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$1M Lottery Ticket Sold In Central Mass $1M Lottery Ticket Sold In Central Mass
$1M Lottery Ticket Sold In Central Mass It was a lucky day for one person in Millbury this week after they struck gold at a Worcester County convenience store.  The winner played the $5 "Gold Mine 50X" scratch-off card and won the top prize of $1 million.  They bought the ticket at Riverside Mart at 54 Canal St. in Millbury. The store will get a $10,000 bonus for the sale.  The lottery has not released the winner's name yet.  They were one of 506 people who won $600 or more in the Massachusetts State Lottery on Tuesday, March 19. Click here to see a complete list of winning tickets and where they were purcha…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
School Bus Driver Busted Drunk With Children Aboard Mass Bus: Police School Bus Driver Busted Drunk With Children Aboard Mass Bus: Police
School Bus Driver Busted Drunk With Children Aboard Mass Bus: Police A 51-year-old school bus driver faces charges after she was caught bringing children to school while under the influence of alcohol in Worcester County, police said.  Jane Welch, age 51, was arrested on Thursday, March 14, following an incident in Westborough, according to Westborough Police. On Thursday morning, police received reports regarding Welch's behavior while driving children to school. In response, officers made contact with Welch in the area of 135 East Main St. and conducted an investigation.  Soon after stopping her, police arrested Welch and charged her w…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Armed Robbery Suspect Sparks Hours-Long Standoff In Central Mass Armed Robbery Suspect Sparks Hours-Long Standoff In Central Mass
Armed Robbery Suspect Sparks Hours-Long Standoff In Central Mass A man accused of robbing an adult store in Worcester County ran into the woods with weapons, causing an hours-long standoff with dozens of police, authorities said.  The man, whose name was not released, is accused of robbing the Amazing Intimate Essential Store at 15 Belmont St. in Northborough around 10:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, Northborough police said.  Officers spotted a man who matched the robber's description, but when they tried to stop him, he bolted into the woods near Route 9 and Lawrence Street. Officers used drones to determine that the man was hiding near …

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by Josh Lanier
News
$100K Lottery Tickets Sold In Western, Central Mass $100K Lottery Tickets Sold In Western, Central Mass
$100K Lottery Tickets Sold In Western, Central Mass Two $100,000 winning lottery tickets were turned in on Monday, March 4, from Worcester and Hampshire counties.  The first was from Belchertown, where the six-figure payday was bought at Town Mart at 10 Federal St. The winning ticket was from the $30 "Millions" scratch-off game.  The second was purchased at Saveway Convenience in Rutland at 249 Main St. The winning ticket was a "$300X" $30 scratch-off ticket.  The stores where the tickets were bought will receive a bonus.  The Massachusetts State Lottery did not release their names. The lottery paid out $600 or more to …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
5-Alarm Fire Tears Through $2.5M Historic Central Mass Mansion 5-Alarm Fire Tears Through $2.5M Historic Central Mass Mansion
5-Alarm Fire Tears Through $2.5M Historic Central Mass Mansion An early morning fire on Friday, March 1, severely damaged a historic mansion in Worcester County.  Northridge firefighters were called to the Whitinsville Lasell Manor just after 1 a.m. to reports of a blaze, a Facebook post said. The flames grew fast, and the blaze quickly became a 5-alarm fire. The fire grew so hot that it collapsed part of the roof on the 25,0000 square-foot mansion, NBC Boston reported.  There were seven people inside the 120 Hill St. home when the fire began, but they were all able to escape without injury.  Seven people were i…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Central Mass First Responders Who Saved Officer's Life After He Suffered Heart Attack Honored Central Mass First Responders Who Saved Officer's Life After He Suffered Heart Attack Honored
Central Mass First Responders Who Saved Officer's Life After He Suffered Heart Attack Honored If it weren't for the quick thinking and fast action of his brothers and sisters in blue, Sturbridge police officer Jeffrey Lavallee would be dead.  That's what Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said during an award ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 28, as he honored those first responders who set aside their personal feelings to save a man's life.  “They answer the bell anytime they are called, no matter what. For these officers, this is one of the worst scenarios they can face – having to work on one of their own. They knew the severity of the …

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by Josh Lanier
News
$1M Lottery Payday: Central Mass Lands Win While On 'Honey Do' Errand $1M Lottery Payday: Central Mass Lands Win While On 'Honey Do' Errand
$1M Lottery Payday: Central Mass Lands Win While On 'Honey Do' Errand It pays to help your wives, fellas. At least that's what one Worcester County man found out when he picked up a lottery ticket while running an errand for his wife and won $1 million.  Joshua Chunis, of Milford, landed the seven-figure win playing the “$10,000,000 Lucky Bucks” $20 scratch-off game. He bought the ticket when he stopped to get gas in his wife's car.  Chunis chose to take the lump-sum payment of $650,000 (before taxes) rather than the annuity.  He plans to use the money to make home improvements. Chunis bought the ticket at Sunoco A Plus at 527 SW Cutoff in Wo…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Rocket Launcher Found At Central Mass Motel; Federal Agents Alerted Rocket Launcher Found At Central Mass Motel; Federal Agents Alerted
Rocket Launcher Found At Central Mass Motel; Federal Agents Alerted Chalk this under you don't see this every day. Police in Worcester County found a man in possession of crack and a rocket launcher sitting in a parked car at a Sutton motel on Monday, Feb. 19, authorities said.  Police were watching a suspicious vehicle in the side parking lot of the Red Roof Inn at 200 Worcester-Providence Turnpike when one of the detectives walked over and began making conversation with the person inside, Sutton police said in a Facebook post.  As they spoke, the detective scanned the car's interior until his eyes landed on an M190 U.S. Army Rocket Lau…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Father, Son Busted With Drugs For Sale, Illegal Gun In Central Mass: Police Father, Son Busted With Drugs For Sale, Illegal Gun In Central Mass: Police
Father, Son Busted With Drugs For Sale, Illegal Gun In Central Mass: Police A father and son face a mountain of felonies after police found an illegal gun, more than 100 grams of cocaine, and several other drugs inside their Worcester County home, authorities said. Michael Pitler, age 45, and Zachary Pitler, age 21, both of Blackstone, were arrested on Friday, Feb. 16, after police and federal agents raided their home in the area of Michelle Lane, officials said.  “Through these arrests we have removed a significant amount of narcotics from our community,” Blackstone Police Chief Gregory Gilmore said. “Our department takes our commitment to narcotics…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Car Slams Into Dump Truck With Snow Plow In Central Mass; Driver Seriously Injured Car Slams Into Dump Truck With Snow Plow In Central Mass; Driver Seriously Injured
Car Slams Into Dump Truck With Snow Plow In Central Mass; Driver Seriously Injured A 20-year-old man was airlifted to an area hospital after his car crashed into a dump truck with a snow plow attached in Worcester County, authorities said.  The crash happened just after 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, on Route 2 East near mile marker 90 in Westminster, Massachusetts State Police said.  A Gardner man, 20, was behind the wheel of a 2004 Toyota Camry when it collided with a Peterbilt dump truck with an attached plow, officials said. Investigators believe the car's speed and poor road conditions because of the weather contributed to the crash, but the investigation is…

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by Josh Lanier
News
$1M Lottery Win: Central Mass Man Wins Massive Payday With Grandson's Help $1M Lottery Win: Central Mass Man Wins Massive Payday With Grandson's Help
$1M Lottery Win: Central Mass Man Wins Massive Payday With Grandson's Help A Worcester County grandfather may have to tip his grandson for his lucky $1 million windfall after he collected the winning ticket on his way back from his hockey game.  Thomas Ruble of Ashburnham won his seven-figure windfall playing the "777" scratch-off game.  Ruble chose to take the lump sum of $650,000 (before taxes) rather than the annuity. He didn't say what he'll spend the money on.  Ruble bought the ticket after watching his grandson play hockey.  He bought the ticket at Town Convenience, 3 Pine St. in Gardner. The store will get a $10,000 bonu…

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by Josh Lanier
Lifestyle
100-Year-Old Mass Home Featuring Original Finishes Up For Sale For $2M: See Inside 100-Year-Old Mass Home Featuring Original Finishes Up For Sale For $2M: See Inside
100-Year-Old Mass Home Featuring Original Finishes Up For Sale For $2M: See Inside A mansion that just hit the market features a beautiful, million-dollar renovation, yet still retains original finishes and millwork. The Worcester County home, located at 57 North Street in Grafton, was put up for sale at the beginning of February 2024 with a price tag of a cool $2 million. With seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms spread across four full floors, the 6,229-square-foot colonial revival home combines modern and classic tastes. Sitting on six acres and protected by stone walls, the 1920s house was given a $1.5 million update, though the listing says it retains “beautifully …

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by Sophie Grieser