News
Case of threatening journalist dismissed after probation, treatment
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — A charge against an Amherst woman who allegedly threatened a newspaper journalist in summer 2018 has been dismissed after more than a year of court cases, jail time and mental health evaluations.The misdemeanor charge of threatening to...
Greenfield and Orange District Court Logs: Oct. 15 to Oct. 18, 2019
Judge William MazanecGreenfield, Oct. 15Kevin K. Smith, 34, of Oak Grove Avenue, Springfield. Charges of resisting arrest, intimidating a witness/juror/police/court official, a marked lanes violation, failure to stop or yield, improper operation of a...
Man flees from police following Bernardston traffic stop
By DOMENIC POLI
BERNARDSTON — A Holyoke man has not been found since fleeing after the vehicle he was riding in was pulled over just north of Exit 28 on Interstate 91 northbound in Bernardston at around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.Lakeam A. Bennett, 27, provided false...
Greenfield and Orange District Court Logs: Oct. 9-15, 2019
Holly A. Boisvert, 49, homeless of Greenfield. Charge of possession of a Class B drug and possession of a Class E drug. Released on personal recognizance. Pretrial conference set for Dec. 6. The counsel fee was waived.Judge William Mazanec III...
New Hampshire man sentenced to 10 to 12 years for stabbing
By DAVID McLELLAN
GREENFIELD — The New Hampshire man who stabbed Massachusetts State Police Trooper Mark Whitcomb last year was sentenced to 10 to 12 years in prison on Friday, after changing his plea to guilty.Nghia Le, 19, of Manchester, N.H., pleaded guilty to eight...
Greenfield and Orange District Court Logs: Sept. 13 to Sept. 20, 2019
Judge Laurie MacLeod Orange, Sept. 13Hayden M. Manson, 25, of Orange Road, Warwick. Charged with OUI-liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, possession of a Class B drug and OUI-drugs. On the first three counts, sufficient facts were found,...
At 92, orchard owner starts a new hard cider business
By DAVID McLELLAN
Editor’s Note: This story is part of a week-long series about the state of farming in Franklin County.People thought she was crazy.At 92 years old, Carol Hillman, owner of New Salem Preserves & Orchards, 67 South Main St., has started a new business...
Dairy farming a labor of love, but not financially sustainable for farmers
By ANITA FRITZ
Editor’s Note: This story is part of a week-long series about the state of farming in Franklin County.Sixty-five-year-old David Duprey has been a dairy farmer almost his entire life. It’s the life he has built, the life he knows, and the life he’s not...
Farm stands a way to supplement income
By ANITA FRITZ
Editor’s Note: This story is part of a week-long series about the state of farming in Franklin County.Drive along many of the major routes and back roads of Franklin County and you’re bound to run into a farm stand or ice cream/food stand.Many of the...
Valley has rich history of growing tobacco
By DOMENIC POLI
Editor’s Note: This story is part of a week-long series about the state of farming in Franklin County.Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. But, other times, that smoke you’re holding is wrapped in a tobacco leaf grown along the Connecticut River — in...
Greenfield and Orange District Court Logs: Sept. 3 to Sept. 10, 2019
Judge William Mazanec III Greenfield, Sept. 3Rayshawn Yarde, 28, of Old Ferry Road, West Chesterfield. Charge of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, in Bernardston by State Police from the Shelburne barracks, was dismissed upon the request of the...
Former teacher pleads guilty to indecent A&B
By DOMENIC POLI
GREENFIELD — An Ashfield man and former teacher was sentenced Wednesday morning to three years’ probation after changing his plea on charges related the 2017 inappropriate touching of his friends’ daughters.Douglas J. Forbes, 53, pleaded guilty in...
DA alum David Koch dies
By DOMENIC POLI
DEERFIELD — Deerfield Academy is, for the second time this month, mourning the death of a former student who came from a powerful American family.David Koch, the libertarian billionaire businessman who graduated from the prestigious institution in...
Greenfield and Orange District Court Logs: Aug. 9 to Aug. 16, 2019
Judge William Mazanec IIIGreenfield, Aug. 9Wayne J. Poirier, 29, of Key Road, Keene, N.H. Charge of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, by Montague Police. Released on personal recognizance. Pretrial conference set for Nov. 8. Michael...
Baystate to acquire Connecticut River Internists after all four doctors retire
By GRACE BIRD
TURNERS FALLS — After 31 years in practice, all four primary care doctors and co-owners of Connecticut River Internists will retire at the end of the year.While the doctors — Drs. Joseph Viadero, Adam Blacksin, Wayne Gavryck and Laurence Klein — were...
Stylist unveils two new salons in Greenfield, Turners Falls
By MELINA BOURDEAU
GREENFIELD — With Textür Beauty Bar and Textür Blow Out Bar in two towns, owner Carleigh Dlugosz said she wants to bring “a driving energy” to both locations.Dlugosz, a Turners Falls resident who previously co-owned Lavish on Chapman Street with...
Orange and Greenfield District Court Logs: July 22 to July 30, 2019
Judge David Ross Orange, July 22Jonathan M. Colwell, 33, of Franklin Street, Millers Falls. Charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and no inspection sticker. Released on personal recognizance. Count 1 was dismissed upon the...
Michael Kittredge, Yankee Candle founder, dies at 67
By DOMENIC POLI
LEVERETT — Michael J. Kittredge II, whose homemade candle as a cash-strapped teenager evolved into an industry giant, has died. He was 67.Kittredge, founder of the Yankee Candle Co., died Wednesday evening at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston...
Greenfield District Court Logs: July 2 to July 9, 2019
Judge William Mazanec IIIGreenfield, July 2Shawndell R. Collins, 30, of Abermore Street, Springfield. Charge of furnishing false identification information, in Bernardston by State Police from the Shelburne barracks. Pled guilty and found guilty, with...
Sunburn Beach issues linger as owners sell land to state
By GRACE BIRD
CHARLEMONT — The state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) paid $25,000 for a 4.6-acre piece of riverfront land known as “Sunburn Beach,” owned by family of the late Grace and Marshall Johnson.The land, located off North River Road at the...
