Explosives At Cole Field; Williams College Students Involved

By Susan Bush10:34AM / Friday, April 20, 2007Print Story | Email Story

Williamstown - Three Williams College students described by police as "thrillseekers" will be summonsed to appear at the Northern Berkshire District Court on several charges after college security officers discovered a homemade bomb had been assembled and ignited at a southwest corner of Cole Field.

The discovery was made on April 15, according to information released by town police.

Police said they are seeking charges of possession of an infernal machine and disorderly conduct against the students. The names of the three students are not being released, said police and college officials. Kolesar declined to specify whether the students involved were first-, second-, third-, or fourth-year students.

According to information released to the media by police, "[the students] intent was not to cause damage or injury but to pursue their curiosity about such a device."

Police said that they were called by college security officers at 12:42 a.m. on Sunday, and upon investigation, found evidence that a "homemade explosive device" had been assembled at the field. The bomb was ignited but it failed to burn or explode, police said. Police said the area was remote and well away from any buildings.

The investigation was conducted by town police, members of the Massachusetts State Police, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and college safety and security officers. Police emphasized that the three students were cooperative during the investigation.

Police released information about the incident at 9 a.m. today.

Williams College officials expected to release a statement about the incident at the same time but have encountered technical difficulties with that release.

The statement will be released as soon as possible, said college Director of Public Affairs James Kolesar.

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if it was one of our childred that did this,their picture would be on the front page of the newspaper,,but if its a college student -all is quiet
from: dan	on: 04-20-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Why the delay in releasing the information?
from: Jean	on: 04-20-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I hope that this is treated seriously and not just as a prank. In light of everything that has happened recently, we need to be sending a message to everyone that the handling of guns and explosives especially in an area where are kids play is not tolerated. I look forward to seeing what the college and our law enforcement agencies do with this.
from: Bob	on: 04-20-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I attend BCC. Just the other day there was a threat written on a bathroom stall and the entire campus was evacuated immediately... over a threat! I think Williams College AND the police treated the situation too lightly. Not only that, those 3 students were probably making a test bomb to be sure that when they did decide to blow up the school it would at least work.
from: Anonymous	on: 04-21-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Apparently â€œanonymousâ€ didnâ€™t read the entire article. It clearly said Williamstown Police had already located a device, versus Pittsfield authorities who were looking for a mechanism, one that could have been placed anywhere on the BCC campus, therefore, forcing the shutdown of the campus. I would also contest the assertion by â€œanonymousâ€ that college & police officials treated the situation â€œtoo lightly.â€ Apparently the contact of the Massachusetts State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation still does not comfort â€œanonymousâ€ on how the incident was handled. I donâ€™t recall the F.B.I. in Pittsfieldâ€™s bomb scare? Hats off to all who participated in this incident and a job well done.
from: Tom	on: 04-22-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Williamstown Looking at How to Enforce Smoking Ban for Apartments

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:24AM / Friday, January 09, 2026

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Board of Health and town health inspector are consulting with town counsel on how best to enforce a ban on smoking in apartment buildings passed by town meeting in May.

Although the meeting overwhelmingly approved the new bylaw, the Attorney General's Office in Boston took until December to rule that the restriction, believed to be the first of its kind in Massachusetts, complied with state law and precedent.

On Tuesday, Health Inspector Ruth Russell told the board at its monthly meeting that the town's lawyer told her to work on an enforcement policy.

She indicated that counsel said some things need to be clarified in the smoking ban.

"Their understanding was the bylaw was very clear when it came to enforcement of common areas but very unclear when it came to non-common areas [i.e., residents apartment units]," Russell said.

"That would be the issue. If we got complaints about smoking in someone's own unit, town counsel had concerns about how it would go forward. … Could we even get a warrant to inspect, and how do we go down that road."

Russell said she would investigate as soon as practical after a complaint is lodged, but given the ephemeral nature of smoke from cigarettes and discharges from vaping products, it would be difficult to prove violations of the ordinance.

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