New Chief Joins Great Barrington Fire Department

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Scott Turner has joined the Great Barrington Fire Department as its new chief.
 
Turner, who began his job Sept. 1, has 29 years of experience in fire protection service and has served as the fire chief of Three Rivers Fire Department in the Pioneer Valley since 2013.
 
He succeeds Charles Burger, who departed the Berkshire region earlier this year. Interim Chief James Mead has been leading the department since.
 
"We are impressed with Scott Turner's experience and talent in fire protection in Massachusetts, and we look forward to his leadership at GBFD," said Town Manager Mark Pruhenski. "And we are grateful to Interim Chief Mead for managing the department while we conducted our search for a new chief."
 
Turner is a graduate of the Massachusetts Fire Academy, in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management. In 2023, he completed the Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program, and in 2017, completed training as a fire protection officer.
 
Prior to working in fire protection, Turner worked for the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forest Fire Control. He also served as a seasonal firefighter.
 
In his new role, Turner will lead the Great Barrington Fire Department's staff of three paid firefighters and 17 call firefighters. 

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Elevated Mercury Level Found in Center Pond Fish

BECKET, Mass. — The state Department of Public Health has issued an advisory after a mercury-contaminated fish was found in Center Pond. 
 
According to a letter sent to the local Board of Health from the Division of Environmental Toxicology, Hazard Assessment and Prevention, elevated levels of mercury were measured in the sample taken from the pond. 
 
The concentration in the fish exceeded DPH's action level of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram, or parts per million. 
 
"This indicates that daily consumption of fish from the waterbody may pose a health concern. Therefore, DPH has issued a FCA for Center Pond recommending that sensitive populations should not eat chain pickerel and all other people should limit consumption of chain pickerel to 2 meals/month," the letter states.
 
The letter specifically points to chain pickerel, but the 60-acre pond also has largemouth and smallmouth bass and yellow perch.
 
The "sensitive populations" include children younger than 12, those who are nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant.
 
The Toxicology Division recommends reducing intake of "large, predatory fish" or fish that feed on the bottoms of waterbodies, such as largemouth bass and carp. More information on safely eating fish can be found here
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