asked the public for help locating a missing 15-year-old boy who is believed to be in the Western Massachusetts area. Authorities in Berkshire County are searching for Michael McCaul, who was last seen by his family on Thursday, June 9, acco…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
Suspect Caught After Fleeing Scene Of Stolen Car Crash In Western Mass, Police Say Suspect Caught After Fleeing Scene Of Stolen Car Crash In Western Mass, Police Say
Suspect Caught After Fleeing Scene Of Stolen Car Crash In Western Mass, Police Say A suspect was arrested in Western Massachusetts following a pursuit in a stolen vehicle.  Shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, police in Hampshire County received an alert that Holyoke Police in Hampden County and Massachusetts State Police were involved in a pursuit with a stolen vehicle driven by a suspect accused of breaking and entering, according to the Hadley Police Department. Hadley PD officers attempted to deploy tire deflation devices and saw the suspect vehicle leave I-91 North at a high rate of speed and travel over the Coolidge Bridge into Hadley, police said.  …

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
Body Of 25-Year-Old Found In Western Mass Body Of 25-Year-Old Found In Western Mass
Body Of 25-Year-Old Found In Western Mass The body of a 25-year-old man has been found in Western Massachusetts. The discovery was made on Wednesday, May 25 in Chicopee, according to Hampden County District Attorney's Office spokesman Jim Leydon.  There is no foul play suspected at this time, he added. The victim’s identity has not been released.  No other information is being provided at this time, including the precise location the body was found. This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates. 

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Man Accused Of Making AR-15s Inside His New England Home Man Accused Of Making AR-15s Inside His New England Home
Man Accused Of Making AR-15s Inside His New England Home A man has been charged with allegedly building AR-15s in his home in Western Massachusetts. Joshua Buffum, age 38, of Springfield, was arrested on Tuesday, May 24, following a search of his home, said Jim Leydon, spokesman for the Hampden County District Attorney's Office. Over the past couple of weeks, law enforcement developed intelligence that Buffum was building AR-15s at his residence and was in possession of three additional handguns, Leydon said. Following an investigation, on Tuesday, members from local and state agencies raided Buffum's Springfield home with warrants, he added. …

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by Kathy Reakes