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| News and events in North Adams, Mass.
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Berkshire County Marks Memorial Day 2012Staff Reports, iBerkshires
08:27PM / Monday, May 28, 2012 | |
 LENOX, Mass. — Heidi Nutt had grown up in Lenox not thinking much about the military, or the sacrifices of military families.
"Never did I think I would marry a soldier, that I would live in Europe, and become a widow at 32," she said on Monday, her voice breaking. "On May 14, 2003, I lost my husband, my best friend, my home, my friends and a way of life I had learned to enjoy."
Sgt. David Nutt of the 101st Airborne Division was killed barely two months after being deployed for Iraq. He would leave behind his grieving widow and two young daughters, who now live in Lee.
Nutt, keynote speaker at Lenox's annual Memorial Day ceremony, struggled at times to talk about 0 Comments
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Clarksburg Home Used For Fire DrillStaff Reports, iBerkshires
08:39AM / Monday, May 28, 2012 | |
 A single-family burnt to the ground in about an hour as part of a drill by the Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Department.CLARKSBURG, Mass. — A Middle Road home donated as a fire drill went up in flames on Saturday morning.
Fire Chief Carlyle "Chip" Chesbro Jr. said the single-family home was gone before noontime. The Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Company ran through some drills when it the building was lit in the morning but the humidity factor and heavy gear limited some of the activity.
"Everybody was OK, nobody got hurt," said Chesbro as firefighters prepared to leave the scene about 1 p.m.
The building had been stripped of any worthwhile items, such as doors and window, 0 Comments
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Police Caution Residents To Avoid Black Bears| 08:53PM / Friday, May 25, 2012 | |
 This bear wandered back into woods but hadn't left the immediate neighborhood around Brayton School by Friday evening.NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Black bears have been coming closer to homes around the region this spring. The most recent siting has been near Brayton Elementary School over past few days.
Neighbors in the area reported seeing the bear in the brook behind the school and he (most likely) was spotted on Friday in a tree near the Northern Berkshire YMCA.
Police are urging people to stay calm if they see a bear and to back away from it slowly. Black bears are not particularly hostile but can be dangerous if frightened, or over food or cubs.
Bears are attracted by food, 6 Comments
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The Independent Investor: The Devil Is In The DetailsBy Bill Schmick,
05:28PM / Friday, May 25, 2012 | |
 It has now been over three years since the CARD Act was signed into law. You remember that bit of consumer legislation that sailed through Congress with nary a nay vote? How then have the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act performed since inception?
Well, it depends on who you ask. Its advocates say it has accomplished its goal, which was to stop the predatory policies against middle/lower class consumers by the nefarious money-center banks and credit card companies.
For the life of me, I really can't see much difference between today and back in the bad old days, can you? Take interest rates, for example, here we are in the lowest interest rate environment in 0 Comments
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Superior Court Briefs: May 21 - May 23Staff Reports,
04:17PM / Friday, May 25, 2012 | |
 Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Monday, May 21.
Trevor Pryce Jr., 30, of North Adams pleaded guilty to a single count of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.
Pryce was ordered to serve two and a half years at the Berkshire County House of Correction. Pryce assaulted 26-year-old Jahda Martin in Pittsfield on March 6, 2010.
Single counts of murder and intimidation of a witness were dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Wednesday, May 23.
Fred Greer, 38, of Adams pleaded guilty to single counts of rape and indecent assault and battery.
Greer was sentenced to one year to one year and one day at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar 0 Comments
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Sullivan Elementary School Honors VeteransBy John Durkan, iBerkshires Staff
02:45PM / Friday, May 25, 2012 | |
 The band, conducted by Roger LaRocca, performed American classics throughout the ceremony. For more photos, see the slideshow.NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Principal Shelley Fachini opened Friday morning's Memorial Day ceremony at Sullivan Elementary School by asking the sea of pupils why they were here. One pupil quietly responded, "To thank the people who saved our world." The school children and staff joined the community and veterans for a ceremony that honored veterans. The classes took turns singing popular, celebratory tunes and state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, Mayor Richard Alcombright and retired Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Sellars briefly spoke to the crowded 2 Comments
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North Adams Public Safety Budget To Increase $400KBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
10:05PM / Thursday, May 24, 2012 | |
 Mayor Richard Alcombright hopes that increasing current staff levels in the Police Department and strengthening the number of reserves will curb overspending in the overtime budgets.NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mayor Richard Alcombright is proposing about a $400,000 increase in the budget's Public Safety Department in hopes to curb overtime costs and put more police on the street.
The budget includes fully funding the public safety commissioner position, which was only partially funded in 2012 because retiring E. John Morocco cut his hours, hiring three police patrolmen and increasing the number of reservist in the Fire Department.
The overall public safety line item, which encompasses such 4 Comments
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Clarksburg Fire Department Plans Live Fire Exercise| 03:32PM / Thursday, May 24, 2012 | |
 View Middle Road, Clarksburg, MA in a larger map CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Company will be conducting a live fire training exercise between the hours of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1036 Middle Road on Saturday, May 26.
Access along upper Middle Road will be restricted to local traffic and at times my be stopped altogether. Call the fire station at 413-663-5761.
0 Comments
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Clarksburg Appoints Town Accountant, Returns to NormalcyBy Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
11:22AM / Thursday, May 24, 2012 | |
 Meeting Thursday to appoint a town accountant are Selectmen Jeffrey Levanos, Chairman Carl McKinney and Lily Kuzia. Also at the table are interim administrator Debra Choquette and new Town Administrator Thomas Webb.CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Selectmen on Thursday morning marked the return of normalcy to the town's government with the appointment of a new town accountant.
The selection of Christa Marsh, the treasurer until that post was eliminated as an elective office in the town election last week, completes the town's administrative structure.
The meeting table on Thursday was at capacity with the addition of Selectman Jeffrey Levanos, elected last week, and new Town Administrator 0 Comments
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North Adams Begins Fiscal 2013 Budget ReviewBy Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
01:25AM / Thursday, May 24, 2012 | |
 The Finance Committee reviewed the budget with Mayor Richard Alcombright and Treasurer David Fierro Jr., at right. Committee member David Bond was absent.NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city's proposed spending plan for fiscal 2013 is $1,073,000 up from last year and about $270,000 out of balance.
"We have some work ahead of us," said Finance Committee Chairman Alan Marden as the committee began the first of four meetings to review the proposed spending plan. He noted that council can only cut from the budget but it can request that the mayor increase line items.
Mayor Richard Alcombright said the largest increases were in veterans services ($150,000), health insurance ($75,000), 0 Comments
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