Latest News
North Quabbin Notes, March 18
PHOTO: Go, go, goats!
Egan in race to fill Royalston Selectboard vacancy
Retiring VA doc lets DOGE ire fly: List details deleting pronouns, making Musk dartboard
EPA to roll back dozens of regulations
Sportsman’s Corner: Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
No state plans to offset $12 million federal food aid cut
MDAR commissioner pens letter to USDA over uncertain funding and impact on farmers
BOSTON — As farmers prepare to head out to the fields for the season, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle sent a letter to the new U.S. agriculture secretary expressing concerns over uncertain federal funding and other actions taken by the federal government.
Pioneer Valley upgraded to critical drought status, months of sustained precipitation needed
Despite a recent increase in precipitation, the Connecticut River Valley region has been designated as experiencing critical drought conditions, which will continue to persist until sustained precipitation over a much longer period of time is able to restore water table levels.
Most Read
Immigrants in New Hampshire face uncertainty as temporary protections expire soon
Athol’s River Rat parade to be lead by ‘sister city’ ensemble
Local house market uncertain in North Quabbin, say realtors
‘Voting our wallets’: Loudon residents vote overwhelmingly against $1.7M bond for new fire truck
Housing authority seeks $900K for home rehabilitation program in Gill, New Salem
West-East Rail funding uncertain under Trump administration
Editors Picks
Athol Town Manager requests $400K for repairs to fire station roof and grant match
Legislators, activists advocate for menstrual equity bill inspired by Frontier students
Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Amherst for 45 years ID’d for closure
FRCOG to inventory 280 ‘blighted’ properties in Orange
Sports
Behind the scenes as the Mullins Center staff hosts basketball, hockey games in same day
AMHERST — On two separate occasions this winter, Mullins Center staff spilled onto Jack Leaman Court as soon as the final horn sounded to end a UMass men’s basketball game. They aren’t typically in a huge rush to break down equipment, especially if the next event to take place in the arena is another basketball game, but the Minutemen hockey team had a game about five hours later – they needed to change the hardwood to the ice in time for warm-ups.
FINAL FOUR BOUND! Smith College takes down Gustavus Adolphus for third straight NCAA Div. 3 Final Four berth
Breaking down undefeated Pioneer’s downright dominant run to a state title
Community support aids Pioneer boys basketball team in dominant state title win over Hopedale
PERFECTION! No. 1 Pioneer cruises past Hopedale 49-28 to capture MIAA Division 5 state titleOpinion
Columnist Daniel Cantor Yalowitz: Finding wisdom in middle school
Becoming a responsible adult is a decades-long, uneven, challenging process. It takes human beings longer than any other living being to emerge into a state of independence and autonomy. Most people spend at least 10 to 20 years in school, learning the skills, knowledge and values that will serve us and our families and communities in good stead, hopefully for the betterment of our world.
My Turn: This is how we fight — Turn the House blue
Chester Kuzontkoski: Regarding DOGE
Lew La Chance: Dont’ forget hydrants and the water supply
Susan Triolo: McGovern town hall set for March 18
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: Feb. 6 – Feb. 27, 2025
12:13 p.m. - Spoke with a female party who was shoveling snow into the roadway. She was advised to stop. She stated she “wasn’t worried about it” and “didn’t care.”
Athol Police Logs Jan. 16 to Feb. 2, 2025
Orange Police Logs: Dec. 31, 2024 to Jan. 10, 2025
Orange Police Logs, Nov. 14 - 18, 2024
Orange Police Logs, November 1 - 8, 2024
e-Edition
Arts & Life
‘It might as well be spring’: The fifth season is marked by mud and maple syrup
I still can’t see anything but snow and ice in my Hawley yard, but new life is in the air nonetheless. My driveway has started looking and feeling muddy, a sure sign that the fifth season is upon us.
A piece of history comes home: Silver pitcher returns to Franklin County Fairgrounds after 150 years
Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: Gardening symposiums herald spring’s arrival
Historical fiction set in Quabbin region: Novelist J.A. McIntosh will read from ‘Swift River Secrets’ Sunday in Erving 
Keep backyard birds safe: Steps you can take to protect our feathered friendsObituaries
James Philip Clucus
Stamford, CT - James Philip Clucus, known to most as Jim and to his family and friends as "G," passed away peacefully on March 6, 2025, at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT. Born on January 2, 1951, in Athol, MA, Jim was the cherished s... remainder of obit for James Philip Clucus
Clairette Sumers
Athol, MA - Clairette Summers, born October 9, 1941, was a woman of ceaseless compassion and unparalleled resilience. Born in Baghdad, Iraq, and later making her home in Athol, Massachusetts, she cast a luminous light on every life ... remainder of obit for Clairette Sumers
Charles W. LeBell
ORANGE, MA - Charles W. LeBell, 83, of Horton Road, died peacefully at home on Sunday, March 2, 2025 following an illness, surrounded by loved ones. Born in Gardner on July 26, 1941, he was the son of the late William C. and Beatric... remainder of obit for Charles W. LeBell
Ruth A. Robinson
Ruth A. (Butterfield) Robinson PETERSHAM, MA - Ruth A. (Butterfield) Robinson passed away peacefully with family by her side on Monday March 3, 2025, at the age of 97. She was born on May 17, 1927, in Northbridge, MA to Vance L. and Doris ... remainder of obit for Ruth A. Robinson
