“(Wareham, MA) – December 27, 2023, The Wareham Police Criminal Investigation Division along with Wareham officers, Wareham Department of Natural Resources, and the Massachusetts Environmental Police served a Commonwealth of Massachusetts search warrant at a residence in town regarding stolen recreational vehicles (ATVs and dirt bikes).

Fourteen (14) recreational vehicles were seized as a result of the search warrant. Two (2) of the recreational vehicles were identified, and were stolen from Fall River, MA and the other from New Haven, CT and have been returned to the rightful owners.
We believe the other twelve (12) recreational vehicles are stolen and are seeking the identity of the owners.

Contact the Criminal Investigation Division (508) 295-1206, or Detective Lieutenant Michael Smith at mfs@warehampolice.com.”-Wareham Police Department.

“Donna Arruda, 68, of Seekonk, died this afternoon at Rhode Island Hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the Christmas night crash on the Somerset side of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge.

New charges of Manslaughter while Operating Under the Influence and Motor Vehicle Homicide-OUI Liquor will be filed against Adam Gauthier, 41, of New York City. These two new charges come in addition to the charges the defendant is already facing in connection with this incident.

Below is the previous press release on this case, which was sent out on the afternoon of December 26.”

You can read the original story here

UPDATE (6:55pm): Eyewitnesses on scene report that the shooter was allegedly recently fired Deputy New Bedford Fire Chief Paul Corderre and that he was waving his gun around when police open fired. Eyewitnesses reported that about a dozen shots were fired by local police officers.

You can read the story about Deputy New Bedford Fire Chief Paul Coderre, Jr. being fired here.

The officer who was shot has not been identified as of yet, but he was from the Acushnet Police Department and his condition is stable. It appears he was shot in the ankle.

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At approximately 5:00pm on Friday, Fairhaven Police received reports for an intoxicated male trying to drive away from Bayside Lounge on Sconticut Neck Road. The initial reports stated that efforts were made to stop the individual.

At some point a gun was allegedly brandished. It is unclear if it was the allegedly intoxicated driver or another individual. This caused a call for backup to which Acushnet and New Bedford Police responded to.

A perimeter was created surrounding the building and Sconticut Neck Road was blocked up and Wood Middle School was made into a staging area so that paramedics and ambulances could be on standby alert.

At approximately 5:30pm it was reported that an officer had been shot and an ambulance raced to the scene from nearby Wood School. It is unclear at this time, which town or city the officer was from. He was brought to St. Luke’s Hospital and his condition is unknown at this time.

As of 6:00pm, eyewitnesses on scene are saying the shooter has been shot and killed. We are waiting for confirmation.

We will update this article as more information comes in.

“Yesterday marked the official last day for EMS Director David ‘60’ Evans after 42 years of service to the Town of Wareham.

Your dedication to helping the residents and employees of the town is unmatched. We look forward to ‘seeing you around’ because let’s face it, nobody has the strength to pull that radio out of your hands, maybe just turn it off once in awhile.

Thank you for the years of mentorship, selfless service, advice, leadership and being an all around great guy.”-Wareham EMS Local 2895.

“Facts Surrounding the Case: At approximately 5:41 pm Officers assigned to District C-11 responded to a radio call for an armed robbery at Talbot and Welles Ave, Dorchester.

Upon arrival the officers located a postal worker who had stated he was robbed at gunpoint of his mail key. The suspect was described as a light skinned hispanic male, late teens-early 20’s, thin build, wearing a dark colored hooded sweater, gray sweatpants, and a black ski mask. The suspect fled on Talbot Ave towards Washington St.

The Boston Police Department is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding these incidents. Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact District C-11 Detectives at (617) 343-4335.

Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help this investigation in an anonymous manner.”-Boston Police Department.

Boston Police Department photo.

“Emma Gibney, an eighteen-year-old senior at New Bedford High School, will travel to Orlando, FL to represent Massachusetts at the 18th annual Miss America’s Teen Scholarship Competition.

From January 6 through January 14, fifty-one national candidates will be welcomed to Orlando for a week of press events, rehearsals, and community appearances leading up to the selection of Miss America’s Teen 2024. Morgan Greco of Washington, Miss America’s Teen 2023, will be crowning her successor on Saturday evening, January 13.

For the first time in the history of the Miss America competition, the Teen and the Miss Competitions will be held at the same time, and Miss America 2024 will be crowned on Sunday, January 14 at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando. Chelsea Vuong of Cambridge is the current Miss Massachusetts 2023 and will be competing for the title of Miss America.

Miss Massachusetts’ Teen 2023 Emma Gibney. Photo courtesy of Daniel Gagnon Photography.

For over 100 years, the Miss America Opportunity has been helping young women achieve their goals and dreams. 51 candidates, each representing their states along with the District of Columbia, will showcase their talents and compete for thousands of dollars in scholarship assistance and the opportunity to travel the United States promoting scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living, and community service for America’s teens. Since its inception in 2005, the Miss America’s Teen competition, known as “the little sister of the Miss America Organization” has become one of the top scholarship providers for teen girls in the United States. Each year, Miss America’s Teen, along with its state and local organizations, has made available millions in cash and tuition assistance to young women across the country.

At New Bedford High School, Emma is in the Academy of Honors and takes all Advance Placement and Honors classes. She was the President of the National Junior Honor Society in 2019, has made the Principal’s Honor Roll and has received a STEM award. She recently has interned in the office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn. A member of the Mayor’s Youth Council, Emma has played #1 Singles on the Varsity Tennis team for 4 years, was the Southcoast Player of the Week, and a member of the Southcoast All Star team.

She is a member of the Key Club, Captains Club, Whaler Wave Club, Great Outdoors Club, Book Club, and is the announcer and score keeper for the unified basketball team. In her free time, she enjoys painting, going to concerts and volunteering for many organizations. Her future plans are to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and minor in public policy on a Pre-Law track to become an attorney with the ultimate goal of public service. For the talent portion of the competition, she will perform an original HerStory™ entitled “Let’s Talk About It”.

Miss Massachusetts’ Teen 2023 Emma Gibney. Photo courtesy of Daniel Gagnon Photography.

Gibney is dedicating her year of service to her personal Social Impact Initiative, “S.T.A.Y: Start the Awareness Young Suicide Prevention. In 2018, Emma’s cousin Tyler lost his long battle with mental health and chose suicide. “He thought that taking his own life was the only solution to the pain and suffering that he was feeling at that moment. I chose Suicide Prevention as my Social Impact Initiative because I want other young adults to know that suicide is not the answer”. Emma has already received over $4400 in scholarship assistance through her participation in the Miss Massachusetts’ Organization.

She will also promote the Miss America’s Teen’s national fundraising platform, The Miss America’s Scholarship Foundation which raises scholarship money for young women ages 13-28 who participate in local, state, and national competitions. A new partnership called #MissAmericaFit will have all 102 of the national delegates partner with their respective American Heart Association chapters and their “Go Red” campaign to promote heart health and fitness in women. Emma is the daughter of Timothy and Nicole Gibney of New Bedford.

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About Miss Massachusetts’ Teen
The Miss Massachusetts’ Teen Program provides personal and professional opportunities for teens ages 13-18 and is a preliminary to the Miss America’s Teen Program. Miss America Opportunity is one of the nation’s leading achievement programs and encourages positive achievement by helping to nurture and build the scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living, and community involvement of our nation’s young women.

MAO provides educational scholarships for deserving young people and has developed mentoring programs and community-based initiatives across the country. For more information on the state program, please visit www.mmaoteen.org or visit us on Facebook and Instagram.”

On Wednesday the Westborough Police Department, Westborough EMS and Fire Department, Massachusetts State Police and Massachusetts State Police Detectives Assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office responded around 9:20 a.m to an unattended death that occurred in Westborough Wednesday morning at a business at 4400 Computer Drive.

Initial reports suggest that this was incident that involved a man working on a semi-trailer and that there was no threat to the general public.

After further investigation by police and the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office it has been revealed that 28-year old Pablo Franciso Otano Aponte of Worcester was working on a semi-trailer filled with water bottles when it fell, killing him. At the current point in the investigation it appears to be a tragic accident and no foul play is suspected.

Chief Patrick Purcell of the Westborough Fire Department said, “We found the male trapped underneath a 53-foot trailer from a tractor-trailer. He appeared to be working on the landing gear when there was some issue with that.”

Westborough paramedics performed emergency medical services on Mr. Aponte when they arrived, but recognized that the male was deceased with non-viable injuries, and he was pronounced dead on scene.

The matter remains under investigation and no other updates will be released at this time.

Westborough Police Department photo.

Westborough Police Department photo.

Westborough Police Department photo.

“After serving for 17 years as the First Assistant and Deputy District Attorney in Bristol County, William McCauley will be retiring from state service at the end of the calendar year.

McCauley, who also worked as a prosecutor in Plymouth County for 11 years before joining the Bristol County District Attorney’s office in 2007, was the lead prosecutor in the successful murder prosecution of former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez.

During his tenure in Bristol County, McCauley headed up the Cold Case Unit and, with the assistance of a great team he helped to assemble, was responsible for helping to solve numerous previously unsolved homicides from prior district attorney administrations. Some of those cold case homicides that are now solved include the 1986 Dartmouth murder of 19-year-old Marni Larkin Roy, the 1988 Fall River murder of 32-year-old Gayle Botelho by serial killer Daniel Tavares, the 2002 New Bedford murder of Marlene Rose, the 1991 Attleboro murder of Ismael Rencinos-Garcia and the 2001 New Bedford murder of Rose Marie Moniz. In all, during his time leading the Cold Case Unit, McCauley helped to solve more than a dozen cold case homicides.

McCauley was also instrumental in instituting District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III’s highly successful Untested Rape Kit Initiative, along with the office’s new Unidentified Bodies and Missing Persons initiatives. The rape kit initiative alone resulted in at least three criminal prosecutions for previously unsolved violent rapes and the Unidentified Bodies Initiative has already resulted in the identification of two homicide victims from 2005 and 1981.

During the past several years. McCauley also oversaw the day to day work of District Attorney Quinn’s Special Victims Unit and his work in tracking down serial cold case rapist Ivan Keith through the use of genealogical and Y-STR DNA resulted in a conviction and a 50 year prison term for the man responsible for multiple rapes in the 1990s.

In his final courtroom prosecution last month, McCauley successfully prosecuted Jonathan Niemic for the 2010 New Bedford stabbing death of Michael Correia.

As stated earlier, McCauley and co-First Assistant District Attorney Patrick O. Bomberg, both investigated, indicted and successfully prosecuted Aaron Hernandez for the 2013 shooting death of Odin Lloyd in North Attleboro.

“I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of working with Bill for 17 years. His work ethic and dedication to cases to bring justice to victims is second to none. I want to express my appreciation for all of his years of service in both Bristol and Plymouth County that involved significant personal sacrifices over the years,” District Attorney Quinn said. “This was especially true during the successful murder prosecution of Aaron Hernandez. The citizens of both counties and the district attorney’s offices owe him a debt of gratitude. I wish him the best in a well-deserved retirement.”- Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

“****ALERT!****

Missing elderly female. 80 yr old female left home on upper Main St. Marion between hours of 10:30 PM on Wednesday 12/27/23 and 7:30 AM 12/28/23 Thursday. Unknown clothing but possibly in a nightgown or pajamas.

Please check any camera footage you may have between these hours and report any sightings to the Marion Police Department at 508-748-1212.

Please check any and all sheds/buildings/yards/vehicles.”-Marion Police Department, Marion, MA.

Marion Police Department, Marion, MA photo.

“Your Theatre, Inc. director James Sanguinetti of New Bedford has cast four area actors in the drama A DOLL’s HOUSE PART 2 by multi-award winning playwright Lucas Hnath.

This is the second major production for Your Theatre’s 77th Season. This production is generously backed by Production Sponsor Hawthorn Medical Associates and Production Supporter Bristol County Savings Bank.

The cast includes Lucy Bly of New Bedford, Caroline Paradis and Eric Paradis of Fairhaven, and Kayla Ribeiro of Cumberland, RI. The production is stage managed by Eva Watts-Pine of New Bedford, with costumes and set dressing by Mark P. Fuller of New Bedford, hair styles by Suzanne J. Houbre of New Bedford, lighting design by Timothy Helley of Dartmouth, sound design by James Sanguinetti of New Bedford and set design and technical direction from Lawrence R. Houbre, Jr. of New Bedford.

A DOLL’S HOUSE PART 2, the 2017 Tony award nominated play, picks up 15 years after Henrik Ibsen’s groundbreaking 1879 play (A DOLL’S HOUSE) about a strong woman who defiantly leaves her husband, left off. Nora, now a successful novelist, has returned to her house, husband, and children that she left behind when her new life is threatened by her past. Your Theatre produced A Doll’s House play 15 years ago, with Caroline and Eric Paradis in the lead roles of Nora and Torvald.

Nominated for 8 Tony awards in its original Broadway run, including Best Play, A DOLL’S HOUSE PART 2 provides a modern spin on the Ibsen classic and is filled with suspense, humor, and intensity. The Hollywood reporter says that it “delivers explosive laughs while also posing thoughtful questions about marriage, gender inequality, and human rights” while Variety called it “a slam dunk.”

Your Theatre is grateful for the generous support of Bank 5, sponsor of the theatre’s current 77th season. This is their twelfth year of strongly supporting the arts at Your Theatre, Inc.

A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2 runs two weekends in 2024: Fridays and Saturdays, January 19-20 and 26-27 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays, May 20-21 and 27-28 at 2:00 p.m.

Performances are at the wheelchair accessible Steeple Playhouse, 159 William St. in downtown New Bedford. The accessible entrance is located on the east side of the building facing City Hall. Ample parking is available in the city lot at the corner of 6th and William, and metered street parking is free nights and weekends.

Tickets are General Admission $25; Seniors, Students and Military $22. Subscriptions tickets are available at $20 per show with a three show minimum. Additional offers may apply. All seats are general admission; call 508-993-0772 or email boxoffice@yourtheatre.org.

Your Theatre is proud to participate in the Card to Culture program, a collaboration between the Mass Cultural Council and the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, and the Massachusetts Health Connector, by broadening accessibility to cultural programming. Admission for EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders, is up to 2 tickets per eligible card for each Regular Production. Admission rate is $5.00 per person.

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ABOUT YOUR THEATRE INC
Your Theatre, Inc. is a non-profit, volunteer, community theater group in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Founded by Mary A. Smith in 1946, the theater has been in continuous operation since, and produces four to seven shows each season. The artistic and leadership team of YTI strives to create and celebrate the arts with the Southcoast community in an inclusive theatre environment. We are committed to providing an accessible, community-oriented opportunity for anyone interested in
theatre and embracing individuals from all walks of life.

We acknowledge, welcome and respect people of all races, ages, ethnicities, abilities, religions, gender identities and sexual orientations and the invaluable gifts they bring to the theatre experience. Your Theatre, Inc. is a proud member of the League of Historic American Theatres.

ABOUT STEEPLE PLAYHOUSE
Steeple Playhouse is a community arts center with Your Theatre, Inc. as its resident community theater group and is located at 159 William St, New Bedford MA. A prominent downtown New Bedford landmark, the steeple appears on the city seal. Built in 1829 as the First Baptist Church, it came to be known as the “Birthplace of Robert’s Rules of Order”.

Wheelchair accessible, Steeple Playhouse is open for outside rentals. We are another vital catalyst in New Bedford’s continued cultural renaissance.”