Pittsfield, MA
Police & Fire
Firefighters Rescue Dogs From Burning Western Mass Home Firefighters Rescue Dogs From Burning Western Mass Home
Firefighters Rescue Dogs From Burning Western Mass Home Firefighters in Berkshire County rushed into a burning home Monday morning, Sept. 18, to rescue two dogs who were trapped inside, authorities said.  Fire Crews were called to 365 West Housatonic St. in Pittsfield just before 8:30 a.m. after multiple people called 911 to report smoke pouring from the home, the Pittsfield Department said. One of the callers told firefighters that the homeowners weren't home, but two dogs were stuck inside.  When firefighters arrived, it was as callers reported. The bungalow-style home was engulfed in flames.  Fire crews began to attack th…

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by Josh Lanier
Pittsfield, MA
Police & Fire
27-Year-Old Stabbed Man To Death In Pittsfield: Police 27-Year-Old Stabbed Man To Death In Pittsfield: Police
27-Year-Old Stabbed Man To Death In Pittsfield: Police Police in Berkshire County have arrested a 27-year-old and charged him with the stabbing death of a man on a Pittsfield street earlier this week. Police said it was a targeted attack.  Josiah Helmer, of Pittsfield, was charged with murder in the fatal stabbing on Tuesday, Sept. 12, Pittsfield police said.  Police were called to the area near the intersection of Melville and First Streets around 10:45 p.m., where they found a 42-year-old man bleeding and barely alive, Pittsfield police said. Paramedics rushed him to Berkshire Medical Center, where he later died of his wou…

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by Josh Lanier
Pittsfield, MA
Police & Fire
Man Stabbed On Street In Western Mass Dies In Hospital: Police Man Stabbed On Street In Western Mass Dies In Hospital: Police
Man Stabbed On Street In Western Mass Dies In Hospital: Police Police in Berkshire County said a man was stabbed on a Pittsfield street Tuesday night, Sept. 12, in what investigators believe was a targeted attack, officials said.  Officers were called to the area near the intersection of Melville and First Streets around 10:45 p.m., where they found the man bleeding and barely alive, Pittsfield police said.  Related: 27-Year-Old Charged In Fatal Pittsfield Stabbing Paramedics treated him as they rushed him to Berkshire Medical Center, where he later died of his wounds.  The man's name is not being released as police make th…

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by Josh Lanier
Pittsfield, MA
News
2 Drivers Cut From Cars Following Western Mass Crash: Police 2 Drivers Cut From Cars Following Western Mass Crash: Police
2 Drivers Cut From Cars Following Western Mass Crash: Police Authorities in Berkshire County had to cut two people from their cars after a crash in Pittsfield on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 10.  Police were called to the intersection of Lakeway and Valentine Roads just before 1:30 p.m. after a Hyundai SUV and a Subaru crashed into one another, Pittsfield police said.  An initial investigation said the Subaru ran the westbound stop sign and crashed into the northbound SUV, Pittsfield police said.  The impact knocked the Hyundai onto its driverside, and the car slid into the side of the road, authorities said. Firefighters had to extri…

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by Josh Lanier
Hudson, NY
Police & Fire
Double-Fatal Crash: Man, Woman Struck By Compact SUV In Capital Region Crosswalk Double-Fatal Crash: Man, Woman Struck By Compact SUV In Capital Region Crosswalk
Double-Fatal Crash: Man, Woman Struck By Compact SUV In Capital Region Crosswalk Police are investigating a horrific double-fatal overnight crash in the region. It happened around 8:20 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 near the New York/Massachusetts border in Columbia County, in the town of New Lebanon. New York State Police said an investigation determined a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek operated by Western Massachusetts resident Erica C. Florin, age 36, of the town of Lee in Berkshire County, was eastbound on US Highway 20 when she struck two pedestrians in the crosswalk. Troopers and responding emergency medical service personnel attempted life-saving measures, but both victims were …

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by Joe Lombardi
Pittsfield, MA
Police & Fire
State Police Shoot, Kill Man After 911 Call In Western Mass State Police Shoot, Kill Man After 911 Call In Western Mass
State Police Shoot, Kill Man After 911 Call In Western Mass State police killed a man in the Berkshire County town of Hancock Saturday morning, Sept. 9, following a 911 call.  The call came in just before 7 a.m., and police responded to a home on Richmond Road, state police said. It is unclear who made the call to authorities or why.  During an "interaction" with a man at that address, a police officer fired his service weapon and fatally wounded the man, police said.  State police have released few details beyond that, asking that all questions go through the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office as they are handling the inves…

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by Josh Lanier
Pittsfield, MA
News
Mosquitoes In Western Mass Test Positive For West Nile Virus; Here's How To Protect Yourself Mosquitoes In Western Mass Test Positive For West Nile Virus; Here's How To Protect Yourself
Mosquitoes In Western Mass Test Positive For West Nile Virus; Here's How To Protect Yourself Health officials in Massachusetts are urging people to take precautions after testing confirmed the presence of West Nile Virus. In Berkshire County, weekly samples of mosquitoes collected in Pittsfield found two instances of West Nile Virus, the state health department revealed Friday, Sept. 8. One positive sample was taken from the Pittsfield Cemetery, and the other came from the Pittsfield Airport. West Nile Virus is most commonly spread to humans through mosquito bites in the fall months when the insects are most active, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…

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by Michael Mashburn
Amherst, MA
Police & Fire
Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Killing Motorcyclist In Western Mass Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Killing Motorcyclist In Western Mass
Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Killing Motorcyclist In Western Mass A Berkshire County woman told a court on Tuesday, Aug. 22, that she was not at fault in the death of a 66-year-old Colrain motorcyclist she had a wreck with earlier this year, authorities said.  Melissa C. Repka, 38, is charged with vehicle homicide by negligent operation and failure to yield the right of way in connection with the crash that killed Greg Herzig, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. A judge ordered Repka not to drive a vehicle for the duration of the trial.  Police said Repka had pulled her rented Jeep Grand Cherokee to the side of Route 2 in…

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by Josh Lanier
Pittsfield, MA
Police & Fire
3 Hospitalized, 1 In Critical Condition, Following Western Mass Head-On Crash: Cops 3 Hospitalized, 1 In Critical Condition, Following Western Mass Head-On Crash: Cops
3 Hospitalized, 1 In Critical Condition, Following Western Mass Head-On Crash: Cops A head-on collision in Berkshire County sent three people to the hospital Saturday, Aug 12, with one woman needing to be airlifted to save her life, authorities said.  The crash happened around 1 p.m. at 635 Merrill Rd. in Pittsfield, police said.  A 52-year-old Pittsfield man in a pick-up truck driving north collided with a Subaru heading in the opposite direction, police said. Officials did not say who was at fault.  The three people in the Subaru — Parkpoom Seesangrit, 34, Phannee Seesangrit, 61, and Krobkul Seesangrit, 35, all of Pittsfield — were inj…

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by Josh Lanier
Pittsfield, MA
Police & Fire
Wanted Kidnapper Busted After Caught Speeding In Western Mass: Police Wanted Kidnapper Busted After Caught Speeding In Western Mass: Police
Wanted Kidnapper Busted After Caught Speeding In Western Mass: Police If you're a wanted man, it pays to obey the speed limit. At least, that's what a convicted kidnapper wanted for a parole violation in Berkshire County found out this week.  Arthur Jones III was arrested on Sunday, Aug. 6, following a routine traffic stop in Hinsdale, Hinsdale police said.  The officer pulled Jones over for speeding just after 4 p.m. and realized he had an active warrant for his arrest, authorities said. The vehicle was also unregistered and had incorrect registration plates. Jones was convicted in 2014 of kidnapping, assaulting, and robbing his boss at the&n…

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by Josh Lanier
Pittsfield, MA
News
Rare Endangered Plant Found Growing In Western Mass For First Time Rare Endangered Plant Found Growing In Western Mass For First Time
Rare Endangered Plant Found Growing In Western Mass For First Time Botanists rejoice. A plant that has never been seen in Massachusetts before was spotted growing in Berkshire County. Meet the pine-drops plant.  Amateur botanist Syke van der Laan discovered while hiking in the Berkshires recently. He wasn't sure what it was but realized its significance and alerted the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, who were thrilled at the find.  “The discovery of a new native plant here in Massachusetts is extraordinary,”  said MassWildlife’s State Botanist Robert Wernerehl. “We have more active professional botanists per square mil…

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by Josh Lanier
Pittsfield, MA
News
Injured Hiker, Lost Partner Rescued From Woods In Western Mass Injured Hiker, Lost Partner Rescued From Woods In Western Mass
Injured Hiker, Lost Partner Rescued From Woods In Western Mass A couple who were injured and lost in a heavily forested area of Berkshire County had to be rescued when they couldn't find their way out, authorities said.  The ordeal began Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 1, in Goshen. A hiker left their home for a walk through the forest but hurt themselves. Their significant other went looking for them when they didn't return home after several hours.   The hiker needed to be carried out, and their partner wasn't sure which path would lead them to salvation, Goshen firefighter said. They called rescue workers just before 9 p.m. Responders hiked …

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by Josh Lanier