Week in Review: Massage Parlor Owner Arrested Under Prostitution Charges, 3 Fire in 3 Days for Mansfield FD, and More!

Owner of Mansfield Massage Parlor Accused of Running Brothel

On Friday, March 22, Mansfield police raided Wellness Club Body Works and Foot Massage on North Main Street after an investigation showed the establishment was possibly being operated as a brothel.

After securing a search warrant, police arrested Wei Wu, 47, of Maledn and Hai Feng Liu, 44, of Boston. Wu and Liu were charged with keeping a house of prostitution, sexual conduct for a fee, and deriving support from prostitution

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Mansfield High Football Captain Arrested for Assault and Battery

Mansfield Police arrested high school football captain Alexander Ruddy for allegedly attacking another student with a belt earlier this month, according to MyFoxBoston.com .

The 17-year-old junior has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

According to Fox, the alleged victim was a sophomore who was assaulted with a belt after gym class in a school locker room March 15.

The student then went to the school nurse to receive care. Ruddy was arraigned in Attleboro District Court Friday and was released on personal recognizance.

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Mansfield Senior Denied Permission to Chop Down North Main St. Pine Tree

The beautification project of Mansfield senior Logan Marks faced a minor setback Wednesday night when the selectmen voted 4-1 to save a pine tree located on North Main Street near Barrows Insurance Agency.

Originally, Marks wanted to remove the tree and replace it with a smaller tree as part of his senior project to beautify areas of Mansfield. DPW Chief and Tree Warden Lee Azinheira mentioned that he felt the tree would cause trouble when it was initially planted.

“When the tree went in, I knew that eventually we would have to remove it,” Azinheira said.

While the proposal had the endorsement of Azinheira, a majority of selectmen could not be convinced to take the tree down.

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One Race to be Contested in May's Town Election

Bearing a strong write-in campaign, there will only be one contested race when Mansfield voters head to the polls for this year's town election. Nominees had until March 26 to pull papers and submit at least 50 signatures to appear on the ballot. While no new candidates can appear on the ballot, the withdrawal date for candidates who no longer wish to run is Thursday, April 11.

Unless someone chooses to withdraw, the only contested race will be for the two seats on the Mansfield Board of Selectmen. Incumbents Olivier E. Kozlowski and Douglas R. Annino are both running for reelection and local businessman Karl D. Clemmey is the lone challenger.

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Third Fire Since Saturday Extinguished by Mansfield FD Monday Morning

Early Monday morning, Mansfield fire responded to the third fire in town since Saturday when a small fire broke out in an apartment.

At approximately 2:53 a.m., the Mansfield FD received a report of smoke coming out of the second floor of the Rumford Square Apartments on Old Colony Way. The fire, which was in a garbage basket inside an apartment, was quickly put out by firefighters with an extinguisher. The cause of the fire was ruled accidental and there were no injuries.

It's been a busy few days for the Mansfield Fire Department. On Saturday, there were two fires within 12 hours of each other.

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28 Mansfield Athletes Named Hockomock All-Stars for Winter Season

With league titles, appearances in state championships, and MVP honors, it was another successful season for the Mansfield Hornets. With winter sports now over, the Hockomock League has announced their all-stars for the winter 2012-13 season. In total, 28 Hornets were named all-stars and six more were given honorable mentions.

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Black Doll Museum Bringing Culture and History to Mansfield

Celeste Cotton and two of her sisters opened the National Black Doll Museum in Mansfield in the summer of 2012, and are now receiving some well-deserved credit.

“We had so many dolls, and nowhere to put them,” She said. “We always wanted to have a museum, but we could never find the right building.”

Cotton said they found the right building in Mansfield. At first glance, the museum looks like a storefront on North Main Street, but the museum extends all the way back to Old Colony Road.

Cotton said she and her sisters Felicia Walker and Debra Britt opened a museum to both show their extensive collection and share the story of African American culture.

“I think every doll has a story,” Cotton said. “I think the dolls are significant in that they represent different parts of life. Personally I can relate my life to different dolls and stages of my life. I was doing this in this point of my life.”

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