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Tyer gives community updates twice a month.

Pittsfield Community Television honored Mayor Tyer and Police Chief Wynn

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Wynn received a Programming Excellence Award in the category of Radio Programming series for his department's "On Patrol with the PPD" radio program on WTBR
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Community Television honored Mayor Linda Tyer and Police Chief Michael Wynn with awards for outstanding television and radio programming.
 
At its 33rd Annual Meeting of the Members and Celebration on Monday, Sept. 21, Pittsfield Community Television (PCTV) recognized the City of Pittsfield's notable communication initiatives, with awards presented to Mayor Linda Tyer and Police Chief Michael Wynn for outstanding television and radio programming.
 
Tyer received the Community Service through Community Media Award for her weekly COVID-19 updates delivered during the height of the pandemic in the spring. It's the first time that PCTV has presented this award to a sitting mayor.
 
Currently, the mayor continues to provide bi-monthly updates on a range of topics, issues, and happenings in the city. The mayor's address can be viewed on PCTV Citylink Channel 1303, PCTV Select, PCTV's Facebook page, and 89.7 WTBR-FM.
 
Her next update is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2.
 
Wynn received a Programming Excellence Award in the category of Radio Programming series for his department's "On Patrol with the PPD" radio program on WTBR. The program, which was established prior to the surge, also served as a communication resource to share public health information. 
 
Wynn thanked PCTV for the distinction.
 
"We're humbled and honored to be recognized for our effort to keep the community engaged and informed," Wynn said.
 
In her remarks, Tyer praised PCTV for its presence in the community and acknowledged the efforts of the city's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
 
"My congratulations to Chief Wynn on receiving a Programming Excellence Award. I am so honored to receive this Community Service Award. I became a super fan of PCTV way back in 2003 when I first ran for City Council and I began to understand how deeply PCTV, and now WTBR, assessed what we all know about our city," Tyer said. "I really admire all that they do for Pittsfield."
 
Tyer said while she was the face of the weekly COVID-19 communications, she had a team of professionals behind her.
 
"It's important to tell you that there was a team of highly trained professionals that got us all through the COVID-19 surge," she said. "I could not have been able to make those weekly presentations and updates to all of you without them."
 
Tyer thanked public health and public safety officials, the public schools, EMS professionals, Berkshire Health Systems, the Sheriff's Office, the Department of Public Works, Community Development and MEMA. 
 
"They all helped me keep all of you informed about our COVID activities, guidelines and regulations," Tyer said. "But especially to Catherine [Van Bramer] and Roberta [McCulloch-Dews] from my office who keep me focused on the task ahead and keep me moving forward every day. Thank you."
 

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Dalton Man Accused of Kidnapping, Shooting Pittsfield Man

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton man was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly kidnapping and shooting another man.

Nicholas Lighten, 35, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Friday on multiple charges including kidnapping with a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder. He was booked in Dalton around 11:45 p.m. the previous night.

There was heavy police presence Thursday night in the area of Lighten's East Housatonic Street home before his arrest.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Dalton dispatch received a call from the Pittsfield Police Department requesting that an officer respond to Berkshire Medical Center. Adrian Mclaughlin of Pittsfield claimed that he was shot in the leg by Lighten after an altercation at the defendants home. Mclaughlin drove himself to the hospital and was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries. 

"We were told that Lighten told Adrian to go down to his basement, where he told Adrian to get down on his knees and pulled out a chain," the police report reads.

"We were told that throughout the struggle with Lighten, Adrian recalls three gunshots."

Dalton PD was advised that Pittsfield had swabbed Mclaughlin for DNA because he reported biting Lighten. A bite mark was later found on Lighten's shoulder. 

Later that night, the victim reportedly was "certain, very certain" that Lighten was his assailant when shown a photo array at the hospital.

According to Dalton Police, an officer was stationed near Lighten's house in an unmarked vehicle and instructed to call over the radio if he left the residence. The Berkshire County Special Response Team was also contacted.

Lighten was under surveillance at his home from about 7:50 p.m. to about 8:40 p.m. when he left the property in a vehicle with Massachusetts plates. Another officer initiated a high-risk motor vehicle stop with the sergeant and response team just past Mill Street on West Housatonic Street, police said, and traffic was stopped on both sides of the road.

Lighten and a passenger were removed from the vehicle and detained. Police reported finding items including a brass knuckle knife, three shell casings wrapped in a rubber glove, and a pair of rubber gloves on him.

The response team entered Lighten's home at 43 East Housatonic before 9:30 p.m. for a protective sweep and cleared the residence before 9:50 p.m., police said. The residence was secured for crime scene investigators.

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