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Neighbors
Brave, Smiling 2-Year-Old Son Of Western Mass Firefighter Needs New Kidney Brave, Smiling 2-Year-Old Son Of Western Mass Firefighter Needs New Kidney
Brave, Smiling 2-Year-Old Son Of Western Mass Firefighter Needs New Kidney While the two-year-old son of a first responder from Western Massachusetts is waiting for a new kidney, his family is still dealing with the financial backlash associated with getting him treatment. Americo was born with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD), according to a GoFundMe campaign organized on his behalf.  The disease causes cysts to cover the inside and outside of the kidneys and inhibits them from working properly. The disease has brought Americo to the ICU and transplant floor multiple times due to his declining health, the GoFundMe continued.  "Every admissio…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Possible Heart Attack Leads To Man's Death During Westfield River Race: Police Possible Heart Attack Leads To Man's Death During Westfield River Race: Police
Possible Heart Attack Leads To Man's Death During Westfield River Race: Police A man has died after he apparently suffered from a heart attack while canoeing in Western Massachusetts this week, according to authorities. Russell-Montgomery Police responded to a water emergency on the Westfield River around 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, the department reported on Facebook. Posted by Russell - Montgomery Police Department on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 Officers learned that the man had possibly gone into cardiac arrest and was unresponsive. This happened during the Westfield River Wild Water Canoe Race, police said.  The man was eventually taken to Baystate Nobel Ho…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Fatal Wreck: Fiancé Of Western Mass Teacher Killed In CT Wreck Charged With Her Death Fatal Wreck: Fiancé Of Western Mass Teacher Killed In CT Wreck Charged With Her Death
Fatal Wreck: Fiancé Of Western Mass Teacher Killed In CT Wreck Charged With Her Death The fiancé of a Western Massachusetts school teacher was allegedly intoxicated when he cut in front of a police cruiser speeding to a 911 call, killing the educator and injuring their 1-year-old son, authorities said.  Phillip Vargas, age 33, of Vernon in Tolland County, Connecticut, was arrested on Thursday, April 20, and charged in the fatal April 2 crash in Vernon that killed 26-year-old Bianca Colon, a teacher at Springfield Prep Charter School in Springfield, Manchester Police announced.   Investigators said Vargas was driving east on Hartford Turnpike when he turned left onto Bolton …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Guns, $30K Cash, Drugs: Springfield Police Sieze Heroin, Cocaine, Illegal Weapons In Raids Guns, $30K Cash, Drugs: Springfield Police Sieze Heroin, Cocaine, Illegal Weapons In Raids
Guns, $30K Cash, Drugs: Springfield Police Sieze Heroin, Cocaine, Illegal Weapons In Raids Police in Western Massachusetts raided three locations earlier this week and seized several guns, body armor, drugs, and nearly $30,000 in cash, authorities said.  Springfield officers executed three search warrants on Tuesday, April 18, just before 3 p.m. at “The Smoking Pot” on Bridge Street, an apartment at the Overland Lofts in the 100 block of Chestnut Street, and an apartment in the 0-100 block of Lombard Street, officials said.  Investigators chose these areas after noticing an uptick in shots fired reports over the past several weeks, Springfield police said. Detecti…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Holyoke Driver, 19, Smashes 19 Headstones At Northampton Cemetery: Police Holyoke Driver, 19, Smashes 19 Headstones At Northampton Cemetery: Police
Holyoke Driver, 19, Smashes 19 Headstones At Northampton Cemetery: Police A 19-year-old driver from Western Massachusetts proved that age isn't just a number, it's the same amount of headstones someone can take out with their car.  Northampton Police found a vehicle with "heavy front end damage" at St. Mary's Cemetery around 1:42 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, the department said on Facebook.  This morning at approximately 01:42am, while on patrol in the area of St. Mary's Cemetery, on Bridge Rd, Officers... Posted by Northampton Police Department on Saturday, April 8, 2023 Initial investigation determined that the driver, a 19-year-old man from Holyoke, drove o…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Fleeing CT Man Crashes Into Police Cars Twice In West Springfield Chase: Officials Fleeing CT Man Crashes Into Police Cars Twice In West Springfield Chase: Officials
Fleeing CT Man Crashes Into Police Cars Twice In West Springfield Chase: Officials A 28-year-old Connecticut man out on probation rammed a police vehicle multiple times as he tried to escape capture in Western Massachusetts on Wednesday, April 5, authorities said.  Jonell Bonilla, age 28, of Waterbury, faces a slew of charges after he led police of a chase that ended with a bang in West Springfield, police said.  Officers tried to pull Bonilla's car over around 8 p.m. after he left the Super 8 Motel parking lot at 1500 Riverdale St. as part of a narcotics investigation, authorities said. Bonilla floored it instead.  He crashed into a car sto…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Fatal Accident Reported On Mass Pike In Western Mass: Police Fatal Accident Reported On Mass Pike In Western Mass: Police
Fatal Accident Reported On Mass Pike In Western Mass: Police A fatal accident has occurred on the Mass Pike in Western Massachusetts on Thursday morning, March 30, according to Massachusetts State Police on Twitter. The incident happened on I-90 West in Russell around 6 a.m., according to a Tweet from State Police. The department later clarified that the crash involved one vehicle and one person had died. UPDATE-Crash involves one car and has resulted in a fatality. The right lane westbound is closed. Investigation is underway. #MATraffic https://t.co/4dvyFzuDHX — Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) March 30, 2023 The westbound lane of the high…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
24-Year-Old Western Mass Man Dies In Head-On Crash In New Hampshire: Police 24-Year-Old Western Mass Man Dies In Head-On Crash In New Hampshire: Police
24-Year-Old Western Mass Man Dies In Head-On Crash In New Hampshire: Police A 24-year-old man from Western Massachusetts has died in a head-on car crash that happened just over the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border this week, according to authorities.  Troopers responded to a serious car crash on Route 119 in Hinsdale, near the Vermont line, shortly before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, New Hampshire State Police report.  FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH - HINSDALE, New Hampshire – On March 28, 2023, at approximately 5:49p.m.., troopers were... Posted by New Hampshire State Police on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 Initial investigation determined that a 2003 Volkswagen Jett…

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by David Cifarelli
News
Family Mourns Loss Of 13-Year-Old Boy Killed In Weekend Western Mass Crash Family Mourns Loss Of 13-Year-Old Boy Killed In Weekend Western Mass Crash
Family Mourns Loss Of 13-Year-Old Boy Killed In Weekend Western Mass Crash A family from Western Massachusetts is mourning the loss of a 13-year-old boy who was killed in a weekend car crash.  Da’Vant Byrd died in the crash that happened in the 1000 block of Montgomery Street in Chicopee early Saturday morning, March 25, the Hampden County District Attorney's Office reports. Fatal Chicopee crash under investigation On Saturday, March 25, 2023, at approximately 2:43 a.m., Chicopee Police... Posted by Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni on Saturday, March 25, 2023 The involved vehicle, which was being driven at a high rate of speed down Montgomery Stree…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Tractor-Trailer Hits Car, Injures Driver, Causes Oil Spill On I-91 In Springfield: Police Tractor-Trailer Hits Car, Injures Driver, Causes Oil Spill On I-91 In Springfield: Police
Tractor-Trailer Hits Car, Injures Driver, Causes Oil Spill On I-91 In Springfield: Police State Police are looking for a tractor-trailer driver who left the scene of a crash that resulted in an injury and oil spill on a major highway in Western Massachusetts this week. The driver hit another car into the median, caused heavy damage and seriously injured the 61-year-old female driver from Longmeadow, State Police report. This happened on I-91 North just past the MGM Casino around 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, March 16, police added.  The trailer sustained damage to its passenger side fuel tank side and caused a large fuel spill on the highway and neighboring land. The inc…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Courts Closed In Central, Western Mass Because Of Storm Courts Closed In Central, Western Mass Because Of Storm
Courts Closed In Central, Western Mass Because Of Storm Trial courts in Worcester, Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties are closed on Tuesday, March 14, because of the heavy snow burying much of the state.  The court posted a notice on its website that said the decision was "in the interest of safety for the public and staff, given the predicted impact of the storm." All first day jurors are also canceled statewide, the notice continued.  Parts of Western Massachusetts could get as much as two feet of snow once the nor'easter finishes its assault on the region. As of Tuesday morning, thousands were without power, …

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by Josh Lanier
Weather
School Closings: List Grows As Nor'Easter To Bring Heavy Snows, High Winds School Closings: List Grows As Nor'Easter To Bring Heavy Snows, High Winds
School Closings: List Grows As Nor'Easter To Bring Heavy Snows, High Winds The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Central and Western Massachusetts on Monday, March 15, through Wednesday as a nor'easter will blanket the area with heavy snows and high winds.  Several schools have announced they will be closed on Tuesday.   The Berkshires Adams-Cheshire Regional School District Berkshire Hills Regional School District Central Berkshire Regional School District Farmington River Regional School District Gabriel Abbott Memorial School Hancock Regional School District Lee Public Schools Mount Greylock Regional School District North Ad…

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by Josh Lanier and Morgan Gonzales