News

Quabbin region studied for MWRA expansion

By SAM DRYSDALE

As House Democrats eye the expansion of its public drinking water service area, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is considering whether the communities where that water comes from should finally get to reap the benefits of the...

Phillipston board opens talks on new police chief

By GREG VINE

PHILLIPSTON – Police Chief Kevin Dodge recently announced his intention to retire from a post he has held for more than a decade, and the Selectboard is reviewing the options for hiring his successor.The chief’s current salary is just under $85,000...

Sportsman’s Corner: Quabbin opens this Saturday

By Mike RocheQuabbin Reservoir will open for fishing tomorrow, April 20, at 6 a.m. The reservoir is the principal drinking water supply for 3 million of Massachusetts’ 7 million residents. Since 1946, shore fishing has been allowed and since 1952, a...

North Quabbin Notes, April 18

Wing contest at Athol EaglesATHOL — Make and bring your favorite wings to the Athol-Orange Eagles 4545 on April 20, 4-7 p.m. to be shared and judged. Prizes will be given to the top three places. Cost is $8 to taste test and get tickets to vote for...

Carol Doucette of Royalston receives $15,000 from Publishers Clearing House

By GREG VINE

ROYALSTON – The Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol went to Royalston on Wednesday and, in what PCH Representative Howie Guja said was a first, was unable to make it the front door of the $15,000 winner.As the Prize Patrol made its way to the Stone...

Partnership succeeds in protecting Lake Monomonac forestland

WINCHENDON – Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust and North County Land Trust (NCLT) joined forces with residents a year ago to protect 200-plus acres of forest at the southern reaches of Lake Monomonac, according to an announcement. With the support...

Royalston Selectboard mulls options for full-time police

By GREG VINE

ROYALSTON – The Selectboard will meet with the town’s Finance Committee Thursday night in hopes of determining the best way to provide at least one full-time officer to the police department in the year ahead.At their meeting Tuesday night, the...

Orange man gets 12 to 14 years for child rape

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — An Orange man will spend 12 to 14 years in prison after being convicted in Franklin County Superior Court of aggravated rape and abuse of a child.David Prue, 36, was sentenced by Judge John Agostini on Tuesday morning following a jury...

Athol Salvation Army Corps joins Boston Marathon volunteers

By MAX BOWEN

ATHOL — Though they may not have been among the runners, the Salvation Army Athol Corps played an important role in the 128th Boston Marathon.The corps sent two vehicles — their mobile feeding unit, also known as a “canteen,” and a minivan — to help...

Director of Village School in Royalston steps down

By GREG VINE

ROYALSTON – Village School Director Rise Richardson, who has been there since the doors opened in 1989, has announced she has stepped down from the position.Richardson has been the school’s director since 1994, and said she had decided that it was...

Franklin County youth tapped to advise governor’s team

By Xinyi Yang

Orange resident Christiana Dunn is among 60 young people statewide who will advise Gov. Maura Healey and her administrative team on issues important to young people as a member of the newly minted Youth Advisory Council.The council members, ages...

A Page from North Quabbin History: Quabbin Reservoir photo archives

By Carla CharterWhen the work on the Quabbin Reservoir began, photographers began documenting the project – from real estate, to cemeteries, to the construction of the reservoir itself. Their photos, snapshots in time, can be seen at Digital...

Historical society presents history of Nichewaug

PETERSHAM – The Petersham Historical Society presents Kimberly Toney – member of the Hassanamisco Band of Nipmuc and the inaugural coordinating curator of Native American and Indigenous studies at Brown University – as guest speaker at the society’s...

Ryan Zaveral, Shane MacDowell cross finish line first in River Rat Race

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – Despite fickle weather conditions, canoeists and spectators alike enthusiastically awaited the start of Saturday’s 59th running of the annual River Rat Race from Athol to Orange.From about 11 a.m. until just before boats were put in the water...

Phillipston voters faced with override decision at May 8 Town Election

By GREG VINE

PHILLIPSTON – Acting on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, the Selecboard voted at its meeting last Wednesday to include an article on the May 8 Annual Town Meeting warrant which calls for a $175,000 Proposition 2 ½ override.If the article...

Equity, income concerns flagged in free college debate

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON – Moderate-income white students could gain the most under a proposal that top Senate Democrats are weighing to make community college free for all Massachusetts residents, according to a report, which urges lawmakers to make adjustments with...

Activists: Tuition hike wrong tack for UMass

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — As a University of Massachusetts doctoral student in physics, Mark Murdy has seen his wages as a graduate employee decline relative to inflation, meaning he, like others who work on campus, is taking home less money.Amid these financial...

Sportsman’s Corner: Turkey time

By Mike RocheEach April for many years, this writer has traveled to Kansas to “visit my sister.” The annual trip began when she offered to buy my hunting license if I went to visit and that visit became an annual rite of spring.Over the years, contact...

Safety a priority for River Rat Race organizers

By MAX BOWEN

ATHOL — With potentially hundreds of participants in this weekend’s Athol Orange River Rat Race, making sure there aren’t any problems could be a challenge, but it’s one organizers say they are ready for.Jason Rushford is the event’s water safety...