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Lanesborough Fire Extinguishes Second Blaze In Five Days

Staff Reports
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Firefighters extinguished the second fire in the last five days Monday morning.
 
Fire Chief Charlie Durfee said a short in a phone charger at 6:30 a.m. led to a fire in one of the cabins at the Lanesborough Country Inn. Upon arrival, Durfee found heavy smoke coming from the cabin and a small fire in the room. 
 
"No one was in the cabin at the time. No one was hurt," Durfee said.
 
The chief estimates $15,000 worth of damage was caused by the blaze. 
 
The fire is the second one in five days. On Wednesday, a cellar fire on Alice Avenue caused $100,000 worth of damage. In fighting that fire, Dalton, Cheshire, New Ashford and Hinsdale were all called in for mutual aid. 
     

Lanesborough Fire Snuffs Out Cellar Fire On Thanksgiving Eve

Staff Reports
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Firefighters snuffed out a cellar fire on Thanksgiving eve.
 
According to Fire Chief Charlie Durfee, just before 7 p.m. on a Wednesday the department responded to a working house fire at 14 Alice Avenue. Dalton and Cheshire Fire Departments were called to the scene and New Ashford Fire Department covered the station. Hinsdale later brought in an air truck to combat the blaze. The fire was eventually contained.
 
"I can't thank everyone enough for all of the hard work they give to the fire department," Durfee said.
 
Durfee said no one was hurt during the fire which caused an estimated $100,000 worth of damage. The state Fire Marshal's office was called in to investigate the cause, which said to have been "unintentional." 
 
"We are still waiting to talk with the owner of the house. We talked to the occupant, who was home when the fire started," Durfee said of the investigation. 
 
According to land records, the home is owned by Roger Bristol.
     

Two-Car Accident at Clarksburg Intersection

Staff ReportsiBerkshires

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Four people escaped serious injury Thursday after another accident at the dangerous intersection at Route 8 (River Road) and Henderson Road.

The crash occurred shortly after 11 a.m. when a northbound late model Ford sport utility vehicle collided with a red Chevrolet pickup truck exiting from Henderson Road.

There were three people in the Ford, the driver, another adult and a child; the pickup contained only the driver. No one was injured.

According to Police Chief Michael Williams, the driver of the pickup had stopped at the stop sign and had checked for traffic before crossing Route 8 toward Middle Road.

The Ford was unable to stop in time and clipped the rear of th3 pickup on the driver's side. Williams said there was no indication that speed was a factor in the crash, but rather the configuration of the intersection, which has seen a number of accidents.
 
Drivers exiting from Henderson Road have a difficult time seeing northbound traffic because of the highway's higher grade to the south and a banking that obstructs the view. Motorists heading north often can't see any traffic until they begin the descent a few hundred feet from the intersection.

The town has complained to the state Department of Transportation a number of times about the intersection, which has had at least one fatal in recent years.

Williams said it appeared the driver of the Ford, from Lanesborough, was unfamiliar with the roadway and was doing at or about the 45 mph speed limit as she approached the intersection. She apparently hit her brakes, because he estimated the impact at about 20 mph.

No one was cited in the accident.

The Ford sustained damage to its front end and the driver's side front fender; it was towed from the scene by Cariddi Auto;  the pickup, which sustained damage to the rear of its bed, was able to drive away.

Traffic was slowed but not detoured; Clarksburg Fire Department and North Adams Ambulance responded, state police assisted with traffic.

     

Angelina's in Pittsfield Robbed At Knifepoint

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are offering a reward for anyone with information that can lead to the arrest and conviction of two people who robbed Angelina's Sub Shop on West Housatonic Street.
 
Police say on Monday night at approximately 7:25 p.m. two suspects armed with knives and wearing dark marks and dark clothing robbed the employees at the shop. The suspects took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot and despite a K9 tracking the suspects for a short distance, Police were unable to make an arrest.
 
Police said the robbery was "violent in nature" but none of the employees were injured during the robbery. Anyone with information are asked to contact the Pittsfield Police Department at 448-9700 and a reward is available for information.
     

Superior Court Briefs: Nov. 4 - Nov. 19

Staff Reports
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
 
Jerry Campagna, 62, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to four counts of uttering a false prescription, three counts of possession of oxycodone, and a single count of possession of morphine.
 
He was placed on three-years probation. Campagna used false prescriptions to procure the drugs between December 13, 2013 and January 23, 2014. The incidents occurred in Lenox.
 
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
 
Nathaniel Davis, 31, of Dalton pleaded guilty to three counts of burning personal property and a single count of burning a building.
 
He was ordered to serve 88 days at the Berkshire County House of Correction on one count of burning personal property. He was placed on three-years probation on the other charges. 
 
Davis set fire to the contents of three Dumpsters, one of which caused fire damage to a building in Dalton on October 26, 2014 and November 2, 2014.
 
Timothy LaFave, 28, of Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of burning a dwelling house, breaking and entering in the nighttime, cruelty to animals, and violation of a restraining order.
 
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. The incident allegedly occurred in North Adams on October 3, 2015.
 
Shaun Letourneau, 34, of Dalton had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of burning a building and burning wood or other property.
 
He was ordered to be held without bail at the Berkshire County House of Correction. Letourneau is accused of setting fire to a storage shed and shrubbery in Dalton on September 12, 2015.
 
Robin MacDowell Jr., 30, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on eight counts of unarmed burglary, seven counts of larceny over $250, two counts of larceny under $250, and breaking and entering a building in the daytime.
 
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $2,000 bail. The charges stem from a number of breaks in Pittsfield between August 10, 2015 and September 12, 2015.
 
James Morrison, 24, of Great Barrington had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on four counts of breaking and entering a building in the daytime, four counts of larceny over $250, two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, and single counts of larceny over $250 from a person over the age of 60, receiving stolen property over $250, misuse of a credit card, and credit card fraud.
 
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $25,000 bail. The charges stem from housebreaks in South County between July 31, 2015 and September 15, 2015.
 
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, Nov. 12.
 
Ernest Harvin, 39, of Williamstown had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of threat to commit a crime to wit: murder, and two counts of intimidation of a witness.
 
He was ordered to be held on $100 bail as he is currently serving time in state prison on other charges. Harvin is accused of making threats to employees associated with the Massachusetts Trial Court system on September 2, 2014.
 
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
 
Jeffrey Vigiard, 42, of Adams was found guilty of single counts of aggravated rape, intimidation of a witness, burglary, and breaking and entering in the nighttime.
 
He was ordered to serve a life sentence at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the aggravated rape charge. He was given concurrent 35 to 40 years in state prison on the burglary charge and given concurrent time on the others. 
 
Jurors found that Vigiard broke into the home of a woman, who is now 23 years old, and sexually assaulted her. The incident occurred in Pittsfield on March 24, 2012.
 
Greg Alexander, 43, of North Adams pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of Suboxone.
 
He was ordered to serve two to two and a half years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the heroin charge. He was given a concurrent one-year sentence on the other. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at 19 Gallup Street in North Adams on March 10, 2015.
 
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
 
Devon James Jr., 25, of Wilbraham had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense - and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.
 
He was released on $3,000 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on April 18, 2015.
 
Brian Aherne, 38, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of larceny by embezzlement.
 
He was released on personal recognizance. Aherne is accused of taking approximately $100,000 from the estate of Corrine Wise between October 1, 2010 and October 31, 2013.
 
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, Nov. 19.
 
Daniel Grimes, 28, of Springfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense - and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute - also his second offense - in connection with a drug transaction in Pittsfield on May 20, 2014. 
 
He pleaded guilty to single counts of trafficking in cocaine, possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense - and conspiracy to violate drug laws in connection to a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on March 3, 2015.
 
He also pleaded guilty to single counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: trafficking in cocaine, and conspiracy to violate drug laws, to wit: trafficking in heroin. Grimes admitted that he conspired with others to sell cocaine and heroin in Berkshire County between January 20, 2015 and March 6, 2015.
 
He was ordered to serve concurrent six to eight years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction.
     
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