Latest News
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
Front Street Bridge in Winchendon closed indefinitely
State reaches out to fired federal workers with new website
PHOTO: Horse and buggy statue swamped
Professors with UMass ties land tech’s top prize
Athol Town Manager reviews next year’s budget
ATHOL – Town Manager Shaun Suhoski went before the Finance and Warrant Advisory Committee Tuesday night to present his revenue projections for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
PHOTO: Sunset at Athol Town Hall
Most Read
Athol Town Manager reviews next year’s budget
Retiring VA doc lets DOGE ire fly: List details deleting pronouns, making Musk dartboard
EPA to roll back dozens of regulations
MIAA Division 5 boys basketball final: Top-seeded Pioneer one win away from undefeated season, state championship
PERFECTION! No. 1 Pioneer cruises past Hopedale 49-28 to capture MIAA Division 5 state title
Firearm age limits in new state law see pushback locally
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
FINAL FOUR BOUND! Smith College takes down Gustavus Adolphus for third straight NCAA Div. 3 Final Four berth
A 22-point game from Ally Landau helped the Smith College basketball team advance past Gustavus Adolphus, 61-50, in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division 3 women’s tournament on Saturday.
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 title
Div. 5 boys basketball: Pioneer enjoying final run together as state final Saturday approachesOpinion
The World Keeps Turning: DOGE — Moving fast and breaking things
Since Mark Zuckerberg ascended into the unholy trinity of the world’s richest oligarchs, it’s hard to remember that he once led a team of underdogs in a race to claim the mental airspace and gadfly attention span of young and old people around the world at Facebook. They styled themselves as ”disrupters,” following Zuckerberg’s imperative to “move fast and break things.” If they weren’t “breaking things” they probably weren’t moving fast enough, he suggested.
My Turn: Good reasons for youth gun law
My Turn: What’s the remedy for a lawless president?
Don Gagnon: Birthday breakfast a delight
Macky Buck: Memories of a lesbian bar in the 1970s valley
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
A piece of history comes home: Silver pitcher returns to Franklin County Fairgrounds after 150 years
The Franklin County Fair Museum’s chilly confines are filled with posters, brochures, ribbons and other pieces celebrating the history of the cherished event that started as a cattle show 177 years ago. But in December the museum added to its collection a first of its kind – an antique silver pitcher that made its way home from England, having been bestowed upon one of the Fairgrounds’ founding fathers on Jan. 3, 1863.
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 friends
Sounds Local: Saint Patrick’s Day festivities abound: Where to hear Celtic music this weekend in Franklin CountyObituaries
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
Christopher T. Colo
ORANGE, MA - Christopher T Colo, 64, of Dexter St, Orange passed away on March 1st peacefully at his home after a period of declining health due to Alzheimer's dementia. He was born in Athol on January 7, 1961, and was the son of Marie... remainder of obit for Christopher T. Colo
