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An emu has been on the loose since Monday.

North Adams Police Trying to Capture Loose Emu

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Update: An edit on Northern Berkshire Pets Lost-Found on Facebook on Wednesday says the emu found its way home all on its own after four days of gallivanting. It had been seen back up in Wheel Estates late Tuesday afternoon. 
 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police are in search of a rogue emu that has thus far evaded capture since Monday.
 
Lt. Anthony Beverly said police have received multiple calls about the emu on the loose.  
 
"We have been getting several reports about an emu that has been loose, running around the city and at this point it is causing a traffic hazard," he said. "We have to take care of this and figure it out."
 
The bird was last seen near McCann Technical School early on Tuesday afternoon. It crossed the road and ran into the woods behind a house on South Church Street. 
 
Officers went on the property with a tranquilizer gun but the emu was nowhere to be seen. 
 
Beverly said he was not sure where the emu was from but noted that they have come close to catching it with the animal control officer. 
 
"We are in the process of trying to use lassos and nooses," he said. "We had it cornered down here but he evaded us — not many things do that but an emu does — the saga continues." 
 
People are being asked not to approach or frighten the bird as an area is being established for it to safely feed to aid in its capture. Emus can move very fast and be aggressive.
 
Anyone who sees the bird is asked to call North Adams Animal Control at 413-347-9692.

 


Tags: animals,   birds,   

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North Adams Schools Hike Substitute Wages to Increase Pool

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The public schools are hoping to recruit and retain substitute teachers by bumping up their pay. 
 
The School Committee earlier this month approved increasing the pay scale by $35 to $55 a day and creating a new base of $130 for substitutes with fewer credentials. 
 
"It's been very hard to get substitutes. Many substitutes sign up to sub in multiple districts, and so in order to remain competitive ... we really needed to kind of align our expectations for substitutes, as well as the salary with our neighboring districts," said Superintendent Barbara Malkas.
 
Nancy Rauscher, director of school finance and operations, said she had contacted business administrators at other schools to work out what they were paying substitutes.
 
"I did a blend, and it was Lenox, Mount Greylock and Hoosac Valley, and we're landing somewhere right in the middle," she said. "Mount Greylock is at the highest and then Lenox and Hoosac Valley are lower."
 
Mount Greylock is paying $210 for a certified/retired teacher, Hoosac $140 and Lenox $150, with less for just a college degree. North Adams has been paying a straight $115 per diem and $130 for permanent daily subs. 
 
The new scale increases the per diem and permanent to $150 with college degree or $170 for certified/retired teachers.
 
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