Police chased a suspect through backyards but were unable to apprehend the person.

LONGMEADOW - Police once again are reminding people to lock the doors of their vehicles and avoid leaving valuables in cars, following several early Sunday morning car breaks.

Officers responded to reports of a breaking and entering into a vehicle at about 2:12 a.m. on Hazelwood Avenue.

"Upon arrival an individual ran on foot from officers through backyards. Springfield Police K9 was called in to assist with the search. The suspect was unable to be located after an extensive search of the area," police said.

A subsequent investigation showed multiple vehicles in the area were entered and they were all unlocked, police said.

All vehicles should be secured, even if they are parked in driveways. Residents are also reminded to call police if they see anything suspicious.

.

Robert McMahon was also charged with possession of heroin.

PELHAM - A Montague man is facing a variety of charges including drunken driving second offense, operating after a license suspension and possession of heroin after he was pulled over by police, Friday.

Robert McMahon, 49, was arrested at about 2:30 a.m. after officers observed him allegedly driving erratically on Route 202, police said.

McMahon was charged with second offense driving under the influence, possession of heroin, operating after license suspension, marked lanes violation, attaching plates, unregistered motor vehicle and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, police said.

Police also arrested him on active warrants issued by Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, police said.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte apologized to Jews worldwide Sunday after his remarks drawing comparisons between his bloody anti-drug war and Hitler and the Holocaust sparked shock and outrage.

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte apologized to Jews worldwide Sunday after his remarks drawing comparisons between his bloody anti-drug war and Hitler and the Holocaust sparked shock and outrage.

The tough-talking Duterte said his apology was intended only for the Jewish community. He lashed out again at Western critics and human rights advocates who have raised concerns over his brutal crackdown, which is estimated to have left more than 3,000 suspected drug dealers and users dead in just three months.

Duterte said in a speech in the central city of Bacolod that he never had any intention "to derogate the memory of the 6 million Jews murdered by the Germans." Historians say 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis under Hitler before and during World War II.

"I apologize profoundly and deeply to the Jewish community," Duterte said.

On Friday, Duterte raised the rhetoric over his anti-drug campaign to a new level by comparing it to Hitler and the Holocaust and saying he would be "happy to slaughter" an estimated 3 million addicts in the Philippines.

In that speech, the brash president said without elaborating that he has been "portrayed or pictured to be a cousin of Hitler" by his critics.

Moments later, he said, "Hitler massacred 3 million Jews ... there's 3 million drug addicts. There are. I'd be happy to slaughter them."

While Hitler's victims were innocent people, Duterte said his targets are "all criminals" and that getting rid of them would "finish the (drug) problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition."

Germany's government slammed Duterte's comments as unacceptable, and called in the Philippine ambassador to the Foreign Ministry over the matter.

"It is impossible to make any comparison to the unique atrocities of the Shoah and Holocaust," Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said in Berlin.

World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder said Duterte's remarks were "revolting" and demanded that he retract them and apologize.

"Drug abuse is a serious issue. But what President Duterte said is not only profoundly inhumane, but it demonstrates an appalling disrespect for human life that is truly heartbreaking for the democratically elected leader of a great country," Lauder said in a statement issued from Jerusalem, where he was attending the funeral of former Israeli leader Shimon Peres.

The U.S. State Department, which is looking to sustain its long-standing alliance with the Philippines, called the comments "troubling."

"Words matter, especially when they are from leaders of sovereign nations, especially sovereign nations with whom we have long and valued relations with," spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. He repeated U.S. calls for Philippine authorities to investigate any credible reports of extrajudicial killings.

Also critical was Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, who said it was baffling why anyone would want to compare themselves to "one of the largest mass murderers in human history."

Robertson said that in today's context, Hitler would be accused of crimes against humanity.

"Is that what Duterte wants? Does he want to be sent to the international criminal court? Because he's working his way there," Robertson said.

Amnesty International said that Duterte "has sunk to new depths" and urged governments around the world to condemn his "extremely dangerous outburst."

Amid the criticisms, presidential spokesman Ernie Abella defended Duterte, saying his "reference to the slaughter was an oblique deflection of the way he has been pictured as a mass murderer."

"He likewise draws an oblique conclusion, that while the Holocaust was an attempt to exterminate the future generations of Jews, drug-related killings as a result of legitimate police operations (as opposed to so-called "extra-judicial killings" of criminals, wrongly attributed to him, as these are not state-sanctioned) will nevertheless result in the salvation of the next generation of Filipinos," Abella said in a statement.

Duterte has asked for a six-month extension of his drug crackdown, saying he underestimated the magnitude of the problem.

His supporters and many Filipinos exasperated with widespread crime have welcomed his tough approach, but a growing number of critics, including U.N. officials, the European Union and the United States, have voiced concerns over the widespread killings and human rights violations.

The spike in violent crime in West Side is mostly attributable to a rise in aggravated assaults, which went from 82 in 2014 to 145 in 2015. The mayor and police chief say they are working together to knock down those numbers.

Note: The Republican is reviewing and reporting on the recently released FBI data for a number of Pioneer Valley communities, beginning with cities in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.

Over the one-year period, the number of reported aggravated assaults — an assault and battery that causes serious bodily injury or permanent disfigurement or impairment, for example — rose from 82 to 145, a nearly 77 percent increase. Robbery also increased, from 28 to 34, as did rape, from 14 to 22.

West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt said he and police Chief Ronald Campurciani are working to address public safety issues in this city of over 28,000 residents.

"Chief Campurciani and I are always concerned about rising crime stats, but we are executing a plan that we believe will continue to make our community a safe place to live and work," Reichelt said.

That plan includes a multi-year hiring program to replace retiring officers, according to the mayor.

"Getting an officer from the interview to the patrol car is a process that takes more than a year to adequately complete," Reichelt said. "When department personnel are cut, it takes years to bring the headcount back to where it needs to be to maintain a safe community and responsive police force."

The number of officers on the police force fell from 85 in 2002 — 68 patrolmen, 11 sergeants, and six captains — to around 77 in 2015, yet calls for service have dramatically increased during this same period, according to Campurciani. In 2014, for example, the Police Department responded to 21,348 calls compared to 16,095 in 2002, a roughly 32.6 percent increase, the chief said. That means fewer officers are responding to more calls.

The good news, however, is that the Police Department recently added four new officers to its ranks, according to city officials.

West Springfield's 2015 violent crime rate of 707.4 offenses per 100,000 residents is the city's fourth-highest since 1985 and 82.6 percent higher than the national average for communities of 25,000 to 49,999 residents.

The 2015 property crime rate of 4,627.8 offenses per 100,000 residents is the ninth-lowest since 1985 and 58.9 percent higher than the national average for communities of 25,000 to 49,999 residents. The number of property crimes rose 2.9 percent from 2014. Larceny/theft rose from 962 to 1,018, while burglary fell from 236 to 214.

Reichelt says West Springfield's unique central location truly makes it the "crossroads of New England." As a result, the city has 20 hotels, two busy retail corridors — Riverdale Street and Memorial Avenue — and experiences an annual influx of over 1 million visitors to The Big E each September.

"The recent end to the housing of homeless in our hotels will provide a positive bump to our numbers in the coming years, but a raging opioid epidemic will continue to fuel shoplifting among retail areas," Reichelt predicted.

The city will also continue to expand its community policing efforts, including reopening the Main Street police substation, building a more robust traffic enforcement division, and restructuring the department's hierarchy to better respond to the needs of citizens, Reichelt said.

Lisa Ziegert was abducted on April 15, 1992 and her body was found four days later on Easter Sunday.

AGAWAM - This week new information was released about the 24-year-old unsolved slaying of Lisa Ziegert, a teacher's assistant who was abducted from a gift store, taken to a wooded area, raped and stabbed to death.

Using new techniques scientists analyzed old DNA found at the scene to come up with distinguishing features of the killer.

The 24-year-old Agawam resident and Westfield State graduate was an aspiring teacher who was working at Agawam Middle School and Brittany's Card and Gift Shoppe when she was abducted on April 15, 1992. Her body was found in the woods off Suffield Street four days later on Easter Sunday.

The crime sent a panic through the community. In the days after the crime, people lined up at the Agawam Police Department to apply for firearms permits. The City Council approved thousands of dollars for police overtime and people called in hundreds of tips.

Using a new method called DNA Phenotyping, Gulluni said the analysis shows the killer is white with light skin, has brown hair and brown or hazel eyes. He is of European descent. Although Gulluni's office released a composite sketch of what the killer may have looked like, they said they could not tell weight, height and other facial characteristics with the method.

Traditionally DNA has been used as a kind of fingerprint. A DNA sample is compared with existing samples on file to identify a suspect. Gulluni said none of the DNA in the Ziegert case matched any record on file locally or nationally.

Gulluni also announced a new tip line number. People with information can call 413-333-9148.

Here are some of the things people were Tweeting about the new information.

The truck driver was not injured in the collision.

NEWBURY, Vt. - A New Hampshire trucker hauling milk struck and killed a cow early Sunday morning.

The driver, James Aldrich, 67, of North Haverhill, was not injured in the accident but the front end of his 2015 Volvo truck was damaged. The cow was killed in the collision, Vermont State Police said.

Aldrich was driving on Route 5 shortly before 5 a.m. when the cow wandered into the road near the Four Corner Farms, police said.

He was hauling milk for Mountain Milk, a full-service hauling company, police said.

A couple from Georgia was charged in federal court last week creating a complex scheme to defraud Framingham-based Staples out of $1.4 million worth of customer loyalty rewards and product rebates.

BOSTON -- A couple from Georgia was charged in federal court last week creating a complex scheme to defraud Framingham-based Staples out of $1.4 million worth of customer loyalty rewards and product rebates.

John Douglas, 46, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud in U.S. District Court in Boston. His 41-year-old wife, Analyn Douglass was charged with conspiracy to ship stolen goods in interstate commerce. The husband and wife from Alpharetta, Georgia spell their last names differently.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts said Douglas and one of his associates created more than 1,100 Staple rewards accounts using fake names, addresses and contact information.

"He then created a computer script to query a Staples web site and seek unclaimed customer loyalty rewards for purchases that he did not make," the news release said. "The computer script made thousands of queries a day, amassing more than $889,000 worth of rewards in small increments, often less than a dollar at a time."

The couple and others involved in the scheme used the rewards like money to buy items at Staples locations throughout the southern part of the United States and along the eastern seaboard, as far as Massachusetts, authorities said.

Analyn Douglass is accused of selling much of the fraudulently obtained Staples merchandise on eBay.

Authorities further allege the couple and their associate used a similar scheme to claim more than $527,000 in cash rebates from Staples for products that they did not purchase.

Once Staples discovered the fraud, officials at the company notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney's Office. The company has cooperated with the investigation.

The event is part of a community policing effort.

WARE - Residents will have a chance to speak one-on-one with a local police officer during Coffee with a Cop Friday.

Police will hold the event from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Ware Senior Center, 1 Robbins Road.

Coffee with a Cop is an event designed to promote community policing. All residents are invited to attend to ask questions or air concerns to a town police officer.

The Berkshire Eagle reported the accidental shooting occurred on April 25 in Williamstown,

Jennifer Leigh Oprihory, National Desk 

WILLIAMSTOWN -- A Greenfield man who reportedly mistook a fellow hunter for a wild turkey and shot him in the ear last April has been fined $500.

The Berkshire Eagle reported the accidental shooting occurred on April 25 - the first day of turkey hunting season.

David Podlenski, 66, told investigators the shooting occurred as he engaged in a call-and-response with a turkey.

The victim, Michael Pontier, 50, of North Adams, found bleeding from the head, suffered serious injuries. He was taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield and transferred to Albany Medical Center.

The Eagle, citing an affidavit by state police Sgt. Thomas Provost, said Podlenski cooperated with investigators.

Podlenski admitted to sufficient facts against him and was found guilty on a single count of causing personal injury with a hunting weapon, the Eagle reported.

Judge Paul Vrabel ordered him to pay a $500 fine by Nov. 30.

A man has died following an officer-involved shooting in Lynn, officials said.

LYNN -- A man has died following an officer-involved shooting in Lynn, officials said.

The incident occurred at 300 Lynn Shore Drive, according to a statement from the office of Essex District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett.

No other injuries have been reported, said spokeswoman Carrie Kimball Monahan.

State Police officers assigned to Blodgett's office are responding to the incident.

The investigation is ongoing. No further information was immediately available.

DOA X1 Lynnshore Drive Lynn crime scene. #wcvb #boston pic.twitter.com/6B7yVzFXQn

-- Stanley Forman (@sjforman138) October 3, 2016

he Springfield City Council will consider a non-binding resolution against lifting the state's charter school cap and changes to the city's animal ordinance.

The Springfield City Council will consider a non-binding resolution against lifting the state's charter school cap at tonight's public meeting, jumping into a debate that has seen public officials and pressure groups across the state square off over the issue's upcoming ballot question.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is against raising the cap. Gov. Charlie Baker is for it. Opponents and supporters have poured more than $13 million into the campaign, with charter school advocates and operators squaring off against teachers unions over Question 2.

Now the city council is debating whether to pass a resolution opposing the cap raise. The council is opening a public speakout session at 6:30 p.m. and City Council President Michael Fenton said he expects strong opinions on both sides.

"I would just say that this is an important question affecting the City of Springfield and the Commonwealth, and I expect a lively debate," Fenton said.

Massachusetts law currently limits the number of charter schools in the state to 120, with exceptions for particularly low-performing school districts, and includes limits on charter school funding. The ballot question would allow the state to authorize 12 new charter schools per year.

Springfield has partnered charter school operators in its Empowerment Zone Partnership, a public-private collaboration which has taken over operations of nine of the city's underperforming middle schools. Those schools are still public, but have undergone changes in staffing and educational strategy.

Opponents of lifting the charter cap have argued that charter schools divert funds from public schools that need them. Supporters say charter schools increase choices for students and parents.

The City Council is also considering an amendment to the city's animal regulations, which would change rules for pet vaccinations and ban keeping animals unattended in cars.

Dogs and cats will have to be vaccinated for rabies at three months instead of six months, according to the amended ordinance. And ferrets will also have to be vaccinated -- a requirement that does not exist in current city code.

The amendment also allows a $300 fine for interfering with an animal control officer.

Fenton said the city council expects to vote on the animal measure at tonight's meeting.

Today, more than 4,200 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach.

WILBRAHAM -- Friendly's restaurants and Boys & Girls Clubs of America are teaming up to provide children at Boys & Girls Clubs in communities across the country with an engaging experience where they feel safe, are supported by caring adults, and have access to impactful programs, according to a news release.

Friendly's believes that every child deserves a great future and is proud to be aligned with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, an organization that for more than 150 years, has enabled young people who are in need achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,200 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach.

Throughout a three-year partnership, over 250 Friendly's restaurants in 14 states will host in-restaurant "Cones for Kids" fundraising campaigns, with the first launching on Saturday, October 1, just in time for eager parents planning what to hand out for this year's Halloween treats!

In exchange for a $1 donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, guests dining at their local Friendly's restaurant will receive a "Kid Card" featuring coupons good for one Free Single Cone, a sweet surprise that's sure to be a hit with neighborhood kids donning their favorite costumes.

For those who are simply "young at heart," but still wish to support Boys & Girls Clubs of America with a $1 donation, an Adult Coupon Book featuring the following four delicious offers is also available:

• $5 Off $25 Purchase
• $3 Off $15 Purchase
• Free Kids Meal With Adult Entree
• BOGO Any Size Sundae

After a local woman was killed by a neighbor's dog, Montréal passed a law prohibiting residents from adopting or buying pit bulls.

After a local woman was killed by a neighbor's dog, Montreal passed a law prohibiting residents from adopting or buying pit bulls. Current pit bull owners must undergo a criminal background check, keep their dogs muzzled, keep them on a leash less than four-feet long, and pay a $150 permit fee. Pit bulls in shelters face euthanasia. Dog owners and animal rights groups are outraged. Montreal and beyond, should pit bulls be banned? Scroll down to vote!

PERSPECTIVES

Many pit bull owners won't be able to afford the new restrictions on pit bull ownership, and the euthanizing of hundreds of homeless pit bulls has motivated activists all over the U.S. and Canada. At the time of this writing, more than 360,000 people have signed a Change.org petition demanding Montreal rescind the ban.

The Montreal pit bull ban is a horror for many sweet dogs who will die and many loving owners who will lose a family member.

-- Paula Pell (@perlapell) September 28, 2016

Many argue the ban was a hysterical response to an admittedly terrible fatal encounter between Montreal resident and a dog.

Montreal's pit bull ban: Have we forgotten about facts? - The Globe and Mail https://t.co/8Q6FFPqfaO

-- Richard Peddie (@RichardAPeddie) October 3, 2016

According to the website dogsbite.com, 860 cities regulate specific dog breeds, and 100 percent of them include pit bulls. They argue that breed-specific legislation works and reduces dog attacks on humans.

Sufficiently enforced breed-specific pit bull laws absolutely reduce damaging attacks by pit bulls. In our ongoing report, Cities with Successful Pit Bull Laws; Data Shows Breed-Specific Laws Work, we document these results in the U.S. and Canada. The most dramatic results are often seen in jurisdictions that ban pit bulls because a ban reduces the breeding and the importation of pit bulls into the community. There have been excellent results with other types of ordinances as well.

After Aurora, Colorado adopted its pit bull ban ordinance in 2005, attacks by pit bulls decreased 73% (as of March 2014). After Pawtucket, Rhode Island adopted their pit bull ban in 2004, the city released 13-years of bite data showing that in the 4-years leading up to the ban, there were 52 pit bull attacks on people. In the 10-years after the ban, there were only 13 (as of September 2013). In Toronto, after a decade long pit bull ban, pit bull attacks dropped from 168 to 13 annually.

The Montreal SPCA is already challenging the new pit bull ban in court. Activists are furious over what's called "breed-selective legislation," or laws that target specific dog breeds, when many argue it's the owners that need to be held accountable for an animal's behavior.

SPCA sues Montreal over pit bull ban https://t.co/GcbOoi0O4C

-- Animal Ark (@AnimalArkMN) October 3, 2016

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Digital, Inc. property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

Mica Alessi-Jensen died in the Sept. 25 accident

CHICOPEE - Police have identified the person killed in a head-on collision last week as a 58-year-old woman from Agawam.

Mica Alessi-Jensen, 58, died in the two-car accident on Sept. 25 that also injured the driver of the second car. Her name had not been released earlier because police had difficulty locating family members to notify them, Michael Wilk, Chicopee Police public information officer said.

The accident happened at about 5:10 p.m. on 155 Fuller Road near the St. Patrick's Cemetery.

The cause remains under investigation by the Traffic Bureau but an initial examination shows the driver of one vehicle crossed the center lane into the path of the car driven by Alessi-Jensen, he said.

"Our accident reconstruction unit is handling the investigation and charges are pending the outcome of their investigation," Wilk said.

When police arrived they immediately began providing emergency medical care to Alessi-Jensen. Emergency medical technicians arrived shortly, took over and brought her to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield by ambulance. The victim died at the hospital, Wilk said.

The driver of the second car was also brought to the hospital with leg injuries. A passenger in that car was not injured, he said.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call investigators in the Traffic Bureau at 413-594-1770.

NORTHAMPTON — With five weeks left until the Nov. 8 election, Democratic Congressman Joe Kennedy III will sweep into Northampton Thursday evening to raise money for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Kennedy will appear at a privately-hosted event for those who contribute at least $145 to the Hillary Victory Fund. Those who give at the $1,500 level will have access to...

NORTHAMPTON -- With five weeks left until the Nov. 8 election, Democratic Congressman Joe Kennedy III will sweep into Northampton Thursday evening to raise money for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

Kennedy will appear at a privately-hosted event for those who contribute at least $145 to the Hillary Victory Fund. Those who give at the $1,500 level will have access to a special host reception, according to an invitation sent to local Democrats.

Kennedy, who represents Massachusetts' fourth Congressional District, is the son of former Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II and grandson of Robert F. Kennedy. He replaced retired Congressman Barney Frank in 2013, and is currently running for a third term.

Seen within the party as a rising star, Kennedy spoke at the Democratic National Convention in July where he introduced his former law professor, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Clinton raised $154 million in September, marking her best month of the election cycle.

Around $84 million was raised for Clinton and her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, and $70 million for the Democratic party. Republican candidate Donald Trump had not yet released fundraising totals for September. Trump and the Republican National Committee raised $90 million in August.

The Hillary Victory Fund is a joint fundraising committee authorized by Hillary for America, the Democratic National Committee, and various state Democratic parties.

Those seeking information about the Northampton event can contact Augusto Goncalves at agoncalves@hilaryclinton.com or by phone at (508) 567-9288.

Members of the Holyoke Public Schools community remain troubled regarding reports of taunting and use of a racial slur against members of the Holyoke High School girls soccer team.

HOLYOKE -- Members of the Holyoke Public Schools community remain troubled regarding reports of taunting and use of a racial slur against members of the Holyoke High School girls soccer team.

The Lady Knights played against the Amherst Regional High School girls soccer team on Friday, Sept. 23. Holyoke fans say that while visitors to the Amherst campus, ARHS fans harassed Holyoke players throughout the game.

Following such reports of inappropriate behavior, Amherst school officials opened an investigation into the matter.

Amherst Regional High School Prinicipal Mark Jackson said their investigation determined that while fans behaved inappropriately, there was no evidence that fans used racial slurs during the game.

"We appreciate that Amherst has responded and completed an investigation resulting in acknowledgment that the overall behavior of Amherst fans crossed the line of good sportsmanship during a girls' soccer game," Holyoke Public Schools Receiver Stephen Zrike said Monday.

While Holyoke officials thanked Jackson for apologizing on behalf of his school community, Zrike said, "Our families and student athletes continue to express concern about fan behavior during this game and previous athletic contests in Amherst."

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, along with others, said city sports teams have faced such incidents for many years.

"As a graduate of Holyoke High School myself, and as someone who remembers similar behavior from surrounding communities when I was in high school, I take pride in knowing that our Holyoke students and athletes have always taken the high road," Morse told The Republican. 

Holyoke school officials have been in contact with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association regarding the latest reported incident and will continue to be in contact, Zrike said. 

"We are proud of the members of our girls' soccer team," Zrike said. "They have remained focused on their team goals and have positively represented the city of Holyoke. Moving forward, we hope that the attention will be placed on the talented student athletes of both Holyoke and Amherst."

The New York attorney general's office has ordered the Trump Foundation to immediately stop fundraising in the state, saying it isn't registered to do so.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- The New York attorney general's office has ordered the Trump Foundation to immediately stop fundraising in the state, saying it isn't registered to do so.

James Sheehan with the attorney general's office says failure to stop immediately and answer demands for all delinquent financial reports within 15 days "shall be deemed a continuing fraud upon the people of the state of New York."

Democratic Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has been investigating Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's foundation following media reports that foundation spending personally benefited the candidate.

The attorney general's office says the law requires a different registration than the foundation has for those that solicit more than $25,000 a year from the public.

The Trump campaign says the foundation intends to cooperate with the investigation.

There are about 35 Level 3 sex offenders living in Chicopee.

CHICOPEE - The Police Department is notifying residents that a new Level 3 sex offender has moved into the community.

The man is identified as Jose Pacheco, 50, of 20 Abby St., Chicopee Police Lt. Mark Higgins said.

Pacheco is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 167 pounds. His hair is brown and his eyes are brown.

He was convicted in 1995 of indecent assault and battery of a person aged 14 or older.

There are about 35 Level 3 sex offenders living or working in Chicopee. Level 3 offenders are those most likely to re-offend and are required to register with the local department every year.

None of the Level 3 offenders are wanted by police. It is also illegal to harass an offender, police said.

 

A woman told police her former boyfriend fired a gun in the air when he saw her with a new boyfriend, police said.

SPRINGFIELD - A Holyoke man was arrested on armed assault charges Saturday after his former girlfriend told police the man fired shots in the air and threatened to kill her when he spotted her with her current boyfriend, police said.

Oscar DepenaSpringfield Police photo 

The man, Oscar Depena, 25, of Whitney Avenue, Holyoke was charged with assault by means of dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, and threatening to commit murder, according to Sgt. John Delaney, spokesman for the Springfield Police Department.

He was arrested at his residence in Holyoke by Holyoke police after they were alerted by Springfield police, Delaney said.

Police were called to a section of Main Street in the city's South End at about 5 p.m. on Saturday for a report of shots being fired. A woman there told officers she was riding in a car with her boyfriend when Depena drove alongside their vehicle.

She told officers Depena stuck a gun out the sunroof of his car, shot in the air and threatened them, Delaney said.

Police found spent shell casings on the ground near where the woman said the incident occurred, Delaney said.

Depena was held over the weekend pending his arraignment Monday in Springfield District Court.

Information on the arraignment was not available.

The Big-E 100th anniversary celebration came to an end Sunday as thousands of visitors ignored the threat of rain and cool temperatures.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - The Big-E 100th anniversary celebration came to an end Sunday as thousands of visitors refused to be deterred by the threat of rain and cool temperatures. The 17-day celebration featured daily parades with the Budweiser Clydesdales, the Big-E circus, and the Grande Mardi Gras.

Visitors enjoyed the Swifty Swine Racing Pigs, carnival-style foods, amusement rides and games of skill and chance. The Avenue of States, which is made up of replicas of each original New England state building, was filled with craft and food items of their respective state.

Everyday activities include the Storrowtown Village Museum, which is made up of authentic 19th century buildings with volunteers dressed in period attire. Livestock demonstrations and shows were a daily ritual in the Mallery Complex with 4-H demonstrations and contests in the New England Center.

Gadgets, crafts, food demonstrations, furniture and home furnishings could be found in the Better Living Center. One-of-a-kind items like this year's butter sculpture, the Centennial Milk Wagon, located under the Mallary Rotunda, and custom cars and motorcycles were all on display free of charge.

Special state and city days were part of the 17-day celebration and The Court of Honor Stage and Xfinity Arena featured entertainment from around the county.