Berkshire County Arc to Host Online Training on Social Security Work Incentives

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Arc will host a virtual training session on Social Security work incentives on Tuesday, March 18, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST. The training is designed for individuals with disabilities receiving SSI and/or SSDI, and their families.

Topics covered will include:

• Barriers to employment for Social Security disability beneficiaries
• Available work incentives
• Reporting requirements
• Beneficiary rights
• Employment support programs

The training will be led by Dennis DeYoung, a Community Partner Work Incentive Coordinator.

Registration is required due to limited space. To register, contact Nancy Willey at (413) 464-7262 Ext. 103 or nwilley@bcarc.org.

Suspect Arraigned in 'Horrific' Dragging Case

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:56PM / Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Complete write-thru 3 p.m., Feb. 18.

District Attorney TimothyShugrue says the community has been 'really upset' by this case. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Hancock man has been charged in last week's gruesome dragging that killed 69-year-old William Colbert. 

 

William Gross, 65, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Wednesday for negligent motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene. He was arrested Monday after police investigators narrowed down the type of car seen on video at the accident scene. 

 

Police say Colbert had fallen in the road at the Francis Avenue and Linden Street intersection on Feb. 10 before he was struck and dragged nearly four miles. His body was found on West Housatonic Street.

 

Gross is being held on $250,000 cash bail in the Berkshire County House of Corrections. District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said the case will go to a grand jury and foresees additional charges being placed. 

 

"I think this community was really upset by this case," Shugrue said while being interviewed by the press after the morning arraignment.  

 

"It's a horrific case, and the fact that someone was fleeing, and there was someone that was stuck there that could have been treated, and potentially in the initial stages, could have been potentially saved." 

 

Colbert was coming from a house on Francis Avenue about 11:30 on Feb. 10 when fell in the road and had trouble getting up, according to Shugrue.