Drug Dealer In New Haven-To-Fitchburg Trafficking Ring Gets 10 Years In Prison Drug Dealer In New Haven-To-Fitchburg Trafficking Ring Gets 10 Years In Prison
Drug Dealer In New Haven-To-Fitchburg Trafficking Ring Gets 10 Years In Prison An ex-convict from Hamden was sentenced to over 10 years in prison and eight years of post-supervision release for his part in a narcotics trafficking ring.  Frank "FL" Carr, 53, provided a kilogram of cocaine to the leader of a drug trafficking network in March of 2019 and sold crack-cocaine to undercover FBI agents on two occasions in May and June, according to the office of U.S. Attorney John H. Durham. Carr sold 78 grams of crack to agents for $3,000 during one of these exchanges, police said.  On July 9 of 2019, Carr and 24 other individuals associated with the "Island B…
Local Firefighters To Be Honored For 'Outstanding' Heroism Local Firefighters To Be Honored For 'Outstanding' Heroism
Local Firefighters To Be Honored For 'Outstanding' Heroism A dozen local firefighters are being honored for saving lives - even at their own peril - by the 2020 Heroic Awards Committee, which recognizes outstanding acts of heroism and bravery. On Monday, Dec. 14, Fitchburg Fire Chief Anthony Marrama said that Firefighter Roger Ortiz will be recognized for his “extraordinary rescue of a trapped woman down a ladder under extremely difficult conditions during the 4-alarm fire” at 7 Beekman St. in September 2019. “The Fitchburg Fire Department is both humbled and proud to once again have its members honored at these esteemed awards. Congratulation to a…
Son Gets 13 Years In Prison For Selling Fatal Drug-Dose; Father Pleads Not Guilty Son Gets 13 Years In Prison For Selling Fatal Drug-Dose; Father Pleads Not Guilty
Son Gets 13 Years In Prison For Selling Fatal Drug-Dose; Father Pleads Not Guilty A city man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for his role in an alleged father-son drug dealing team that sold a lethal dose of fentanyl in Massachusetts. On Wednesday, Dec. 2, Anthony Baez, 32, of Fitchburg, was sentenced to 156 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman. Baez had pleaded guilty to a raft of drug dealing charges in July, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts. The investigation that led to Baez’s sentence began in September 2018 following a fatal overdose in the Fitchburg area. Law enforcement l…
COVID-19: 9 New Central, Western Mass Communities Turn 'Red' - Local Data COVID-19: 9 New Central, Western Mass Communities Turn 'Red' - Local Data
Covid-19: 9 New Central, Western Mass Communities Turn 'Red' - Local Data Nine more Central and Western Massachusetts communities have been added to the state’s COVID-19 “red” list as infection rates climb across the state and nation. This week, Nov. 27, there are 31 Central and Western Massachusetts communities in the red - meaning that they are at the highest risk to spread the virus. Last week, Nov. 19, there were 21. The week before that, Nov. 12, there were 9. This week, the Massachusetts average daily COVID-19 rate per 100,000 people was 34.9. Newly added to the red list are Belchertown, East Longmeadow, Leicester, Millbury, Monson, Paxton, Rutland, Sutt…
COVID-19: 'Red' Communities More Than Double In Central, Western Mass - Local Rates And Trends COVID-19: 'Red' Communities More Than Double In Central, Western Mass - Local Rates And Trends
Covid-19: 'Red' Communities More Than Double In Central, Western Mass - Local Rates And Trends The number of COVID-19 “red” communities has more than doubled in Central and Western Massachusetts since last week, according to the most recent state data, Thursday, Nov. 19. Last week there were 9 Central and Western Massachusetts communities in the red. Now there are 21: Blackstone, Chicopee, Clinton, Douglas, Fitchburg Hampden, Holyoke, Lancaster, Leominster, Ludlow, Lunenburg, Milford, Northbridge, Southbridge, Southwick, Springfield, Sterling, Templeton, Uxbridge, West Springfield, Winchendon. To see local rates and trends, scroll to the end of the article. Among the red communitie…
COVID-19: Number Of Red Communities Triples In Central, Western Massachusetts COVID-19: Number Of Red Communities Triples In Central, Western Massachusetts
Covid-19: Number Of Red Communities Triples In Central, Western Massachusetts The number of COVID-19 “red” communities has tripled in Central and Western Massachusetts since last week, according to the most recent state data, Thursday, Nov. 12. Last week, Nov. 6, there were 3 - Fitchburg, Ludlow, and Springfield. Now there are 9 - Chicopee, Clinton, Fitchburg, Holyoke, Leominster, Milford, Springfield, Uxbridge, and West Springfield. In a bit of good news, the COVID-19 rate in Ludlow dropped low enough to get the city removed from the red list. However, the rates in Fitchburg and Springfield went up. Massachusetts has changed the system for local COVID-19 rates…
COVID-19: Only 3 'Red' Communities In Western/Central MA Under New System COVID-19: Only 3 'Red' Communities In Western/Central MA Under New System
Covid-19: Only 3 'Red' Communities In Western/Central MA Under New System Massachusetts has changed the system for local COVID-19 rates and infections in a move Gov. Charlie Baker will provide cities and towns with a more accurate picture of the risk. Last week (Oct. 30) there were around 30 red cities and towns in central and western Massachusetts.  In this reporting period (Nov. 6), there are 3: Fitchburg, Ludlow, and Springfield. Baker cited the influence the state’s reporting has on whether a community’s schools offer in-person, a hybrid, or distance learning. The governor has said that too many schools have been making the switch to distance learning e…
Central/Western Mass Businesses Fined For Labor Law Violations Central/Western Mass Businesses Fined For Labor Law Violations
Central/Western Mass Businesses Fined For Labor Law Violations Nearly 13,000 Massachusetts employees were cheated out of $6 million in unpaid wages and benefits, according to the Attorney General Maura Healey's annual round-up of fair labor actions. Among the companies cited in the AG’s Labor Day Report are 8 businesses or franchises in Western and Central Massachusetts. Fees and penalties were assessed to local construction and health care companies as well as national chain restaurants. Statewide, in 2020 Healey’s Office won or negotiated for the payment of more than $12 million in restitution and fees from companies over violations such as paying …
COVID-19: Town-By-Town Rates And Trends For Worcester County COVID-19: Town-By-Town Rates And Trends For Worcester County
Covid-19: Town-By-Town Rates And Trends For Worcester County A little more than one-third of Massachusetts cities and towns are “red” and considered high-risk for the transmission of COVID-19. Of the 122 red Massachusetts communities, 18 are in Worcester County: Athol, Auburn, Bolton, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Hubbardston, Leicester, Leominster, Mendon, Milford, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Webster, West Boylston, Westborough, and Worcester. As of Thursday, Oct. 29, there are now 122 red municipalities reporting high numbers of new COVID-19 cases every day for the past 28 days. The “red” refers to the color-coded system Massachusetts i…
COVID-19 Outbreak Cluster Traced Back To One Church COVID-19 Outbreak Cluster Traced Back To One Church
Covid-19 Outbreak Cluster Traced Back To One Church About 30 new cases of COVID-19 have been connected to a single church. And anyone who attended services on the day of the outbreak is being asked to monitor themselves carefully for signs of COVID-19. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, Health Department officials in Fitchburg said that they are tracking 28 confirmed cases of COVID-19 connected to the Crossroads Community Church on Ashby State Road in Fitchburg. Fitchburg Director of Public Health Stephen D. Curry said that the services and programs at the church on and around Sunday, Oct. 18 were the catalyst for the infections. Dubbed the “Crossroads …
Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest
Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest The downpour that soaked the region on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 29-30, deposited 1.5-2 inches of rain, but still, much of southern Massachusetts is experiencing extreme drought. According to state data released Thursday, Oct.1, nearly 30 percent of the state is experiencing “extreme” drought - the second highest degree of drought tracked by the state. The worst degree of drought is “exceptional.” The ranking goes, from least to most drought-like conditions, are None, Abnormallly Dry, Moderate Drought, Severe Drought, Extreme Drought, and Exceptional Drought. In…
Undercover Officer Busted Child Pornographer; Many Victims Under 12 Undercover Officer Busted Child Pornographer; Many Victims Under 12
Undercover Officer Busted Child Pornographer; Many Victims Under 12 A Fitchburg man has admitted to making and distributing child pornography with numerous victims younger than 12 years old. He was caught due to an undercover officer. Ryan Decarolis, 27, of Fitchburg, pleaded guilty on Monday, Sept. 21, in U.S. District Court, to five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts. Decarolis was busted by an undercover officer, according to court documents. In 2019, law enforcement agents had taken over the s…