Northern Essex Community College Wins Seven Marketing Awards at Conference

The Northern Essex Community College Marketing-Communications Department came away with seven awards from the recent National Council of Marketing and Public Relations District 1 Conference. The college received seven Medallion Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in design and communication at community and technical colleges, during the conference in Baltimore, Md. Northern Essex won the most awards of any Massachusetts college. Among Medallion Awards, the college won gold in the categories of Communications Success Story, Long Form Writing, Newsletter and Radio Advertisement; silver in Radio Advertisement and Newsletter and bronze in Successful Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Marketing. Northern Essex Community College competed among colleges from Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont; Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec; and the United Kingdom.

Driver in Fatal Methuen Crash Pleads Not Guilty to All Charges, DA Names Two Who Died

A driver was arraigned Monday in connection with Saturday’s fatal crash on Interstate 495 in Methuen and the names of the two deceased were released. Twenty-six-year-old Katrina Nguyen of Lawrence is scheduled to return for a virtual court pretrial hearing on Nov. 26 after pleading not guilty on all charges before Lawrence District Court Judge Mark A. Sullivan. Bail was set bail at $200,000. District Attorney Paul F. Tucker’s office said Massachusetts State Police troopers and Methuen Fire responded to a call Saturday, shortly after 6 a.m., and found people trapped in a heavily-damaged 2015 Ford F-250 pickup truck.

DiZoglio Addresses Boxford Republicans, Comes Away with Question 1 Backing

Boxford Republicans last Wednesday voted to endorse a ballot initiative which would allow the state auditor to audit the legislature. The Boxford Republican Town Committee voted unanimously to endorse the question after state Auditor Diana DiZoglio visited several area Republican committees to speak on the initiative. Voters will decide Tuesday whether to approve Question 1, which would give the state auditor the explicit authority to audit the legislature. DiZoglio, a Methuen native, was fondly called one of their “favorite Democrats” by multiple attendees. “We are putting on the ballot, to all of you, language that simply includes the words ‘including the General Court,’” she said.

Haverhill and Area Firefighters Take Part in Live Training on Plum Island

Firefighters from Haverhill, North Andover and West Newbury were among those from 10 area departments taking part in Live Fire Training on Plum Island hosted by the Newbury Fire Department in conjunction with the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. According to Newbury Fire Chief Dave Evans, the Mobile Live Fire Training Unit was used Saturday, Oct. 26, to give firefighters a chance to work on their fire suppression skills by attacking simulated kitchen and bedroom fires, as well as basement fires. The unit uses propane gas. With movable wall panels and many props, firefighters can combat kitchen, bedroom and living room fires and experience a rollover.

Methuen and Lawrence Men Among Those Indicted on Fentanyl Drug Trafficking in N.H.

Men from Methuen and Lawrence were among 14 people indicted by a federal grand jury and 11 arrested recently in connection with a Lawrence-based group trafficking fentanyl in New Hampshire. New Hampshire U.S Attorney Jane Young said Friday police arrested the 12 men and two women between Oct. 23 and 31 in New Hampshire and Massachusetts on charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Those indicted include Franly Herrera-Herrera, age 24, of Methuen; Jose Herrera, 22, Daniel Mendez Ubri, 25, Wayestar Concepcion, 55, Andri Pimental Arias, 21, and Alexander German, 27, all of Lawrence; Yoefferman Robles Soto, 22, of Boston; Joseph Post, 36, of Billerica; Bruce Wells, 36, and Brexton Boudle, 41, both of Colebrook, N.H.; Michael Savard, 39, of Strafford, N.H.; Trenton Murphy, 26, of Kittery, Maine; Jade Markham, 27, of Concord, N.H.; and Hope Cassin, 33, of Pembroke, N.H.

Young’s office said Herrera-Herrera and Robles Soto face a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence.

Police Charge 26-Year-Old with Motor Vehicle Homicide After Two Die in I-495 Crash

A 26-year-old driver was charged with two counts of motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation, leaving the scene resulting in death and other charges after a Saturday morning crash in Methuen that left two people dead. Katrina Nguyen, who later turned herself in at the Lawrence Police Department, was also charged with leaving the scene with personal injury, leaving the scene with property damage and driving after license suspension. Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker’s office said two men, ages 37 and 41, died and two others were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries in connection with the crash Saturday, shortly after 6 a.m., on Interstate 495 northbound in Methuen. Massachusetts State Police troopers and Methuen Fire personnel were dispatched to a call and found several people trapped in a heavily-damaged pickup truck. The 37-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene and the 41-year-old was taken to Lawrence General Hospital, where he later died.

Methuen Police Arrest Three Teens in Shootings; 17-Year-Old Remains in Critical Condition

Two 18-year-olds and a 16-year-old were arrested this week by Methuen Police in connection with a shooting on Boston Street in Methuen that left three people injured—including a 17-year-old that remains in critical condition. Methuen Police said last night that on Monday, Oct. 21, at about 1:03 a.m., they were dispatched to a report of gunfire and injuries in the area of 113 Boston St. Officers a 17-year-old male and an 18-year-old male, both suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Both received on-scene treatment before being taken to a local hospital.

In WHAV Interview Education Chief Says Students Won’t Take Test Seriously if Not Grad Requirement

Tutwiler Also Responds to Petition Before Haverhill School Committee

State Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler, in a one-on-one interview with WHAV Wednesday, defended the state’s Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System—or MCAS—graduation requirement, saying students won’t otherwise take the test seriously. A ballot question voters will consider by Tuesday would, if passed, remove the graduation requirement. Massachusetts is just one of fewer than 10 states that impose exit exam requirements for students to graduate. Tutwiler, however, told WHAV MCAS will become “useless” if the graduation requirement is removed. “Students will not take it with the same level of seriousness as they would if it’s a graduation requirement,” he said.