Latest News
Healey signs $60.9 billion budget, vetoes $130 million
Athol man sentenced on 14 drug, firearm charges
State shifting away from effort to build reserves
PHOTO: Trio of trees
Legislature gives state school funding a boost
Local officials respond to Healey infrastructure bill
UMass student, congressional intern from Granby killed in D.C. shooting
Mass cannabis regulators order testing lab to suspend operations
Massachusetts Legislature sends $61B budget to Healey, mindful of storm clouds
Athol selected for new electric vehicle program
ATHOL – The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center announced on July 1 that Athol is one of 21 municipalities chosen to participate in On-Street Charging, a new electric vehicle (EV) program aimed at improving access to EV charging.
O’Donnell replaces Cuneo as Wendell, New Salem fire chief
NEW SALEM — The torch has officially been passed at the New Salem and Wendell fire departments, with Matt O’Donnell replacing longtime Chief Joe Cuneo in the dual role on July 1.
Athol survey calls for downtown dining
PHOTO: Beating the heat
‘Generational damage’: The fallout of cutting climate science research 
UMass climate scientists reeling as Trump administration slashes funding for researchSports
117th Mass. Am Day 1: Lenane shines, Mrva surges with eagle-fueled comeback at GreatHorse
HAMPDEN — Fans and followers of annual Mass Golf events have almost certainly heard of Joey Lenane by now after last summer’s dominant 10-shot win in the Mass. Amateur Public Links Championship at Ledges Golf Club. And after just one round at the 117th Mass. Am Championship, Lenane’s name was right back at the top of the leaderboard.
Scenic and severe: WMass gem GreatHorse puts golfers to the test at 117th Massachusetts Amateur
End of an Era: Remembering UMass athletics' glory days in the Atlantic 10
Shelburne Falls’ Lili Green leads Stoneleigh-Burnham equestrian team to national success
The 92nd Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship to kick off Monday at Crumpin-Fox ClubOpinion
Maria Charmack: Moms can be college students too
As a 43-year-old stay-at-home mother of three and the first in my family to graduate high school, pursuing a college degree has been both a personal dream and a powerful act of transformation. For years, I put my children first, guiding them through life with love, sacrifice, and hope that they will have opportunities I never had. But somewhere along the way, I realized that my own dreams still mattered and that it wasn’t too late to pursue them. And coming from parents who did not graduate from high school, let alone go to college, I had no guidance in doing so for myself. I was left to figure life out while my friends’ parents took them on trips to visit campuses across the country.
Reenie Grybko Clancy: More ideas on reusables
Peter Flynn: What have you really gotten?
Dennis Merritt: Democrats failed America on health care
John Nelson Jr.: Science threatened
Your Daily Puzzles
An approachable redesign to a classic. Explore our "hints."
A quick daily flip. Finally, someone cracked the code on digital jigsaw puzzles.
Chess but with chaos: Every day is a unique, wacky board.
Word search but as a strategy game. Clearing the board feels really good.
Align the letters in just the right way to spell a word. And then more words.
Police Logs
Athol Police Logs, May 11 - June 9, 2025
2:01 a.m. - Male party in the lobby to speak with an officer about a cable box missing from his apartment. Male also stated he noticed the mat at his door has been moved.
Athol Police Logs, April 16 – April 26, 2025
Athol Police Logs, March 1 – March 17, 2025
Athol Police Logs: Feb. 6 – Feb. 27, 2025
Athol Police Logs Jan. 16 to Feb. 2, 2025
e-Edition
Arts & Life
A basic omelette: perhaps the most French of foods
The French are getting ready to celebrate their big national holiday, 14 Juillet (July 14, known internationally as Bastille Day). So are Francophiles around the world.
Fighting back through portraiture: Greenfield exhibit raises awareness about violence against Indigenous women
Sounds Local: Shows galore planned for July 4
Speaking of Nature: The most beautiful local butterfly? The Question Mark is a species of forests and forest edges
‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’: A crackerjack of a recipe in honor of July 4Obituaries
Richard T. Hamel
BARRE, MA - Richard (Dick) Hamel, 75, of Barre passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. He was born December 3, 1949 in Lawrence, MA, second son of Margaret (Connors) Hamel and Raymond Hamel. He graduated from Central Cath... remainder of obit for Richard T. Hamel
Mark S. Hurt
ORANGE, MA - Mark S. Hurt, 69, of Putnam St, died unexpectedly on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at home after being stricken ill. Born in Athol on December 2, 1955, he was the son of the late William and Phyllis (Fisher) Hurt. He is surv... remainder of obit for Mark S. Hurt
Marina C. Cegiel
Marina C. (Duguay) Cegiel ATHOL, MA - Marina C. (Duguay) Cegiel, 78, of Athol, died early Tuesday morning, July 1, 2025 at home with loved ones at her side. Born in Gardner on April 23, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Lester J. a... remainder of obit for Marina C. Cegiel
Kathleen M. Burke
Kathleen M. (Consigli) Burke ORANGE, MA - Kathleen "Kathy" Mary (Consigli) Burke passed away peacefully June 24, 2025. She was born September 20, 1945 to Joseph and Katie (Chaplin) Consigli of Medway Massachusetts. A graduate of Med... remainder of obit for Kathleen M. Burke
