Septic Truck Crash Injures Driver, Closes Notch Road

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A sewer tanker truck went off Notch Road in the Mount Greylock State Reservation, injuring the driver and closing the road on Monday.

Update: Notch Road was opened a few days later.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A septic truck went over a guard rail and down an embankment on Monday afternoon, dumping an unknown amount of sewage off Notch Road. The crash closed the freshly paved road to the top of the state's highest peak.

The driver of the truck sustained injuries in the crash and was taken to North Adams Regional Hospital, according to state police; state police did not identify the driver but said the truck is owned by Berkshire Village Septic.

The accident occurred about a mile into the Mount Greylock State Reservation around 1 p.m. The driver was reportedly heading down the mountain with a full load when he went off the road. Traffic was being flagged off at the park's gate. State police and North Adams Ambulance Service were called to the scene.


Anne Roach, spokeswoman for the State Department of Conservation and Recreation, said the road would likely be closed for several days until the guard rail could be repaired. Roach said the spillage was minimal.

"They'll clean up what they need to do," said Roach. "There was damage to a guard rail that has to be repaired before the road can be opened. ... You don't want to not have a guard rail available on that road."

The roads to Mount Greylock were opened in May after a two years and $21 million in reconstruction. New steel guard rails were overlaid with wood to re-create the work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps on the peak 70 years ago.

Mount Greylock can be accessed from Rockwell Road in Lanesborough, where the park's visitor center is located.
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Companion Corner Grey Boy at No Paws Left Behind

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a cat No Paws Left Behind still waiting for his forever home.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home. He was previously highlighted but he now has new information.

Grey Boy is 10 years old and is a gray and white domestic shorthair and was previously highlighted on Companion Corner.

The shelter's Executive Director Noelle Howland introduced us to him and his long journey to be ready for adoption.

"He's been here a couple months. He was a transfer from a rescue in Bennington. They were out of space, so we had taken him in with a few other cats. So he's been here a couple months. He came in with what we believed was a respiratory infection," she said. "So it took us a little bit to get him ready, and then he also needed a dental. So he has nice, clean teeth. He had some teeth removed, and then he has to go back in and have one more dental. So he'll be all ready to go."

It was previously thought that he has feline herpes but he was recently diagnosed with a palette fracture because of how bad his dental disease was, which is what is causing his sneezing. He can now go home with cats, a cat-savvy dog and children.

"He has had two dentals since being with us. Due to the palate fracture he will be sneezy for the rest of his life, not contagious sneezing, but that doesn’t stop him from living a perfectly happy life. He should be on wet food with chunks due to this and since he has had many teeth removed," Howland said.

Grey Boy loves to play with toys and enjoy treats. He would also love to have a window to lounge or bird-watch in.

"He is not afraid of anything. He's very curious, so I'm sure he'd love if you have windows for him to look out of. He still plays, even though he's 10 it does not stop him. So any home would be a good fit for him."

Now that he is ready to be adopted, he is excited. When you walk into the room with him he will rub up against your leg introducing himself and asking to be pet.

"Usually, I would say, when you're walking, he'll bonk into you so he might catch you off guard a little bit. He constantly is rubbing against you," Howland said. "He really, I would say he's lazy when you want him to be, and he's active when you want him to be. He'll play with toys. He's usually lounging away. And then when he comes out he'll play. He loves it. So, very friendly, easy going cat."

He is now perfectly healthy with his dentals all done and veterinary care up to date and is ready to find his forever family.

"I would say the friendliest, easiest cat you could have. He's just, he's just gonna be a little sneezy sometimes, but that doesn't stop him from doing anything," she said.

Grey Boy's adoption fee is sponsored by Rooted in Balance Counseling LLC.

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