Bank robber had helper, police allege

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.

Cross purposes: Proposed Westover cutbacks highlight competing interests in state's defense ties

CHICOPEE - Last week's announcement by Air Force officials that they intend to halve the number of cargo jets stationed at Westover Air Reserve Base served to highlight Massachusetts' heavy reliance on federal defense spending, according local lawmakers and analysts. The announcement also demonstrates Congress' sometimes conflicting goals of austerity and job creation, they said. The Bay State receives billions of dollars annually in defense contracts while its six military installations serve as a static but steady source of employment, they noted. "Do we want to start these budget cuts at a time when the economy is really struggling?" asked Robert Nakosteen, a professor at the Isenberg School of Business at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Northampton merchants urged to just say 'No sale' to synthetic pot

NORTHAMPTON - Police are putting local store owners on notice to keep an eye out for products marketed as incense or bath salts but used by some as a synthetic alternative to marijuana.

Talk to offer farmers tips on reviving the good earth

NORTHAMPTON - The public is invited to the First Churches tonight to hear agricultural experts talk about a topic they say is of grave importance - dirt.

The 7:30 p.m. event will feature discussions about how the decline of soil quality is affecting the nutritional value of crops, and what farmers and consumers can do to reverse the trend.

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.

Area police news

Amherst

 · Daniel Adam Fish, 28, of Montague, was arrested Tuesday at 7:49 p.m. on College Street on a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon after he threw a can of Mountain Dew at a woman, police said.

A Look Back

50 YEARS AGO

 · Peter F. Betts, grandson of Mrs. Azilda Vanasse of 45 North St., won the national "gold dance" championship in the national figure skating competition held at Boston College on Sunday. Mr. Betts will enter the world competition for figure skating championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia, on March 14.