A new regionalization agreement would allow Granville to join the Southwick-Tolland Regional School District.

File photo | The Republican

TOLLAND - Thirty-two of the town’s 41 registered voters who attended last night’s special town meeting approved a new regionalization agreement that would allow Granville to join the Southwick-Tolland Regional School District and embark on a $69 million expansion.

Townspeople approved all three articles on the warrant for the meeting, all relating to the regionalization plan and the allocation of $300,000 for a feasibility study on construction costs for the updates and repairs to Woodland Elementary School, Powder Mill Middle School and Southwick-Tolland Regional High School.

Superintendent of Schools John D. Barry said he is pleased with the decision on the proposed project, which has already been approved by Granville voters and goes to Southwick voters Tuesday night.

“Tolland has always been supportive, and what this would mean to Granville is that it would be part of a larger infrastructure,” he said after the vote.

Barry said any speculation on whether Southwick voters will approve the measure tonight is “hard to say,” but many residents have expressed an interest in repairing and updated the three school buildings.

“People have said they are interested in getting all the schools fixed at once,” he added.

Barry and other school officials informed residents that expansion of the district, to include Granville, will bring additional state funding in the form of reimbursement for the overhaul of the district’s three schools, with the building project being contingent upon the regional expansion.

Each of the schools is currently overcrowded by between 100 and 200 students.

Approval of expanding the district and voter approval for the construction package will allow the School Committee to submit plans with the Massachusetts School Building Authority in October and November.

The project includes an addition at the high school and the assignment of grades seven and eight at the facility. Powder Mill Middle and Woodland schools will receive needed repairs and updating. There will also be changes in class assignments in those buildings, with grades three to six at Powder Mill and kindergarten through grade two at Woodland.

The school building authority will finance about $40 million of the total $69 million project providing expanded regionalization is approved. School officials said that will leave Southwick to finance about $24.5 million, Tolland $1.2 million and Granville $3.5 million. Local shares will be financed over 30 years, officials said.

Two clerks, pistol-whipped during the armed robbery, suffered minor injuries.

Republican file photo

UPDATE: 12:50 p.m., WWLP has reported that the suspected pistol-whipper, 19-year-old Forrest Mitchell, has turned himself in to Chicopee police. Additional information will be posted on Masslive.com as soon as it is available.

CHICOPEE – Two men are in custody and police continue to search for two more suspected of participating in an early Monday morning armed robbery of a West Street Shell gasoline station in which two clerks were pistol-whipped.

Police Capt. Thomas E. Charette said the two clerks suffered minor injuries in the assault, which was reported about 3:20 a.m. at the Shell station at 95 West St.

One of the four suspects pistol-whipped the clerks - one suffered a direct blow and the other, a grazing one - after seeing one of them activate an alarm, Charette said.

A second suspect served as lookout by the door of the service station and two others remained in their vehicle during the armed robbery, Charette said.

Responding police followed the suspects’ vehicle to the Liberty Heights neighborhood in Springfield where the suspects fled on foot. Police arrested one of the suspects on Gold Street and a second suspect who was hiding in nearby woods, Charette said.

Charette, citing the nature of the ongoing investigation, declined, for now, to release the names of those arrested. He said both are from Springfield and that one of them served as the lookout and the other was one of the two who waited inside the vehicle.

Both have been charged with armed robbery and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

“The other two are still at large,” Charette said.

Tsongas is the only woman in Massachusetts' congressional delegation and is the first major Democratic political figure to endorse Warren.

Associated PressHarvard Law professor and consumer advocate, Democrat Elizabeth Warren, center, talks with supporters at the J & M Diner in Framingham, Mass., Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011, during her first day of campaigning for a shot at challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Scott Brown in 2012 for his U. S. Senate seat.

BOSTON — Elizabeth Warren hoped to bolster her position as frontrunner in the Democratic Senate primary race, picking up her first major endorsement a day after a new poll showed voter support for her and incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown about even.

U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas endorsed the Harvard law professor and consumer advocate Monday, calling Warren "a fighter for middle class families."

"In the Senate, she will fight to level the playing field so that working families in Massachusetts and across the country get the opportunities they deserve," Tsongas said.

Tsongas, the widow of former U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas, is the only woman in Massachusetts' congressional delegation and is the first major Democratic political figure to endorse Warren. The endorsement came as a new poll showed Warren is in a far better position to unseat Brown than the other Democratic hopefuls.

The UMass Lowell-Boston Herald poll showed Brown getting 41 percent of the vote and Warren receiving 38 percent, signaling a close race more than a year before the first ballots are cast.

Warren was the strong favorite of the six Democratic candidates when pollsters surveyed potential Democratic primary voters. She garnered 36 percent of the vote while none of the other five got more than 5 percent.

Brown said he wasn't troubled by the poll.

"I'm going to continue to do my job and work on the very important things that people care about and that's jobs, job creation," Brown told reporters after attending a Statehouse hearing Monday. "I'm not worried about polls, never have been."

The same poll also showed that about 59 percent of Massachusetts voters said they were either "dissatisfied" or "angry" with Republican policies overall in Congress.

Brown said he was also dissatisfied, and tried to cast himself as an independent voice beholden to neither party.

"I don't work for (Democratic Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid or (Republican Senate Minority Leader) Mitch McConnell. I work for the people of Massachusetts and will continue to do just that," Brown said.

"I've been disgusted by what's going on down there and been very, very vocal about it," Brown added. "We're all Americans first. We need to stop putting partisan politics and individual agendas ahead of what's important and that's putting people back to work."

Although her poll numbers are relatively high for a candidate who jumped in the race just last month, Warren is still largely a novice on the campaign trail.

Her first big test comes Tuesday night at the first major Democratic primary debate when Warren will be just one of six candidates vying for the chance to take on Brown next year.

Warren will be sharing the stage at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell with City Year youth program co-founder Alan Khazei; immigration attorney Marisa DeFranco; state Rep. Tom Conroy; Newton resident Herb Robinson; and Robert Massie, who unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor in 1994.

The debate will also be a chance for the other Democratic candidates to try to blunt the momentum Warren has enjoyed in the past few weeks.

Democrats are eager to pick the strongest candidate to defeat Brown, who won a special election last year to take control of the Senate seat held by the late Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy for nearly half a century before his death from brain cancer in 2009.

Brown still has some strengths heading into the election.

He remains one of the state's most popular political figures with 52 percent of voters saying they view him favorably.

And even though Warren is the strongest of the Democratic candidates, about a third of Massachusetts voters said they've never heard of her.

The poll surveyed 1,005 registered voters in Massachusetts by landline and cell phone from Sept. 22 through Sept. 28. The margin of error was 3.8 percentage points, higher for smaller samples such as potential Democratic primary voters.

Romney called on Perry to address the name of the Texas hunting camp.

Associated PressRepublican presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, left, passes behind Texas Gov. Rick Perry during a break in a Republican presidential debate Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, in Tampa, Fla.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is criticizing rival Rick Perry for what he calls "offensive" language in the name of a Texas hunting camp his family once leased.

Romney told Sean Hannity's radio show Monday that he found the camp's name, Niggerhead, inappropriate and called on Perry to address it.

Perry's campaign has said Perry's father painted over a rock with the camp's name soon after he began leasing the site in the early 1980s. The campaign says the Texas governor and his family never controlled, owned or managed the property.

The Washington Post reported Sunday that the origins of the name were unclear and there was no definitive account for when and how the name first appeared on rock at property's gate. But it hasn't spared Perry criticism.

The accident occurred on Maple Street, near Main Street, at about 5 p.m.

Republican file photo

SOMERS - An 8-year-old boy was fatally injured Monday night in a bicycle accident on Maple Street, Connecticut state police said.

The accident, which occurred near Main Street, was reported about 5 p.m. Trooper Kelly Grant said it appears that the boy fell off his bicycle although investigators have yet to rule out the possibility that a vehicle may have been involved.

The boy was taken by helicopter to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Grant could not confirm a report in the Hartford Courant that stated the boy had not been wearing a helmet

According to court documents, the murder of Joseph Cernauskas was planned for weeks.

EAST BROOKFIELD - Jason Lopez, accused of murdering Joseph Cernauskas, an elderly Hardwick resident, was ordered held without right to bail during his arraignment Tuesday in Western Worcester District Court in East Brookfield.

Lopez, along with his best friend, 21-year-old Jonathan Hart, of Barre, have been charged with murder, arson, home invasion and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person over 60. Cernauskas was Hart's great-uncle, and, according to court documents, the murder was planned for weeks.

Hart remains in Florida, where he is in custody. It is not yet known when he will be arraigned.

Lopez, 19, lives at 24D Highland Village, Apt. D, in Ware. He said nothing and was expressionless during the arraignment before Judge Robert Gardner. His hair is dyed pink. His next court date is Nov. 4 for a pretrial conference. He also was ordered held without right to bail on a felony larceny of a motor vehicle charge.

Prosecutor Christopher P. Hodgens described the events which led to the murder charge, starting with the suspicious fire at Cernauskas' remote home at 151 Off Maple St. in the Wheelwright section. Hodgens said Cernauskas was a lifelong resident, and was nowhere to be found when firefighters and police arrived at the burning home on Sept. 6. His van also was missing.

There was a puddle of blood on the outhouse floor, along with bloody bedding items and a bloody pillow.

The 1999 Town & Country van was found three days later at an elderly housing complex off Church Street in Ware. Hart's grandmother, Helen Hart of North Brookfield, also contacted police because she said Hart had left with her car, a 1996 Dodge Stratus,and wanted it back.

The car and Hart and Lopez were found in Florida, and Hodgens said Lopez confessed to the "stabbing death" of Cernauskas and trying to cover it up. Lopez was represented by Attorney Jaclyn Greenhalgh for the arraignment.

More details are coming on Masslive and The Republican.

E. Henry Twiggs is unopposed for re-election.

E. Henry Twiggs

SPRINGFIELD - Ward 4 City Councilor E. Henry Twiggs has announced that Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and state Treasurer Steve Grossman are slated to speak at his re-election campaign kick-off on Thursday at the Student Prince Restaurant.

The event is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. at the restaurant on Fort Street.

Twiggs is unopposed on the ballot for the Ward 4 seat.

Twiggs is the longtime chairman of Springfield’s Democratic City Committee and a veteran civil rights activist.

Christie had spent the past few days reconsidering his long-time refusals to run for the GOP presidential nomination.

Associated PressNew Jersey Gov. Chris Christie answers a question as he and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels speak to a gathering at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J. , Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011.

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has decided not to run for president, sources close to the governor said Tuesday, refusing to bow to pressure from GOP donors, fans and luminaries clamoring for another option in the search for a strong Republican to challenge President Barack Obama next fall.

His decision means that three months before voting is set to begin, the Republican race remains focused on two men — former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

Christie's decision, scheduled to be announced at the New Jersey statehouse in early afternoon Tuesday, was revealed by sources close to the governor who spoke on grounds of anonymity to avoid pre-empting his announcement.

Christie, the famously blunt, budget-cutting governor in office not even two years, had spent the past few days reconsidering his long-time refusals to run for the GOP presidential nomination in light of encouragement from GOP leaders.

The governor stoked the speculation with a high-profile speech last week at the Ronald Reagan presidential library in Simi Valley, Calif., where he reiterated that he wasn't running for president, and a tour to help raising money for Republicans in Missouri, California and Louisiana.

Encouragement from Henry Kissinger, Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush led him to reconsider a bid, and he spent the weekend thinking over his options.

Christie's announcement comes as a new national poll shows Perry's support dropping after weeks of defending his Texas record and businessman Herman Cain rising following a much-praised debate performance. The Washington Post-ABC survey shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney regaining the lead, though his support remains in the same place it's been for months — the mid-20s.

The push for new candidates like Christie and the quick rise and fall of others — like Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and real estate mogul Donald Trump, who also flirted with a presidential bid — reflect continued discomfort in the GOP with Romney. He has been steadily campaigning since he lost in the 2008 primary but hasn't been able to sway skeptical conservatives who make up the party base.

Police said the suspect had crack squirreled away inside the sleeve of his sweater.

Gabriel Rivas

SPRINGFIELD – Police said they arrested a 27-year-old man on cocaine-related charges in the North End Monday afternoon after seeing him make a drug transaction while sitting near the entry way of a building on Lowell Street.

Gabriel Rivas was ordered held in lieu of $5,000 cash bail following his arraignment in district court.

Officer John Wadlegger saw the suspect sit on a wall, near 101 Lowell St., at about 4:30 p.m., reach into his left sweater sleeve and retrieve several items which he placed on the wall, according to a press release issued by Springfield police.

Wadlegger then saw a female sit down next to him and place cash on the wall. She then took the items, the suspect grabbed the cash and both went on their way.

Police arrested Rivas in front of 74 Lowell St. and they found 3.6 grams of crack cocaine squirreled away inside his sleeve.

Rivas, of 26 Demond St., was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and violation of a drug-free zone.

He denied the charges in court and was ordered to return on Nov. 3 for a bindover hearing.

The state House of Representatives approved a casino bill during one day of debate.

BOSTON - Today's planned casino debate is being postponed in the Massachusetts Senate.

Sen. Karen E. Spilka, an Ashland Democrat, moved to table the casino bill, preventing any debate today. The bill will be taken up again on Thursday at 1 p.m.

Spilka said she has concerns about the broad impacts the bill will have on neighborhoods and that she has filed amendments to enhance local protections and wants to ensure that members have the appropriate time to consider those amendments, according to a spokesman for Senate President Therese Murray.

The casino bill authorizes three casino resorts around the state including one for anywhere in the four counties of Western Massachusetts. The state House of Representatives has already approved a similar bill.

This is the third time the casino bill has been tabled. Traditionally in the Senate, three times is the limit.

In 2009, voters approved a $1.68 million property tax override for fiscal 2011, but just over $1.2 was levied.

Amherst Town Hall

AMHERST – As the Select Board fine tunes its budget policy guidelines for 2013, board member Alisa V. Brewer said she wanted residents to know the board has no plans to ask for a Proposition 2 ½ override.

In 2009, voters approved a $1.68 million property tax override for fiscal 2011, but just over $1.2 was levied. For the current fiscal year, the additional money was levied.

 Also the Select Board does not want to use money from reserves to pay for ongoing expenses.

The board hopes to have the guidelines finalized either at its meeting Oct. 24 or on Nov. 7.

Members want to consider possible changes Oct. 17 after the annual four-board meeting Oct. 13.

At that meeting, the Select Board, Jones Library Board of Trustees, and school and finance committees will meet talk about the upcoming budget. At that meeting financial officials will provide an early look at what the town could be facing for the new fiscal year that begins July 1, 2012 and provide preliminary budget scenarios.

The board’s overall philosophy, according to the working guideline draft, is to view fiscal suitability in a multi-year context.

“The Select Board recognizes that further reductions in service scope across many or all departments will be necessary…and we consider broad reductions across departments preferable to elimination of any specific program categories,” the draft reads.

The town’s current budget is $62.3 million.

Town officials are hoping to bring in additional revenue “through expanded arrangements” with the University of Massachusetts and the Amherst and Hampshire colleges.

Board member Diana B. Stein said she strongly supports solar power generation and other green initiatives as way to boost economic development.

Town officials are currently working on a plan to develop a solar facility at the town’s closed landfill.

Brewer said she’s also like to see officials regularly review existing fee structures.

Board member Aaron P. Hayden said he favors spending 10 percent of the tax levy on capital improvements and purchases, which had been the recommendation of the Joint Capital Planning Committee years ago.

But since 2008 when 7.2 percent of the levy was allocated to capital, the amount has been reduced, as more money has been needed for the operating budget.

The board, according to the draft, “remains committed to trying to incrementally increase the percentage” to 10.

Once finalized, the guidelines will be provided to the Town Manager, who must present a budget by Jan. 16 according to the Town Government Act.

"It's a long-time tradition. It's definitely one of the most special events of the year," Old Mill Pond Elementary School teacher Cathy M. Simonko said about "grandparents and special friends" week.

PALMER - Brady L. Stahelski had his grandmother and babci with him, and Grace M. Braskie had her "Mickey Mouse grandma."

It was "Grandparents and Special Friends Week" at Old Mill Pond Elementary School recently, and visitors to first grade teacher Cathy M. Simonoko's classroom on Sept. 16 were able to help the pupils with various activities for an hour.

"It's a long-time tradition. It's definitely one of the most special events of the year," Simonko said.

"t's nice for (the grandparents and special friends) to see how school has changed," Principal Jacqueline Haley said.

Simonoko's class led off the visit with songs such as "These are Grandma's glasses" and "Grandma Moses was sick in bed." The pupils had their visitors help them design family trees and "apple guys" out of construction paper, and make bead bracelets.

Simonoko said many of the grandparents and special friends enjoy the day so much that they end up volunteering at the school afterward.

Brady, who said having his grandma and babci with him was "really fun," was intent on creating his apple guy.

"It's fun to watch the kids and their enthusiasm. I'm very proud," said his grandmother, Sharon L. Osborne, of Sturbridge.

His babci, Kathi M. Stahelski, of Palmer, has been to grandparents day before, with Brady's older sister, Madison. She said she enjoys being in school with her grandchildren.

"I'm bursting with pride," Stahelski said.

Brady revealed that the class had been practicing the songs for "three weeks" to prepare for the special day.

Donald T. and Marcia T. Degnan, of Palmer, have been attending grandparents week events at the school for the past nine years. This time, they were with their grandson, Austin M. Degnan.

"We wouldn't miss it," Marcia Degnan said.

Taryn C. DeJoinville had her grandparents Paula and Edward DeJoinville, of West Springfield; her grandmother Dianne M. Rice, of Ware; and great-grandmother Betty A. Martins, of Three Rivers, helping her make family trees.

"I came last year and had a good time," Martins said.

Shirleen Perniciaro watched her grandson Giovanni Perniciaro create his apple guy. She came all the way from Frankfurt, N.Y., a three-hour drive.

"This is fantastic . . . It's great that they have this," she said.

Grace, who calls her grandmother Diane L. Meffen, of Monson, "Mickey Mouse Grandma," was busy with her family tree. Meffen said she was thrilled to be in the class as she was curious about it, and had wanted to meet Simonoko, whom she had heard "great things about."

"This is great fun. I'm actually thrilled," Meffen said.

Five jurors were selected from a pool of 120 people.

SPRINGFIELD – Jury selection resumed Tuesday in the trial of Eric B. Denson, the 22-year-old city man charged with killing a Cathedral High School soccer star during a birthday party in a crowded bar in 2010.

A second group of prospective jurors were brought at 10:45 a.m. to be interviewed by Judge Peter A. Velis and lawyers for the defense and prosecution in Hampden Superior Court.

Five jurors were selected Monday during a day-long hearing, with another 115 were excused. Velis said he hopes to seat the remaining seven jurors and two alternates by the end of Tuesday.

The jury is scheduled to tour the Blue Fusion night club on St. James Avenue, Wednesday, before opening arguments are to take place. Conor Reynolds, 18, was stabbed to death in the Springfield bar while intervening in a fight on March 13, 2010. A second Cathedral student, Peter D’Amario was wounded with a knife during the altercation.

Denson is facing one count of first-degree murder and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

A helicopter carrying at least two people plunged into the river Tuesday afternoon

Update: NYPD officials are saying four of the five occupants have been rescued but one remains unaccounted for.

NEW YORK (AP) — The NYPD says a helicopter with four people aboard has crashed into the East River.

Police spokesman Paul Browne says the helicopter went into the river off 34th Street.

He says the chopper is submerged in the water.

Channel 2 CBS TV in New York City is broadcasting live footage from the crash scene over its website.

Worcester area sewer district fined for poisoning fish, Michelle Obama's Africa Vacation Cost More Than $432,142, Giant Asteroid Vesta Has Mountain Taller Than Anything on Earth, and more

AP Photo/Jae C. HongMichelle Obama arrives for the inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

• Hadley second-grader wins contest by growing 44-pound pumpkin [GazetteNet.com]


• Amherst-based start-up Localocracy acquired by Huffington Post [GazetteNet.com]


• Worcester area sewer district fined for poisoning fish [Telegram.com]


• Investigators: Drug abusers exploiting Medicare benefit [Telegram.com]


• Michelle Obama's Africa Vacation Cost More Than $432,142 [USNews.com]


• Giant Asteroid Vesta Has Mountain Taller Than Anything on Earth [Space.com]


• Culprit sought after whale shot, washes up [CapeCodOnline.com]


• BofA shares drop to lowest level since March 2009 [Reuters.com]


• Twitter posts tagged #westernma in Western Mass. [MassLive.com]


• Read more News Links »


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Although the city has 60 days to file a written application for reimbursement, it's anyone's guess if and when the money will arrive.

The Republican | Mark M. MurrayPart of Route 5 in Northampton flooded, thanks to Tropical Storm Irene.

NORTHAMPTON – The city must wait and see if it will receive any money for havoc wreaked by Tropical Storm Irene after giving an official from the Federal Emergency Management Agency a tour of the damage.

On Monday, Department of Public Works Director Edward S. Huntley ushered the federal official to sites across the city that included the Meadows, Maines Field, Musante Beach and River Road in Leeds. All sustained damage as a result of the storm, which swelled the Mill River to a record height and caused flooding throughout much of its course. Huntley estimates the total damage at $150,000-$200,000. The federal agency could pay up to 70 percent of that cost.

“We spent a few hours looking at different fixes that need to be done in the field,” Huntley said Tuesday.

Maines Field suffered some erosion when the Mill River jumped its banks and flowed through the area for hours. Further upstream, the river just missed flooding River Road but succeeded in washing away some of the curbing and embankment. The Connecticut River, which crested a few days later, tore away many of the channel markers that the city put out to designate boating lanes on the river. The Office of Planning and Development is submitting paperwork to the Federal Emergency Management Agency seeking reimbursement for that as well.

Although the city has 60 days to file a written application for reimbursement, it’s anyone’s guess if and when the money will arrive. Huntley said the city still has not been paid for federal money promised after a snowstorm in January.

In a related matter, the City Council on Thursday will take up a recommendation to appropriate $10,000 for overtime in the Department of Public Works related to the storm. Huntley said the actual amount of overtime totals $17,000, but he was able to pay some of that cost from other accounts.

Stocks regained some ground after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank can take more steps to stimulate the economy.

Associated PressA flag flown upside down, indicating distress, adorns a post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

By DAVID K. RANDALL
AP Business Writer

NEW YORK — Stocks are closing with a late afternoon rally on reports that European officials were working on a plan to prop up the region's struggling banks.

The jump erased earlier losses that put the S&P 500 index through the threshold indicating a bear market. Concerns about Greece's debt sent the market down in early trading. Stocks regained some ground after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank can take more steps to stimulate the economy.

The Dow closed with a gain of 153 points, or 1.4 percent, to 10,809. The S&P 500 gained 25, or 2.2 percent, to 1,124. The Nasdaq rose 69, or 3 percent, to 2,405.

Two stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume was heavy at 6.9 billion shares.

Police charge that Mitchell stood in the door as a lookout while Mendoza pointed a gun at clerks and demanded cash from the register.

Chicopee police photoFrom left: Augustine Mendoza, Forrest Mitchell

This is an update of a story that was originally posted at 9:24 a.m. Tuesday

CHICOPEE - Two Springfield men are in custody in connection with the Tuesday morning armed robbery of the Shell gas station, 95 West St., in which two clerks were struck in the face with a pistol, police said.

Police charged Augustine Mendoza, 20, and Forrest Mitchell, 19, both of Springfield with armed robbery and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, said Chicopee police Capt. Thomas E. Charette.

Mendoza was arrested following a police pursuit that ended in Springfield shorly after 3:30 a.m. Mitchell was able to get away from police initially, but he later surrendered at police headquarters, Charette said.

Police had determined Mitchell’s identity and went to his house in Springfield at about 5:30 p.m. but only his mother was home. His mother later persuaded Mitchell to give himself up, he said.

Police charge that Mendoza and Mitchell entered the store shortly before 3:20 a.m. Mitchell stood in the door as a lookout while Mendoza pointed a gun at clerks and demanded cash from the register, Charette said.

When one of the clerk attempted to trigger an alarm, Mendoza struck them each with his gun, Charette said. Each suffered minor injuries.

The pair then ran out of the store and around the corner where they got into a car, Charette said.

Moments after the robbery was reported, a Chicopee police officer spotted a car with four occupants near the scene. When he tried to pull over, it sped off with the officer in pursuit.

It crossed into Springfield into the Liberty Heights neighborhood where it stopped and the four occupants got out and fled on foot.

Mendoza and an other of the four were captured at the scene and taken into custody.

Charette said police charges against the other suspect were ultimately dropped because police could not find any evidence to show he knew the robbery was happening while he sat out in the car.

Charette said the case remains under investigation.


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Obituaries from The Republican.

Francis McLaughlin

Francis Ambrose McLaughlin, 91, a lifelong resident of Springfield, passed away on Sunday. Born in Chicopee, he was employed by the Springfield City Library as a maintenance engineer and retired after many years of service. He then began volunteering at the Springfield Ronald McDonald House. He proudly served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of Mary Mother of Hope Church in Springfield.

Obituaries from The Republican:

• Adamski, Francis T.
  




• 
  Agron, Beatriz
  



• 
  Andersen Sr., Roger D.




• 
  Beebe, Theresa B. "Terri" (LaPointe)
  



• 
  Belanger, Ruth A.
  




• Burakiewicz, Linda
  




• 
  Burden, Patricia C. "Pat" (Brown)
  



• 
  Connaughton, Assunta "Susie" (Mencaroni)




• 
  Cope, Glen William
  



• 
  Creighton, Marcia Elizabeth (Humphrey)
  




• Fritz-Matonis, Victoria
  




• 
  Gilmore, John D.
  



• 
  Jenkins, William R.




• 
  Jevons, Dean Alfred
  



• 
  Kirsner, Elaine (Ringold)
  




• Labine, Rita C. (Talbot)
  




• 
  Loiselle, Janice (Sulisz)
  



• 
  McLaughlin, Francis Ambrose




• 
  Moriarty, James R.
  



• 
  Prucnal, Henry "Hank"
  




• Quatrano, Laura A. (Cusson)
  




• 
  Sakiewicz, William F.
  



• 
  Sapelli, Antonetta C. "Toni"




• 
  Skazenski, Helen
  



• 
  Snow Jr., Donald M.
  




• Stephen, Francis G.
  




• 
  Thormeyer, Rita Margaret (Whitenett)
  



• 
  Waterman, Dorothy Joan




• 
  Zurawski, Richard F.
  

The private chopper went into the river off 34th Street in midtown Manhattan. It's unclear what happened, but witnesses reported it was sputtering and appeared to be in some type of mechanical distress

AP Photo/WCBS-TVIn this frame grab image taken from WCBS-TV, survivors cling to the bottom of a helicopter after it inverted following a crash in the East River in New York, Tuesday Oct. 4, 2011. The New York Police Department says the helicopter with five people aboard crashed into the river after taking off from a nearby heliport. The pilot and three others were pulled from the water shortly by rescue crews after it went down. Authorities were still searching for one other passenger, believed to be female, but the helicopter was fully submerged.

This is an update of a story first posted at 3:44 p.m. Tuesday

NEW YORK (AP) — A helicopter with five people aboard crashed into the East River on Tuesday afternoon after taking off from a launch pad on the riverbank, killing one and seriously injuring at least two others.

The pilot and three others were pulled alive from the water by rescue crews shortly after the chopper went down. The body of a woman also on the Bell 206 helicopter, which was submerged in the murky water, was recovered later, police spokesman Paul Browne said.

The private chopper went into the river off 34th Street in midtown Manhattan. It's unclear what happened, but witnesses reported it was sputtering and appeared to be in some type of mechanical distress.

A massive rescue effort had been under way with a dozen boats and divers down into the cold, grey water before the woman's body was recovered.

The conditions of those who were rescued weren't immediately available. The fire department said at least two people on board were taken to area hospitals in serious condition.

Joy Garnett and her husband were on the dock waiting to take the East River ferry to Brooklyn when they heard the blades of a helicopter and saw it start to take off from the nearby helipad. She said she saw it do "a funny curlicue."

"I thought, 'Is that some daredevil move?'" she said. "But it was obviously out of control. The body spun around at least two or three times, and then it went down."

She said the chopper had lifted about 25 feet off the ground before it dropped into the water without much of a splash. It flipped over, and the blades were sticking up out of the river. She said people on the dock started throwing in life jackets and buoys. Two people came up out of the waves.

"It didn't make much noise," she said. "It was just a splash and sunk."

The weather was clear but a little windy Tuesday, with winds of 10 mph gusting to 20 mph and visibility of 10 miles, according to the weather station at LaGuardia airport. There were a few clouds at 3,500 feet above sea level, well above the typical flying altitude for helicopters.

Carlos Acevedo, of Puerto Rico, was with his wife at a nearby park area when they saw the helicopter go down.

"It sank fast," he said. "In seconds. Like the water was sucking it in."

Lau Kamg was leaving a dentist's office and was walking nearby when he saw the chopper go down, and he said it appeared to be in distress.

"The sound got my attention," he said. I saw it splash."

The chopper, a Bell 206 Jet Ranger, is one of the world's most popular helicopter models and was first flown in January 1966. They are light and highly maneuverable, making them popular with television stations and air taxi companies. A new one costs between $700,000 and $1.2 million.

On Aug. 8, 2009 a small plane collided with a helicopter over the Hudson River, on the other side of Manhattan, killing nine people, including five Italian tourists. A government safety panel found that an air traffic controller who was on a personal phone call had contributed to the accident.

The Federal Aviation Administration changed its rules for aircraft flying over New York City's rivers after that collision. Pilots must call out their positions on the radio and obey a 161 mph speed limit. Before the changes, such radio calls were optional.

Earlier that year, an Airbus 320 airliner landed in the Hudson after hitting birds and losing both engines shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport. The flight, U.S. Airways Flight 1549, became known as the Miracle on the Hudson plane.

The river has been closed to commercial boating traffic, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

View East 34th Street Heliport in a larger map

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