Chief Michael Dwyer reports that a large tree is down and has taken live wires down with it in the area of 239 Middle St. Local traffic between middle Street and Indian Hill and middle Street and Stewart St will be disrupted. Motorists and pedestrians should avoid the area.
Page School in West Newbury Placed in Secure Mode after Vehicle Found in Woods, Suspect in Custody
WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Principal Emily Puteri report that the Dr. John C. Page School was placed in secure mode after a suspicious vehicle was found parked in the woods near the school.
West Newbury Police and Fire responded to the school shortly after 10:30 for a report of a vehicle parked in the woods near the school. West Newbury Police noted immediately that the vehicle’s description matched the description of a vehicle wanted out of Newburyport that may have been involved in a motor vehicle crash in that city.
Out of an abundance of caution, the school was placed in secure mode, meaning no one was allowed to enter or leave the building.
Police responded, secured the area, and located an adult male inside the vehicle. The man was placed in custody, and crews are working to remove the vehicle from the woods. The Newburyport Police Department has been notified.
Pre-K pickup, scheduled for 11:15 at the front of the building, will proceed as scheduled. Parents are advised to come to the front of the building like usual and that no cars will be permitted in the back — or to drive around the building — due to the ongoing emergency response.
There is no danger to the school community. The school day is proceeding as scheduled, but students will be kept inside for the remainder of the school day.
The established school safety and security policies in place in the Pentucket Regional School District were followed, and police, fire and school officials are all in contact with each other.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
###
West Newbury Fire Department Battles Barn Fire
WEST NEWBURY — Chief Michael Dwyer reports that the West Newbury Fire Department responded to and battled a barn fire on Tuesday evening.
On Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 7:24 p.m., West Newbury Public Safety Dispatch received a 911 call from a homeowner who reported that the detached barn in the rear of their property, located at 11 Crane Neck St., was on fire.
Crews responded immediately. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke showing from a two-story gambrel style barn. A working fire response was ordered.
The fire was quickly brought under control, but the barn will likely need to be torn down.
The origin and cause of the fire will be under investigation by the West Newbury Fire Department, however an initial investigation at the scene suggests that a hot, recently used lawnmower may have been put back in the barn and caused combustible materials inside the barn to ignite.
No injuries were reported.
The Groveland and West Newbury Police Departments also responded to the scene and also managed traffic.
Mutual aid at the scene was provided by firefighters from Groveland, Georgetown, Newbury and Newburyport. The Amesbury Fire Department provided station coverage, and the Merrimac Fire Department responded as mutual aid to a medical call in West Newbury during the fire.
###
Stewart Street Re-Opened
Stewart Street has re-opened to traffic after the completion of cleanup and removal efforts resulting from an earlier motor vehicle crash and fuel spill.
West Newbury Police and Fire Respond to Serious Cash Involving Pickup Truck
WEST NEWBURY — Fire Chief Michael Dwyer and Police Chief Jeffrey Durand report that the West Newbury Police and Fire Departments responded to a motor vehicle crash that resulted in a rollover.
West Newbury Police and Fire responded at 2:49 p.m. to the area outside 48 Stewart St for a reported motor vehicle crash. Upon arrival, officers found a pickup truck had exited the roadway and flipped over an embankment on the side of the road, flipping and landing tail-up.
The operator and lone occupant of the truck, a 78-year-old Florida man, was transported to an area hospital.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the West Newbury Police Department
The crash caused a fuel spill that was contained by firefighters. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection responded to the scene.
The roadway is expected to be closed into the evening as cleanup and removal of the vehicles occurs.
###
Investigators Find No Evidence of Criminal Activity in Pentucket High School Fire
WEST NEWBURY—West Newbury Fire Chief Michael Dwyer and State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey said today that the investigation into the Aug. 8 fire at the Pentucket Regional Middle and High School building project did not reveal evidence of criminal activity.
West Newbury Fire responded to the school campus at 22 Main St. at about 3:45 that afternoon for a report of smoke showing from the roof. Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke showing from the roof in the rear of the construction site. A First Alarm response was requested, followed minutes later by a Second Alarm response, sending in mutual aid units from several area communities to the scene. The fire was knocked down in a matter of minutes by fire crews, and no injuries were reported.
The joint investigation by the West Newbury Fire Department and the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office, assisted by the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, identified potential causes, including electrical wiring and smoking materials, that could not be ruled out entirely. While there is no evidence that the fire was intentionally set, the relevant National Fire Protection Association Standard requires investigators to classify a fire as undetermined if they cannot eliminate all but one possible cause of a fire. As a result, the cause will be officially undetermined.
The Aug. 8 fire followed another fire two days earlier at the same site. In that case, investigators determined the fire to be accidental, caused by sparks from a grinder used in the construction process that ignited nearby adhesive.
Mutual aid was provided during the Aug. 8 fire by the Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury and Newburyport Fire Departments. Atlantic Ambulance also responded to the scene.
###
West Newbury Fire Department Responds to Second Fire in Three Days at New Pentucket Regional Building Project Construction Site
WEST NEWBURY — Chief Michael Dwyer and Superintendent Justin Bartholomew report that the West Newbury Fire Department and its mutual aid partners responded to a fire at the site of the Pentucket Regional Middle and High School building project Sunday afternoon.
The incident was the second fire in three days at the school building construction site.
At about 3:45 p.m., West Newbury Fire responded to the 22 Main St. school campus for a report of smoke showing from the roof. Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke showing from the roof in the rear of the construction site.
A First Alarm response was requested, followed minutes later by a Second Alarm response, sending in mutual aid units from several area communities to the scene.
The fire was knocked down in a matter of minutes by fire crews, and no injuries were reported.
The construction management firm will determine the extent of damages. The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation by the West Newbury Fire Department, the West Newbury Police Department and the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Mutual aid was provided by the Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury and Newburyport Fire Departments. Atlantic Ambulance also responded to the scene.
###
After Nearly 30,000 COVID-19 Vaccine Doses, Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative Concludes Operations
NEWBURYPORT — The Lower Merrimack Valley Collaborative is pleased to share that after six months in operation, staff administered nearly 30,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to area residents.
The Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative began holding vaccine clinics in January. The last collaborative clinic took place on Thursday, June 10. A total of 29,630 doses of all three authorized vaccines, Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, were administered by the clinic staff.
Over the course of six months, 720 individuals volunteered at the clinics, ranging from the ages of nine to over 80. Volunteers included more than 125 school staff and teachers, more than 40 local high school students and three therapy dogs. Six elementary and middle school-aged children also volunteered and helped to set up the clinics and give out name tags. In all, with 2,315 volunteer shifts, volunteers accrued approximately 12,150 volunteer hours.
“The success of these clinics can be attributed to our army of municipal managers, fire chiefs, public health directors, nurses and volunteers from the community,” said Amesbury Fire Chief and Incident Commander Ken Berkenbush. “I would like to thank them all for their hard work and dedication over these past few months. We could not have done it without them.”
The following is a breakdown of doses administered by the nine towns of the Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative:
- Amesbury- 5,037 doses
- Newburyport- 4,319 doses
- Salisbury- 2,114 doses
- Merrimac- 1,643 doses
- Newbury- 893 doses
- West Newbury- 1,748 doses
- Groveland- 999 doses
- Georgetown- 744 doses
- Rowley- 735 doses
The Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative has contributed to its member communities having among the highest vaccination rates in Massachusetts. In Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury, more than 91.5 percent of all residents over the age of 65 have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Overall, more than 65 percent of all residents age 12 and older in the nine communities have received at least one vaccination dose. The vaccination rate is even higher when those ages 12-15 are factored out, because that age group has been eligible for the vaccine for only a short amount of time.
“While our operation has officially come to a close, we encourage members of the community who have not yet been vaccinated to do so, ” said West Newbury Health Agent Paul Sevigny. “Getting vaccinated is a simple step that individuals can take to help stop the spread of this virus. We are looking forward to a feeling of normalcy as more and more people get vaccinated.”
“Every time I volunteered it felt as though the process got smoother and more streamlined. The communication from shift supervisors, coordination of information online and the kindness at the clinics contributed to a wonderful environment,” said Volunteer Christine Beluk. “It has been such an honor to give back in this meaningful way. My sincerest thanks to the entire team who organized the logistics of these clinics. What a job well done.”
COVID-19 vaccines are free and available to anyone age 12 and older. Residents who wish to get vaccinated can register here.
The Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative comprises Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, and West Newbury.
JGPR is providing communications services to this effort on a pro bono basis.
###
After 26,987 Doses, Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative Ceases Weekend Operations
NEWBURYPORT — Thanks in no small part to an extremely dedicated group of municipal managers, fire chiefs, public health directors, nurses and a corps of volunteers from the community, the “new normal” will feel a bit more like the pre-COVID “old normal.”
After five months, multiple locations and nearly 27,000 shots in arms, the Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative officially shuttered weekend operations on May 22 with final remarks, parting gifts and citations issued from mayors and select boards in the region, honoring those who used their time, energy and skills to help bring one region closer to the end of the horrific COVID-19 pandemic.
With scattered, smaller clinics remaining for teenagers and those unable to leave home, the clinic’s operations will continue at least through June. Saturday’s clinic represented the last time the collaborative’s core group of leaders and volunteers will gather to operate a full-size clinic.
“COVID-19 has taken so much from us, but one thing I will always take away from this pandemic is the feeling closeness shared by the clinic staff,” said Amesbury Fire Chief and Health Director Ken Berkenbush. “It really has become like a family. Combined with knowing we are preventing our neighbors from getting sick, it certainly has made all the long nights and weekends well-worth it.”
The Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative has contributed to its member communities having among the highest vaccination rates in Massachusetts. In Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury, more than 91.5 percent of all residents over the age of 65 have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Overall, more than 65 percent of all residents age 12 and older in the nine communities have received at least one vaccination dose. The vaccination rate is even higher when those ages 12-15 are factored out, because that age group has been eligible for vaccine for only a few weeks.
A total of 26,987 doses of all three approved vaccines have been administered by the clinic.
“We have shown in practice that a municipally-driven, community-centered approach to a public health crisis can overcome many hurdles including vaccine hesitancy, immobility, manpower and logistics,” said West Newbury Health Agent Paul Sevigny. “We are extremely proud of the results so far as we look to return to normal life.”
“It is with the deepest gratitude I offer my thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who helped make the LMRVC a huge success,” said Newburyport Mayor Donna D. Holaday. “Each of our partner communities took on leadership roles and managed a very complex operation from site work, acquiring the vaccines, registering thousands of people, coordinating volunteers and medical personnel and completing the data required by the state. It is because of this impressive work in vaccinating so many people in conjunction with a dramatic drop in cases, that we are able to begin fully opening our communities. ”
The Collaborative plans to distribute hundreds more Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson Janssen doses at smaller clinics during the next few weeks. As a reminder, the Janssen vaccine is available to those ages 18 and up and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is now available for those ages 12 and up.
The Collaborative has a Janssen clinic with open appointments on Wednesday, May 26, from 4-6 p.m. at the West Newbury Annex, 381 Main St., West Newbury. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE JANSSEN CLINIC
Three additional second-dose Pfizer-BioNTech clinics are scheduled for June 8, 9, and 10 at the West Newbury Annex. At this time, June 10 is scheduled to be the final Collaborative clinic.
A new collaborative of Cape Ann communities is also hosting a Pfizer-BioNTech clinic on May 27, from 2-4:30 p.m. at the Topsfield Fairgrounds. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
The Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative comprises Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, and West Newbury.
JGPR is providing communications services to this effort on a pro bono basis.
###
West Newbury Police and Fire Departments Share Tips During National 9-1-1 Education Month
WEST NEWBURY — Fire Chief Michael Dwyer and Police Chief Jeffrey Durand would like to share guidelines and tips in regard to accessing help in the midst of an emergency during National 9-1-1 Education Month.
According to the National Emergency Number Association, approximately 240 million calls are made to 911 each year in the United States. 9-1-1 Education Month is recognized across the country to conduct outreach and educate community members on 911 resources and practices.
“As first responders, we are prepared to respond at any time to any emergency. The information we get from the initial 911 call is instrumental in ensuring we can get to the scene as quickly as we can,” Fire Chief Dwyer said. “We encourage residents to always remember to share their exact location early on if they ever need to call 911.”
In order to make sure residents can access help in an emergency, Police Chief Durand and Fire Chief Dwyer are providing the following safety tips from the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA):
Reach 9-1-1 Via Phone OR Text
Text to 911 is available across the Commonwealth, and the West Newbury Police and Fire Departments wish to remind residents that 911 through messaging is an alternative to a typical phone call.
To contact emergency services by text message, simply enter 911 in the “To” field of your mobile device and then type your message into the message field. It is the same process that is used for sending a regular text message from your mobile device. It is important to make every effort to begin the text message indicating the town you are in and provide the best location information that you can.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or in a situation where speaking is not possible can benefit from using messaging services to reach emergency services, but if possible a traditional voice call is the best way to reach 911.
For additional information about silent call procedures, click here.
Know Your Location
With wireless calls, 911 operators can locate callers, but more information may be needed in order for emergency services to find exact locations. Be prepared to provide detailed information on your location to assist the 911 operator.
Stay Calm and Don’t Hang Up
Unless instructed to do otherwise, you should stay on the line when calling 9-1-1 in order to provide necessary information to the 911 operator. Even if you accidentally dial 9-1-1, you should stay on the line and inform the operator that there is no emergency and that you dialed accidentally. While on the phone, please answer the telecommunicator’s questions. They are trying to determine whether or not there is an emergency or if someone is in need of assistance.
In order to learn more about NASNA and their efforts to improve emergency response through supporting 911 education and awareness, click here.
About National 9-1-1 Education Month
April is designated as National 9-1-1 Education Month, recognized by the United States Congress in 2008. According to NASNA, it aims to support the efforts of the National 911 Education Coalition through the promotion of resources and materials that help to educate about the optimal use of 9-1-1 services across the country.
###
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 8
- Next Page »