“For the first time since 1996, we’re considering an increase in freshwater fishing and hunting license fees.

Over the past 25 years, we’ve been able to maintain our high-quality services and programs through the responsible management of funds without raising fees. But with inflation up nearly 67% since 1996; increased agency responsibilities; and steadily increasing state-mandated costs such as payroll taxes and health insurance, revenue has not been meeting expenses for several years.

The public can learn more about MassWildlife, how we’re funded, and why we’re considering a license increase by attending an upcoming virtual information session. Get details at: mass.gov/masswildlife-funding.”

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife photo.

The New Bedford Chapter of the Prince Henry Society is accepting applications for this year’s scholarship program. Eligible candidates are all graduating seniors seeking an undergraduate or associate’s degree from an accredited college/university, a resident of the Greater New Bedford area, with an emphasis on students of Portuguese descent and with interest in Portuguese culture.

“We encourage local high school seniors to apply for our annual scholarship, which we are proud to offer to Greater New Bedford students,” said Robert Gaspar, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee. “For the past four decades, the Prince Henry Society has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 deserving high school graduates. We are glad to continue our strong commitment to education in our community.”

Applications are available in the guidance offices of New Bedford High School, Dartmouth High School, Wareham High School, Apponequet Regional High School, Old Rochester Regional High School, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, Fairhaven High School, Old Colony Vocational High School, and Bishop Stang High School.

Applications are also available online at www.princehenrysociety.org or by calling Scholarship Committee Chairman Robert Gaspar at 508-998-2012.

Deadline for return of all applications is April 1, 2021.

The Wareham Police Department regrets to announce the passing of retired police officer Dennis Damata. Dennis died on Tuesday, January 19, from complications of Coronavirus.

Dennis served the Wareham Police Department faithfully from 1985-2010. After his retirement, he continued to serve as special police officer until his illness.

Dennis also served Wareham, in past years, as a member of the Board of Selectmen. His loss is felt deeply among members of the police department, and other public safety agencies that he worked so closely with.

Rest in peace Dennis, from your brothers and sisters at the WPD. Funeral arraignments are incomplete at this time.

Buttonwood Park Zoological Society is asking the SouthCoast to “Share the Love” this winter, with a fundraiser which launched Thursday, January 14, 2021. Funds raised between then and Sunday, March 14, 2021 will help ensure that Buttonwood Park Zoo remains a bright spot for families across the SouthCoast while continuing to provide world-class education, conservation and animal care programming.

“We are asking individuals and organizations to put their hearts out there in support of BPZOO, and show they ’share the love‘ for animals, nature and our community,” said “Share the Love” Campaign Chair and BPZS Board Member, Patrice Coholan. “It has been a tough year for so many and, in addition to raising meaningful funding for the Zoo, we want to spread a message of love, hope and ‘pawsitivity’ across the SouthCoast.”

Buttonwood Park Zoo photo.

For a minimum donation of $10, BPZOO supporters can help spread “pawsitivity” and love by placing a paw print adorned heart-shaped lawn sign at their home or business. Donations can be made by texting LOVEBPZOO to 41444, or visiting bpzoo.org. Signs are available for pick up at the Zoo 9:00 am – 3:15 pm, seven days a week.

“Throughout the course of this pandemic, guests to BPZOO have consistently expressed their appreciation for having a safe and tranquil place where their families can connect with nature,” said Buttonwood Park Zoo Director Keith Lovett. “Spending time with animals has been proven to reduce stress in people and the Zoo has been able to offer an outdoor environment where people can relax in the presence of amazing wildlife.”

For more information about the “Share the Love” Campaign, or other ways to support BPZOO’s education and conservation initiatives locally and globally, visit bpzoo.org.

Buttonwood Park Zoo is located at 425 Hawthorn Street in New Bedford and is open from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm daily throughout the winter.

Buttonwood Park Zoo photo.

On Thursday January 14, Trooper Ali Jaafar was on patrol in Taunton assigned to State Police-Middleboro. While traveling on Cohannet Street in the area of Route 44 Trooper Jaafar observed a Cadillac SUV travel over the double yellow lane markings into the oncoming lane. Trooper Jaafar proceeded to catch up to the vehicle before it quickly turned into the parking lot of a business then parked.

Trooper Jaafar activated the cruiser’s blue lights then approached the Cadillac to speak with the operator along with two other occupants seated inside. Prior to approaching the Cadillac Trooper Jaafar observed a fourth occupant, later identified as CAMERON FOWLER, 22, of Boston, enter the business and remain inside for more than 10 minutes.

Massachusetts State Police photo.

After subsequent investigation on scene Trooper Jaafar built probable cause and gained permission to search the vehicle. A backpack and duffle bag were located containing over $12,000 in cash along with a large amount of marijuana and other items containing THC compounds. Trooper Jaafar also located a loaded Glock 43 pistol with the serial number completely vandalized and defaced inside one of the bags. During the interaction and search of the vehicle FOWLER exited the store and was questioned by Troopers. It was determined through questioning that the bags belonged to FOWLER, who does not possess a license to carry firearms. He was placed under arrest and escorted to a cruiser.

The operator of the Cadillac was issued a written citation for the motor vehicle offenses and permitted to leave the scene with the other two occupants. FOWLER was transported to the Middleboro Barracks for booking. A bail commissioner was contacted and set bail at $1000. He was scheduled for arraignment at Taunton District Court on the following offenses:

1. Illegal Possession of a Firearm;
2. Carrying a Loaded Firearm;
3. Possession of a Firearm with Defaced Serial Number;
4. Possession of Firearm without FID Card;
5. Possession of Ammunition without FID Card; and
6. Possession of a Class D Substance with Intent to Distribute.

“HELPING OTHERS:

Many MSP Troopers give back to their communities in their private lives. One of them is Trooper Samantha Stuckey, who is assigned to Troop H, who founded an organization called Sistahs With Substance, a non-profit organization comprised of like-minded women passionate about trying to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than them.

The members are professional women with families of their own who strive to help others through charitable activities, fundraising, and volunteering. They seek to help people struggling with situations such as homelessness, abuse, cancer and other medical issues by offering food, clothing donations, and other assistance or resources.

Sistahs With Substance is currently conducting its first annual Sock Drive. They are collecting new, still-in-original-packaging, white crew socks for men, women and children.

Anyone wishing to donate may email the group at siswithsub@gmail.com. We are proud of Trooper Stuckey for her commitment to helping others both on and off duty!”-.

em>Massachusetts State Police photo.

“SCAMBAG ALERT — PLEASE SHARE

I was recently made aware of the following Xfinity scam:

The scammer pretends to be calling from Xfinity and tells you that you are owed a refund. In order for them to give you the refund, you need to log into online banking. The scammer then remotes into your computer and transfers money from one of your accounts to another. The scammer tells you that they have processed the refund but gave you too much. They then ask you to send the excess back to them in gift cards or by a wire transfer.

Safety precautions:
• If you are eligible for a refund from any company, the company should not need access to your online/mobile banking. Do not log in because someone identifying themselves as a company representative asks you to.
• Never provide or confirm any financial details to a caller that you’re not familiar with. If you’re not sure, hang up, and look up the company’s 800 number to call back.
• Don’t give out personal information, such as your email address, phone number, online banking username, PIN, or debit card number.
• Don’t respond “Yes” within a text unless the information is actually accurate. If you are told via text to respond “Yes” because they’re testing the fraud system, do not continue the conversation.

A Massachusetts man and woman were arrested today and charged in connection with unlawfully entering the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Mark Sahady, 46, of Malden, Mass. and Suzanne Ianni, 59, of Natick, Mass., were each charged by criminal complaint with one count of entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and one count of disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Sahady and Ianni will make their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Boston this afternoon.

According to the criminal complaint, Sahady is the vice president of an organization called “Super Happy Fun America,” which allegedly purports to advocate for the “straight community.” Beginning on approximately Nov. 16, 2020, Sahady tweeted statements exhibiting a belief that the presidential election was stolen, and that people need to gather in D.C. on January 6, 2021 to respond. Photos posted on a Twitter account connected to Super Happy Fun America show Sahady on a bus with other individuals with the caption, “Bus 1 of 11 coming to Washington DC. See you there!”

According to the criminal complaint, Ianni is also involved with “Super Happy Fun America.” The complaint alleges that Ianni organized buses for Super Fun Happy America to transport individuals to Washington D.C. for the January 6, 2021 event. Ianni is pictured alongside Sahady in the bus photo on Twitter. Following the Capitol breach, the public and media posted photos and identified people who were at the riot and entered the Capitol. Photographs show Sahady and Ianni standing next to each other inside the U.S. Capitol during the breach.

The information contained in the charging documents are merely allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Information on charges regarding violence at the Capitol, including defendants’ names, charges, case status, and court case numbers, is available at https://www.justice.gov/opa/investigations-regarding-violence-capitol.

The charge of entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. The charge of disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds provides for a sentence of up to six months in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

These cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the DOJ’s National Security Division, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Massachusetts.

The case are being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division.

The ATF and FBI continue to urge the public to report suspected use of explosive devices, or violent, destructive acts associated with the recent unrest. Anyone with information can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email ATFTips@atf.gov or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com.

The FBI is looking for individuals who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit images or videos at fbi.gov/USCapitol.

A member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation was sentenced today for being a felon in possession of a firearm as a result of a federal investigation into a shooting on April 19, 2020, in New Bedford.

Alexander Pizarro, a/k/a “King Tego,” 28, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In September 2020, Pizarro pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On April 19, 2020, police responded to a report of seven shots fired near a residence on Clark Street in New Bedford. During the response, police located a tan and black Taurus 9mm firearm in an alleyway near the residence. Based on information received from a 911 caller, police were directed to an apartment and located Pizarro. After searching his cell phone, investigators located a photograph of Pizarro in the apartment holding what appeared to be the same firearm that was recovered from Clark Street. This photograph was taken approximately two hours before the shots-fired incident. Through ballistics comparison, the seized firearm was matched to the recovered shell casings from the shooting that evening.

Due to multiple prior convictions, Pizarro is prohibited from possessing firearms. According to court documents, Pizarro was known to investigators to be a member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings, and had recently posted multiple pictures holding firearms to his SnapChat account. At the time of the shooting incident, Pizarro was on probation for a 2017 firearms conviction in Rhode Island.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New England Field Division; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Mayor Jon Mitchell announced the reopening of a Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Care Center in New Bedford for those recovering from COVID-19.

The former nursing home facility, located at 4586 Acushnet Avenue, opened Monday, January 18 as a COVID-19 recovery and care center.

City of New Bedford photo.

The facility is operated by Essex Group Management Corporation’s nonprofit Buttonwood Healthcare division, a partnership that began in April with the announcement of the establishment of two regional care centers in New Bedford.

It is one of two such facilities leased by the City. Earlier this year, the City opened the other of the two facilities, located at 1123 Rockdale Avenue; that care center will remain closed at this time. The Acushnet Avenue site has 123 beds, while the Rockdale Avenue site has 107 beds. The care center will be staffed by physicians and advanced practice nurses who are committed to seeing that patients are cared for and treated.

Earlier this month, Mayor Mitchell announced the City’s decision to reopen the facility to assist the region’s healthcare system with the recent surge of COVID-19 patients. The facility will house patients who still require medical care, but do not require hospitalization, to ease the burden on local hospitals.

“The reopening of a surge facility in New Bedford will offer an outlet that supports our region’s busy hospitals during this resurgence of the virus. Thanks to the work of our City facilities crews and our partners at the Essex Group, the opening of the center will ensure that our health care system can continue to attend to patients during the peak of the pandemic,” said Mayor Mitchell.

City of New Bedford photo.