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Springfield welcomes Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2008 to City ...
Found: 3 Hours 42 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon were among six incoming Hall of Famers who attended.Photo by Dave Roback / The RepublicanIncoming Basketball Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing appears on the steps of Springfield City Hall Friday with daughter Alexis, age 11 months.
By RON CHIMELIS
rchimelis@repub.com
Hundreds of onlookers and fans made sure the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2008 felt welcome Friday.
A free public celebration on the steps of City Hall saluted incoming Hall of Famers Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Adrian Dantley, sportscaster Dick Vitale, and coaches Pat Riley and Cathy Rush. A seventh enshrinee, Detroit Pistons and Shock owner William Davidson, was unable to attend the celebration, but was expected at Enshrinement Friday night.
Ewing and Olajuwon drew the biggest cheers, though Vitale, the colorful analyst who was elected as a contributor, also drew a huge hand.
"This is my 18th year of coming to Enshrinement, but this part is different,'' said Kevin S. Williams of Hackensack, N.J., as he watched the proceedings from across the street.
Williams said Ewing and Olajuwon were his favorites, but Riley also had his following.
"I'm an old Lakers fan from the 1980s, and a big NCAA fan, too,'' Karen LaRocque of Wilbraham said.
Enshrinement Friday night will be followed by a memorabilia auction Saturday at the Hall of Fame, and the presentation of Hall of Fame rings Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn.
Click here for a photo gallery from the event.
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Springfield man, Joseph Hughey, acquitted in 2006 double shooting
Found: 3 Hours 42 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - By BUFFY SPENCER
bspencer@repub.com
SPRINGFIELD - A Hampden Superior Court jury acquitted today a 24-year-old Springfield man charged in a double shooting in August 2006.
Joseph Hughey was found innocent of two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and an illegal firearms charge.
In January, 18-year-old Stephon Dawson, of Springfield, pleaded guilty in the shooting and was sentenced to five years in the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow followed by three years of probation.
Hughey, who was represented by Arthur J. O'Donald III, was accused as a joint venture defendant with Dawson as well as for his own acts. Dawson admitted he fired a bullet that hit Julio Ortega in the arm and then hit 12-year-old Alexander Lopez in the mouth.
In her closing argument Assistant District Attorney Karen Southerland told jurors that they should credit testimony given by Henry Lopez, who said that Hughey pointed a gun at him and fired twice. Lopez testified that Hughey did not know how to shoot the gun because he did not pull back the hammer, and that Hughey then gave the gun to Dawson who shot and wounded Alexander Lopez and Ortega.
The prosecution has been unable to locate Ortega, according to testimony, but Alexander Lopez did testify.
O'Donnell told jurors that Henry Lopez faces his own gun charges from that day and is looking for help on his own charges by testifying against Hughey, of 49 Aster St., for the state.
The prosecution showed a video from a surveillance camera in the apartment block at 15 Summit St., with Lopez testifying it showed Hughey handing the gun to Dawson. Faces were not visible in the videotape.
Lopez had testified that Hughey was wearing a white New York Yankees hat, and O'Donnell told jurors to note that the person shown handing the gun off was not wearing a hat.
Lopez had testified he was fighting with Hughey when Hughey made cell phone calls calling two other men, including Dawson, to help him.
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Defense awaits crash reports in Ware motor vehicle homicide case
Found: 8 Hours 15 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - Police reports stated that the driver's blood alcohol was above the legal limit.File photo by Dave Roback / The RepublicanAmanda L. King. 20 of Hardwick appears at her arraignment in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown in July.
By CHRIS HAMEL
chamel@repub.com
BELCHERTOWN - Amanda L. King of Hardwick will return to Eastern Hampshire District Court on Oct. 22 for another pre-trial hearing in her case involving motor vehicle homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Meanwhile, police reports filed with the court clerk stated that King's blood alcohol level was above the legal limit at the time of the crash.
In a brief pre-trial hearing Friday, King's lawyer, Donald W. Stolgitis, told Judge Patricia Pohler that the discovery phase of the case is not complete. He said after the hearing that he does not yet have the accident reconstruction report or the autopsy report. He also said that he expects the case to be presented to a Hampshire County grand jury within 30 days. King, 20, of North Road is facing charges following a June 23 one-car accident on Bondsville Road in Ware in which she was operating a Honda Civic. Her passenger, Vanessa L. Kotowski, 19, of Highland Village in Ware, died following the crash. Police and fire officials have said that Kotowski died of apparent electrocution after stepping from the vehicle onto electrified ground. King's car had struck a utility pole and the public safety officials believe that the impact broke a glass insulator atop the pole, sending electricity down the wooden pole to the ground.
According to police reports filed in the court clerk's office, King had a blood alcohol level greater than .08, which is the legal limit. In an application for a criminal complaint, Ware police Officer Shawn C. Crevier wrote that he interviewed King after the crash and detected the odor of alcohol on her person and breath. He also wrote that her eyes appeared bloodshot and glassy.
King's blood was tested at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, where she was transported by ambulance after the crash. She was treated and released the following day.
Crevier wrote that King admitted to consuming two drinks shortly before the accident. He also noted that she was younger than the legal drinking age of 21.
He wrote, "Amanda stated that she looked away from the road just prior to the accident."
Crevier also wrote, "Vanessa Kotowski's body was found outside of the passenger side door, lifeless, believed to be the result of electrocution that was caused from the motor vehicle accident."
Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Melissa G. Doran is prosecuting the case.
More details in The Republican on Saturday.
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Ludlow closes West Avenue for repaving
Found: 8 Hours 16 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - LUDLOW - West Avenue was closed to traffic Friday while the Department of Public Works begins reclamation and resurfacing.
The project will require West Avenue to be closed to traffic through next week. The road will only be accessible to residents and businesses during this time period, according to Sgt. Louis Tulik of the town Police Department.
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Springfield car crash on Interstate 291 takes life of Belchertown ...
Found: 8 Hours 16 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - State police identified the driver as Tobias Jarvis, 27.By GEORGE GRAHAM
ggraham@repub.com
SPRINGFIELD - A single car crash on Interstate 291 took a Belchertown man's life this morning, state police said.
The crash occurred about 1:10 a.m. when the driver, Tobias Jarvis, 27, lost control of his 2002 Lincoln LS sedan just before the St. James Avenue exit. The car went off the right side of the road, rolled over and hit several trees, state police said. Jarvis, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene, state police said.
Although the crash remains under investigation, it appears that speed was a factor, state police said....
Hurricane Hanna expected to race up Eastern seaboard Saturday
Found: 8 Hours 16 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - Graphic courtesy of AccuWeather.comThis map shows the expected path of Hurricane Hanna.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The AccuWeather hurricane center predicted today that Hurricane Hanna will race up the Interstate 95 corridor tomorrow after making landfall overnight in the Carolinas. Hurricane Ike is close behind, expected to reach the Bahamas by Sunday.
Hanna is forecast to make landfall overnight along the Carolina coast between Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Wilmington, N.C., according to the weather service, AccuWeather.com, that The Republican subscribes to.
Once over land, Hanna is expected to speed up the Interstate 95 corridor, bringing heavy rain and damaging winds to the major cities from Richmond to Boston. According to AccuWeather.com senior meteorologist John Kocet, "This storm will do some damage, much like winter nor'easters that are even more powerful."
The fast forward speed will limit rain amounts along the East Coast, he said. Up to 8 inches is expected to fall over eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, while 2 to 4 inches is forecast from eastern South Carolina to southern New England.
The rain could spark localized flooding and flash flooding, while winds gusting from 40 to 60 mph could topple trees and power lines. The combination of wind and rain will cause problems for motorists and could lead to flight delays at the major airports along the Eastern Seaboard. The highest wind gusts will be on the beaches and areas just to the east of the storm center.
The storm surge of 3 to 6 feet above normal tides could cause coastal flooding and beach erosion, especially along the Outer Banks, Long Island and Cape Cod.
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Mass. to impose fee on Internet, cell phone users to fund 911 system
Found: 8 Hours 17 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - The state wants to encourage regional call answering. By DAN RING
dring@repub.com
BOSTON - People received a reduction of 24 cents a month in a surcharge on land-line telephones but will soon see an increase of 45 cents in the surcharge on cell phones.
According to a new state law, the monthly fee for both land and cell phone services will be 75 cents. The money is used to finance the state's 911 system.
People will also pay 75 cents if they obtain phone service through the Internet, said Terrel W. Harris, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety. Internet users currently pay no surcharge, Harris said.
"Everybody pays equally for the same service - 911," Harris said.
The old charges were 30 cents for cell phones and 99 cents for land-line phones.
The new charge for land lines went into effect last month and the new charge for cell and Internet users starts with October bills, according to Harris.
The state projects that it will raise $65 million this fiscal year with the new surcharge, an increase of $12 million from last year. Harris said the state will use the extra money to replace obsolete equipment, train personnel to use the new equipment and provide network and technical support.
Under the 911 system, an emergency caller's address and phone number are automatically shown on a screen at a communications center, typically run by a local police department.
There are currently some 260 answering centers in the state.
The new law, signed by Gov. Deval L. Patrick on July 31, will provide $16 million this fiscal year and $21 million the following year to cities and towns for training, upgrading equipment and operating expenses.
The new law is also geared to encourage cities and towns to join together to provide answering centers.
The state will provide $2.6 million this fiscal year, and $3.4 million in fiscal 2010 toward operating costs of cities and towns that regionalize the answering centers.
"You will get the same service," Harris said. "It will be more efficient."
Harris said there are currently too many answering centers in the state.
Harris said it is more fair for the surcharge to be the same regardless of the type of phone line.
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Springfield car crash on Interstate 291 takes life of driver
Found: 14 Hours 13 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - State police have not yet released the victim's name.By GEORGE GRAHAM
ggraham@repub.com
SPRINGFIELD - A single car crash on Interstate 291 took a man's life this morning, state police said.
The crash occurred about 1:10 a.m. when the westbound driver lost control of his 2002 Lincoln LS sedan just before the St. James Avenue exit. The car went off the right side of the road, rolled over and hit several trees, state police said.
The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene, state police said.
State police are withholding the identity of the victim pending notification of family members.
Although the crash remains under investigation, it appears that speed was a factor, state police said.
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Mass. treasurer warns budget could be $1 billion out of balance
Found: 15 Hours 35 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - By DAN RING
dring@repub.com
BOSTON - Nearly two months after passage of a state budget, the Patrick administration and the state treasurer are warning that the spending plan could be up to $1 billion out of balance.
In a 99-page report prepared last month for potential investors in state bonds, Leslie A. Kirwan, the secretary of administration and finance, and Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill said the state could be facing $600 million in costs not factored into the $28.16 billion budget and that tax collections could be $400 million short of projections for the fiscal year.
Legislators are poised to possibly return to formal sessions in November to vote on whether to give Gov. Deval L. Patrick expanded authority for cutting the budget during the fiscal year.
The report said a large portion of unexpected costs could come from skyrocketing energy prices. The report also cited growth in services important in an economic downturn such as increased expenses for Medicaid, a federal-state program that helps pay for health care for the poor and disabled, and Commonwealth Care, which provides subsidized health care for low and moderate income people.
Kirwan said today that she is also concerned about a possible shortfall in capital gains taxes, raised largely from profits from the sale of stock. The stock market is down about 20 percent from a peak after the Dow fell another 344 points today.
Kirwan said the administration is monitoring the state's finances and is putting into effect a management plan for dealing with potential revenue shortfalls. Leaders of state agencies are developing plans to cut budgets should tax collections fall below projections used to craft the state budget.
While the report said tax collections could be $400 million less than projected this fiscal year, Kirwan said it's too early to determine if that will actually happen.
"We haven't yet seen a significant revenue loss," Kirwan said. "We're going to be watching very carefully what happens."
State officials will learn more from tax collections in September.
Cahill cautioned in March that the state is spending too much. He said Thursday that leaders in state government may not be heeding his warning.
Cahill said the state borrowed $500 million in August because of a cash shortage in state government, the earliest in a fiscal year the state has ever borrowed to meet needs for cash flow.
"There's no question we are spending money before we are receiving it," Cahill said. "There's no question it's a real problem."
Cahill said the state may need to borrow again this month to provide an estimated $1 billion quarterly payment on state aid to cities and towns.
"We'll keep putting up the warning signs as long as there are warning signs," Cahill said.
Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre, the No. 2 ranking member on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said that the chances are "50-50" that legislators will return to Beacon Hill this year to deal with a possible budget crisis.
Patrick has asked legislators to vote to give him expanded powers to make emergency cuts throughout the budget including local aid, the judiciary, district attorneys and county sheriffs.
Right now, Patrick can impose emergency cuts in executive branch agencies without legislative approval.
Patrick has said he wants the option to spread possible cuts throughout the budget to ease the pain.
Sen. Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield, the ranking Republican on Senate Ways and Means, criticized the Democrat-controlled Legislature for approving too much spending in this year's budget. Brewer said it was balanced when passed.
In July, Patrick vetoed $122.5 million from the budget, but state legislators voted to restore $56.4 million of those vetoes.
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Red Cross chapters consider a merger
Found: 15 Hours 35 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - By FRED CONTRADA
fcontrada@repub.com
NORTHAMPTON - American Red Cross officials are considering a cost-saving merger that would consolidate the Hampshire-Franklin chapter and the larger Pioneer Valley chapter.
Details of the merger are yet to be worked out, but the level of services provided in Hampshire and Franklin counties would not diminish and the Red Cross would maintain an office here, according to Richard A. Lee, the executive director of the Pioneer Valley chapter.
As Lee explained it, smaller Red Cross chapters such as Hampshire-Franklin have been struggling with an increased demand for services since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. At the same time, fund-raising has taken a downward turn with the declining economy.
Richard H. Connor, the vice president of the Hampshire-Franklin board of directors, said his chapter began seriously looking for new options after executive director Ronald Speakes left to take a job in another part of the country in June.
"We felt this was something we should meet head-on rather than be reactive," Connor said.
After consulting with the national Red Cross headquarters, the Franklin-Hampshire chapter approached officials at the Pioneer Valley chapter. The Pioneer Valley's board of directors met today to discuss the ramifications of a merger. Lee said his board will make a final decision by its next scheduled meeting on Oct. 23.
In addition to providing relief to the victims of fires, hurricanes and other disasters, the Red Cross teaches first aid and assists the families of active military members. The Hampshire-Franklin and Pioneer Valley chapters already have a history of cooperation in the Red Cross mission to assist military families.
Lee said a merger would consolidate administrative costs and free up the Hampshire-Franklin chapter to devote more of its resources on disaster relief and other programs. Currently, the Hampshire-Franklin chapter has 2.5 full-time positions and a budget of about $300,000. By comparison, the Pioneer Valley chapter has more than 20 full-time positions and a budget of $2.2 million.
William O. Trudeau, the chairman of the Pioneer Valley chapter's board of directors, said the two chapters are carefully analyzing how a merger would affect them both financially and structurally. The bottom line, however, is adhering to the Red Cross mission.
"How can we best serve our clients?" he said. "You want to run an efficient operation."
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