With Thursday's primary on the horizon, here are profiles of the candidates running for state representative in the 11th Hampden District.

"The Town ... has no comment about the executive session or any consideration or action the Town may take in the future," Wilbraham Town Administrator Nick Breault said in an email to The Republican.

WILBRAHAM — Town officials are keeping mum about a complaint against a Fire Department employee who is the subject of a closed-door meeting Wednesday.

The Board of Selectmen will hold an executive session to discuss the complaint, a related "investigative report," and whether to take action against the employee, according to a public meeting notice. The meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Town Hall.

Town Administrator Nick Breault said Tuesday he did not have "any information about the dates of when the nature of or outcome of the executive session may be made public." But any actions taken or considerations made during the session will be in accordance with the law, he said.

"The Town will comply with the laws governing executive sessions and public records," Breault said in an email to The Republican. However, town officials will not be commenting about the executive session "or any consideration or action the Town may take in the future," he added.

Meetings of public bodies must be open to the public, but certain matters -- disciplinary, criminal or mental health issues, for example -- may be discussed in closed executive sessions, according to the attorney general's office.

Public bodies are not required to release minutes, notes, or other materials used in executive sessions if their disclosure would "defeat the lawful purposes of the executive session," the state's Open Meeting Law says.

If disclosing the information would no longer defeat the purpose of the executive session, such records and materials must be released unless they are protected by attorney-client privilege or exempted under the state's Public Records Law.

The Wilbraham Fire Department has over two dozen full-time employees.

As many as 14,000 people are expected over the Sept. 9 and 10 event.

CHICOPEE - The city's expanded block party will be offering a music lineup that will keep people entertained from nearly the start to finish of the two-day festival.

The event, renamed the Chicopee Downtown Get Down, is an expansion of last year's Chicopee Block Party. Parts of Center, Springfield and Exchange streets will be blocked off and the event will be held Friday and Saturday.

"It is a pro-business, pro-community event to showcase all the positives of downtown Chicopee. It was a successful event last year and we decided to expand it to two days this year," said Joel McAuliffe, communications director for Mayor Richard J. Kos.

The Downtown Get Down will run from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. A total of eight bands will perform for about two hours each to cover nearly all the time of the festival.

"We've got the perfect mix of covers and original music," said McAuliffe, who organized the event's entertainment. "Trailer Trash, Back in Black, and Livio are regional favorites that have played just about every local festival event in the area. They have a very loyal following and we are very excited to have them at the Get Down."

The lineup includes country and rock music. Saturday headliner Back in Black is a AC/DC heavy metal cover band and Friday's headline band is country favorite Trailer Trash, he said.

Last year the Chicopee Block Party attracted more than 7,000 people and many told city officials they hoped it could continue. This year city officials are hoping to double the number of participants to 14,000, McAuliffe said.

Along with the bands there will also be a martial arts demonstration, dance demonstrations and a variety of activities for children including a magic show and clowns. There will be more than 25 different booths from food vendors and those selling arts and crafts.

"It is an excellent event and everyone should come," McAuliffe said.

The main sponsor is Chicopee Savings-Westfield Bank and there are dozens of other businesses and community organizations which have donated to put on the festival.

Last year the Block Party was funded in part with an about $7,500 state grant which was more than doubled through donations. The grant was not available this year but organizers have been able to solicit enough donations to fund the entire event, City Planner Lee Pouliot, who is one of the organizers, said.

The event is being organized by city employees with the help of the Fest of All committee, which ran a food festival in Szot Park for eight years and now assists non-profit groups to put on events, McAuliffe said.

The group is still looking for volunteers who will do a variety of jobs including helping with traffic and cleaning. Pouliot said anyone interested should call his office at 594-1516 and he will set them up with a job that fits their interests.

There will be plenty of on-street parking and businesses have offered to allow visitors to park for free in their lots on Friday night and Saturday. The Elms College has also offered its overflow lot for additional parking on Fairview Avenue. There will be signs directing visitors to lots and police, community emergency response team members and other volunteers will be available to help visitors, he said.

The Friday music schedule is: West Overtones 1 to 3 p.m.; West Summit, 3 to 5 p.m.; Livio Gravini, 5 to 7 p.m. and Trailer Trash, 7 to 9 p.m.

The Saturday schedule is: Ken Stearley & the Goat Roapers, noon to 2 p.m.; Sam Pursey Music Trio, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Greg Hall & The Barnhouse Band, 4:30 to 7 p.m. and Back in Black, 7 to 9 p.m.

The four officers include Daniel Ryan, a Southwick police officer who grew up in Wilbraham and graduated from Minnechaug Regional High School.

WILBRAHAM — The town has hired four new police officers, all of whom must fulfill various requirements before officially coming to work in this community of over 14,000 residents.

Start dates have not been selected for the officers, who were interviewed by the Board of Selectmen on Aug. 24. The field of seven candidates was whittled down to four: Daniel Ryan, Steven Glenn, Mark Shlosser and Brian Strong.

Ryan, a Southwick police officer, had the home field advantage. He grew up in Wilbraham and graduated from Minnechaug Regional High School, according to The Hampden-Wilbraham Times.

All applicants were required to have a high school diploma, valid Massachusetts firearms license, and first-responder certification. They also had to pass medical exams, extensive background checks, and physical agility tests and must complete police academy training if they have not done so already.

After meeting all state and department requirements, they will begin working for the Police Department at a date to be determined by Chief Roger Tucker. The starting annual salary for the position is almost $53,000.

Bay State judges deport illegal immigrants at a rate 20 percent lower than the national average and more than 50 percent lower than the Massachusetts rate of a decade ago.

Bay State judges deport illegal immigrants at a rate 20 percent lower than the national average and more than 50 percent lower than the Massachusetts rate of a decade ago.

The state immigration court deports 26.9 percent of illegal aliens who come before it -- the lowest percentage in the nation, the Boston Herald reports. Comparatively, states like Texas, Georgia and North Carolina deport at respective rates of 62.4 percent, 71.4 percent and 79.1 percent.

Massachusetts also grants the third-highest percentage of asylum claims in the nation -- 75 percent -- according to a Department of Justice report.

Just 10 years ago, more than 80 percent of asylum seekers were rebuffed by the same state immigration court. According to a source cited by the Herald, judges now give greater weight to whether a person has children in the U.S. and likewise grant more asylum claims on the basis of a generalized fear of violence in their home country.

The data used in the Herald report came from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. This year's Massachusetts data was based on 4,713 cases completed last year by the immigration court.

The victim was reportedly shot in the head and chest at Worthington and Armory streets.

SPRINGFIELD -- A man, shot in the head and chest Tuesday night at Worthington and Armory Streets, was reportedly in critical condition at a city hospital.

Sgt. John Delaney told WWLP the victim was shot while standing outside a car. It occurred shortly before 10 p.m.

 

Witnesses told detectives that two suspects ran down Armory Street.

Capt. Brian Keenan said Wednesday morning that no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Springfield Police Detective Bureau at (413) 787-6355. Those who wish to remain anonymous may text a tip via a cell phone by addressing a text message to "CRIMES," or "274637," and then beginning the body of the message with the word "SOLVE."

This is a developing story. Additional information will be published as it becomes available.

ITT Tech is closed around the country due to pressure from the federal government. Two location closings in Massachusetts have left 500 students in financial limbo.

Classes have started for everybody except ITT Tech's 35,000 students, who were told yesterday that the educational service company would be shutting down all of its 130 campuses, including two in Massachusetts.

ITT Tech closed due to increasing pressure and sanctions from the federal government. President Barack Obama has led a crackdown on for-profit colleges, which in many cases leave students with defunct degrees, piles of debt and non-transferable credits, the Associated Press reported.

The chain was banned from enrolling new students in Aug. 25, because those students would take out federal loans, burdening taxpayers with paying for those degrees.

The Department of Eduction in Massachusetts told Channel 5 that there were more than 500 Massachusetts students enrolled in ITT Tech when the closing hit, and 101 of those students were veterans. Channel 5 also reported that those students received $2 million in federal Pell Grant loans.

Students who visit the Wilmington and Norwood locations will find empty parking lots and locked doors.

The six running in Thursday's primary for the 3rd Hampshire District seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives are Vira Douangmany Cage, Sarah la Cour, Solomon Goldstein-Rose, Bonnie MacCracken, Eric Nakajima and Lawrence O'Brien.

AMHERST -- The six Democratic candidates for the 3rd Hampshire District seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives have spoken at forums and on television, they've knocked on thousands of doors, held signs and will continue campaigning until polls close Thursday night.

With the finish line in sight, the candidates running for the seat held by Amherst Democrat Ellen Story for 24 years say it's difficult to know who has the lead.

The six running in Thursday's primary are Vira Douangmany Cage, Sarah la Cour, Solomon Goldstein-Rose, Bonnie MacCracken, Eric Nakajima and Lawrence O'Brien. 

"(With) no valid scientific poll information about each candidate's standing, it's incredibly difficult to tell who is ahead," O'Brien wrote in an email. "Consequently, I'll be working the polls until they close at 8 p.m., trying to turn out definite and 'leaning toward' O'Brien voters."

At a recent forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Amherst, Goldstein-Rose said he thought he was leading.

In an email, he said he based that opinion "on data from our canvassing and phone calling operations." He said his campaign has not done any outside polling, but staff have "personally talked with 4,000 likely voters and the numbers have been fairly consistent over the whole summer."

3rd Hampshire state representative race: Democratic candidate profiles

He said results will depend on "getting out the vote and who ends up showing up on Thursday -- I'm expecting that it will end up fairly close, possibly down to a few votes."

La Cour said she and her campaign workers are calling voters to remind them to get out to vote as well. "It is definitely hard to tell who might have an advantage at this point," she said.

Nakajima agreed. "We're getting a very good response from our outreach and feel some momentum," he said. "Absent polling, it's hard to say how that compares with the other candidates. But, I feel good about our campaign and we'll keep at it until the polls close on Thursday."

"I am still out there talking to voters and will continue today and tomorrow. Still feeling very good about my chances," Bonnie MacCracken said in an email.

"I am approaching Thursday's election with a sense of elation that a small group of people can inspire political activism, creating something so wonderful, inclusive and pluralistic in the ways in which we experience the world and each other," Cage said in an email. "I am quietly preparing myself that we will win and at the same time not taking anyone or any vote for granted."

Amherst Town Clerk Sandra Burgess said she expects to see more than 25 percent of registered voters turn out. The town comprises the largest part of the district that includes Pelham and Precinct 1 in Granby.

In an email, Burgess wrote, "I think there could easily be a 25 percent voter turnout - probably busier based on the number of absentee ballots we have seen voted. Not a sure thing but can be used, somewhat, as an indicator of interest in the election.

In Amherst, 19,270 are registered, including inactive voters, for the primary.

In Granby, there are 4,565 registered voters, with 2,410 in Precinct 1. Town Clerk Katherine Kelly-Regan said she is expecting just about 12 percent turnout, with a slightly higher percentage in Precinct 1 because of the race. Precinct 2 falls in state Rep. John W. Scibak's district.

Polls in all locations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Republican asked candidates to respond to eight questions, and links to all of their responses can be found here.

Morning commuters can expect a major slowdown this morning as several major highways are routes are grinding to a halt.

Morning commuters can expect a major slowdown this morning as several major highways are routes are grinding to a halt.

Most of the slowdowns are emanating from routes into and out of Boston.

According to MassDOT.com, drivers on I-90 westbound, I-93 southbound, I-95 northbound and Route 3 northbound are all seeing speeds of less than 30 mph.

Slowdowns on I-90 are occurring near the on-ramps by Westborough and through to Boston. Route 3's issues are backed up near the route 53 on-ramps, with speeds fluctuating between less than 30, and up to 40 mph on the way to Boston.

I-93's slowdowns are backed up all the way between Methuen and Boston, with speeds also fluctuating between 30 and 40 MPH. Drivers on I-95 shouldn't expect major issues until they pass through Canton on their way to Boston.

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Gov. Charlie Baker is joining Walgreens executives on Wednesday at one of the drug store chain’s Massachusetts locations to announce the first statewide safe medication disposal program.

QUINCY, Mass. - Gov. Charlie Baker is joining Walgreens executives on Wednesday at one of the drug store chain's Massachusetts locations to announce the first statewide safe medication disposal program.

The Quincy store, located at 418 Quincy Ave., will have one of 13 drug take-back kiosks across the state, a "new effort to fight substance misuse," according to the Baker administration.

Quincy is a suburb south of Boston. The Patriot Ledger reported in late July the city was seeing five drug overdoses per week, "up about a third compared to the rate in 2015."

Walgreens is installing 500 kiosks in 39 states and Washington, D.C., mainly at stores that are open 24 hours a day.

"Walgreens pharmacists play an important role in counseling patients on the safe use of their medications, and now we are leading the way in retail pharmacy's fight against prescription drug abuse," Richard Ashworth, the chain's president of pharmacy and retail operations, said in a statement when the kiosks were first announced earlier this year.

"We understand the challenges our communities face, and we stand ready to help our patients and customers lead healthier lives," he added. "When the stakes are this high, the solutions must be comprehensive."

Baker's health and human services chief Marylou Sudders, Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch and local legislators are also expected to attend the medication disposal program announcement..

Walgreens is also making naloxone available without a prescription in 35 states, including Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. Commonly referred to as Narcan, naloxone can reverse the effect of an opioid drug overdose.

Mass. launches revamped prescription drug monitoring program

The RiverMills Center has plenty of parking, is accessible to the disabled and is air conditioned.

CHICOPEE - Voters in Ward 4 are moving to a new polling place for Thursday's primary election.

The City Council voted tTuesday nigh to permanently move the voting location to the RiverMills Senior Center on West Main Street Tuesday. The vote was mostly a formality since the Council had already given preliminary approvals for the change, City Councilor James K. Tillotson said.

Residents of both precincts of Ward 4 will vote at the RiverMills Center. The polling place for the ward has been shuffled around over the past few years from the former Chicopee High School to the First Central Baptist Church.

Last year it was returned to the former Chicopee High School, now named the Dupont Middle School, but "Dupont was a disaster," City Councilor William Zaskey, who represents Ward 4.

Some voters reported voters faced problems with parking and some simply gave up and did not cast ballots, he said.

Zaskey, City Clerk Keith Rattell and Council on Aging Director Sandra Lapollo worked together to move the polling place to the new RiverMills Center on West Main Street.

Rattell said the spot is ideal because there is ample parking, the building is completely accessible to the disabled, it is air conditioned and the city can showcase the year-old center when people are voting.

All registered voters in the ward have been mailed post cards informing them of the new location, Rattell said.

Democratic Sen. Eric Lesser has raised $135,116, and Ludlow Republican James "Chip" Harrington has raised $37,881 in the First Hampden and Hampshire District race.

Democratic Sen. Eric Lesser has jumped out to an early fundraising lead against Ludlow Republican James "Chip" Harrington as the candidates prepare for an election day showdown in the First Hampden and Hampshire state senate district.

Lesser, the freshman senator and Longmeadow native who won his seat in 2014 after working as a White House aide for President Barack Obama, raised $135,116 from Jan. 1 through Aug. 21, according to a campaign finance report filed with state regulators last week.

"Our fundraising has been very successful," said Megan Corrigan, a spokeswoman for Lesser's campaign. "I think Eric and I are very happy with how much the campaign has raised so far. We're very proud of our numbers."

Harrington, a Ludlow business owner and part-time police officer who switched from the Democratic to Republican party earlier this year, took in $37,881 during the same time period. His fundraising was bolstered by an endorsement from Gov. Charlie Baker, who has headlined two of Harrington's fundraisers.

Harrington said Baker's support has been key in drawing support, leading to a much quicker start than his 2014 campaign for state Senate, in which he lost to Lesser during the Democratic primary.

"Fundraising for my campaign has been going fantastic," Harrington said. "When I compare where I was two years ago to where I am now, it's a completely different universe."

Lesser's political opponents, both in 2014 and in this year's race with Harrington, have often seized on out-of-state donations to his campaign as a point of criticism. Harrington, in a video released earlier this summer, accused Lesser of seeking funding from Washington, DC with an eye on a future career in national politics.

Lesser's latest numbers show a shift toward in-state fundraising, though Harrington still raised a higher percentage of his funding from within Massachusetts.

At this point in the 2014 race, Lesser had raised 38 percent of his itemized contributions in-state, 18 percent from Washington, DC and 11 percent from California. This year, 70 percent of Lesser's war chest has come from Massachusetts, 16 percent from California and 2 percent from Washington.

Corrigan said that since taking office, Lesser has spent nearly all his time in-state, and has not held the Washington fundraisers which boosted his funding in 2014. He has held a fundraiser in California, and a mixture of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and former Obama administration officials have contributed from the Golden State.

"We received a substantial number of donations from Silicon Valley," Corrigan said. "When Sen. Lesser worked at the White House he worked with people from all over the country. Those people have been following his innovative work around high-tech manufacturing and high-speed rail. They've been excited to support his candidacy."

Lesser's California boosters include Uber advisor and former Obama strategist David Plouffe, who was Lesser's boss during the 2008 presidential campaign; Instagram COO Marne Lavine; Google public policy manager and former Obama official Alex McPhillips; and Steve Spinner, a Silicon Valley angel investor, Obama fundraiser and former Department of Energy official who was linked in news reports to a $535 million loan for the now-defunct solar company Solyndra.

Harrington has raised 98 percent of his itemized contributions -- those above $50 -- from within Massachusetts. He touted his $12,130 in sub-$50 contributions, saying his higher level of small-dollar support showed the grassroots nature of his campaign.

"I'm the Bernie Sanders in this campaign," Harrington said. "I'm that guy that when I go to a house party, they're giving me $20, $30, under $50 because that's what they can afford. Those are my friends."

He recommitted to his criticism of Lesser as a political careerist, saying that despite Lesser's increased level of in-state funding much of that money is drawn from Boston, not the district. He also questioned Lesser's use of a Washington-based political consulting firm, saying that his campaign had spent its money in Western Mass. -- with Springfield-based Get Set Marketing and local political consultant Ryan McCollum.

"He's got one foot outside the district in Boston, and he can't wait to get his next foot down to DC to continue his career down there," Harrington said.

Corrigan disputed the accusation, saying that Lesser was dedicated to representing his district and noting Lesser had raised more money within the district than Harrington's $37,881 in total funding.

"It's just not true," Corrigan said. "What I would say to that is Sen. Lesser is working day in and day out for the people of Western Mass. He's raising his family here, he's from here and this job is completely his focus."

Both Harrington and Lesser have also raised funds from Western Mass. business owners and labor organizations.

Harrington has drawn donations from a number of local towing company owners and employees, including Craig Morel of C.J.'s Towing Unlimited, Eric Fouquette of Big Wheel Towing and William Johnson of Hampshire Towing. That funding is the result of Harrington's close relationship with Interstate Towing owner Jeremy Procon, who hosted a fundraiser and introduced Harrington to other towing industry players, Harrington said.

"They've been very supportive of my campaign," Harrington said.

Ludlow's Firefighters Local 1840 union and the Springfield-based International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local #364 have also contributed to Harrington's campaign.

Big Y CEO Donald D'Amour, Baystate Health CEO Mark Keroack and David Fontaine of Fontaine Brothers construction have lined up on Lesser's side of the ledger. He has also received contributions from Springfield's Carpenters Local 108 and Rep. Richard Neal's political action committee.

"I think it's an endorsement of Sen. Lesser's record and an endorsement of his open door policy and the fact that he's really connected with a lot of local leaders," Corrigan said. "They want to see a second term for Sen. Lesser because they know it means good things for Western Mass."

Harrington noted that his campaign kickoff, headlined by Baker, raised $22,000 -- more than half his funding so far. He also raised about $5,000 from an Aug. 17 fundraiser at Ludlow's Iron Duke brewery that featured an appearance by Baker.

Harrington said he hopes to raise another $40,000 to $50,000 for the campaign, and plans on having an ad presence on television, radio and print newspapers.

Neither Lesser nor Harrington have yet run ads on local television, according to Federal Communications Commission filings.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — A public hearing on a bridge replacement project is scheduled for 6 this evening in the auditorium of West Springfield Town Hall, 26 Central St. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, which last month held a meeting in Agawam on the project, is hosting tonight's design meeting in West Side. The session is intended to answer questions about...

WEST SPRINGFIELD — A public hearing on a bridge replacement project is scheduled for 6 this evening in the auditorium of West Springfield Town Hall, 26 Central St.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, which last month held a meeting in Agawam on the project, is hosting tonight's design meeting in West Side. The session is intended to answer questions about replacing the Morgan-Sullivan Bridge that connects West Springfield to Agawam. The vehicle bridge carries traffic over the Westfield River.

"The purpose of this meeting is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed bridge replacement project," MassDOT officials said.

On the West Springfield side of the bridge, the project calls for reconstructing the intersection of Route 147 (Memorial Avenue) at River Street. On the Agawam side, two intersections will be rebuilt: Route 147 (Springfield Street) at Walnut Street and Walnut Street Extension, and Route 147 at Route 75 (Suffield Street) and Route 159 (Main Street).

The work will also include minor roadway widening, traffic signal replacement, and safety improvements for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, according to MassDOT officials. "All views and comments made at the meeting will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible," transportation officials said in a public project notice.

Private or public lands may have to be acquired to accommodate the work, and MassDOT's land-acquisition policy will be discussed at the hearing. A state transportation engineer is slated to attend and project handouts will be available on the MassDOT's website.

In addition to tonight's public hearing, citizens may send comments to Patricia A. Leavenworth, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Bridge Project Management, Project File No. 605384. Written statements and comments will also be accepted at the West Side meeting.

Project inquiries may be emailed to dot.feedback.highway@state.ma.us.

The plan calls for a 9,180-square-foot store to be constructed at 235 Meadow St.

CHICOPEE - Developers redesigned construction plans for a new Family Dollar proposed for Willimansett, but ran into another snag that will delay development of the store.

Owners of HRES Meadow, LLC want to build a 9,180 square-foot store at 235 Meadow St., the location of the now-closed Krystle Kleen Auto Sales business.

Initial plans called for the store to have dead-end parking lot that was 187-feet long, which was longer than the 150 feet allowed by zoning regulations. Last month the Planning Board voted to table the request for a site plan approval while owners decided if they would redesign the lot or apply for a zoning variance.

Last week the business owners returned with new plans for the parking lot.

"We truncated the parking lot and now it is exactly 150 feet," Project Engineer Jeff Galarneau, of VHB, Inc. told the Planning Board.

The plans were also modified to correct a concern that trucks parked at the loading dock could block several parking spots creating a problem if customers were parked in those spots, he said.

The change modified the drainage system to ensure the store will still have enough parking spaces. It also eliminated any need to cut down mature trees that now serve as a buffer between the backyards of homes on nearby Gagne Street and the store, Galarneau said.

"We are now removing zero trees," he said, addressing previous concerns from neighbors. The company will also plant a row of six-foot arborvitae trees along the property line, which is required by zoning regulations, to give residents even more privacy.

But when examining the plan, City Planner Lee Pouliot said the turning radius allowed for delivery trucks was too tight to meet city regulations.

Galarneau argued that there would be more than enough room for trucks to turn and said it would be difficult to redesign the plans again and still meet requirements for drainage and parking spaces.

Pouliot said developers would again have to seek a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals if the plans are not changed.

Planning Board members said they could not approve a site plan which violated zoning regulations. The board voted 6-0 to table the plans until its November meeting to give developers enough time to apply for a variance and meet with the board, if they decided against redesigning the plans.
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Several months before his death, Cowell pulled a gun on Perkins and questioned him about a robbery, one of his friends told police. When Perkins denied involvement, "Jermaine put the gun down and both (men) went their separate ways."

SPRINGFIELD -- A Springfield man has been sentenced to 24 to 26 years in state prison after pleading guilty to a fatal shooting in the city's Forest Park section in 2014.

Travis A. Perkins, 23, admitted to voluntary manslaughter and two firearms counts during a plea change hearing Wednesday, pre-empting his trial on a first-degree murder charge.

His co-defendant, Brian C. Slater, 23, of Springfield, also pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Wednesday. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 21 in Hampden Superior Court.

Both men were charged in the shooting death of Jermaine Cowell, 27, outside the Golden Eagle apartments on White Street on July 19, 2014. At a pretrial hearing in June, Assistant District Attorney James Forsyth said he planned to argue that Perkins was the shooter and Slater participated as part of a joint venture.

The pair were arrested in October 2014 and held without right to bail. As the trial approached, their lawyers requested separate trials. In a motion, attorney David Rountree, representing Perkins, argued that Slater planned to blame his client for the shooting, thus "essentially acting as a second prosecutor" at trial.

Judge Tina S. Page rejected the requests, and the trial was scheduled for Wednesday.

After Perkins changed his plea, Judge Daniel Ford sentenced him to 19 to 20 years in state prison on the manslaughter charge and four to five years on a firearms charge. The second sentence is to be served after the first, Ford ruled.

In an interview last year, Cowell's father said his son was a massage therapist and father of a 5-year-old child.

Springfield detectives obtained a video of the shooting from a nearby store, court records state. After viewing the video, a close friend of Cowell's "eyes welled with tears" and he identified Perkins as the shooter, according to a police report summarizing the interview.

Cowell's friend described him as a marijuana dealer whose "phone was constantly ringing from customers," the report said.

Several months before, Cowell pulled a gun on Perkins and questioned him about a robbery, the friend said. When Perkins denied involvement, "Jermaine put the gun down and both (men) went their separate ways," the friend said, according to the report.

The water pipes that service the pre-World-War-II Lyman Terrace public housing complex in Holyoke, Massachusetts are 76 to 127 years old and have a history of breakages.

HOLYOKE -- Figuring out how to pay now for an extra $140,000 to replace aged water pipes in addition to the $503,000 worth of original system improvements in the $35 million Lyman Terrace renovation will save the city later, officials said.

"It's more cost effective," David M. Conti, Holyoke Water Works (HWW) manager, said Wednesday in a text message.

It makes sense while the excavation is occurring to install new pipes throughout the pre-World-War-II complex instead of having to address a burst pipe later by busting through recently paved areas, he said.

Water Works and the Holyoke Housing Authority (HHA), which owns the 18-building complex, have reached agreement on ensuring that water pipes that serve the complex at John, Front, Hampden and Oliver streets all get replaced during the renovation, according to Conti and Matthew A. Mainville, executive director of the Housing Authority.

Initial disagreements about the scope of the work apparently have been resolved with the help of a meeting of the City Council Public Service Committee on Aug. 29 involving Conti, Mainville and other representatives of their agencies.

"As discussed at the City Council Public Service Committee it seems a resolution has been identified. The HHA looks forward to continuing to work with the HWW to come to a shared resolution," Mainville said in an email last week.

Committee Chairman James M. Leahy said it didn't make sense to have an excavation take place that included trying to connect new pipes to ones that were over 100 years old.

"As we heard in the meeting they could have potential water main breaks that could cause sinkholes the size of the city street," Leahy said.

Construction began on Lyman Terrace in the late 1930s and finished in 1942.

Lyman Terrace has 167 units and about 400 tenants. It is in the Prospect Heights-Downtown Neighborhood bordered by Lyman, Front and John streets.

The renovation of Lyman Terrace began May 24.

Work will be done in phases. The first and ongoing step includes excavating and building new roads and sidewalks and installing new water and sewer lines and new street lighting. A $4 million MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant is funding this part of the renovation, officials have said.

The water pipes servicing Lyman Terrace need $643,000 in replacement work, Conti said in an email Sept. 1.

The pipes for Lyman Terrace at John and Front streets were installed in 1889 and are undersized and inadequate to provide necessary fire protection for the project, he said.

The pipes Hampden and Oliver streets were installed in 1940. At 12 inches in diameter, the pipes are of sufficient size but they are old, unlined cast-iron pipes, he said.

"In the past, the Holyoke Water Works has experienced numerous water pipe failures in Hampden, Oliver and John streets due to the age and condition of the pipes," Conti said.

The water system improvements at Lyman Terrace included in the bid for the job won by Geeleher Enterprises Inc. of Southampton, a site contractor and heavy equipment excavation company, was for $503,000 and didn't include replacing the pipes in Hampden and Oliver streets. Replacing pipes in those two streets adds another $140,000 in cost, he said.

Holyoke Water Works asked that all the water pipes in the Lyman Terrace renovation be replaced with new cement-lined, ductile iron pipe 8 inches in diameter, he said.

The Housing Authority argued that the $4 million MassWorks grant would not cover all the infrastructure improvements including replacement of all the water pipes. With the history of the area's history of pipe failures in mind, Holyoke Water Works agreed to contribute to the project and replace the water pipe in John Street while the project is underway, a job valued at $94,000, he said.

The Housing Authority compromised by agreeing to replace the water pipe in Front Street but not the pipes in Hampden and Oliver streets due to funding constraints under the state grant. The Housing Authority also agreed to replace the old water services for each of the housing units, he said.

"Currently, the Holyoke Water Works and the Holyoke Housing Authority are considering options to offset the pipe replacement cost of $140,000 in order to mitigate the risks of water main failure and property damage in Hampden and Oliver streets in the future," Conti said.

Mainville said the Housing Authority's "vigorous planning process" in plotting the Lyman Terrace renovation included numerous meetings with city agencies including Holyoke Water Works.

"The final scope of the MassWorks project was a result of incorporating each departments prioritized design elements," Mainville said.

After the contract was awarded to Geeleher Enterprises, Holyoke Water Works officials contacted the Holyoke Housing Authority to discuss further the age of the water pipes in Hampden and Oliver streets,he said.

"In an effort to better understand the issue and in an attempt to partner in a solution, the HHA met with the HWW on multiple occasions," Mainville said.

"The HHA and its engineers Tighe & Bond have a water distribution plan in place which will avoid prolonged water interruption to residents and also will minimize the impact of water quality issues in any construction scenario either full main replacement or installation of new water services," he said.

The Lyman Terrace revamp involves a combination of renovation and demolition that would reduce the number of units to about 156, increasing unit sizes to comply with handicapped-accessibility standards, officials have said.

Windows, doors, walls and floors have weakened, mold has spread on some surfaces, the complex lacks a designated trash area, heat reliability fluctuates in the winter and crime makes tenants fearful, officials and tenants said.

The authority has a plan to relocate Lyman Terrace tenants during the phased construction, Mainville has said.

Federal and city funds also will be used for the Lyman Terrace renovation. One source is government-funded tax credits. A tax credit is a funding mechanism in which an investor puts up money in return for a reduced tax liability.

City Councilor Justin Hurst said the council should not approve a new contract for district fire chiefs given a unresolved residency issue involving most chiefs living outside Springfield.

Justin Hurst (The Republican file) 

SPRINGFIELD -- At-large City Councilor Justin Hurst says the council should reject a new contract for district fire chiefs in Springfield, given that most members of the association are accused of being in violation of the city's residency requirement.

A new four-year contract is being proposed for the eight district fire chiefs and two other supervisors that would be retroactive to July 1, 2012, when the last contract expired. The new contract would appear to grant raises and then immediately expire, retroactive to July 1, 2016, according to a contract summary.

Hurst said it does not make sense to approve the contract as proposed by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, given that there is a citizen lawsuit filed against the city in Hampden Superior Court that accuses the city of failing to uphold a requirement for the district chiefs to live in Springfield.

"Furthermore, in light of everything that has taken place over the last year, I am stunned that a contract is even before us that does not include residency," Hurst said.

The Fire Chiefs Association of Springfield claims the residency requirement would need to be negotiated into the contract, and deny there is any violation.

The contract is on the City Council agenda for Monday. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

The city should not "reward" the five district fire chiefs, among eight district chiefs in Springfield, who live outside the city and are in violation of the residency ordinance, Hurst said.

"Our judicial system will decide this issue once and for all and the City Council should not vote on this contract until the court provides us with some guidance that everyone would agree is necessary," Hurst said. "The 10 citizens deserve to have their case heard in court without prejudice, and by voting on this contract we will be doing the complete opposite."

As proposed, the fire chiefs would get no raise for the first retroactive year of the contract, July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013.

That would be followed by a 2 percent pay raise effective July 1, 2013, a 2 percent pay raise effective July 1, 2014, an additional 1.5 percent pay raise effective July 1, 2014, which is said to be for "additional collateral duties," and a 2 percent raise retroactive to July 1, 2015. An explanation of collateral duties was not immediately available.

Three of the eight district chiefs were listed in April as living in Springfield. The other five district chiefs live in Belchertown, Palmer, Ludlow, Southampton and Hampden, according to April records.

William Mahoney, the city's director of labor relations and human resources, and Sarno were not immediately available for comment.

Hurst said that 10 captains on the Fire Department passed the most recent district chiefs' examination and five of those 10 currently live in Springfield. Some of the others could be willing to move to Springfield within a year of their hire in accordance with the law, he said.

Merge as soon as you know you are going to have to? Wait until the lane ends?

SPRINGFIELD -- A post last week on new highway technology planned for Interstate 91 set off quite a debate among MassLive readers.

At issue was what responsible motorists should do when their travel lane is ending due to construction. Is it best to merge right away or wait until the lane actually ends, then squeeze into the functional travel lane?

The matter came to a head because the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is piloting "dynamic merge" technology in an I-91 construction zone in Springfield. Dynamic merge systems include a number of traffic sensors connected to changeable electronic signs. The sensors measure traffic flow, then a computer changes the messages on the signs accordingly.

Readers reacted:

cden4 wrote:

Bob_R wrote:

"It all comes down to the boneheads who can't read signs that warn "LEFT LANE (rhymes with rain) ENDS (rhymes with depends) ONE MILE (rhymes with smile)!!"

meatyyoker3 wrote:

TonyC wrote:

"But it also means you don't have to stay in the left lane until the last possible spot, passing all the considerate drivers who merged earlier, and who you now expect to allow you into their lane."

So who is right? Let's check in with an expert:

"You want to merge as soon as possible," said Gerald Smith of Agawam Auto School, a veteran of 35 years teaching people how to drive. The proper procedure, according to Smith, should be:

• Put on your turn signal.
• Check your mirrors.
• Look over your shoulder to check your blind spot.
• Notice that another driver has courteously allowed you to merge.
• Merge.

Drivers who try to beat the system by speeding in the soon-to-end lane eventually run out of lane. Then the whole line of folks who merged earlier have to stop to let the drivers who are not in the proper lane back into the flow of traffic.

"If you wait until the very end, you might not be able to do it," Smith said. "Some people cheat, they wait until the very last second. Then the poor people who are doing the right thing pay the price."

MassDOT plans to explain dynamic merge at a meeting Sept. 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the third-floor conference room of the MassLive Building, 1350 Main St.

The outage was caused by an underground equipment failure. Power was restored by 5:45 a.m., a spokeswoman said.

George Graham | ggraham@repub.com 

SPRINGFIELD -- Some 365 Eversource customers in Springfield and Longmeadow lost power for approximately six hours overnight due to an underground equipment failure.

The outage was reported shortly before midnight and affected customers in the Tiffany Street area in Springfield and Dwight Road area in Longmeadow, Eversource spokeswoman Megan Bernardini said.

Power was restored about 5:45 a.m., Bernardini said.

Bill Morin, the man who rode 4,500 miles on his bicycle in order to thank first responders across the country, ended his journey Wednesday when he arrived in Boston.

BOSTON -- Bill Morin, the man who rode 4,500 miles on his bicycle in order to thank first responders across the country, ended his journey Wednesday when he arrived in Boston.

Morin began his "Twice Across America, The Thank You Tour" in the fall of 2015. He left Seattle and started his trip across the country.

Morin's goal was to thank every law enforcement officer, firefighter and member of the military he met during the trip.

The Boston Police Department Bicycle Unit escorted Morin to Boston Police Headquarters when his journey ended Wednesday.

"We would like to thank Mr. Morin for his tremendous gesture of kindness and for choosing to make his last stop here with us," the department wrote.