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Western Mass

Police & Fire
Cooking Fire Blamed For Killing Man, Injuring 2 Western Mass Firefighters Cooking Fire Blamed For Killing Man, Injuring 2 Western Mass Firefighters
Cooking Fire Blamed For Killing Man, Injuring 2 Western Mass Firefighters State fire investigators said the fire that killed a Western Mass man on Friday, April 7, was a cooking fire that got out of hand.  Holyoke firefighters were called to the 19 Donlee St. home just after 1:15 p.m. High winds fueled the flames inside the two-story house and kept fire crews at bay for 30 minutes as they tried to beat back the conflagration, the state fire marshal said.  They found the older man dead inside the home once firefighters got in. Officials have not released his name.  Two firefighters received non-life-threatening injuries in the blaze.  “This i…

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by Josh Lanier
Events
Pittsburgh's Brooke Annibale Bringing 'Bigger, Bolder Sound' To Western Mass Pittsburgh's Brooke Annibale Bringing 'Bigger, Bolder Sound' To Western Mass
Pittsburgh's Brooke Annibale Bringing 'Bigger, Bolder Sound' To Western Mass In a world where tens of thousands of songs come out per day, one pop-folk singer/songwriter hopes her sound will be the one to stand out among the crowd.   Brooke Annibale has been professionally releasing music since she was 23 years old but finally feels like she's in a place where everything is coming together. The now 34-year-old artist will be performing at MASS MoCA in North Adams for the first time on July 2 and says she's been waiting for this moment for a while.  "Any shows right now are things that I'm really looking forward to because for two solid years, there weren't a lot of…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Juvenile Nabbed After Stealing Car, Crashing Into Patrol Cruiser In Hampden County, Police Say Juvenile Nabbed After Stealing Car, Crashing Into Patrol Cruiser In Hampden County, Police Say
Juvenile Nabbed After Stealing Car, Crashing Into Patrol Cruiser In Hampden County, Police Say A Western Mass juvenile was arrested after he allegedly rammed a police cruiser after being caught in a stolen vehicle.  The Hampden County juvenile was captured around noon, Monday, Feb. 21, after the Holyoke Police responded to 306 Chestnut St., for the report of a stolen 2006 gray Subaru Baja. At approximately 12:10 p.m. a Holyoke officer spotted the earlier reported stolen vehicle and followed the Subaru from a safe distance as he waited for backup, said Capt. Matthew Moriarty, of the Holyoke Police Department. As a marked cruiser pulled in front of the Subaru the officer ini…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Man Killed In Two-Vehicle Crash In Region Man Killed In Two-Vehicle Crash In Region
Man Killed In Two-Vehicle Crash In Region A man has died after a crash involving another car in Western Mass. At around 2:50 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 14, officers were called to the 900 block of Boston Road for the crash involving a car and motorcycle, according to Springfield Police spokesman Ryan Walsh. The man driving the motorcycle was taken to Baystate Health where he died from his injuries, Walsh said. Walsh said a preliminary investigation indicates the motorcycle rider was driving at a high rate of speed. The driver of the car remained at the scene. 

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Know Him? Police In Western Mass Ask Public For Help IDing Person Know Him? Police In Western Mass Ask Public For Help IDing Person
Know Him? Police In Western Mass Ask Public For Help IDing Person Police in Western Mass are asking the public for help identifying a man in Hampden County.  The Longmeadow Police Department did not provide any further details, except to ask the public if they recognize or know him or his identity. Anyone who knows the man is asked to reach out to them on their tip line at 413-567-3311, extension 9157. Know him? Police want to know.Longmeadow Police Department You can also call 413-567-3311, extension 0 if you prefer speaking to a detective.  Share this story by clicking on the Facebook icon below. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Western Mass Man Busted For Trafficking In Heroin, State Police Say Western Mass Man Busted For Trafficking In Heroin, State Police Say
Western Mass Man Busted For Trafficking In Heroin, State Police Say Following a months-long investigation by a task force, a Western Mass man was busted during a search of his residence for allegedly trafficking in heroin. Donivan Brooks, age 28, was the target of the investigation led by the Massachusetts State Police, along with the Holyoke Police, and numerous other agencies. The warrant was served on Brooks around 6 a.m., Tuesday, June 15, at his Holyoke residence. Seized during the search included: A safe containing one clear plastic knotted bag of white powder suspected to be cocaine (approximately 18 grams), a clear plastic bag of a substance suspe…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Two Killed In Western Mass Crash, State Police Say Two Killed In Western Mass Crash, State Police Say
Two Killed In Western Mass Crash, State Police Say Two people were killed during a two-vehicle crash in Western Mass. The fatal crash took place around 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 8, southbound on Route 391 in Chicopee, said the Massachusetts State Police. An investigation revealed that a 2001 Acura MDX and a 2010 Kia Soul were southbound in the center lane, according to police.  Both vehicles entered the left lane and passed a third vehicle that was in the middle lane, and then the drivers of both the Kia and Acura moved back to the center lane. The female driver of the Kia attempted to transition back to the left lane, lost control o…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Western Mass School Districts Announce Early Dismissals Due To Heat Advisory Western Mass School Districts Announce Early Dismissals Due To Heat Advisory
Western Mass School Districts Announce Early Dismissals Due To Heat Advisory With a Heat Advisory issued by the National Weather Service in effect, some Western Mass school districts have announced early dismissals on Monday, June 7. Heat index values in the upper 90s are expected Monday afternoon. The heat advisory is in effect until 8 p.m. Monday. Chicopee Public Schools All schools will be closing early for both in-person and remote learners. School will start at its regular time, but the schedule for dismissal is as follows: 11 a.m.: All middle and high schools 11:30 a.m.: Pre-K-Elementary Schools Holyoke Public Schools Three-hour early release Springfiel…

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by Daily Voice
Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Threatening To Shoot Police Officers In Western Mass Man Accused Of Threatening To Shoot Police Officers In Western Mass
Man Accused Of Threatening To Shoot Police Officers In Western Mass A 32-year-old Western Mass man has been arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot two police officers. On Saturday, May 22, a man in Hampshire County threatened to get a gun and shoot two Northampton police officers working a detail, said the Northampton Police. On Monday, May 25, police received an arrest warrant for the man, a resident of Northampton, who was located but when police attempted to arrest him he was able to get into his vehicle took off at a high rate of speed. The man was later stopped on I-91 by the Massachusetts State Police and placed under arrest.

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
One Dead After House Fire Breaks Out In Western Mass One Dead After House Fire Breaks Out In Western Mass
One Dead After House Fire Breaks Out In Western Mass One person was killed during an early house fire in Western Mass that also destroyed the home.  The fire started around 5:40 a.m., Monday, May 24, in Hampden County, on Maple Street in Bondsville, according to fire officials. The victim is believed to a be resident of the home, said the Hampden County DA's Office. The Palmer Fire Department, which battled the blaze along with the Bondsville Fire Department, said on Facebook that it worked as hard as possible to save the resident. "Condolences to the family who lost their loved one today at the structure fire in Bondsville," the depar…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Police Investigating After Man's Body Found In Connecticut River Police Investigating After Man's Body Found In Connecticut River
Police Investigating After Man's Body Found In Connecticut River Police launched an investigation after a man’s body was found by a boater in the Connecticut River in Western Mass. The discovery in Hampshire County happened around 6 p.m., Friday, May 21, in the river in Northampton, said Laurie Loisel, director of Communications for the Northwestern District Attorney's Office. The boater summoned emergency help when he discovered the body and then stayed with the body to help the police find it, Loisel said. A Northampton Police Department dispatcher was able to trace the phone call to find the boater about a mile and a half south of…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Popular Police Officer In Western Mass Makes Move To Private Sector Popular Police Officer In Western Mass Makes Move To Private Sector
Popular Police Officer In Western Mass Makes Move To Private Sector A popular now-former cop at a Western Mass police department is changing jobs to work in the private sector. Amherst Police Officer Andrew Hulse's last day on the job was Friday, April 30, after nine years with the department, said the department. Hulse was involved in many projects, most notably as a departmental liaison to the department's shelter and as a valued part of its Critical Incident Team, the department said. Most recently he was in charge of the department's social media department and was an integral part of reworking and maintaining the department's webpage.  "Officer …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Body Found In Connecticut River Confirmed To Be 12-Year-Old Boy Body Found In Connecticut River Confirmed To Be 12-Year-Old Boy
Body Found In Connecticut River Confirmed To Be 12-Year-Old Boy The body found in the waters of the Connecticut River has been confirmed to be that of a missing Western Mass boy who has not been seen for more than two months. On Wednesday, April 14, the Chicopee Police Department Underwater Response Team was actively conducting a search of the Chicopee and Connecticut Rivers as part of an ongoing search and recovery operation for missing 12-year-old Aiden Blanchard, said authorities in Massachusetts, in Hampden County. At 11:15 a.m., officers located a body in the water in between the North End Bridge and Memorial Bridge. The Chicopee Police Detective B…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Trio Nabbed With 375 Bags Of Heroin, Brass Knuckles In Western Mass Traffic Stop Trio Nabbed With 375 Bags Of Heroin, Brass Knuckles In Western Mass Traffic Stop
Trio Nabbed With 375 Bags Of Heroin, Brass Knuckles In Western Mass Traffic Stop Three men were apprehended for allegedly possessing more than 375 bags of heroin, other drugs, and brass knuckles following a traffic stop in Western Mass. The men were arrested around 2:46 a.m., Wednesday, April 14 after being pulled over on King Street by Northampton Police for speeding, the department said. During an investigation, it was discovered that the driver of the vehicle had a suspended license.  A search revealed the three occupants of the vehicle were in possession of more than 375 bags of heroin, methamphetamine, suboxone, and brass knuckles, police said. All three occ…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
DEP Fines These Local Businesses Over Alleged Environmental Violations DEP Fines These Local Businesses Over Alleged Environmental Violations
DEP Fines These Local Businesses Over Alleged Environmental Violations In January, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection fined 8 local businesses for failure to comply with previous enforcement orders. The DEP issued 79 enforcement orders statewide in January, according to the department’s database. Only 8 of those orders resulted in fines for Western Mass companies. There were no fines assessed in January for Central Massachusetts or Berkshire's businesses.  All of the Western Mass businesses that were fined were disciplined for the same alleged violation and were issued the enforcement orders on the same day (Jan. 22). The violation w…

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by Kristin Palpini
Business
BBB Accredited: Local Businesses Make List Of 'Trustworthy' Services BBB Accredited: Local Businesses Make List Of 'Trustworthy' Services
BBB Accredited: Local Businesses Make List Of 'Trustworthy' Services A local florist, construction company, and catering service are among the most recent firms to achieve Better Business Bureau accreditation. The Better Business Bureau is a private nonprofit that tracks customer satisfaction and work quality. The BBB promotes accredited businesses that meet its standards. According to the BBB's regional chapter, local companies that recently received BBB accreditation include: A Cut Above Florist, Chicopee Bramucci Construction, Hadley Boost Construction, Chicopee C&M Tree and Landscaping, Auburn Done Right Mechanics, Central Massachusetts Haul of…

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by Kristin Palpini