Latest News
New members needed for Athol boards
Nonprofits agree they are worse off under Trump
Sportsman’s Corner: Fawn facts
Transhealth, others condemn federal report urging therapy as brazen, unscientific attack on trans youth
Area students inducted to Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at MWCC
North Quabbin Notes, May 6
Budget, capital purchases on Phillipston Town Meeting warrant
Nationwide, beekeepers report loss of 1.6M colonies in 10 months
Across the United States, beekeepers are facing their greatest crisis in decades, with more than 1 million colonies reported lost in the last 10 months.
Proposal for new six-town regional school district heads to DESE for approval
With its regional agreement sent off to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for a technical review, the Six Town Regionalization Planning Board is expecting to bring its new school district proposal to voters in the fall.
Most Read
Mother’s Day Data: New Hampshire’s declining birth rates impact the workforce and economy
Override for library, schools passes at Winchendon Town Election
Zoning bylaw change stirs discussion at Phillipston Town Meeting
Special election to be held for Athol Selectboard
UMass researchers discover rare rabbit ticks in Maine that carry new strain of bacteria
PHOTO: Millers River reaches red line in Winchendon
Editors Picks
‘We’ve lost a good one’: Donald R. Dwight remembered as passionate advocate for local journalism
Athol bridge closed several hours for repairs Tuesday evening
A ‘monumental’ journey: Nearly 200 people become American citizens at naturalization ceremony at UMass Amherst
Override for library, schools passes at Winchendon Town Election
Sports
Western Mass. Mother’s Day Half Marathon reaches 15th edition on Sunday in Whately
The 15th running of the Western Mass. Mother’s Day Half Marathon in Whately will commence on Sunday, with a large field of runners expected to participate.
Keeping Score with Chip Ainsworth: Bernardston’s Weiss in Europe with Team USA
HS Roundup: Fast start powers Franklin Tech baseball past Mahar, 5-0 (PHOTOS)
UMass women's lacrosse gears up for Princeton in NCAA Tournament
HS Softball: Late rally powers Hampshire past Turners Falls in battle of WMass heavyweightsOpinion
Elizabeth Lareau Whitcomb: Violence affects us all, knows no party lines
I am writing in response to the recent letter to the editor about Democrats and gang members [”Democrats and gang members,” April 24]. I agree with the writer that it is sad that no Democrats stood up to acknowledge the profound grief this woman is experiencing over the murder of her daughter. But I feel compelled to point out that the Republicans have time and again been uncaring towards victims of gun violence, in particular the mass shootings that have taken place in so many of our schools. I would also like to point out that it has not been proven that any of the men sent to the prison in El Salvador were gang members, indeed that there is no evidence that they are, regardless of what President Donald Trump and ICE officials have been saying. The fact that these men were denied due process means that no connection to gangs will ever be proven.
The World Keeps Turning: Attention — A day doesn’t count as a day anymore
My Turn: Picture This — Why the National Endowment for the Arts is essential to American life
My Turn: A dream of Donald Trump and Anne Frank
James A. Marples: New pope must continue where Pope Francis left off
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, April 16 – April 26, 2025
10:45 a.m. - Report of a party going through a company’s mail. Made contact with the male party who stated he was checking for his own mail. Male party was located in his Mercedes in the back of the building. Party left the property shortly after.
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
Orange Police Logs: Dec. 31, 2024 to Jan. 10, 2025
e-Edition
Arts & Life
Block and roll: Roller Derby, the ‘sport for misfits,’ finds a home in the Valley
The floor of Interskate 91 South is often filled with young skaters teetering around the track, but the athletes on it now are sure on their skates, focused and ready to battle. Two jammers sit poised, their bodies coiled in anticipation; in front of them, two bunches of blockers gaze at them intently, trying to determine the best strategy for locking them down. For a second, there’s quiet. Then a sharp whistle slices through it and the two skaters explode forward, trying to duck and weave between a mass of bodies to escape the pack and rack up points for their team. Their teammates and fans yell and cheer from the sidelines, their voices echoing around the rink, but skater Lilith of the Valley (government name: Lisa Andras) doesn’t hear any of it.
The pipes, the pipes are calling: Orange man services organs throughout New England, beyond
Writer’s work lives on, thanks to creative friends: Stray Dog Collective preserves Hilary Sloin’s short stories, essays
Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: A blooming ribbon leads the eye: Landscape architect planted 1,500 daffodils in Amherst’s Orchard Arboretum
‘Shared’ perspectives: Greenfield artist one of eight disabled artists in Worcester gallery’s group showObituaries
Janet R. Bartlett
Janet R. (Day) Bartlett ORANGE, MA - Janet R. (Day) Bartlett, 92, died Monday evening, May 5, 2025, at Athol Hospital, just three days before her 93rd birthday. Born in Athol on May 8, 1932, she was the daughter of Herbert W. and Eva M.... remainder of obit for Janet R. Bartlett
Kenton F. Tharp
ORANGE, MA - Kenton Franklin Tharp, age 76, died May 6 at his home in Orange, MA. He was born in Grant, Nebraska to Charles and Gladys (Kent) Tharp. He worked with his father to custom bale hay and with his mother and sisters in the fam... remainder of obit for Kenton F. Tharp
Leslie J. Osborne
West Springfield, MA - Leslie J. Osborne, fondly known as "Lee" to her friends and family, passed away on April 27, 2025. Born in Gardner, MA, USA on July 14, 1942 She was a woman of faith, belonging to St. Johns Church in Athol. Le... remainder of obit for Leslie J. Osborne
Richard D. Ray Jr.
Richard D. Ray, Jr. New Salem, MA - Richard Daniel Ray, Jr., 61 of New Salem passed away on May 2nd, 2025 at U Mass following a massive stroke after years of declining health and most recently lung cancer, with his daughter spending his ... remainder of obit for Richard D. Ray Jr.
