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SteepleCats Play Final Two Home Games Of 2018 Season This Week

By John WoodNorth Adams SteepleCats
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass —With the NECBL regular season ending on August 1st, the 2018 SteepleCats will make their final appearances at Joe Wolfe Field this week with home games on Friday and Saturday.

Starting on Friday, the SteepleCats will take on the Danbury Westerners at 6:30. Their second matchup of the season, the SteepleCats look to even the season series as the Westerners pulled off a 9-3 victory over North Adams on the opening night of the season. Yet since then both of the teams have had their struggles throughout the season, coming into the game with similar records.

Then on Saturday, North Adams will host a rare doubleheader against their long-time rival in the Keene SwampBats. With their second meeting at Joe Wolfe Field being rained out twice, the teams will square off in two seven-inning games on Saturday with the first game starting at 3:30. With the playoffs out of reach, the SteepleCats will look to play spoilers as the SwampBats are of the three teams separated by half of a game fighting for the final two playoff spots.

Following Saturday’s game, the NECBL All-Star Game will take place at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke, MA on August 29th. First baseman Jackson Coutts and center fielder Jeffery Brown have been chosen to play on the Northern Division roster, as they both have been key contributors to the SteepleCats offense and defense all season long. However, the final Northern Division spot has been left to the fans to vote for. The SteepleCats are calling upon the fans to help vote infielder Joe Porricelli into the All-Star Game, as his bat and glove have been a major part in the North Adams lineup. Head to www.Vote18.NECBL.com to cast your vote.


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Retired Clarksburg Police Chief Reflects on Career

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Michael Williams signed off shift for the final time on Friday after nearly 40 years as a police officer in Clarksburg. 
 
He retired 100 years after the Police Department was established with the appointment of Police Chief George Warren Hall of Briggsville, a former constable and a selectmen. 
 
Williams joined the force on a "fluke" as a part-time officer in 1985 and became chief in 2003. Like in many small towns, public employees tend to wear many hats and take on outside tasks and the chief gradually took on other duties ranging from emergency management director to backup town treasurer.
 
During his tenure, he saw the police offices in lower level of Town Hall remodeled to provide safer and more efficient use for officers and the public, the police garage redone and new cruisers put on the road. Williams has also seen changes in policing from mainly catching speeders when he first signed on to issues with domestic abuse and drug use. 
 
The police force itself had dwindled down from six to eight officers and a sergeant to the chief and one part-time officer. With Williams' departure on Friday, the Clarksburg Police Department ceased to exist for the first time in decades. 
 
The Select Board last week voted to suspend operations and rely on the State Police for coverage, but have already asked if Williams could continue in some a part-time capacity. 
 
His last official act as chief was escorting the remains of a World War II casualty missing for 82 years. 
 
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