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Taconic High School Names Valedictorian Salutatorian 2017

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Raeayn Warren and Jac Lun Lin have been named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Taconic High School class of 2017. 
 
Principal John Vosburgh has announced that the school will hold its 47th commencement exercises at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 11, in the gymnasium, as has been tradition at the school for many years.
 
Warren, daughter of Holly and Derek Warren, has a grade average of 102.1 and has been recognized by the College Board as an Advanced Placement Scholar and received the Superintendents Award for Academic Excellence. She scored "advanced" on all three Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessement System exams required for graduation and is a recipient of a John and Abigail Adams Scholarship.
 
She has been an active member of the Academy of Information Technology, earning various commendations in state and national competitions with Business Professionals of America. Additionally, she was selected to represent Taconic at the 2016 Girls State event, and has received Awards for Excellence in Chemistry, AP U.S. History, English, and Spanish.
 
Warren is a member of the National Honor Society and the Taconic Quiz Team, and is a Student Ambassador. In addition to her accomplishments and contributions to Taconic High School, she has volunteered as a Tanglewood Ambassador, with Berkshire Youth United,  and as a youth coach with the Ice Shockers through the Pittsfield Parks Speed Skating Club.
 
Warren will attend Saint Michael's College in Vermont to pursue a bachelor of science in computer science.
 
Lin, son of Xiao Fang Zheng and Qing Zhuang Lin, has a grade average of 100.9 and also received the Superintendents Award for Academic Excellence. He has completed 10 AP courses and exams, equivalent to one full year of college coursework. Deemed an AP Scholar with Honors by College Board, he earned Awards of Excellence in biology, chemistry, AP chemistry and biology, as well as for Latin at both novice and advanced levels. He also scored silver and gold medals on the National Latin Exam and was the recipient of the Cornell Book Award.
 
He participated in the Massachusetts Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership conference as a sophomore and continues to volunteer as a HOBY Junior Staff member. He is also involved in organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Berkshire Youth Leadership. During his time at Taconic, he was a Student Ambassador and participated on the soccer and cross country teams, as manager for the track team and withthe Latin and Chemistry clubs, Quiz Team, Prom Committee and World Leadership Congress.
 
Lin will attend Boston College's biology/pre-medical program of study.

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Pittsfield Resident Victim of Alleged Murder in Greenfield

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A man found dismembered in a barrel in Greenfield on Monday has been identified as Pittsfield resident.
 
The Northwestern District Attorney's Office identified victim as Christopher Hairston, 35, and subsequently arrested a suspect, Taaniel Herberger-Brown, 42, at Albany (N.Y.) International Airport on Tuesday.
 
The Daily Hampshire Gazette reported that Herberger-Brown told investigators he planned on visiting his mother outside the country. 
 
Herberger-Brown was detained overnight, and the State Police obtained an arrest warrant on a single count of murder on Tuesday morning, the Greenfield Police Department said in a press release.
 
According to a report written by State Police Trooper Blakeley Pottinger, the body was discovered after Greenfield police received reports of a foul odor emitting from the apartment along with a black hatchet to the left of the barrel, the Greenfield Recorder reported. 
 
Investigators discovered Hairston's hand and part of a human torso at Herberger-Brown’s former apartment, located at 92 Chapman St, the news outlet said. 
 
According to the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Herberger-Brown originally told investigators that he had not been to the apartment in months because he had been in and out of hospitals. 
 
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