Cruisers are currently staged in the Rusty Anchor parking lot.Authorities are asking people to avoid the boat ramp so as not to interfere with searchers.
The district attorney's office confirmed at 7 p.m. that the body recovered from Pontoosuc Lake on Thursday was that of a missing New York man.
The individual's name is being withheld until next of kin can be notified.
Pittsfield firefighters recovered the body after three days of intensive searching by local and state authorities.
Pittsfield Police are still investigating what is being described as an "apparent drowning." The State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office and Colonie (N.Y.) Police are assisting in the investigation.
Authorities have not found any evidence to suggest anyone else was involved or evidence of foul play.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Police Department is coordinating a search operation for a missing New York man on and around the southern portion of Pontoosuc Lake.
The man's identity and where in New York he was from has not been released.
A State Police truck and boat trailer was parked at the boat ramp. Several officers were in a yellow boat with equipment slowly moving through the south part of the lake on Wednesday. Several other boats were also being used.
The search commenced Tuesday morning with assistance from the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office, Environmental Police, and State Police. After searching the water for seven hours, it was determined that additional resources and equipment would be required to continue. The search resumed on Wednesday.
The police first received a report of a suspicious vehicle in Blue Anchor Park off Pontoosuc at about 2:23 p.m. on Monday.
Initial responding officers determined that the vehicle may have been abandoned, as it was revealed that the registered owner of the vehicle was reported missing out of New York State on May 5. Further investigation lead police to believe he had not left the area and searchers turned to the lake.
Police said the search of Pontoosuc Lake will be active until a recovery is made, those involved have reached their daily limitation, or the suspected missing party is located by other means.
The PPD asks that the public avoid the area of Blue Anchor Park and the Pontoosuc Lake boat ramp in order to allow public safety partners to maneuver freely.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Police Department is coordinating a search operation for a missing New York man on and around the southern portion of Pontoosuc Lake.
The man's identity and where in New York he was from has not been released.
A State Police truck and boat trailer was parked at the boat ramp. Several officers were in a yellow boat with equipment slowly moving through the south part of the lake on Wednesday. Several other boats were also being used.
The search commenced Tuesday morning with assistance from the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office, Environmental Police, and State Police. After searching the water for seven hours, it was determined that additional resources and equipment would be required to continue. The search resumed on Wednesday.
The police first received a report of a suspicious vehicle in Blue Anchor Park off Pontoosuc at about 2:23 p.m. on Monday.
Initial responding officers determined that the vehicle may have been abandoned, as it was revealed that the registered owner of the vehicle was reported missing out of New York State on May 5. Further investigation lead police to believe he had not left the area and searchers turned to the lake.
Police said the search of Pontoosuc Lake will be active until a recovery is made, those involved have reached their daily limitation, or the suspected missing party is located by other means.
The PPD asks that the public avoid the area of Blue Anchor Park and the Pontoosuc Lake boat ramp in order to allow public safety partners to maneuver freely.
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Mass Voters Retain Recreational Cannabis, Tighten Gun Laws in Midterms
Staff ReportsiBerkshires
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Massachusetts resoundingly voted to keep recreational cannabis and tighten gun laws during the midterm election on Tuesday.
The Democratic Berkshire delegation was re-elected without contest, and unofficial results show Democratic incumbent Maura Healey taking more than 62 percent of the vote for Massachusetts governor over Republican challenger Michael Minogue.
This coincides with the blue tsunami seen nationally during the midterms, with Democrats flipping seats across the United States and taking control of the House and Senate.
Pittsfield has roughly 10 cannabis dispensaries, alongside several other retail operations and cultivation facilities in Berkshire County. At least three-quarters of the state voted against repealing the legalization that was passed 10 years ago.
According to unofficial results, 46.89 percent of registered Pittsfield voters went to the polls. Pittsfield's 33,934 registered voters cast 15,913 votes, according to these results.
As of Wednesday morning, with more than 85 percent of ballots counted, almost 76 percent of voters opposed Question 8, that would repeal the laws that legalize, regulate, and tax the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana in Massachusetts. It was proposed by an initiative petition.
Similarly, as of 10 a.m., 67 percent of Massachusetts voters have said "yes" on Question 9, which sustains several changes to Massachusetts laws governing firearms: adding school administrators and licensed healthcare providers as parties permitted to ask a court to issue an Extreme Risk Protection Order if an individual is a present danger to self or others, imposing penalties for possessing, creating, and transferring untraceable "ghost gun" firearms, and more.
"At a time when the federal government is focused on the priorities of the gun lobby and rolling back national protections, the people of Massachusetts have reaffirmed our commitment to keeping our residents safe through proven, common-sense regulations," American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang said in a statement released late on Tuesday evening.
The Parks Commission recently approved the Christmas tree-lighting ceremony for Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., in Park Square.
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For the next month, thousands of drivers commuting past Park Square will be hard-pressed to miss the hundreds of American flags filling the downtown landmark as part of the Rotary Club Park of Honor. click for more
The standout was organized by Indivisible Pittsfield, and accompanied by a demonstration the previous day and another on election day at the Woodlawn Avenue rotary.
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In a news release posted on its website tuesday morning, the Northwestern DA said, "prosecutors determined that no criminal conduct occurred," citing Massachusetts General Law Chapter 269, section 17. click for more