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Dalton, MA

Obituaries
Veteran, Great-Grandfather ID'd As Victim In Fatal Western Mass Motorcycle Crash Veteran, Great-Grandfather ID'd As Victim In Fatal Western Mass Motorcycle Crash
Veteran, Great-Grandfather ID'd As Victim In Fatal Western Mass Motorcycle Crash A 75-year-old Berkshire County man was identified as the victim of a fatal motorcycle crash last week, authorities said.  Al Salvatore, of Pittsfield, was riding his Harley Davidson with his friend in Lanesborough on Sunday, Sept. 1, when he collided with an SUV, the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office said.  Salvatore was driving east on Route 7 onto the Route 8 connector when his bike crossed the double yellow line and into the path of an oncoming SUV, the prosecutor's office said. He died at the scene. Salvatore was born in Pittsfield and graduated from Wahco…

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by Josh Lanier
News
$1M Lottery Ticket Sold In Western Mass $1M Lottery Ticket Sold In Western Mass
$1M Lottery Ticket Sold In Western Mass It was a very lucky day for one Bay Stater after they collected a $1 million prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery.  The Wallace P. Gator Trust collected the seven-figure prize from the winning “$5,000,000 100X Cashword” ticket. Related: Western Mass Man Is Newly Minted Millionaire The winner chose to take the lump sum payment of $650,000 (before taxes) rather than the annuity.  Kelly’s Package Store at 653 Main St. in Dalton sold the $20 scratch-off ticket. The store will get a $10,000 bonus for the sale. 

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Alleged Kidnapper Shot Victim While Trying To Restrain Them In Western Mass Basement: DA Alleged Kidnapper Shot Victim While Trying To Restrain Them In Western Mass Basement: DA
Alleged Kidnapper Shot Victim While Trying To Restrain Them In Western Mass Basement: DA A Berkshire County man is accused of attempting to kill a man he had kidnapped on Thursday evening, May 9, authorities said.  Nicholas Lighten, 35, of Dalton, faces 10 major felonies from the alleged violent attack, the Berkshire County District Attorney said. He is being held without bond pending a dangerousness hearing. If he is given bail, it will be set at $500,000, the prosecutor said.  Police were sent to Lighten's home at 43 Housatonic Street in Dalton on Thursday after his alleged victim drove himself to Berkshire Medical Center and explained that he had been kidnappe…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Hiker Airlifted To Hospital After 25-Foot-Fall In The Berkshires: Officials Hiker Airlifted To Hospital After 25-Foot-Fall In The Berkshires: Officials
Hiker Airlifted To Hospital After 25-Foot-Fall In The Berkshires: Officials A hiker was airlifted to an area hospital following a 25-foot-fall in The Berkshires this week, according to fire officials. Dalton Fire, Pittsfield Fire along with the Western Mass Technical Rescue Team responded to the incident in Dalton around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26, Dalton Fire said on Facebook. At approximately 1930hrs Dalton Fire Dept was dispatched to the area of Mountain Dr at the end for a report of a Injured... Posted by Dalton Fire Department on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 First responders learned that the hiker sustained traumatic injuries after falling from a 25-foot…

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by David Cifarelli
Lifestyle
Iconic Blues Musician Bringing Kick-Ass Shows To Massachusetts This Spring Iconic Blues Musician Bringing Kick-Ass Shows To Massachusetts This Spring
Iconic Blues Musician Bringing Kick-Ass Shows To Massachusetts This Spring A New England Music Hall of Fame inductee is bringing his signature sound to several shows in Massachusetts later this year, and you better have the stamina to keep up with the 73-year-old James Montgomery has been performing and making blues music for several decades, and the New England musician is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.  "People should know that they're going to see an energetic show played by some of the best musicians on the planet," the Detroit, MI, native said in an interview with Daily Voice. "Everybody I have with my band has played with some of the biggest…

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by David Cifarelli
Weather
Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather
Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather As heavy snows bear down on most of the Northeast Friday, March 3, several towns in western Massachusetts have implemented parking bans.  Related: Updated Snow Fall Predictions For The Northeast Here is a collection of some of those bans. Violators may have their vehicles towed and ticketed.  AGAWAM No parking is allowed from 12 a.m. Saturday, March 4 until 12 p.m. Saturday, March 4. AMHERST A parking ban on all town streets and lots begins at 12 a.m. Saturday and remains in effect until 7 a.m. However, parking is allowed in three areas.  The lower level of the parking …

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by Josh Lanier
News
Brothers From Western Mass Convicted In Luring, Shooting Death Of 18-Year-Old Brothers From Western Mass Convicted In Luring, Shooting Death Of 18-Year-Old
Brothers From Western Mass Convicted In Luring, Shooting Death Of 18-Year-Old Two brothers have been convicted in the luring and shooting death of an 18-year-old man from the region. After more than two weeks of trial in Western Massachusetts, a jury in Berkshire County found Omar Pascual-Polanco, age 26, and Carlos Pascual-Polanco, age 22, both of Pittsfield, guilty of first-degree murder Thursday, Sept. 22, in the death of Jaden Salois. The brothers were running a marijuana distribution operation through a fake social media account when they used it to lure Salois, of Dalton, from a home in Pittsfield early on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, the Berkshire DA’s Office said. …

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Employee Accused Of Intentionally Setting Fire At Western Mass Restaurant Employee Accused Of Intentionally Setting Fire At Western Mass Restaurant
Employee Accused Of Intentionally Setting Fire At Western Mass Restaurant An employee of a Western Massachusetts restaurant is accused of intentionally setting the building on fire over the weekend. Authorities in Berkshire County received a report of a fire at Olde Forge Restaurant, located at 125 North Main St. in Lanesborough, at about 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 28, according to the Lanesborough Police Department. The Cheshire, Dalton, Hancock, and Hinsdale fire departments responded to assist the Lanesborough Fire Department and found fire coming from the back of the building. The fire was contained within an hour, police reported. Authorities said a…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Western Mass Man Sentenced For Sexual Exploitation Of Children Western Mass Man Sentenced For Sexual Exploitation Of Children
Western Mass Man Sentenced For Sexual Exploitation Of Children A 65-year-old Western Massachusetts man was sentenced after pleading guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of children. Berkshire County resident James LaFrance, of Dalton, was sentenced on Friday, Nov. 19, to 16 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. LaFrance pleaded guilty to the charges on July 9. LaFrance encouraged a 16-year-old Massachusetts girl he had met online to engage in sexually explicit conduct during video calls on two separate occasions in 2018 and 2019, the US …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Western Mass Man Admits To Child Sexual Exploitation Charges Western Mass Man Admits To Child Sexual Exploitation Charges
Western Mass Man Admits To Child Sexual Exploitation Charges A Western Massachusetts man pleaded guilty in federal court to child sexual exploitation offenses involving a 16-year-old girl. Berkshires resident James LaFrance, age 65, of Dalton, pleaded guilty on Monday, July 12, to four counts of sexual exploitation of children, said Acting United States Attorney  for the District of Massachusetts Nathaniel R. Mendell. LaFrance admitted that on two separate occasions in 2018 and 2019, he encouraged a 16-year-old girl from Massachusetts, whom he had befriended on the internet, to engage in sexually explicit conduct during video chat sessions…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Suspect Nabbed With Firearm, Drugs After Chase Through Backyards In Western Mass Suspect Nabbed With Firearm, Drugs After Chase Through Backyards In Western Mass
Suspect Nabbed With Firearm, Drugs After Chase Through Backyards In Western Mass A Western Massachusetts man is facing a host of charges after taking police on a brief chase before being apprehended with drugs and illegal weapons, officials said. Dalton Police Sgt. Bustin Buzzella was on patrol when he attempted to stop local resident Steven Santana, age 30, for allegedly driving 57 mph in a 35 mph zone. It is alleged that when Buzzella and Officer Nickolas Gaudette attempted to stop Santana, he proceeded to speed away. For several minutes, Santana took police on a. chase through several backyards and behind Sugar Hill before he was eventually stopped and taken into cus…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread COVID-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread
Covid-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread More 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, April 8, 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 latest…

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by Zak Failla
Weather
How Much Ice Did You Get? Local Accumulation and Power Outage Update How Much Ice Did You Get? Local Accumulation and Power Outage Update
How Much Ice Did You Get? Local Accumulation and Power Outage Update Ice covered much of Central and Western Massachusetts Tuesday, Feb. 16, morning, creating dangerous road conditions, but few power outages. The ice is thickest in the Berkshires where 0.21-0.23 inches of ice has accumulated, according to the National Weather Service. In Springfield and Worcester, 0.5-0.6 inches of ice accumulated overnight. Northward, in Greenfield and Fitchburg, ice accumulation was between 0.17 and 0.21 inches. About 300 of Eversource's hundreds of thousands of customers lost power momentarily and sections of Westfield were also without power for about an hour st…

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by Kristin Palpini
Police & Fire
Police ID Suspect Who Torched Biden/Harris Display - New Message Built Police ID Suspect Who Torched Biden/Harris Display - New Message Built
Police ID Suspect Who Torched Biden/Harris Display - New Message Built Police have made an arrest in relation to a Biden/Harris sign made out of hay bales being lit on fire. Lonnie Durfee, 49, is slated to be arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court Tuesday, Oct. 13, to face a charge of burning personal property, according to WHDH, Boston. Dalton Police responded to a report of a fire on Route 9 at the Holiday Brook Farm around 6:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. The two-stack-high display of white, plastic-wrapped hay bales said “USA Vote Biden Harris 2020” in support of the Democrat challengers facing the Trump administration in the Nov. 3 presidential election.…

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by Kristin Palpini