Dalton Man Gets Year in Jail For Burning Political Sign

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This hay bale sign at Holiday Brook Farm went up in flames shortly after it was created. The perpetrator was sentenced to a year in jail.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton man who set fire to a political sign made of hay bales last fall has been sentenced to a year in jail.
 
Judge Mark Pasquariello sentenced 50-year-old Lonnie Durfee on Thursday to one year at the Berkshire County House of Correction on a single count of burning personal property.
 
The Berkshire District Attorney's Office secured the maximum jail sentence as part of a plea deal.
 
Durfee set ablaze 20 plastic-covered hay bales that were near the roadway at Holiday Brook Farm in Dalton on Friday, Oct. 9. The bales had spelled out support for the Biden/Harris presidential ticket.
 
Durfee later apologized to farm owner Dicken Crane and reportedly told him he was still grieving the death of his son, Jacob Durfee, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in August at the age of 23. 
 
After the fire, a new sign, smaller hay-bale sign was created saying "Love, Unity, Respect" and "vote."
 
In an unagreed plea previously presented to Judge Paul Smyth, the DA's office requested the court to sentence Durfee to the maximum penalty of one year. Durfee's attorney requested time served. Smyth ordered Durfee to serve one year and the defendant withdrew his plea.
 
On Wednesday, Durfee appeared before Pasquariello and opted to accept the plea.
 
"The use of fire has a deeply rooted association with political and civil rights intimidation. This fire victimized not only the property owners but represented a threat to entire communities," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said. "This sentence sends a message that our community will not accept those types of actions and that civility and respect will prevail."
 
Dalton Police, State Police, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal investigated the arson. Investigators arrested Durfee the following day.

Tags: arson,   

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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