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Poll workers in Lanesborough on Tuesday. As with most of the county, turnout was light on primary day with just one contested race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate. South County voters had a local race to decide, picking the Democratic nominee to replace long-term State House Rep. William 'Smitty' Pignatelli.

Great Barrington's Davis Wins House Primary

iBerkshires.com StaffPrint Story | Email Story
Leigh Davis will run on the Democratic party line in November to fill the 3rd Berkshire House seat being vacated by William "Smitty" Pignatelli.
 
At just after 10:30 on Tuesday evening, with 97 percent of the votes counted, the Associated Press called the Democratic primary for Davis, a member of the Great Barrington Select Board.
 
She had 56 percent of the votes, well ahead of her nearest challenger, Patrick White, who had 37 percent. Jamie Minacci was running a distant third with 6 percent of the votes that were in.
 
Davis in November will face Lenox Select Board member Marybeth Mitts, who is running as an independent to serve South County in the House of Representatives on Beacon Hill.
 
Pignatelli, of Lenox, served the district for more than 20 years.
 
The other major contested election on the ballot for Berkshire County voters on Sunday was the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
 
The AP called that race early in the night, projecting that John Deaton of Swansea will carry the GOP banner into November's election against incumbent Elizabeth Warren.
 
As of 11 p.m., Deaton had 65 percent of the vote with 73 percent of the ballots counted. Robert Antonellis of Medford had 26.2 percent. Quincy's Ian Cain had just 9 percent.
 
According to the unofficial returns from Pittsfield, Deaton had 409 votes out of 591 ballots cast in the GOP Senate primary on Tuesday.
 
Warren, who was running unopposed for the Democratic nomination, sent out a news release at just after 9 p.m. Tuesday night saying she had agreed to two October debates against her Republican challenger.
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Monterey Man Arrested in Suspicious Fire

Update: John Rohane was taken into custody on a warrant connected to the fire. He was taken to an area hospital for an issue unrelated to the fire or his arrest.
MONTEREY, Mass. — State Police, Monterey Police, and other officials are searching for John Rohane, 60, following a suspicious fire early Wednesday morning at his home on Main Road.
 
Rohane may be wearing a green jacket and boots. Anyone who sees him or knows of his whereabouts is urged to call 911 right away. Do not approach him.
 
The Monterey Fire Department responded to 340 Main Road at about 3:50 Wednesday morning for a report of a fire. Otis responded for mutual aid. No injuries were reported. 
 
Based on an examination of the scene, witness interviews, and other evidence, State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal's office determined that the fire had been intentionally set.
 
As the investigation continued, State Police and regional partners began searching for Rohane, bringing additional assets to the wooded area behind 340 Main Road, including areas of Beartown State Forest.
 
Those efforts remain active at the posting of this information at 5 p.m.
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