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Saturday, apr 27
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Hampshire County, MA
Police & Fire
Western Mass Man Admits To Drunken Crash That Killed Partner, Mom Of His Daughter: DA
A 30-year-old Hampshire County man has admitted to causing the 2023 rollover crash that killed his longtime partner and mother of his daughter, authorities announced on Monday, April 22. Cory Menard, of Granby, pleaded guilty to vehicle homicide while operating negligently and under the influence of alcohol; and reckless assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, the Northwestern District Attorney said. A judge sentenced him to two and a half years in prison with two years of probation once he's released, the prosecutor said. Earlier Report: Granby Man Charged In D…
Police & Fire
Stray Bullet Hits Home In Western Mass Neighborhood — Again
Neighbors in a Hampshire County community were once again rattled after a stray bullet struck a home for the second time in a year, police said. The latest shooting happened on Mountain View Drive in Belchertown on Friday afternoon, March 29, when a bullet shattered a sliding glass door, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. No one was at home at the time of the shooting and there were no injuries reported. The family returned home that evening to find the broken glass. Police found the bullet and sent it to the State Police lab for testing and identification.…
Police & Fire
Man Gets 8 Years In Prison For Botched Kidnapping, Shooting In Massachusetts
A Connecticut man who tried to kidnap a Western Massachusetts man at gunpoint on New Year's Eve 2022, but shot him instead when the man fought back, will serve eight years behind bars, authorities said. New Haven County Marc A. Veturis, 29, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty on Thursday, March 28, to multiple felonies linked to the shooting, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. The charges come from a Hampshire County incident on Mill Valley Road in Hadley. The Daily Hampshire Gazette reported at the time that the victim, a 59-year-old Hadley business owner, h…
News
Yogurt Shop In Western Mass Took Workers' Tips, Fired Employee After They Spoke Out: Feds
The owners of multiple frozen yogurt shops in Hampshire and Hampden counties must pay nearly $25,000 in back pay and damages after firing an employee who complained about missing tips, authorities said. A former employee of the Tutti Frutti yogurt shop in the Holyoke Mall said the owners, TF Holyoke LLC, fired them after they complained about withheld tips to the US Department of Labor. TF Holyoke admitted to taking some of their employees' tips to pay business expenses, the labor department said. It's illegal for owners and managers to take part in tip pools.&nbs…
Police & Fire
Officer Hurt After Drunk Driver Slams Into Back Of Western Mass Patrol Car: Police
A 42-year-old Hampshire County man who crashed into a police officer's SUV on Wednesday night, March 6, was intoxicated when he wrecked, authorities announced. The Southampton man, whose name was not released, slammed into the back of a Northampton patrol car around 9:30 p.m. along Mount Tom Road near Island Road, police said. The officer had been called to the area after a tree fell and knocked down power lines. They were sitting in the "fully illuminated" cruiser awaiting backup to direct traffic when the car slammed into the rear of the vehicle, Northampton police said i…
News
$100K Lottery Ticket Sold In Rutland
Two $100,000 winning lottery tickets were turned in on Monday, March 4, from Worcester and Hampshire counties. The first was from Belchertown, where the six-figure payday was bought at Town Mart at 10 Federal St. The winning ticket was from the $30 "Millions" scratch-off game. The second was purchased at Saveway Convenience in Rutland at 249 Main St. The winning ticket was a "$300X" $30 scratch-off ticket. The stores where the tickets were bought will receive a bonus. The Massachusetts State Lottery did not release their names. The lottery paid out $600 or more to …
Police & Fire
Ex-Western Mass Elementary Paraeducator Busted On Child Sex Abuse Charges
A former Hampshire County paraeducator has pleaded not guilty to charges that sexually assaulted a student multiple times from 2022 through 2023, authorities said. Troy Gray, age 57, of Easthampton, was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 22, and charged with five counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and one count of intimidation of a witness, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Gray was released on his own recognizance. But he must have no contact with anyone under 16, must stay away from Mountainview School in Easthampton, avoid any contact…
Police & Fire
Western Mass Man Admits To Raping Child; Gets 6 To 7 Years In Prison: DA
A 44-year-old Hampshire County man admitted to repeatedly sexually assaulting a child, authorities said, and now he knows how long he'll spend in prison. Kemal Banatte, of Amherst, was sentenced to six to seven behind bars after he pleaded guilty to one count of statutory rape of a child, one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child over 14, and one count of witness intimidation, the Northwestern District Attorney said. Banatte admitted to raping a child he knew multiple times from 2015 until 2019…
Police & Fire
Western Mass Woman Who Neglected Animals Until 3 Died Avoids Jail Time: DA
A Hampshire County woman who neglected multiple farm animals so badly that three needed to be euthanized has been sentenced to five years probation and can never work with or keep livestock again, authorities said. A year before the animals were taken from her, she'd asked for help. Shannon Rice-Nichols ran a farm with 35 animals, and in March 2022, authorities were called in to investigate it after several people said her animals were emaciated and sickly, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Massachusetts Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found the a…
Police & Fire
33-Year-Old Killed Walking Along Route 116 In Western Mass
A 33-year-old Sunderland man was killed on Saturday morning, Jan. 6, while walking a road in Hampshire County, authorities said. The man, whose name was not released, was walking on the side of Route 116 in Hadley when he was struck by a 29-year-old Deerfield woman, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. No charges have been filed, and the woman's name was not released. She remained at the scene and called 911. Bystanders gave the man medical aid until paramedics arrived. They rushed him to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, where he later died.&nbs…
Lifestyle
Beware 'The Sudbury Devil' In New Film Set In Colonial Massachusetts
A pair of Puritan witch hunters travel to a small Massachusetts town and find themselves outmatched as they face ungodly forces waiting for them. That's the premise of the new historical horror film "The Sudbury Devil" by Massachusetts native filmmaker Andrew Rakich that was released this week. The movie is set and was filmed in Massachusetts, and while it's fiction, the movie is steeped in real history. In the late 17th century, a pair of Puritan witch hunters travel to a small Massachusetts town to investigate rumors of devil worship and are irrevocably transfor…
Police & Fire
Man Who Tried To Kidnap Baby During Western Mass Burglary Spree Gets 8-10 Years In Prison: DA
A homeless man who broke into a Hampshire County family's home in the middle of the night in 2021 and tried to steal their 20-month-old infant along with their valuables will spend up to a decade behind bars, authorities announced on Monday, Dec. 18. Jimmy Sanchez, 39, of Amherst, pleaded guilty on Monday to several felonies and was sentenced to 8-10 years in prison, the Northwestern District Attorney said. He had previously been held without bail after a judge ruled him too dangerous to be released. A family at a home on Spring Street in Amherst heard a noise around 2 a.m. on M…
Police & Fire
21-Year-Old Man Killed In Western Mass Crash After Car Goes Airborne
A 21-year-old Hampshire County man was killed Tuesday morning, Dec. 12, after he blew through a four-way stop in Easthampton, authorities said. The Southampton man was driving east on Pomeroy Meadow Road when he crashed near the intersection with Loudville Road and Glendale Street just after 6:30 a.m., Easthampton police said. Police have not released the man's name as they notify his family. Investigators said he crashed into a guardrail after he went through the four-way stop and briefly went airborne before slamming down into a field near a wooded area. Authoritie…
Obituaries
Donald Trump's Sister Dies At 86 In New York
The elder sister of former President Donald J. Trump has died while in hospice care in New York, a source with direct knowledge told Daily Voice early Monday morning, Nov. 13. Maryanne Trump Barry, a Queens native and retired federal judge, died over the weekend from cancer while in hospice care in New York City, the source said. She was 86. Barry became an Assistant US Attorney in 1974 and was appointed to the US District Court for the District of New Jersey by the late President Ronald Reagan in 1983. She was appointed to the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia…
News
'Zoom Bombing' Disrupts Western Mass City Council Meeting; Leaders Look To Block Trolls: Report
A standard city council meeting last week in Hampshire County was upended by "Zoom bombing" trolls and antisemites who spewed hateful and offensive comments. Northampton city councilors have spent the last week looking for solutions to fight back for their meeting on Thursday, Nov. 9, reports said. The Daily Hampshire Gazette reported that the Nov. 2 Northampton City Council meeting was set to discuss typical city governance issues, but things took a dark turn when leaders opened the floor for public comments. Several people signed up to speak to the board via Zoom. Th…
News
20-Year-Old Chinese Restaurant In Western Mass Closes Its Doors
A 20-year-old family-run Chinese restaurant in Hampshire County announced that it has shuttered its doors. Related: Springfield Foodies Fight Over Best Chinese Food In City China Wok Express in Northampton, which boasts several glowing reviews on Google and Yelp!, announced that it had closed on Oct. 30 on Facebook. Dear Friends,We are announcing the closing of China Wok Express. The last day of business will be Monday, October 30th, 2023. We want to thank all of you for supporting us over the past two decades. Some of you may have just found us, while others have been din…
News
Dad Who Poisoned Daughter, 7, In Western Mass Will Not Get New Trial: DA
A Massachusetts appeals court has upheld the 2020 conviction of a Hampshire County father who was found guilty of injecting his 7-year-old daughter with liquid drain cleaner, authorities said. She survived the assassination attempt. Christopher Conley, of Northampton, who is serving a 16 to 18-year prison sentence, filed a petition for a new trial saying that the judge erred in allowing the jury to hear evidence that he'd previously attempted to poison the girl, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. He was arrested in April 2015 after his daughter was admitted to Yale New&n…
Police & Fire
Driver Who Killed 2 In Western Mass Avoids Jailtime — With Stipulations: DA
A 65-year-old man accused of crashing into and killing a couple in Hampshire County last year admitted to his role in their deaths on Wednesday, Oct. 25. He will avoid going to jail if he meets the judge's conditions. Stuart A. Larkin, 65, of South Hadley, pleaded guilty to two counts of negligent motor vehicle homicide in the deaths on Northampton Road (Route 10) in Easthampton, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Northampton District Court Judge Jacklyn Connly said that Larkin showed remorse for the killings and had cooperated with investigators at every turn. Fo…
Police & Fire
Off-Duty Firefighter Saves Woman's Life After She Stopped Breathing in Western Mass
A firefighter is never off-duty. A Hampshire County firefighter proved that last week when he happened upon an unresponsive woman and was able to get her breathing again before paramedics could arrive, authorities said. Northampton Firefighter Pat Davis is being heralded as a hero after saving the woman on Sept. 26 at Cumberland Farms in Granby. Granby firefighters were called to the convenience store around 1 p.m. to reports of a woman who'd fallen unconscious and wasn't breathing, the department said on Facebook. Another call a few moments later said the woman was breat…
Schools
These School Districts Ranked Top 5 In Hampshire County, Report Says
The grades are in, and these school districts are a cut above the rest, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. After considering several key areas, the following were ranked in the website’s 2023 “Best Public School Districts in Hampshire County” report: No. 1 - Amherst-Pelham Regional School District No. 2 - Northampton Public Schools No. 3 - Hadley Public Schools No. 4 - South Hadley Public Schools No. 5 - Belchertown Public Schools All five districts earned high overall grades, with Amherst-Pelham and Northampton receiving A’s. The remaining districts each hold an ove…
Police & Fire
Springfield Man Admits To Rape, Gets 3 Years In Prison: DA
A 32-year-old Springfield man told a Hampshire County court this week that he knew the woman he had sex with in 2021 was too drunk to consent, but he proceeded anyway, authorities said. Michael Pope pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault and battery, and one count of providing alcohol to a person under 21 years of age, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Pope pleaded guilty to raping the Amherst woman in an apartment before the prosecution began, sparing the victim a trial, the prosecutor said. Judge Jane Mulqueen se…
Police & Fire
Teen Killed In Crash That Sent Car's Engine Through Western Mass Home During Police Chase: Cops
A 19-year-old trying to escape police in Hampshire County lost control of his car, left the road, and went airborne, causing his vehicle to come apart, authorities said. The chase began around 8:45 p.m. when a Massachusetts State Trooper spotted a 2011 Nissan Altima and attempted to pull it over on Route 202 South in Belchertown. The driver stepped on the gas, police said. He was going too fast to manage a curve in the road and skidded off the highway. The car smashed into a mulch bed, which sent the Nissan flying. It bounced off a rock wall and a light post before crashing…
Police & Fire
Man Killed After SUV Crosses Into Oncoming Traffic In Western Mass
A 57-year-old man was killed in a head-on collision in Hampshire County on Tuesday, Aug. 15, authorities announced. Edward Duggan, of Haydenville, died just after 2 p.m. following the crash near 202 Main St. in Haydenville, police said. Initial investigations suggest Duggan drifted over the center line and into the path of a pick-up. The truck driver, a man from Worthington, suffered minor injuries in the crash. Authorities did not release his name. A witness called 911. Police are investigating the cause of the incident, but authorities have not filed any charges in the …
News
Ex-Western Mass Fire Chief Embezzled $28K From Town, 3 Non-Profits: State
A Hampshire County grand jury indicted the former Ware fire chief on Thursday, Aug. 11, for allegedly stealing $28,000 from the town and regional fire associations, state investigators said. Thomas Coulombe is charged with four counts of larceny over $1,200, the Massachusetts Office of Inspector General said. He is accused of filing inflated and false reimbursement requests to the town and stealing funds from three non-profit groups, of which he served as treasurer. The Office of the Inspector General began investigating Coulombe after they received a tip about a…
Police & Fire
Woman Accused Of Stabbing Boyfriend To Death In Western Mass Charged With Murder
A 23-year-old Hampshire County woman who police say stabbed her boyfriend five times during a fight at their home will return to court next week. Jean Marie Echevarria, of Easthampton, who is charged with murder in the killing of Brennan Bleau, 23, was indicted on July 20, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. She will be arraigned on Wednesday, Aug. 9. She previously pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Investigators said Echevarria stabbed Bleau multiple times on March 14 at the Culdaff Street apartment they shared in Easthampton. When poli…
News
More Mosquitos With West Nile Virus Found In Western Mass: Health Officials
Massachusetts health officials have urged caution after more mosquitoes tested positive for the potentially fatal West Nile Virus in Hampshire County. This adds to the number of infected insects already found in West Springfield, Worcester, and Brookline. The Massachusetts Health Department announced this week that testers had detected the virus in Hadley and South Hadley on July 28. The risk of exposure remains low for most people, but residents should take steps to prevent contracting West Nile Virus. Young children and the elderly are especially at risk of severe complications if th…
Police & Fire
Fatal Crash: Man Admits To Western Mass Wreck That Killed 1, Injured Another
A 59-year-old man admitted fault on Thursday, July 27, to a fatal Hampden County crash in 2021 that killed a motorcyclist and seriously injured his passenger, authorities said. Aleksandyr Saykin, of East Longmeadow in Hampshire County, pleaded guilty to a charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Niles N. Robbins, 46, of Wales, died on May 15, 2021, when Saykin crashed into his Harley Davidson motorcycle on Route 9 in Belchertown near the intersection of Ware and Enoch Sanford roads, the prosecutor said. Robbins …
Lifestyle
Trio of $1 Million Powerball Tickets Sold In Mass
They may not have snagged the $1 billion jackpot, but three Massachusetts tickets still hit it big. Three Powerball tickets sold in Massachusetts scored $1 million in the Wednesday, July 19 drawing, according to the Massachusetts State Lottery. Eight other Massachusetts tickets also brought home serious cash, with one winning a $100,000 prize and seven others winning $50,000 prizes. The three $1 million winning tickets were purchased from the following locations: In Norfolk County: Shaw’s Supermarket, located at 255 East Central Street in Franklin, in No…
News
Marina Owner Dies Days After Floods, Heavy Rains Damage Western Mass Docks
Luke Brunelle, the owner of Brunelle's Marina in Hampshire County, has died, the company announced on social media Friday, July 14. He was 61 years old. The marina asked for privacy as they grapple with the loss, but leaders added that they would continue Luke's dedication to fostering a thriving boating culture in South Hadley and the surrounding areas. The Brunelle family built the marina in 1959 with just a boat ramp, but it quickly grew and became a popular destination for boaters around the region. Luke Brunelle's cause of death was not released, but it comes just days after many of…
Police & Fire
Fiancé Charged With DUI Crash That Killed Western Mass Mom
A 30-year-old Hampshire County man is accused of killing his fiancée when he lost control of his SUV and crashed while driving drunk earlier this month, authorities announced on Wednesday, July 12. Cory Menard, of Granby, is charged with motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation, manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol, manslaughter, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Katelyn Gress, age 28, of Granby, died on July 1 after Menard lost control of his Jeep Grand Cherokee, which ca…
Police & Fire
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…
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