Laura Briggs accused of aiding bank robbery suspect

NORTHAMPTON - Police say a series of text messages helped link a Holyoke woman to the suspect in Friday's robbery of the Florence Savings Bank branch on King Street.

Marie J. Boisvert, worked for AG Spalding

HOLYOKE - Marie Jeanne (Roberge) Boisvert, 92, of Holyoke, died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, at Mount St. Vincent Nursing Home. She was born and educated in the Province of Quebec, Canada, and was the daughter of the late Armand J. and Delvina (Binette) Roberge.

Missing Holyoke police sniper rifle recovered

HOLYOKE (AP) - A sniper rifle reported lost by a Holyoke police officer has been recovered while the city's new mayor was along for a ride with officers.

The rifle was recovered Friday night after police received an anonymous tip.

Judge refers Holyoke church fight to Vatican

HOLYOKE (AP) - A Massachusetts judge says the future of a Holyoke church where parishioners have been holding a 24-hour vigil to protest its closure by the Springfield Diocese is up to the Vatican.

Kieran Ramsey leads Holyoke Catholic basketball over Sci-Tech

Kieran Ramsey kept her recent string of strong play going as the Holyoke Catholic girls basketball team defeated Sci-Tech 52-35 at Holyoke Community College on Saturday.

Ramsey, who is averaging eight points per game on the season, has scored 47 points in her last three games for the Gaels (7-7, 4-2 Bi-County West).

President Robert Caret says UMass will help foster innovative industry in region

HOLYOKE - University of Massachusetts is poised to work with communities to attract innovative industry to the region, UMass President Robert L. Caret told local leaders and business owners Thursday. Caret outlined plans to foster the growth of science, information technology and other industries in communities around the Amherst campus, in remarks to the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce's annual Economic Development Breakfast at the Log Cabin.
The optimistic tone of the gathering was tempered with realism, however, as Caret and local leaders who spoke recognized economic challenges facing their communities.

Hard Rock to consider alternative sites outside Holyoke for casino

Hard Rock International is reconsidering its plans to build a casino in Holyoke and exploring alternatives elsewhere in western Massachusetts, a partner in the project said Wednesday. Anthony Cignoli, a partner in Paper City LLC, a local development team working on the proposal with Hard Rock, said the group is not giving up on its Holyoke plans. However, the company is entertaining conversations with other western Massachusetts communities that have approached the group about building a casino in their town, Cignoli said. He declined to name the communities in question.

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