West Springfield News

A woman facing charges of leaving her newborn baby in a West Springfield motel room says she didn't abandon her infant.

Husband and wife Thomas A. Dougherty, left, and Kimberly S. Dougherty talk to reporters about finding an abandoned newborn baby in one of the rooms at the Welcome Inn in West Springfield.

Tara S. Anderson, left, appears in Springfield District Court last month with her attorney Stephen Newman, right.

By STEPHANIE BARRY sbarry@repub.com SPRINGFIELD - Troublesome skies relented for Saturday night's Fourth of July festivities, causing organizers and spectators to breathe sighs of relief.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno has warned area communities that unless they contribute more to the cost of the regional animal control center, Springfield will exercise its right to terminate the regional contract in one year.

Every year police respond to countless calls about illegal fireworks. Here in Massachusetts all fireworks are banned unless set off by a professional.

The Memorial Bridge will be closed to all traffic - vehicular and pedestrian - Friday at 11 p.m. to allow workers to set up the Star Spangled Springfield fireworks display.

Dogs, dogs and more dogs from small and elegant looking Yorkshire terriers to family- friends English cocker spaniels to big, hardworking Bernese mountain dogs will turn the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield this weekend into "dog city." The "cluster" dog shows they will be competing in begin today with the Holyoke Kennel ...

The bells of an ice cream truck can sound innocent, but state legislators are concerned that the driver might not be so harmless.

Tristan Ward pitched five strong innings and Tory Buck roped a pair of triples to help Greenfield Post 81 to an 11-2 win over West Springfield Post 207 in a Hampden County American Legion Baseball game Tuesday evening in West Springfield.

The current Massachusetts budget calls for tax increases to make up for revenues lost due to the stumbling economy.A If the proposal is approved, the state meals tax goes from 5 to 6.25 percent.

A family of 13 living in a four-bedroom ranch house will see their house demolished and rebuilt in a week.

Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell was on hand at the Sacred Heart Church Tuesday to bless a ceremony in honor of Father Theodore Foley.

By JACK FLYNN jflynn@repub.com SPRINGFIELD - A federal judge Tuesday set a July 15 deadline for the U.S. Justice Department to decide if it will seek the death penalty for the defendant accused of orchestrating the killing of mob boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno.

While the newly approved budget may not be good news for restaurant owners and their customers, but there is some good news for those commuting on the Mass Pike.

Ok.. So I know I mentioned doing a Flag Day entry this week, but do you have any idea how difficult it is to come up with a provocative photo that expresses Flag Day and yet leaves room for interpretation? Not easy is the answer to that one.

I'm all for police preparing for a possible Columbine -- but a grenade launcher ? I seriously doubt al Qaeda has a clue where West Springfield is.

The Philip G. Coburn School will have a new area and system for parents who drop off and pick up their children on school days.

A number of local police departments own military-grade weapons. It's all part of a federal program that distributes surplus weapons from the military.

By DAN RING dring@repub.com BOSTON - Gov. Deval L. Patrick is leaving open the possibility that he may be able to keep operating his Western Massachusetts office even if legislators refuse to finance it.