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Franklin County, MA

Police & Fire
Ex-Leyden Police Chief Charged With Embezzling Town Funds Ex-Leyden Police Chief Charged With Embezzling Town Funds
Daniel J. Galvis Charged With Embezzling Public Funds The former police chief in Franklin County has been charged with stealing money and equipment set aside for his department, authorities said.  Daniel J. Galvis, the former police chief for the Leyden Police Department, was indicted on two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle, 2 counts of larceny over $1,200, and 3 counts of violating the standards of conduct for public employees, the Northwestern District Attorney said.  He was released on his own recognizance after the hearing, authorities said.  A 2022 Office of the Inspector General investigation found that Galv…

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by Josh Lanier
News
$4M Lottery Jackpot Sold In Greenfield $4M Lottery Jackpot Sold In Greenfield
$4M Lottery Jackpot Sold In Greenfield The top prize in a Massachusetts State Lottery game was scratched off on Tuesday, March 26, in Franklin County.  The winner collected a $4 million prize by playing the "$4,000,000 Jumbo Cash" $10 scratch-off game in Greenfield. Only one $4 million jackpot remains.  The name of the winner was not released.  The ticket was sold at Sandri Stop Smart at 416 Federal St. in Greenfield. The store will receive a $40,000 bonus for the sale.  The winner was one of 502 people who collected prizes worth $600 or more on Tuesday. 

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by Josh Lanier
Real Estate
Yankee Candle Founder's 'Sprawling' Franklin County Estate For Sale: Look Inside Yankee Candle Founder's 'Sprawling' Franklin County Estate For Sale: Look Inside
Yankee Candle Founder's 'Sprawling' Franklin County Estate For Sale: Look Inside A massive compound, comprised of eight buildings that include an indoor water park, an arcade, and much, much, more, is on the market in New England with a whopping price tag. Located in Western Massachusetts in the Franklin County town of Leverett, the truly one-of-a-kind estate is listed for $20.9 million.  Owned by the late Michael James Kittredge II, who founded the Yankee Candle Company, the compound was renovated, enhanced, and expanded through 2010 and is made up of eight different structures – the main house, two car barns, two guest houses, a clubhouse, a pool cabana, and a …

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by Sophie Grieser
Business
‘Beyond Excited’: Longtime Employees Taking Reins At Popular Sunderland Farm ‘Beyond Excited’: Longtime Employees Taking Reins At Popular Sunderland Farm
‘Beyond Excited’: Longtime Employees Taking Reins At Popular Sunderland Farm These longtime farmhands are sprouting into farm owners. After a combined 18 years of helping to keep things running at Franklin County’s popular Kitchen Garden Farm in Sunderland, employees Max Traunstein and Lilly Israel are set to purchase the business. If all goes to plan, Traunstein and Israel, both 31, will take over operations from owners Caroline Pam and Tim Wilcox in the spring, the farm announced Monday, Feb. 26. “Both are graduates of agriculture programs at the University of Massachusetts and have worked alongside Tim and Caroline to make the farm into a successful business,” t…

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by Michael Mashburn
Real Estate
$4M Leverett Log Cabin Perfect For Yogis, Yuppies Up For Sale $4M Leverett Log Cabin Perfect For Yogis, Yuppies Up For Sale
$4M Leverett Log Cabin Perfect For Yogis, Yuppies Up For Sale Don't let the looks fool you. A log cabin in Franklin County that is up for sale for $3.9 million may look old school, but it is teaming with one-of-a-kind features and modern amenities.  The four-bedroom, six-bathroom cabin in Leverett boasts more than 9,000 square feet of living space on two floors.  The grand living room features soaring ceilings and a two-story fireplace beneath vaulted ceilings. The wall of windows provides a panoramic view of the 10-acre property, with its fresh-water stream and waterfall.  The two-story fireplace is the centerpiece of the living r…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Police Break-Up Greenfield Drug Ring; Multiple People Arrested Police Break-Up Greenfield Drug Ring; Multiple People Arrested
Police Break-Up Greenfield Drug Ring; Multiple People Arrested Police in Franklin County say they've upended a massive drug operation following a four-month-long investigation in Greenfield.  The men arrested were ferrying large amounts of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine from Springfield to Greenfield and the North Quabbin region for street-level sales, the Northwestern District Attorney said.  Those arrested and their charges include:  Josiah Cheeseboro, age 24, is charged with trafficking in a Class B substance (cocaine), trafficking in a Class A substance (fentanyl), and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Controlled Su…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Springfield Police Commissioner Resigns After Son Busted On Franklin County Drug Warrants Springfield Police Commissioner Resigns After Son Busted On Franklin County Drug Warrants
Springfield Police Commissioner Resigns After Son Busted On Franklin County Drug Warrants The Springfield Police Commissioner Christy Torres stepped down on Tuesday, Jan. 16, soon after police raided her home and arrested a wanted fugitive — her son — on gun and drug charges, authorities said. Another son was arrested last year after firing an illegal pistol at an oncoming car in the parking lot of a dentist's office, police have said.  Josiah Cheeseboro, 24, was arrested on Tuesday on a drug felony warrant out of Franklin County, Springfield police said. Police found Cheeseboro hiding in the basement of their family home on Seymour Avenue, reports and police said. …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
(UPDATE) No Survivors: Plane Crash In Leyden Near Greenfield Border (UPDATE) No Survivors: Plane Crash In Leyden Near Greenfield Border
(Update) No Survivors: Plane Crash In Leyden Near Greenfield Border Latest Update: The plane took off from Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport with three adults on board, flight tracker records and reports said.  Related: Police ID Victims In Franklin County Plane Crash The plane, with the tail number N7345R, was licensed to Fly Lugu, LLC, out of Southwick. Fly tracker data show the plane made several revolutions with fluctuating altitudes before crashing in a heavily wooded area in Franklin County.  Update: The National Transportation Safety Board said a twin-engine Beechcraft Baron 55 went down in a wooded area in Frank…

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by Josh Lanier
News
$1M Lottery Payday: Bernardston Woman Plans To 'Have Some Fun' With Her Winnings $1M Lottery Payday: Bernardston Woman Plans To 'Have Some Fun' With Her Winnings
Vicki Sumner Of Bernardston Claims $1M Lottery Prize What's the point of winning the lottery if you can't have some fun with your windfall? That's what one Franklin County woman said she wants to do after claiming her $1 million prize from the Massachusetts State Lottery.  Vicki Sumner, of Bernardston, won the seven-figure sum playing the “Billion Dollar Extravaganza” $50 scratch-off ticket game.  Sumner chose the lump sum payment of $650,000 (before taxes) rather than the annuity.  She said she plans to pay off her car loans and "have some fun" with her winnings.  Sumner bought the ticket at the Greenfield Lodge of…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Woman, 65, Killed In Orange House Fire ID'd Woman, 65, Killed In Orange House Fire ID'd
Debra Marini ID'd As Woman Killed In Orange House Fire 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…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Found Hiding In Woods Behind Bernardston Home Gets 5-7 Years In Prison: DA Man Found Hiding In Woods Behind Bernardston Home Gets 5-7 Years In Prison: DA
Man Found Hiding In Woods Behind Bernardston Home Gets 5-7 Years In Prison: DA A 53-year-old Franklin County man with a lengthy criminal history has agreed to serve a 5 to 7-year prison sentence after being found guilty of witness intimidation and violating a restraining order, authorities said.  Antonio Candello, of Bernardston, was arrested in September 2022, just days after getting out of prison, when he violated the conditions of a restraining order filed against him by a woman, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.  The woman contacted Bernardston police on Sept 19, 2022, to say Candello was in the woods behind her home, reports said. C…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
NEW UPDATE: Woman Dies From Injuries In Orange Fire, Second Woman Remains In Burn Ward NEW UPDATE: Woman Dies From Injuries In Orange Fire, Second Woman Remains In Burn Ward
NEW Update: Woman Dies From Injuries In Orange 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…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Head-On Collision Sends 2 To Hospital In Bernardston; Woman Airlifted To Trauma Center Head-On Collision Sends 2 To Hospital In Bernardston; Woman Airlifted To Trauma Center
Head-On Collision Sends 2 To Hospital In Bernardston Two people were rushed to the hospital Tuesday night, Dec. 12, in Franklin County following a head-on collision. One driver had to be cut from her vehicle before paramedics could get her to a doctor.  The crash happened just before 10:45 p.m. on Northfield Road in Bernardston near Purple Meadow Road, Berndardston firefighters said. A sedan and a small SUV had slammed into one another head-on, crumbling the front ends of both vehicles.  The driver of the sedan, a man, was able to get out of his vehicle and was rushed to Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield. The …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
(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…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Poachers Fatally Shot Fox, Deer From Truck In Colrain: Police Poachers Fatally Shot Fox, Deer From Truck In Colrain: Police
Poachers Fatally Shot Fox, Deer From Truck In Colrain: Police Two brothers were arrested in Franklin County over the weekend after police said they had illegally killed a fox and deer from their truck.  Ira B. Doull, 46, of Worthington, and Seth O Doull, 51, of Colrain, were arrested and charged with: Hunting from a vehicle; Carrying a loaded shotgun/rifle in a vehicle Hunting deer with a rifle Discharging a firearm near a highway Improper storage of a firearm Hunting at night Hunting out of season  Massachusetts State Police said they were called to a home on Shelburne Line Road in Colrain just after 6 p.m. to reports that a deer had …

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
New Report Ranks These High Schools As Franklin County’s Best New Report Ranks These High Schools As Franklin County’s Best
New Report Ranks These High Schools As Franklin County’s Best As the back-to-school season settles into full swing, the community and school ranking site Niche named these Massachusetts schools as the best in the area. The 2023 “Best Public High Schools in Franklin County” list, released by ranking site Niche, evaluated institutions in the area and based on categories such as academics, diversity, and more, declared the following as the best of the best: No. 1 - Frontier Regional School No. 2 - Four Rivers Charter Public School No. 3 - Turners Fall High School  No. 4 - Greenfield High School No. 5 - Mohawk Trail Regional High School …

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by Sophie Grieser
News
Greenfield Man ID'd As Driver Who Dragged Trooper During Traffic Stop: Police Greenfield Man ID'd As Driver Who Dragged Trooper During Traffic Stop: Police
Greenfield Man ID'd As Driver Who Dragged Trooper During Traffic Stop: Police A 45-year-old Franklin County man was tracked down by police dogs Friday evening, Sept. 22, after authorities say he dragged a trooper with his car in what began as a routine traffic stop.  Michael J. Williams, of Greenfield, was arrested following an hours-long manhunt and faces several felony charges, State police said.  Related: Trooper Dragged During Traffic Stop; Manhunt Underway The unnamed trooper tried to pull over Williams' car at a Holyoke rest area on I-91 around 3 p.m., but he crashed into the officer and kept driving, Massachusetts State Police said. The trooper was dragged…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Shelburne Falls Ex-Marine Stole $344K in Benefits, Lied To Get Purple Heart: Feds Shelburne Falls Ex-Marine Stole $344K in Benefits, Lied To Get Purple Heart: Feds
Shelburne Falls Ex-Marine Stole $344K in Benefits, Lied To Get Purple Heart: Feds Federal authorities have accused a former US Marine from Franklin County of stolen valor after they say he illegally accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in veteran benefits and lied about suffering a traumatic brain injury in a roadside bomb to earn a Purple Heart.  Paul John "PJ" Herbert, 52, of Shelburne Falls, is charged with one count of theft of government money and one count of making false statements, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He faces potentially decades in prison if convicted on all charges.  Herbert is accused of stealing more than $344,000 …

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by Josh Lanier
News
Body Found By Kids In Greenfield ID'd As Man Missing For 3 Years: DA Body Found By Kids In Greenfield ID'd As Man Missing For 3 Years: DA
Body Found By Kids In Greenfield ID'd As Man Missing For 3 Years: DA Police in Franklin County have identified the skeletal remains found on an island in the Connecticut River last month by a group of children on a nature hike.  The bones belonged to Brian Cornwell, age 57, who was reported missing in 2020, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Investigators are trying to determine how he died.  About 24 students and chaperones with the Westhampton-based summer camp Biocitizen Inc. were exploring Rawson Island — in between Greenfield and Montague — on Aug. 23 when they stumbled on the body, authorities said.  They called…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Children Stumble Upon Human Remains On Greenfield Island: DA Children Stumble Upon Human Remains On Greenfield Island: DA
Children Stumble Upon Human Remains On Greenfield Island: DA A group of children found a body on a Franklin County island in the Connecticut River while on a nature hike last week, authorities said.  Reports said around 24 students and chaperones from the Westhampton-based summer camp Biocitizen Inc. stumbled across the human remains on Wednesday, Aug. 23, while on Rawson Island in Greenfield, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. The camp teaches students the importance of exploring nature.  The adults on the trip contacted the police. Officers remained at the scene until all the remains could be retrieved the following day.&n…

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by Josh Lanier
News
2 Charged With Animal Abuse After Dog Found Starved With Broken Bones In Greenfield 2 Charged With Animal Abuse After Dog Found Starved With Broken Bones In Greenfield
2 Charged With Animal Abuse After Dog Found Starved With Broken Bones In Greenfield A dog in Franklin County named Conrad was rescued from horrid conditions that left him emaciated, with several broken bones that had healed without being treated, and 20 small rocks in his stomach, the MSPCA said. But despite the abuse, Conrad's story may still have a happy ending.  Yarras P. Fletcher and Aliah K. Rivera, both of Greenfield, were charged with two counts each of felony animal cruelty on Friday, Aug. 18, according to the MSPCA’s Law Enforcement Division. The duo were the owners of Conrad, a 5-year-old pit bull mix.  Greenfield police reached out to MSPCA investigators in Jul…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Infamous Native American Statue Along Mohawk Trail In Charlemont Removed Infamous Native American Statue Along Mohawk Trail In Charlemont Removed
Infamous Native American Statue Along Mohawk Trail In Charlemont Removed A 20-foot-tall Native American statue and tourist attraction in Franklin County that was considered an offensive eyesore to some and a symbol of representation for others was removed on Friday, Aug. 11.  The Charlemont souvenir shop Native and Himalayan Views, formerly the Big Indian Shop, confirmed that it had removed the statue that sat along the Mohawk Trail on Route 2 for nearly 50 years.  The statue won't be down for long, however. The Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita, Oklahoma, announced on Facebook it had purchased the figure. The new owners said they would erect it along the famed Route 66 as…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Police Rescue Injured Bear Cub In Erving Police Rescue Injured Bear Cub In Erving
Police Rescue Injured Bear Cub In Erving Police did more than the bare necessities after they learned of an injured baby bear in dire need of help in Western Massachusetts.  The cub was found in Franklin County off Route 2 in the town of Erving after it had been hit by a car Thursday evening, July 27.  Its hind leg was injured, and the baby could barely walk, Erving Police said. Erving Officer Brandon Bryant and Sgt. Adam Paicos responded and found the animal and its very worried mama bear around 7 p.m. Fearing for their safety, they called a biologist in Hubbardston who walked them through how to safely cor…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
'True Hero': Firefighter Saves Woman After Car Falls Into Deerfield Floodwaters 'True Hero': Firefighter Saves Woman After Car Falls Into Deerfield Floodwaters
'True Hero': Firefighter Saves Woman After Car Falls Into Deerfield Floodwaters Rescue workers in Franklin County are calling one of their brethren a hero after he risked his life last week to save a woman after her car was swept away by flood waters.  Deerfield Assistant Fire Chief Ben Clark was surveying storm damage on Friday, July 21, just after 3 p.m., when the car in front of him was swallowed as the pavement on Lower Road gave way. The vehicle clung to the asphalt by its back tires and dangled precariously over a 15-foot drop into fast-moving floodwater, Deerfield Police Department said.  Then things got worse.  Clark called for backup and&n…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Driver Killed By Falling Tree In New Salem Driver Killed By Falling Tree In New Salem
Driver Killed By Falling Tree In New Salem A 75-year-old man was killed Wednesday morning, July 19, after a tree uprooted and fell in front of his pick-up truck in Franklin County, authorities said.  William Mattei, of Leicester, was driving west on Petersham Road (Route 122) near the intersection of Sweezy Lane when the tree crashed directly into the path of his 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, state police said.  A witness told investigators that there was no way Mattei could have avoided hitting the tree.  Debris from the tree damaged a van and scattered across the road. No one else was injured, according to po…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Mass High Court Upholds 2005 Murder Conviction Of Man Who Killed Pregnant Woman In Deerfield Mass High Court Upholds 2005 Murder Conviction Of Man Who Killed Pregnant Woman In Deerfield
Mass High Court Upholds 2005 Murder Conviction Of Man Who Killed Pregnant Woman In Deerfield A Massachusetts court has once again upheld Dennis Bateman's murder conviction for the vicious killing of 21-year-old Brandy Waryasz and her unborn child in April 2005 in Franklin County.  Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court denied Bateman's request for a retrial, the Northwestern District Attorney announced on Monday, July 17.  Bateman was convicted of first-degree murder in 2007 and ordered to serve two life sentences without parole after a jury found him guilty of the strangulation death of Waryasz, who was seven months pregnant, records show. Her unborn child, who s…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Suspected DUI Driver Crashes Into Power Pole, Narrowly Avoids Bernardston Home Suspected DUI Driver Crashes Into Power Pole, Narrowly Avoids Bernardston Home
Suspected DUI Driver Crashes Into Power Pole, Narrowly Avoids Bernardston Home A driver had to be cut from their car late Friday night, July 14, after they lost control of the vehicle, glanced off of a tree in someone's front yard before crashing into a power pole in Franklin County, authorities said.  Bernardston police were the first to reach the wreckage on Keets Brook Road around 10:30 p.m. and found the mangled car on its side, propped up by the pole, Bernardston police said in a Facebook post. Evidence showed that the vehicle narrowly missed crashing into someone's bedroom.  The unidentified driver was thrown into the backseat and was trapped inside with severe…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Woman Killed, 2 Injured In Head-On Gill Crash Woman Killed, 2 Injured In Head-On Gill Crash
Woman Killed, 2 Injured In Head-On Gill Crash A 57-year-old Worcester County woman was killed after a car drifted into her lane and collided with her car on Friday afternoon, June 30, authorities said.  Tracy Matthews, of Athol, was driving her Chevy Cobalt east in Franklin County on Route 2 in the town of Gill near Barton Cove Campground around 4 p.m. when a Mazda Miata crossed the center line and crashed into her, authorities said. Paramedics rushed her to Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, where doctors pronounced Matthews dead.  The 63-year-old Needham driver of the Miati and his passenger were…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Fake Cop: Man Caught Riding In Bernardston In Fake Police Car With Gun, Badge Fake Cop: Man Caught Riding In Bernardston In Fake Police Car With Gun, Badge
Fake Cop: Man Caught Riding In Bernardston In Fake Police Car With Gun, Badge A man with a history of impersonating a police officer was arrested in Franklin County on Tuesday, June 13, for dressing up like a cop and riding around in a car that mimicked a patrol cruiser, the real police said.  The man, whose name has not been released, was pulled over in Bernardston after officers noticed his Crown Victoria car had a paint scheme nearly identical to that of a police cruiser, authorities said.  The driver was decked out in a tactical vest with a police-style badge pinned to the front. He also had a pistol, handcuffs, knives, and several other items officers carry whi…

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by Josh Lanier
Lifestyle
Booze Out At These Top Wineries In Western Massachusetts Booze Out At These Top Wineries In Western Massachusetts
Booze Out At These Top Wineries In Western Massachusetts Whether you're looking to plan your next girls' day, special gathering, or chill weekend, spending time at a winery could be the perfect fit. Thankfully, Western Massachusetts is inundated with gorgeous vineyards and quintessential New England views along with some of the best locally-crafted wine in the region.  To help plan your next tasting, here are some of the highest-rated wineries in Western Mass based on traveler reviews.  Furnace Brook Winery at Hilltop Orchards (Richmond)  Furnace Brook Winery in the Berkshires has a 4.5 average rating on Trip Advisor and Yelp.  Known for its …

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Flames Melt Semi-Truck On West Road In Bernardston: Fire Department Flames Melt Semi-Truck On West Road In Bernardston: Fire Department
Flames Melt Semi-Truck On West Road In Bernardston: Fire Department A semi-truck was nearly burnt to a crisp after it caught on fire in Franklin County this week, according to fire officials. Crews responded to a fully involved vehicle fire at 24 West Road in Bernardston around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, the Bernardston Fire Department said on Facebook. - Around 18:30 yesterday evening we were dispatched to 24 West Road for the report of a fully involved vehicle fire.... Posted by Bernardston Fire Department on Friday, May 5, 2023 Upon arrival, firefighters found a 2007 Kenworth fully engulfed in flames. The truck was not threatening any structures …

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by David Cifarelli