Windsor Man Facing Murder Charge

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WINDSOR, Mass. — A Windsor man has been charged with murder in the death of his sister on Thursday. 
 
Paul Menard, 65, was arraigned Friday in Central Berkshire District Court on one count of murder in the first degree. He was held without the right to bail, without prejudice.
 
Menard walked into the State Police Barracks in Cheshire at about 1:45 p.m. on Thursday and told police he shot and killed his sister at his Crane Road home, according to a statement from the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. Responding troopers found the the body of Monique Menard, 62, of Hinsdale, laying face-down between the defendant's home and detached garage with gunshot injuries to her back and stomach.
 
Her body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.
 
Based on evidence collected at the scene, corroborated with the defendant's testimony, the Menard shot the victim three times: once in her front, once in her back, and once in the back of her head, According to the DA's office. He reported using two black powder firearms. He waited 20 minutes prior to driving to the Cheshire Barracks to report the alleged murder and did not call 911.  
 
Menard has been cooperative with police. He does not have an firearm's identification card. 
 
The Menards had been reportedly arguing about the care of their ill father when Paul Menard shot is sister. Their mother died in 2022; they have two other brothers.
 

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Dalton Chief, 3 Firefighters Retire

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Fire District's endeavor to keep interim Fire Chief Christopher Cachat on has ended — though it's not clear if that's permanent. 
 
In a Facebook post Thursday morning, the district announced that during an executive session on Tuesday, the Board of Water Commissioners met with and accepted the retirements of Cachat, Assistant Chief Michael Cachat, Safety Officer Barry Smith, and Safety Officer Steven Perry.
 
The decision comes following grumbling over the district's efforts to obtain state approval to keep Cachat on as a permanent chief position, a requirement given the state's mandatory retirement age for firefighters is 65. 
 
If approved, Cachat, who is currently 68, would serve as chief for about a year and a half, at which time the board will need to hire a new chief. 
 
Capt. Ryan Foley was promoted to interim chief and will be working in this position in a full-time capacity.
 
"The Commissioners, the Fire District, and the Fire Department want to express their deepest gratitude and appreciation for the decades of service from these four outstanding firemen," the district wrote in its post. 
 
"With over 100 years of service among them, their guidance and experience will be greatly missed, and we thank each of them for answering the call for so many years." 
 
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