Auto Shop Owner Dies In Excavating Accident Auto Shop Owner Dies In Excavating Accident
Auto Shop Owner Dies In Excavating Accident Police have identified the man who died when an excavator he was operating rolled over and down a ravine on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Sten R. Brote, 66, of Sutton, died in the excavator accident on Leland Hill Road, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. He owned his own truck and auto repair service - B&P Auto Services on Millbury Street in Worcester - for nearly 40 years. Brote was an avid antique engine collector, his obituary said. He was a member of the Central Massachusetts Steam, Gas and Machinery Association, a past commander of the SONDS of the American Legion Post 414 i…
Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest
Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest The downpour that soaked the region on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 29-30, deposited 1.5-2 inches of rain, but still, much of southern Massachusetts is experiencing extreme drought. According to state data released Thursday, Oct.1, nearly 30 percent of the state is experiencing “extreme” drought - the second highest degree of drought tracked by the state. The worst degree of drought is “exceptional.” The ranking goes, from least to most drought-like conditions, are None, Abnormallly Dry, Moderate Drought, Severe Drought, Extreme Drought, and Exceptional Drought. In…
Second Marijuana Establishment Pitched To Webster Second Marijuana Establishment Pitched To Webster
Second Marijuana Establishment Pitched To Webster A retail marijuana dispensary is being proposed for Webster. Developers are seeking to put an adult-use marijuana establishment at 4 Town Forest Road, Unit A, in Webster. A community outreach meeting on the proposed pot shop will be held on Oct. 15, 6 p.m. at 4 Town Forest Road. The meeting will be held outside, rain, or shine. Webster has one marijuana establishment in town: Curaleaf, which does cultivation and manufacturing of marijuana products. Munro Associates is the only other company that has applied for a marijuana establishment license in Webster. Munro is owned by Somerset re…
COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Trends, Rates - Worcester County, Sept. COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Trends, Rates - Worcester County, Sept.
Covid-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Trends, Rates - Worcester County, Sept. COVID-19 positive test rates are down in most Worcester County communities - including the City of Worcester, which had its fourth straight week of declining cases, according to the most recent state information available. The 14-day positive test rate in Worcester is down to 0.8 from a high of 2.5 just about a month ago (Aug. 5). There are some other communities that saw significant declines while others shot up. Barre had a positive test case for the first time in weeks. Test rates are up in Blackstone, Douglas, Holden, and Northbridge. Northbridge has the highest rate of the four with 1.…
COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Worcester County, August COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Worcester County, August
Covid-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Worcester County, August Positive COVID-19 test rates continue to spike in North Brookfield and Brookfield, as Worcester’s rate gets closer to a high-point in July, according to the most recent information from the Baker Administration. Worcester’s positive test rate went from 2.2 percent last week to 2.5 percent this week - just shy of a July high point of 2.6. After seeing positive test rates rise in Fitchburg and Spencer over the last few weeks, the most recent numbers show a decline in infections. Meanwhile, Webster’s positive rate carries on with a three-week trend of decreasing positive tests, the 14-day COVI…
Town-by-Town: 350 Employee COVID-19 Complaints Filed Against WMass, Worcester Co.s Town-by-Town: 350 Employee COVID-19 Complaints Filed Against WMass, Worcester Co.s
Town-by-Town: 350 Employee Covid-19 Complaints Filed Against WMass, Worcester Co.s Massachusetts has received hundreds of employee complaints alleging their workplaces are not meeting state safety and compensation standards during COVID-19. In March, the Massachusetts Attorney General started tracking worker complaints related to COVID-19. As of Friday, Aug. 7, Massachusetts workers had filed about 350 complaints against employers. The most heavily represented industry on the list is hospitals/nursing homes - over 50 complaints. The most common complaint was the nonpayment of wages. Of the complaints, 38 said they were retaliated against for coming forward with a grievan…
COVID-19, Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates And Trends - Worcester County COVID-19, Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates And Trends - Worcester County
Covid-19, Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates And Trends - Worcester County Positive COVID-19 test rates are surging in Brookfield, North Brookfield, and Spencer, while Worcester's positive test rate is below the month's high in the city, according to the most recent information from the Baker Administration. Meanwhile, in West Brookfield and Webster, the 14-day COVID-19 positive test rate is going down. In Massachusetts, the goal is that by December the state will have less than 5 percent of COVID-19 tests come back positive. On Aug. 1, Gov. Charlie Baker reported the state’s 7-day positive test rate was at 2.1 percent, up from a low of 1.7 percent earlier this mo…
Webster Is Missing $1 Million Due to State 'Glitch' Webster Is Missing $1 Million Due to State 'Glitch'
Webster Is Missing $1 Million Due to State 'Glitch' Misplacing $1 million is a big deal for anyone - it certainly is for the Town of Webster, which recently discovered the missing funds. While closing out books for fiscal 2020, Webster officials noticed that $1 million in state aid was never sent to the town. The Town Administer Doug Willardson contacted the Department of Revenue and was told the missing money is due to an “accounting glitch,” the Webster Times reported. The money will be refunded to the town ASAP. No other communities appear to have experienced a similar shortage, according to the state. 
COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town-by-town Infection Rates And Trends - Worcester County COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town-by-town Infection Rates And Trends - Worcester County
Covid-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town-by-town Infection Rates And Trends - Worcester County Positive tests for COVID-19 continue to stay under 2 percent in Massachusetts. Massachusetts' seven-day positive test rate for COVID-19 has been below 2 percent since the beginning of July. On Friday, July 17, Gov. Charlie Baker said the positive rate for the past seven days is 1.7 percent. Meanwhile, in Worcester County, Worcester has the highest rate of positive COVID-19 tests countywide over the past 14 days (2.6 percent), followed by Clinton and West Borough. 14-day, COVID-19 Positive Test Rate Per CommunityKristin Palpini on Infogr.am The state economy is now in Phase 3 of a four-…
Rollover Closes Section of I-395 Northbound Rollover Closes Section of I-395 Northbound
Rollover Closes Section of I-395 Northbound A portion of I-395, northbound, near Exit 3 in Webster has been closed early this morning, July 16.  State Police report a rollover accident is the cause of the traffic snarls. The area is predicted to reopen around 10 a.m., according to the Massachusetts State Police live traffic map.  As of 9 a.m., highway traffic was slowed to a crawl by Exit 3 and on the nearby Cudworth Road. Check back for updates to this unfolding story.
Mark Vincent Of Somers, Marketing Professional For Northwell Health, Dies At 49 Mark Vincent Of Somers, Marketing Professional For Northwell Health, Dies At 49
Mark Vincent Of Somers, Marketing Professional For Northwell Health, Dies At 49 Husband and father Mark R. Vincent of Somers, a marketing professional at Northwell Health, died Saturday, Aug. 10, at age 49, of multiple myeloma. He was born on Sept. 13, 1969, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to Brian and Patricia Vincent.  He received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Western New England University and a master’s degree in finance from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  On Oct. 9, 1993, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary (Munn). In addition to Mary, he is survived by two boys, Sean and Ryan.  Vincent enjoyed coaching the bo…
CT Man Charged With Kidnapping, Sexually Assaulting Massachusetts Girl CT Man Charged With Kidnapping, Sexually Assaulting Massachusetts Girl
CT Man Charged With Kidnapping, Sexually Assaulting Massachusetts Girl A 35-year-old man from Connecticut is facing charges after allegedly abducting a 12-year-old girl and sexually assaulting her in the woods, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. Joshua Besaw, of Thompson, was arrested this week on a federal criminal complaint that charged him with offenses related to the kidnapping and sexual assault of his alleged 12-year-old victim who is from Massachusetts. It is alleged that on May 31, Besaw encountered his 12-year-old victim at a park in Webster, Mass. and enticed her to get into his vehicle while using the pseudonym “Chuck.” He then allegedly drove the…