“Save a critter, clean up your litter!

This juvenile Red Fox was admitted today after a homeowner found it in distress and having trouble moving. Our team quickly noticed it’s front two legs had been entangled in a plastic 6 pack holder. The resulting lacerations were so severe that we suspect he has been tangled in this piece of litter for quite some time and has grown around it. It finally reached a point where it was fully restricting his movement and had caused damage to the underlying tissues and muscle.

Our vet team sedated the fox and carefully cut away the plastic rings. The wounds were cleaned and then bandaged. He has been started on antibiotics, fluids and strong pain medications. His prognosis is guarded, but we are keeping our fingers crossed for this little guy.

Please remember to dispose of litter properly, and ALWAYS cut apart your plastic rings before disposal. It could save a life.

If you would like to make a donation to his care, and to the care of other patients like him, please click this link. Thank you! -Cape Wildlife Center.”

Cape Wildlife Center photos.

There will not be any Tire Drop-off days this year. The May and October 2020 Tire Drop-off Days that were scheduled have been canceled.

What are the options for recycling tires? If you have your tires changed, pay the fee to have the old tires recycled. If you already have tires that you need to dispose of, look on the internet for tire recycling businesses. Call local companies to inquire about dropping off tires. If you do not have computer access, call us to ask for the names and numbers of local tire recycling companies.

Do not leave uncovered tires outside. It is easy for water to collect in tires. Stagnant water creates a perfect breeding ground for mosquitos. If you place a tarp over tires, pull it taught and check it for standing water frequently. If you make a tire swing, drill holes in the bottom of the tire so that water will drain out. Help keep your family and the local community safe by making sure there is no standing water in your yard.

If you are a Dartmouth SMART customer, you may also take two tires per year to the Dartmouth Transfer Station at no charge. Please have your punch card with you. For more information, please contact the Dartmouth DPW at (508) 999-0740.

For more information about recycling, contact the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District’s recycling office by email at marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org or by phone at (774) 503-0254.

“The Town of Dartmouth continues to show evidence of widespread community transmission of COVID-19 along with Bristol County, Massachusetts, and the United States.

The presence of community transmission of COVID-19 indicates that this disease can spread over large areas through person to person contact. In our highly mobile and connected world, transmission of this disease is not confined to specific geographic locations with confirmed cases – it is broad and extensive. The continued closure of non-essential businesses remains in effect in order to limit movement of communities in order to decrease disease spread. Additionally, please limit your travel to essential businesses such as grocery stores and pharmacies to once per week. Any type of travel to businesses carries a risk of transmitting COVID-19. Remember, no risk is better than minimal risk.

We understand that as efforts to decrease disease spread continues, the urge for greater movement outside of houses increases. Consider walking, biking, hiking, or exercising outside. Avoid group sports, playgrounds, and other high-contact public areas and activities. While we must remain physically distant from each other, we can continue to be socially connected with our friends, family, and community through digital and online platforms.

The peak of COVID-19 activity in Massachusetts is forecasted to occur in the coming weeks. This means that COVID-19 confirmed cases as of April 13, 2020 in Dartmouth 57, Bristol County 1,394, and Massachusetts 26,867 are expected to rise. The extent of the peak, however, continues to rely on your committed efforts in following best practices to reduce the spread of this disease. Your actions are our best defense against this virus – together from afar we can all save lives.” -Town of Dartmouth.

A health care professional at the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office has tested positive for COVID-19.

“She has no symptoms and is feeling well,” Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson said Tuesday.

The health care professional, a mental health clinician, was tested on April 8 and received the results over the weekend. She is expected to make a full recovery and return to work when cleared by her doctor.

She was in the facility on April 8-10 but had extremely limited contact with staff and inmates. All BCSO staffers inside the correctional facilities are wearing ppe equipment at all times, and mental health consultations with inmates are being done between a plexiglass partition.

She is the fourth Bristol County staff member to test positive for COVID. 19. A nurse who tested positive last month has recovered and returned to duty, and a K9 Officer who tested positive earlier this month is returning to duty on Tuesday. A Corrections Officer that tested positive earlier this month remains at home but has reported feeling well and is expected back soon.

Over the past month, the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office has instituted many protocols to protect inmates, detainees and staff from the Coronavirus outbreak. Some of these measures include:

• All employees were given masks that must be worn inside the secure perimeter of our facilities. All inmates and detainees have also been given masks to wear for protection.

• All areas of the facility are being cleaned\disinfected every day on every shift.

• All staff members are being screened before entering the buildings; new arriving inmates are being screened before being accepted into custody.

• In-person visitation has been suspended to limit the number of people coming in and out.

“The policies and procedures we have in place to deal with infectious diseases are working and the team here has been doing an amazing job,” Sheriff Hodgson said. “No one in our incarcerated population has tested positive for COVID-19, and of the four positive tests among staff, one is already back, one returning today, and the other two are feeling well. These next two weeks are expected to be the surge in Massachusetts, so I hope everyone stays safe. We’ll get through this together.”

“Reminder – you can be charged with a Felony if you tell a police officer that you have and/or are going to give an officer COVID-19.

On Saturday morning just after midnight, Springfield Police Officers responded to the 1000 block of Sumner Ave. for a disturbance inside a home.

Approximately 10 people were inside the kitchen and when officers arrived most began to leave in a cooperative manner.

That’s when a man, later identified as Darius Figueroa, approached an officer shouting at him. Mr. Figueroa stated something to the effect of “I have corona, I’ll cough on all of you, you all want corona.” The officer then advised Mr. Figueroa that he made a felony threat and Mr. Figueroa responded by saying “I don’t care, F*** you all.”

When the officer told Mr. Figueroa to put his hands behind his back, he ran away and tried to hide in a bedroom and resisted arrest until he was taken into custody.

22-year-old Darius Figueroa was charged with a Felony threat and resisting arrest.”-Springfield Police Department.

Springfield Police Department photo.