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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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Mass. House, Senate panel approves final version of opioid bill
See Opioid Bill, Page 7
Fire on Tekoa Mountain taken the afternoon of Tuesday, March 8, 2016, by Deborah Danoff-Hoppe (used with permission).
Crews continue to battle brush fire More than 50 acres destroyed By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer MONTGOMERY – Crews from four local fire departments along with the state police have been battling a widepsread brush fire since yesterday. The fire started north of Tekoa Mountain, just outside of Westfield, at 3:46 p.m. Tuesday, according to Westfield Police Sgt. Jeff Baillargeon. The fire is “pretty big,” he said, and is located near West Road and the lower reservoir. Massachusetts State Police Trooper Paul Sullivan said that it was reported at 7 p.m. that the fire had still not been contained and had burned 15 acres so far at that time. Fire crews from Westfield, Russell, Montgomery and Huntington along with the Massachusetts State Air Wing continue to fight the blaze, Baillargeon and Sullivan reported between 8:30 and 9 p.m. Tuesday night. Sullivan said personnel from the Massachusetts State Police Barracks in Russell and from the Westfield Police Department were also on scene.
Seth R. Lombard-Hawthorne, shown in lockup while his attorney Kathleen Cavanaugh defends him during his arraignment in Westfield District Court, Monday, February 8. (Photo by Christine Charnosky)
Pre-trial date for LombardHawthorne pushed to April By AMY PORTER Staff Writer WESTFIELD – On Tuesday, a request for a further pre-trial date for Seth LombardHawthorne was granted by Westfield District Court Judge Philip Contant. LombardHawthorne is now due back in court on April 15. Lombard-Hawthorne was also told to take care of the $150 court fee for his courtappointed attorney Kathleen Cavanaugh before that date. Lombard-Hawthorne has been charged with distribution of Class A drug
and possession of Class A drug, in connection with the death of Westfield High School 11th grader Lillian (Lily) Anderson, 16. “Pending an autopsy, the Commonwealth is contemplating an additional charge of manslaughter based on a series of events, circumstances and facts leading up to the death of this young lady and (pending) post-death investigation by Westfield police and Mass State Police,” Assistant District Attorney Edward Kivari told Judge Contant at an earlier hearing. To date, no further charges have been filed.
See Brush Fire Battle, Page 7
Gun scare causes shelter-in-place order at Gateway Regional HUNTINGTON – Students at Gateway Regional Middle/High School in Huntington were ordered to shelter in place for more than an hour Tuesday morning. According to Massachusetts State Police, they received reports of a student at the school who had brought a gun to school in a bag. It turns out that the item in question was a tool, and not a gun. Wendy Long, community relations specialist for the Gateway Regional School District, said that the incident was reported at 9:45 a.m. The shelter in place order was lifted shortly after 10:45 a.m.
While the shelter in place order was in effect, parents were told not to call the school, and to stay away from the building. A student reported seeing what she believed might be a weapon in another student’s locker, to her teacher. The teacher notified the office and Principal Jason Finnie immediately called a Shelter in Place. Chief Robert Garriepy of the Huntington Police Department responded along with personnel from the Massachusetts State Police and the Worthington Police Department.
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By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts House and Senate negotiators have reached agreement on a final version of a bill designed to address the state’s deadly opioid addiction crisis. The bill would limit initial opiate painkiller prescriptions to a seven-day supply and set an evaluation requirement within 24 hours for overdose victims seeking help at hospital emergency rooms. It would also allow patients to fill only a portion of their painkiller prescriptions at a time. The bill differs from Republican Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposal that would have let doctors commit patients involuntarily to drug treatment facilities for up to 72 hours if they’re considered an immediate danger to themselves or others. The six-member House and Senate conference committee also rejected Baker’s stricter proposal to limit initial opiate painkiller prescriptions to a three-day supply. Despite the differences, Senate President Stan Rosenberg credited Baker Tuesday evening during an appearance with fellow Democrat House Speaker Robert DeLeo on the “Greater Boston” program on WGBHTV. “The governor started that process. The House improved it,” Rosenberg said. Baker had pressed lawmakers in recent weeks to get him a final version of the bill to sign. DeLeo acknowledged the long process needed to reach a final bill. “This has been one of those subject matters where everyone agrees we had to do something,” DeLeo said, but added that “a lot of people had a lot of different opinions about what was to be the final resolution.” The compromise bill would also let patients fill part of their painkiller prescriptions, and only fill the rest if needed. “The doc and the patient can talk about what that particular patient will need,” Rosenberg said. “Let’s say it’s 30 pills and the prescription is for 60 pills, they can go to the pharmacist and the pharmacist can give them only as many as they would like to take home.” U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Congresswoman Katherine Clark are pushing similar legislation in Congress that would let patients request pharmacists only partially fill opioid prescriptions. The Massachusetts Democrats said the goal of the legislation is to reduce the number of pills in circulation. Baker Press Secretary Lizzy Guyton said the governor appreciates the Legislature’s work.
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All student lockers in that section of the building were searched. Once the suspected student was identified, a second search was conducted revealing a piece of welding that had been mistaken for a weapon. The shelter-in-place was released at about 10:45 a.m. at the conclusion of the investigation. “Despite the disruption to the school day, I applaud the student who reported seeing what she thought was a weapon,” said Jason Finnie, in a See Gun Scare, Page 7
Town tries to reign in loose livestock By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Loose cows and horses have become a real concern for residents on Curtis Road. Animal Control Officer Tracy Root told the Board of Selectmen Tuesday that a loose cow or sheep on occasion is to be expected in an agricultural community, but that last year she received and responded to 30 calls for loose livestock. Root said multiple calls were received about livestock from three particular farms, and the Curtis Road area has a problem with roaming cows. Root received four calls to that area in just over a week and asked the
Board for help because the town has no allowance for issuing citations for loose animals. “The state allows for citation for loose livestock,” said Root, adding the cost is $10 per head per incident. Neighbors of the farm on Curtis Road have complained of damaged lawns and concerns for safety. “There are hoof prints as deep as six to 10 inches deep on the lawn,” said Root. Root said one child on the street is afraid to go on her own playset because cows frequently roam into the yard. See Livestock, Page 7