Hanson Firefighter Tim Royer dumps nontoxic foam over campers on the field at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School. during DARE Camp on Thursday, July 30. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos.

More than 350 burgers and hot dogs were served hot off the grill on a day campers felt equally sizzled on the field as the Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) Camp was held for youths from 19 towns on the South Shore at WHRSD last week.

Host Resource Officer William Frazier, of the Hanson Police Department, was praised by District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz at the graduation services held Friday, July 31.

Cruz congratulated Frazier on his first and very successful DARE camp week. The DA had attended several events and said he was pleased at the success of the camp over the last two decades.

“We have had more participants than any other year.  The campers are learning about safety, respect, drug awareness and anti-bullying,” said Cruz.

Chief Patrick Dillon of Plympton, Deputy Chief Hanlon of Whitman, Chief Michael Miksch of Hanson and many other officers, lieutenants and volunteers were on hand for the chock-full week.

“These campers are going to sleep good tonight and so are we,” the officers agreed.

With Mother Nature on their side, sunny days allowed for lots of water play, games, cold snacks, an ice cream party and positive peer interaction.

Officer Dana Smith of Plympton has also been involved with the camp as a resource officer for four years, he said.

“It is not just the officers who interact with the kids but the peer leaders who kids are looking up to. I think DARE Camp has been a great thing for kids,” he said.

The campers were surprised by Kristen Merlin’s appearance during graduation. The hometown finalist of  NBC’s reality competition show, “The Voice,” sang the national anthem and congratulated campers on their accomplishments.

She told campers she had also attended camp, “back in the day.”

Campers played field games such as four way tug-o-war, water balloon fights, enjoyed special guest performances, and lots of food.

Olympic events, 50-yard dash races, egg toss, obstacle courses and a visit from the State Police helicopter, which landed in the upper field, also highlighted the week.

The pilots spoke with campers during a question and answer session and a visual tour inside of the aircraft was offered before the chopper left to the enthusiastic applause of campers and staff.

Amp 103 Radio station DJs  made a visit providing music for all the field events on Tuesday.

As each day wrapped up leaders and officers sent home hundreds of worn out kids — many covered in popsicle syrup and mud — hoping they learned countless lessons about positive choices to take along in their journeys of life.

See more pictures of the event at the Plympton-Halifax Express Facebook page.

By Stephanie  Spyropoulos
Express Staff

A house on Firefly Lane, Halifax, caught fire Tuesday after the morning’s round of severe weather. The Town Hall also also suffered a hit, but sustained no structural damage. Photo courtesy of Halifax Fire Department.

Halifax Fire Department responded to a house fire at 45 Firefly Lane, off Thompson St., after a reported lightning strike at 7:13 a.m. Tuesday.

The owners were downstairs at home when they heard a tremendous bang. They went upstairs to find heavy smoke, according to Halifax Fire Chief Jason Viveiros.

The incident quickly went to two alarms in response for manpower due to poor visibility and heavy rain.

Evidence indicated that a tree and side of the house were struck, Viveiros said, and an electric outlet was blown out from the charge of the bolt.

Heavy fire was visible on the second floor and attic, he said.

Due to the smoke and water damage and loss of power to the house, it was deemed uninhabitable.

Early estimates put the damage to about $150,000. No injuries were reported and the residents evacuated while they called 911.

Shown above are Halifax firefighters, PJ Hogan, Joe Solari, Jordan Hill, and Mike Delcourt. Photo courtesy of Halifax Fire Department.

The Halifax Town Hall was also struck moments before the house fire. The fire alarm system was impacted, but here was no fire or damage to the Town Hall structure.

Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Hanson, Middleboro, and Pembroke all assisted.

Halifax firefighter, Jordan Hill, was among the first responders at a house fire caused by Tuesday morning’s storm. Photo courtesy of Halifax Fire Department.

Courtesy photo.

A car drove through a home in Halifax last week shattering glass and wallboard and bursting water pipes while the home-owners were getting ready for bed upstairs.

The historic Elm Street home built in the 1700s is uninhabitable now as the owners pick up the pieces from the accident, which occurred just after 11 p.m. Friday, July 2.

The driver who was not identified by authorities is an 18-year-old local male who was transported to Brockton Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to a Halifax police media statement.

There was extensive damage to the home said Halifax Fire Chief Jason Viveiros.

When the vehicle broke through the wall, damages included ripped water pipelines with running water flooding an area on the first floor before firefighters could secure the source.

The central supports of the home were the eight foot wide fireplace on the first and second floors.

“The owner reportedly is looking for masonry restoration specialists in an attempt to repair the elegant décor,” said Viveiros

“The fireplace is what stopped the car head on, which is a testament to the structure.”

Usually at the end of the day the owner is relaxing on the couch in the same room but had gone upstairs with his wife several minute prior to the crash.

“The family is very lucky to escape uninjured,” said Viveiros.

The car failed to stop at the Pond and Elm street intersection before hitting the home.

The building inspector was called to the home resulting in boarding up the exterior; power and water were shut down temporarily until repairs can be made.

Motor vehicle charges are pending and the accident is under investigation by the Halifax police.

Courtesy photo.

Plympton –  Rescuers found themselves in a real stinky situation when they received a call for a man whose friend was trapped in a septic system at 40 Forest Street on Tuesday.

The man had fallen inside the tank after what appeared to be a failed attempt to do a self-repair on a title V issue at the home of a friend, said Fire Chief Warren Borsari.

“When I arrived the man was inside the tank in about four feet of human waste and liquid” said Borsari.

The Plymouth County Technical Rescue Team was immediately requested because of the space the man was wedged in.

“There was a two-by-two -foot area that the man had put a step ladder into; when the ladder broke he went down,” said Borsari.

He secured the man under his armpits with a rescue rope because of the emission of methane gas inside the septic tank. He said there was a concern the man could have lost consciousness although he did not.

The technical team placed boards and supports around the area and set up a hoist to lift the man.  The rescue was complete after about half an hour.

The man then had to be decontaminated several times with large amounts of water and had his clothes cut off because of the amount of “nasty stuff” that was on his clothing and body, said Borsari.

He was taken to the hospital with minor, non-life threatening injuries.

The Board of Health was notified and requested to the home.

The person attempting the repair was not a licensed plumber.

Sarah Coady of Halifax Class Valedictorian speaks to her classmates as they graduate from Silver Lake.

Two hundred seventy nine Silver Lake High School students graduated on Saturday May 30, in an outdoor ceremony.

Sarah Coady of Halifax, Valedictorian of the Class of 2015, addressed her peers as she talked about time and the unknown future; although they all share a similar journey, there have been so many different paths along the way. She spoke of choosing colleges, homes, and careers, a reminder of the many challenges and changes she and fellow classmates will face.  Cheers of support broke out in the crowd as she fought back tears during her speech.

In the high school newspaper, The Senior Spectacular, she described herself as a “Type A” personality who worked hard to leave her mark on the school, a student who has a drive for higher education and will be attending Harvard University in the fall.

She recalled as a freshmen how many students walked in to the wrong classroom, and described learning pickle ball as the most confusing game ever. She also remembered the hours they had all spent on countless tests and written papers.

“We fell in love and out of love and over the last 18 years we learned to walk, talk and smile,” she said of their journey.

Michael Phan of Kingston, Class President of 2015, spoke to guests and fellow classmates, reminding them of the sheer panic when they first realized they had outgrown recess and told about the funnier things they encountered throughout their school careers.  “As freshmen we thought our school would be full of upperclassmen bullies, a school labyrinth with never ending halls.”  He created the image of being stranded in a place with no cell phone reception and humorously being swept up by the janitor at the end of the day.

“Then we realized the whole school is basically one big square,” he said the crowd roared with laughter.

“We are here on this stage … we are still growing,” he said. Although we all are graduating together into different lives, I urge you to go into this new chapter of life – serve, learn and grow,” he said.

See more photos of the SLRHS graduation on our Facebook page.

Halifax Fire Department on the scene of a house fire Tuesday, May 12. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos.

A faulty electrical wire beneath the staircase of 648 Plymouth Street was deemed the cause of a house fire on Tuesday in Halifax following an investigation.

“Firefighters extinguished the fire utilizing a hand line from Engine one.  The fire originated underneath the stairs, adjacent to one of the bedrooms in the basement,” said Fire Captain Jeff Cuozzo in a press release.

Photo courtesy of Susan Basile.

Crews from Halifax and a mutual aid engine arrived just after 4 p.m. from East Bridgewater to assist with the scene.

Arriving crews observed smoke coming from the first floor.  All occupants were able to evacuate the structure, said Cuozzo.

No injuries were reported on scene.

The Red Cross is assisting the family.

Early estimated damage to the home is approximately $75,000.

The house located just after Thompson Street is a split-level residence.  Traffic was rerouted on route 106 for a short time.

Photo courtesy of Susan Basile.

Photo courtesy of Susan Basile.

Photo courtesy of Susan Basile.

Rich Ferguson of the Halifax Fire Department readies his safety equipment. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos.

Fire Chief Viverios and Captain Matthew Cunningham at scene with Halifax Fire Department. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos