Crime

Judge Orders 44-Year-Old Man with Haverhill Ties Held on Drug, Gun Charges

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Joseph M. Hurley Jr., who was previously linked in court to a man who died in Haverhill police custody last summer, was arraigned Wednesday in Haverhill District Court on several gun and drugs charges and is being held in the Essex House of Correction in Middleton. Judge Cesar A. Archilla also revoked 44-year-old Hurley’s bail on another drug case pending in Essex County Superior Court. Haverhill Police arrested Hurley Tuesday afternoon after, what they called, a lengthy investigation that included several controlled “buys” from Hurley and surveillance of two homes in the city. Police said they found Hurley outside an Ashworth Terrace home after watching him leaving an apartment on Washington Avenue. A police report notes they found him with $850 in cash and a key that opens a safe at the apartment.

Haverhill

Haverhill Council Allows Full $5 Million for Mill Demolition

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After debating the merits of allotting the full $5 million to take down the fire-damaged Stevens Street mill, the Haverhill City Council voted 9-2 Tuesday night to approve the total. The Council gave Mayor Melinda E. Barrett authority to spend up to $5 million previously approved at an emergency session Friday, May 8. Noting the mayor accepted a $3.98 million bid from Everett-based NorthStar Contracting Group Friday, several councilors said they are not happy that taxpayers could be left with shouldering the cost to remove the building. Ward 5 Councilor Shaun P. Toohey said he is concerned that even though the bid is under $5 million, cost overruns would magically end up eating up the entire amount if approved. “If in fact it goes over the contractor or applicant has to come back anyway.

Crime

Essex County Grand Jury Indicts Former Haverhill Man for Alleged Child Rape

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David F. Shanahan, the Dracut man charged with rape of a child while he was living in Haverhill, was recently indicted by an Essex County grand jury and his case was moved to Essex County Superior Court in Salem. In his last court appearance on Friday, May 1, Judge Salim Tabit entered a plea of not guilty, set bail at $500 cash, required Shanahan to wear a GPS tracking device, live at a Dracut residence and stay away from the school and church where the child attends. He was also ordered to have no unsupervised contact with children under 18 and not to coach youth sports. Tabit also gave him a daily curfew of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

As WHAV previously reported, Shanahan allegedly inappropriately touched the child while his now-ex-wife was a work, according to a Haverhill Police Department report. His ex-wife is the child’s grandmother and legal guardian.

Haverhill

Podcast: Haverhill Preps for Memorial Day with Event Lineup Starting Friday

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Memorial Day observances are scheduled throughout Haverhill in the lead up to the holiday itself, next Monday. Jeffrey Hollett, Haverhill’s veteran services director, gave an overview of upcoming Memorial Day-related happenings during a recent appearance on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. He said this year’s theme is “What Does Memorial Day Mean to You?”

“I would like to see Memorial Day Week become a week of events every single day of the week prior to,” Hollett said. This Friday, May 22, students at the John C. Tilton School on Grove Street will hold the school’s Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Veterans, families and friends have been invited to the tribute which includes a student concert. On Saturday, May 23, veterans, scouting and other youth groups, services clubs and allies are gathering at 9 a.m., at the Haverhill AmVets Post 147, 576 Primrose St.

Haverhill

Haverhill Accepts Everett Firm’s $4M Bid to Demolish Fire-Damaged Mill

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An Everett contractor last Friday was named the winning bidder to take down the fire-ravaged Stevens Street mill just outside Lafayette Square in Haverhill. NorthStar Contracting Group bid $3.98 million to demolish the abandoned mill complex the size of two football fields, according to Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett. In addition to the demolition contract, she also signed a contract with Fuss and O’Neill in Boston to supervise asbestos removal as required by the state Department of Environmental Protection. That contract is not to exceed $242,000, she said. The mayor also signed a contract with Advance Security Services of Plaistow, N.H., for $50,000 to maintain an around-the-clock guard on site.

Haverhill

Public Meetings This Week: Conservation Commission to Weigh in Before Haverhill Takes Down Burned Mill

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The public has opportunities to shape policy this week as various Haverhill boards meet. In the interest of transparency in government, WHAV provides this list of upcoming meetings every week on air and online. The Haverhill Conservation Commission plans to discuss an emergency certification of the city’s plans to demolish the fire-ravaged Stevens Street mill when it meets Thursday night. Fire ripped through the mill just outside Lafayette Square on the early hours of Tuesday, April 28. The Haverhill City Council authorized Mayor Melinda E. Barrett to spend up to $5 million to take down the mill because of public safety concerns.

Haverhill

Haverhill, Ruined Mill Owner Reach Agreement on Little River Dam

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Trustees of the fire-ravaged Stevens Street mill complex have agreed to transfer the deed to the adjacent Little River Dam to the city without cost. Haverhill city councilors Tuesday are expected to act on the donation after three years of negotiations between the city and Steven and Carol Shain, trustees of the Shain Realty Trust. As WHAV reported in 2020, the city took steps to remove the dam not long after a 2015 fire destroyed part of the Stevens Mill complex. City Solicitor Lisa T. Mead outlined plans in a May 8 letter to the City Council. “This transfer and easement are related to the larger Little River project being undertaken by the Department of Public Works to remove the dam and allow the water to flow freely in the channel.

Haverhill

Haverhill Reaches Pact to Buy Entire E. Broadway Parcel for Water Well

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Haverhill has reached a new agreement with the owner of an East Broadway property to take the entire 7.4-acre site for $1.8 million, rather than a portion of the property for a well. City officials originally proposed paying half as much for a portion of the property for a radial collector riverbank well, but a required two-thirds of city councilors could not agree. Councilors are expected Tuesday to place on file for a required 10 days a request to borrow another $900,000. Public Works Director Robert E. Ward explained the arrangements in a letter. “The proposed approach represents a negotiated or ‘friendly’ taking, whereby the city would exercise its eminent domain authority with the cooperation and agreement of the property owner.