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Orange, MA

Woman, 65, Killed In Western Mass House Fire ID'd Woman, 65, Killed In Western Mass House Fire ID'd
Woman, 65, Killed In Western Mass House Fire ID'd State fire officials have identified the woman who was killed in a Franklin County fire as a 65-year-old Orange woman, authorities said.  Debra Marini died several hours after she was seriously burned last week in a blaze at 99 West River Street in Orange, the State Fire Marshal's Office said on Tuesday. The homeowner, Vicki Kennedy, was also seriously hurt in the fire, but authorities said she is expected to recover.  Related: Woman Dies From Injuries In Orange Fire, Second Woman Remains In Burn Ward The fire began just after 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, and tore thr…
NEW UPDATE: Woman Dies From Injuries In Western Mass Fire, Second Woman Remains In Burn Ward NEW UPDATE: Woman Dies From Injuries In Western Mass Fire, Second Woman Remains In Burn Ward
NEW Update: Woman Dies From Injuries In Western Mass Fire, Second Woman Remains In Burn Ward New Update: State officials announced Thursday afternoon, Dec. 14, that one of the women injured in an overnight fire has died. The second woman, who was taken to a Boston hospital with severe burns, remains hospitalized. She is expected to survive, officials said.  Related: Authorities Identify Woman Killed In Orange House Fire Two other women who were at the 99 West River Street home at the time of the fire were able to escape without serious injury. Several of their dogs died in the blaze.  The house is considered a total loss.  A GoFundMe created to help the…
(UPDATE) Worcester County Man, 76, Killed In Orange Crash ID'd (UPDATE) Worcester County Man, 76, Killed In Orange Crash ID'd
(Update) Worcester County Man, 76, Killed In Orange Crash ID'd Update: Police have identified the man killed in the Thursday, Dec. 7, crash as Charles Beach, of Princeton.  Original: A 76-year-old Worcester County man died Thursday morning, Dec. 7, when his car crashed into a tree in Franklin County.  The Princeton man's car left the road around 10:30 a.m. in Orange near the intersection of Tully and Fryeville Roads, the Northwestern District Attorney said. No other vehicles were involved.  Paramedics rushed him to Athol Memorial Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. Authorities did not release his name as they are noti…
Drug Ring Bust Leads To 20 Convictions In Western Mass Drug Ring Bust Leads To 20 Convictions In Western Mass
Drug Ring Bust Leads To 20 Convictions In Western Mass Authorities in Western Massachusetts are celebrating as two men, busted as part of a drug ring in 2021, pled guilty on Thursday, June 8. That makes 20 felony convictions since investigators began dismantling the operation in 2021, officials said.  Jason Nadeau, 42, of Ludlow, pleaded guilty to two felony charges of trafficking cocaine and one of conspiracy, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.  David Gallegos, 30, of Deerfield, will serve a year of probation after a judge continued without a finding a charge of conspiracy, the prosecutor said. …
Gum Spicier Than Pepper Spray Sends 6 Western Mass Students To Hospitals Gum Spicier Than Pepper Spray Sends 6 Western Mass Students To Hospitals
Gum Spicier Than Pepper Spray Sends 6 Western Mass Students To Hospitals Six elementary school students from Western Massachusetts were taken to local hospitals after ingesting or coming in contact with a spicy gum product this week, according to officials.  A student who bought the gum online shared it with other students during recess at Dexter Park School in Orange on Tuesday, April 4, Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Teahan-Zielinski reports. "The product contained levels of pepper, which, when some students ingested it, caused digestive issues, including burning in the mouth and esophagus," she said.  "Additionally, students who accepted the product but did n…
Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather
Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather As heavy snows bear down on most of the Northeast Friday, March 3, several towns in western Massachusetts have implemented parking bans.  Related: Updated Snow Fall Predictions For The Northeast Here is a collection of some of those bans. Violators may have their vehicles towed and ticketed.  AGAWAM No parking is allowed from 12 a.m. Saturday, March 4 until 12 p.m. Saturday, March 4. AMHERST A parking ban on all town streets and lots begins at 12 a.m. Saturday and remains in effect until 7 a.m. However, parking is allowed in three areas.  The lower level of the parking …
Violent Kidnapping: 5 Busted In Central Mass Held Victims For Hours, Beat Them, DA Says Violent Kidnapping: 5 Busted In Central Mass Held Victims For Hours, Beat Them, DA Says
Violent Kidnapping: 5 Busted In Central Mass Held Victims For Hours, Beat Them, DA Says Five people are expected to be arraigned Friday, Feb. 17, that they took part in a violent assault and kidnapping at an Athol home earlier this month, authorities said.  The five were arrested in connection with a Feb. 1 kidnapping where two victims were held at a house for four hours against their will, robbed, and assaulted, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. One victim reported the incident to Athol police the following day.  This week, investigators arrested multiple people in the case. They are:  Franklin Payne, age 46, of Athol. He is charged with armed…
Three Teens Caught In Connection With Five-Alarm Western Mass Fire, Officials Say Three Teens Caught In Connection With Five-Alarm Western Mass Fire, Officials Say
Three Teens Caught In Connection With Five-Alarm Western Mass Fire, Officials Say Three teenagers are facing criminal charges after they were arrested in connection with a five-alarm fire that destroyed four buildings in Orange over the weekend, authorities said.  The teens, ages 12 to 14, are facing various arson-related delinquency charges stemming from the fire, which happened in the area of 16 West River Street around 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, fire officials said.  The fire was coming from a vacant mill building and spread to three more buildings, eventually reaching five alarms. However, the response from additional fire departments was equal to a six- or sev…
Massachusetts Man Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash Massachusetts Man Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash
Massachusetts Man Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash A man was killed in a motorcycle crash in Western Mass. The crash took place in Franklin County in the town of Orange around 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 4. A Worcester County man from the town of West Brookfield died after his motorcycle crashed on a curve on Warwick Road in Orange, said Laurie Loisel, spokeswoman for the Northwestern District Attorney's Office.  Mark Clarke, age 64, was pronounced dead at Athol Hospital, where he was transported after the crash, at 5 p.m. Saturday, Loisel said. Clarke had been traveling on Warwick Road behind a friend when the friend rea…
Two Killed In Head-On Worcester County Crash Two Killed In Head-On Worcester County Crash
Two Killed In Head-On Worcester County Crash Police are investigating a head-on crash that killed two people in the region. It happened at approximately 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23 in Worcester County. Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to State Police-Athol responded to Route 2 in Athol. Athol and Orange Fire/EMS and Police also responded to the scene. Troopers observed two vehicles with heavy front-end damage and both operators suffering serious injuries, said police.  A preliminary investigation revealed a 2007 Nissan Versa, operated by Eric Shaw, age 46, of Maynard in Middlesex County, was being operated westboun…
Rollover Crash In Western Mass Crash Traps Two Inside, Officials Say Rollover Crash In Western Mass Crash Traps Two Inside, Officials Say
Rollover Crash In Western Mass Crash Traps Two Inside, Officials Say A serious rollover crash in Western Massachusetts sent two people to the hospital. It happened around 5:35 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 4, in Franklin County on Wheeler Avenue in Orange, said the Orange Fire-Rescue Department. When first responders arrived on the scene they found a single vehicle that had crashed into a tree and then rolled over, with two people trapped inside the vehicle, officials said. Crews went to work to stabilize the vehicle and used the jaws of life to extricate the occupants.  Both were taken to Athol Hospital for treatment.
Western Massachusetts Man Killed After Losing Control Of Vehicle, Police Say Western Massachusetts Man Killed After Losing Control Of Vehicle, Police Say
Western Massachusetts Man Killed After Losing Control Of Vehicle, Police Say A 59-year-old man was killed after he lost control of his car negotiating a curve and collided head-on with another vehicle in the opposite lane, according to police. The crash took place shortly before 8:30 p.m., Monday, July 5, in Worcester County, near 49 South Main St., in Athol, said the Northwestern District Attorney's Office. The man, from the Town of Orange in Franklin County, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, the DA's Office said.  The driver of the other vehicle was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Athol firefighter…
Seven Nabbed For Illegal Dumping In Western Mass Seven Nabbed For Illegal Dumping In Western Mass
Seven Nabbed For Illegal Dumping In Western Mass Smile, you’re on candid camera in Western Massachusetts. Seven people have been cited in Hampden County after being caught on camera illegally dumping debris, trash, and tree trimmings throughout the city. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and Executive Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Patrick Sullivan said that the citations come as part of the city’s concerted effort to curb illegal dumping. After receiving complaints of the activities, the PBRM has continued to maintain security cameras at multiple sites throughout Springfield that have been a popular place …
COVID-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread COVID-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread
Covid-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread More communities in Western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, April 8, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the latest…
COVID-19: 11 Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Virus Spread COVID-19: 11 Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Virus Spread
Covid-19: 11 Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Virus Spread More communities in Western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, April 1, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the latest…
COVID-19: Four 'Red' Western Mass Cities At High Risk, Town-By-Town Trends, Rates COVID-19: Four 'Red' Western Mass Cities At High Risk, Town-By-Town Trends, Rates
Covid-19: Four 'Red' Western Mass Cities At High Risk, Town-By-Town Trends, Rates Keeping with the trend of declining COVID-19 infections, the Pioneer Valley has only 4 “red” communities - cities and towns with the highest risk of virus transmission. On Thursday, March 4, Massachusetts unveiled its latest weekly update on COVID-19 incidents by the municipality.  Red communities in Western Massachusetts for the week of March 4 are: Chicopee with a rate of 33.4, Hadley, 32 Ludlow, 33.4, and Springfield, 40.3. Springfield was the only city out of the four that was in the red but experienced a decline in COVID-19 incidents, according to state data. Statewide, the…
COVID-19 Incidents Shoot Up In 3 Pioneer Valley Communities - Town-By-Town Trends and Rates COVID-19 Incidents Shoot Up In 3 Pioneer Valley Communities - Town-By-Town Trends and Rates
Covid-19 Incidents Shoot Up In 3 Pioneer Valley Communities - Town-By-Town Trends and Rates The COVID-19 incident rate shot up dramatically in Amherst where UMass is attempting to tamp down on the virus’s spread. The daily average COVID-19 rate in Amherst per 100,000 people was 26.6 last week, Feb. 4. As of Thursday, Feb. 11, Amherst’s COVID-19 rate is 78.8. Meanwhile, daily COVID-19 new incident rates also went up in two more of the Pioneer Valley’s largest communities - Easthampton and Northampton. On Thursday, Feb. 11, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health released the weekly town-by-town COVID-19 rate report. The numbers showed declining cases in nearly all of the Pio…
COVID-19: Cases Skyrocket In Amherst As UMass Reigns In Partying, Shuts Down Campus COVID-19: Cases Skyrocket In Amherst As UMass Reigns In Partying, Shuts Down Campus
Covid-19: Cases Skyrocket In Amherst As UMass Reigns In Partying, Shuts Down Campus The COVID-19 incident rate shot up dramatically in Amherst where UMass is attempting to tamp down on the virus’s spread. The daily average COVID-19 rate in Amherst per 100,000 people was 26.6 last week, Feb. 4. As of Thursday, Feb. 11, Amherst’s COVID-19 rate is 78.8. The uptick in infections comes on the heels of the University of Massachusetts Amherst shutting down its campus to stop the virus’ spread. The roughly 13,000-member student body has been asked to self-quarantine. A spike in COVID-19 cases in Amherst has been linked to one or more “massive” frat parties thrown over the Feb. 6 w…
COVID-19 Cases Spike In 2 School Districts; See District-By-District Incident Rates COVID-19 Cases Spike In 2 School Districts; See District-By-District Incident Rates
Covid-19 Cases Spike In 2 School Districts; See District-By-District Incident Rates Two local school districts experienced COVID-19 flare-ups over the last week, according to the most recent state data. On Thursday, Jan. 28, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released how many COVID-19 incidents were reported by students and staff from Jan. 21-27. Most of the Central and Western Massachusetts, as well as the Berkshires, had school districts where no COVID-19 incidents were reported that week. However, Shrewsbury and Hampden-Wilbraham school districts each reported 12-15 students and faculty that had become il…