Latest Witchcraft Stories

By Stacie N. Galang, The Salem News, Beverly, Mass. Jul. 17--PEABODY -- Police Lt. Edward Bettencourt can keep his pension, a divided Retirement Board voted Thursday morning. Against the advice of their attorney Michael Sacco, board members voted 3-2 to grant the convicted veteran officer his retirement. "I think what the board found is that there is no direct link between the crime that he committed and his duties as a police officer," Sacco said. Bettencourt, a 24-year veteran of the...

By Pete Dybdahl pete.dybdahl@roanoke.com 981-3376 The superintendent of Salem schools, Alan Seibert, got a new four- year contract and a raise Tuesday night. The Salem School Board scratched his existing contract, which expired June 2010, in favor of one that has Seibert running the school system through June 2012. The new contract also offers a salary of $131,634 for the coming year -- a 6.5 percent pay increase that matches what teachers in the district will receive for the coming...

By Amanda McGregor, The Salem News, Beverly, Mass. Jul. 9--SALEM -- The Atlantic Ocean served as a classroom yesterday for students who mucked along the shore on a scientific mission. About 45 first- and second-graders from Saltonstall School crammed the shoreline at Forest River Park around 12:30 p.m. to watch a team of three state scientists wade into the water with a giant net to catch a haul of ocean critters. The children clamored and shrieked as they plucked crabs, flounder and...

By Ethan Forman, The Salem News, Beverly, Mass. Jun. 26--DANVERS -- Parents who want to know just how many early release days there will be in the upcoming school year may find out at a special meeting of the School Committee next week. A special meeting is planned Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room of Holten Richmond Middle School. School Committee Chairman Bill Bates said yesterday he backs the plan to add more early release days to provide for more teacher training. "All...

By Mike Stucka, The Salem News, Beverly, Mass. Jun. 25--TOPSFIELD -- While everyone involved with Topsfield's rail trail is pledging cooperation, two sides are also trading allegations of outright invasion. The issues hit Topsfield selectmen again this week, when Bob Morgan -- accused of using part of the trail route as an extension to his backyard -- said he can't wait even a month for the town to control an invading weed that's trying to take over his property. Selectmen late Monday...

By Bruno Matarazzo Jr., The Salem News, Beverly, Mass. Jun. 20--TOPSFIELD -- A 46-year-old Salem man is charged with breaking into two Tri-town homes in April while posing as a Verizon employee. Andrew Rossetti of 42 Raymond Ave. was arraigned at Ipswich District Court in Newburyport yesterday on charges of breaking and entering in the daytime, a felony. Police in Topsfield arrested Rossetti recently following an investigation by Patrolmen Gary Hayward and Steven Weir. Police said...

By Helen Nyambura BAGAMOYO, Tanzania (Reuters) - The witch-doctors in the former slave port of Bagamoyo on Tanzania's coast are busy concocting spells to help the east African country's politicians win votes in this month's elections. "Some (politicians) started making regular visits five months ago. Others come at the last minute and expect me to help them win," said Pandu, an almost toothless witch-doctor who boasts that he is one of the best in town. Usually Pandu sees around 10...

KALAKLA, Sudan -- Two women lay wrapped in blankets on a wooden bed as Sheikh Abdur Mahmoud shouted into their ears to scare away the demons they said were ruining their personal lives.Mahmoud recited verses from the Koran through a plastic tube and hit the women on the legs with a whip. One screamed and wrung her hands."I could hold sessions with around 50 people but it is better to have less people so you can concentrate on each one," said Mahmoud, a large man wearing a white...