Becket Police K-9 Mourned

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BECKET, Mass. — The police force's K-9 Kain died Sept. 14 after six years of service to the town. 
 
The Police Department, in a Facebook post, said Kain had "proudly and enthusiastically served as a member of the Becket Police Department since August of 2018."
 
Born in Hungary on Aug. 28, 2017, Kain was a dual-purpose police canine. He was certified by the North American Police Work Dog Association, a nationally recognized certification that he successfully renewed annually at a weeklong training conference. He also was certified as a narcotics detection and patrol utility canine. 
 
This training and certification gave K-9 Kain the ability to locate missing parties, and individuals who fled from police after committing crimes. Additionally, he was trained to detect illicit narcotics in vehicles, buildings, and luggage.  
 
Police said Kain had been an enormous asset to the town and to Berkshire County as a whole. He had been deployed in more than 10 communities assisting with the locating of suspects and of missing persons, individuals struggling with mental health, building searches, and narcotics detection in vehicles, buildings, and schools. In addition, Kain had participated in numerous canine demonstrations at schools, DARE programs and various community events. 
 
"He truly was an integral member of our community and will be deeply missed. K-9 Kain's partner, Sgt. [Michael] Hunt, and the Becket Police Department wish to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to our community for its unparalleled support through this difficult time," stated the post. 
 
Police Chief Kristopher McDonough says the "overwhelming support" from the community has prompted the department to establish a donation account to ensure the K-9 unit's future. 
 
"Over the last week, several community members have reached out offering to make financial contributions in memory of K-9 Kain," said McDonough in a statement. "The Becket Police Department as a whole cannot express enough how sincerely thankful we are to have such support from our community, colleagues, and extended family."
 
He said all funds will be only for expenses such as "purchasing, outfitting, caring for, and the training of a dedicated Police K-9."
 
Checks can be mailed or dropped off to the Becket Police Department, 557 Main Street, Becket MA 01223. Checks payable to: Kain's Legacy K-9 Fund C/O Becket Police Department.

 


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Berkshire Green Drinks: Stream Restoration on the Konkapot River

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Environmental Action Team welcomes the first Green Drinks speaker of 2026, Zach Adams of Trout Unlimited.

Adams will share about this summer's stream restoration project on the Konkapot River on Jan. 14.

This project both created habitat in the Konkapot River and stabilized the stream bank to prevent Hartsville-Mill River Road from washing out in the next 5 years. This project required 80+ trees with root wads, tons of boulders, and a lot of adaptability. Adams will share photos and stories about this fairly unique project in Massachusetts. Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions after the presentation.

This free hybrid event will take place online via Zoom and in person at Dewey Hall, 91 Main Street, Sheffield. The in-person social gathering will begin around 5:30 PM; the presentation and Zoom meeting will start at 6:00 PM.

Zach Adams is a writer, photographer, avid outdoorsman, and lifelong conservationist. He holds a Bachelor's of Science from Juniata College and has worked and studied from the Chesapeake Bay to the Adirondacks. Adams has lived along the banks of the Housatonic River for his entire career, and is passionate about conservation in the Berkshires where he lives with his wife Evelyn and his German Shorthaired Pointer, Millie. He now works for Trout Unlimited, managing stream restoration projects in Berkshire County. You can find him chasing brook trout in the hills, walking behind his bird dog, or scratching his head over a rare bird identification.

Adams writes a sporting column for the Berkshire Eagle, has publications in multiple magazines, and is the author of the field guide Birds of New England.

Learn more and RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/Jan-2026-Green-Drinks

Berkshire Green Drinks is sponsored and organized by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). For more information regarding Berkshire Green Drinks, contact Andrew Ferrara, andrew@thebeatnews.org

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