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First meeting of the After School Satan Club in the U.S. brings protesters

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The first official meeting of the After School Satan Club in the United States took place Wednesday at Sacramento Elementary School in Portland, drawing national members of the Satanic Temple and Catholic protestors from a group based out of Pennsylvania. Watch video

The first official meeting of the After School Satan Club in the United States took place Wednesday at Sacramento Elementary School in Portland, drawing national members of the Satanic Temple and Catholic protesters from a group based out of Pennsylvania.

"The club is here to contrast the presence of the evangelical Good News Clubs, which are here specifically to proselytize to children," said Lucien Greaves, the Satanic Temple's national co-founder, who was on hand for the first official meeting of the club, an open house for parents, students and staff. Members of the press were not allowed to attend.

The club at Sacramento Elementary School is the first in the nation, but the Satanic Temple currently has applications out to several other schools across the country.

The Satanic Temple is a national organization based in Salem, Massachusetts. Its mission, according its website, "is to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense and justice, and be directed by the human conscience to undertake noble pursuits guided by the individual will."

The organization is non-theistic and does "not promote a belief in a personal Satan."

The Good News Club is an evangelical after-school club, which, according its  website, is a Bible-based program "whose purpose is to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to establish (disciple) them in the Word of God and in a local church for Christian living."

Ron Imig, the assistant director of Child Evangelism Fellowship in Portland, which runs the Good News Clubs, said over the phone Wednesday of the After School Satan Club's first meeting, "They have that right even though we don't agree with what they're doing."

"They're operating under the Equal Access law," he added, the same rule the Good News Club operates under.

Imig said there are five Good News Clubs in Portland elementary schools but declined to say which schools they take place in.

On Tuesday night, the Satanic Temple put on a presentation at Parkrose Middle School. Though the press release from the Portland Chapter of the Satanic Temple said the Tuesday night event would be open to the community and members of the press, Fox 12 reported they were not allowed inside.

Wednesday's open house was the first official meeting of the after-school Satan club in its first location. Staff members of Sacramento Elementary School declined to speak to the press about the club but did confirm that Wednesday was an early release day, which is why the meeting of the "after-school club" happened at 11:45 a.m. Some parents said school was let out earlier than usual, giving parents time to get their children before protests.

Gallery preview Four members of a Catholic group called "America Needs Fatima," part of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, traveled to Portland to protest the club. They were joined by members of the community and a priest who happened to be in the area from Ohio.

Peter Miller, a member of America Needs Fatima and the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, said they are an "anti blasphemy" group. He explained Fatima is "an apparition of Our Lady."

The group has previously protested things like "the Jerry Springer play" and "The Testament of Mary," another play, according to Miller.

"Satanism, they're not a religion," said Jack Burnham, who was protesting with America Needs Fatima.

"People are demurring that they're some kind of religion," he added. "They're not."

When asked what defines a religion, Burnham said, "Worship of God, the one true God. That's my definition."

A member of the group, Charles Sulzen, said the goal of the protest is "stopping the worship of Satan in public areas."

"We're here to defend the rights of God against his archenemy," Burnham added.

Jex Blackmore, the Satanic Temple Detroit chapter head, who also traveled to Portland for the event said, "I think it's absurd to protest."

"We're just trying to have an open house," she added.

Finn Rezz, the co-head of the Portland chapter of the Satanic Temple, said that members of the Satanic Temple are exercising their rights.

"Every one of us standing here is American," he continued, "and these are our values."

Some parents were less than thrilled about the club and protests.

A father of a Sacramento student, Jose Delgato, said he was concerned about the Satan club.

"Everybody knows there's nothing good about a Satanic group," Delgato said. "The Devil's obviously an evil thing."

"They're trying to make it like, oh it's a positive thing but how can you feel safe or feel OK with your kids coming to school knowing that there's a Satanic group here when we all know what they're really about," he added.

David Linn, a parent of a second grader at the school, said he thinks both groups are a problem.

"I think they should all be ashamed of themselves," Linn said.

"I think this Christian group and the Satan group should not be in this elementary school," he said. "It's inappropriate."

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052
lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker


Anti-Trump demonstrators say protests just a start; many voted for Sanders, Stein, no one

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They're angry. They're afraid. They're upset that Donald Trump is going to be their next president. But ...

They're angry. They're afraid. They're upset that Donald Trump is going to be their next president.

But many of the protesters who took to the streets in cities across the country over the past week didn't cast a ballot for the candidate who could have beaten him.

Instead of voting for Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, dozens of protesters in cities from Philadelphia to Portland, Ore., said in interviews this week that they had cast ballots for Green Party candidate Jill Stein, wrote in Sen. Bernie Sanders or, in some cases, failed to vote at all. The NBC affiliate in Portland found that of more than 100 protesters arrested there last week, more than half did not vote in the state. (Clinton still won Oregon, along with most of the other states where the biggest protests have erupted.)

So rather than protesting Clinton's loss, people have cited more varied reasons for joining the protests. In addition to voicing opposition to Trump, they say they are expressing anger with the entire political system and their desire to force dramatic change on a host of social and economic fronts.

"The protesting Trump has to do with the emotion that we're all feeling," said Ashley Ember, 27, who said she wrote Sanders on her ballot in Philadelphia. If Clinton had won, Ember said, she would have protested that, too.

- - -

Since Election Day, thousands of people have taken to the streets nationwide. Demonstrations surged in the days after Trump's election, though they seem now to be ebbing. Police say the demonstrations have been largely peaceful, though there have been outbursts of violence in Portland, Oakland and Indianapolis.

The protesters have earned the ire of Trump and his surrogates, who have insulted them on television and social media, calling them paid professionals "incited by the media," jobless "crybabies," people with mental disorders and "goons."

But a week after Trump's unexpected victory, protests that appeared at first as a denunciation of the president-elect have largely given way to more diffuse expressions of frustration among America's left.

A new group calling itself Portland's Resistance published 22 demands ranging from "clean air and water" and "safe streets" to halting the construction of a local Nestle factory. In Philadelphia, a group called the Socialist Alternative convened more than 100 people for a Monday night meeting on the perils of capitalism and climate change. And in Atlanta and several other cities, anti-Trump marches shifted gears this week into protests focused on the Dakota Access oil pipeline.

"People are there for all different reasons -[there are] signs saying, 'Not my president,' but also 'Viva La Raza,' 'Black Lives Matter,' 'hella queer folks,'" said Debbie Southern, a Chicago activist who joined an anti-Trump protest on a whim and wouldn't say who she voted for.

"It's really encouraging," said Southern, 27. "Like, Whoa, we all see each other right now. We see our different struggles are linked up and connected."

Most of the protesters interviewed were in their 20s and appeared to gravitate toward far left politics. In Portland, roughly half of those arrested were 25 or younger. Here are some of their stories:

Gary Thomas, 24, Philadelphia

Gary Thomas recently lost his job as a janitor in Philadelphia. On Election Day, he said he cast his vote for Stein, though the Green Party candidate was polling in the single digits and was given little chance of victory.

Thomas, who is gay and African-American, said he could not bring himself to vote for Clinton. "She didn't represent me as a person," he said. "She didn't connect with me. Bernie Sanders did. I felt like he was speaking from his heart, and for the first time, I felt connected to politics."

The day after Trump's victory, Thomas took to the streets with a sign reading, "F-- Trump." And on Monday night, he listened as Philadelphia area socialists talked about the need for a vibrant American third party, and an upcoming march to demand a higher minimum wage.

Lamon Reccord, 17, Chicago

Lamon Reccord was too young to vote in this year's election, but that didn't stop him from protesting.

Reccord, who is black and grew up on Chicago's South Side, has been involved in voter registration drives and political activism since he was in middle school. If he could have voted, he said he probably would have chosen Stein, who he said he's "more sold on." But Reccord said he would still rather see Clinton in office than Trump, a man who, Reccord said, "promotes racism."

Last Friday, Reccord rallied his friends on Facebook, calling on them to meet outside Chicago's Trump Tower. He did the same on Monday.

"The end goal is to get Donald Trump out of office. To make sure he officially doesn't become the president of the United States of America," Reccord said. "We do not need a president who promotes racism, who inappropriately touches women. And trying to send 3 million illegal immigrants back home, I also consider racist."

Reccord said he expects Trump to push forward with the radical policy shifts he promised on the campaign trail. "Trump unleashing more racism will impact me as an activist and an organizer, but it is only going to make me more motivated to fight," he said.


Dianne Mathowetz, a retired autoworker in Atlanta, also voted for Stein. She joined an anti-Trump protest in New York last week, but felt more energized at a demonstration Monday back home in Atlanta, where about 50 people had gathered to protest the Dakota Access pipeline, a cause that Mathowetz is passionate about.

"I think the Trump election and [Native American-led protests against the pipeline at] Standing Rock has just galvanized people who are in different kinds of very important issues to come together," she said.

The crowd beside her included organizers for higher wages, Palestine solidarity activists, immigration reform advocates, antiwar activists and protesters of the death penalty.

Mitchell Davis, 28, Dallas

Mitchell Davis, a collections agent for Wells Fargo, was among the many protesters who said they did vote for Clinton. Davis said he generally identifies as a Republican but that he voted for Clinton because he strongly opposes Trump.

Speaking at a protest Monday, Davis said he viewed the demonstrations as part of a larger nationwide response to a historically unpopular new leader. He could imagine a "tipping point," he said, in which the protests might lead to Trump's impeachment or resignation. Davis said he is already making plans to travel to District of Columbia to protest on Inauguration Day.

Rick Hofsheier, 43, Portland

Rick Hofsheier, an independent voter, also cast a ballot for Clinton, though he said he wished that Sanders had been on the ballot instead.

The stay-at-home dad was among 71 people arrested during protests in Portland Saturday night; laughing, Hofsheier said he thinks he was arrested because he got too close to the riot police.

Hofsheier had only been at the protest for about half an hour, he said, taking time out from his child care duties. His participation was important, he said, because he believes the nation must send a message to Trump that there's "a good deal of America who doesn't support [his] racist, misogynist [statements]."

"There's just a vast group of people that not only oppose it, but vehemently oppose it," Hofsheier said, adding that he, too plans to protest on Inauguration Day.

James Mattox, 27, Portland

James Mattox was also arrested in Portland last week. He said he cast his vote for Stein, and would have been equally angry if Clinton won.

"No matter who won, I was going to do something," said Mattox, a community college student with a dyed red Mohawk. "I've been out protesting all summer about many different things, honestly."

Mattox said he did not believe the protests would somehow prevent Trump from taking office. "But I think it's important for people to voice their opinions about him being president because he's said some really terrible things and people are afraid."

Madrid St. Angelo, 51, Chicago

Madrid St. Angelo was among a different group of protesters, people who said they headed out simply to be with others who shared their despair.

"I could stay home and become depressed and feel hopeless," said St. Angelo, an actor and HIV activist who lives in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood. Instead, he attended multiple protest events over the weekend.

"I honestly don't know what else to do other than be a voice and a presence and look for ways to get involved."

Susan Ranft, 57, Chicago

Susan Ranft, a high school Spanish teacher in suburban Chicago, said her protest wasn't about trying to "overthrow the government."

"I understand he is our president," Ranft said. "I am trying to show people there are some really valid concerns. We have to stay on top of him because there is nothing reining him in now."

Ranft said only two things could compel her to stop protesting. First, she said, she wants to see Trump rescind his appointment of former Breitbart News chief Stephen Bannon, who called his site the voice of the alt-right, to a top White House position.

The other thing? If Trump "accepted climate change as reality."

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Even as the larger protests appeared to fizzle Wednesday, activists said they would be back in force on Inauguration Day in January. Already, some groups have begun planning marches and rallies in Washington, along with calls to occupy the Mall.

"We want the government to know that they can no longer ignore us," said Thomas, the demonstrator in Philadelphia. Under a Trump presidency, he said, "this is just a taste of things to come."

- - -

(c) 2016, The Washington Post. The following contributed to this report: Julie Tate in Washington, Leah Sottile in Portland, Mark Guarino and Kari Lydersen in Chicago, Camille Pendley in Atlanta, Bobby Allyn in Philadelphia and Joe Tone in Dallas.

1 person shot in Springfield; police investigating

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One person was shot in Springfield on Wednesday night.

SPRINGFIELD — A man was shot in Springfield on Wednesday night in the city's Six Corners neighborhood, said Captain Strempek of the Springfield Police Department.

At approximately 8:45 p.m. police were called to the corner of George Street and Maple Street for reports of multiple rounds fired.

Strempek said that the victim of the shooting was transported by ambulance to the Baystate Medical Center for treatment.

Authorities are now at the hospital attempting to talk to the victim about the shooting, Strempek said.

The victim's wounds appeared to be "non-life-threatening," Strempek said.

At the scene of the crime, officers had visibly blocked off portions of George Street and Maple Street with tape, and could be seen scouring the surrounding neighborhood for evidence.

Police don't yet have any leads on who is responsible for the shooting or what led to the violent incident.

Donald Trump starts to 'drain the swamp,' but new lobbyist ban poses hiring challenge

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President-elect Donald Trump's campaign promise to "drain the swamp" of Washington might make it difficult for him to fill all the jobs in his administration.

WASHINGTON -- President-elect Donald Trump's campaign promise to "drain the swamp" of Washington might make it difficult for him to fill all the jobs in his administration.

Trump's ethics plan would ban all executive-branch officials from lobbying for five years after leaving their government jobs -- one of several policies aimed at curbing the influence of lobbyists. His campaign released his plan about three weeks before Election Day, and "drain the swamp" quickly became a favorite rallying cry and social media hashtag.

The ban also applies to the transition team members charged with helping to find, vet and hire for the incoming Republican administration, Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said late Wednesday. Additionally, neither the transition advisers nor incoming officials are permitted to be registered federal or state lobbyists, Spicer said. He described the measures as helping to ensure people won't be able to use government service "to enrich themselves."

The Trump team did not explain how the ban would be enforced.

While the moves adhere to Trump's campaign pledge, some argue they are not without risk.

The president-elect is racing to hire some 4,000 executive-branch employees, and his ethics plan could cause some job-seekers to look elsewhere because it limits how they can earn a living after they leave the administration.

"This will have a chilling effect on his hiring, no doubt," said Paul Miller, who leads the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics. "Most people who agree to government service want to go back into the private sector. We don't want career politicians, and that's what he could end up with."

But to those who have long advocated for breaking the "Potomac fever" that befalls those who come to Washington and never leave, Trump's ban is worth the risk of losing some potential administration employees.

"Too many people go into government service as a way to punch their ticket and come out and make millions of dollars. That's both a concern and a reality," said Meredith McGehee, an executive at the government reform group Issue One.

Trump's plan makes other bold assertions, some more doable than others.

He can institute his executive-branch lobbying ban with the stroke of his pen, but measures involving Congress are trickier. Trump says he will ask Congress to institute a five-year lobbying ban for departing members and staff. That would take the approval of legislators who might be squeamish about tamping down their own future employment options.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell didn't directly answer when asked about Trump's proposed lobbying ban for those leaving the Hill. He said he wants legislators to "address the real concerns of the American people" rather than fixate on every utterance during the presidential contest.

Trump also wants to "expand the definition of lobbyist so we close all the loopholes that former government officials use by labeling themselves consultants and advisers when we all know they are lobbyists."

That's reasonable, McGehee said, but difficult. Increasingly, those employed by the influence industry call themselves "consultants" or "strategists." In fact, the number of registered lobbyists in Washington has dropped to fewer than 10,000 from 15,000 a decade ago, likely due to this rebranding effort.

Miller and other lobbying advocates also agree registration should be more expansive.

Yet 2011 legislation to do just that hasn't moved forward. That could be a heavy lift for Trump. If it's too onerous, he could pare back his goals and include a more expansive lobbying definition that would only apply to the administration.

It's also unclear how many of the thousands of people Trump is about to hire would be subject to his ban. His proposal says "all executive-branch officials," but in practice he may be referring only to Cabinet members and high-level White House officials.

Washington insiders are getting mixed signals from Trump.

His original transition team, assembled under New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, was packed with lobbyists and interest advocates. In recent days, Trump put Vice President-elect Mike Pence in charge of transition, and he is changing some of the people who are involved.

Pence is "making good on President-elect Trump's promise that we're not going to have any lobbyists involved with the transition efforts," Trump spokesman Jason Miller said Wednesday. "And this is, when we talk about draining the swamp, this is one of the first steps. And so, the bottom line is, we're going to get the transition team where we need it to be."

In a "60 Minutes" interview that aired Sunday, Trump said he'd had no choice but to initially rely on lobbyists in Washington because "the whole place is one big lobbyist." He vowed to "phase that out."

His White House predecessors have made similar promises.

On the campaign trail in 2007, Barack Obama frequently condemned the "revolving door" of Washington in terms strikingly similar to Trump.

Obama made bold promises before his first election, yet government influencers remained entrenched. Still, he won re-election after a second campaign that included almost no talk about the revolving door.

"Drain the swamp. Stop the revolving door. These are great things to say to get elected," said Howard Marlowe, president of Warwick Group Consultants, and a longtime advocate for fellow lobbyists. "After you get elected, you find a way to quietly push it aside."

Springfield to host community conversation about climate change

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The Springfield Climate Justice Coalition will host an event geared towards discussing the dangers of climate change on Thursday.

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Climate Justice Coalition (SCJC) is hosting a dinner and community conversation about climate change in the city on Thursday.

The SCJC is an alliance of 32 different community organization dedicated to protecting the city's residents from the negative effects of climate change.

The discussion is designed to allow the city's residents to share their input about the dangers that climate change poses to the surrounding community.

"We want to make sure that the needs of all Springfield neighborhoods are represented in this plan, and that the communities most affected by the public health impacts
of pollution and rising temperatures have their voices heard," the coalition said in a statement about the event.

All community members are welcomed to join in the conversation.

The event will take place at the Orchard Covenant Church at 95 Berkshire Street between 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. In addition to dinner, childcare and translation services will also be available at the event.

 

Powerball winning numbers: Did you win Wednesday's $294.2 million jackpot?

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Here are the winning numbers in Wednesday's Powerball drawing.

What would you do if you won close to $300 million?

Thanks to a growing jackpot, that could be the happy question facing a lucky someone who plunked down $2 this week for a Powerball ticket.

powerballlogo.jpg

Here are Wednesday's winning numbers:

28-41-61-63-65, Powerball: 07, PowerPlay: 2X

The estimated jackpot is $294.2 million. The lump sum payment before taxes will be more than $185 million.

Powerball is held in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

A $2 ticket gives you a one in 292.2 million chance at joining the hall of Powerball champions.

The drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Deadline to purchase tickets is 9:45 p.m.

Oregon man who died in Yellowstone hot spring was trying to find a place for a hot soak

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The Portland tourist slipped into a deadly hot spring after allegedly looking for a place to soak.

Details have emerged about the Portland man who died in a Yellowstone hot spring in June, who was allegedly looking to "hot pot" in the park. 

Colin Nathaniel Scott, a 23-year-old Portland resident, and his sister walked about 225 yards off the boardwalk near Pork Chop Geyser at the Norris Geyser Basin, looking for a place to "hot pot" or soak in an extremely hot natural spring. 

That's according to a final report on the incident by Yellowstone National Park officials, who released the information in response to a Freedom of Information Request filed by KULR-8, a news station based in Billings, Montana. 

While Scott was bending over to check the temperature of a spring, according to the report, he slipped and fell in, succumbing quickly to the boiling acidic water.

"There's a closure in place to keep people from doing that for their own safety," Lorant Veress, deputy chief ranger, told KULR. "It's a very unforgiving environment."

Scott's sister recorded the accident on her cell phone, officials wrote in the report, but the park has refused to release that video to the public.

Scott was not the first, and won't likely be the last victim of Yellowstone's gorgeous but dangerous geothermal features. The hot springs have claimed 22 lives since 1890, according to the park, far more than have been killed by grizzly bears or lightning strikes.

The deadly power within Yellowstone's colorful hot springs

The danger lies in the heat. The pools can reach temperatures of up to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, enough to cause third-degree burns in seconds. Those who have survived a dip in a Yellowstone hot spring have come out with skin peeling, their eyes white and blinded from the heat.

Warning signs have been posted in the park since at least 1888, but they have been regularly ignored for generations. Boarded walkways came to the park in the 1960s, but wandering off-trail persisted. Today, Yellowstone officials can rely on social media to spread news of the dangers faster and farther than ever, though that same medium can just as easily be used to promote reckless behavior.

Earlier this year, a group of young Canadian tourists invoked outrage after walking onto the Grand Prismatic Spring at Yellowstone, filming their exploits for online adventure series "High on Life." After a swift reprimand from both park officials and the public, the group removed all photos and videos of their excursion, offering an apology instead.

Scott had just graduated from Pacific University with a bachelor's degree in psychology. He was one of two students named as outstanding seniors in psychology, university spokesman Joe Lang told the Associated Press.

He also worked at the Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, volunteering at the education center for about 20 months as part of a work-study program. Mary Loftin, a manager at the Hillsboro parks and recreation department, remembered him as a "bright spirit."

--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

Chicopee couple accused of robbing neighborhood store allegedly admit heroin addiction

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Both are being held on $10,000 cash bail after their arraignment in Chicopee District Court.

CHICOPEE -- A man and a woman accused of robbing their neighborhood convenience store twice in two weeks are each being held in jail on $10,000 cash bail.

John J. Martino, 36, and Colleen C. Martino, 35, both of 24 Willwood St., were arraigned in Chicopee District Court on Wednesday. Innocent pleas were entered for each of them and Judge Bethzaida Sanabria-Vega set bail at $10,000 cash or $100,000 bond. Both cases are continued until Dec. 14.

John Martino was charged with two counts of armed robbery after allegedly robbing the Quic Pick Store, 542 Chicopee St., on Oct. 30 and returning on Nov. 11 to rob it again. His wife faces counts of armed robbery for the first incident and accessory after the fact for the second.

After being arrested, John Martino allegedly told Chicopee Police Detective Michael Dion that they used the money from both crimes to purchase heroin, court records said.

"Mr. Martino disclosed to me his wife and himself have a very bad heroin drug habit," Dion said in records. "They are spending large sums of money to purchase this drug."

John Martino had worked at the Chicopee Department of Public Works but is currently unemployed, court records said.

In the first robbery the couple allegedly entered the store at about 10 p.m. Oct. 30. The woman threatened the clerk with what turned out to be the sharp ends of dog clippers and demanded money while the man walked around the store, police and court records said.

About two weeks later, the man entered the store alone at about 7:45 p.m., threatened the clerk with a large kitchen knife and demanded money, police and court records said.

The store owner said he was robbed of $763, according to court records, but it was unclear if that amount was stolen in one of the crimes or that was the total taken in the two robberies.

After the robberies, the clerk and store owner said both had been customers in the store before. They had casual conversations with them but did not know their names, court records said.

Colleen Martino was arrested on a warrant at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday after she left their house to go to a nearby gas station. Police then went to the couple's home with arrest and search warrants and apprehended John Martino, according to court records.

The couple allegedly told police Colleen Martino did not know about the second robbery until her husband told her after it occurred, court records said.


Capt. Robert J. Alberti confirmed as Easthampton's new police chief

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The former detective has investigated complex narcotics cases with the DEA and is a member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in Springfield.

EASTHAMPTON -- A veteran of the Easthampton Police Department has been named as its new chief.

Capt. Robert J. Alberti, 43, won unanimous approval from the City Council Wednesday night. Earlier in the evening, Alberti was interviewed at length by the council's appointments subcommittee.

Both meetings were heavily attended by police officers and other law enforcement personnel, who came out to support Alberti, who was nominated for the top position by Mayor Karen Cadieux.

"I felt very humbled," Alberti told The Republican. "And I want to emphasize that this is not about me. This is about continuing the legacy of Chief McMahon, and doing everything I can to support the men and women of this organization."

Alberti joined the Easthampton force 18 years ago, has been second in command for three years, and served as interim chief since Oct. 27, when former Chief Bruce McMahon retired after 37 years on the job.

A native of the area, Alberti graduated from Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in 1990, and was employed at Rock Valley Tool, a local machine shop, while working part-time for local police departments. He was hired full-time by Easthampton in 2002.

Alberti worked his way through the ranks. He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Curry College in 2003, was promoted to detective in 2004, named captain in 2013, and a year later earned a master's degree in criminal justice.

For six years he served as Easthampton agent for the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in Springfield, where he investigated complicated narcotics cases crossing multiple jurisdictions. He also served on the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in Springfield.

In 2011, he was central to a federal investigation that led to the bust of a high-volume cocaine ring that extended from Mexico and Texas to Easthampton. Joaquin "Chito" Carrillo and Pablo "Pete" Drullard were sentenced to prison in 2013.

In 2015, Alberti was accepted into the 10-week FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He maintains an FBI top secret clearance for counterterrorism and international terrorism investigations.

In a telephone interview Thursday, Alberti said he believed in a policing model that builds relationships with the community. "We rely upon the public," he said. "If you see a wrong, let us know, and we will work very hard to right it."

He said he fielded some tough questions from the appointments subcommittee, some of which had to do with the appropriate law enforcement response to incidents that appear to target minority groups.

"Hate speech that targets people based upon their race, creed, gender or other category is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Alberti said. "We will do whatever it takes to investigate such incidents and bring the culprits to justice."

In the days surrounding the Nov. 8 election, racist and anti-Semitic graffiti appeared on the cliffs of nearby Mount Tom, and Alberti and Cadieux were among a group of volunteers to hike up the mountain and remove the graffiti by hand. 

Alberti noted that even though the defacement occurred on a part of the mountain that lies within the city of Holyoke, the Mount Tom range, with its red cliffs, is emblematic of Easthampton.

"The mountain range is actually a part of our city seal," he said. "And it's part of our police department shoulder patch. Even though it's not our property, we treat it as if it's our own front yard."

He said he was moved by the many law enforcement personnel who attended Wednesday's City Council meeting, including local police, state police, members of the FBI and the DEA.

Alberti was one of three applicants for the position. Personnel director Jane Sakiewicz has declined to release the names the other two candidates. Under the city charter, the police chief is chosen by the mayor with ratification by the City Council.

18-year-old man accused of attempting to kidnap teen girl on Cape Cod

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An 18-year-old man from Buzzards Bay is facing attempted kidnapping charges after police said he grabbed a 14-year-old girl from behind and threw her to the ground last week.

BOURNE -- An 18-year-old man from Buzzards Bay is facing attempted kidnapping charges after police said he grabbed a 14-year-old girl from behind and threw her to the ground last week.

The girl, according to Bourne Police, was walking on Puritan Road around 6:50 a.m. on Nov. 10 when she was assaulted. She was heading toward her bus stop at the time.

Detectives identified John F. Allen, a resident of Puritan Road, as the suspect.

Authorities presented evidence to a clerk magistrate in Falmouth District Court and probable cause was found to issue an arrest warrant. Allen was taken into custody Thursday afternoon.

Allen is being held at the Bourne Police Station and will be arraigned on Friday, according to police. Allen is facing charges of attempted aggravated kidnapping, strangulation and assault and battery.

Police said there is no indication that other children were or are at risk in town.

 

Killington receives final OK to host Womens World Cup races

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The races will be held on Nov. 26 and 27.

KILLINGTON, Vt. - Despite a week of warm temperatures, the Killington Ski Area has made enough snow to receive a final approval to host the Women's World Cup race over the Thanksgiving weekend.

After examining the snow conditions at the area, the International Ski Federation officially sent notification to Killington officials granting permission for the area to host for the slalom and giant slalom races.

"This is to inform you that the Audi FIS Ski World Cup races in Killington (USA) are confirmed following the official snow control from today, 17th November, 2016," the notice read.

Killington officials developed a special team of snowmakers to focus just on preparing the Superstar trail for the about 90 racers from across the world will compete.

The team ran snowguns any time temperatures dropped to 27 degrees to build up as much snow as possible. They made snow even if there was a short temperature window to do so and in some cases made snow only on the top of the mountain when temperatures were lower due to the elevation.

Over the summer Killington also upgraded its already-powerful snowmaking system with the most energy-efficient equipment available and added snowguns on both sides of the trail, which is unusual.

"This positive snow control news from FIS reinforces what we already knew - that Killington has ample snow on Superstar to host the world's fastest female ski racers, and our mountain operations team has the knowledge and horsepower to make more snow in the early season than any other ski area in the country," Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, said.

The weather is expected to turn colder in this upcoming week. The National Weather Service is predicting lows in the 20s starting Sunday and snow flurries off and on in the upcoming week.

"Very cold temps are coming in this weekend and will remain throughout the week, so we are very excited about expanding open terrain for the public and adding beginner and intermediate routes to multiple base areas now that most of the World Cup snow production is done, Michael Joseph,communications and public relations director for Killington, said.

Since snowmaking on Superstar is mostly completed, technicians now plan to pump snow on the Skye Lark trail to give racers a training run. It will also be making snow on other areas, including Snowshed and Ramshed for public use.

Killington opened with limited terrain on Oct. 25 for skiing and riding. There continues to be some walking required for people who do want to get in some early skiing.

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MGM Springfield president Mike Mathis takes Massachusetts Convention Center Authority members on casino site tour (Photos, Video)

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Representatives from the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority had a chance for an "inside the ropes" tour of the MGM Springfield casino project Thursday afternoon. Watch video

Representatives from the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority had a chance for an "inside the ropes" tour of the MGM Springfield casino project Thursday afternoon.

Following a luncheon and "casual conversation" about economic development and future opportunities in downtown Springfield, MGM president Mike Mathis led the group on a tour of the project, showcasing the progress that has been made.

MGM's executive director of design and construction, Jason Rosewell, showed visitors renderings of the project and matched them to views the group witnessed on their walk to the site.

Emphasizing the "facadectomies" that MGM has done, Rosewell was eager to pass on the historical significance of architecture that MGM is working to incorporate into the project.

For MGM president Mike Mathis, being able to feel the "geometry of the resort" is something he is very excited about.

"The parking garage is very vertical, and the milestone for us is the erection of steel in the casino and hotel podium," he said.


State police investigating bomb threat at Barnes airport in Westfield

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A Massachusetts State Police K-9 team has been dispatched to Barnes Municipal Airport to aid in the search of the facility after a bomb threat was received, according to police.

An update to this story was posted at 7:24 p.m. Thursday

WESTFIELD -- A Massachusetts State Police K-9 team has been dispatched to Barnes Municipal Airport to aid in the search of the facility after a bomb threat was received, according to police.

State police announced just after 5 p.m. that a search is underway of a building at the airport.

It is not clear which part of the airport is being searched, or if it is having any impact on operations for either the municipal portion of the airport or the adjoining Air National Guard base.

This is a developing story. More information will be posted as it is known.

Gun threats, hospital lockdown net Pittsfield man two years in prison

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A judge handed a two-year prison sentence to a 21-year-old who in May fired a shot in the air while threatening three people then fled into a Berkshire Medical Center building, causing the hospital to go into lockdown.

PITTSFIELD -- A judge handed a two-year prison sentence to a 21-year-old who in May fired a shot in the air while threatening three people before fleeing into a Berkshire Medical Center building, causing the hospital to go into lockdown.

Dylan Ducharme arrived on Hull Avenue in Pittsfield on May 14 looking to confront a man who was dating an ex-girlfriend.

During the ensuing altercation, Ducharme slapped and pushed the woman, then leveled a handgun at three people -- one of them the women's father -- who attempted to intervene.

Police say Ducharme fired a warning shot into the air as he walked away on foot, slipping into the nearby Berkshire Medical Center Medical Arts Complex.

Hospital security immediately put all facilities into lockdown when witnesses reported Ducharme's whereabouts.

"Cops came flying in with their guns out and dogs right beside them," Evelyn Thomas, a dialysis patient, told a reporter who was on the scene. "We learned a little bit later that there was a shooter in the hospital."

According to police reports, Ducharme later threw the weapon in a swamp near Wahconah Park. Pittsfield Police Department arrested Ducharme shortly after after receiving intelligence of a vehicle he would be traveling in, which they located and stopped on Second Street.

Ducharme will serve the sentence at Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction after Judge John Agostini ordered the sentence in Berkshire Superior Court on Thursday morning.

Upon release, Ducharme will also serve two years probation. 

Bolstered by volunteers 'trying to start a movement,' Springfield businesses distribute over 200 turkeys for Thanksgiving

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More than 260 turkeys were purchased with donations from Club Zone owner Paul Ramesh and city attorney Roy H. Anderson, as well as 350 Grill Steak House, Adolfo's Restaurant, Fat Cat Bar and Grill, Shadow Lounge and Glo Ultra Lounge, all on Worthington Street. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD -- Frozen turkeys lined tables and filled boxes in the parking lot of 1600 Main St. on Thursday afternoon as more than 200 people picked up their free bird for Thanksgiving.

"We have been doing this since 1998, and we plan on continuing to do it every year," said Paul Ramesh, owner of Club Zone in downtown Springfield.

More than 260 turkeys were purchased with donations from Ramesh and city attorney Roy H. Anderson, as well as 350 Grill Steak House, Adolfo's Restaurant, Fat Cat Bar and Grill, Shadow Lounge and Glo Ultra Lounge, all on Worthington Street.

All of the business owners are part of the E3 business community and meet regularly to find ways to reduce violence in and around their establishments as well as giving back to the community they serve.

"A big part of it is about giving back, because we are a part of this neighborhood," Ramesh said.

There were so many turkeys purchased this year that several dozen went to local churches, including Restoration Worship Center and the Pentecostal Christian Church on Chestnut Street. Some turkeys were sent to churches in Holyoke.

"I hope every year we will be able to purchase and donate as many or more," Ramesh said.

Loading and unloading hundreds of frozen turkeys and passing them out can be a labor-intensive and time-consuming process, but Ramesh got a lot of help from members of Vanguard, a coalition of organizations throughout New England working to get youth off the street and doing productive work.

Hector Torres, who registered people as they came to pick up their turkey, is a member of Peoples Nation, one of the subgroups that makes up the Vanguard Coalition.

"We are here doing positive things for the community and hope that younger kids will see that and want to make some changes in their life. A lot of us have been to jail, we've been in the street, but we have learned form our past and are now using that to help others," he said.

Francisco Melendez, a member of 45G13, another Vanguard coalition group based in Hartford, Connecticut, said his group came out because volunteering is just one way to curb the violence that affects major cities.

"These positive events, they not only affect people in Springfield, but us too even out in Hartford. We are trying to start a movement in all of New England, not just one particular city," he said. "We want to see young people doing productive things, positive things with their lives. We want to take them in a different direction toward things that will help them be better people and be a part of their community."

The group said they will be looking to partner with organizations in the area to donate their time this holiday season and in the coming year.


Speaker Robert DeLeo taking 'wait and see' approach to Trump presidency

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DeLeo said he will speak out if Donald Trump does something that is counter to Massachusetts' interests.

BOSTON -- Like many state officials, Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, is leery about prejudging the presidency of Republican Donald Trump.

"I think it's almost a wait-and-see at this point," DeLeo told reporters Thursday.

But, DeLeo said, "When the president-elect takes a position which I feel is counter to the best interests of the people of the commonwealth, then I'm going to be one of the first people to let him and his administration know that I feel it's the wrong way to go."

DeLeo supported Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. But like many others in state who government who did not support Trump -- including Republican Gov. Charlie Baker -- he said he will wait to see what Trump actually does once he fills out his staff and takes office.

DeLeo did voice concerns about the effect a Republican-sponsored budget would have on federal funding for Massachusetts. "Obviously, that's something we're very concerned about," DeLeo said.

But DeLeo also noted that, over the past year, there has been "major paralysis in Washington" with nothing getting done. DeLeo said he has some hope that, with Republicans controlling the presidency, Senate and House and working together, Congress will be able to pass some laws -- for example, providing funding for education and transportation. But, he added, "As of right now I'm not too sure if I'm overly optimistic about that."

Springfield police seek public's help locating elderly man who wandered off from Upper Hill home

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Titus Barklow, 81, has been missing since around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, said Springfield police spokesman Sgt. John Delaney.


SPRINGFIELD - Police are seeking the public's assitance in finding an elderly man who is missing after apparently wandering off from his home in the Carnavon Circle area of Old Hill.

Titus Barklow, 81, has been missing since around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, said Springfield police spokesman Sgt. John Delaney.

He is described as black, 6 feet, 2 inches tall and around 180 pounds. When last seen, he was wearing a navy blue sweat suit, and either wearing or carrying a black windbreaker jacket. He also may be wearing a blue hat.

Barklow has medical issues that require attention, Delaney said.

Anyone with information about where he is should call the Springfield police dispatch at 413-782-6302.

Northwestern DA David Sullivan condemns hate-filled graffiti on Mount Tom, explains what constitutes 'hate crime'

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Holyoke and Easthampton police are asking members of the community to submit tips.

NORTHAMPTON -- Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan on Thursday condemned racist and anti-Semitic graffiti that appeared on Mount Tom near the Easthampton-Holyoke line days before the national election.

The graffiti contained a swastika, words saying "gas the Jews," "Trump 2016," and a racist reference to African-Americans. Volunteers have since removed the offensive words and symbols.

"The defacing of state conservation property with racist and anti-Semitic graffiti is deplorable," Sullivan said in a statement. "Every citizen should be able to enjoy the Mount Tom Reservation without fear of such offensive vandalism."

Sullivan also explained what constitutes a "hate crime." He said in order for a District Attorney to prosecute under the state's hate crime law, three factors must be present:

* An underlying criminal offense: for example, where the offender committed an assault or a battery upon the victim or damaged the victim's property.

* Intent: the offender must have acted with the intent to intimidate the victim.

* Protected status: the offender must have targeted the victim, in whole or in part, because of the victim's race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

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"The determination of whether a particular incident is a hate crime requires a careful evaluation of the facts and evidence to determine the motive of the perpetrator, and whether his or her actions were motivated in whole, or in part, by any form of bias," said Sullivan.

Even if an incident does not qualify under the hate crime statute, it may still qualify as another crime or civil infraction, he said.

The Massachusetts Civil Rights Act "protects the right to use public parks and transportation, walk on public streets, attend school, live peacefully, and enjoy other basic rights," he added.

Sullivan said residents who have received or witnessed bias-motivated threats, harassment or intimidation should immediately report the incident to local police and call a new hotline established by state Attorney General Maura Healey. The hotline number is 1-800-994-3228.

Healey launched the hotline following statewide reports of harassment and intimidation of racial, ethnic and religious minorities, women, LGBT individuals and immigrants since election day.

Sullivan condemned all other criminal acts targeting minorities and said the national Anti-Defamation League is closely monitoring an apparent increase in bias-motivated incidents. Residents may report such incidents on the ADL's website,  or by using the Twitter hashtag #ExposeHate.

As for the graffiti, Sullivan said because the incident took place within Mount Tom Reservation, a state park, the investigation falls under the purview of Massachusetts Environmental Police.

However, the graffiti occurred on mountaintop property owned by Holyoke Gas & Electric, said a spokesman for the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation.

And even though the incident has attracted plenty of social media attention in Easthampton, the painted rocks may actually be in Holyoke.

Detectives with Easthampton and Holyoke police departments said that regardless of jurisdiction, anyone with information about the graffiti should call local police or submit an anonymous tip.

"We're relying upon the community," said Holyoke Police Lt. Jim Albert. "This is not about graffiti. It's about hateful words that target specific groups of people. This is something that we will not tolerate."

"Somebody out there knows something, or somebody saw something," said Easthampton Police Detective Dennis Scribner. "We're asking people to step forward."

The Holyoke police anonymous tip line is (413) 322-6900, and anyone may call (413) 322-6940 to speak with a detective. Easthampton police detectives may be reached at (413) 527-1212. Residents may also submit an anonymous tip through the Easthampton police department's website.

Albert said Holyoke police were first notified of the hateful speech and symbols on Nov. 3 and 4, days before the Nov. 8 election. 

Local religious leaders plan an interfaith blessing on the mountaintop on Saturday, Nov. 19 at noon. Participants are asked to gather at Mt. Joe to Go coffee on Rt. 141 at 11:15 a.m.

State police: Bomb threat 'unfounded' at Barnes Airport

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The search was discontinued shortly after 6 p.m. It lasted a little more than an hour.

This is an update of a story that was posted at 5:19 p.m. Thursday

WESTFIELD - Barnes Municipal Airport in Westfield is returning to normal Thursday after Massachusetts State Police determined a reported bomb threat at the airport was unfounded.

State police announced Thursday night that members of the bomb squad and K-9 teams have searched the airport and its buildings and found nothing that could be considered an explosive.

The search was discontinued shortly after 6 p.m. It lasted a little more than an hour.

As Sal DiMasi gets early release, state prisoners have no such opportunities

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DiMasi's wife, Deborah DiMasi, said she will continue to fight for a state compassionate release policy.

While former Massachusetts House Speaker Sal DiMasi will be released from federal prison early, his wife said she will continue to fight for the same rights to be granted to prisoners in the state system.

"We're talking about human beings, and they don't deserve to be treated the way they're being treated," Deborah DiMasi said on the WGBH show "Greater Boston" with host Jim Braude Thursday evening. "You can talk about it from a taxpayer point of view. I'm looking at it from a human being and their families (point of view)."

Sal DiMasi, 71, has served five years of an eight-year sentence for corruption for accepting bribes in exchange for steering state contracts to the software company Cognos. U.S. District Court Judge Mark Wolf on Thursday granted his motion for compassionate release.

DiMasi has survived two kinds of cancer while in jail. Although his cancer is in remission, radiation caused his throat to narrow and he has difficulty swallowing.

DiMasi's release was possible because he is in the federal prison system. Massachusetts is one of a minority of states that do not have a compassionate release policy for seriously ill prisoners.

Previously, the Massachusetts Senate passed a compassionate release bill. But it was never taken up by the House.

Current House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, told reporters on Thursday that he was pleased to see the judge's decision granting DiMasi early release. But he was noncommittal about passing a similar bill at the state level. DeLeo said a compassionate release bill remains in a legislative committee, and he is waiting to hear what committee members recommend. Although nothing will happen until the new legislative session begins in January, and any bills left in committees will die at that point, a new compassionate release bill could be introduced and taken up.

"I think under similar circumstances in terms of health concerns and whatnot, I think that would be something we have to take a close look at," DeLeo said.

Gov. Charlie Baker has said he is open to discussing the idea.

Deborah DiMasi has been an advocate for a state compassionate release bill because of her husband. "I'm going to continue to fight," DiMasi said on WGBH.

DiMasi said she told her husband in an email Thursday morning that she was coming to pick him up on Tuesday, which is the day the judge ordered him released. Her husband saw the email in the afternoon and called her. "It was unbelievable. He was absolutely stunned," DiMasi said.

DiMasi said she last saw her husband, who is in prison in North Carolina, in July.

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