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Thursday, may 8

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

News

Fire Destroys Home, Kills Pets: Central Mass Family Asks For Help Rebuilding Their Lives A Uxbridge woman hopes the public will help her rebuild after her family lost everything in a fire on Monday, May 29. Brianna Watson created a GoFundMe to help replace some of the items lost in the fire, including nearly all of the toys and things that belonged to her three young boys — ages 6, 4, and 1, according to her fundraiser. So far, the campaign has raised just over $12,000 of its $20,000 goal from more than 150 donors. Luckily, the family wasn't home when the fire started, she wrote. Unfortunately, the Watsons lost their beloved Saint Bernard dog Sloane, two cats — Maci and M…

05/30/2023

Police & Fire

Special-Needs Child Assaulted By Van Driver, Monitor In Springfield: Police A special-needs child under the age of 14 was assaulted while riding on a van used to transport people with physical, behavioral, and cognitive needs, authorities announced on Tuesday, May 30. The company that runs the van service contacted police on Friday after they watched the surveillance tape from one of the trips and saw the driver and van monitor attacking an underage boy, Springfield police said. Police didn't go into details about what sparked the assault. William Kane, 73, of East Longmeadow — the driver — was charged with: Threat to Commit a Crime Assau…

05/30/2023

Police & Fire

(Update) Body Of Missing Boater From Springfield Found In Connecticut River UPDATE: Massachusetts State Environmental Police said they found the body of 51-year-old Carlos Lopez in the Connecticut River on Tuesday, May 30, authorities said. He had been missing since his jetski collided with a boat on Sunday. Investigators found his body near where the collision happened in Easthampton. He was about 15 below the surface and 150 feet from the shore, authorities said. Check back with the Daily Voice for updates as police are expected to release more information this afternoon. --------------- Massachusetts State Police and nearly a dozen other police…

05/30/2023

Police & Fire

Drunk Driver Backs Into Cop Car During Springfield Stop, Had Gun In Vehicle: Police A 33-year-old Hampden County man threw a few beers back and then backed into a police cruiser over the Memorial Day weekend while carrying an unlicensed pistol, police allege. Freddie Rivera is facing several charges that stem from an early morning Monday, May 29, arrest, Springfield police said. Officers noted Rivera's car was swerving over the double-yellow lines on Main Street just before 1 a.m. and pulled him over on Bancroft Street, authorities said. But during the stop, Rivera inexplicably put his vehicle in reverse and hit the bumper of the unmarked police cruiser, authorities sai…

05/30/2023

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

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