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News & Notes: Hilltowns Angry Over Ice Storm ResponseBy Larry Kratka
Berkshire News Networks
11:09AM / Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Otis, Becket Residents State Their Opinions
 OTIS, Mass. — Residents from the towns of Otis and Becket gathered at Town Hall on Monday night to let state officials know how they felt the utility companies responded to the big ice storm on Dec. 11 that crippled many parts of the state and left thousands upon thousands without electricity for more than a week in many cases.
Here in the Berkshires, the response of Western Mass Electric Co. is among utilities that will be under review by the state Department of Public Utilities. Utilities officials believe they responded appropriately.
WMECO President Peter Clarke said they "largely executed their storm plan" but some residents were critical of the utility's response, according to reports in The Berkshire Eagle. Local officials had mostly positive things to say about WMECO's response.
Pearl Scholarship Applications Now Available
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Applications are now available for the 7th annual Daniel Pearl Berkshire Scholarship. The $1,000 award is given each year to a student who intends to study journalism or music. Pearl was kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan while on assignment for The Wall Street Journal in 2002.
The North Adams Transcript and The Berkshire Eagle (Pearl worked at both papers) announced Wednesday that applications for the scholarship are now available by going to www.berkshireeagle.com.
Bomb Threat Student Third Arraignment Thursday
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The student charged with a leaving a bomb threat message at Monument Mountain High school on Oct. 27 is scheduled to be in court for another pre-trial hearing Thursday.
Thomas Kie, 17, of West Center Road, West Stockbridge, was taken into custody on Nov. 5 after a police investigation. He was charged with a federal offense of making a false bomb threat. He entered a not-guilty plea Nov. 10.
Egremonts Snow Removal Budget Maxed Out
EGREMONT, Mass. — Many communities in the Berkshires from North Adams to Egremont are in the same situation when it comes to snow and ice removal.
Their budgets are maxed out or close to it and there is still plenty of winter left before the spring. The town of Egremont, for instance, is one town that has used all of its funding for snow and ice removal and then some. In North Adams, Mayor John Barrett III told the City Council on Tuesday that the city is over its ice and snow budget by $55,000.
Provided by iBerkshires media partners WNAW and WUPE. |
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