THE WESTFIELD NEWS
Court Logs Westfield District Court Monday, September 28, 2015 Jacquet L. Wilson, 47, of 128 Elm St., Apt. 1, will continued to be held on charges of rape while his case is transferred to Hampden County Superior Court. Eric E. Guerrin, 28, of 620 North St., Dalton, received a one-year suspended sentence to the House of Correction with probation till September 28, 2016 and ordered to pay $65 per month while on probation after pleading guilty to shoplifting $100+ by asportation and trespass, brought by Westfield police. Zachary H. Johnson, 21, of 352 Prospect Hill Road, Waltham, received one year probation at arraignment, ordered to pay $65 per month while on probation, fined $707, ordered to attend a drug/alcohol education program and received a 45-day loss of license after charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor were continued without finding, had charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle dismissed and was found not responsible for marked lanes violation, failing to stop/yield, improper operation of a motor vehicle and speeding, brought by Westfield State University police. Mark G. Stevens, 56, of 29 Bulat Drive, Springfield, was released on his personal recognizance pending a November 9 hearing after being arraigned on charges of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration and uninsured motor vehicle, brought by Russell State Police. Robert J. Giroux, 51, of 34 Ridgeway Ave., had charges of assault and battery and malicious destruction of property under $250, brought by Westfield police, dismissed at the request of the victim. Juan C. Gonzalez-Lopez, 28, of 22 Irving St., West Springfield, was released on his personal recognizance pending a November 20 hearing after being arraigned on charges of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, brought by Russell State Police. Anthony K. Macinnes, 29, of 83 Woodlawn, Chicopee, was released on $100 cash surety after being arraigned on charges of felony breaking and entering nighttime and larceny over $250 and on separate charges of unarmed burglary an three counts of larceny from building, brought by Westfield police.
Report: Agency failed in death of toddler in foster care
Trail grants awarded to area communities By CHRIS LINDAHL @cmlindahl Daily Hampshire Gazette SOUTHAMPTON — The state has awarded a $50,000 grant that will pay to construct a bridge over the Manhan River, connecting conservation land in Easthampton and Southampton. State and local officials — as well as trail users from across central and western Massachusetts — gathered in front of the Nancy L. Whittemore Conservation Area in Southampton on Thursday, where Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Carol I. Sanchez announced recreational trail grants. Much of the money, which totals $800,000, went to Pioneer Valley communities. A $50,000 grant — one of the largest announced — was awarded to the city of Easthampton, town of Southampton and the Pascommuck Conservation Trust. The grant will pay for the construction of a bridge over the Manhan River that will connect the Whittemore property in Southampton with the Pomeroy Meadows conservation area in Easthampton. State officials said the partnership is a model that will help realize the dream of developing a series of interconnected trails across the state. “Bringing the two entities together creates something much larger than the individual pieces,” said Dick O’Brien, chairman of the Massachusetts Recreational Trail Advisory Board, which works with the DCR to review grant applications. The vision of trails connecting all corners of the state is called Commonwealth Connections, and was developed 15 years ago by the Appalachian Mountain Club, the National Parks Service and other groups across the state. It’s still a work in progress, O’Brien said.
Big Money Republican said. “[Were] that to really occur, all the parties in the Hamptons and the Hollywood Hills would not rescue her.” Added an Iowa Republican, “Maybe in Iowa... but not in the long run. Ask Ron Paul how it worked for him.” Another Iowa Republican was more skeptical: “Even a socialist has to understand math. It doesn’t add up. She’ll crush him.” Ben Carson is building an Iowa powerhouse More than one-third of Iowa Republicans say Ben Carson is building the strongest groundgame operation in the first-inthe nation caucus state -- and no one else came close.
“When we do (realize it), the quality of life for us in all of our communities will be raised,” he said. Sanchez said the model is a good one because though the state is helping to fund the Easthampton-Southampton trail, the work will be done by those communities. “Wouldn’t it be great to connect the entire state, and the communities still have ownership of their own backyard?” Sanchez asked. Work to construct the bridge will begin next fall, according to Charlie McDonald, chairman of the Southampton Conservation Commission. The fiberglass bridge will be 54-feet long and 5-feet wide. The grant will also help pay for an elevated, 250-foot long trail that will run from an existing trail in the Whittemore area to the Manhan River, and a smaller connector will also be built on the Easthampton side, McDonald said. If any money remains, a few parking spaces will be built in front of the entrance to the Whittemore area on Meadow Lane in Southampton, he added. In the end, the success of the project depends on how many people are willing to volunteer, McDonald said. “It’s predicated on how much volunteer sweat equity we can get in here,” he added. The Whittemore Conservation Area has been owned by the town for several decades, though trails were created only two years ago as part of an Eagle Scout project by Troop 205 in Easthampton. Community Preservation Act funds helped pay for several bridges and a lookout spot at a vernal pool last fall. The connector to the future bridge will be built near the vernal pool. Because it’s such a delicate habitat, work must take place in the fall to ensure for the least amount of environmental impact,
Continued from Page 4 “Carson has a natural grass- ing him, which has been laying roots network of homeschool- the groundwork for a Carson ers,” said one Iowa Republican. run for more than a year. “He can turn out a large crowd “The Carson Super PAC anywhere in the state, which team has the state blanketed,” should translate to a strong an Iowa Republican said. “You Caucus showing. He energizes can’t go to a county GOP or the Caucus electorate, while local community event without Trump attracts people based on seeing someone in a Ben a celebrity status.” Carson shirt handing out literaIn establishment Republican ture and signing people up.” circles, many hold the belief In other states, there were that Carson, who has never held less definitive winners on the political office, is a flavor-of- Republican side: Marco Rubio the-month candidate who lacks and home-state senator Lindsey policy depth and isn’t to be Graham tied with 28 percent taken seriously. But Caucus each in South Carolina for best insiders, none of whom work ground game; Jeb Bush led in for Carson, made the case that Nevada, followed closely by he is out-organizing everyone Rubio; and New Hampshire else in Iowa, thanks in large was jumbled, with Carly part to the super PAC support- Fiorina and John Kasich barely
out-polling Jeb Bush and Chris Christie. On the Democratic side, Clinton had the best ground game across the board, insiders said.
U.S. Attorney General to speak about opioid problem WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) — U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is scheduled to give the keynote address at a Massachusetts summit on opioid addiction. The summit will be held Friday at the headquarters of the Massachusetts Medical Society. More than 300 physicians, pharmacists, police officers and others who deal with the problems caused by opioid abuse are expected to attend. The summit is sponsored by the medical society and the U.S. Attorney's Office. U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey also are expected to attend.
Spaghetti & Meatball Fundraiser Dinner Saturday, October 3, 2015 — 5:00 – 7:00 PM Adults $7.50 – Children (6-12 years) $4.00 (includes your meal, beverage & dessert) Tickets available at the door HAMPTON PONDS ASSOCIATION BUILDING Corner of North Road & Old Stage Road Westfield, MA 01085
McDonald said. The former Northampton-New Haven Canal — which runs through the property, with a tow path where animals pulled barges — is a prominent feature of the landscape, McDonald said. He said he hopes residents recognize this unique space and pitch in to help the efforts for people to enjoy it. “It’s community building — that’s the thesis,” he said. The DCR also awarded grants to several other area projects: – $40,000 to the Broad Brook Coalition to replace a bridge and rehabilitate and extend a boardwalk and dock at Northampton’s Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area. – $35,058 to the Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advisory Board to operate educational programs in Northampton. – $20,745 to the Chesterfield 4-Seasons Club for purchase of a new storage building for snowmobile and emergency equipment, reclamation of two historical sites in the Chesterfield Gorge and clearing undergrowth and installation of new signs. – $12,532 to the Mill Valley Snowmobile Club in Belchertown to purchase new grooming drags for their snowmobile trails. – $10,778 to the DCR to pay for a seasonal “Ridge Runner” on the National Scenic Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts, located in Cheshire. That person will provide information to visitors and work with volunteers to maintain the trail. – $9,365 to the Hadley Snowmobile Club to purchase snow-grooming equipment and for the maintenance of trails in Hadley and surrounding communities. Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com.
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By BOB SALSBERG Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — A state report on the death of a 2-year-old girl in foster care found the Department of Children and Families failed to properly evaluate the qualifications of a foster mother and determine whether the home was safe for children. The internal review, released Thursday, revealed an “unacceptable” series of failures within the embattled department, Gov. Charlie Baker said in promising corrective steps. Two DCF employees have been reassigned and could face further disciplinary action. Avalena Conway-Coxon and an unidentified second toddler were found unresponsive Aug. 15 at an Auburn apartment complex. Avalena was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The second child was hospitalized in critical condition but survived and is now in a long-term rehabilitation facility. The case was among several recent tragedies involving children who had received services from the state’s child protection agency. “I get sick when I hear these stories,” a somber Baker told reporters. Police have not released a cause of Avalena’s death, but the DCF report said medical findings suggest the children suffered heat stroke, likely from “prolonged exposure to a high temperature environment.” In approving the application of Kimberly Malpass to become a foster mother in 2013, DCF did not follow its own rules in determining whether she was a capable parent, and allowed too many children to live in too small a foster home, the review said. There were six children — three of them foster children — in the home at that time. “It should not have been a foster home,” said Baker. “If you actually followed the practice standards and the policies that were in place, it would never have been licensed.” A message left on a phone number listed for Malpass in Auburn was not immediately returned. No charges have been filed in connection with the child’s death. A spokesman for the Worcester district attorney said Thursday the case remains under investigation. Jennifer Conway, 27, Avalena’s biological mother, died last month from a suspected drug overdose, authorities said. Malpass was an “enthusiastic foster parent,” the report said, who cared for nine foster children at various times over an 18-month period, and she received positive reviews from several caseworkers. The review, however, suggested DCF staff failed to identify or act on several potential red flags, including Malpass’ own extensive health issues and a pediatrician’s warning that she appeared overwhelmed by the medical needs of her three biological children. Also disregarded, the review said, was a report from an Auburn school that suggested “chronic neglect.” And DCF staff failed to contact local police, which would have revealed that officers had visited the home 25 times between 2008 and 2013, though none of the visits led to an arrest. Following the Aug. 15 incident, the agency took custody of the three biological children and placed the third foster child in another home. Baker on Monday announced a DCF reform plan that would include a new standardized policy for assessing the level of risk facing a child and a mandatory review of every family member’s history with DCF, including criminal history and parental capabilities.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2015 - PAGE 5
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