New Bedford High School, GEAR UP and the Immigrants’ Assistance Center will host the 2nd Annual Community Resource Fair on Thursday November 17, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium, 230 Hathaway Boulevard.

NBHS will welcome over 50 representatives from local agencies, business, universities, and the armed forces.

Families and community members can meet with representatives of local services and benefits of resources including education, employment, human services, finance, health, the arts ,and many others.

A map will assist visitors with finding the representatives they wish to consult, and interpreters will be available in Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese and Spanish.

The Community Resource Fair is open to all students, staff and their families. Please stop by and join us!

The following organizations will join the fair on November 17 at 6:00 p.m.:

Police involved in a street-level drug investigation Tuesday charged Lance Sousa, 26, of 264 North St., New Bedford, with distribution of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and distribution of marijuana within a school zone.

Detectives observed Sousa, who was known to them, in a drug transaction on Liberty and North streets.

Based on statements made by Sousa, detectives obtained a search warrant for his residence.

Upon execution of the search warrant, police found a small amount of marijuana, packaging materials, a digital scale and $250 in cash. An additional $120 was found on Sousa at the time of the stop, which took place at about 4:25 p.m.

A 31-year-old Taunton man who attempted to burn down his ex-girlfriend’s home while she was still inside earlier this year was convicted of malicious destruction of property and sentenced to serve the maximum two-and-a-half year jail sentence.

Shemroy William, of 42 Weir Street, was convicted by a jury of his peers in Taunton District Court after just one hour of deliberation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Shawn Guilderson and the sentence was handed down by Judge Michael Brennan.

On March 10, 2016, Taunton Police and Fire officials responded to 164 Somerset Avenue after the intended victim and her friend reported that the defendant was attempting to light the home on fire.

An investigation revealed the defendant attempted to light the home on fire in five different locations and wedged a propane tank up against the house while a fire on the back porch was burning.

Fire officials were able to pull the tank away from the home before it ignited. Police located the defendant about 100 yards away from the home with two lighters in his pocket and an empty bag of Cheetos. Investigators determined the defendant attempted to use the Cheetos to accelerate the fire.

“The defendant engaged in outrageous behavior that jeopardized the safety of the intended victim, her friend and first responders,” said District Attorney Quinn. “I want to thank Deputy Fire Chief Scott Dexter for his quick response and removal of the propane tank. I would also like to thank Judge Brennan for imposing the maximum jail sentence, which was well deserved.”

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced today that a 27 year old Fall River man, formerly of Boston, has been convicted in Superior Court of firearm charges and will serve up to seven years in state prison along with two years of probation after his release.

After a three day jury trial, Kyron Simmons was convicted of one charge of carrying an illegal firearm, subsequent offense, and one charge of carrying a loaded firearm. The defendant testified in his own defense. After the conviction, Assistant District Attorney Daniel Walsh argued for a six to seven year state prison sentence with two years of probation while Defense attorney Katherine Grubbs argued for a five to six year state prison sentence with two years of probation. Judge Raffi Yessayan sentenced the defendant to serve a five to seven year state prison sentence with two years of probation after his release.

On October 30, 2014, Simmons met up with a casual male acquaintance. They walked to Red’s Quick Zone in Fall River and, while behind Red’s, Simmons took the victim’s cell phone, money, and marijuana. The victim saw something silver in Simmons pocket and believed it to be a gun. Simmons punched the victim and left. Fall River Police were called, and upon arrival, spoke to Jean. They conducted an investigation and identified Simmons as a possible suspect. Police went to St Anne’s Hospital, as they learned that an associate of Simmons was there. In the waiting room, they saw the associate and Simmons. They asked Simmons his name, to which he responded with a false name and walked away. Police said “Kyron stop.” He then ran to the door. The officers tackled him with assistance of St. Anne’s security. One of the officers asked Simmons where the gun was and he replied that it was in his pants. A loaded .22 silver hand gun was found in his pocket. The victim’s cell phone was also found on Simmons.

The defendant was previously convicted in Fall River District Court in 2010 of possession of a firearm, and was also previously convicted in Bristol County Superior Court in 2012 of carrying an illegal firearm.

“This defendant is a repeat offender on probation at the time of the offense. He was apprehended by police inside St. Anne’s Hospital with a loaded gun and fled from police before being apprehended. This altercation occurred while people were waiting to be treated inside the hospital,” said District Attorney Quinn. “ This is a very dangerous and horrifying situation. Fortunately the police were able to subdue the defendant. The defendant received close the maximum sentence, which was very appropriate.”

A New Bedford man and woman were charged Tuesday after keys were taken from a bin at Third District Court and used to steal a vehicle and phones, wallets and a watch inside the car.

The victim had dropped the key into the bin before going through a metal detector to enter the courthouse.

A man identified as Clifton Jefferson, 23, of 37 Ashley St. Apt. 2, New Bedford, then took the keys from the bin and, using the remote control key, was able to locate the vehicle, a 2012 Hyundai.

Mr. Jefferson was a passenger in the car, which was driven by Sheena Louise Andrade, 34, of 777 County St. Apt. 3, New Bedford. Ms Andrade drove the vehicle to the area of 185 MacArthur Drive, where police located the car. The vehicle pulled into the parking lot of the Waterfront Grille, 36 Homer’s Wharf, and Mr. Jefferson and Ms. Andrade began walking toward Fairfield Inn at 188 MacArthur Drive where they were stopped by police.

Ms. Andrade did not have a valid license to drive and was found in possession of a phone which was one of the items the victim reported stolen.

Mr. Jefferson is charged with larceny of a motor vehicle and five counts of larceny over $250.

Ms. Andrade was charged with receiving stolen property, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and receiving stolen property over $250.

The victim reported that the vehicle had contained two other cell phones, an iPhone watch and two wallets.

The cell phone found in Ms. Andrade’s possession was the only item located. The incident was reported at about 10:45 a.m.

EPA has awarded the City of New Bedford an Excellence Award for our Industrial Pretreatment Program. New Bedford Department of Public Infrastructure (DPI) Wastewater Division employees Wayne Perry and Jamie Ponte recently accepted the award on behalf of New Bedford.

The New Bedford Industrial Pretreatment Program in New Bedford, Mass. was recently selected by EPA for a 2016 Regional Industrial Pretreatment Program Excellence Award.

The pretreatment program staff of New Bedford, led by Wayne Perry, Industrial Pretreatment Program Engineer, under the supervision of Jamie Ponte, Wastewater Superintendent, was recognized by EPA’s New England Office for exceptional work in inspecting, permitting and sampling of industrial users that discharge industrial waste into the City’s collection system.

Mr. Perry’s efforts to regulate the numerous amount of dentists that discharge dental amalgam waste into the City’s sewer system was one of the primary reasons for the award nomination. All 24 dental facilities were inspected in FY 2015 and found to be in compliance with Massachusetts regulations. The City of New Bedford also implements a septage hauler inspection program. Under this program, 100 percent of all loads from 24 separate waste haulers are monitored for pH and visually inspected for oil and grease. For many years, the City has also submitted outstanding annual industrial pretreatment reports, which detail industrial pretreatment program highlights over the course of the year.

“The professionals implementing the industrial pretreatment program, as well as the state environmental agencies that support them, are key to keeping our environment healthy. EPA is proud to give them the credit they deserve,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England Office.

The EPA Regional Industrial Pretreatment Program Excellence Award was established to recognize and honor employees of publicly owned wastewater treatment plants for their commitment to improving water quality through outstanding oversight of industrial users discharging to the municipal sewer system. More often than not, and particularly with smaller facilities, conscientious pretreatment coordinators and staff continue to perform exceptionally with limited resources.

The New Bedford Pretreatment Program was presented the Excellence Award at the 18th Annual EPA New England Industrial Pretreatment Program Conference in October, and the awardees will also be acknowledged in January 2017, at the annual New England Water Environment Association Conference in Boston.

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An active shooter drill will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 19 at New Bedford Third District Court, 75 N. 6th St. in the downtown section of the city.

The drill will feature four to five scenarios being played out by the New Bedford Police Department, New Bedford Fire Department, New Bedford medics and New Bedford Emergency Management.

Please be aware that this is only a drill, although sirens and loud speakers may be used.

The drill is being coordinated by Chief Court Officer John Frank. Several employees from the court and volunteers will be used in the scenarios scheduled for that day.

A similar drill has been held in Fall River, which Chief Court Officer Frank said went over well.

Michael Arthur Noguera, the 47-year-old Florida man arrested in South Carolina this weekend in connection to last week’s shooting death of Daniel G. Smith in Easton, today refused to waive extradition back to Massachusetts during his arraignment in a South Carolina courtroom.

Mr. Noguera, of Lehigh Acres, Florida, is charged in South Carolina as a fugitive from justice. The defendant will be held without bail in South Carolina while this office begins the process of obtaining a Governor’s Warrant to compel his return to Massachusetts to face the charges lodged against him in the commonwealth. The Governor’s Warrant process could take several weeks.

Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn’s office, along with members of the Horry County (South Carolina) Police Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Saturday afternoon located and arrested the defendant.

Mr. Noguera was found in a trailer on Canine Drive in Conway, SC. The defendant is currently being charged in Massachusetts with Accessory to Murder-After the Fact, Armed Robbery and Larceny Over $250. The Massachusetts charges are all connected to the shooting of Mr. Smith, 35, of Florida (formerly of Easton).

At 1:06 p.m. Tuesday, Easton Police received a 911 call from an Easton woman who told police that her young sons, while riding their bikes in the woods, came upon a man who was suffering from gunshot wounds.

Easton Police immediately responded to a wooded area between Pond Street and Langwater Pond. The man, who has been identified as Daniel G. Smith, was found about 25 yards into the woods. He was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton before being med-flighted to Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, where he remained in critical condition until Friday night when he died at the hospital.

Investigators continue to seek the public’s assistance in locating a vehicle, believed to be connected to the case. If anyone in the region has seen or sees a red 2016 Mazda 3 sedan with Florida license plate tag number 372QQK, they are asked to immediately contact Easton Police at (508) 230-3322 or Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to this office at (508)-717-4238

A New Bedford man was robbed of an iPhone 6, six phone cases and cash after he met a man he had arranged to sell the items to.

Plans had been made for the victim to meet with a man whom he knew as Tyvon Rodrigues at the corner of Robeson and Cottage streets in New Bedford to make the transaction.

At the meeting, an unknown man who accompanied Rodrigues pointed a gun at the victim, who then surrendered the cell phone, the phone cases and cash.

A warrant is being sought for the arrest of Tyvon Rodrigues, 20, whose last known address is in New Bedford, on a charge of armed robbery.

New Bedford Police remind the public that the parking lot outside police headquarters at 871 Rockdale Ave. has been designated an Internet Purchase Safe Exchange Zone, where the public can safely make in-person transactions of items bought and sold online.

The lot is monitored by cameras 24 hours a day.

Police are seeking charges of animal cruelty against two juvenile males, ages 15 and 16, after they seriously injured a squirrel at Riverside Park by throwing rocks at the animal.

Several witnesses said they saw the animal bleeding and suffering from a severe eye injury as it tried to run away from the boys. Witnesses said the badly injured animal ran into a nearby yard.

Animal Control Officer Emanuel Maciel could not locate the squirrel.

The incident was reported at 1 p.m. Nov. 9.