Red Sox Low Ball Offer to Jon Lester

Four Years and $70 Million is the contract the Boston Red Sox offered their former ace Jon Lester. Lester turned down the offer and media outlets all over Boston covered Lester's contract negotiations for the first half of the season.

At the trade deadline, Lester was sent to Oakland along with Jonny Gomes for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. 

Earlier this month, Lester signed with the Chicago Cubs for six years and $155 million. The Red Sox fell short once again with a six year and $135 million offer.

Cespedes has since been traded to Detroit for pitcher Rick Porcello.

Student Wears KKK Costume to School

On the day before Halloween, at Worcester Technical High School, a female student showed up to school wearing a Ku Klux Klan costume.

The day, themed “Heroes and Villains” day at Tech, was supposed to have a fun theme of fictional super heroes and super villain costumes. 

However, one student took it too far.

According to Jennifer Roy, spokesperson for Worcester Public Schools, "The teacher informed the student that while her costume technically represented a villainous character in history, her costume choice represented poor judgment and was offensive to the Worcester Public School community."

Chief Gemme Denies Media Inquiries

In August, GoLocal reported that Worcester Police Chief Gary Gemme refused more than 40 press inquiries in a one month period. During that time, the city was in the midst of a heroin epidemic, a rise in gang violence and "rampant vandalism in the city."

Sergeant Kerry Hazlehurst and Media Specialist Katie Daly are responsible for dealing with media requests. However, they continue to deny media requests and keep silent in every instance besides press conferences and press releases.

These three employees made a combination of $375,547 in gross pay in 2013; Chief Gemme himself made $199,430, making him the highest paid city employee. 

Postal Employee Leaves Noose Up

This summer, Lamar Watkins of Worcester, visited his Post Office downtown in the Denholm Building. Watkins reported to the NAACP on June 12 that in the back room of the post office, a noose was hanging up. 

On June 26, the noose was finally removed.

According to Mike Power, the USPS District Manager, employees of the post office branch said the noose had been up since November 2013. 

Bomb Threat at Assumption College

On Tuesday October 14, Mohammed Braimah of Hyde Park emailed a bomb threat to Assumption College. Braimah was already expelled from Assumption for several previous incidents.

The email was sent from a fraudulent account in an attempt to implicate an Assumption College student. However, after further investigation, law enforcement was able to connect the IP address to a building in Boston.

The Worcester Police Cyber Crime Unit of the Detective Bureau was able to link to the crimes.

Gemme and WPD Wait Too Long for Narcan

This summer, City Manager Ed Augustus approved $13,000 towards Narcan to be deployed by the Worcester Police Department.

Between August 1 and August 6, the city saw nearly 10 suspected heroin overdose deaths. 

During a press conference, Police Chief Gary Gemme said the WPD had been working on using Narcan for the past six months, but that it took that long to train all of the officers.

However, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts State Police said it took three days to train a total of 95 officers to be able to carry and administer Narcan.

Fattman Licks Wife's Face on Mailer

In October, GoLocal Worcester reported State Representative Ryan Fattman (R), who ran against Senator Richard Moore (D) for the Worcester and Norfolk County State Senate seat, sent out a mailer to his constituents with a picture of him licking the face of his wife, Stephanie Fattman.

At the time, David S. Bernstein, contributing editor of Boston Magazine said,"It's not very respectful to show anybody licking a potential Register of Probate- even their spouse. I like when politicians let us see their personal sides, but there are still lines of decency to consider."

Fattman would go on to defeat incumbent Moore and take the South Central State Senate Seat. Stephanie Fattman would go on to win the Register of Probate seat.

CIty Finally Decides on Augustus

Ed Augustus held the title of interim City Manager from January to September. During that time, Augustus said it was a job that he didn't want and that he was planning on returning to his position at Holy Cross.

However, on September 18, the City Council finally got what they wanted, after interviewing three other finalists, Augustus agreed to return as City Manager.

According to GoLocal MindSetter Paul Giorgio, "The City Manager search wasn’t as smooth as it should have been, and that is for a combination of reasons. The search pool wasn’t as large as it should be for the second largest city in New England."

Halifax Buys and Sells Telegram

In May, the Halifax Media Corporation purchased the Telegram and Gazette from John Henry for $19 million.

In June, Halifax cut 29 positions from the T&G staff.

In just six months, Halifax realized they didn't want the paper and sold the T&G to GateHouse Media's parent company for $280 million.

A Last Place Sandwich for Red Sox

The Red Sox finished 2012 in last place in the A.L. East with a 69-93 record.

In 2013, under new manager John Farrell, the team won their third World Series title in ten years.

In 2014, the Red Sox again finished in last place with a 71-91 record. 

Celtics Hold On To Rajon Too Long

Just last week, the Boston Celtics traded Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks. In return, they received two draft picks, Brandon Wright, Jae Crowder and Jameer Nelson. Hardly a return for a four-time All-Star.

According to multiple reports, two years ago, even after coming off a major injury, Rondo could have netted the Celtics at least one lottery pick. 

The Celtics held on to the idea of Kevin Love joining Rondo in Boston and then luring other great veterans to the team. When that didn't pan out, the Celtics were stuck with whatever they could get. 

The bright spot of the Dallas return is that will add to their large quantity of draft picks over the next three seasons. However, Celtics fans may always wonder what they could have gotten in return last year, especially if Rondo wins a title in Dallas.

Baker Recalls Fisherman Story Again

During a debate at the end of October, Governor-Elect Charlie Baker recounted a tale of a fisherman from New Bedford. As Baker told the story of how the fisherman said he ruined his sons' lives by making them give up football and become fishermen, Baker broke down in tears.

It was later reported that Baker had told that exact same story in 2009. According to the story, that meeting had occurred between Baker and the fisherman that year. However, no one has yet found the fisherman to confirm whether or not this event actually happened.

City Holds Up Narcan for Firefighters

In October, GoLocal Worcester reported that contract negotiations between the city and the Worcester Fire Department was holding up the use of narcan for firefighters.

Narcan is an overdose-reversing drug. Narcan is used by each trained Worcester Police officer to help first-responders prevent opiate and other drug overdose related deaths.

“In my point of view, the Worcester Fire Department will do it if they get recognized for a change of duty. To take on more responsibility, we need a 2% raise, “ a firefighter said. “This is being used as a bargaining chip on both sides of the negotiation table.”

Town Tries to Stop Sale of Tobacco

In the Worcester County town of Westminster last month, the town's Board of Health officials attempted to ban the sale of tobacco.

If passed, Westminster would've been the first town in the country where no one could be able to purchase cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or cigars.

However, when the Board announced their decision to ban tobacco, Westminster residents erupted in protest. People, whether they smoked or not, consider this an attack on their personal freedom. 

In the end, the ban did not pass, and the people of Westminster are free to light up.