Following a remarkably warm February, it will feel like winter again this weekend in Massachusetts.

Following a remarkably warm February, it will feel like winter again this weekend in Massachusetts. 

Friday will start out mostly sunny, with high temperatures in the mid-30s followed by the possibility of snow and a cold front. 

"An arctic cold front will cross the region late this afternoon and evening," meteorologists with the National Weather Service said Friday. "As it does so, scattered snow showers are expected to develop. Some of these snow showers could become squalls, with quick accumulations on area roadways and rapid visibility reductions at times. The best chance for these will occur between 4 PM and 10 PM this evening."

Arctic cold front could bring heavy snow, making travel hazardous Friday evening

The low will to drop into the single digits overnight in Western Massachusetts, and the teens in Eastern and Central Massachusetts, though temperatures will feel much colder due to the wind chill. 

Temperatures are expected to remain chilly throughout the weekend. The high for Saturday is expected to be in the mid-20s, with temperatures dropping to as low as 6 degrees overnight. 

Sunday is expected to remain in freezing temperatures as well, warming to the low-30s before dropping the mid-teens, low-20s overnight. 

Public safety coordination will be the topic on Friday, March 3, 2017 as law enforcement officials meet to discuss the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade set for March 19 and a road race the day before in events that combine to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city.

HOLYOKE -- Event coordination and public safety will be the topics today at an annual meeting featuring law enforcement officials regarding the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade on March 19 and the road race the day before.

Both events draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Paper City.

The Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee will meet with federal, state and local public safety officials at noon at Holyoke Elks Lodge 902, 205 Whitney Ave., Parade Committee spokeswoman Hayley M. Dunn said in an email Thursday.

On Sunday, the annual colleen gathering will be held at 3 p.m. at Crestview Country Club at 281 Shoemaker Lane in Agawam, she said.

"The Colleen Gathering is an opportunity for all regional parade committees to gather and introduce their respective award recipients. Irish music, dancing and special appearances from the colleens of Western Massachusetts will take place throughout the afternoon," she said.

On Tuesday, the Holyoke City Council will honor the Parade Committee to help in celebrating and promoting the parade during the Council's regular meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

"Parade Committee President Michael Moriarty, members of the committee and its board of directors, as well as 2017 award recipients and colleens will be in attendance," Dunn said.

The 66th Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade will be March 19. The 3-mile trek begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Kmart parking lot at Whiting Farms Road and Northampton Street. The parade will go down Northampton Street, right on Beech Street, right on Appleton Street and left on High Street when it ends at Hampden Street three to four hours later.

The 42nd Holyoke St. Patrick's Road Race is a 10K (10 kilometers, or 6.2-miles) event. It will begin at 1 p.m. at Maple and Lyman streets.

One of the coolest things about gray fox is that, unlike red fox, it can climb trees -- both to avoid predators and pursue prey. Watch video

This is the latest in an occasional series on the wildlife caught on trail cameras set up by The Republican reporter George Graham and his wife, Gerri, in their "backyard" in Westhampton, Massachusetts.

WESTHAMPTON -- The winter-long pattern of coyote, bobcat and raccoon triggering our trail cams was interrupted last week by two new visitors.

The first animal to break the pattern, and a first for us on our trail cams, was a gray fox. We initially thought it was another coyote, but its extremely bushy tail and foxy features made us wonder.

Both Marion Larson, chief of information and education at the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and Jonathan Way, founder of Eastern Coyote/Coywolf Research, confirmed the creature in question is a gray fox.

Gray fox are on the small side, only 7 to 13 pounds and 31 to 44 inches in total length, according to MassWildlife. One of their defining features is a large, bushy tail with a dark stripe.

A red fox, Larson said, would have a white tip on the end of its tail.

For me, one of the coolest things about gray fox is that, unlike red fox, it can climb trees -- both to avoid predators and pursue prey. That unusual skill must come in handy down by the swamp. Coyote, which are substantially larger, view gray fox as competitors that occupy a similar ecological niche and kill them whenever they can, according to eMammal and other online resources.

That behavior is known is intraguild predation. In areas of the country where there are both wolves and coyotes, the former go after the latter for the same reason.

Tree-climbing only goes so far as a gray fox survival skill, however, because bobcat and even great horned owls are known to prey on them as well.

The second animal to break our coyote, bobcat, raccoon pattern was ushered in by last week's unusually warm weather, which did away with ice in the small stream-fed pool that we have been monitoring. Beaver are active once again.

The videos that follow the beaver shows coyote and bobcat making their way through the snow after last month's back-to-back storms.

The flag lowering honored Brian Odiorne, of Ware, who served in the U.S. Army, and Kristina Lee Cooley, of Feeding Hills, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Governor Charlie Baker has ordered that the United States flag and Commonwealth flag be lowered to half-staff on Saturday at all state buildings in honor of two armed services members who died last month. 

The flag lowering honored Brian Odiorne, of Ware, who served in the U.S. Army. On Feb. 20, Odiorne was killed during a non-combat incident in the Anbar Province of Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. 

The cause of his death is currently unknown, although authorities are investigating. 

Odiorne was a 2014 graduate of Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, the school confirmed last week. 

The flag lowering also honored Kristina Lee Cooley, of Feeding Hills, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard. She passed away on Feb. 15.

All state owned and controlled building, city halls and military institutions will be required to lower the flags from sunrise to sunset Saturday. 

In 2015, Massachusetts lowered the state flag to half-staff more than any other state.

U.S. Reps. Michael Capuano, Katherine Clark, Joseph Kennedy, Seth Moulton and Nikki Tsongas all plan to speak at a rally to oppose defunding Planned Parenthood.

Several members of Massachusetts' congressional delegation will attend a rally in Boston on Saturday in support of Planned Parenthood.

U.S. Reps. Michael Capuano, Katherine Clark, Joseph Kennedy, Seth Moulton and Nikki Tsongas, all Massachusetts Democrats, plan to speak at the 11 a.m. rally at Boston Common. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will also speak.

The rally comes as President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress have been talking about denying federal funding to Planned Parenthood because it offers abortions.

Already, no federal funding can be used for abortion. But the move would mean that patients with Medicaid insurance, which is partially federally funded, would not have coverage for health care at Planned Parenthood, even for general reproductive health care, such as cervical cancer screenings, contraception and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.

According to Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, about 30 percent of its 31,000 patients in Massachusetts are covered by a Medicaid plan.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended the period for Daylight Saving Time by four or five weeks annually, depending on the calendar.

Spring forward for 2017 is just a little over a week away. Which means it will take place in winter. Which raises the question: Will the ol' saying some day be changed to "Winter forward, fall back"?

But let's not add yet another divisive issue to our national dialogue. For now, write yourself a sticky note: Daylight Saving Time 2017 begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 12, and at that instant, your clocks will jump to 3 a.m.

And you can say so long to Standard Time for about eight months.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the current Daylight Saving Time timetable. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended the period for Daylight Saving Time by four or five weeks annually, depending on the calendar. It changed the beginning of DST from the first Sunday of April (spring) to the second Sunday of March (winter), and the end of DST from the last Sunday in October to the first Sunday in November.

The law, which has many more rules and regulations than Daylight Saving Time parameters, went into effect in 2007. The time change takes place across the U.S. except in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Arizona (but not the Navajo Indian Reservation, which does observe Daylight Saving Time).

Here's a recap you can set your calendars to:

Daylight Saving Time 2017 begins on Sunday, March 12 at 2 a.m. Turn your clocks forward one hour to 3 a.m.

Daylight Saving Time 2017 ends on Sunday, November 5 at 2 a.m. Turn your clocks back one hour to 1 a.m.

More information:

National Institute of Standards and Technology Daylight Saving Time rules >>

U.S. Naval Observatory Daylight Time >>

timeanddate.com sunrise and sunset calculator >>

The city is having a difficult time filling positions because the salaries are low.

CHICOPEE - Saying the low pay is making it difficult to hire and even harder to keep Department of Public Works employees, the city is requesting a salary study be done to set a new wage scale for the workers.

The city plans to hire The Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management from the University of Massachusetts, Boston to do the salary study, which would also update the about 150 job descriptions in the department, Mayor Richard J. Kos said.

The cost is $75,000 and it gives the city a chance to have an independent third party look at the state of the department, he said.

"A number of department heads are already asking for this to be done," Kos said.

Over the years, job descriptions do get outdated and need to be examined, he said.

More than 20 Department of Public Works employees attended the meeting to push for the study.

"The mayor was correct when he said we are losing good, talented workers to towns which pay $3 an hour more, said Dean Ethier, the business agent for the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1459 which represents the public works employees.

He said the solution has been to hire new employees at a higher wage, but that leaves behind those who have more experience and are just earning that amount now.

City Councilors agreed the wage study should be done, but moved the issue to the finance subcommittee to discuss how the study would be conducted.

"The idea is a good one," Councilor Frank N. Laflamme said. "New people who are coming in are making more money that people who have been there."

Currently there are a number of vacancies in the Department of Public Works and it is difficult to find new people at the lower salary, especially since most employees are required to have a Commercial Driver's License and they have to pay the fees to keep it active, he said.

"We should pay these people what they are worth," Councilor Gary Labrie said.

Councilor James Tillotson asked for the proposal go to finance subcommittee. He  said he is for the wage study and improving the salaries of employees, but has some questions about how the study will be conducted and the cost of it.

In the past the Collins Center has done other studies for the city and used what they called comparable communities such as Newton, which have little in common with Chicopee, he said.

"I wasn't overly impressed with the way the last study was done and I would like more input on this," he said.

The Department of Public Works covers about 150 different types of positions and hires about 250 different people. It covers a number of different departments including waste water control, highway, forestry and sanitation.

Some of the annual salaries are $35,400 for a sanitation laborer, $42,800 for a sanitation foreman, $35,800 for a parks department craftsman, $41,000 for a forestry emoloyee, $46,000 for a highway foreman and $69,000 for an assistant engineer.

An 85-mile-per-hour police chase in Hingham early Thursday ended after a teenage driver crashed a stolen vehicle into a tree.

An 85-mile-per-hour police chase in Hingham early Thursday ended after a teenage driver crashed a stolen vehicle into a tree. 

Luis Soto-Perez, 19, allegedly fled police in the car -- a  2013 Hyundai Sonata, reported stolen out of Worcester hours earlier -- when they attempted to stop him on Main Street. 

Heading south, Soto-Perez weaved in and out of oncoming traffic at high speeds before crashing into a tree on the right side of the road, according to police. 

Soto-Perez stepped out of the car and faced immediate arrest while his two passengers, aged 18 and 19, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash and had to be transported to South Shore Hospital for treatment. 

Later Thursday, Soto-Perez, of Wocester, appeared in Hingham District Court, where he was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, operating to endanger, destruction of property, failure to stop for police, lane violations and speeding, The Boston Globe reports. 

The two passengers were not arraigned in court Thursday, but will face charges of using a motor vehicle without authority and receiving a stolen vehicle.

"The crowd began forming around the group and several people started chanting, 'Fight, fight, fight,'" the report said

SPRINGFIELD -- Maybe the club-goers who encouraged Derrick Jones and Andrew Wilkens to fight outside the Fat Cat Bar & Grille last weekend will help pay their court fines.

Jones, 18, and Wilkens, 20, both of Springfield, were arrested Saturday after trading words and then punches at closing time in the city's entertainment district.

The pair began arguing on the sidewalk outside Fat Cat's and drew a crowd of between 75 and 100 people, according to the arrest report.

"The crowd began forming around the group and several people started chanting, "Fight, fight, fight,'" the report said.

The action began moments later, with both men landing punches to the other's face and upper body, the report said.

The fight was quickly broken up by city police patrolling the downtown club district. The combatants, transported to police headquarters in separate cruisers, were charged with assault and battery and disorderly conduct, the report said.

On Monday, the men were reunited in Springfield District Court. Under an agreement approved by Judge John Payne, the assault charges were dismissed, with each defendant agreeing to pay $100 fines.

They also agreed to pay $100 each to settle the disorderly conduct charge, bringing to total cost of the Saturday morning fight to $400.

About 1,800 of more than 7,000 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority workers pulled down six figures in 2016, newly released state figures show.

About 1,800 of more than 7,000 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority workers pulled down six figures in 2016, newly released state figures show. 

The numbers, posted to the state's budget website, Open Checkbook, represent a slight decline in the number of MBTA workers earning more than $100,000.

This was because 2016 saw a much milder winter than the record-breaker in 2015, which contributed to a sharp increase in overtime pay to transportation workers all over the Northeast and beyond. 

With a more severe winter underway in 2016-17, one can expect an increase in overtime pay, and possibly $100,000-earners, in the MBTA next year. 

According to the state's 2015 numbers, 1,975 of roughly 7,200 workers earned above six figures. 

Elsewhere the numbers reveal a $13 million dip overall in MBTA payroll in 2016 -- $563 million versus $576 million in 2015. However, the dip occurred amid a larger picture of dramatic increases in recent years. In 2013, the MBTA total payroll was $481 million -- $18 million less than in 2016.

This can be attributed to an increasing number of layoffs within the agency and an ongoing buyout and privatization initiative -- only expected to ramp up in 2017 and beyond -- in addition to the milder 2016 winter. 

The top MBTA salary of 2016 belonged to Perry Yee, a foreman in the wire department, who earned $227,022, more than double his base pay of $112,600.

Police arrested four suspects during the Thursday night raid at 96 Maple St., Apt. 6.

SPRINGFIELD -- Narcotics detectives raided a Maple Street apartment Thursday night, seized over 600 bags of heroin and a loaded handgun and arrested four.

Police raided 96 Maple St., Apt. 6. They also seized approximately 42 grams of crack and powder cocaine, $3,232 in cash and implements used to package and distribute cocaine and heroin, St. John Delaney said.

The handgun in question was a Glock .40 caliber semiautomatic loaded with eight rounds.

Arrested were: Magdalena Rodriguez, 33; Antonio Perez, 54; Yashira Perez, 34; Monserrate Rodriguez, 43; all of 96 Maple St.

All four were charged with trafficking in cocaine (38-100 grams) and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

Detectives executed their search warrant under the direction of Lt. Steven Kent following a lengthy investigation, Delaney, public information officer for the department, said.

More than $80,000 has vanished from Kmart's cash room since last summer, and Jodi Calhoun is "the focal point" of the store's investigation, the arrest report said.

SPRINGFIELD -- A lawyer representing a former Kmart employee fired for allegedly stealing more than $3,000 is seeking copies of surveillance tapes and loss prevention reports from the Springfield Plaza store.

Jodi Calhoun, 46, of Springfield, pleaded not guilty in Springfield District Court to one count of larceny over $250 after being charged with stealing $3,330 from the store's cash room in December.

Jodi Calhoun, 46, of SpringfieldSpringfield Police Department

That amount represents a fraction of the $80,000 reported missing from the cash room since late August, according to the arrest report, which describes Calhoun as "the focal point" of the store's investigation.

On Dec. 19, she was allegedly caught on surveillance video slipping $3,330 into her pocketbook and leaving the room, the report said. She admitted taking the money after being confronted by store security, the report said.

No trial date has been set and no additional charges have been filed in the case, according to court records.

A pretrial conference report filed Feb. 15 states that defense lawyer Ellie Rosenbaum is requesting copies of any relevant surveillance tapes, as well as documents from Kmart's loss prevention department.

Calhoun, who was released on personal recognizance, is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on April 12.

Efforts to rebuild following the tornado that hit Western Massachusetts last month have received a five-figure boost in funding. Watch video

Efforts to rebuild following the tornado that hit Western Massachusetts last month have received a five-figure boost in funding. 

A cashier's check for $50,000 was anonymously donated this week. The check was dropped into a donation collection can at a benefit dinner held Tuesday at the Conway Inn. 

"When we were counting out at the end of the evening, we had $2,200 dollars in the can, and found a cashier's check for $50,000," Barbara Llamas, owner of the Conway Inn, told The Recorder. "We were flabbergasted." 

Llamas estimated that about 100 people attended the fundraising event. 

A GoFundMe set up to support tornado relief efforts has raised $15,026.

By early Monday afternoon, more than $1,000 has been raised. 

The Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) recently gave a $10,000 grant to help people affected by the recent Conway tornado. 

Conway tornado: View aerial photos of the destruction from above

Randolph police arrested two people from New York Monday after they were allegedly discovered with several stolen credit cards and in possession of credit card embossing machine.

Randolph police arrested two people from New York Monday after they were allegedly discovered with several stolen credit cards and in possession of credit card embossing machine.

Police pulled over Terrance Munroe, 20, of Brooklyn, New York, and Cortlan-Kariah Smith-Dudley, 19, of North Baldwin, New York, on Pleasant Street. Authorities said the driver of the red sedan was speeding. 

As an officer approached the vehicle, the driver, Munroe quickly swapped seats with Smith-Dudley, police said. The officer walked around to the passenger side window and asked Monroe for his identification. 

The officer walked around to the passenger side window and asked Monroe for his identification, forcing him to reveal that he did not have a license, police said. 

From the passenger-side window, the officer could see several credit cards in plain view, as well as several packages of retail goods. The officer investigated the vehicle and discovered that the duo was using fraudulent credit cards to purchase electronic goods and gift cards from Massachusetts stores. 

Both suspects were arrested and charged with receiving stolen property. In addition, Monroe faces charges for operating without a license and speeding. 

While in custody at the Randolph Police Station, authorities discovered Monroe was wanted for several charges out of New York, including larceny and fraud-related offences. 

Police later obtained a search warrant for Monroe's mother's house and discovered a credit card embossing machine, multiple unopened pre-paid credit cards and a ledger showing hundreds of credit card numbers. 

Monroe and Smith-Dudley are being held on bail and will be arraigned in Quincy District Court. 

Agawam authorities were called to Agawam High School on Friday morning for an alleged threat, the nature of which remains unknown at this time.

AGAWAM -- Multiple police units were called to Agawam High School on Friday morning, according to authorities, who were investigating an apparent threat that was received.

"I have no one available to talk to you because they're all there," an Agawam police dispatcher told The Republican around 8:55 a.m.

"There's no immediate threat," she said. "It's just precautionary."

Concerned parents and residents flocked to a Facebook forum for Agawam issues to learn more about the incident, sharing information and text messages from their children who attend the high school.

Agawam parent Bob Kirk said he received a text from his son indicating a threat had been received and that students would likely be dismissed early. That information could not immediately be confirmed with authorities, who were actively dealing with this morning's situation.

The nature of the threat was not immediately known.

This breaking news story will be updated as more details become available.

MAP showing approximate location of Agawam High School:

More than 200 Irish-hearted visitors gathered at the Dante Club in West Springfield Thursday to celebrate the Fourth Annual Irish Night hosted by West Springfield Town Councilor Brian Clune.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - More than 200 Irish-hearted visitors gathered at the Dante Club in West Springfield Thursday to celebrate the Fourth Annual Irish Night hosted by West Springfield Town Councilor Brian Clune.

Activities included an Irish dance performance by members of the Cassin Academy of Irish Dance with Billy Eagen and Barney supplying the live music.

The Cassin dance team included Maeve and Lily Turmel, Katherine Welch, Madelynn Szemela, Hannah Willetts, Hunter Edwards, Mackenzie Feeley, Emma Magnani, Emma Feeley, and Mackenzie Richards.

Also in attendance were state and local elected officials and 2017 West Springfield Colleen Gabrielle Trudeau, and her court Vanessa Bonebo, Lindsay Gearty, Abigail Bourque and Abrielle Wellspeak. 

Early dismissal began around 9:15 a.m. Friday, March 3, after police were called to the Copper Street school for a threat, the nature of which remains unclear.

AGAWAM -- An apparent threat made on social media sparked a "shelter in place" order at Agawam High School on Friday morning, but a police spokeswoman said there was no imminent threat.

As of 9:15 a.m., students were being dismissed for the day, according to parents, who went on Facebook to share information about the threat.

Several parents said the incident stemmed from a photo of a teenager with a gun that was posted on social media. Another message apparently warned students not to go to school today.

"There's no immediate threat. It's just precautionary," an Agawam police dispatcher said, confirming the incident at the high school.

Police officials were not immediately available to discuss this morning's situation "because they're all there," she said.

Agawam police posted the following message on Facebook:

"There has been no specific threat towards any persons or places. Out of an abundance of caution the students are being released for the day. They are currently boarding buses or their personal cars and leaving the school. The investigation is ongoing and we will update you as soon as possible."

The high school went into lockdown mode shortly after students began arriving at the Cooper Street school this morning, according to witnesses, who shared updates and texts from their children on a popular Agawam Facebook forum.

The video below is from Western Mass News, TV partner of MassLive / The Republican, and shows students being dismissed as police continue to investigate.

Dr. Frank Stirlacci, 55, of Ludlow, pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges relating to opioid prescriptions which were issued when he was in jail.

SPRINGFIELD - Dr. Frank Stirlacci, 55, of Ludlow, pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges relating to opioid prescriptions which were issued when he was in jail. 

On February 9, 2016, Stirlacci surrendered his license to practice medicine by signing a voluntary agreement not to practice. He had offices in both Agawam and Springfield. A year later, Stirlacci and Jessica Miller, 36, of Springfield were indicted by a Hampden Superior Court grand jury on charges of filing false health care claims and uttering false prescriptions.

Miller pleaded not guilty to the charges on Feb. 14. 

The investigation centered around the time period of April 2015 through May 2015 while Stirlacci was imprisoned in Kentucky on failure to pay child support, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said.

Allegedly, while imprisoned, narcotics were routinely being prescribed through Miller from his office on pre-signed prescription pads to patients who were not seen by a doctor.

While the indictments centered on a four day period when 26 prescriptions and 2,030 pills were issued, the investigation found that while imprisoned, a total 116 opiate prescriptions were issued accounting for 15,059 pills.

Gulluni said Stirlacci and Miller were indicted after a lengthy investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to his office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Stirlacci was relelased on his own recognicanze on Friday and a pretrial hearing date of June 29 was set. Further court proceedings for Miller are pending. 

An arrest has been made in connection with threats made to at least eight Jewish community centers nationwide and the Anti-Defamation League's headquarters in New York City.

NEW YORK (AP) -- An arrest has been made in connection with threats made to at least eight Jewish community centers nationwide and the Anti-Defamation League's headquarters in New York City.

Federal authorities in New York said Friday that Juan Thompson has been arrested.

According to a complaint, the threats were made to harass a former girlfriend. The caller used the victim's name while making some of the threats.

The phone threat to the ADL's Manhattan headquarters was made Feb. 22.

Thompson was expected to appear in a Missouri court later Friday on charges that include cyberstalking.

There was no immediate information on attorney who could comment on his behalf.

Unfortunately, this has become a common occurrence," police stated in a post on the department's Facebook page. Police urge residents to warn children of the danger.

George Graham | ggraham@repub.com 

NORTHFIELD -- Police disposed of eight used hypodermic syringes Thursday after a resident found them on the side of Main Street.

"Unfortunately, this has become a common occurrence," police stated in a post on the department's Facebook page. "Now that the snowbanks have melted away, it is likely that even more syringes will be located in parking lots and along the road. If you happen across some, contact our department and we will respond and retrieve them."

Police urge residents to speak with their children about the dangers of needles.