Thunderstorms knock out power in area communities

NORTHAMPTON - Wednesday night's thunderstorms ushered in Thursday's pleasant weather, but the storms also knocked power out for about 1,000 Western Massachusetts Electric Company customers along the way.

Briefs

Easthampton

Westhampton Town Meeting adopts $4.6 million town budget

WESTHAMPTON - Voters at Saturday's annual Town Meeting unanimously passed an operating budget of $4,614,014. They also gave the thumbs up for the fire department's request for a $32,040 utility truck and a $30,000 compressed air foam system, both for the Fire Department, and $25,000 for a second town trash compactor.

Westhampton Town Meeting to consider up $4.8 million budget

WESTHAMPTON - Voters will consider a $4,835,816 budget at annual Town Meeting Saturday, an amount that includes money for a foam system for the Fire Department, a fire utility truck and a compactor for the transfer station. The figure is about $400,000 higher than this year's $4.4 million budget.

Cause of airplane crash in Westhampton still a mystery

WESTHAMPTON - The pilot in Sunday's plane crash was a member of the Derouin family who learned to fly years ago on the family-owned airstrip off Southampton Road.

Anthony Derouin, 49, of Groton, suffered a minor cut to his head that required stitches, but otherwise walked away from the accident unscathed, according to his mother, Maria Derouin.

Pilot suffers minor injuries when taxiing plane hits tree in Westhampton

WESTHAMPTON - A pilot suffered minor injuries Sunday afternoon after he lost control of a small plane and hit a tree while taxiing at a family-owned airstrip off Southampton Road.

The pilot got out of the plane by himself and was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital after the incident about 4 p.m., said Westhampton Fire Chief Christopher Norris.

Pilot suffers minor injuries in Westhampton plane accident

WESTHAMPTON A pilot suffered minor injuries Sunday afternoon after he lost control of a small plane and hit a tree while taxiing at a family-owned airstrip off Southampton Road.

The pilot got out of the plane by himself and was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital after the incident about 4 p.m., said Westhampton Fire Chief Christopher Norris.