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Officers Michael Wandrei and Joshua Baker were recognized Monday for helping deliver a baby in March.
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Police Chief Scott Kelley reads a statement at the ceremony organized by Sgt. Donna Malloy.
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Town Administrator Jay Green says it is important for police to be recognized as caring members of the community.

Adams Recognizes Officers Who Aided Resident In Birth

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Sgt. Donna Malloy congratulates Officer Michael Wandrei.
ADAMS, Mass. — The town recognized Officers Michael Wandrei and Joshua Baker who helped deliver a baby in March.
 
Town officials held a small ceremony Monday at Town Hall to recognize the officers who helped resident Jayme Pulasky give birth to her daughter, Calla.
 
"We want to raise our department up because it only raises our town up. When you have a valuable asset like this and they do something like this you need to put it out there and let everybody know," Police Chief Scott Kelley said. "I know because they are humble they won't say it, but I know they are proud of what they did. This is a great thing to be part of something like this. They do it every single day. I am proud to be their chief."
 
Kelley said both officers responded to the Hoosac Street medical call on March 11 at 8:55 p.m. He said the officers found that Pulasky was actively in labor.
 
"They were first on scene and found she was indeed in labor," he said. 
 
He said Wandrei stayed with Pulasky while Baker cleared the way for an incoming ambulance and other emergency services.
 
"Officer Wandrei was a calming presence assisting in any way he could with the delivery of the child as being the only emergency service person there at the time," Kelley said. "Baker then started taking measures to ensure that all parties made it safely from the house to the waiting ambulance. This included chipping ice, shoveling snow, removing debris to make it safe."
 
He said baby Calla was born healthy at 9:08 p.m., 13 minutes after the officers were dispatched. 
 
"Both officers assisted in moving mom and child from the residence," he said.
 
Sgt. Donna Malloy, who organized the ceremony and brought the case to Kelley, gave each officer a "Stork Award" certificate and a pin.
 
Kelley, originally from South Carolina, said he has been impressed since he came on the job in January by Adams' officers and their commitment to the community.
 
"Since my arrival, I have seen these police officers go above and beyond in the community every single day," Kelley said. "That tells me that the officers in this department love this community, and we will continue to celebrate occasions like this."
 
Town Administrator Jay Green agreed and said it is important for the public to see that every single officer is a member of the community and cares for it
 
"It is important for a smaller community like ours to let people see and appreciate when they see the black-and-white or an officer in uniform," he said. "It doesn't mean that behind that uniform, behind that tactical vest and the tools of the job that there isn't someone that cares about the public and cares about the person in front of them."

Tags: Adams Police,   recognition event,   

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Hoosac Valley Cuts Staffing, Taps Reserves for $24M Budget

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee on Monday approved a level-service budget for fiscal 2027 of $23,990,355 that includes staffing cuts and use of reserve funds.
 
Adams will see its total assessment rise by $193,745, or just under 3 percent, to $6,814,144; Cheshire's assessment is up about the same, at $196,900, or about 6 percent, to $3,402,982. 
 
Overall, the budget is up 3.22 percent over this year, an increase of $853,719. That's about half what had been proposed in February. 
 
To get there, the district is reducing staff by $362,000, and shifting another $514,000 in staff costs to rural aid and school choice funds. 
 
"Any time you're talking about productions, it's a tough conversation. There are no easy decisions to make," Superintendent Aaron Dean told the School Committee. "We've really looked at how we can utilize staff we have for student support in both the middle school and high school, and kind of reallocate some of the duties similarly."
 
Cuts include not replacing a retiring full-time school adjustment counselor, which is opposed by the Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
 
"Many families have spoken up that their students feel comfortable attending school because of the support of the SAC and by spreading the remaining portion to fit, we perceive students losing their confidence to attend school, feeling that they wouldn't have the support that they need in place," a member of SEPAC read in open forum. "SEPAC respectfully urges the School Committee to carefully consider the impact that any proposed reductions they have on the district's ability to meet its legal obligations."
 
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