- Sportsmen, conservationists and politicians stood shoulder to shoulder yesterday in urging federal Administrative Law Judge Thomas L. Howe to order the Western Massachusetts Electric Co. (WMECO) to complete fish ladders at its Turners Falls dam on the Connecticut River. The ladders would open up the northern New England section of the river to Atlantic salmon and shad.
- Damage to the Smith College library in last week’s fire is estimated at $275,000, a college official said today. William Gardiner, director of the physical plant, said the loss is covered by insurance. The damage estimate includes the cost of repairing and replacing books, repairing the fire damage to the library, and cleaning up the library.
- A University of Massachusetts professor who in 1997 received worldwide attention for cloning genetically engineered calves has left the university, in part over a dispute with UMass’ intellectual properties headquarters in Worcester. James Robl, who had been a professor in the Veterinary and Animal Science Department since 1985, left the university Oct. 1.
- People who use the trails at the former Northampton State Hospital off Burts Pit Road for everything from horseback riding to running and dog walking are planning another session to discuss ways to share the land. The session follows a meeting held in June at City Hall, where over 100 people, including farmers, hikers, runners, dog walkers, horseback riders, and others gathered to discuss the land.
- Earl Tonet, a three-sport coach, teacher and principal for almost 50 years at Williamsburg and Hampshire Regional high schools, died Wednesday at the age of 94. He coached baseball, basketball and cross country, and taught history while also serving as principal, vice principal and drivers education instructor at Williamsburg High, until he transferred to Hampshire Regional when it opened in 1971.
- A lifelong educator from California has been named the next president of Westfield State University. The university’s board of trustees Wednesday unanimously recommended Ramon S. Torrecilha, a professor of sociology and former provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University, Dominguez Hills, for the job.