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Haverhill Police Make Bradford Fentanyl Drug Arrests

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Two men were arrested in Bradford late Tuesday night on charges of trafficking in the deadly drug fentanyl. Jason Bower, 28, of Chesterfield, N.H., and Corey Carpenter, 29, of Winchester, were taken into custody by Haverhill Police just before 11:30 p.m., on South Main Street. Each was charged with fentanyl trafficking, possession of drugs, possession of drugs with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Bower was also charged with unlicensed driving. Carpenter was further charged with a miscellaneous equipment violation.

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Power Out, Businesses Closed After Car Strikes Utility Pole Saturday

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The scene early Saturday morning in Lafayette Square. (Video capture from witness, used with permission.)

Lafayette Square was closed to traffic, electricity was out and businesses closed most of the day Saturday after a car struck a utility pole and burst into flames. The vehicle was apparently being pursued by police around 2:30 a.m., Saturday, down Broadway and into Lafayette Square when it struck the utility pole near Phaneuf Insurance, 123 Lafayette Square, according to Fire Chief William F. Laliberty. He theorized the car hydroplaned while negotiating the corner and slid into the pole. “It was quite the coordinated effort to put the pole together and get the infrastructure back in place,” the chief said.

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House Break at Murdered Teen’s Home Adds to Mystery

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The Finn residence, seen here the night of an unsolved shooting death, was broken into this past weekend, according to a Haverhill Police incident report. (WHAV News photograph.)

Over the weekend, the Bradford home where 18-year-old Bryce T. Finn was shot and killed last week, was broken into by one or more intruders. The incident adds another layer of mystery to the as-yet unsolved murder of the teen by a gunman the night of Tuesday, June 6. District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett’s office has said, “Investigators do not believe this was a random act,” but also declined to speculate on a motive for the killing. A Haverhill Police incident report lists a “breaking and entering” at the 54 Rainbow Drive, single-family home Saturday, June 10, just before 4:30 p.m. The Haverhill Police Department’s Records Division said details of the house break cannot be released while the murder investigation continues.

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Bulletin: Recent HHS Grad Shot in Quiet Bradford Neighborhood

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The scene in front of 54 Rainbow Drive, Tuesday night. (WHAV News photograph.)
Third Update

A young Bradford man was apparently shot in the chest sometime after 10 p.m., Tuesday night. The victim is reportedly Bryce Finn, who just graduated with the Haverhill High School class of 2017 last week. Several of his classmates said Finn has died from his wounds. Neighbors told WHAV News, a car drove up to a 54 Rainbow Drive home.

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Merger Brings Hale Hospital’s 1994 Suitor Back into the Picture

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The former Hale Hospital when it was known as Merrimack Valley Hospital, following its sale to Essent in 2001. Twenty-three years ago, Hale Hospital trustees rejected an offer by Brim Healthcare to buy or manage the city-owned hospital. Although diluted after several corporate mergers, the company is expected to join in ownership later this year of what is now known as Holy Family Hospital-Haverhill. Current hospital owner, Steward Health Care of Boston, announced Friday it is merging with IASIS Healthcare of Franklin, Tenn. IASIS Healthcare bought Brim’s hospital business in 2010.

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December Water Treatment Malfunction May Have Cost Worker’s Job

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Haverhill Water Treatment Plant. Last December’s malfunction at the city’s water treatment plant may have a cost a 30-year-veteran of the department his job. The Dec. 11 incident was the subject of city councilor complaints for a three-month delay in notifying residents and a confusing letter about the problem. WHAV filed a request April 27 with the City of Haverhill under the state’s public records law, asking specifically if a particular employee’s “termination (is) related to water treatment plant operational problems.”

Human Resource Director Denise McClanahan responded John E. Dignus, listed as a Class IV water treatment plant operator, retired Feb.

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Police Pick Up Man in New York for Alleged Hilldale Ave. Arson

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A 26-year-old Lowell man was arraigned on arson charges last week, a little more two weeks after Haverhill firefighters extinguished a small fire at a Hilldale Avenue duplex home. Troy Maloney, 482 Fletcher St., Lowell, returns to district court Wednesday, April 12, for a dangerousness hearing, Carrie Kimball-Monahan, spokeswoman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett, told WHAV Friday. Maloney is accused of trying to burn the two-family home at 493 Hilldale Ave., Saturday, March 18, just before 4:30 in the morning. “The men and women of the Haverhill Police Department did an outstanding job of collecting the necessary facts and evidence so that the suspect could be identified and apprehended within the same day as the crime,” said Detective Lt. Robert P. Pistone, police spokesman. Fire Chief William F. Laliberty previously told WHAV the damage was “minimal,” but an investigation was focused on Maloney’s intent.

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City Loses Purchasing Agent as Lancaster Names Administrator

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Orlando Pacheco during a previous appearance before the Haverhill City Council. (WHAV News photograph.)

Haverhill Purchasing Director and Energy Manager Orlando Pacheco is expected to leave his Haverhill post after Lancaster selectmen voted Thursday to offer him back his old job as town administrator. Pacheco, who lives in Peabody, must first negotiate a contract with the town. “I expect it will take at least a month for me to get to Lancaster on a regular basis and then, I’m sure, there will be some longer-term transitioning,” he said. Pacheco notified Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini of the job offer, but assured him he will be available to complete some energy projects before he leaves.