(WJAR) — A vehicle ended up entangled in electrical wires following a rollover crash in Dighton early Monday morning The crash happened on Route 44 near the Dighton Animal Hospital An NBC 10 news crew observed the vehicle had sustained significant damage Electrical wires seemed to surround the vehicle along with a broken utility pole The driver was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries This story will be updated when more information is available Clinging to a one-run cushion, the Dighton-Rehoboth sophomore left-hander had to buckled down as the Cardinals mounted a threat in the bottom of the seventh. With a runner on base and nobody out, Latour induced a force out at second and then retired the next batter on a flyout to left. Madilyn Botelho then reached base on a short bloop hit to right as Sydney Furtado motored to third base. But right fielder Skye Harrison backed up the play perfectly and threw a strike to third baseman Izzy Moss, who applied the tag on the sliding Furtado for the final out. "Once we got that lead I felt more confident," said Latour after the defending Division 3 state champion Falcons (2-1) came away with a 2-1 win over Case. "Towards the end there, I got a little nervous. But we stuck together as a team. We got the job done in the end." Latour, who took over the starting role midway through last season, allowed just six hits in her complete-game effort. She fanned 8 batters, including 5 looking, walked a batter and did not issue an earned run. "This is our back-to-back games against state champions," said Falcons head coach Katie Catarius-Holmes, who won her first game in Swansea in five years. "Last Friday, it did not go well against Taunton. But being the away team today and holding it together the whole game, I was ready proud of them to do it today. "Edy was so good today. She has been poised since the beginning as a freshman. She has the consistency in the circle that we like to have. Case is a phenomenal team, they're well-coached and are not an easy team. They're hard to beat at the wire." The loss ended an 18-game winning streak for the Cardinals (1-1), dating back to last season when they lost to Appopnequet last April. "I thought our defense was great today, fantastic," Case head coach Shannon Silva said. "Pitching was OK, not Lila's (Alvarez) best day but she pitched well enough to win. We couldn't get anything in the box because we had poor pitch selection today. "The moral of the story was D-R wanted it more than Case today and we never made an adjustment in the box with very poor pitch selection. Defense was great, which I was happy about. It is what it is. I told the girls afterward a 2-1 loss against D-R doesn't hurt us. Not playing to our potential is not what I like to see." Cardinals senior catcher Breanna Fontes returned to the lineup for the first time this year and contributed three hits. Case turned a 4-6-3 double play and even had an assist from Botelho in right field. Senior captain Skye Dupre had a diving stop of sure single and turned it into a force out at second. Alvarez scattered 7 hits and fanned 6. Villanova commit Camryn Cloonan belted a solo home run in the first inning and Moss had an RBI double for D-R. Emma Horrocks finished with a pair of hits in three at-bats. Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @Chezsports DIGHTON, Mass. (WLNE) — The Dighton Fire Department said it responded to a house fire on Middle Street. Firefighters said the fire started in a closet off the kitchen, and the homeowner had extinguished the visible fire by the time they arrived. The cause of the fire was under investigation. President Donald Trump holds a cabinet meeting at the White House. WATCH LIVEDighton restaurant to close after six years in businessby NBC 10 NEWS (WJAR) — A culinary staple for more than half a decade in Dighton is set to close its doors the 1712 Restaurant & Tavern will be closing on April 26 (This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.) DIGHTON — Superintendent Bill Runey described the funding challenges facing Dighton-Rehoboth and similar school districts across Massachusetts as "dire." we actually received less money from the state than we received before." Here's what Runey said about the state of the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District budget and about how he is navigating the current financial environment 'We are broke': Bridgewater-Raynham families, teachers hold rally 'begging' for override to fund schools D-R proposed budget calls for 'manageable' increase in aid from townsRuney's proposed budget calls for a 4.08% increase to the overall budget in Fiscal Year 2026 which runs from July of 2025 through June of 2026 That would set the total budget at $53.96 million which is a $2.1 million increase to last year's budget of $51.8 million dollars Runey is asking Dighton to increase the amount of aid it contributes to the district by 4.3% and is asking Rehoboth to increase the amount of aid it contributes to the district by 5.99% (In school districts that span multiple towns different towns contribute different amounts to the school district based on how many students each town has) Runey said that the increase is more "manageable" compared to last year's budget which had Dighton increase the amount it gave to the school district by 9.47% and which had Rehoboth increase the amount it gave to the district by 7.68% "The loss of ESSER funds significantly impacted the budget in previous years it contributed to a 20.5 position reduction gutting staffing and resources," Runey said Runey added that the District has made cuts to its services in the past two fiscal years (FY25 and FY24) which he said "impact[ed] class sizes and eliminat[ed] key positions." he said that his next budget would provide stability The 4.08% increase in FY26 "is designed to maintain student services," Runey said The budget would increase the district's staffing count by one position by "adding 3 positions (1 special educator and 2 classroom educators for class size maintenance) while not backfilling 2 positions currently filled by educators who have indicated they are leaving the district," he explained "No programs or positions are being eliminated under this FY26 budget proposal," Runey said He said that after previous cuts it would be difficult to eliminate additional positions or services "You can't stretch the rubber band any further We've got class sizes that are not in the best interests of our students We've reached the breaking point in terms of being able to make cuts to staffing or cuts to resources." Dighton home sells for nearly $1M Dighton home with farmer's porch, pergola, in-law suite fetches $925K: Weekly home sales Runey said that the impact of school closures in 2020 is still being felt by educators "I think until our second graders graduate we’re going to have the implications of the school closures in 2020 kind of haunting us," he said "Those kids and all the kids above them at this point were impacted by that so that’s a good ten years before we really will have students who weren’t in school at the time the school closures happened." Runey said that the amount of aid his district gets from the state government (in the form of Chapter 70 grants as well as other sources of funding such as transportation funding) is set to increase by 0.7% in next year's budget this is far below inflation and contractual increases placing more of the burden on local taxpayers via the assessments to each town," Runey said "More state support would help mitigate the strain on local budgets and prevent program cuts." Runey said there was a disparity between the amount of funding school districts in cities in Massachusetts receive compared to the funding other they qualify for more funding on the federal level they qualify for more funding on the state level," he said Runey said that he is in favor of state legislation proposed by State Sen. Jason Lewis to reexamine how the state allocates funding to school districts (WJAR) — Two people are injured after a crash in Dighton Friday night Police said they responded to the intersection of Wheeler Street and Williams Street at 7:10 p.m Officials said two people suffered minor injuries NORTH DIGHTON— After 45 years of coaching high school baseball its safe to say Dighton-Rehoboth coach Bill Cuthbertson knows a thing or two about evaluating players a player needs to match their talent with the work they put into their game always strive to improve and be able to do whatever his team needs when called upon senior pitcher/infielder Ben Miller fits that to a tee three triples and 14 RBIs while going 6-2 on the mound with a 0.88 ERA striking out 58 in 48 innings of work “I’m feeling pretty strong (coming into my senior season),” Miller said “We look like we could do some real damage in the South Coast Conference and the state and I’m just happy with how we look right now obviously knowing we can improve and get better as the season goes on.” it’s what he’s expected to see from his four-year starter who set the standard early by leading the SCC in RBIs as a freshman “He’s one of the better pitchers in our league he’s a good third baseman and he’s a tough out at the plate,” Cuthbertson said But perhaps his biggest asset to the Falcons Cuthbertson said is his leadership on and off the field Kings of Swing: 30 Greater Taunton area baseball players to watch this spring “He sets the tone for us,” Cuthbertson said he wants to make the most of his senior year and have as good a year as possible.” Cuthbertson praised how he studies the game and has done all he can to secure his lifelong goal of playing collegiate baseball you want to maximize their ability,” Cuthbertson said “What’s great is when your best player is your hardest worker It really sets the tone for the group and makes my job a lot easier.” Miller highlights a deep and experienced core of upperclassmen at D-R’s disposal including fellow seniors in catcher Brennan Silva and second baseman Charlie Roth as well as junior first baseman Lucas LeTourneau and Jordan Castro among others The team also has a large sophomore class eager to further establish themselves with some already seeing some serious varsity time as freshmen while others showed promise on junior varsity last year “I think we could be really good this year and I feel really good about this group,” Miller said adding the Falcons are returning nearly all of their starters from 2024 If they can make that push down the stretch While both were freshmen the last time D-R made a Final Four run in baseball the duo were both captains and key pieces of the boys soccer team that reached back-to-back Division 3 Final Fours “It definitely gives you experience in understanding the pressure that comes with (a tournament run) and turning it into confidence,” Miller said But before the Falcons can dream of postseason glory they have to ensure a strong regular season Cuthbertson knows that even with talent and experience 'People are watching us': Dighton-Rehoboth softball ready to defend D3 title the D-R way we’ve been a bit more inconsistent than I’d hoped he hopes that once things begin to fall into place with the team “Our league is tough top to bottom and our schedule is very challenging The goal is to play at a high level all year and hopefully reach our potential.” Dighton-Rehoboth softball has been used to being among the top teams in the state but seemed to always fall just short of the ultimate goal Appearances in the Division 3 Final Four and Elite Eight followed in 2022 and 2023 For Falcons senior shortstop and co-captain Haleigh Kelley who scored the winning run on an RBI triple by outfielder and 2024 graduate Lucy Latour it is a moment forever engrained in her consciousness "That moment was so special for many of us who never thought it was going to happen," Kelley said "We want everyone to experience that same high again." That's the energy which the defending champion Falcons are carrying into this season While Latour and several other key players may have graduated D-R retains a large and talented core of players including last year's breakout rookie and sophomore pitcher Edy Latour that are battle-tested and ready to live up to lofty expectations people are watching us," Falcons coach Katie Catarius-Holmes said "It's one thing to win one state title (but) it's another to do it again." Queens of the Diamond: 39 Greater Taunton area softball players to watch this spring More importantly for Catarius-Holmes though is developing and maintaining the close-knit culture of the team that has allowed the players to thrive as they learn from and grow with each other "We're focused on playing good softball and creating good humans," Catarius-Holmes said "I believe that creating both good softball players and good humans is something that you need to win a state championship." those relationships and friendly competition to improve that comes with are the driving factor "It definitely is a great thing to have so many girls who have the same love (for the game) "We all want to get better and play at a higher level and it shows in the passion and the work that everyone is putting in not only during the season but in the offseason and it just brings a whole new level of fun to the game." who was also a captain in soccer and basketball this year is forever thankful for the trust her teammates put into her leadership abilities and knows the responsibilities that come with continuing on the Falcon traditions "I love wearing the green and gold and representing our school," Kelley said "People have a lot of respect for D-R in our community and being able to be a leader on and off the field and just show what it means to be dedicated More: Mark your calendar for these 12 Greater Taunton area softball games this spring teamwork and the introduction of some promising new underclassmen including sophomore utility player Eva Ainsworth sophomore pitcher Maddie Simmonds and freshman pitcher Courtney Botelho Kelley feels that as long as they play the Falcon well big motion in the SCC and in the state," Kelley said DIGHTON — Chris Collins, a Dighton, MA native living in Stamford, Connecticut, was among the 67 victims of a plane crash near Ronald Reagan National Airport outside of Washington, D.C. Wednesday night "Our family is devastated by the loss of Chris and uncle," the Collins family said in a statement Collins graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and earned his Master of Arts from Brown University in Public Policy Analysis Collins moved to New York City to pursue a career in finance Collins worked as a vice president at Moody's Investor Service, according to his LinkedIn adored by his parents Bob and Nancy and was always ready for friendly competition with his brother "Chris’ kindness and compassion extended to everyone or one of the many strangers he connected with." Collins' family said that he was "a true adventurer with a passion for the outdoors and a lifelong love of animals." "Chris’ call to the outdoors never wavered camping and rafting in the Great Smoky Mountains enjoying the coastal outdoor landscape of Brewster MA and the rest of Cape Cod," his family said "The love of dogs he discovered early in life only grew stronger over the years His frequent walks with the dogs at Lucky Dog Refuge in Stamford "He will be in our hearts forever," his family said Moody's Investors Service: Collins a 'cherished' colleagueA spokesperson for Moody's Investors Service said that Collins and Nicandri were "cherished colleagues who embodied our values and enriched our lives with kindness and warmth." Collins began working at Moody's in 2017 as a credit analyst before being promoted to Assistant Vice President - Analyst and then to Vice President - Senior Analyst He had also worked in the New York City Office of Management and Budget Editor's note: A previous version of this story misstated where Chris Collins was living DIGHTON — This week the residents of Dighton will decide the fate of Dighton Elementary School’s immediate future At the upcoming Special Town Meeting on Nov presented by the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District requesting $1.36 million from the town for an architect and design firm to conduct a feasibility study for a new elementary school This study will determine all the options pertaining to the costs for either repairing renovating and/or expanding the 70-plus-year-old elementary school building or for constructing a whole new modern building we’re just basically waiting on the other shoe to drop,” said William Runey regarding continued issues with overcrowding and the potential failure of decades-old internal building systems (HVAC etc.) which he believes have reached the point where they can’t take anymore repairs More than half of the $1.36 million funding request will be reimbursed by the state — 55.6% of the total amount The rest will be reimbursed upon completion of the 18- to 24-month-long feasibility study regardless of whether the town votes to do anything with the information or not Money not coming from residents' pocketsRuney also points out that none of the requested monies are coming from residents’ property taxes and no raising of taxes is required The money is already saved up in the town’s Capital Stabilization Account “The money isn’t being taken away from the fire department money from the school district’s excess and deficiency (E&D) account gets transferred back to the towns of Dighton and Rehoboth Runey said money was specifically earmarked by the town for conducting a feasibility study on the elementary school 14 is to sanction its use by the Dighton Elementary School Building Committee which formed as a requirement with the MSBA process "We're just asking for permission to go ahead with this feasibility study," using monies already saved up “It will be extremely in-depth,” with several viable options to present to the community on the future of Dighton Elementary School the study will give specifications on spatial needs and educational programming early design concepts of the proposed school building and possible locations in town for a new building the feasibility study will conduct systems analyses to produce projections for the remaining lifespans of internal systems as well as determining if the building and systems can handle retrofits The study will also give cost estimates if the town does nothing meaning it doesn’t take up the MSBA’s offer and decides to let things go on until things break the town will be 100% responsible," said Runey explaining the school district leases the buildings from the communities meaning Dighton is the landlord for the elementary school Overcrowding and decades of wear and tearBuilt in 1953, the Dighton Elementary School building is undersized and woefully deficient Much of the internal systems and structures Other upgrades included replacing all exterior windows in 2018 as well as installing a new boiler and some HVAC distribution Some new additions to the main building of the elementary school came in 1999 in the form of a wing for pre-K and kindergarten But these newer spaces are still undersized Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year at Dighton Elementary is 474 students Runey said its projected enrollment will reach 550 within the next 10 years In 2018, to combat DES’s overcrowding issues, the Town of Dighton approved $1.1 million for the purchase of six modular trailer units were attached to each other to create one whole academic facility These units were originally proposed as a temporary solution due to the desperation of the situation the daily weight of occupancy over the last few years has resulted in the whole modular space sinking and resting on a slant This is due to half of it resting on asphalt Dighton’s Special Town Meeting will happen Thursday at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School Auditorium The funding request for $1.36 million feasibility study for Dighton Elementary School is Article 6 on the warrant Another week of the spring high school sports season has come and gone in the Greater Taunton area Last week Bridgewater-Raynham lacrosse captured the Trojan Classic title while a Trojan captain as well as a pair of Dighton-Rehoboth players Taunton softball scored a big non-league win out in Western Mass to stay perfect while Dighton-Rehoboth softball shut out a fellow SCC and Division 3 powerhouse and Bridgewater-Raynham and Dighton-Rehoboth track and field both had several strong showings at a pair of meets Taunton softball's Cate Larson came in second with 27% while Dighton-Rehoboth track and field's Jalissa Raphino received 5% to finish third Now is your chance to choose the Taunton Daily Gazette High School Girls Athlete of the Week for April 21-27 Only players from teams that submitted stats to the Gazette or made them readily available online are featured in this poll Scores and stats can be submitted via email to cmerritt@tauntongazette.com Voting can only be done through the poll below and any votes submitted by email or other means will not be counted a pair of runs and four RBIs and tossing all 7 innings giving up 4 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits and a walk while striking out 7 against Westfield Bridgewater-RaynhamRoy went 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBIs against King Philip Smith went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs and 3 RBIs against Somerset Berkley TauntonSzala had a pair of goals against Dighton-Rehoboth McLaren had 5 goals and a pair of assists against Oliver Ames Ericson had 12 goals against Greater New Bedford Papa had 6 goals and a pair of assists against Seekonk Mitchell won both the javelin (100 feet 3 inches personal best) and shot put (26 feet 5.5 inches personal best) at the Southeastern Invitational Albon finished 7th overall in the javelin (93 feet 6 inches) at the 2025 MSTCA Warrior Invitational Raphino won the triple jump (33 feet 2.5 inches) at the 2nd Annual Mercury Games 6-2 in third singles against Old Rochester TAUNTON— Since schedules were announced the showdown between four-time defending Division 1 champion Taunton (3-0 2-0 Hockomock League) and defending Division 3 champion Dighton-Rehoboth (1-1) garnered some serious hype under the lights of the Taunton Girls Softball League Complex the clash of champions lived up to it and then some Senior shortstop Brooke Aldrich, who's also established a reputation for coming in clutch followed that up with a triple to right field before junior first baseman Gracie Oliveira drove her home on a walk-off single for the 2-1 win it was the perfect sequence that she's come to expect from the heart of the order "(When they're going up to bat) they're not thinking 'I need to get a hit,'" Raposo said I need to get a hit so we can keep on playing.' They don't want the score to not be in our favor at the end of the game hit the ball and hope that in the end the score is in our favor." "I tried to stay calm and I think the hit really brought my team up," Bailey said "It's great to carry the bats and then pass the power." as Latour and Taunton senior Cate Larson (7.0 IP 12 K) kept two of the most potent offenses in the state quiet throughout much of the evening Cate the Great: Taunton softball's Larson ready to show her strength in the circle "I was really working my spots and spin tonight," Larson said "I knew that even a little miss would be detrimental so I was really trying to do well for my defense and I knew they had my back." "I know when our team works together to go for base hits or our energy level just really pumps up and that's what makes us a good team." while the result was not what she or the Falcons wanted the way her team pushed the winners of four straight state titles to the brink in just their second game of the season impressed her "I am so proud of the way they played and the way they competed tonight," Catarius-Holmes said I'll take a 2-1 loss to Taunton all day every day." Catarius-Holmes was particularly impressed by her offense who she called "probably one of the best pitchers in the state." "She does a really good job and stays consistent she just does what she needs to do and we're very lucky to have her." The Falcons broke through the stalemate in the top of the fifth inning when junior second baseman Cam Cloonan drove in sophomore first baseman Mia Ribeiro from third on an RBI single to left field "Mia had a great game tonight for someone who is technically one of my swing players (between varsity and junior varsity)," Catarius-Holmes said she really stepped up tonight when some of our other big hitters were struggling." Both Catrius-Holmes and Raposo had plenty of praise for each others' players and programs which have a lot of crossover when it comes to club softball and said a matchup between the two powerhouses should only prove beneficial down the stretch "This was a great test for us," Raposo said "We were able to battle with an elite team and we're going to see (more of) them but we don't usually this early in the year." "I think we had a great time out there," Catarius-Holmes said Oliveira led the way at the plate for Taunton while Bailey went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI and Aldrich went 1-for-3 with a run going 2-for-3 with a run while senior right fielder Skye Harrison and senior third baseman Izzy Moss each went 1-for-3 Latour went 1-for-2 and Cloonan went 1-for-4 with an RBI DIGHTON — A Taunton passenger sustained "life-threatening" injuries in a one-vehicle crash in Dighton Saturday evening The 19-year-old Taunton man was transported by the Dighton Fire Department to a landing zone and flown by medical helicopter to Rhode Island Hospital was also transported to Rhode Island Hospital by the Berkley Fire and Rescue Department Dighton Police did not indicate the severity of her injuries the 19-year-old Taunton man was still classified with "life-threatening" injuries and remains hospitalized Dighton Police Chief George Nichols said in a written statement Sunday Weekly home sales Distinguished Taunton colonial with great backyard sells for $760K a Dighton police officer witnessed a grey Mercedes sedan take a sharp right turn from Somerset Avenue onto Old Somerset Avenue The preliminary investigation indicates the Mercedes proceeded to accelerate westbound down Tremont Street The names of both crash victims are being withheld at this time The Taunton Fire Department also provided assistance at the scene The crash remains under investigation by the Dighton Police Department the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the Massachusetts State Police Detectives Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office This story will be updated as more information becomes available (WJAR) — The Dighton-Rehoboth School District is standing by their policy that states the classroom and the school grounds are no place for political views but some in the community have their concerns Last year, the school committee amended their GBI policy which prevents district employees from pushing political “It seeks to restrict teachers and staff on what they can do in the classroom and at school,” said Robert Owens a dad of a fifth-grade daughter in the district “The school committee has already used this to remove pride flags from the classroom.” pins and flags that push a topic where the public is heavily divided on is also prohibited “There are real systemic issues facing the school in every school in the commonwealth and they need to be focusing on those instead of very small and targeted things they’re trying to do,” continued Owens The topic is coming up now because the Dighton-Rehoboth Teachers Association recently filed a formal grievance against the school district for this policy The superintendent said due to the grievance and litigation Owens said he is afraid that the policy could go far beyond a ban on displaying personal beliefs and could lead to censorship of curriculum down the road in its wording it’s basically anything the school committee deems controversial so until they take an action on something “The longer this policy remains the greater the risk there is for other actions in the school.” NBC 10 reached out to the teachers association and the Dighton-Rehoboth School Committee for comment DIGHTON — After 18 months in the position, Dighton-Rehoboth high school Principal Jacqueline Ash has announced her resignation the time has come for me to begin a new chapter though leaving this exceptional school community will not be easy It has truly been a privilege to serve as your principal and to witness the remarkable growth and success of our students,” said Ash in her resignation letter Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School Assistant Principal Dustin Demers has been appointed acting principal and will continue in that position at least until the end of the school year 'Bring these two towns together' New D-R principal's 'magnetic personality' will help Reason for departureAsh did not give a reason for her departure in her resignation letter alluded to her “decision to prioritize her family” as a reason Runey added “her efforts have provided an energy and passion throughout the school that will be sorely missed She is leaving our Falcon Family in a better place than she found it.”  Their secret to success Iconic Taunton hot dog joint reopens Decades as an educator and administratorA Pawtucket, Rhode Island native, Ash told The Gazette in July 2023 when she officially became principal that she knew from a young age she wanted to go into education She got both her bachelor’s in American studies and master’s in teaching from Manhattanville College in Purchase She also worked there in the area as a Teacher’s Aide for the Purchase Child Care Center for five years She would eventually return to Pawtucket and worked as an 8th grade teacher for Slater Middle School she earned her second master’s in educational leadership for the purposes of moving over to the administrative side of education She worked in the Pawtucket School System in various roles for decades At different points in her career she served as principal for Nathanael Greene Elementary School She also received her doctorate from Johnson & Wales University in Providence She had no prior experience in the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District when she took the position as principal at D-R high school Ash said what she loved and will miss is “walking the hallways and observing our students thrive both in the classroom and beyond I’ve taken great pride in watching our teams compete on the field and on the court and I have been continually impressed by the incredible talent showcased in our concerts These moments — small and large — have made my time here unforgettable.” “Though my role as principal may be coming to an end my belief in the incredible potential of this school community will remain I have no doubt that you will continue to make DRRHS a place where extraordinary things happen every day.” (WJAR) — The Dighton Fire Department said Tuesday that a bathroom exhaust fan is apparently to blame for starting a fire in home The fire broke out Monday night in the single-family home on Rose Terrace Firefighters had it out in about 30 minutes "The whole back half of the roof burnt through but the fire was mostly contained to attic spaces," Chief Christopher Maguy said in a release The fire department said the extreme cold caused ice and slippery conditions Autumn Mullen and Annie Reed have grown up playing basketball together learning the fundamentals and teamwork while honing their skills the five Dighton-Rehoboth freshmen find themselves taking on the challenge of varsity high school basketball together and are helping to turn around the Falcons' fortunes While D-R managed just three wins last season the Falcons reached that tally before the end of 2024 Mullen and Reed have already established themselves as key starting figures on the team Fortin and Botelho have all made strong contributions off the bench that have impressed their older teammates and coach Jon Pacheco "What a difference a year makes," Pacheco said "To get five quality freshmen and have them contribute night in and night out.. the five members of the Class of 2028 said the faster pace of play and more physical game at the high school level in addition to competing against girls a few years older they've felt supported by Pacheco and their own upperclassmen junior captains Reese Jefferson and Julia Mello and senior captain Haleigh Kelley "It was definitely scary at first to go right to the varsity level but we have a lot of great teammates that were nice and welcoming to us so it's definitely a good environment to be in," Reed said its how quickly they've made that adjustment that's impressed him the most and for them to improve the program as quickly as they have is remarkable," Pacheco said "They want to learn (and) they want to get better." Vote: Who is the Taunton Daily Gazette H.S. Girls Athlete of the Week for Jan. 20-26? the freshmen being so close knit and eager to learn make her job a lot easier "They already know how to play together and they work really well with the returners and it's made being successful as a group a lot easier," Kelley said "We just want to prove ourselves as a program and this group of freshmen has made it very easy to do that." "They're very motivated and they all want to be on the court," Jefferson said "They like playing and they want to get better "She's someone to look up to and she's really good," Mullen said Reed and Flood have also found themselves as some of the Falcons' top scorers while Flood and Botelho have staked their claims on the defensive side While they are still freshmen and still prone to mistakes of younger players Pacheco has been impressed by their tenacity to never give up even when down big and feels they're setting the stage for a bright future While postseason qualification is still possible with D-R needing to reach 10 wins for a guaranteed spot in the Division 3 tournament Pacheco said even if they miss out this year he'll still consider the growth a great progress "The more experience they get with their tight-knit bond and if they stick with it they're going to have seen a lot of success in this school in the (South Coast Conference) and get us back to where we were (as a consistent SCC contender)." BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced a Massachusetts Air National Guard member from Dighton to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to leaking highly classified military documents about the war in Ukraine Brought into court wearing an orange jumpsuit he showed no visible reaction as he was sentenced by U.S "I wanted to say I'm sorry for all the harm that I brought and caused," Teixeira said referencing the "maelstrom" he caused "I understand all the responsibility and consequences fall upon my shoulders alone and accept whatever that will bring," he said Teixeira hugged one of his attorneys and looked towards his family and smiled before being led out of court The security breach raised alarm over America's ability to protect its most closely guarded secrets and forced the Biden administration to scramble to try to contain the diplomatic and military fallout which tightened controls to safeguard classified information and disciplined members found to have intentionally failed to take required action about Teixeira's suspicious behavior speaking at a post-sentencing news conference said Teixeira "has paid a very heavy price for the laws he broke and the damaged he caused." He added that Teixeira violated his position of trust and repeatedly made the "deliberate choice" to divulge classified information week after week "He was callous to the fact that he put our national security at risk," Levy added warning the sentence stands as a deterrent to any who might think of leaking national secrets "Anyone who willfully threatens national security by illegally disseminating classified information will face serious repercussions," he said Attorney Jared Dolan told Talwani that 200 months — or a little more than 16 1/2 years - was appropriate given the "historic" damage caused by Teixeira's conduct that aided adversaries of the United States and hurt the country's allies He also said that recommendation by prosecutors would send a message to anyone in the military who might consider similar conduct "It will be a cautionary tale for the men and women in the U.S "They are going to be told this is what happens if you break your promise They will know the sentence the court imposes." But Teixeira's attorney Michael Bachrach told the judge Tuesday that 11 years was sufficient one that will not be easy to serve," Bachrach said "It will serve as an extreme deterrent to anyone That is enough to keep them deterred from committing serious conduct." The 22-year-old admitted that he illegally collected some of the nation's most sensitive secrets and shared them with other users on the social media platform Discord prosecutors said they would seek a prison term at the high end of the sentencing range But the defense wrote in their sentencing memorandum earlier that the 11 years "would be essentially equal to half the life that Jack has lived thus far." His attorneys had described Teixeira as an autistic isolated individual who spent most of his time online were never meant to "harm the United States." He also had no prior criminal record his intent was to educate his friends about world events to make certain they were not misled by misinformation," the attorneys wrote the Ukraine war was his generation's World War II or Iraq and he needed someone to share the experience with." Prosecutors in court filings countered that Teixeira did not suffer from any intellectual disability that would prevent him from knowing right from wrong adding his post-arrest diagnosis of "mild high-functioning" autism was of "questionable relevance" to the proceedings who was part of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts worked as a cyber transport systems specialist which is essentially an information technology specialist responsible for military communications networks He remains in the Air National Guard in an unpaid status Authorities said he first typed out classified documents he accessed and then began sharing photographs of files that bore SECRET and TOP SECRET markings Prosecutors also said he tried to cover his tracks before his arrest laptop and an Xbox gaming console in a dumpster at his house The leak exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments of Russia's war in Ukraine including information about troop movements in Ukraine and the provision of supplies and equipment to Ukrainian troops Teixeira also admitted posting information about a U.S (WLNE) — Firefighters from several towns responded to a fire at a Dighton home late Monday night Smoke could be seen coming from the attic of a house on Rose Terrace with crews working to douse the inside of the building and officials said all residents were able to evacuate safely before crews arrived The cause of the fire is under investigation by the state fire marshal Dighton Rehoboth's Izzy Moss avoids a pitch during Wednesday's battle of two state champion teams at Brown Elementary School in Swansea Dighton Rehoboth's Haleigh Kelley is out on a force at second during Wednesday's battle of two state champion teams at Brown Elementary School in Swansea Case's Breanne Fontes looks on between innings during Wednesday's battle of two state champion teams at Brown Elementary School in Swansea Case pitcher Lila Alverez throws a pitch toward the plate during Wednesday's battle of two state champion teams at Brown Elementary School in Swansea Dighton Rehoboth's Camryn Cloonan celebrates her home run during Wednesday's battle of two state champion teams at Brown Elementary School in Swansea Dighton Rehoboth's pitcher Edy Latour throws a pitch during Wednesday's battle of two state champion teams at Brown Elementary School in Swansea Case's Skye Dupre corrals a popout during Wednesday's battle of two state champion teams at Brown Elementary School in Swansea Case's Cailyn Durand slides back safely before the tag of Dighton Rehoboth's Mia Ribeiro during Wednesday's battle of two state champion teams at Brown Elementary School in Swansea Case celebrates an out at second base during Wednesday's battle of two state champion teams at Brown Elementary School in Swansea Case's Caitlin Shea is tagged out at second by Dighton Rehoboth's Camryn Cloonan during Wednesday's battle of two state champion teams at Brown Elementary School in Swansea Case's Meghan Pereira gets set to bat during Wednesday's battle of two state champion teams at Brown Elementary School in Swansea Camryn Cloonan attempts a catch during the seventh inning during Wednesday's battle of two state champion teams at Brown Elementary School in Swansea Case's Skye Dupre celebrates a double while D-R's Camryn Cloonan looks on during Wednesday's battle of two state champion teams at Brown Elementary School in Swansea DIGHTON, MA (WLNE) — The family displaced in a fire in Dighton late Monday night is getting help from a local organization Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District superintendent Bill Runey told ABC6 he is coordinating with the Greater Attleboro Area Council for Children to offer the family support He partnered with the group after receiving messages from the community Tuesday morning offering support Monday in the back of the home on Rose Terrace we believe the fire was started by a bathroom exhaust fan,” Dighton Fire Chief Christopher Maguy said in a statement “The whole back half of the roof burnt through but the fire was mostly contained to attic spaces.” Low temperatures led to ice and slippery conditions on the street The cause of the fire is still being investigated by local police and the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office for a final determination To reach the Attleboro Area Council for Children, the organization helping the family, you can visit their website The latest MIAA Power Rankings of the Spring 2025 season were released Friday morning All teams ranked in the top 32 of their division as well as any team ranked below 32 with a record of .500 or better will qualify for their division's respective tournament the sports that the MIAA calculates power rankings for are baseball rugby (boys and girls) and boys volleyball are the defending champions in their respective divisions Here are the latest standings as of Friday morning: Division 1: In- Bridgewater-Raynham (25); Out-Taunton (42) Division 1: In- Bridgewater-Raynham (23); Out- Taunton (38) we're taking a look back at the week that was and the stories that led the news with Taunton Daily Gazette readers A look at the life and work of Pastor Brian Weeks a Rehoboth resident who founded Spindle City Church after sustaining severe injuries in a car crash Property taxes in Taunton have increased in 2025 The DR GLAM Girls are promoting and supporting girls athletics as a pathway to success Middleboro High has named Jeff Sylvia as its new varsity baseball coach. Get to know him, here Berkley native Joe Nugent is making his mark at Division 1 college basketball The cafeteria in the old Coyle and Cassidy building flooded on Jan. 24, due to burst pipes, which resulted in damage to athletic memorabilia Taunton Public Schools said in a statement Taunton Eats took a look at some seasonal spots that are opening soon, including Frates Drive-In Bask has opened its Taunton cannabis shop These were the Top 5 stories of the past week more was learned about the 67 victims of the deadly Jan 29 midair collision and crash between a plane and an Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport outside of Washington Collins, 42, is being remembered by his family and friends for his kindness and his passion for the outdoors 'Passion for the outdoors': Chris Collins, a DC plane crash victim, grew up in Dighton, MA the Clarion Hotel in Taunton will cease being used as an emergency shelter by the state as confirmed by both State Senator Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton) and the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) The hotel's tenure as a state-run family shelter site will officially cease by June 30 Work is being done to relocate those being sheltered to stable housing; here's what's next for the hotel Phasing out: Taunton's Clarion Hotel will stop being a Massachusetts emergency shelter: What's next the trains are about to be rolling for South Coast Rail A date has been set for the start of commuter service This is what we know, as of this writing South Coast Rail start date set: Trains are rolling into New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton Should Taunton move Parker Middle School to Coyle-Cassidy Why that's looking more likelyWill Parker Middle School be moving into the old Coyle and Cassidy building That option has emerged as the leading contender for reuse of the former Catholic school building Taunton Superintendent of Schools John Cabral said in a Jan Taunton Gazette Reporter Emma Rindlisbacher has the story Schools: Should Taunton move Parker Middle School to Coyle-Cassidy? Why that's looking more likely Taunton plans to replace three fire stationsThe Taunton City Council approved $1.2 million for design documents for a fire station replacement despite not having yet decided which fire station would be replaced Chief Financial Officer Patrick Dello Russo told the City Council at their Tuesday meeting that many aspects of Mayor Shaunna O'Connell's plan to replace three fire stations are not set in stone such as which of the three stations — Bay Street Weir Street and East Taunton — will be replaced first The money is expected to cover the cost of design documents for which ever location is selected This is what we know about the project, so far Taunton plan to replace 3 fire stations: Here's what we know about the cost DIGHTON —– Dighton's search for a new town administrator is over A longtime official for the town of Sandwich was selected by the Dighton Board of Selectmen on Sept “I did a lot of homework on the town of Dighton and am really glad to have been selected,” Vitacco told The Gazette Vitacco added he hopes to officially be assuming his new position by mid to late October Vitacco has worked for the town of Sandwich either as an employee or public servant since 2010 He served on the Planning Board from 2007– 2010 and as a selectman from 2010-2016 He has worked for the town as its director of planning and economic development since 2017 He said his time serving in Sandwich has brought him experience creating and managing departmental and town budgets writing grants and attracting new businesses and development opportunities for the town Why come to Dighton?Vitacco said he reached the point in his career where he developed the skill sets needed to be a town manager or town administrator “I was looking for a small community to fit my experience,” he said He told the Select Board that Dighton has a budget he can manage and it also has challenges he has experience dealing with in Sandwich — such as needing a new fire station financially managing big school projects and upgrading roads and other city infrastructure and experience to help this board run Dighton,” Vitacco said Dighton voters face stark choice Debt exclusions or 'town services will be clobbered' 20-plus years on the CapePrior to employment with Sandwich he worked for the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod account services and assistant vice president He told Dighton Selectmen his time with the bank gave him much experience with team building developing relationships with businesses and staff training Here are top 10 highest earners Which Dighton workers made the most in 2023? Vitacco said “when you grow up in the Bronx He worked for the New York City Police Department from 1986–1995 both as a patrol officer and as an analyst assigned to the Police Commissioner’s Office He said his biggest accomplishments were developing crime reduction strategies used by the department and acting as an official liaison to elected officials He said an injury led to the end of his law enforcement career He then went on to work for Parade Magazine He told Selectmen he and his family moved to Cape Cod in 2003 after vacationing there and developing a love for the region Why he knew what to do Dighton 15-year-old saves woman from choking. How he stayed calm Vitacco was one of three final candidates to be interviewed by the Board of Selectmen The other candidates were Maggie Clarke, clerk of committees for the Taunton City Council, and Joseph P. Lopes, a long-time New Bedford city councilor 'We are devastated' Dighton town administrator resigns. Why, where's he going, what now? Dighton's previous Town Administrator Michael Mullen resigned in mid-June, after three years on the job to become director of planning and economic development in Plainville His duties were carried on briefly by Selectmen before they hired former Norton Town Manager James Purcell as interim town administrator in late June Selectmen selected Vitacco because of his level of experience as well as possessing the necessary certifications for the position Selectman Nicole Mello said all the candidates were qualified as the candidate who would require the least amount of transition time for the position The vote had Selectmen Mello and Peter Caron in favor of offering Vitacco the position Selectman Marc Pacheco recused himself from the voting and interview process due to his employment as elections director in Taunton where he works with Clarke in City Hall SOMERSET — Brooke Fisher spent much of her time on the bench as sophomore for the Somerset Berkley girls basketball team There she learned the high school varsity game from senior teammates including Herald News Co-Girls Basketball Player of the Year Mia Gentile Fisher became a starter and is making the most of her opportunities "I came off the bench mostly to give people a rest," said Fisher who scored a season-high 23 points in Friday's 62-31 win against Dighton-Rehoboth "It feels really great to have a big turnaround from last year It's been a good adjustment and a brand new team." She scored 12 points in the first half and 11 in the third quarter as the Raiders pulled away "Brooke doesn't come off the floor a lot," said SBR first-year head coach Emily Travis "We went into overtime against New Bedford and she was in for the entire time We can't take her off the floor because she is running our offense and is our best defender "We challenged her in the beginning of the season and needed her to be more comfortable on the floor to be a leader for the team she is quiet but definitely coming out of her shell this season." More: Highlight reel alley-oop by UMass Dartmouth earns No. 1 spot on ESPN's Top 10 plays Freshman Stella Vieira gave Fisher a run for her money for Player of the Game honors "She did really great," said Fisher about Vieira The junior has been playing basketball since the first grade Fisher gives credit for her learning how to shoot from her neighbor Mike Nugent and dad Chris Fisher rebounds a lot for her "She's in practice taking extra shots and she stays late," Travis said "She's always asking what she can do better We have Stella bringing up the ball now so we can open up Brooke's game better." More: The MIAA first power rankings are out. Where do Fall River high school winter teams stand? Fisher was asked if she watches the NBA because of her 3-point prowess She said she models her game after Celtics guard Payton Pritchard "He's the sixth man off the bench," she said "I think he's one of NBA leaders in 3-point shots Somerset Berkley (4-4) connected on 13 of 26 from 3-point land A new 'mercy' rule was used in the fourth quarter When a team leads by 30 or more at the end of three quarters the clock will run non-stop until the finish Autumn Mullen had a game-high 12 points for the Falcons Reese Jefferson 1 0 2; Julia Mello 4 0 8; Autumn Mullen 4 0 12 (4); Haleigh Kelley 2 1 5; Annie Reed 1 0 2; Lexi Flood 1 0 2; Zoe Fortin 0 2 2; Aubrey Harris 0 0 0; Courtney Botelho 0 0 0 Makenzie Pires 4 1 9; Sarah Costa 2 0 4; Julia Moreira 1 0 3 (1); Brooke Fisher 8 0 23 (7); Stellar Vieira 6 2 19 (5); Grace Kayata 0 0 0; Lexi Filipe 0 0 0 Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @Chezsports. NORTH DIGHTON, Mass. (WLNE) — The family of Chris Collins, one of the victims of the crash between a helicopter and plane in Washington D.C. released a statement about the death of their family member: Our family is devastated by the loss of Chris Chris was a true adventurer with a passion for the outdoors and a lifelong love of animals His talent as a financial professional brought him to New York City While Jen and Chris built a joy-filled city life together Chris’ call to the outdoors never wavered enjoying the coastal outdoor landscape of Brewster and the rest of Cape Cod The love of dogs he discovered early in life only grew stronger over the years Chris’ kindness and compassion extended to everyone or one of the many strangers he connected with during his outdoor adventures Our family requests your privacy and understanding and will not be making any further comments at this time Perry’s first grade class at Dighton Elementary School “It warms my heart up just to see how excited they were,” teacher Lisa Perry said “From the moment they stepped into school this morning they knew something big was about to happen.” Perry’s class won a MassDOT contest to name a snow plow and decided on the name “Taylor Drift” after pop star Taylor Swift She said her classroom’s theme was “kindness and friendship” and she’s been using pop star Taylor Swift as an example for her students Just like the “Swiftie” practice “We’re really embracing and building community in the classroom,” Perry added We never expected all of this was going to happen.” Perry’s first grade class at Dighton Elementary School in front of the MassDOT snow plow they named “Taylor Drift” (WLNE) “As they saw the cars rolling and watching the truck pulling in watching the pure joy in their face was an amazing feeling,” Perry said MassDOT hosted its third annual snow plow naming contest all across Massachusetts “The program itself it intended to promote roadway safety and to get young people aware of the equipment and the need for snow removal,” MassDOT Undersecretary Hayes Morrison said including Herald News Ice Hockey Player of the Year goalie Brandon Silva Snyder then got together with his old buddy Dighton-Rehoboth/Seekonk head coach Tom Fecteau and discuss their future moving forward "We were working on it during the summer because our numbers were low and their numbers were low," Snyder said "I only had 16 players coming back and they only had 13 SBR will join forces with the Warriors to start the 2024-25 winter ice hockey season It will still be the Raiders but with other three schools joining forces Joseph Case was part of the Raiders team last season "Tom and I have been talking about this since the end of last season," Snyder said "We each knew both programs were going to be low on participants." The Raiders finished last season with a 18-3-2 record and a trip to the Final Four for the first time in school history 5-5 South Coast Conference) were once again potent offensively and made it to the Division 4 Round of 32 finishing the regular season with a 20-1 record in 2022 followed by a 15-4 campaign where they lost in the Sweet 16 both times to Scituate Dighton-Rehoboth and Seekonk formed a first-year parent-funded partnership back in 2009-2010 after Somerset had enough players to form a team themselves "It's called demographics in this area," Snyder said Where the town has money is where you have hockey players I think it is going to be a great marriage One valuable addition to the Raider squad is junior forward Adam Bastis who led D-R/Seekonk in scoring with 28 goals and 18 assists for a total of 46 points Batis was named the Taunton Daily Gazette Ice Hockey Player of the Year Another Gazette All-Scholastic is senior Brett Axon So far the marriage is off to a strong start Snyder said there have been three practices or more with new faces SBR co-op team will see their first live action at the Taunton High Jamboree against North Attleboro at Aleixo Ice Arena on Dec The Raiders open the season at home against Diman/Durfee/Westport co-op team in the Prenda Cup on Dec NORTH DIGHTON— Ahead of newly voted South Coast Conference boys soccer MVP Ryan Moitoso and Dighton-Rehoboth's Division 3 Elite Eight showdown with league foes Old Rochester Wednesday coach Mike Morgado issued his top goal scorer a challenge ‘You’ve got two top dogs here from the South Coast Conference Today’s a good day to come out and prove that you deserve that award," Morgado said After going back and forth for much of the first half Moitoso opened the scoring in the 27th minute as he snuck one past Old Rochester senior goalkeeper Emile Joseph in front of a crowded net He also closed the scoring in second-half stoppage time rolling a shot to the right of backup Bulldogs senior goalkeeper Ayden Monteiro for added insurance "He’s just a great player," Morgado said of Moitoso "He works hard all the time (both) defensively as well as when he’s moving the ball forward the Falcons recorded a pair of stellar second-half goals senior forward Aiden Marando came down the left win and launched a shot into the top right corner from about 20 yards out to double the D-R lead an effort Morgado described as "just fantastic." "Stuff like that comes from years and years of playing and it’s good technique leaning over the ball," Morgado said "I think that goal really carried us and just gave us a bunch of wind into our sails and we kept going there." SCOREBOARD: Follow all of the Greater Taunton area high school postseason action here placed a floating header into the same corner over the outstretched arm of Joseph to ensure full control of the match for the Falcons 'Coach you think about those moments all of the time and it actually happened,’" Morgado said "He said seeing that ball go into the back of the net brought a little tear to his eye which was awesome to hear because I’m glad the boys enjoy it and have fun Now the Falcons find themselves in the Div 3 Final Four for both a second year in a row and a second time in program who will wrap up his career making it to the Elite Eight in three of his four seasons its that level of experience that's proved the difference "It all started my freshman year with the seniors," Moitoso said Most of these guys have been to a Final Four We’ve got some freshman who haven’t made it there yet Morgado knows it never gets easier the further you go into the tournament but it's those challenges that his squad lives for "I think it’s pretty tough to go back-to-back years making the Final Four and this group is well-deserving of it," Morgado said "They didn’t just wake up this morning and that didn’t just happen to them They’ve worked hard for it and congrats to those guys for getting there because it’s well deserved." The Falcons' Division 3 Final Four match will take place at a date time and neutral location to be determined A car crash in Dighton left a neighborhood without power Thursday afternoon Police said Smith Street will be closed from Wellington Street to Horton Street Power was restored back to the area at 3 p.m The Victoria High School football team punched its ticket to the 2024 8-Man Division II State Championship game with a resounding 66-20 Sub-State victory at previously unbeaten Dighton on Friday The second-ranked and 12-0 Knights return to the title game for the first time since winning back-to-back state championships in 2014 and 2015 Friday's semifinal appearance marked the fourth for Victoria in the last five seasons but the first win to advance to the championship contest in that period Dighton actually scored the first touchdown of the game at the 7:48 mark in the first quarter on a 51-yard pass from senior quarterback Daniel Cramer to senior wide receiver Jack Jenkinson The two-point conversion attempt was no good Victoria answered in just two plays with a 14-yard touchdown run by sophomore fullback Weston Scherrer And with 2:44 remaining in the opening frame Victoria junior tailback Matthew Pfeifer rushed 40 yards for a TD but the Knights led 12-6 after one quarter Victoria blew the game open in the second stanza senior quarterback Wyatt Griffin rushed two yards for a touchdown to close out a seven-play Griffin passed 23 yards to senior end Cale Braun for a TD The Hornets got their only second quarter score with 4:05 remaining on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Cramer to sophomore tight end Connor Wilson Victoria scored a 31-yard touchdown pass with the connection of Griffin to Scherrer The final score of the second frame came at the 1:31 mark on a two-yard TD plunge by Victoria's Griffin The two-point conversion was good and the Knights led 44-14 at the break The Hornets scored their only second half touchdown at the 9:27 mark in the third period on a one-yard touchdown run by senior wide receiver George Von Leonrod Victoria's Griffin passed 11 yards to junior end Ethan Von Lintel for a TD Victoria junior tailback Wyatt Schmidtberger rushed 30 yards for a touchdown Victoria's Griffin connected with Scherrer on a 45-yard touchdown pass to end the game by the mercy rule Victoria outgained the Hornets 481 total yards to 254 The Knights finished with 364 yards on the ground and 117 yards through the air compared to just 26 yards rushing and 228 yards passing for Dighton Griffin rushed for 107 yards on 10 carries and two scores for Victoria He passed for 117 yards on five completions and four scores Pfeifer rushed for 88 yards on nine carries and a score Scherrer rushed for 61 yards on six carries and a score He also caught three passes for 83 yards and two scores Dighton ends its season with an overall record of 11-1 the Knights advance to the 2024 8-Man Division II State Championship game on Saturday The second-ranked Knights will face top-ranked and undefeated Axtell in the title game The Eagles defeated Frankfort on Friday night in Axtell by the final score of 52-20 Axtell has won the last three state championships and is currently on a 51-game winning streak Catch Saturday's 8-Man Division II State Championship game on Classic Hits 107.9 KZRS and online at KRSL.com with coverage starting at 10:30 AM 8-Man Division II Football Bracket The Dighton-Rehoboth girls field hockey team has forfeited an upcoming Sept 17 game against a team that has a male player Dighton-Rehoboth superintendent Bill Runey wrote in a press release the decision to forfeit the game against the Somerset-Berkley field hockey team was made by the team's "coaches and captains." Runey said that he supports the decision by the field hockey team to forfeit the game "The District supports this decision as there are times where we have to place a higher value on safety than on victory," Runey wrote in the press release "We understand this forfeit will impact our chances for a league championship and possibly playoff eligibility," Runey added "but we remain hopeful that other schools consider following suit to achieve safety and promote fair competition." When are male players allowed to join female teams?According to policies set by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) which governs high school sports in Massachusetts male players are allowed to join female teams if there is no alternative male team for that particular sport Runey is a prominent critic of that MIAA policy and has said that he is concerned that allowing male players on female teams results in decreased player safety NORTH DIGHTON — Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District Superintendent Bill Runey has been invited to speak at the National Superintendents Forum for the second time this school year Runey will present at the forum in Atlanta on Feb He was also invited to speak at the forum in Baltimore in October 2024 "Runey was approached because the organizers took notice of his ability to effectively manage mediaand communications during a crisis, most notably after his district was thrust into the nationalspotlight on multiple occasions," the announcement says "Channeling Chaos into Clarity — Controlling the Narrative during Times of Crisis," will focus on providing educational leaders with strategies to react calmly and respond effectively during adverse situations When was D-R in national spotlight? Here's why D-R superintendent went on Fox News twice amid furor over field hockey injury in which a Dighton-Rehoboth field hockey player sustained facial and dental injuries when she was struck in the mouth by a shot taken by a male player The incident thrust D-R into the national spotlight It’s bone-chilling,” Runey said to Watters adding that “seeing the trauma on everyone’s faces” when the team and coaches returned from the game is “something I won’t forget.” Will talk about how to manage a crisisThe session will cover how to use social media and other communication strategies to provide clear and timely information engage with school committees and local government leaders address the media and collaborate with police and fire departments for coordinated communication minimize confusion and keep the community informed and reassured during crises Attendees will also learn actionable steps to improve their district's future readiness and response capabilities “I’m so fortunate to have an amazing District Leadership Team and a supportive School Committee who have empowered my success and consistently ignite my passion for what we are accomplishing in our #WeAreDR community where we are #BuiltDifferent,” Runey said in the announcement The National Superintendents Forum provides an opportunity for K-12 leaders and educators to connect, discover and build towards an innovative industry future, according to the K12Superintendents.com website The forum aims to help superintendents define their institutional legacy while facing challenges and opportunities This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more I’m so grateful for the town of Dighton for putting their confidence in us to take this step,” said Bill Runey superintendent for Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District Just under 100 voters were present at Dighton Town Meeting A two-thirds vote was required to authorize the funding and study 68 voted "yes" for the study and 29 voted "no" just barely meeting approval This feasibility study will determine all the options pertaining to the costs for either repairing “This is well beyond maintenance and upkeep The building is not as safe as it needs to be It’s not a 21st century learning environment Our kids deserve better,” said Runey when he gave a brief presentation to Town Meeting The original warrant article called for $1.36 million coming from the town’s reserve accounts That amount was reduced to $1.2 million based on the research and recommendation from the Finance Committee Runey stated when he heard about the reduction he wasn’t going to fight or debate it He and the School Building Committee were happy to get what they got A Hallmark holiday come to life: Deep Pond Farm readies for festive season of family fun More than half of the $1.2 million funding request will be reimbursed by the state — 55.6% of the total amount Opponents of the warrant article expressed worries over numerous other costs the town is facing Recently, the town voted down two debt exclusions on election day to pay for both the new Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School building and the recent renovations to Bristol County Agricultural High School “We have to focus on the town’s total financial position," and it does the town no good doing this study if “we don’t have any money to do anything.” calling the study “a waste of money” because a debt exclusion will likely be needed for any funding for Dighton Elementary School repairs or new construction and as evidenced by the recent election day ballot votes We need to look at other options and other space,” said Finance Committee member Doug White showing the committee’s recommendation wasn’t unanimous White recommended annexing space in other schools in the district for elementary school classes to combat the overcrowding issues He added he didn’t see much point in a feasibility study when the money saved in the town’s accounts could be used for actual school repairs Should have happened a long time agoAdvocates of the study who spoke during Town Meeting said it’s a disservice to put this off any longer ADA Coordinator for Dighton Jonathan Gale said the building is “almost 100% non-compliant under today’s standards” with accessibility and ADA and “it’s too cost-prohibitive” and not structurally feasible to retrofit the whole building Gale adds that with all the asbestos and lead still inside the infrastructure of the building “one pipe breaking and causing water damage” is all that it will take to shut down the whole school School Building Committee member and Civil Engineer Robert Perry stated “these aren’t cosmetic fixes” that can be patched up He added the study will give residents “an informed decision on the knowns and unknowns.” Former Selectman Leonard Hull said “we’re not voting for construction here We’re just taking a vote to create a plan.” He added that with all the ADA code violations and structural damage concerns the school is presently facing “the bare minimum doesn’t serve our children here.” David Araujo said he was voting in favor of the feasibility study We got our money’s worth.”  He added that the study leading to the state paying for much of the future repair and construction costs is “fiscal responsibility” and “this is the start of something that probably should have started 10-15 years ago.” Runey said an request for proposal (RFP) has to be issued for a design and architectural firm after the MSBA officially approves Dighton Elementary School for the feasibility phase of the whole process The winners are in for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's third annual "Name-a-Snowplow" contest The competition was held for elementary and middle school students in Massachusetts "The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to help recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during the winter season "Maintaining safe and clear roads across Massachusetts during winter is no easy task. We appreciate how educators are engaging their students in this fun competition that honors this vital public service," Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt added in a written statement "Congratulations to the winning classrooms and we look forward to seeing your snowplows out in the field."  The 12 winning classrooms, and their respective names for snow plows are as follows, according to MassDOT. Who are the winners, and what are their snow plow names?Winning submissions for grades K-4 Winning submissions for grades 5-8 Last year, the winning names were Flower Plower The contest winners will be invited to participate in a scheduled snowplow unveiling event each winning classroom will receive a $100 gift card for school supplies Where can more information be found?For more information on the contest, visit https://www.mass.gov/name-a-snowplow-contest-2024-25.