Athol Daily News

13/05/2026

Orange voters reject $5.2M assessment to Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District, hoping for a $200K reduction. Town prioritizes municipal services.

13/05/2026

Overview: Phillipston Police Department has welcomed Ziva, a 4-year-old bloodhound, as its newest K-9 officer. Ziva is trained as a comfort dog and in "mantrailing," a K-9 discipline where dogs are trained to identify and follow a person's unique scent. Comfort dogs are used to help victims or first...

13/05/2026

AMHERST — Despite the politically polarizing and often confusing time across the United States, Dorcas Boateng, a nurse practitioner in Worcester originally from Ghana, is grateful to be an American citizen. “I really think the truth is America is full of so many opportunities,” says Boateng, ...

12/05/2026

Amid widespread fear across the country over federal immigration law enforcement activities, legislation aimed at providing new protections for immigrants in Massachusetts got one step closer to Gov. Maura Healey’s desk late last week.

BOSTON — Amid widespread fear across the country over federal immigration law enforcement activities, legislation aimed at providing new protections for immigrants in Massachusetts got one step closer to Gov. Maura Healey’s desk late last week. The Senate on May 7 voted 37-3 to pass a Ways and M...

12/05/2026

Orange’s first charter will take effect on July 1, and the Bylaw Review Committee’s chair recently addressed the Selectboard to lay out the plan for implementation.

Orange's first town charter will take effect on July 1, creating a strong town manager role. Implementation plan discussed by Bylaw Review Committee.

12/05/2026

The Planning and Community Development Board approved a major site plan review application for Whipps Inc. to construct a 31,850-square-foot building at 446 South Athol Road.

The Planning and Community Development Board approved a major site plan review application for Whipps Inc. to construct a 31,850-square-foot building at 446 South Athol Road, which will add roughly 25 jobs and utilize existing water and sewer services, with construction to begin this month.

11/05/2026

Franklin Tech Superintendent Richard Martin encouraged the Program Advisory Committee to attend an info session on the proposed school building at GCC on Tuesday.

11/05/2026

The Friends of the Athol Public Library have been supporting the library for 45 years, providing funding for programs, events, and renovations, as well as museum passes, refreshments, and promotional materials.

11/05/2026

An overnight frost in April delayed asparagus season for local farmers in Franklin and Hampshire counties, but they remain optimistic for the new crops.

08/05/2026

The Hub, a multi-use community center in Winchendon, provides food access, youth programming, workforce development, and other services to the local community.

08/05/2026

Protesters rally against Baystate Health's decision to pause gender-affirming care for minors. Calls for reversal and public apology.