Monson News

It was a massive sendoff at the MassMutual Center Tuesday. Family and friends gathered to say goodbye to troops set to join Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The state Department of Public Utilities plans to hold a series of public hearings this week on proposed rate hikes by National Grid.

A fisherman at Dean Pond who called police after finding a stationary pickup truck with its motor running, romantic 'Journey' songs blaring from the speakers and farewell notes inside the cab said last night he was ecstatic when the truck's owner was found unharmed during an intense search nearly seven hours later.

By NANCY GONTER ngonter@repub.com PALMER - A suspicious blaze that appears to have started in a vehicle parked outside a car restoration company in the MapleTree Industrial Center Sunday did not spread far into the building because the sprinkler system was in operation, Fire Chief Alan J. Roy said Monday.

Several local businesses were damaged in an industrial park fire late Sunday afternoon.

For the third year in a row, J.J. Tanguay of Hawley will be riding 150 miles in two days to go to Provincetown on Cape Cod from Quincy.

By LORI STABILE lstabile@repub.com PALMER - Charges of larceny and credit card fraud were dropped against a Monson woman in Palmer District Court who had been accused by her former employer of bilking the company to buy items for her home and wedding.

Those against a proposed one billion dollar casino project took to the streets on Saturday, dropping their picket signs and picking up the keys to their cars.

Democrats at the party's state convention passed a resolution to oppose the legalization of slot machines in Massachusetts.

Gov. Deval L. Patrick Saturday pleaded with Democrats to help him change state government.

Photo by Neil Hawley - 5-3-09, Hampden, Attending the Wilbraham & Monson Academy Junior and Senior Prom are from left, Kodi L. Robitaille of Springfield, Christine M. Anderson of Sprinfield, Jessica L. Wyszynski of Wilbraham, Edmund J. Bertheaud of Hampden, Caitlin C. Charette of Chicopee and Colin J. Roy of Somers.

Salutatorian Adam Patenaude challenged his 98 fellow Monson High School graduates Friday to "go beyond what is expected." "In a world where a plethora of challenges exist where the expectations do not, turn to your driving forces and remember the will you possessed that allowed us to shine and forge your own expectation," Patenaude said.

A Springfield man has been convicted of killing a pizza delivery driver. Alex Morales was found guilty by a Hampden Superior Court jury Friday of first-degree murder, armed robbery and kidnapping.

Worcester Four people stabbed during 'large fight' WORCESTER - Four people were stabbed during a 'large fight' about 7 last night at separate places on Columbia and Grafton streets, police said.

Alex Morales listens to testimony in Hampden Superior Court last week during the opening of his trial for murder.

By NANCY H. GONTER ngonter@repub.com MONSON - In a move similar to one made by the state House of Representatives less than a month ago, the Senate has passed an amendment that requires a feasibility study to be done before the closure of the Monson Developmental Center.

By LORI STABILE lstabile@repub.com WILBRAHAM - Since 1947, graduates of the Wilbraham & Monson Academy have designed a stone and placed it on campus as a reminder of their time spent at the private school.

More than 500 people turned out for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life in Wilbraham Saturday.

Defendant Alex A. Morales listens to testimony in Hampden Superior Court during the opening day of his murder trial Thursday.

Jury selection is underway in the trial of a Springfield man accused of murdering a pizza delivery driver.