Latest News



UMass grad student proposes upgrades for Fish Park in Athol
ATHOL – A UMass grad student interning in the town’s Office of Planning and Development has drafted a proposal to upgrade Fish Park.

MassDEP issues water quality certification to FirstLight, with conditions
TURNERS FALLS — While opponents continue to assert the “overwhelming negative environmental impact” of FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s facilities, the state Department of Environmental Protection argues the conditions set through its water quality certification offer “more protections for the Connecticut River than ever before.”
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Sports

Tennessee Titans select Deerfield Academy alumni Elic Ayomanor in the fourth round
Deerfield Academy alumni Elic Ayomanor’s dream of playing in the NFL became a reality on Saturday.




Opinion

The World Keeps Turning: Trump’s royal ‘reign of fear’
Fear is a powerful emotion, capable of driving behavior that would be completely irrational without it. In America, it is now a legal justification for killing someone who appears threatening, whether the threat is credible or not. The same rationale fueled America’s invasion of Iraq in 2003 because we were falsely convinced it possessed weapons of mass destruction.





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, March 1 – March 17, 2025
12:40 a.m. - Party over 911 stating he believes his wife has an infection in her mouth and is in a lot of pain. When reporting party was advised dispatch would be sending an ambulance, he declined.




Arts & Life

Lesbian bar opens in Greenfield: Last Ditch is the new space for the Valley’s queer community
Western Massachusetts has a new lesbian bar and performance venue.
Obituaries

Athol, MA - Blanche L. Sheffield, born on October 20, 1934, in Athol, Massachusetts, and graduated Athol High School in 1953. She was a beacon of warmth and love, infusing every room with her infectious joy and hearty laughter. We sadly... remainder of obit for Blanche L. Sheffield

Athol, MA - Judith (Landry) Caouette 82, loving wife and mother, passed away at home in the arms of her family on April 22, 2025 after a courageous two year battle with cancer. Judith was born in Fitchburg, MA on July 13, 1942 the daug... remainder of obit for Judith J. Caouette

Olivia, MN - Janice Jansen January 28, 1948 April 15, 2025 Janice Jansen, age 77, of Olivia, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2025. Janice was born on January 28, 1948, in Winchendon, Massachusetts, to the late ... remainder of obit for Janice Jansen

Greenfield, MA - Dale A. Berry, 82 passed on February 27th 2025 of an illness at Baystate Franklin hospital. Born in Lyndonville, Vermont on September 25th 1942 to Maynard and Arlene (Jesseman) Berry. He was one of 11 brothers and siste... remainder of obit for Dale A. Berry