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Keyword search: safety

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A late-night fire in downtown Amherst, during which only one career firefighter/paramedic was available to extinguish the blaze, is prompting the union representing town firefighting staff to renew its longstanding appeal for enhanced...

By EMILEE KLEIN

SOUTH HADLEY — A new police staffing study recommends hiring five police officers to fill gaps in patrol coverage caused by a growing amount of specialty services and administrative work, but town officials will wait to make any decisions on public...

By ALEXA LEWIS

SOUTHAMPTON — Voters approved a $2.2 million override to buy land for a new public safety complex at a special election this week, allowing the town to move into the initial planning stages for the lengthy project. Community members approved the...

Staff Report

The state’s 911 dispatch system went offline for two hours Tuesday afternoon, forcing residents to call their local police department’s administrative numbers for emergencies during the dispatch system outage. Notification of the system’s failure...

By Alexa Lewis

SOUTHAMPTON — The town will take another significant step toward the construction of a new public safety complex on June 25, when voters will decide at a special election whether to buy land that was already approved at this year’s annual Town...

By Alexa Lewis

SOUTHAMPTON — Standing against the gleaming red backdrop of Engine 3, Richard Fasoli was sworn in as the Southampton Fire Department’s new fire chief in a brief ceremony on Wednesday. “I couldn’t do it without all of your help,” Fasoli said to those...

By ALEXA LEWIS

SOUTHAMPTON — Stepping over fire hoses and wires, Southampton Fire Chief Richard Fasoli opened the driver’s door to one of the fire engines as far as he could on a recent afternoon during a tour of the aging and cramped public safety complex. The...

By EMILEE KELIN

BELCHERTOWN — The president of the Granby Bow and Gun Club insists that stray bullets that hit two homes and a shed in the Turkey Hill area of town did not originate from the club’s long range.Club President Ryan Downing read a statement at the...

By ALISON KUZNITZ

Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy warned lawmakers last week that big cities and small towns face a “major issue” with recruiting new candidates for law enforcement jobs and said he’s worried about the future of public safety in...

By MADDIE FABIAN

EASTHAMPTON – Addressing road safety concerns, the state Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has approved speed limit reductions on a stretch of Route 10.The approved speed limit adjustments include a reduction from 35 to 30 mph from West Street to...

By LIESEL NYGARD

As a way to help cities and towns retain police and firefighters longer, a local lawmaker has filed a bill that would allow them to work in public safety roles until age 72.Under state law, emergency services personnel such as police officers and...

By MADDIE FABIAN

EASTHAMPTON — Around a year after a city couple was killed by a vehicle on Route 10, the state Department of Transportation will install two new crosswalks this fall to address pedestrian safety concerns.The proposed improvements include crosswalks at...

By MADDIE FABIAN

SOUTHAMPTON — As Southampton’s dispatch services transfer to Easthampton’s Public Safety Communications Center, residents who enter the lobby of the Southampton Police Station will notice a few changes, namely a lack of in-person staff at times.Due to...

By MADDIE FABIAN

SOUTHAMPTON — With $35,000 secured in the state budget to help pay for a feasibility study, the town is moving forward with planning for a new public safety complex to replace the police and fire stations, an effort that has been ongoing for...

By EMILY THURLOW

EASTHAMPTON — With open trenches, rough terrain and orange cones and reflective barrels in full bloom at numerous housing and infrastructure project sites, it’s no surprise to anyone that much of the city is under construction.However, with so many...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

LEVERETT — Outraged by videos she described as “horrific,” state Rep. Natalie Blais joined state Sen. Jo Comerford at a family’s Leverett home Tuesday to draw attention to the importance of school bus safety. Wes and Audra Goscenski, who live on Long...

By EMILY THURLOW

EASTHAMPTON — A Dover man is proposing to bring new life to a city property that hasn’t seen any activity in roughly two decades.Blake Underhill, owner of Easthampton Holdings LLC, purchased 2 East St. in November with the hope of expanding his...

By JACK SUNTRUP

EASTHAMPTON — If it were up to Tim Sharrow, all cellphone use would be banned in cars.He has seen distracted drivers rear-end people, distracted drivers slow to go when the light turns green, distracted drivers who don’t seem to realize the...

By JACK SUNTRUP

NORTHAMPTON — Forget Pokémon cards, or whatever children are trading these days. The newest craze could be trading cards featuring Northampton cops.On Tuesday, Police Chief Jody Kasper announced a new trading card initiative designed to strengthen...

By EMILY CUTTS

NORTHAMPTON — A 78-year-old Florence man was hit by a car and killed while riding his bike Monday afternoon.Alan H. Porter was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield where he was later pronounced dead, according to the Northwestern district...

By EMILY CUTTS

NORTHAMPTON — An Easthampton man accused of manufacturing explosives and explosive devices was ordered held on $150,000 bail Tuesday. Bryan O. Desmarais, 42, of 36 Ridgewood Terrace, pleaded not guilty in Hampshire Superior Court Tuesday afternoon...