News
State assumes responsibility for Fryeville Bridge in Athol
By GREG VINE
ATHOL – Town Manager Shaun Suhoski had some good news for Athol’s Selectboard.Suhoski presented the board with a letter from state’s Department of Transportation “that confirms that the commonwealth, MassDOT, is going to assume the design,...
District Attorney’s office awards $110,000 for projects to strengthen communities
The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office this month announced $114,000 in grants to community groups working with youth and families and supporting people in recovery as part of its Asset Forfeiture Community Reinvestment Program.Funds for the...
Athol Fire Chief addresses risk of train crash
By GREG VINE
ATHOL – On Feb. 3, 38 cars of a train 150 cars long derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The resulting fire damaged another 12 cars in the train, operated by Norfolk Southern. Cars were carrying chemicals and combustible materials, including vinyl...
A Page from North Quabbin History: Taft Visits Athol
By Carla Charter
Many well-known people have visited Athol. Among them was former President William Howard Taft, who visited on June 16, 1919, serving as the main speaker at a day-long homecoming celebration welcoming soldiers home from World War I.According to Ruth...
Athol man held on $20K bond following dangerousness hearing
Staff Report
James Murphy of Athol was ordered held on a $20,000 bond following a dangerousness hearing on Friday.Murphy is one of six Athol and Orange residents facing charges stemming from an alleged assault that occurred on Feb. 1. Franklin Payne, 46, April...
Signs of a housing cooldown: Pioneer Valley home sales drop
By JAMES PENTLAND
Signs of a cooling real estate market continued to emerge in January, according to figures from the Realtor Association of the Pioneer Valley that show home sales dropped by 32.5% across the three counties compared to January 2022 statistics.The...
The Sportsman’s Corner: Good and bad signs of spring
By Mike Roche
Some may argue that spring has been here for weeks, given the unseasonably warm spell of weather we have had since the start of 2023. Spring arrives officially on March 20 this year but there have been signs of spring everywhere.Waterfowl have begun...
A great mountain view
Athol YMCA among recipients of funding for winter assistance
Staff Reports
FITCHBURG—United Way of North Central Massachusetts (UWNCM) recently distributed $93,000 to 11 local agencies to help struggling community members this winter. Grants were made through two funds addressing critical areas of need in cold weather...
Athol Selectboard defends support of Municipal Decarbonization Task Force
By GREG VINE
ATHOL – Lee Gersch, a member of the town’s Energy Committee, took the town’s Selectboard to task for failing to name a representative to the recently-formed Municipal Decarbonization Task Force and that the vacancy is delaying its efforts. Gersch made...
Royal blue
Athol committee seeks more details on Vacant Storefront Program
By GREG VINE
ATHOL — The Downtown Development Committee seemed poised to support participation in the state’s Vacant Storefront Program, but decided at a recent meeting that questions regarding how the program works need to be answered first.Overseen by the state...
Readings highlight history of Petersham
By GREG VINE
PETERSHAM – Residents gathered at the Country Store Saturday afternoon to share readings that provided a taste of the community’s past, along with a bit of its present.The event, “Petersham Written Works: Poetry, Prose, and Letters,” was sponsored by...
Note to readers: Hazardous weather may delay newspaper delivery on Thursday
ATHOL — Due to a hazardous weather forecast Wednesday night, some Athol Daily News subscribers may experience delayed newspaper delivery on Thursday. If there are delays, all newspapers will be delivered as soon as possible. Thank you for your...
North Quabbin Notes, Feb. 22
Puzzle relay to benefit Wheeler MemorialORANGE — Puzzles for Purpose, a relay-style fundraiser, will be held March 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Trail Head Outfitters, 1 S. Main St., Orange, to benefit the Wheeler Memorial Library. Register to relay, gather...
Healey to take budget, tax message to biz groups
By CHRIS LISINSKI
BOSTON — The first-ever state budget season for Gov. Maura Healey will feature a pair of addresses before audiences eager for her and the Legislature to enact long-sought tax reform.Healey will be the headlining guest at two regional business group...
Montague explores redevelopment of Farren Care Center
By JULIAN MENDOZA
MONTAGUE — With the Selectboard’s vote to enter the Complete Neighborhoods Initiative, Montague has begun exploring prospective redevelopment of the Farren Care Center property.The former long-term care facility on Montague City Road, which closed in...
Judge sets bail, release conditions for kidnapping defendants
Staff Reports
ATHOL—Orange District Court Judge Laurie MacLeod set bail in the cases of four people charged in connection with an assault in which two people were held against their will for four hours in a house in Athol, according the Northwestern District...
Campbell outlines gun enforcement approach
By Sam Drysdale
In addition to the creation of promised reproductive health care and police accountability units, the attorney general’s office will be adding a gun enforcement unit and government accountability working group under Andrea Campbell’s purview.Campbell...
A look at local Warwick history
