Swatting Incident Forces Berkshire School Lockdown

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SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire School was placed on lockdown on Monday following a suspected swatting incident. 
 
At 1:29 p.m., the Police Department received a call on the nonemergency line reporting someone had called the school threatening to shoot it up. 
 
The department called mutual aid from State Police and Great Barrington, Egremont, and New Marlborough police. Following a full sweep of the school, no threats were found, strongly suggesting this was a swatting incident, according to a press release from the Sheffield Police Department.  
 
Swatting is when someone makes a threat that prompts a strong police response, i.e., a SWAT team. 
 
The investigation remains ongoing and based on the findings there is no credible danger to the school or public. 
 

Tags: school threat,   

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OSHA: Jacob's Pillow Won't Be Cited for 2025 Employee Death

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

BECKET, Mass.— The Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined that Jacob's Pillow is not responsible for the fatal workplace accident that occurred one year ago

OSHA found no violation of workplace safety and health standards related to the incident, and no citations or penalties were issued. 

On Aug. 1, 2025, 40-year-old Kathryn "Kat" Sirico of Rochester, N.Y., and another employee were moving staging platforms across the property on a dolly when it began to lose control on a sloped area.  Sirico attempted to regain control of the dolly but tripped and fell.  The dolly ran over Sirico, and the platforms fell, landing on them. 

Bystanders attempted life-saving measures, which were unsuccessful. 

OSHA issued an inspection report on Aug. 3 absolving the organization of fault.  The Berkshire Edge obtained and posted the report

On March 6, the determination was communicated in a letter, presumably addressed to Sirico's family, but the addressee is redacted. 

"OSHA has completed its inspection of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival Inc. and determined that no violation of safety and health standards occurred related to the incident; therefore, no citations or proposed penalties were issued," Acting Area Director Stephanie Smulligan-Maldanis wrote. 

The OSHA report explains that employees were moving Masonite staging on a rolling cart down an incline near the Doris Duke Theatre; the cart began speeding away, and the two employees tried to slow it down by grabbing the cart; it then turned sideways and flipped over. 

Sirico was crushed by the heavy rolling cart. 

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