
Geoffrey Newton recognized for five decades of service to Royalston
ROYALSTON – “Your commitment, not just to the town, but to the people who live in this town, is something that people will remember for generations to come.”

‘Without us, there is no UMass’: Unions representing staff decry bargaining tactics by administration at campus rally
AMHERST — Though the temperature rose to 90 degrees outside on Wednesday, the ire of many staff members at the University of Massachusetts was arguably fiercer.
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Sports

Bulletin board: Evelyn King’s late 3-pointer lifts Athol to OT win in Franklin Tech Summer League (PHOTOS)
Evelyn King drained the game-winning 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining in overtime, lifting the Athol girls basketball team to a thrilling 35-34 victory over Hopkins Academy in a Franklin Tech Summer Basketball League contest on Thursday night in Turners Falls.


Opinion
My Turn: Building community lighthouses
On a recent work trip to New Orleans, I visited a lighthouse. But, if you’re imagining a structure on the cliffs of Cape Cod, I need to clarify that this lighthouse was a little different. Here’s its story.





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.




Arts & Life

Sounds Local: Discover ‘the best band you never heard of’: The Samples perform at the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls on Friday
“The Best Band You Never Heard Of” is the name of a 2011 documentary about The Samples, a rock group that was part of the jam scene in the late 1980s and 1990s and went on to experience a career with more twists and turns than your favorite mystery novel.
Obituaries

Athol, MA - Patricia Ploof, 76, died on Saturday, July 12, 2025. She leaves behind her husband of 54 years, Timothy Ploof, their son, David Ploof, and his wife, Keila, and her grandchildren, Michel Ploof and Fletcher Sheinheit. She also... remainder of obit for Patricia A. Ploof

Plymouth , MA - Chad Ray, 53 of Plymouth Massachusetts passed away unexpectedly in his home on July 1, 2025. Chad was born and raised in Athol, MA. Chad attended Athol schools and graduated Class of 1991. After graduating Chad served i... remainder of obit for Chad R. Ray

San Marcos, TX - Eugene Richard Rice of San Marcos, TX passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at the age of 96. Born in Islip, NY, he was the son of the late Erwin and Alice (Glassett) Rice. Gene grew up in Athol, MA and graduated f... remainder of obit for Eugene Richard Rice

Phillipston, MA - It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Donald Robert Schlicke on July 3, 2025. Born on May 10, 1953, in Gardner, MA, and a lifelong resident of Phillipston, MA, his presence will be deeply missed. His... remainder of obit for Donald R. Schlicke