Five dogs, one chameleon, one cat and a turtle have been found at the site of the fire in Holyoke that on New Year's Day left three people dead, with the pets either returned to owners or in process of getting reunited, the city's animal control officer said Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. Watch video

HOLYOKE -- The back of a helmeted Holyoke firefighter is seen walking through rooms and what used to be hallways sloshing through water that shouldn't have been there.

The first look at the destroyed insides of what remained of the five-story apartment building at 106 North East St. where a New Year's Day fire killed three people showed floors messy with debris and pieces of homes destroyed in the blaze that displaced 25 families.

The video shows what looks like a blue cat litter box and moving-water sounds as the firefighter and animal control officer Erick Velez moved through rooms and halls. Velez shot the video Tuesday.

Five dogs, one chameleon, one cat and a turtle have been found. The pets either have been returned to owners or contacts to accomplish reunions are in process, Velez said.

The remains of two dogs, a cat and a guinea pig also were recovered and are being returned to owners, he said.

"It's been emotionally and physically draining just having to work with so many people, so many displaced people and animals," Velez said.

Erick Velez, Holyoke, Massachusetts animal control officer, left, and Andres Villada, aide to Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse, right, participated on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 in the second day of recovery efforts established to help tenants of the 106 North East St. building destroyed by fire on New Year's Day. Three people died in the fire. The recovery event was held at the War Memorial, 310 Appleton St.MIKE PLAISANCE / THE REPUBLICAN 

"I really hope that more (pets) made it out and more hopeful that maybe we'll keep getting calls for strays in the upcoming days and weeks," he said.

The 112-year-old, 95-room building was mostly demolished as of Thursday. The cause of the fire was an electrical problem at a wall outlet in a third-floor apartment living room, State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey said Wednesday.

The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, the Massachusetts State Police, Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni's office and the city Fire and Police departments worked on the investigation.

Gulluni said at a morning press conference on Monday that it had been determined by that point that the probe wasn't a criminal investigation.

Faulty alarm system, lack of sprinkler added to deadly Holyoke fire caused by electrical problem: officials

Maria Cartagena, 48, and Jorge Munoz, 55, both of Holyoke, and Trevor R. Wadleigh, 34, of Easthampton, were killed as a result of the fire at 106 North East St., Gulluni's office has said.

Long-term housing for most of families who lost homes in the fire has been found. Furniture collections and other forms of help will continue, Mayor Alex B. Morse said.

The Holyoke Mayor's Fire Relief Fund had raised more than $55,000 toward a $100,000 goal as of Thursday since Morse established the campaign online at gofundme.com on Sunday.

Reuniting owners with pets after the fire is part of the city's effort to help them restore their lives, Morse said.

"We were happy to see that five live dogs have been reconnected with their owners, and one chameleon. Unfortunately, several dogs and cats didn't survive the fire," he said.

Availability of grief counselors is among steps the city has taken to help tenants affected by the fire, and such steps will continue, he said.

"We're in this for the long haul and we want to continue helping them get their life back together," he said.

Velez said most of the animals were found roaming on North East Street. Leashes, crates and nets are among tools used in such cases to coax and capture pets. Those returned to owners didn't appear to be injured, he said.

The dogs included a Pug, a tan chihuahua, a brown chihuahua and a white terrier mix, he said.

A cat that Velez found near the gutted building turned out to have been implanted with a locator microchip and plans are in the works to return the cat to a Hadley home it disappeared from a few years ago, he said.

The dead animals were found inside on the first and second floors, he said.

Those still seeking lost pets from the fire can 413-781-1484 or Holyoke police at 413-322-6900, he said.

"On a more personal note, I'd like to point out how proud I am of all the Holyoke city officials, Holyoke fire, Holyoke police, any city personnel, volunteers, Thomas J O'Connor animal control and the neighborhoods from within the city as well as all over the county who came together to help those in need, those who lost loved ones, pets, belongings etc., to try to make this extremely tough time for everyone a bit less difficult," Velez said.

"As I said before these past few days have been physically and emotionally draining, but Holyoke continues to strive for better," he said.

'We got a lot of people trapped': Audio of initial response to fatal New Year's Day fire in Holyoke

Desmarais was promoted to provisional chief in July 2015. Watch video

CHICOPEE - On his 30th anniversary of serving as a firefighter and on his mother's birthday, Dean Desmarais was sworn in as permanent fire chief and officially put in charge of overseeing the department of about 100 firefighters.

Desmarais had been promoted to provisional fire chief in July 2015 after Chief Stephen Burkott retired. He was named permanent chief after an enhanced interview process was conducted by an outside firm, Mayor Richard J. Kos said.

Before Desmarais took the oath of office, Kos told the audience that filled the City Hall Council Chambers he was confident that the leadership in the Fire Department was sound and Desmarais would be ready to handle the combination of ensuring the public was safe, dealing with day-to-day administration and capital improvement needs while helping move the department forward.

"Leadership is important in all departments, especially public safety. I am pleased to appoint Dean Desmarais as the fire chief for the city of Chicopee as he has demonstrated a strong leadership in his time working as provisional fire chief," Kos said.

After taking the oath of office, Desmarais thanked his family, singling out his mother and two children. He teared up a little when thanking his wife, Marie Desmarais, for all of her support over the years.

"I am very proud to serve the city of Chicopee and I will do so to the best of my ability," he said.

He told the audience that he has always felt firefighting is one of the most noble professions and he said he is honored to be granted the opportunity to be in charge of that part of public safety for the city.

He thanked the numerous members of the Fire Department who attended the event. He also recognized Police Chief William Jebb, saying he hopes to continue the partnership the two have built over the past 18 months.

"I look forward to working with you to continue to enhance public safety," he said.

At least a half-dozen city councilors, including retired firefighter Gerard Roy, and many city employees attended the ceremony to wish Desmarais well.

Also attending the event was Amherst Fire Chief Tim Nelson, who is a longtime friend and high school classmate, bringing one of the lighter moments to the ceremony.

"We did alright for a couple of Comp. kids," Desmarais said, referring to their alma mater, Comprehensive High School.

He also thanked Burkott for promoting him to various positions and giving him the responsibilities that prepared him for the job of fire chief.

A police K-9 helped Troopers locate a stolen vehicle suspect on Tuesday.

BOSTON — K-9 "Tippett" assisted State Troopers in apprehending a stolen motor vehicle suspect in South Boston on Tuesday, according to Massachusetts State Police.

At roughly 3 a.m. on Tuesday, a State Trooper working in South Boston attempted to pull over a stolen vehicle. However, after the vehicle had stopped, its two occupants jumped out and fled, according to police.

The Trooper proceeded to chase the suspects on foot but ended up losing sight of them.

It was at this point that K-9 "Tippett" was called in to assist Troopers in locating the two suspects.

After acquiring a scent, the K-9 tracked towards a nearby backyard fence, where Troopers found foot prints in the mulch surrounding the fence.

Proceeding to the adjacent street, Tippet acquired a new scent and tracked through another yard, across a street, and stopped in front of a dumpster where he gave off a "proximity alert" by barking and jumping.

One of the suspects was discovered inside of the dumpster and subsequently arrested. The second suspect is still missing and is wanted.

State Police Colonel Richard D. McKeon said at a press conference on Thursday night that escaped fugitive James Morales scaled two fences before his capture.

MEDFORD, Mass. -- State Police Col. Richard D. McKeon said at a press conference on Thursday night that escaped fugitive James Morales scaled two fences before his capture.

Melissa Hanson | mhanson@masslive.com 

Morales had just unsuccessfully tried to rob his second bank of the day when Trooper Joseph Merrick saw him on Broadway.

Merrick followed Morales, who immediately broke into a run heading toward Fellsway West, McKeon said.

Morales scaled a fence and Merrick briefly lost sight of him. He regained sight of the suspect, wanted for the theft of 16 weapons from a Worcester armory, as he fled from a hiding place near a porch, McKeon said.

As Morales tried to scale a second fence, Merrick finally was able to get to the suspect and apprehend him.

"Just as he was at the top of that fence, Trooper Merrick reached him and tackled him," McKeon said.

Morales tried to resist, McKeon said. He was arrested and taken to the Medford barracks for processing.

Prior to running from Merrick on Broadway, Morales dropped a motorcycle helmet, gloves and a fanny pack, McKeon said. Those items are now evidence.

Trooper Brendan Cain was a few steps behind Merrick and Morales and aided in the arrest.

McKeon praised Merrick for "outstanding" work in capturing Morales. 

Morales was being held at a Rhode Island detention facility before he escaped five days ago, charged in federal court with stealing 16 weapons from the U.S. Army Reserve armory in Worcester, Mass., in November 2015.

Morales' first attempt to rob a bank in Cambridge on Thursday led to a break in the case and his capture later in the day.

Officials said Morales will be held in federal custody on Thursday night and then he is scheduled to appear in federal court in Providence on Friday morning, facing an escape charge.

Melissa Hanson contributed to this report.

Gov. Baker applauds officer for apprehension of fugitive

Snow's Restaurant on Pleasant Street was in danger of losing its liquor license due to questions on whether the business was employing a manager on-site.

WARE -- Snow's Restaurant on Pleasant Street was in danger of losing its liquor license due to questions on whether the business was employing a manager on-site.

The problem was resolved at the board's final 2016 meeting when it unanimously approved Teneille A. Chaisson as the new manager, and said yes to renewing Snow's pouring permit for 2017.

Selectmen last year warned owner Daniel Saad about the need to employ a qualified individual as manager.

During an October Ware selectmen's meeting, Saad was peppered with question related to who was managing Snow's. In response, Saad asked the board to appoint John Cortez.

Selectmen delayed action on appointing Cortez, telling Saad that the manager application that was submitted to the board lacked sufficient detail about Cortez' previous felony conviction.

At the November meeting, the board received additional information about Cortez' conviction, and approved him as manager -- but less than a week later, Cortez was no longer manager for reasons that have not been disclosed.

The next month, selectmen directed the town manager to make inspections at Snow's to ascertain who was supervising the restaurant. Members of the board publicly stated at the time that Snow's liquor license was in jeopardy.

Chaisson's appointment was approved Dec. 21.

Jennifer Galindo has been named a first team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association for her performance in the 2016 season.

HOLYOKE -- A sophomore Holyoke Community College soccer player has been named a first team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association for her performance in the 2016 season.

Jennifer Galindo, a liberal arts major and South Hadley resident, helped lead the Lady Cougars to their fifth New England Championship title in a row after a 4-0 victory over Springfield Technical Community College.

"Jennifer was one of the Cougars' most dominant players all season," said Head Coach Rob Galazka. "She has exceptional skill with the ball, tremendous vision on the field and outstanding offensive and defensive abilities. She is also an extraordinary distributor of the ball. This honor is well deserved."

Galindo was named most valuable player after adding 13 assists against STCC and ended the 2016 season with 12 goals and a 37 overall points.

The defensive midfielder was also one of four players to receive first team All New England honors along with her sister and center midfielder Natalie Galindo, center McKenzie Wilson and forward Olivia Meiswanger.

HCC's women's soccer team finished 11-0 in the Division III Region XXI and was 15-6 overall. The Lady Cougars' season came to an end after losing to Nassau Community College in double overtime in the District Championship game at O'Connell Field.

Local activists are planning on protesting Trump's recent appointment of a number of energy industry officials to his cabinet.

NORTHAMPTON — Local environmental activists are planning on joining in a nationwide protest against Donald Trump's recent "climate denier" cabinet picks.

Trump has nominated a slew of officials with heavy ties to the oil and gas industry to his cabinet--appointing many of them to positions meant to protect the environment from the very kinds of development pushed by energy companies.

This includes appointing Attorney General of Oklahoma Scott Pruitt as head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), former Governor of Texas Rick Perry as head of the Department of Energy, and Montana freshman Congressman Ryan Zinke as Department of the Interior. Trump has also nominated Rex Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobil--the world's largest energy corporation--to be his Secretary of State.

Now, the environmental group 350.org--a non-profit devoted to mobilizing action against the fossil fuel industry--has called for a nationwide protest called "Stop the Climate Denier Cabinet" on Monday, Jan. 9. The group claims that Trump has "named climate deniers to every climate-related position in his cabinet," and has asked that activists across the country come together to fight the appointments.

Climate Action NOW Western Mass, a local activist group based in Northampton and Florence, has organized a "standout" on the Calvin Coolidge Bridge in Northampton between 4 and 5 p.m. on Jan. 9.

The purpose of the event is to demand that these "climate denier" appointments be rejected during the Senate's confirmation hearings.

Anyone supporting the group's agenda is welcome to get involved.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Joseph Merrick said the captured fugitive James Morales was exhausted after a chase through Somerville and didn't put up much of a fight once caught.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Joseph Merrick said the captured fugitive James Morales was exhausted after a chase through Somerville and didn't put up much of a fight once he caught up with him.

Merrick, along with fellow trooper Brendan Cain, gave a first-hand account of the capture to reporters house after the arrest of Morales.

Cain was a few steps behind Merrick and Morales. Merrick called the capture a "team effort."

Merrick said they were notified that Morales could be in the area and then they got the phone call "they were waiting for - the bank robbery." It was Morales' second robbery attempt of the day.

Merrick said he saw the suspect while they were going down Route 28, and "after a foot chase, a couple of fences, I was able to get him into custody."

"It was a great job by everybody just to get him off the street. Dangerous man," Merrick said.

According to Merrick, "after the foot chase, he was exhausted." There were no weapons on him.

"No fight left in him," Cain added.

Once he was in the State Police cruiser, Morales was cooperative, according to Cain.

Morales is scheduled to be in federal court in Providence on Friday, for an initial appearance on the escape charge. Morales escaped from a Rhode Island detention facility several days ago and he will not be going back to the facility, law enforcement officials said.

Humble troopers who captured escapee James Morales in Somerville today take a moment for a photo together after MSP press conference. (D-5) pic.twitter.com/uNzv87LYDo

-- STACO COMM (@stacos) January 6, 2017

Gov. Baker applauds officer who caught James Morales

Obituaries from The Republican.

Newly inaugurated state Rep. Bud Williams, D-Springfield, is faced with the decision of keeping his City Council seat in Springfield or not serving the final year of his two-year term.

SPRINGFIELD -- Newly inaugurated state Rep. Bud L. Williams, D-Springfield, still has not said whether he will give up his seat on the City Council.

Williams, who previously said he would announce his decision Thursday, did not respond to multiple calls from The Republican.

Williams has said he is committed to his new full-time job as state representative in the 11th Hampden District. He still has a year left on his two-year term as an at-large councilor in Springfield.

He was re-elected to the City Council in 2015, and then elected state representative on Nov. 8. Williams has served on the City Council for 21 years, and has said there are many pressing issues on the council that have made it difficult to decide whether to stay or leave.

According to a spokesman for Secretary of Commonwealth William Galvin's office, it is rare for a legislator to hold both a local and state elective office at the same time, but is not prohibited.

Williams attended the first council meeting of the year Monday and was sworn in as a new state representative on Wednesday, replacing state Rep. Benjamin Swan, who chose not to seek re-election.

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Speaking in Spanish, the woman kept telling Lopez that "the old man (Hanson) had money" and she wanted to buy cocaine, the arrest report said.

SPRINGFIELD -- A man described as a former Golden Gloves boxer has been charged with murder after allegedly fracturing a man's skull with a single punch in July following a night of drinking.

Kenneth Lopez, 43, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Springfield District Court and was ordered held without right to bail.

Kenneth Lopez, 43, of Springfield(Springfield Police Department) 

The arraignment came five months after the victim, Michael Hanson, 58, of Framingham, was pronounced dead at Baystate Medical Center after suffering severe head trauma, court records show. A social worker and Northampton native, Hanson worked for the state Department of Youth Services and later for the state Department of Children and Families.

In August, Springfield police arrested Lopez on robbery and assault charges in connection with Hanson's death. The murder charge was added in December after a medical examiner ruled the death was a homicide, records show.

On Wednesday, Judge John Payne denied bail to Lopez, who was already held at the Hampden County Correctional Center on the assault and robbery charges.

The judge also allowed motions by defense lawyer Jonathan Elliott for $3,000 to hire a psychologist and private investigator.

No details of Hanson's death were disclosed during the brief court session. But a summary of the case can be gleaned from court and police records filed in the aftermath of Hanson's death.

Lopez met the victim at Carregan's Pub on Maple Street in Springfield late on July 29. At closing time, Hanson and his companion offered Lopez and one of his friend's a ride home, the reports show.

The companion, listed as Witness 1, told police she was driving Hanson's car, but they pulled over when Hanson said he wanted to drive. Outside the car, Lopez punched Hanson on the side of the head, knocking him unconscious, the companion told police.

"Witness 1 stated that it was a very loud noise," the report said.

Lopez went through Hanson's pockets and pulled out his wallet. After examining it for money, he dropped it on his chest, the companion said.

Lopez's friend, identified as Witness 3, offered a somewhat different account. As they drove from the bar, Hanson's companion announced that she wanted to buy some cocaine, the friend said.

Speaking in Spanish, the companion kept telling Lopez that "the old man (Hanson) had money," the friend said. When the car pulled over on Bay Street, the companion again reminded Lopez about Hanson's money and her desire for cocaine, the friend said.

Lopez then "hit the old man hard in the head/neck area," knocking him down, the friend said.

"The old man was snoring, as he was knocked out," the friend said, adding that Lopez was a former Golden Gloves boxer, the report said.

Lopez grabbed the victim's wallet, and then threw it on his chest, the friend said.

Both men fled the scene, with Lopez saying he was "upset he didn't get anything," the friend said.

Hanson's companion, after getting him back into the car, drove to a friend's house and left him in the passenger's seat, the report said.

Around 7 a.m., someone spotted him in the vehicle and called police. He was taken by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center, where he was treated for head trauma, the report said.

He died 10 days later, the report said.

Hanson is listed in the 2016 state salary database as earning $70,000 a year with the Department of Children and Families. He previously worked as a counselor for the Department of Youth Services.

Born in Northampton, he was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and also worked on his family's farm in Framingham, according to his obituary.

In court records, Lopez is described as a New York City native who works for a bakery company in Agawam.

He is due back in court on Feb. 7.

A Gofundme page has been set up for Trevor Wadleigh, one of the victims of the deadly Holyoke New Year's Day fire.

HOLYOKE — Before his death, Trevor Wadleigh apparently helped save the life of the friend he was living with, as well as his friend's girlfriend, by awakening them as a deadly fire was breaking out in their apartment.

Wadleigh, a 34-year-old from Easthampton, lost his life on New Year's Day in the deadly Holyoke apartment fire that killed three people and left 49 homeless.

The fire, which destroyed the 5-story apartment building at 106 North East Street, is still under investigation by the state fire marshal's office and the Holyoke Fire Department.

Now a Gofundme has been set up to help pay for Trevor's funeral expenses. "Trevor tragically perished in an apartment fire on New Years Day," the page reads.

The page was apparently set up by Trevor's aunt, a woman named Mary Louise, and its goal is $10,000. Louise says on the site that she felt compelled to help out Trevor's family with the expenses. "Please contribute," she said. "We lost a young man tragically."

A Gofundme page has also been set up by the Mayor of Holyoke Alex Morse called the Mayor's Fire Relief Fund--the proceeds of which are slated to go towards the numerous families who have been displaced or affected by the fire.

A cat that fell from a moving car on a Massachusetts highway on Christmas Day has been found alive.

BOSTON (AP) -- A cat that fell from a moving car on a Massachusetts highway on Christmas Day has been found alive.

Owner Erin McCutcheon was taking 6-year-old Juno from Boston to her mother's house in New Hampshire when it slipped out of its carrier. McCutcheon's boyfriend, James Norton, opened and re-shut their rattling van door, and the cat tumbled onto Interstate 93.

The couple spent days searching for the cat.

The Boston Globe reports electricians doing maintenance work at I-93 on Wednesday found the cat crouched and hiding 80 feet up in the air on a steel girder that runs under the highway in Charlestown.

A worker lured the cat with food before grabbing it and taking it to safety. The electricians recognized the cat from a poster McCutcheon and Norton had put up and contacted them.

How the white suburban teen ended up beaten by four black people, threatened with a knife and taunted with profanities against white people and President-elect Donald Trump is among the puzzles authorities are still trying to piece together after the four were charged with hate crimes on Thursday.

CHICAGO (AP) -- The two 18-year-olds had been schoolmates, police say. After meeting at McDonald's, they spent two days together, driving around visiting friends. Then a pretend fight between them escalated into a brutal beating of a mentally disabled teenager that has stirred racial tensions and outrage after being broadcast on Facebook Live.

How the white suburban teen ended up beaten by four black people, threatened with a knife and taunted with profanities against white people and President-elect Donald Trump is among the puzzles authorities are still trying to piece together after the four were charged with hate crimes on Thursday.

The alleged attackers will make their first appearance in court Friday, when they also face charges of kidnapping and battery for the assault, which was captured on cellphone video by one of the assailants and viewed by millions on social media.

The uproar over the beating has intensified the glare on Chicago after a bloody year of violent crime and protests against Mayor Rahm Emanuel and a police department that has been accused of brutality and hushing up wrongdoing. The department has also been the subject of a long civil-rights investigation by the Justice Department, which is expected to report its findings soon. It also stirred emotions still raw after a nasty presidential election campaign that split the nation.

The case heightened political tensions on social media, with some conservatives suggesting it was linked to the Black Lives Matter movement. Police said there was no indication of any connection.

The cruelty of the attack and the intense social media exposure prompted President Barack Obama to respond, calling it "despicable."

"I take these things very seriously," he told Chicago's WBBM-TV on Thursday. But he said the incident does not mean that race relations have gotten worse.

These booking photos provided by the Chicago Police Department show, from left, Tesfaye Cooper, Brittany Covington, Tanishia Covington and Jordan Hill, four people charged, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, with aggravated kidnapping and taking part in a hate crime after allegedly beating and taunting a man in a video broadcast live on Facebook. (Chicago Police Department via AP)

Chicago police initially said the youth was singled out because he has "special needs," not because he was white. But authorities later said the charges resulted from both the suspects' use of racial slurs and their references to the victim's disability.

Cook County prosecutors identified the suspects as Brittany Covington and Tesfaye Cooper, both of Chicago, and Jordan Hill, of suburban Carpentersville. All are 18. A fourth suspect was identified as Covington's 24-year-old sister, Tanishia Covington, also of Chicago.

Excerpts of the video posted by Chicago media outlets show the victim with his mouth taped shut and slumped in a corner of a room. At least two assailants are seen cutting off his sweatshirt, and others taunt him off camera. The video shows a wound on the top of the man's head. One person pushes the man's head with his or her foot.

A red band also appears to be around the victim's hands. He was tied up for four to five hours, authorities said.

The incident began Dec. 31, when the victim and alleged assailant Jordan Hill, met at a suburban McDonald's to begin what both the victim and his parents believed would be a sleepover, police said.

Instead, Hill drove the victim around in a stolen van for a couple of days, ending up at a home in Chicago, where two of the other suspects lived, Detective Commander Kevin Duffin said.

The victim told police what began as playful fighting escalated. A downstairs neighbor who heard noises threatened to call police. When two of the suspects left and kicked down the neighbor's door, the victim escaped. A police officer later spotted the bloodied and obviously disoriented man wandering down a street.

The grandmother of Brittany Covington said the granddaughter she raised from infancy is "not this person."

"I'm so upset, my head is about to bust open," said Priscilla Covington of Chicago. "I don't know if someone influenced her ... She had her ups and down. (She) was a good person. I'm so confused."

Members of the Springfield Technical Community College Veteran's Club helped out their brothers and sisters who served in the armed forces by donating items and money to the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke.

SPRINGFIELD -- Members of the Springfield Technical Community College Veteran's Club helped out their brothers and sisters who served in the armed forces by donating items and money to the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke.

STCC's Veteran's Club is made up of veterans, servicemen and women and military dependents. The club works to connect people, particularly other veterans, with resources and organizations that can assist with issues including homelessness, unemployment and health care.

This is the second time the club has donated the Soldiers' Home, which is a state-funded health care facility that aids eligible veterans in Massachusetts.

According Akeilee Murchison, veteran academic counselor at STCC, the club on Dec. 23 donated $500 worth of items and a $216 check to the Holyoke facility thanks in large part to the STCC community.

"The donations made a soldier's holiday," she said. "The donations served as a reminder that someone still thinks of them and appreciates them. There's no greater feeling."

Murchison said the club received donations from the dental, cosmetology and admissions departments, which contributed toothbrushes and toothpaste, nail clippers, shampoo, STCC lanyards and other items.

Along with the help from the school, the Veteran's Club also received two bins of socks, scarfs, underwear and other essentials from STCC's annual holiday party, while students donated sweatshirts, puzzles and other items.

The Veteran's Club, which has 11 members, also made and sold parachute cord key chains to raise money for its contribution.

The American flag will be flown at half-staff Friday in honor of Holyoke Police Sgt. David M. O'Connell, who was found dead Saturday while off duty.

Here are Thursday's most-read local news stories on MassLive.com. If you missed any of them, click on the links below to read them now.

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Federal law lets a child stay in the U.S. with a state-appointed guardian if that is in the child's best interest.

BOSTON -- If a child immigrant enters the U.S. without legal status, and has been abandoned or abused by their parents, the child can apply for permanent legal status.

This allows the child to remain in the U.S. if their parents are deported or if their parents never came to the U.S. Essentially, it lets a child stay in the U.S. with a state-appointed guardian if that is in the child's best interest.

Before the U.S. immigration service grants legal status, a state court must make a child welfare finding under state law. The Supreme Judicial Court will consider two cases on Friday regarding what standards Massachusetts courts should apply.

"The state courts are not being asked to make immigration decisions," said Mary Ryan, an attorney with Nutter, McClennen & Fish who represents a group of immigration lawyers and legal defense organizations that filed amicus briefs in the cases. "These are child welfare cases, part and parcel of the entire body of law we have in Massachusetts that protects the welfare of children."

Federal law allows a child to be granted legal status when a court determines the child is dependent on the state, that reunification with one or both parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect or abandonment, and that it would not be in the child's best interest return to their previous country. The SJC cases will help clarify when exactly a child immigrant is eligible to remain in the U.S.

In one case, a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl, referred to as E.G., was allegedly abandoned by her father, Manuel Morales Lopez. The state of Massachusetts, on behalf of the child's mother, asked that E.G. be granted legal status on the grounds that Lopez abandoned her. The state argued that E.G. would be better cared for by her mother in the U.S. than by relatives in Guatemala, who neglected and injured her.

The juvenile court denied the motion, apparently on the grounds that E.G. lived with her mother. The records of the juvenile case are sealed. The SJC will consider whether a child must be abandoned or neglected by both parents or just by one to become eligible for legal status.

In another case, Marvin Humberto Penate asked for guardianship of his niece, Y.P., a 17-year-old El Salvador native, on the grounds that her mother could not provide essential care and neglected to protect her from gang threats. The case was dismissed because Y.P. was almost 18, but Y.P. filed a separate suit arguing that she was eligible for legal status because her father abandoned her before birth. The SJC will consider what defines neglect. The court may also consider how to define reunification.

More than a dozen advocacy organizations involved in immigration law -- including the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, the Central West Justice Center, Catholic Charities, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and others -- are urging the SJC to provide both children with legal status and to interpret the law more loosely.

The U.S. Department of Justice, which intervened in E.G.'s case, argued that the SJC should not be considering the question at all, since the interpretation of immigration law should be left to federal authorities.

The SJC should limit itself to making child welfare determinations under state law, Justice lawyers wrote in their court brief. The question of whether a child must be abandoned by one or both parents is up to federal interpretation.

Ryan, who co-chairs an American Bar Association committee on unaccompanied minors, said there were 59,000 unaccompanied minors who crossed the border into the U.S. last year, many from Central America and Mexico. Often these children face horrible conditions in their home countries, and their families pay someone, sometimes referred to as a "coyote," to smuggle them across the border. Sometimes children have no parent caring for them in their home country, or they are being threatened by gangs.

"The law is that when a child has been deprived of the opportunity to thrive ... they were abused, abandoned or neglected, we here in America will provide special immigration status for those children," Ryan said.

Some of the children affected by the SJC cases may have some form of temporary legal status, although not permanent status.

Elizabeth Badger, an attorney for Kids in Need of Defense who also represents the immigrant advocacy groups, said the importance of the cases is that they will provide guidance for the lower courts on how to make child welfare determinations that may allow children to remain with a stable caretaker in Massachusetts.

Holyoke Councilor James Leahy was the first to take out nomination papers on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017 to run for reelection in the fall, joined so far in pulling papers by City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee and challenger Paul Bowes for mayor.

HOLYOKE -- Veteran City Councilor James M. Leahy was the first to take out nomination papers when they became available Tuesday to run for city offices in the Nov. 7 election.

Eight other incumbents and five challengers for municipal positions had pulled papers by the end of business on Thursday, 10 months from Election Day, according to the city clerk's page on the city web site.

"I was the first to pull my papers for City Council at large this past week," said Leahy, seeking his 10th, two-year term as a councilor at large.

"I'm going to continue using a common sense approach in my leadership on the Council. I want to continue my work on quality of life issues. There isn't a reason to wait to pull papers. As a senior member of the City Council I believe the people need my experience now more than ever," Leahy said.

Leahy and other at large incumbents and challengers face a tougher battle this year than in previous elections, with fewer seats up for grabs. Votes approved a change in the 2015 election that will take affect with the 2017 races to reduce the City Council to 13 members from the current 15, eliminating two of the eight at large seats. The council also has seven ward seats.

Another change voters approved at the 2015 ballot for this year's election will increase the term of the mayor to four years from the current two-year term.

City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee, who also took out nomination papers for reelection, said her office's web pages will have daily updates about who has obtained papers and who has been certified for the election ballot.

Councilor at Large Peter R. Tallman also took out papers for reelection.

Challengers for at large City Council seats so far are Michael B. Pietrzykowski and Deborah K. Aloisi.

Paul P. Bowes of Northampton Street was the first to take out nomination papers to run for mayor. Mayor Alex B. Morse is running for his fourth term.

Jason P. Ferreira, former Ward 4 city councilor and most recently spokesman for the pro-Community Preservation Act campaign, also has said he will be a candidate for mayor.

Morse and Ferreira as of Thursday had yet to take out nomination papers for the seat, according to the city clerk's office.

City Treasurer Sandra A. Smith has obtained nomination papers to run for reelection.

Also pulling papers as of Thursday were Ward 1 Councilor Gladys Lebron-Martinez, Ward 2 Councilor Nelson R. Roman, Ward 4 Councilor Jossie M. Valentin, Ward 7 Councilor Todd A. McGee and Devin M. Sheehan, School Committee member at large, along with challengers Juan C. Anderson-Burgos for Ward 6 City Council and Faizul J. Sibdhanny Jr. for Ward 4 School Committee.

Candidates for mayor must submit nomination papers with at least 250 registered voters' signatures while those for City Council and School Committee must file papers with at least 50 voters' signatures.

The deadline for candidates to file nomination papers with signatures of registered voters to be listed on the election ballot is Aug. 8, Murphy McGee said.

Nomination papers are filed with the registrar of voters. If that office determines that the papers have the required number of signatures of registered voters for the intended seat, the candidate's name will be placed on the election ballot.

To obtain nomination papers, candidates first must go to the Registrar of Voters' office in Room 9 at City Hall to verify that they are a city resident and a registered voter. If they qualify on both counts, they get a certification they then bring to the City Clerk's office down the hall in Room 2 to get the nomination papers.

A preliminary election will be held if necessary to narrow fields of candidates on Sept. 26.

The last day to register to vote in the preliminary election is Sept. 6.

The last day to register to vote in the general election is Oct. 18.

For more information call the city clerk's office at 413-322-5520.

About 30 minutes after the crash occurred, the driver, Jessica Skaggs, 34, of New Bedford, turned herself in at the Dartmouth Police Headquarters.

Dartmouth Police detectives have arrested a woman they say put a 14-year-old girl in the hospital after hitting her with her car Thursday evening.

Authorities responded to Dartmouth Street around 5:00 p.m. last night after receiving reports of a hit and run on a young girl. Emergency medical personnel discovered that the juvenile had incurred serious injuries, and transported her by helicopter to Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence.

She is currently listed in stable condition, police say.

About 30 minutes after the crash occurred, the driver, Jessica Skaggs, 34, of New Bedford, turned herself in at the Dartmouth Police Headquarters. A 2004 Nissan Sentra, which Skaggs was operating at the time of the crash, was discovered in a parking lot a short distance from the scene of the crash.

Skaggs was charged with leaving the scene of a hit-and-run and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is set to hear arguments on Friday on whether field sobriety tests can be used as part of cases of driving under the influence of marijuana. The case comes less than a month after recreational marijuana became legal in Massachusetts.

BOSTON - The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is set to hear arguments on Friday on whether field sobriety tests can be used as part of cases of driving under the influence of marijuana.

The case comes less than a month after recreational marijuana became legal in Massachusetts, while remaining illegal at the federal level. Driving under the influence of marijuana, or "drugged driving," surfaced during the ballot campaign, Question 4, to legalize marijuana last fall.

But the case before the Supreme Judicial Court started in 2013 at 12:20 a.m., when a trooper stopped a blue Suzuki Grand Vitara in Millbury.

The trooper who approached the car allegedly saw smoke inside, and when the car window rolled down, he smelled burnt marijuana and spotted cigar tobacco on the floor and a cigar slicer on a key ring in the ignition.

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The driver was allegedly Thomas Gerhardt, and he admitted when asked there were a "couple of roaches" in the ashtray, pulling out two smoked roll cigarettes, according to court documents.

He failed a sobriety test -- the one leg stand test -- but was able to recite the alphabet from D to Q and count backwards from 75 to 62.

Gerhardt was eventually charged with one count of operating under the influence, as a result of allegedly failing the standardized field sobriety tests. He was also charged with a lights violation and a number plate violation.

Sobriety tests are "irrelevant to whether a driver has sued marijuana or whether a driver is impaired by the use of marijuana and should not be admissible in court," Rebecca Jacobstein, a public defender working for Gerhardt, wrote in one of the court filings, arguing other tests should be created.

A trial judge agreed, finding that the tests are not a reliable indicator of marijuana impairment.

But Worcester County District Attorney Joe Early is asking the state's highest court to reverse that decision.

Experts in field sobriety tests for marijuana have testified that the one-leg stand is an "accurate" test for marijuana impairment, Early's office argued in its own court filing.

Can I smoke marijuana in my car?

Standardized field sobriety tests measure coordination, balance, dexterity, an ability to follow directions, "all of which may be affected by marijuana as with alcohol," the filing said.

But Gerhardt argued the assumption that "if a drug has been consumed then driving is impaired is not always true."

Marijuana affects the body in different ways than alcohol, he and marijuana advocates say.

"Studies have also shown that alcohol consumption encourages risky driving, whereas marijuana consumption encourages greater caution," Gerhardt's attorney said in her filing.

Nor is there agreement in scientific community about sobriety tests accurately assessing marijuana impairment, she added. "Scientists cannot even agree on the extent to which marijuana use impacts an individual's ability to drive, much less the amount."

The case also asks Supreme Judicial Court judges to decide whether police officers should be permitted to offer an opinion that a person was "high" on marijuana. Gerhardt's attorney says expert testimony should be provided to jurors in conjunction with police officer testimony.

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"Neither the effects of marijuana consumption nor the relationship between marijuana consumption and driving are common knowledge," she wrote.

But Early's office said there is a growing public awareness of marijuana and its effects, particularly as additional states move to legalize the substance, like Massachusetts did last year. Massachusetts voters also decriminalized small amounts of marijuana in 2008 and approved marijuana for medical use in 2012.

"Because marijuana use and consumption is now widespread in this country, lay jurors understand from common experience the effects of marijuana consumption, and consequently the effects of driving while under the influence of marijuana," the Early office's court document said.

An officer observing that a driver may have bloodshot eyes, lack of coordination, slow reaction times and relaxed responses, as well as being unable to pass a field sobriety test does not mean expert testimony is needed as well, they argued.

"While there may have been a time when expert opinion might have been necessary to establish impairment from marijuana, as it was to show alcohol intoxication, that time has passed," the document said.

More information on the case is available here.

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