Bar advocate fund runs out early this year

NORTHAMPTON - The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees people the right to an attorney for their defense in a criminal matter, even if they can't afford one.

There is no guarantee that the attorneys providing that defense will be paid for their services in a timely manner, however.

Greenfield to begin marketing planned eco-park

GREENFIELD - The mayor and the town's economic development director are moving forward with plans to redevelop 17 acres on the Laurel Road Extension into a modern, light industrial "eco-park" for small business.

Now all the town needs is to find a developer who wants to build there.

Greenfield gets acting police chief

GREENFIELD After the second short-notice retirement in less than a year, Mayor William Martin was forced to choose a new acting police chief last week.

Greenfield transit center formally unveiled today

GREENFIELD - The spanking-new, copper-clad John W. Olver Transit Center will have its formal unveiling with a ribbon-cutting today at 10 a.m. that will include Congressman Olver himself, as well as Gov. Deval Patrick and a host of other dignitaries.

Greenfield police talk man down off interstate bridge

GREENFIELD - A tense drama that unfolded before a captive audience came to a happy conclusion when police succeeded in talking a suicidal man down from the safety fence of an Interstate 91 overpass.

Maine man found dead at Poet's Seat Tower in Greenfield

GREENFIELD - Police are investigating the death of a young man found dead at the foot of Poet's Seat Tower early Sunday morning.

The death of Justin R. McNeilly, 22, of Owls Head, Maine, is still under investigation but there were no signs of foul play at the time, Northwestern District Attorney's office spokeswoman Mary Carey said Monday.

New York man sentenced to prison for defrauding state, grandfather in Greenfield

SPRINGFIELD - A New York man has landed in federal prison for his fraudulent abuse of the court-appointed guardianship of his grandfather in Greenfield.

U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor on Thursday sentenced Michael Ostrowski, 42, of East Patchogue, N.Y., to two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.