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City Clerk Barbara LaBombard, left, swears in Father Bill Hamilton as police department chaplain Wednesday at the Easthampton Public Safety Complex. Police Chief Bruce McMahan looks on, at right. SARAH CROSBY

Rev. William Hamilton first Easthampton police chaplain

Monday, May 20, 2013

EASTHAMPTON — The newest person to wear an Easthampton Police Department badge is not a young recruit. He is a 60-year-old Catholic priest who said he will devote himself to supporting the city’s officers as they deal with a demanding, sometimes dangerous job. The Rev. William J. Hamilton, a longtime area priest now working in adminstration for the Roman Catholic … 0

Belchertown attorney Michael J. Pasterczyk stripped of law license for pocketing client’s insurance settlement

Monday, May 20, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — A Belchertown attorney has been disbarred and will be unable to practice law in Massachusetts after he kept a client’s insurance settlement from an auto accident. The state Supreme Judicial Court ruled in favor of the Board of Bar Overseers in stripping Michael J. Pasterczyk of his license to practice law. According to a copy of the SJC decision, in April … 0

Area police news

Monday, May 20, 2013

Amherst ■ Connor Dunn, 19, of 82 Pondview Drive, was arrested Sunday at 4:32 a.m. on West Street on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, being a minor in possession of alcohol, unlawful possession of a keg and possession of a fake ID. ■ Zachary P. Munsell, 22, of 1040 North Pleasant St., Unit 330, was arrested … 0

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Doug Laroche of Hampshire Regional, right, gets tagged out at first by Matt Serra of Monson on a pick from the pitcher Tuesday at Hampshire. JERREY ROBERTS Tuesday’s high schools: Hampshire baseball qualifies for postseason
The Laprade's game is kept in a box covered with pictures of their family that ran in the local papers. Custom trivia game reveals generations of Laprade family lore
Left, Dawud Lubieddin's things are laid out where a bench used to be on Main Street Northampton. Lubieddin talks with Abd Lomax of Northampton. Fewer Northampton benches in effort to curb loitering
Other Local News
Fewer Northampton benches in effort to curb loitering
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Northampton to study Bridge Road traffic after complaints 
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Tuesday’s high schools: Hampshire baseball qualifies for postseason
From Sports »
Bruins on verge of East finals, lead Rangers 3-0 after 2-1 win in Game 3
From Sports »
Editorial: Healing the IRS
From Opinion »
Bruce Watson: Sam the Scam takes your questions
From Opinion »
Custom trivia game reveals generations of Laprade family lore
From Living »
Elizabeth Slade: Weeding out core beliefs between our parents, ourselves
From Living »
Hollywood has its eye on Sunderland
From Arts & Entertainment »
11th annual Sojourner Truth event Sunday in Florence 
From Arts & Entertainment »

Westfield woman avoids prison in embezzlement case

Friday, May 17, 2013

SPRINGFIELD (ap) — A woman who embezzled more than $100,000 from Westfield while working in the city collector’s office has avoided prison time. Susan Duffy was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Springfield to three years of probation, including a year of house arrest. She was also ordered … 0

Nantucket woman found not guilty of 3-year-old girl’s death

Thursday, May 16, 2013

NANTUCKET (AP) — A Nantucket woman authorities say killed her 3-year-old daughter because she thought the girl was possessed by the devil was found not criminally responsible because of mental illness. Dora Tejada was found not guilty by a judge Wednesday in Nantucket Superior Court and ordered committed … 0

Defense attorney for Brockton man accused of killing two says he was 'cold as ice'  

Thursday, May 16, 2013

BROCKTON (AP) — The defense attorney for a Brockton man accused of killing two people and critically injuring a third says his client was “cold as ice” and not criminally responsible during a violent spree in 2009. Attorney Joseph Krowski Jr. said in his opening statement Thursday at … 0

Body recovered after crash on eastern Maine lake

Thursday, May 16, 2013

GRAND LAKE STREAM, Maine — Game wardens have recovered the body of a missing boater from an eastern Maine lake after a crash. The Maine Warden Service says the body of 65-year-old Vincent J. Bartolomeo was recovered from West Grand Lake near the town of Grand Lake Stream … 0

A photo provided by New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas shows 19-year-old Akien Scott who is wanted in the Mother's Day shootings. Scott was arrested in the Little Woods section of eastern New Orleans, Wednesday night May 15, 2013 police department spokeswoman Remi Braden said. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Brothers with gang ties arrested in New Orleans Mother's Day shootings

Monday, May 20, 2013

NEW ORLEANS — Two brothers with a history of drug arrests and ties to a neighborhood gang each face 20 counts of attempted second-degree murder in a shooting spree that brought a sudden bloody end to a neighborhood … 0

A photo provided by New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas shows 19-year-old Akien Scott who is wanted in the Mother's Day shootings. Scott was arrested in the Little Woods section of eastern New Orleans, Wednesday night May 15, 2013 police department spokeswoman Remi Braden said. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Police say second suspect arrested in Mother’s Day parade shooting

Thursday, May 16, 2013

NEW ORLEANS — A second suspect has been arrested in the shooting that injured 20 people at a parade on Mother’s Day, police said Thursday afternoon. Shawn Scott, 24, was arrested Thursday, police Chief Ronal Serpas said. He … 0

left Brett Vottero, special prosecutor, and Elaine Yeskie at the press conference after the sentencing of Anthony Baye Wednesday Morning in Northampton.

Arsonist Anthony Baye sentenced to 19 to 20 years in state prison

Friday, May 17, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — The men killed in a fire started by convicted arsonist Anthony Baye were recalled in court Wednesday as “great gentlemen” whose loss wouldn’t be tempered by any amount of jail time. Baye was sentenced to 19 … 0

Naomi Cairns listens to the Yeskie families victim statement at the sentencing of Anthony Baye Wednesday morning in Northampton.

'For more than two years, an entire neighborhood lived in fear'

Friday, May 17, 2013

In those awful days following the fires set Dec. 27, 2009, people set up beds for themselves on living room couches to stand guard against an unknown arsonist. Less than 12 hours after the first fire ignited with … 0

left, Erica Desreuisseau, Elaine Yeskie's grandaughter, and Elaine Yeskie listen to special prosecutor, Brett Vottero at the press conference held after the sentencing of Anthony Baye Wednesday morning in Northampton.

Many heroes emerge from one awful night Dec. 27, 2009

Friday, May 17, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — Amid the accounting of the terrible deeds done and the pain and suffering caused by the arson spree that befell this city Dec. 27, 2009, were some stories of heroic behavior and public servants who went … 0

Defense attorney David Hoose speaks to Debra Baye with defense attorney Thomas Lesser in the background before the sentencing.

Response of Northampton to deadly fires praised

Friday, May 17, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — Minutes after Anthony Baye was shackled and led out of court to begin serving his prison sentence, Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan said, “The journey to justice has ended.” Sullivan spoke at a press conference … 0

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