Amherst, MA
Police & Fire
Driver Unharmed After Car Tumbles Into Western Mass Brook: Fire Officials Driver Unharmed After Car Tumbles Into Western Mass Brook: Fire Officials
Driver Unharmed After Car Tumbles Into Western Mass Brook: Fire Officials A driver avoided getting hurt after their car took a steep dive off a road and into a body of water in Western Massachusetts this week, officials said. Crews responded for a report of a motor vehicle over an embankment, on its roof and in a brook in Westhampton just after 6:30 on Monday, March 6, Northampton Fire Rescue said on Facebook.  Just after 6:30pm this evening, Engine 3, Car 4, Rescue 1 and A4 were dispatched to Loudville Road for a motor vehicle... Posted by Northampton Fire Rescue on Monday, March 6, 2023 Prior to arrival, the driver of the car was able to get out safely and…

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by David Cifarelli
Amherst, MA
Police & Fire
Hit-Run Driver Slams Into Northampton Building While Evading Arrest: Police Hit-Run Driver Slams Into Northampton Building While Evading Arrest: Police
Hit-Run Driver Slams Into Northampton Building While Evading Arrest: Police Northampton Police had their hands full when they responded to two separate hit-and-run incidents in one night this week. The first incident was reported when a vehicle crashed into another car then fled the scene around 6:20 p.m. on Friday, March 3, police said on Facebook. Officers tried stopping the vehicle, but it instead kept driving and crashed into a curb and popped several tires.  The car then drove over a median, through a traffic sign and crashed into another vehicle – but the chase did not stop there. Officers followed the car as it drove across someone's yard, down a dead end s…

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by David Cifarelli
Springfield, MA
Weather
Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather
Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather As heavy snows bear down on most of the Northeast Friday, March 3, several towns in western Massachusetts have implemented parking bans.  Related: Updated Snow Fall Predictions For The Northeast Here is a collection of some of those bans. Violators may have their vehicles towed and ticketed.  AGAWAM No parking is allowed from 12 a.m. Saturday, March 4 until 12 p.m. Saturday, March 4. AMHERST A parking ban on all town streets and lots begins at 12 a.m. Saturday and remains in effect until 7 a.m. However, parking is allowed in three areas.  The lower level of the parking …

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by Josh Lanier
Amherst, MA
Police & Fire
Quick-Thinking Tow Truck Driver Jumps To Aid Officers After Traffic Stop Turns Violent: Cops Quick-Thinking Tow Truck Driver Jumps To Aid Officers After Traffic Stop Turns Violent: Cops
Quick-Thinking Tow Truck Driver Jumps To Aid Officers After Traffic Stop Turns Violent: Cops Northampton officers have a tow truck driver to thank after he threw himself into a dangerous situation when he saw a suspect attacking cops earlier this week, authorities said.  Police pulled over a car on King Street just after 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27, because the vehicle's registration was revoked for having no insurance, Northampton police said. But the routine traffic stop quickly escalated when officers found a large amount of suspected heroin and cocaine inside the car. Police didn't release the driver or passenger's names.  Officers arrested the 53-year-old passenger …

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by Josh Lanier
Amherst, MA
Police & Fire
17-Year-Old From Western Mass Last Seen Leaving Retreat House Days Ago: Police 17-Year-Old From Western Mass Last Seen Leaving Retreat House Days Ago: Police
17-Year-Old From Western Mass Last Seen Leaving Retreat House Days Ago: Police Northampton Police are asking for the public's help in finding a missing teenager from Huntington who was last seen last week leaving a retreat home. Joshua West, age 17, was last seen leaving a house at the Retreat at Norwich Lake on Thursday, Feb. 16, according to department's Facebook page. Joshua West, A 17 year old male is reported missing out of Huntington, Ma. Joshua is 5' 9", 130 pounds and last seen... Posted by Northampton Police Department on Sunday, February 19, 2023 Joshua is described as 5-foot-9, weighing 130 pounds and was last seen wearing blue jeans, sneakers, a red…

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by David Cifarelli
Dorchester, MA
Schools
'Swatting' Hoax Threats Send Multiple Massachusetts School Into Lockdowns 'Swatting' Hoax Threats Send Multiple Massachusetts School Into Lockdowns
'Swatting' Hoax Threats Send Multiple Massachusetts School Into Lockdowns Multiple Massachusetts schools have been forced into lockdowns because of fake gun and bomb threats, otherwise known as "swatting" incidents, over the past four days.  "Swatting" is defined as "the action or practice of making a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address," according to Oxford Language.  These incidents have seen an uptick across the Commonwealth in the wake of the deadly shooting at the Michigan State University on Monday, Feb. 13 in which three students perished. T…

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by David Cifarelli
Amherst, MA
Business
Aldi To Open Soon In Northampton: Report Aldi To Open Soon In Northampton: Report
Aldi To Open Soon In Northampton: Report Aldi, the discount grocery chain, is going through a boom period at the moment and will open three stores in Massachusetts in the first three months of 2023. A store in Northampton is scheduled to open in March, according to MassLive. Related: Northampton Aldi grocery store plans for March opening The company plans to open the Northampton store at 303 King Street, but an exact date was not available.  This will be the third store Aldi will open in Massachusetts this year.  According to the company's website, it opened a store in Westfield on Jan. 5 and will open another bra…

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by Josh Lanier
Amherst, MA
Police & Fire
Northampton Man Who Told Police He Hit Deer, Admits To Killing Woman, Gets 5 Years: DA Northampton Man Who Told Police He Hit Deer, Admits To Killing Woman, Gets 5 Years: DA
Northampton Man Who Told Police He Hit Deer, Admits To Killing Woman, Gets 5 Years: DA A Northampton man who pleaded guilty to running over and killing a 45-year-old woman last year despite telling police he hit a deer the night before will spend the next five years in prison, authorities said.  Peter E. Toomey, 53, was sentenced to five years in prison and will lose his license for 15 years after he admitted to leaving the scene of a death, lying to police, and negligent motor vehicle homicide, the Northwestern Assistant District Attorney's said. He must also serve five years on probation after he gets out of jail.  Toomey killed Rhonda Thompson as s…

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by Josh Lanier
Springfield, MA
Obituaries
Western Mass Homicide Victim Amber Carpenter Was 'Joyful, Passionate Soul' Western Mass Homicide Victim Amber Carpenter Was 'Joyful, Passionate Soul'
Western Mass Homicide Victim Amber Carpenter Was 'Joyful, Passionate Soul' A woman killed in Western Massachusetts this week will be remembered as a devoted member of her community and loyal companion.  Amber Carpenter, age 39, of West Springfield was found dead inside the home of Jose Hernandez, age 30, on Riverdale Street in West Springfield on Friday, Oct. 21, the Hampden County District Attorney's Office reports.  Carpenter was the victim of the first reported homicide in West Springfield since 2017, MassLive reports. According to her Facebook, Carpenter was from Northampton and worked at Touched By An Angel Health Care. She was also h…

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by David Cifarelli
Amherst, MA
Police & Fire
Duo Accused Of Selling Fake Gold Jewelry In Western Mass Duo Accused Of Selling Fake Gold Jewelry In Western Mass
Duo Accused Of Selling Fake Gold Jewelry In Western Mass Two people are accused of selling fake gold jewelry in Massachusetts. The Northampton Police Department in Hampshire County said officers investigated a scam on Monday, Sept. 26, involving the sale of fake jewelry, leading to the arrests of two unnamed individuals. The suspects' vehicle was also seized, and they were both charged with larceny from a person 65 years old or older, authorities said.  Police said this common scam involves occupants of a vehicle driving through parking lots and attempting to sell fake jewelry to people. Suspects often say they need funds for gas or baby s…

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by Nicole Valinote
Springfield, MA
Police & Fire
Northampton Physical Therapist Gets Probation In Indecent Assault Case: DA Northampton Physical Therapist Gets Probation In Indecent Assault Case: DA
Northampton Physical Therapist Gets Probation In Indecent Assault Case: DA A Northampton physical therapist who was convicted of inappropriately touching a patient won't serve jail time if he can behave for two years, authorities said.  Edward Kostek, 42, of South Hadley was convicted on Thursday, Sept. 22, of indecent assault for touching a female patient multiple times during separate sessions, the Northampton District Attorney's Office said. A judge gave him a two-year suspended sentence and probation after hearing from the victim on Tuesday. Kostek must also stay away from the woman and undergo sex offender evaluation and treatment. The woman said she sta…

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by Josh Lanier
Amherst, MA
Police & Fire
Bomb Threat Under Investigation At Western Mass High School: Police Bomb Threat Under Investigation At Western Mass High School: Police
Bomb Threat Under Investigation At Western Mass High School: Police Northampton Police are investigating after a bomb threat was made against Northampton High School on the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 13, the department said. Police said the threat was made on social media around 2 p.m. Officers arrived on the scene to investigate and later determined the school to be safe, police said.  RIGHT NOW: Multiple police cruisers are around Northampton High School as students are being dismissed. Northampton PD said it will give us more information soon @WWLP22News pic.twitter.com/5ORFxmKjnA — Kate Wilkinson (@Kate_mwilkinson) September 13, 2022 Students were…

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by David Cifarelli