Dalton Police Gets Grant to Add K-9 Unit

By Dan GigliottiiBerkshires Correspondent
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The Dalton Police Department was awarded a grant to add a K-9 unit to the force.

DALTON, Mass. — The Police Department has sniffed out additional funding for the establishment of a K-9 unit.

The department was granted a total of $26,000 to the support the creation and early maintenance of a trained dog and K-9 officer.

"It's something that we're excited and gearing up for," Police Chief Jeffrey Coe said, following the formal acceptance of funds by the Select Board on Monday.

The Stanton Foundation — a program supporting human/dog relationships — granted the Police Department $25,000 for initial acquisition, training and maintenance costs for the onset of the new K-9 unit. Total startup costs are estimated at $17,700 per dog, including conversion of a cruiser for K-9 use, construction of an outdoor kennel and dog food, according to information about the grant.

A portion of those costs will be freed up from the donation of a bullet and stab-proof vest for protection of the K-9 by a Massachusetts-based, non-profit called Vested Interest in K-9 Inc., valued at $1,000.

According to Coe, the force expects to acquire a dog by April and complete its certification by the fall. The town will seek the help of Dwayne Foisy, a captain with the Berkshire County sheriff's office and nationally recognized instructor, to train a K-9 officer.

The canine is expected to include guarantees for one-year of health and its ability to successfully complete a K-9 training, including initially a 14-week handler course.

Lee received a Stanton grant earlier this year and added Kumar, a German shepherd, to the force this fall. In addition to the sheriff's office, North Adams, Williamstown, Lanesborough and Pittsfield have K-9 units.


Tags: K-9,   police,   

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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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