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Monday, may 5

Josh Lanier

Assistant Managing Editor

jlanier@dailyvoice.com

Josh Lanier started his reporting career in high school for his local newspaper. Many — many — years later, he’s still chasing leads for compelling stories. During his time writing for newspapers, magazines, and online publications, he’s covered everything from murderers to mommy bloggers, but his most interesting story is always the next one.

Josh Lanier's Contributions

Police & Fire

Red-Haired Bail Violator Busted With Pink-Handled Pistol In Springfield: Police A man out on bail for gun charges from last year was arrested over the weekend on — shocker — more gun charges, police in Hampden County said. Daniel Gonzalez, 20, faces a slew of charges after officers arrested him on Sunday, May 28, with a large-capacity pistol, Springfield police said. Springfield police responded to a ShotSpotter Activation just after 9:30 p.m. near Malden and Grand streets. When officers arrived, they saw two men standing there who ran away when they spotted the cops, investigators said. Police ran down one of the men near Oakland and Allen Streets a…

05/30/2023

Obituaries

'Loved By All': Community Rallies Around Family Of Beloved Western Mass Teacher After Her Death A lifelong teacher who died of cancer on Tuesday, May 23, will live on through a memorial scholarship if her family can raise enough money. Susan Kurpaska, 59, a lifelong Chicopee resident, was a dedicated second and third-grade teacher at Saint Joan of Arc School. Her love of teaching showed in the hundreds of students she molded over her decades in the classroom and the awards she collected during her tenure, such as the Grinspoon Excellence in Teaching Award for Western Massachusetts, her obituary said. Her loved ones have created a GoFundMe to cover her funeral costs, and any money r…

05/26/2023

Police & Fire

Man Tries To Sneak 'Smoking Gun' Onto Plane At Boston Logan Airport: TSA A 23-year-old man packing a hookah that looked like a teal-color pistol had it confiscated by TSA agents when he tried to carry it onto a plane at Boston Logan International Airport on Thursday, May 25. Yesterday @TSA officers @BostonLogan detected this replica pistol hookah during security screening. This smoking gun never made it onto the aircraft! #travelfail pic.twitter.com/NPUijkRygy — TSA_NewEngland (@TSA_NewEngland) May 26, 2023 The man told agents he'd taken it onto planes in his carry-on luggage in the past, but they thought he was blowing smoke. Replica pistols — smokeable …

05/26/2023

Police & Fire

Man Wanted For 21-Year-Old NY Murder Of Teen Found In Massachusetts: Police A 41-year-old man facing a potential death sentence for the alleged murder of a 19-year-old in 2002 New York was arrested on Thursday, May 25, in Massachusetts, authorities said. Terris Olive, aka T-Bird, was captured just before noon outside a Red Roof Inn in Mansfield after the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section received a tip he could be holed up there, authorities said. Surveillance video around 11:30 a.m. showed him stepping out of his motel room for a smoke, and police quickly arrested him without incident. Investigators said Oliver killed 19-year-old Ata…

05/26/2023

Police & Fire

Wannabe Willy Wonka Of Accused Drug Dealers Found Hiding Under Leicester Deck: Police A suspected drug dealer who police said was carrying nearly every type of narcotic just short of Fizzy Lifting Drink was arrested early Friday morning, May 26, hiding under a deck in Leicester. An 18-year-old man — who police did not name — was arrested with marijuana and illegal weed edibles, LSD, methamphetamines, and MDMA, Leicester police said. He also had a large amount of cash and a pistol he didn't have a license for. The man sealed his fate while driving down South Main Street around 12:30 a.m., where police said they saw him violating several motor vehicle law…

05/26/2023

Obituaries

'Beautiful Soul Inside, Out': Springfield Mom Of 3 ID'd As Woman Killed In Longmeadow Crash The Springfield woman killed earlier this month when she was thrown from her car on I-91 in Hampden County before being hit by an oncoming vehicle has been identified as a mother of three young children. Jemyliana Vargas, 21, was a passenger in a 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit that crashed into the back of a 2019 Dodge Ram truck just before 3 a.m. on May 7 in Longmeadow just past the Enfield, Connecticut, border, Massachusetts State Police said. The impact ejected Vargas onto the northbound lane, where she was struck by at least one oncoming vehicle, officials said. The Volkswagen driver — a 29…

05/25/2023

Schools

Razor Blade: 12-Year-Old Slashes 11-Year-Old Boy's Hand In Fight At Central Mass Middle School An 11-year-old middle school student in Worcester County needed stitches after a classmate slashed his hand open with a razor blade during a fight at the school on Thursday morning, May 25. Blackstone police said the fight broke out at Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School between the 11-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy around 8:30 a.m. It's unclear what sparked the disagreement. When the school resource officer arrived, they learned the older boy had snuck a razor blade to school and used it during the fight to slice open his opponent's hand, Blackstone police said. The bo…

05/25/2023

Police & Fire

Central Mass Foster Mom Under Investigation Over Incident Involving Baby Boy Authorities are investigating an incident at a home in Templeton, where a 6-month-old baby nearly died last week, officials and news sources said. According to Boston25, the child stopped breathing for 15 minutes after choking on his vomit Friday, May 19. The foster mother allegedly did not attempt CPR while the child struggled the breath, the report said. The condition of the child is unknown. The Department of Children and Families and Worcester County District Attorney's Office are not releasing much information about the investigation. The DCF said th…

05/25/2023

Police & Fire

Car Full Of Fools Gold Lands NJ Man Trip To Fed Pen — Then Back To India A New Jersey scammer whose eyes were bigger than his brain when he tried to rob an Athol woman of more than $300,000 was sentenced on Wednesday, May 24, to a year in prison, after which he'll be deported back to India authorities said. Gaurang Contractor, 38, a citizen of India living in Jersey City, NJ, tried to trick a Central Massachusetts woman into believing he was a DEA agent and she needed to convert her life savings into gold and give it to him for safekeeping, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Contractor contacted the woman in August 2022 using the alias of "Oscar…

05/25/2023

Police & Fire

Scammer Sunk By Car Full Of Fools Gold In Central Mass Headed To Prison Then Deportation A New Jersey scammer whose eyes were bigger than his brain when he tried to rob an Athol woman of more than $300,000 was sentenced on Wednesday, May 24, to a year in prison, after which he'll be deported, authorities said. Gaurang Contractor, 38, a citizen of India living in Jersey City, NJ, tried to trick a Central Massachusetts woman into believing he was a DEA agent and she needed to convert her life savings into gold and give it to him for safekeeping, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Contractor contacted the woman in August 2022 using the alias of "Oscar White," a Dr…

05/25/2023

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