50 Years Ago

■About 4,500 rainbow trout yearlings at the State Fish Hatchery in Sunderland were killed overnight when unknown vandals apparently put wooden boards in front of the inlet where they were being kept. The water to the inlet was shut off, and the fish died of suffocation.

■John C. Howell Jr. has been appointed to the position of regional vegetable and tobacco specialist for the Pioneer-Berkshire Extension Region effective June 1, 1973. He replaces Walter Melnick, who resigned last November to assume the duties of regional extension administrator of the four western counties.

25 Years Ago

■A survey on the need for additional full-day kindergarten classes found strong interest only at Leeds Elementary School. With those results in hand, the School Committee on Thursday agreed to allow further investigation into a second full-day classroom at Leeds only.

■A group of people who met to discuss their tax bills and new property assessments Thursday may be giving city government a closer look. James Raymond, who organized the hourlong meeting at the Inn at Northampton, said those who attended may not organize to protest their tax bills, but rather form committees to monitor the city budget process — and follow where those tax monies are going.

10 Years Ago

■Massachusetts State Police and the FBI are investigating a late-night trespassing incident at the Quabbin Reservoir that has triggered increased patrols at water supply facilities around the state. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority said water quality samples were analyzed at its lab Tuesday and all came back normal after the incident.

■The City Council got its first look Thursday night at the mayor’s $96.2 million budget, which proposes eliminating more than 15 positions, reducing the number of police officers on the streets, and cutting many city and school services, including busing to Northampton High School.

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