Springfield, MA
Police & Fire
UPDATE: Dog Reunited With Family After Rescued From Chicopee House Fire UPDATE: Dog Reunited With Family After Rescued From Chicopee House Fire
Update: Dog Reunited With Family After Rescued From Chicopee House Fire A major road in Chicopee was closed so firefighters could rescue a dog from a burning home, authorities said. Chicopee Fire responded to fire on Sitnik Avenue just after 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 31, the department said on Facebook. At approximately 2:06 p.m., crews were dispatched to a structure fire on Sitnik Avenue. All occupants were out of the... Posted by Chicopee Fire Department on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 Everyone inside the home was outside before crews arrived, Chicopee Fire said. The dog who was rescued from one apartment was reunited with its family.  The incident …

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by David Cifarelli
Amherst, MA
Lifestyle
Winning Ticket Of $31 Million Mega Millions Jackpot Sold In Western Mass Winning Ticket Of $31 Million Mega Millions Jackpot Sold In Western Mass
Winning Ticket Of $31 Million Mega Millions Jackpot Sold In Western Mass Only one winning ticket was sold in a multi-state lottery game with a $31 million jackpot – and that ticket was sold in Western Massachusetts, officials said. The Mega Millions ticket was sold at a Stop & Shop located at 40 George Hannum Street in Belchertown, the Massachusetts State Lottery announced after the drawing on Tuesday, Jan. 24. The winning ticket was sold at the Stop & Shop, located at 40 George Hannum Street in BelchertownGoogle Maps Street View The winning numbers on the lucky Quic Pic ticket were 33-41-47-50-62 and MegaBall 20. The Stop & Shop will get a $50,…

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by David Cifarelli
Springfield, MA
Police & Fire
Man Busted Weeks After Fatal Holyoke Hit-And-Run That Killed 22-Year-Old: Police Man Busted Weeks After Fatal Holyoke Hit-And-Run That Killed 22-Year-Old: Police
Man Busted Weeks After Fatal Holyoke Hit-And-Run That Killed 22-Year-Old: Police Police arrested a man in Springfield this week in connection with the hit-and-run death of 22-year-old Jorge Calderon, authorities announced.  Byron Salgado-Melendez was arrested in the Jan. 5 crash near the intersection of Cabot and Canal streets just before 8 p.m. Calderon was riding his bike when a car crashed into him and sped away. Paramedics took him to a nearby hospital, but doctors were unable to save his life.  Calderon died a week later from his injuries.   Related: Family Of Holyoke Hit-And-Run Victim Starts GoFundMe For Funeral Jorge Calderon…

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by Josh Lanier
Springfield, MA
Obituaries
5-Year-Old Boy Dies From Wounds In Christmas Eve Chicopee House Fire: Officials 5-Year-Old Boy Dies From Wounds In Christmas Eve Chicopee House Fire: Officials
5-Year-Old Boy Dies From Wounds In Christmas Eve Chicopee House Fire: Officials A 5-year-old boy who was seriously burned when a home caught fire in Chicopee on Christmas Eve has died, state officials said on Tuesday, Jan. 3.  Fire crews were called to a fire at a multi-family home at 759 Chicopee Street just after noon and were told the boy was trapped inside, the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal's Office said. Firefighters rushed inside and pulled the boy out, but he was seriously injured. They rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he fought for his life for several days before succumbing to his injuries.   State officials did not release the boy's na…

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by Josh Lanier
Springfield, MA
Police & Fire
New Year's Eve Shooting In Springfield Garage Leaves One Man Dead: Police New Year's Eve Shooting In Springfield Garage Leaves One Man Dead: Police
New Year's Eve Shooting In Springfield Garage Leaves One Man Dead: Police Springfield police are investigating a shooting in a parking garage on New Year's Eve that left a man dead, authorities said.  Police were clearing the Bridge Street Parking garage around 2 a.m. when they heard gunshots ring out and saw two men fighting, Springfield Public Information Officer Ryan Walsh tweeted on Tuesday.  At approximately 2:00 a.m. Saturday December 31 Springfield Police Officers were clearing the Bridge St. parking garage as late-night establishments were closing. Officers then heard gunshots and observed two men fighting on Bridge St. (1/6) — Ryan Walsh (@PIO_SPD…

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by Josh Lanier
Springfield, MA
Police & Fire
Woman In ICU Following Chicopee Crash; Fifth Person Hit By Vehicle There Since October Woman In ICU Following Chicopee Crash; Fifth Person Hit By Vehicle There Since October
Woman In ICU Following Chicopee Crash; Fifth Person Hit By Vehicle There Since October A woman remains in critical condition following a hit-and-run crash in Chicopee on Wednesday, Dec. 28, authorities announced. Reports like this have become all too common in recent months as this marks the fifth person hit by a vehicle in the city in the past three months, reports said.  The woman hit this week was struck just before 6 p.m. in the area near Broadway and Grove streets, Chicopee police said. The driver sped off, but a witness remembered the car's license plate. Officers tracked down the vehicle and the 41-year-old driver, who is now cooperating with the investigation, authori…

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by Josh Lanier
Springfield, MA
Police & Fire
3 Pets Die, 15 Displaced Following Christmas Eve Fire In Chicopee: Officials 3 Pets Die, 15 Displaced Following Christmas Eve Fire In Chicopee: Officials
3 Pets Die, 15 Displaced Following Christmas Eve Fire In Chicopee: Officials A dog and two cats lost their lives in a Christmas Eve fire in Chicopee that also displaced about 15 people, fire officials said. Chicopee Fire responded to the fire at 759 Chicopee Street just after noon on Saturday, Dec. 24, Chicopee Fire Chief Dan Stamborski and State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey report. Upon arrival, firefighters learned that one person was still inside the multi-family home.  Crews made their way into the building and rescued the person, who was seriously injured. They were immediately taken to an area hospital for treatment, officials said.  According to a GoFundMe …

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by David Cifarelli
Springfield, MA
Police & Fire
'Best Dad Ever' Turns Himself In For Killing Man With His Car In Chicopee: DA 'Best Dad Ever' Turns Himself In For Killing Man With His Car In Chicopee: DA
'Best Dad Ever' Turns Himself In For Killing Man With His Car In Chicopee: DA A 35-year-old Springfield man seemingly tried to impress a superior court judge by wearing his "Best Dad Ever" shirt during his arraignment on charges he drove over a Chicopee man last month and left him to die on the side of the road.  Eric St. Andre is accused of crashing into 60-year-old Gary Turcotte just before 5 p.m. on Nov. 30 as he made his way through a crosswalk in the 900 block of Chicopee Street, the Hampden District Attorney Office's said. Paramedics rushed Turcotte to Baystate Medical Center, but doctors couldn't save his life.  After weeks of investigation, officers got a wa…

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by Josh Lanier
Springfield, MA
Police & Fire
Suspected Crack Dealer Shot At Chicopee Cops During Raid: Police Suspected Crack Dealer Shot At Chicopee Cops During Raid: Police
Suspected Crack Dealer Shot At Chicopee Cops During Raid: Police Police said a suspected crack dealer shot at them as they tried to break down his front door during a raid this week.  Austin Colson faces 14 weapon and drug charges stemming from the Tuesday, Dec. 20, raid at his Belcher Street apartment, Chicopee police said.  Police officials said Chicopee narcotics officers and FBI agents with the gang task force knocked on Colson's door and announced their intentions, but after he refused to answer, they started to batter it down. That's when they heard a gunshot from inside the house, authorities said, and then the heavy footsteps of a man r…

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by Josh Lanier
Amherst, MA
Police & Fire
Gunman, Victims All Sentenced In Hadley Walmart Shooting: DA Gunman, Victims All Sentenced In Hadley Walmart Shooting: DA
Gunman, Victims All Sentenced In Hadley Walmart Shooting: DA A shooting at a Hadley Walmart bathroom in 2021 has landed the confessed gunman and his two victims in prison, authorities announced on Wednesday, Dec. 21.  Wilmer Alvarez-Vargas, 27, of Chicopee, has been held without bail since the Aug. 22, 2021, shooting that seriously wounded two teenagers, Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. A judge sentenced him to four years in state prison after Alvarez-Vargas pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury; unlawful possession of a firearm; unlawful pos…

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by Josh Lanier
Springfield, MA
News
Man Pleads Not Guilty To Killing 18-Year-Old Whose Body Was Found In Connecticut River Man Pleads Not Guilty To Killing 18-Year-Old Whose Body Was Found In Connecticut River
Man Pleads Not Guilty To Killing 18-Year-Old Whose Body Was Found In Connecticut River A 21-year-old man accused of killing an 18-year-old man and dumping his body in the Connecticut River pleaded not guilty to charges in connection with his killing, reports said. Elijah Melendez, of Holyoke, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in connection with the murder of Elis Vizcarrondo, also of Holyoke, on Monday, Dec. 19, MassLive reports.  Melendez was indicted on several charges including murder, carrying a firearm without a license and possessing a firearm without an FID card, the outlet continued.  Vizcarrondo was found in the Connecticut River in Chicopee after appearing…

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by David Cifarelli
Springfield, MA
News
Springfield Driver Charged With Killing 'Courageous' Chicopee Man: DA's Office Springfield Driver Charged With Killing 'Courageous' Chicopee Man: DA's Office
Springfield Driver Charged With Killing 'Courageous' Chicopee Man: DA's Office A Springfield man was formally charged with manslaughter in connection with a fatal accident that happened in Chicopee earlier this year, authorities said. Nazier Grandison, age 22, was charged with manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide stemming from the incident on Tuesday, Dec. 13, the Hampden County District Attorney's Office reports. Chicopee Police responded to a report of a pedestrian hit by a car in the 400 block of Springfield Street in Chicopee on Oct. 8, the office reports. Upon arrival, officers found Nickolas "Nick" Weichel, age 34, of Chicopee, dead at the scene. "Nick will…

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by David Cifarelli