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Grill Fire Guts Home In Western Mass, Injures 2, Leave 6 Homeless
Fire investigators say a two-alarm Hampden County blaze on Thursday, Aug. 3, started on a grill on a home's back porch.
The fire began just before 4 p.m. on Wilbraham Street in Palmer as a family was cooking dinner on their outside grill, the Palmer Fire Department said. The blaze quickly got out of control and spread to the home before crews could get there and battle the flames back.
The fire injured two people and displaced a family of six. Palmer Fire Department
Firefighters from Palmer responded with crews from Three Rivers, Bondsville, Wilbraham, Ludlow, Ware, Belchertown, Monso…
Dead Body Found Inside Burning Belchertown Home
Fire crews in Hampshire County found a dead body inside a Belchertown home after they raced to put out the fire consuming a house at 42 Daniel Square, authorities said.
Belchertown crews called for mutual aid, and nearby firehouses in Amherst, Bondsville, Granby, Ludlow, Palmer, Pelham, Three Rivers, and Westover provided mutual assistance to fight the flames.
Once the flames were out and investigators could begin their inquiries, authorities found the body of an adult male inside the home. Police did not identify the man or say if he lived there.
They also did…
Drug Ring Bust Leads To 20 Convictions In Western Mass
Authorities in Western Massachusetts are celebrating as two men, busted as part of a drug ring in 2021, pled guilty on Thursday, June 8. That makes 20 felony convictions since investigators began dismantling the operation in 2021, officials said.
Jason Nadeau, 42, of Ludlow, pleaded guilty to two felony charges of trafficking cocaine and one of conspiracy, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.
David Gallegos, 30, of Deerfield, will serve a year of probation after a judge continued without a finding a charge of conspiracy, the prosecutor said. …
$33 Million Mega Millions Prize Won Off Ticket Sold In Western Mass Claimed
A $33 million Mega Millions Jackpot prize that was won off a ticket sold in Western Massachusetts earlier this year has been claimed, lottery officials said.
The Skylark Group Trust of Wellesley claimed the prize won in the game's Tuesday, Jan 24 drawing on Wednesday, March 1, the Massachusetts State Lottery reports.
The Trust, represented by trustee David M. Lipshutz, opted for a one-time total payment of $17,441,861 (before taxes), according to the lottery.
The winning jackpot originally was $31 million, but grew to $33 million after sales from all participating lotteries were counted…
Storm Ida: How Much Rain Did You Get? A Look At Totals From Massachusetts
There have now been 42 confirmed fatalities after Ida battered the Northeast with historic rainfall and flash flooding.
In New York City, more than 3 inches of rainfall fell in one hour in Central Park on Wednesday, Sept. 1, smashing the previous record.
Here is a look at some rainfall totals from throughout Massachusetts compiled on the day after, on Thursday, Sept. 2, by the National Weather Service.
Boston, 4.20 inches
Berkshire County
Pittsfield, 2.16 inches
Franklin County
Northfield, 2.43 inches
Sunderland, 3.02 inches
Warwick, 2.35 inches
Hampden County
Agawam, 5.13 inc…
Police Continuing Investigation Of Fatal Massachusetts Crash
Authorities are continuing investigating a motor vehicle crash in Western Mass that left one man dead.
The crash took place at 2:15 p.m., Saturday, May 15, in Hampshire County when a motorcycle traveling west on Route 9 collided with a motor vehicle traveling eastbound in Belchertown, just west of the Ware town line, said the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
The motor vehicle was engaged in a turn when the collision occurred, the DA's Office said.
The operator of a 2018 Harley Davidson motorcycle, Hampden County resident Niles Robbins, age 46, of Wales, was tran…
'Classic' Pizza Place With Four MA Locations Touted For Unique, Tasty Combinations
Often imitated, but never duplicated, the toppings at Antonio’s Pizza By The Slice are truly unique and reworked into surprising and tasty combinations.
The pizzeria, with 8 locations - including Worcester, Amherst, Easthampton, and Belchertown - has toppings that include nacho chips, black beans, tortellini, potato, Ritz crackers, steak, Alfredo sauce, vegan cheese, and squash.
Pizza-makers take these ingredients and turn them into pies like the Avocado Quesadilla, Chicken Bacon Ranch (which may be the most popular pizza on the menu), Honey Mustard Chicken, Don Giovanni, and the Tortellini…
Trend: Fourth Large-Scale Marijuana Farm, With NYC Ties, Is Busted In Western Mass
For the fourth time in about six months, men from Brooklyn have been busted in Western Massachusetts for allegedly growing mass quantities of marijuana.
On Monday, Jan. 11, around 8 a.m., police responded to a report of a possible fire with smoke coming out from the eaves of a roof at 24 West St. in Belchertown.
When firefighters entered the home to investigate, they allegedly found a large-scale marijuana growing operation, WesternMass News is reporting. After obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement allegedly seized more than 800 marijuana plants, growing equipment, and $2,500.
Huoq…
Covid-19: 9 New Central, Western Mass Communities Turn 'Red' - Local Data
Nine more Central and Western Massachusetts communities have been added to the state’s COVID-19 “red” list as infection rates climb across the state and nation.
This week, Nov. 27, there are 31 Central and Western Massachusetts communities in the red - meaning that they are at the highest risk to spread the virus.
Last week, Nov. 19, there were 21.
The week before that, Nov. 12, there were 9.
This week, the Massachusetts average daily COVID-19 rate per 100,000 people was 34.9.
Newly added to the red list are Belchertown, East Longmeadow, Leicester, Millbury, Monson, Paxton, Rutland, Sutt…