The Fire Department was called to the scene after reports of the body in the water.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The body of a 73-year-old man was pulled from Pontoosuc Lake on Thursday morning.
According to the district attorney's office, Charles Frambach, of nearby Pinehurst Avenue, was declared dead at the scene from an apparent drowning.
The Fire Department was called around 9:15 a.m. for a report of a body in the water.
Shortly after arriving, the body was pulled from the lake using a small boat ramp on Route 7 near Hancock Road.
Police remained at the boat ramp for some time after Frambach was removed.
An autopsy will be performed Friday morning by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Holyoke. Investigators do not believe foul play was involved at this time.
STAMFORD, Vt. — A local woman avoided injury when her Chrysler Town and Country crashed into a tree on Saturday morning shortly before 11.
Karen Wheeler, 57, of Readsboro was southbound on Route 100 in her 2005 van when she experienced a mechanical malfunction with her steering wheel, according to State Trooper Lauren Ronan. The van left the highway near Lincoln Road, collided with a guardrail and then a tree.
There was extensive damage to the guardrail and vehicle, which is considered totaled. Wheeler was wearing a seat belt and no one was injured in the crash. The conditions were dry and sunny.
A second accident later that day in Pownal involved two motor vehicles but no one was hurt in that collision either.
Tiffany Rounds, 28, of Pownal was southbound on Strohmaier Road when she crashed into the rear end of a parked farm vehicle, said Trooper Ronan. The accident occurred around 2:11 in the afternoon. Conditions were dry and sunny; the road is gravel.
The 2010 Subaru Legacy incurred extensive front-end damage. The unattended 1990 International farm truck had minor damage to rear bumper.
Rounds said she was distracted by her children, who were located in the back seat of the vehicle. All of the occupants were evaluated by Pownal Rescue at the scene; no injuries were sustained in the crash.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, September 19.
Brian Whittaker, 32, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense - conspiracy to violate drug laws, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
He was released on $1,000 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on July 25, 2016.
Kelly McLenna, 50, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on her behalf on a single count of larceny from a building.
She was released on personal recognizance. The charge is association with an alleged theft of money from Zenner's Package and Variety in Pittsfield on April 22, 2016.
Khrystyna Nielson, 25, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession of oxycodone, and possession of clonazepam.
She was released on $500 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on July 25, 2016.
Jeremy Levernoch, 34, of Hinsdale had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and possession of clonazepam.
He was released on $1,000 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on July 25, 2016.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, September 20.
Devon James Jr., 26, of Wilbraham pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.
He was ordered to serve two and a half years at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the possession of heroin with intent to distribute charge. He was given a concurrent one-day sentence on the other charge.
The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on April 18, 2015.
Austin Litchfield, 19, of Peru had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of attempt to commit murder.
He was released on $1,000 bail. The charge stems from an incident in Savoy on June 13, 2016 involving a 27-year-old man.
Joshua Litchfield, 27, of Peru had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of assault by means of a dangerous weapon.
He was released on personal recognizance. The charge stems from an incident in Savoy on June 13, 2016 involving a 27-year-old man.
Jennifer Thurston, 44, of Adams had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on 29 counts of uttering a false check, 29 counts of forgery of a check, and a single count of larceny, an ongoing and continuing offense over $250.
Thursday is accused of taking approximately $23,000 between December 15, 2015 and April 1, 2016 from Jiminy Peak while employed there.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, September 22.
Jose Liriano-Vasquez, 30, of Pittsfield was found guilty by a jury on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of heroin.
He was ordered to be held without bail pending sentencing. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his Harvard Street home on June 18, 2015.
He found not guilty on a single count of possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.
The passenger in Thursday's accident, Jordan Belliveau, 20, died of his injuries later in the day at Albany Medical Center.
WHITINGHAM, Vt. — A single-vehicle accident seriously injured a passenger early Thursday morning on Tunnel Street, a mile north of Bosley Hill Road.
It took more than an hour for the Readsboro Fire Department to extricate the passenger of a 2007 Dodge Durango that crashed into a tree at about 2 a.m. The passenger's identity was being withheld pending notification of family.
North Adams (Mass.) Ambulance Service also responded to the scene.
The driver was identified as Patrick Belliveau, 24, of Gardner, Mass. Belliveau had fled the scene, according to Vermont State Police, and was located a short time later about 4 miles away from the accident. Upon taken into custody, he was screened for alcohol and drug impairment and his blood alcohol level was determined to be .089 percent, above the limit of .08.
The passenger was air lifted by medical helicopter from the scene to Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center and is listed in critical condition. The individual suffered multiple compound fractures, internal injuries, head injuries.
Belliveau, who is charged with gross negligent operation (serious bodily injury) and leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury, was treated for a fractured arm at Southwest Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. Belliveau may also be charged with driving under the influence pending the results of evidentiary tests.
The Durango was considered totaled with front end, undercarriage, passenger side damage.
Tunnel Street was closed to traffic for approximately three hours while the crash was investigated. North Adams
Anyone with information related to this crash should contact the Vermont State Police at 802-442-5421.
LEE, Mass. — A police officer has resigned while being investigated for allegedly stealing evidence.
The district attorney's office says Ryan Lucy, one of two evidence officers for the Lee Police Department, resigned and entered substance abuse rehabilitation treatment on Aug. 29. He is cooperating with investigators, the district attorney's office says, with an investigation regarding theft of evidence.
The Police Department became suspicious in late July when cash from an investigation went missing. State Police detectives were called to audit the department's evidence.
A total of $1,408 in cash was found to be missing from the evidence locker from two investigations and one prior disposed criminal case. The money has been returned since the first phase of the investigation.
Detectives also discovered that drugs received through the department's drop box for unused medications were stolen.
The audit is not complete but the district attorney's office says it does not appear that any other evidence related to pending or recently completed cases has been compromised.
The office says no further information will be forthcoming until the investigation is completed.
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