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2 Charged With Animal Abuse After Dog Found Starved With Broken Bones In Western Mass 2 Charged With Animal Abuse After Dog Found Starved With Broken Bones In Western Mass
2 Charged With Animal Abuse After Dog Found Starved With Broken Bones In Western Mass A dog in Franklin County named Conrad was rescued from horrid conditions that left him emaciated, with several broken bones that had healed without being treated, and 20 small rocks in his stomach, the MSPCA said. But despite the abuse, Conrad's story may still have a happy ending.  Yarras P. Fletcher and Aliah K. Rivera, both of Greenfield, were charged with two counts each of felony animal cruelty on Friday, Aug. 18, according to the MSPCA’s Law Enforcement Division. The duo were the owners of Conrad, a 5-year-old pit bull mix.  Greenfield police reached out to MSPCA investigators in Jul…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Infamous Native American Statue Along Mohawk Trail In Western Mass Removed Infamous Native American Statue Along Mohawk Trail In Western Mass Removed
Infamous Native American Statue Along Mohawk Trail In Western Mass Removed A 20-foot-tall Native American statue and tourist attraction in Franklin County that was considered an offensive eyesore to some and a symbol of representation for others was removed on Friday, Aug. 11.  The Charlemont souvenir shop Native and Himalayan Views, formerly the Big Indian Shop, confirmed that it had removed the statue that sat along the Mohawk Trail on Route 2 for nearly 50 years.  The statue won't be down for long, however. The Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita, Oklahoma, announced on Facebook it had purchased the figure. The new owners said they would erect it along the famed Route 66 as…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Police Rescue Injured Bear Cub In Western Mass Police Rescue Injured Bear Cub In Western Mass
Police Rescue Injured Bear Cub In Western Mass Police did more than the bare necessities after they learned of an injured baby bear in dire need of help in Western Massachusetts.  The cub was found in Franklin County off Route 2 in the town of Erving after it had been hit by a car Thursday evening, July 27.  Its hind leg was injured, and the baby could barely walk, Erving Police said. Erving Officer Brandon Bryant and Sgt. Adam Paicos responded and found the animal and its very worried mama bear around 7 p.m. Fearing for their safety, they called a biologist in Hubbardston who walked them through how to safely cor…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
'True Hero': Firefighter Saves Woman After Car Falls Into Western Mass Floodwaters 'True Hero': Firefighter Saves Woman After Car Falls Into Western Mass Floodwaters
'True Hero': Firefighter Saves Woman After Car Falls Into Western Mass Floodwaters Rescue workers in Franklin County are calling one of their brethren a hero after he risked his life last week to save a woman after her car was swept away by flood waters.  Deerfield Assistant Fire Chief Ben Clark was surveying storm damage on Friday, July 21, just after 3 p.m., when the car in front of him was swallowed as the pavement on Lower Road gave way. The vehicle clung to the asphalt by its back tires and dangled precariously over a 15-foot drop into fast-moving floodwater, Deerfield Police Department said.  Then things got worse.  Clark called for backup and&n…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Driver Killed By Falling Tree In Western Mass Driver Killed By Falling Tree In Western Mass
Driver Killed By Falling Tree In Western Mass A 75-year-old man was killed Wednesday morning, July 19, after a tree uprooted and fell in front of his pick-up truck in Franklin County, authorities said.  William Mattei, of Leicester, was driving west on Petersham Road (Route 122) near the intersection of Sweezy Lane when the tree crashed directly into the path of his 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, state police said.  A witness told investigators that there was no way Mattei could have avoided hitting the tree.  Debris from the tree damaged a van and scattered across the road. No one else was injured, according to po…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
High Court Upholds 2005 Murder Conviction Of Man Who Killed Pregnant Woman In Western Mass High Court Upholds 2005 Murder Conviction Of Man Who Killed Pregnant Woman In Western Mass
High Court Upholds 2005 Murder Conviction Of Man Who Killed Pregnant Woman In Western Mass A Massachusetts court has once again upheld Dennis Bateman's murder conviction for the vicious killing of 21-year-old Brandy Waryasz and her unborn child in April 2005 in Franklin County.  Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court denied Bateman's request for a retrial, the Northwestern District Attorney announced on Monday, July 17.  Bateman was convicted of first-degree murder in 2007 and ordered to serve two life sentences without parole after a jury found him guilty of the strangulation death of Waryasz, who was seven months pregnant, records show. Her unborn child, who s…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Suspected DUI Driver Crashes Into Power Pole, Narrowly Avoids Western Mass Home Suspected DUI Driver Crashes Into Power Pole, Narrowly Avoids Western Mass Home
Suspected DUI Driver Crashes Into Power Pole, Narrowly Avoids Western Mass Home A driver had to be cut from their car late Friday night, July 14, after they lost control of the vehicle, glanced off of a tree in someone's front yard before crashing into a power pole in Franklin County, authorities said.  Bernardston police were the first to reach the wreckage on Keets Brook Road around 10:30 p.m. and found the mangled car on its side, propped up by the pole, Bernardston police said in a Facebook post. Evidence showed that the vehicle narrowly missed crashing into someone's bedroom.  The unidentified driver was thrown into the backseat and was trapped inside with severe…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Athol Woman Killed, 2 Injured In Head-On Western Mass Crash Athol Woman Killed, 2 Injured In Head-On Western Mass Crash
Athol Woman Killed, 2 Injured In Head-On Western Mass Crash A 57-year-old Worcester County woman was killed after a car drifted into her lane and collided with her car on Friday afternoon, June 30, authorities said.  Tracy Matthews, of Athol, was driving her Chevy Cobalt east in Franklin County on Route 2 in the town of Gill near Barton Cove Campground around 4 p.m. when a Mazda Miata crossed the center line and crashed into her, authorities said. Paramedics rushed her to Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, where doctors pronounced Matthews dead.  The 63-year-old Needham driver of the Miati and his passenger were…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Fake Cop: Man Caught Riding In Western Mass In Fake Police Car With Gun, Badge Fake Cop: Man Caught Riding In Western Mass In Fake Police Car With Gun, Badge
Fake Cop: Man Caught Riding In Western Mass In Fake Police Car With Gun, Badge A man with a history of impersonating a police officer was arrested in Franklin County on Tuesday, June 13, for dressing up like a cop and riding around in a car that mimicked a patrol cruiser, the real police said.  The man, whose name has not been released, was pulled over in Bernardston after officers noticed his Crown Victoria car had a paint scheme nearly identical to that of a police cruiser, authorities said.  The driver was decked out in a tactical vest with a police-style badge pinned to the front. He also had a pistol, handcuffs, knives, and several other items officers carry whi…

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by Josh Lanier
Lifestyle
Booze Out At These Top Wineries In Western Massachusetts Booze Out At These Top Wineries In Western Massachusetts
Booze Out At These Top Wineries In Western Massachusetts Whether you're looking to plan your next girls' day, special gathering, or chill weekend, spending time at a winery could be the perfect fit. Thankfully, Western Massachusetts is inundated with gorgeous vineyards and quintessential New England views along with some of the best locally-crafted wine in the region.  To help plan your next tasting, here are some of the highest-rated wineries in Western Mass based on traveler reviews.  Furnace Brook Winery at Hilltop Orchards (Richmond)  Furnace Brook Winery in the Berkshires has a 4.5 average rating on Trip Advisor and Yelp.  Known for its r…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Man Who Threatened To Shoot School in Western Mass Denied Bail: DA Man Who Threatened To Shoot School in Western Mass Denied Bail: DA
Man Who Threatened To Shoot School in Western Mass Denied Bail: DA A 46-year-old man who threatened to shoot everyone at a Franklin County elementary school will remain in jail following a dangerousness hearing on Wednesday, March 29.  Theodore R. Sweeney Jr., of Northfield, is charged with threatening to commit a school shooting, two counts of threatening to commit a crime, and disturbing the peace in connection stemming from an incident on Friday, the Northwestern District Attorney said.  Sweeney is accused of calling Northfield Elementary School and telling two employees, "I will come there and shoot every one of you,” the prose…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Stabbing: Police Bust 3rd Suspect After Multi-Town Chase In Western Mass Stabbing: Police Bust 3rd Suspect After Multi-Town Chase In Western Mass
Stabbing: Police Bust 3rd Suspect After Multi-Town Chase In Western Mass Police in Franklin County arrested a third man in an overnight attack that sent a man to the hospital with a stab wound and had police chasing suspects for hours, authorities said.  Juan Rodriguez, age 31, and Alex Santana, 31, both of Southbridge, were arrested and charged in the overnight attack near the intersection of North Main Street and Oxbow Road early Monday morning, Orange police said. Massachusetts State troopers just before noon arrested a 22-year-old from Longmeadow in the assault, though they haven't released his name yet.  Orange officers received a 911 call around …

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by Josh Lanier