Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:00 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:00:06 GMT
The Cave-In-Rock Ferry has stopped service due to high winds along the Ohio River at the ferry crossing.
The Cave-In-Rock Ferry has stopped service due to high winds along the Ohio River at the ferry crossing.
RUSSEL, MA (WSHM) -
State police unveiled a new Western MA radio system on Tuesday that will specifically help troopers to communicate while working in the areas rural communities.
The new system is the first fully digital system for the state police
State police superintendent Col. Timothy Alben says up until now communication was spotty in many rural areas of Western Mass which caused problems in times of emergency.
"When you get into these mountainous areas, especially into the valleys there would not be radio coverage," Alben said."A trooper would not be able to communicate back here to the barracks so if he or she got in trouble, if they were injured, if they got into an altercation you can just imagine the scenarios they wouldn't be able to call for help."
But, that's all changing thanks to the new radio system that's been years in the making.
"If we get into a challenging situation anywhere now in Western MA we know we are going to have instantaneous communication back to barracks that can get us necessary help," Alben said.
The system covers all but a few isolated areas throughout the Berkshires and will enable troopers from all across the state to get in touch with one another.
"That communication is now going into a state trunk system so you can talk literally from a valley in the Berkshires to Boston or Framingham," Alben said.
And, for troopers like Christopher Kudlay who cover the Russell area the news of the new system is more than welcome. Kudlay said that up until now he's run into problems pretty much on a daily basis.
"Every time we had to go to a call and had to utilize the old system we'd go to a house go to a domestic and on a daily basis we would get dispatched and not have communications with the barracks until we return to the cruiser," Kudlay said.
The new system cost $42 million in Western Massachusetts and was paid for with state bonds.
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Monday, May 20 2013 9:18 PM EDT2013-05-21 01:18:04 GMT
Police tape circled a busy Westfield intersection Monday afternoon as investigators worked to piece together a tragic accident that left a little boy dead. Witnesses told CBS 3 he had been out on an afternoon
Police tape circled a busy Westfield intersection Monday afternoon as investigators worked to piece together a tragic accident that left a little boy dead.
Monday, May 20 2013 7:26 PM EDT2013-05-20 23:26:40 GMT
Westfield police say a child has been killed in a traffic accident this afternoon near the corner of Montgomery and Crown Street. CBS 3 has a crew on the way and will bring the latest information to you
Westfield police say a 7-year-old boy has been killed in a traffic accident this afternoon near the corner of Montgomery and Crown Street.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:42 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:42:15 GMT
Residents in tornado-stricken Moore, OK, await news on missing love ones Tuesday, a day after a massive tornado devastated the city, killing at least 51. Rescuers worked all night, with particular attention
The tornado, with winds up to 200 mph, cut a 20-mile stretch as wide as two miles through the Oklahoma City metro area. The medical examiner's office reported 24 people died, including nine children.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:45 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:45:00 GMT
The Springfield City Council has voted to have residents vote on whether they want a casino on July 16th. MGM is proposing to build an $800 million casino in Springfield's South End. The company requested
The Springfield City Council has voted to have residents vote on whether they want a casino on July 16.
The StormTeam Digital Doppler image will be updated approx. every 5 minutes. This is a screen capture of what the StormTeam is looking at. So from time to time, the image might be zoomed in on different
The StormTeam Digital Doppler image will be updated approx. every 5 minutes. This is a screen capture of what the StormTeam is looking at. So from time to time, the image might be zoomed in on different
The Heartland NexRad image is updated approx. every 15 minutes. If you are using Internet Explorer press F5 to refresh your page. Check out an animating version of Heartland NexRad. The page is intended
Check out an animating verison of Heartland NexRad. The page is intended for broadband users only. The Heartland NexRad image is updated approx. every 15 minutes. If you are using Internet Exlorer
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:50 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:50:22 GMT
MOORE, OK (RNN) – In one of the few positive stories to come from the deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma, an elderly woman was reunited with a four-legged friend she thought was dead. Barbara Garcia, a resident
Elderly resident Barbara Garcia frantically called for her dog after the tornado had leveled her house, but with no success.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:17 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:17:00 GMT
People affected by the massive tornado that killed at least 51 people and destroyed parts of Oklahoma still do not know where their loved ones are, but many of them are using social media to find out.
People affected by the massive tornado that killed at least 51 people and destroyed parts of Oklahoma still do not know where their loved ones are, but many are using social media to find out.
Monday, May 20 2013 9:30 PM EDT2013-05-21 01:30:20 GMT
A stop on a roadtrip turned one traveler's trip into a nightmare that lasted more than a month.. It happened in Marston, when Debbie Vallejo let her dog, Slick, go to the bathroom at Pilot's.
A stop on a roadtrip turned one traveler's trip into a nightmare that lasted more than a month.. It happened in Marston, when Debbie Vallejo let her dog, Slick, go to the bathroom at Pilot's.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:38 AM EDT2013-05-21 12:38:09 GMT
A fire in Oran destroyed a 2-story house on Tuesday morning. According to the Oran Fire Department, it happened at 4:05 a.m. at 907 highway W, which is right in the middle of town. Firefighters
No one was living in the home at the time of the time. Fire crews tell Heartland News that the family had just moved out.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:42 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:42:15 GMT
Residents in tornado-stricken Moore, OK, await news on missing love ones Tuesday, a day after a massive tornado devastated the city, killing at least 51. Rescuers worked all night, with particular attention
The tornado, with winds up to 200 mph, cut a 20-mile stretch as wide as two miles through the Oklahoma City metro area. The medical examiner's office reported 24 people died, including nine children.
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