In one of the closest contests in race history, the duo of Bob Zaveral of Upton, N.Y. and Serge Corbin of Quebec surged to victory to capture the 32nd Annual Athol to Orange River Rat Race. Zaveral and Corbin went neck-and-neck with the duo of Bob MacDowell of Cheshire and Bruce Barton of Homer, Mich., for almost the entire six-mile stretch on the Millers River. With about 300 yards to go, Zaveral and Corbin kicked in and pulled away to win by less than a length and in a time of 36:42.
Fire Chief Lee Lozier was the winner of the 1995 Big Cheese Award.
This year’s River Rat Weekend saw some of the old and some of the new. Annual activities, including the canoe race, parade, and partying went off as usual. But a vigorous spirit of volunteerism, led by the local United Way’s first-ever River Duck Race, made 1995’s rat weekend one to remember.
Thelma Richards, the “May Basket Lady,” of Athol, is still hard at work turning out hundreds of her beautiful creations just as she has done for the past 65 years. This year she has made 1,250 and they are just as individual as ever, with miniature birds, butterflies, teddy bears, dragonflies and bees attached to the braided crepe handles.
The Tuxedo Den, the town’s newest member of the Main Street business community, opened recently at 1600 Main St., across from the Uptown Common. The Tuxedo Den offers a full line of formal attire for sale or rent.
The Orange School Committee voted to withdraw from the Massachusetts School Choice Program for the 1995-96 school year due to lack of space for additional students.
Those interested in keeping Memorial Hall in Orange from a demolition crew have an opportunity to save the historical landmark. There are funds to tear down the building, but Selectmen Chair Arthur Reppas said that as an historical landmark and one of the town’s oldest buildings, it should be saved if possible. One solution, officials say, is for town fathers to offer the building to the Orange Historical Society. Another possibility, said Reppas, is for the town to pay for the materials and ask local contractors, “if they have a little pride in saving the building,” to donate labor. Costs of repairing Memorial Hall is estimated at $250,000.
The high school athletic field has been officially renamed the Thomas J. O’Brien Memorial Field, a tribute to the late sports mentor and athletic director who worked with Athol youth from the early 1930s until his retirement in 1969.
Kenny Roberts, hometown boy, known by his real name, George Kingsbury, Jr., who progressed from Daily News delivery boy to “King of the Yodelers” and a million-selling hit record before his 20th birthday, will appear at the Barre Hunt Club. He made music history when he recorded “I Never See Maggie Alone” which sold a million.
A 27-page booklet dealing with the hazard of drug abuse is being prepared for distribution to the young people of Athol, according to Ernest P. Chiasson, police chief.
The Athol-Orange Elks Club was jammed to capacity for a program on drugs and drug abuse sponsored by the Tri-Hi-Y, Hi-Y and Elks. The speaker, Trooper Jonathan Gaylord of the Boston Division of the Massachusetts State Police talked of the problems of drug abuse and narcotics. He emphasized that heroin and other hard drugs are available in the area and are increasing daily. He was asked, “What can be done about drugs?”, to which he replied, “a good educational program in grammar school is essential.”
Roger W. Moore, vice-president of manufacturing for the Rodney Hunt Company in Orange has been elected a director of the firm. Moore has been vice-president of manufacturing since 1965. He has been associated with the firm since 1941, starting as a welder.
Florida Gov. Claude Kirk has ended his personal rule of the Manatee County schools. He says the solution to his integration battle lies with the courts. Kirk’s move cleared the way for court-ordered racial balancing of 17,000 pupils in the county’s schools. It also apparently purged him of contempt of federal court and the threat of a $10,000 fine a day until he stopped blocking desegregation by busing.
Apollo 13’s imperiled astronauts battled to bring their crippled spaceship back to earth as Mission Control Center considered a risky “superfast” return that would propel them home a day early and perhaps save their lives. Their mission was suddenly cut short when a violent rupture of unknown origin ripped through pressurized fuel tanks. Officials are considering the quick return to earth because they are concerned about oxygen and water supplies aboard the lunar module from which the astronauts are drawing life support.
Agricultural “A” awards were presented as a rally in the Memorial Hall sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce to 174 farmers of Northern Worcester County. The awards were made by the Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of Agriculture through the Worcester County Extension Service for outstanding production and effort.
Cpl. Reginald Boutot, USMC, 23, husband of Rita (McDonald) Boutot and son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Boutot of Athol, was wounded during the battle for Iwo Jima on March 18. He is now at a hospital in Guam.
A report from the War Department has been received by Mrs. Robert Sinclair of Athol, that her son, Cpl. Robert A. Sinclair, was wounded in action on Feb. 19, on Iwo Jima. His condition is reported to be “favorable.”
Sgt. William E. Rolland, Jr., 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Rolland, Sr. of Athol, was killed in action in Germany on March 26, according to a telegram from the War Department received by his parents.
Pfc. Joseph Szymcik, 34, Army Engineers, son of Alexander Szymcik of Athol, was killed in action in Germany on March 26, according to a War Department telegram received by his sister, Mrs. Anna Hibbard.
Technical Sgt. Wallace Erali, 20, U.S. Army, son of Mr. and Mrs. Antimio Erali of Athol, was killed in action in Germany on March 29.
A Youth Caravan from Springfield under the lead of Rev. John Hoon, comes to Orange to pay a visit to the Youth Fellowship of the Orange Methodist Church.
Mrs. Robert W. Hawkes, of Orange, has received word from her husband, Lt. Robert W. Hawkes, that he has been awarded the Air Medal. Lt. Hawkes is a B-25 Mitchell bomber pilot in the Pacific area.
Cpl. Lloyd J. Mitchell, 23, USMC, was killed in action on March 20 during the battle for Iwo Jima, according to a War Department telegram received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. B.A. Mitchell of Petersham.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died suddenly of a massive cerebral hemorrhage. Mr. Roosevlet died in the little White House on top of Pine Mountain in Warm Springs, Ga., where he had gone for a rest. He was 64 years old.
Harry S. Truman of Missouri was sworn in as the 32nd President of the United States.