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Arson suspected in Belchertown State School fire

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Fire and police units responded at 6:15 a.m. to the fire at a one-story brick building located off of Jackson Street.

BELCHERTOWN - A fire reported Wednesday morning in a locked and vacant building at the former Belchertown State School was likely intentionally set, according to authorities.

Fire and police units responded at 6:15 a.m. to the fire at a one-story brick building located off of Jackson Street, after smoke was seen billowing above the tree line.

Police said they are treating the fire as an act of arson. "It is suspicious," police said in a statement. "The building [had been] secured and locked; it is unlikely the fire started inside the building on its own."

No suspects had been apprehended as of 10 a.m. Belchertown firefighters were still at the scene.

No injuries have been reported.


This is a developing story. More information will be posted as our reporting continues.


Ronald Reagan shooter John Hinckley Jr. allowed to leave hospital to live in Virginia

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The man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan will be allowed to leave a Washington mental hospital and live full-time in Virginia, a judge has ruled.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan will be allowed to leave a Washington mental hospital and live full-time in Virginia, a judge has ruled.

John Hinckley Jr. is ready to live in the community, Judge Paul L. Friedman ruled Wednesday, granting him full time convalescent leave that shall begin no sooner than Aug. 5. Friedman's ruling comes more than 35 years after the March 30, 1981, shooting outside a Washington hotel in which Reagan and three others were injured.

Doctors have said for many years that the now 61-year-old Hinckley, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the shooting, is no longer plagued by the mental illness that drove him to shoot Reagan in an effort to impress actress Jodie Foster.

Hinckley's release from Washington's St. Elizabeths hospital has been more than a decade in the making. In late 2003, the judge allowed Hinckley to begin leaving the hospital for day visits with his parents in the Washington area.

In 2006, Hinckley began visiting his parents' home in Williamsburg, Virginia, for three-night stretches. That time has increased over the years so that for more than the last year he has been allowed to spend 17 days a month at the home, which is in a gated community and overlooks a golf course. Reagan himself died in 2004 at the age of 93.

While outside the hospital, Hinckley has had to comply with a series of restrictions, and a number of those will continue now that he will be living full time in the community. He will have to attend individual and group therapy sessions and is barred from talking to the media. He can drive, but there are restrictions on how far he can travel. The Secret Service also periodically follows him.

Despite the restrictions, life in Williamsburg will likely be busy for Hinckley. According to court records and testimony at a recent court hearing on the issue of his release, he has spent time volunteering at a church as well as a local mental hospital. He has attended meetings for people living with mental illness, talks at a local art museum and concerts. His hobbies include painting and playing the guitar and he has recently developed an interest in photography. He's also indicated he'd like to get a full-time job and at one point went to Starbucks and Subway to talk about applying.

"I don't like flipping around the TV, I want to do things," a court document quoted him saying.

He also has said he wants to "fit in" and be "a good citizen."

Future of Bridge Street Cemetery to be discussed in Northampton on Sunday

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Established in the 1600s, Bridge Street is the city's oldest graveyard.

NORTHAMPTON -- Puritan clergy and heroes from the American Revolution and Civil War are among those interred at a 20-acre cemetery that's only a stone's throw from downtown Northampton.

Established in the 1600s, the city-owned Bridge Street Cemetery is Northampton's oldest graveyard, and local historians and members of the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association have long advocated for its care and preservation.

Last year, thanks to a $36,000 Community Preservation Act grant, a plan was developed to ensure the cemetery remains in good shape for generations to come.

Now the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association is inviting the public to an outdoor social gathering where the plan will be discussed. Live music and refreshments will be on tap at the event, set for Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Lampron Park, in front of the Bridge Street School.

Among other things, the cemetery plan recommends new fences to deter vandalism, a better-defined and more appealing entrance, responsible tree care and replacement, an improved system for water delivery, and a way to deal with dog waste.

"A rusting chain link gate and crude sign mark the main and only accessible entrance to the Bridge Street Cemetery. Visitors complain that it is hard to find," the plan states.

The cemetery preservation plan was developed over six months by a citywide committee with the assistance of Mary Lyon Landscape Architecture of Northampton, the Monument Conservation Collaborative of Norfolk, Connecticut, and CME Associates of East Hartford, an engineering firm.

Historians say the oldest surviving stone is that of Captain E. Gray or Elisha Graves, from either 1683 or 85. The simple stones showed only the deceased's name, age and date of death.

"The lack of decoration on 17th century graves was not a result of a lack of material or a lack of trained cutters, rather the Puritan objections to imagery," according to Historic Northampton.

Although steeped in early New England Protestantism, Bridge Street is now an active nondenominational city cemetery.

If you go:

What: Social event to discuss the Bridge Street Cemetery preservation plan
When:
Sunday, July 31, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where:
Lampron Park (in front of Bridge Street School)
The event is sponsored by the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association.

Bridge Street Cemetery Draft Preservation Plan-Jan 2016 by Mary Serreze on Scribd

acres.

Former Boston mobster says stolen Gardner Museum paintings were buried in Florida

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A former Boston mobster turned Memphis pastor says the paintings from the notorious 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist may have been buried beneath a home in Florida.

A former Boston mobster turned Memphis pastor says the paintings from the notorious 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist may have been buried beneath a home in Florida, according to a Boston Globe report.

The $500 million art theft, which saw thieves dressed as police officers make off with 13 artworks by the likes of Rembrandt, Vermeer and Manet, is still the subject of a decades-long FBI investigation. The heist has been the subject of massive public attention, and still marks the walls of the museum, which has left empty frames where stolen paintings used to hang.

And according to the Globe, a key clue to the location of the paintings may have just been uncovered.

Robert "Bobby" Luisi Jr. now goes by Alonso Esposito, and is a self-published Christian author who lives in Memphis, Tenn. But in his first life, he was a member of the Boston mob who associated with men suspected in the museum theft, the Globe reports.

Luisi told the Globe that in the late 1990s Robert "Unc" Guarente, a former gangster who died in 2004, told him that he knew where the artwork was hidden. Guarante said the paintings were buried below a concrete floor in Florida but did not provide further details, Luisi told the Globe.

Luisi added that he told the FBI of the conversation when he was interviewed by investigators in 2012 while serving a prison term for cocaine trafficking. Agents also asked about Robert Gentile, a former mobster who has denied knowledge of the heist but who is the subject of continuing FBI scrutiny.

A $5 million reward is still being offered for information that leads to the paintings' recovery.

Read the Globe's full report here.

Westfield's Rinnova Gallery hosts Men & Metal exhibit

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A reception for the three artists will be held at the gallery Friday night.

WESTFIELD - The creations of three local artists make up the latest exhibit at the Rinnova Gallery at 105 Elm St. through Labor Day.

Westfield Creative Arts and Westfield on Weekends are hosting the exhibit produced by Sebastian Glebocki and Christopher Lyons both of Westfield and Vincent Caruso of Southwick.

A reception for the three artists will be held Friday at the gallery from 6 to 8 p.m.. Glebocki, Lyons and Caruso will be on hand to explain their art work which is all priced for sale during the exhibit.

The three artists are known for their work featuring metals and Glebocki's creations have been displayed at Stanley Park, Soups On and other locations.

A seven-foot sculpture entitled "Monday" whose head is a recycled Triumph Motorcycle gas tank, created by Glebocki will greet visitors to the exhibit.

In addition to his artwork, Lyons teaches a Lego Robotic Programming course for Westfield Creative Arts at the Rinnova Gallery.

Caruso specializes in photography that is transferred to metal plate.

Additional information on the exhibit is available at www.westfieldcreativearts.com or by calling the gallery at 413-579-5967.

Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan backs Attorney General Maura Healey's assault weapon crackdown

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As Gov. Charlie Baker raised questions about "ambiguities" about Attorney General Maura Healey's recent enforcement notice to gun sellers and manufacturers, Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan lauded her efforts to close what he called a "weapons loophole."

As Gov. Charlie Baker raised questions about "ambiguities" in Attorney General Maura Healey's recent enforcement notice to gun sellers and manufacturers, Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan lauded her efforts to close what he called a "weapons loophole."

The "loophole" has existed for 18 years, since the passage of the Massachusetts assault weapons ban, Sullivan said in a statement.

Healey has come under fire from gun activists and groups like the Gun Owners Action League (GOAL) of Massachusetts for issuing a notice that her office says clarifies what's a "copycat" weapon under the ban.

"Our Massachusetts Attorney General is correctly enforcing our existing assault weapons ban," Sullivan said in a statement sent out last night. "It is shocking that over 10,000 copycat assault weapons were sold last year in Massachusetts."

Baker and his public safety chief Daniel Bennett sent letters to Healey earlier this week asking for more clarity, particularly for responsible gun owners who simply want to follow the rules." Bennett's letter laid out extensive questions about Healey's notice, including whether it could potentially affect certain pistols that have long been legal in Massachusetts.

"It is distressing that the Baker Administration appears to be bending toward NRA and gun lobby arguments designed to undermine this important effort," Sullivan said in his statement.

"An honest analysis of this enforcement action demonstrates this is not at all about interfering with gun owner rights to possess shotguns, rifles, pistols, or antique guns," he added, going further than Healey in ruling out pistols. "It's about enforcing our state's ban on military-style assault weapons that are designed to kill people, not wildlife."

In a statement, Healey's office said they had sought feedback from Bennett's Executive Office of Public Safety. Feedback they received as incorporated into the notice. "As we have been over the past week, we continue to be available to gun dealers and owners to answer any and all questions," Healey spokeswoman Cyndi Roy Gonzalez said in a statement yesterday.

Gov. Baker, Attorney General Healey at odds over clarity of 'copycat' weapon crackdown

State House lawmakers had questions of their own.

Like Baker and Bennett, State Rep. John Fernandes, a Milford Democrat who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, also sought clarity.

"While I do appreciate the Attorney General's effort to help improve the safety of our citizens, it is my hope that additional direction from the Attorney General's office will help clear up any confusion surrounding the implementation of the enforcement directive and help determine whether any further legislative action is needed or appropriate," Fernandes wrote, according the State House News Service.

Railroad workers accidentally spark blaze on trestle spanning Connecticut River from West Springfield to Springfield

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The blaze sent flames three feet off the surface of the trestle. Tt's structural integrity, however, was not compromised, officials said.

WEST SPRINGFIELD -- Railroad workers, cutting rail on a trestle spanning the Connecticut River Tuesday afternoon sparked a blaze that produced waist- high flames about 400 feet from shore.

"They were afraid they were going to lose the trestle because of the amount of fire there," Fire Chief William Flaherty said.

The fire was reported about 2:35 p.m. and the three-foot high flames ultimately spread to about ten of the wooden ties, Flaherty said.

Flaherty said the trestle's structural integrity was not compromised by the fire. "Everything is OK," he said.

The blaze was tricky to fight because it broke out approximately 400 feet from West Springfield shore, Flaherty said.

Firefighters ran approximately 600 feet of forestry house from the department's brush truck to extinguish the fire.

Shortly after the blaze was knocked down, even as acrid smoke continued to rise into the air, an eastbound freight train slowly rumbled east into Springfield.

The fire department left the scene at approximately 5:30 p.m. and CSX maintained a fire watch overnight, Flaherty said.

Fires occasionally break out on the trestle, perhaps sparked from passing trains, Flaherty said. This fire, however, was unusually large, he said.

Flaherty said the railroad workers had been cutting the rail in order to replace some of the ties.

A CSX spokesman could not immediately provide any further informaton on the fire Wednesday morning.

DNC 2016: Who's speaking? And what to expect for Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention

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Having officially crowned Hillary Clinton as the party's presidential nominee, the Democratic National Convention will move into its second half Wednesday. Under a theme of "Working Together," the third day of the Democratic gathering will focus on the stakes of the 2016 election and look to promote that Clinton "has the experience and steadiness to bring people together to tackle the big challenges and get real results," according to DNC officials. Speakers slated to tout the former secretary of state's experience include congressional lawmakers, activists and even the current commander-in-chief.

PHILADELPHIA ‒ Having officially crowned Hillary Clinton as the party's presidential nominee, the Democratic National Convention will move into its second half Wednesday.

Under a theme of "Working Together," the third day of the Democratic gathering will focus on the stakes of the 2016 election and look to promote that Clinton "has the experience and steadiness to bring people together to tackle the big challenges and get real results," according to DNC officials.

Speakers slated to tout the former secretary of state's experience include congressional lawmakers, activists and even the current commander-in-chief.

Here's what you need to know to follow along with Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention:

What time does it start on Wednesday?

The third day of the Democratic gathering will be called to order at 4:00 PM ET.

Who's speaking?

President Barack Obama, who hired Clinton to serve as his secretary of state after beating her in the 2008 Democratic primary, and Vice President Joe Biden will take the stage late Wednesday to deliver keynote remarks.

Clinton's vice presidential running mate Tim Kaine will also take the stage to introduce himself to the American people during the prime time portion of the program.

Other speakers scheduled to address the convention Wednesday include:

- Congressman GK Butterfield and members of the Congressional Black Caucus

- Congresswoman Judy Chu and members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

- NARAL President Ilyse Hogue

- Civil Rights leader Jesse Jackson

- Actress Star Jones

- Former Congressman and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta

- Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey

- EMILY's List President Stephanie Schriock

- Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid

- Former Governor of Maryland Martin O'Malley

- U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut

- Former congresswoman Gabby Giffords

- Erica Smegielski, the daughter of the Sandy Hook Elementary principal who was killed while trying to protect her students.

- Felicia Sanders & Polly Sheppard, survivors of the Mother Emanuel Church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.

- Jamie Dorff, whose husband died while on a search and rescue mission in northern Iraq.

- Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

What to expect:

Similar to the second night of the Democratic National Convention, Wednesday's program will likely continue to promote Clinton's record, as well as compare it to that of her Republican presidential counterpart, Donald Trump.

Chief among those expected to tout the former first lady's experience is Obama, who has become a vocal campaign surrogate and Trump critic since formally endorsing Clinton's White House run last month.

The third day of the Democratic gathering will also look to spark excitement around the Clinton-Kaine presidential ticket ahead of the November election.


Springfield-based Friends of the Homeless pursuing merger with mental health/substance abuse treatment provider

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The board of directors of Friends of the Homeless is seeking to merge that organization with Clinical and Support Options Inc., seen as benefiting both organizations and the people they serve.


SPRINGFIELD - Friends of the Homeless, a local organization that operates a resource center and shelter in Springfield, is pursuing a merger with a large regional agency that provides mental health and substance abuse programs and clinics throughout Western Massachusetts.

The board of directors of Friends of the Homeless and the Clinical & Support Options Inc., approved the merger plans recently, as announced by its executive directors in a joint statement Wednesday. The merger of the two nonprofit groups is subject to approval from the Attorney General's office, and a final agreement.

"I'm excited about it for the sake of the people we serve here," said William Miller, executive director of Friends of the Homeless. "Working with an organization that specializes in mental health and substance abuse treatment will be incredibly valuable for us and the services it provides."

In essence, Friends of the Homeless will become a program of Clinical & Support Options Inc. (CSO), but Friends of the Homeless will retain its name and identity, said Miller and Karin Jeffers, chief executive officer of CSO, in a joint statement.

The merger of the two organizations "benefits our clients, our staff and communities," the statement said.

Miller will continue as executive director of Friends of the Homeless and become a member of the CSO executive team, the statement said.

"The expectation is that everyone keeps their jobs," Miller said. "We do a ton of work. We need everybody we have currently."

The merger is expected to produce cost savings, particularly with administrative costs, Miller said. Clients of Friends of the Homeless will benefit from behavioral health resources CSO can offer, and CSO clients will benefit from Friends of the Homeless housing expertise, Miller and Jeffers said.

Friends of the Homeless has a resource center and shelter on Worthington Street, providing meals and a myriad of services to the area's homeless. Local advocates have long lobbied for an increase in state funds for its shelter beds.

The merger is expected to be finalized before the end of the year, officials said.

"We anticipate that this change will strengthen and enhance our capacity to collaborate with other local providers and community efforts," the joint statement said.

CSO has outpatient and family support services at clinic locations in Springfield, Northampton, Greenfield, Athol and Pittsfield. The major services include emergency and acute services, community-based family support services, outpatient mental health and substance abuse services, and acute care clubhouses, according to its web site.

DNC 2016: What time will President Barack Obama speak at tonight's Democratic National Convention?

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President Barack Obama will take the stage at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday to make his case as to why Hillary Clinton should win the White House this fall.

PHILADELPHIA ‒ President Barack Obama will take the stage at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday to make his case as to why Hillary Clinton should win the White House this fall.

Obama, who formally endorsed his former secretary of state's bid last month, is expected to tout Clinton's record and experience, as well as take aim at Republican opponent Donald Trump.

The outgoing president is scheduled to close out the third day of the Democratic National Convention, following remarks from Clinton's vice presidential running mate, Tim Kaine.

According to DNC officials, Obama's prime time speech will take place toward the end of the 10 p.m. ET hour.

The commander-in-chief, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump, offered insight into the potential content of his keynote address Wednesday, telling NBC's "Today" that what he finds "scary is a president who doesn't know their stuff and doesn't seem to have an interest in learning what they don't know."

His remarks will come just two days after his wife, Michelle, and former President Bill Clinton delivered keynote speeches at the Democratic National Convention.

Vice President Joe Biden, meanwhile, is expected to address the Democratic gathering just before 10 p.m. ET.

The convention's third day is expected to begin at 4 p.m. ET and end at 11 p.m. ET, DNC officials said.

Follow along with The Republican and MassLive throughout the week for coverage and updates from the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

North Adams woman, Hartford man charged following Berkshire heroin raid

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Chelsea Kelly and Brian Duckworth were arrested following a lengthy investigation by police.


NORTH ADAMS - A North Adams woman and a Hartford man were arrested on drug charges Monday after a police raid resulted in the discovery of heroin, drug paraphernalia and cash, North Adams police said.

The arrests were the result of an investigation over the last several months into the distribution of heroin from Connecticut to North Adams. Participating in the investigation and the arrests were the Berkshire County Drug Task Force, the Massachusetts State Police Community Action Team, and North Adams police.

As part of the raid, police served search warrants at multiple locations, police said.

Brian Duckworth, 25, of Hartford was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Chelsea Kelly, 23, of North Adams was charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Duckworth was previously arrested in December in North Adams when police raided an address on Jackson.

Duckworth and another woman were each charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

He pleaded innocent to that charge at his arraignment in Northern Berkshire District Court. Bail was set at $2,000 or a $20,000 personal surety.

New York woman dies while swimming in White Lily Pond in Otis

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Police identified the body as 48-year-old Marilyn Joseph of Otis.


OTIS -- A 48-year-old New York woman died Tuesday while swimming in White Lily Pond.

A Birch Lane resident called 911 at about 5:50 p.m. after hearing cries for help,
according to a post on the department's Facebook page.

Police determined that the victim, Marilyn Joseph of Brooklyn, N.Y., had been out in a paddleboat with her 13-year-old son when she decided to go swimming.

Joseph immediately began struggling and both her son and a resident attempted to save her but were unable to do so.

Joseph's body was recovered by the Berkshire County Sheriff's Department Dive Team and the Otis Fire Department at about 7:15 p.m.

Joseph's son was transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield by Becket Ambulance. The two were visiting friends in Otis.

White Lily Pond is one of several bodies of water in the town of Otis. It is located in the northwest corner of town, close to the Becket and Blandford lines.

Longmeadow sinkhole swallows car (photos)

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Llewellyn Street is closed between Benedict Terrace and Converse Street.

LONGMEADOW -- A water main break on Llewellyn Street Thursday morning caused a sinkhole that partially swallowed a sedan.

Llewellyn Street is closed between Benedict Terrace and Converse Street.

The sinkhole left much of the sedan's front end below the broken asphalt.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, and it was not clear whether the car was parked or in motion when the sinkhole opened up.


This is a developing story that will be updated after further reporting.

Federal agents raid 2 Springfield-owned golf courses and home of golf pro Kevin Kennedy Jr.

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Federal agents raided the two Springfield-owned municipal golf courses in the city on Thursday.

SPRINGFIELD -- Federal agents were executing search warrants at the two Springfield-owned municipal golf courses in the city and at the East Longmeadow home of its golf pro, Kevin Kennedy Jr. on Thursday morning.

Kevin Kennedy Jr. Kevin Kennedy Jr.

Agents with the Internal Revenue Service were spotted rooting around the pro shop at Veterans Memorial golf course on South Branch Parkway and at Franconia golf course on Dwight Road on Thursday morning. While there were golfers on the greens at Veterans, the pro shop remained closed.

The Pro shop of Franconia Golf Course on Dwight Road was also closed as agents were seen milling about the property. Agents were observed telling arriving golfers that the golf course itself was open, however.

Agents could also be seen carting boxes of records out of Kennedy's home at 17 Sherwood Lane, an upscale cul de sac in East Longmeadow. They would not comment on the nature of their investigation. The home and land are assessed at $555,200, according to East Longmeadow assessor records.

City Solicitor Edward Pikula, city Parks Department head Patrick Sullivan and city Chief Financial Officer Timothy J. Plante visited Veterans golf course briefly this morning during the search.

Kevin Kennedy Jr. is the son of the city's economic development director, Kevin Kennedy Sr.

State records list Kevin Kennedy Jr. as the president of Kennedy Golf Management -- a corporate entity that, according to the website for the Franconia and Veterans courses, "... specializes in the total management of public and municipal golf facilities."

The description continues:

KGM works closely with owners and municipalities to formulate and execute a plan to ensure expectations are being exceeded daily. We strive to provide premium course conditions, financial growth, accountability, and operational excellence. KGM also offers consulting services to municipalities and course owners in an effort to enhance existing operations.

The business was formed in 2009, according to state records.

Kevin Kennedy Jr. was hired as general manager of golf operations at the two municipal golf courses in July 2006.

This is a developing story which will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Adams man, 51, dies while tubing on Deerfield River; body recovered in water

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The death appears to be a drowning but the final determination on the cause of death will have to be made by the state medical examiner, an official said.


CHARLEMONT - A 51-year-old Adams man has died of an apparently drowning while tubing with friends Wednesday on the Deerfield River, according to the Northwestern District Attorney's Office.

The man's identity was not being released to the press pending notification of his family,

DA spokeswoman Mary Carey said the man's body was recovered Wednesday night from the river by the Northfield Dive Team. State police are investigating the death. No foul play is suspected.

Carey said the death appears to be a drowning but the final determination on the cause of death will have to be made by the state medical examiner.

She said the man had been tubing with several co-workers after work on the Deerfield River where it meets the Cold River. At some point his tube began to leak air and he fell behind the group.

Others went back to look for him after losing sight of him, she said. When he could not be found, they called for help.

The section of river is located off Route 2 near Savoy State Forest.


Massachusetts soldiers save 87-year-old found severely dehydrated, stranded in woods

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When members of the Massachusetts Army National Guard traveled to New Jersey this weekend, they expected to practice conduct recovery. Two mechanics in the G Co. 186th Brigade Support Battalion were called upon to safe the life of a civilian.

When members of the Massachusetts Army National Guard traveled to New Jersey this weekend, they expected to practice conduct recovery. Two mechanics in the G Co. 186th Brigade Support Battalion were called upon to safe the life of a civilian.

Staff Sgt. Dana Francis and Sgt. Tommy Coppola spotted a Cadillac stuck in the soft sand along a wooded trail in Lakehurst, New Jersey. Inside, they found an 87-year-old woman unresponsive in the backseat.

Her car became stuck in the sand over the weekend, leaving her stranded on a rarely traveled trail for several days with no food or water.

"We were thinking the worst," Coppola said.

The pair - both civilian firefighters - went back to the training area seeking the help of two medics, Spec. John Shively and Pfc. Aaron Amardey-Wellington.

The four then traveled back to the car to help the woman out of the vehicle and into a military ambulance.

Found Monday afternoon - a day with a heat index near 100 degrees - she suffered severe dehydration, for which she was treated by military medics.

The four Massachusetts soldiers have been praised for their actions.

"It was by chance that the contact team was traveling down this remote tank trail and came across the elderly woman. Their response and quick action are just another example of what being a Citizen-Soldier is about," Lt. Col. Holloway, commander of the 1-101 FAR, said in a statement. "They immediately knew what to do. I'm extremely proud of these great soldiers."

The G Co. 186 Brigade Support Battalion is based in Quincy. Shively and Amardey-Wellington are with the Headquarters & Headquarters Battery of the 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment, headquartered in Brockton.

MSPCA receives nearly $60K in donations for Maverick, dog who chewed off own leg to escape tether

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The MSPCA has received nearly $60,000 in donations and over 1,000 people have volunteered to adopt Maverick, the dog who chewed off his own paw to escape from a tether.


MIDDLEBORO -- The MSPCA has received nearly $60,000 in donations and over 1,000 people have volunteered to adopt Maverick, the dog who chewed off his own paw to escape from a tether.

Since the two-year-old German Shepherd was rescued on Sunday, an "astounding" amount of donations have been received, according to the MSPCA.

"Maverick's hospital bill will be paid in full and the remaining money will stay in Spike's Fund, which is used to meet the medical care costs of animals in our Boston adoption center," the MSPCA wrote on Facebook. "Maverick's legacy will live on through hundreds of animals whose lives will be saved, and who will be adopted into new homes."

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seized Maverick from his owner on July 12. The tether was wrapped around his right rear leg for days, and possibly weeks, while he was kept outdoors. In addition to his injury, the MSPCA said he was emaciated.

His owner, Kevin Kennedy of Middleboro, is charged with one count of felony animal cruelty for neglect and failure to pursue necessary veterinary care. He will be arraigned in Wareham District Court on Aug. 18.

Maverick underwent surgery this week and is on his way to recovery, the MSPCA reported.

MSPCA-Angell said Maverick's injury would normally require full amputation of the leg. But since his hips are in poor condition, that would leave him unable to walk. Instead, veterinarians planned to reconstruct a functional foot "by rotating what remains of his foot pad and repositioning it over the most weight-bearing part of the foot," according to the animal hospital.

The MSPCA also said over 1,000 people have asked about donating Maverick.

Maverick will be available for adoption in the next week or so, according to the MSPCA.

Anyone interested in donating to Maverick's treatment costs can visit this website. To express interest in adopting him, send an email toadoption@mspca.org.

Springfield man charged with breaking into Granby liquor store

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Julio Reillo, 49, of Lancashire Road, Springfield, was charged with breaking and entering in the nighttime for the purpose of a felony, and larceny of more than $250.

SPRINGFIELD - A Springfield man was arrested Tuesday night and charged with shattering the window of a Granby package store as part of a break-in, police said.

728gpd reillo1.jpgJulio Reillo 

Julio Reillo, 49, of Lancashire Road, Springfield, was charged with breaking and entering in the nighttime for the purpose of a felony, and larceny of more than $250.

Sgt. Kevin O'Grady said officers found someone had thrown a large rock through a window and damaged a glass door at Vicker's Liquors, 367 East State St.

The break-in was reported at about 10:15 p.m., after the liquor store had closed for the night.

O'Grady said police were aided by two witnesses who saw a strange vehicle at the liquor store and jotted down the license plate.

As police were on the scene, a neighborhood resident approached to tell officers he saw a car enter the parking lot and a man get out and walk toward the building. Moments later, he heard the sound of breaking glass and an alarm sounding. He jotted down the license plate on the car and provided that to police, O'Grady said.

A second witness told police he was driving by the liquor store and saw a car in the parking lot. The car drove off with its lights off. When the car sped past the second witness, he was able to jot down three digits of the license, O'Grady said.

Granby police issued a regional alert to areas police departments, and a short time later Springfield police stopped a car with that license plate, and Reillo was taken into custody.

He pleaded innocent at his arraignment Wednesday in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown.

He was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail or a $500,000 bond, and is due back in court on Aug. 17 for a pre-trial hearing.

'The Wall That Heals,' replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, coming to West Side in August

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The Wall That Heals, a mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, will be coming to the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield from August 18-21.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Wall That Heals, a mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, will be rolling into the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield from August 18-21.

The wall be available for public viewing at 10 a.m. on each day of the free, four-day event at the Eastern States Exposition, 1305 Memorial Ave.

The 250-foot-long "mobile education center" is a half-size replica of the national memorial in Washington. The names on wall are listed by date of casualty.

The West Side event has both national and local sponsors, including the West Springfield Department of Veterans' Services.

Service providers will be on hand to help veterans learn more about available benefits and programs. In addition, Vietnam veterans will be able to participate in the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, which aims to record veterans' war stories for posterity.


Woman pleads guilty in Northampton court to posing as nurse, stealing medications from elderly

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Facing 16 charges connected to allegations of stealing prescription drugs from elderly patients, a Florence woman pleaded guilty in a Northampton courthouse and sought leniency.

Facing 16 charges connected to allegations of stealing prescription drugs from elderly patients, a Florence woman pleaded guilty and sought leniency.

Ann L. Fisher was arrested in 2014 after the Northwest District Attorney's Office says she spent months posing as an in-home nurse, using the guise to steal hundreds of prescription drugs from her patients in their 80s and 90s. The DA's office said Fisher would swap narcotic pain medication for over-the-counter pills.

An investigation was opened into Fisher after her patients reported being in pain, believing their medication was at fault.

The Florence woman pleaded guilty to all 16 charges in Hampshire Superior Court Wednesday, the Daily Hampshire Gazette reports. She admitted to stealing prescription medication, saying she was addicted to opioids.

"Ann Fisher can't go back in time and undo what she did," the Gazette reports her attorney, David Mintz, told Judge Richard Carey. "Believe me, she wishes she could. She would probably give anything just to be there and turn back that clock."

Though calling her actions "outrageous," Carey granted the defendant's request. Fisher, who has no prior record, was given probation for two years. The charges will be dropped in two years, as long as she abides by the terms of her probation. 
 

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