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Yahoo
15 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Active-duty Mass. firefighter dies unexpectedly, funeral arrangements announced
Funeral arrangements have been announced for an active-duty North Andover firefighter who died unexpectedly last week. Jeffrey Deschenes, 54, died at a local hospital after experiencing a medical emergency at home, North Andover town officials announced in a Friday press release. He leaves behind a wife and two children. 'Firefighter Deschenes was an extraordinarily dedicated and knowledgeable firefighter and emergency medical services expert,' the release reads. Deschenes began his fire services career with the Lawrence Fire Department in 2000, serving 12 years there before transferring to North Andover in 2012, town officials said. He was assigned as the town's first EMS coordinator in 2019. 'He brought the department into the forefront of pre-hospital care,' the release reads. While serving as the EMS Coordinator, Deschenes instituted a community CPR program, a car seat installation program and a community EMS program, town officials said. He introduced new equipment, protocols and technology into the department, 'creating a highly respected service in the region.' 'Jeff Deschenes brought the North Andover Fire Department into the modern era of emergency medicine and treatment, and his life's work undoubtedly saved and improved the lives of countless people,' North Andover Fire Chief John Weir said in the release. 'He was a quiet hero in our community and a true brother in the fire service.' Deschenes was a decorated firefighter, having been named a Firefighter of the Year by state officials in 2019 for his response to the deadly 2018 Merrimack Valley natural gas disaster. He also received the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award, among other awards. 'Jeff's impact reached far beyond his firefighting duties, touching the lives of many in the Merrimack Valley and the region,' Deputy Fire Chief Graham Rowe said in the release. 'He was always willing to lend a helping hand in any way possible, looking out for his fellow firefighters, friends, family and the community.' Deschenes' wake has been scheduled for Friday, June 6, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home in Methuen, town officials announced Monday. There will be a firefighter dress uniform walkthrough prior to the wake at 8:45 a.m. Firefighters will reassemble outside the funeral home at 11:30 a.m. for an honorable procession to Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen where Deschenes' funeral service is set to follow at 1 p.m., officials said. Westover Job Corps students rally to decry opportunities lost New Jersey is removing Tesla chargers from its turnpike. What about Mass.? This is what it's like on Martha's Vineyard after ICE raids Worcester activist critical of city manager faces one-year city hall ban N.H. man convicted of violently raping three Boston women gets decades in prison Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Missing Chicopee kayaker found deceased, DA says; another man from separate Conn. River incident still missing
HOLYOKE — Nicklas Delisle, the Chicopee kayaker who went missing on the Connecticut River earlier this month, has been found dead, officials said. Delisle, 27, was found by the Hampden County Sheriff's Department Marine Patrol Unit early Friday afternoon in Holyoke near the South Hadley line, according to Rob Rizzuto, public information officer for the Sheriff's Department. The site was not far from where Delisle's kayak originally capsized, Rizzuto said. Delisle went missing on May 19 while on a fishing trip with his girlfriend, Mya Ballard, 23. Ballard was rescued that evening by a passerby, according to Delisle's uncle, Nevin Bastin, at the time. Bastin declined to immediately comment Friday about the news. The search for Delisle began almost immediately after he disappeared around a bend in the river. Multiple agencies, including the Sheriff's Department, the Western Massachusetts Regional Dive Team, the Massachusetts State Police, the Connecticut River Task Force, Westfield Fire Department, Holyoke Fire Department, Chicopee Police Department, Southwick Police Department, South Hadley Fire District 1, Agawam Fire Department, and Northampton Fire Department, used resources to locate Delisle. 'This is a tragic loss, and we extend our deepest condolences to the Delisle family,' said Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni. 'We appreciate the professionalism and compassion shown by everyone involved in the search and recovery efforts.' The incident remains under investigation by the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the DA's office. Meanwhile, it has been more than 80 days since Daniel Callahan, a 26-year-old from East Windsor, Connecticut, went missing in the river. In April, bright signs about the missing man were posted along the Connecticut River in the Nutmeg State, including information about where he was last seen and what he was wearing. On March 9, shortly after midnight, authorities received a report that a man had walked into the river at the end of Walter Street in Chicopee. The following day, Callahan's car was pulled from the water. A multi-agency search also was ongoing for Callahan, but had slowed in April. The search for him is still ongoing, according to Nick Cocchi, sheriff of Hampden County. 'I am thankful that we, along with all our law-enforcement and first responder partners, were able to bring closure to one of the families on the Connecticut River. We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Niklas Delisle,' Cocchi said in the DA's statement. 'But we will remain on the water searching for Daniel Callahan in an attempt to bring his family some peace.' Callahan's family could not be immediately reached Friday afternoon. Paper City Clothing Co. opens new location, saving historic Holyoke building OneHolyoke to host event on community challenges amid federal cutbacks ICE takes two into custody in Amherst in crackdown on 'sanctuary' communities Westover Job Corps program on chopping block in Trump budget Read the original article on MassLive.
