Wahconah Names Valedictorian and Salutatorian for 2025

03:10PM / Friday, May 30, 2025Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — Logan D. Kunde and Thomas A. Celentano have been named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the 2025 graduating class at Wahconah Regional High School.

Both students will speak at graduation ceremonies on Sunday, June 1, at 1 p.m. in the school gymnasium.

Kunde is the son of Jeremiah and Amanda Kunde, both of Dalton. While at Wahconah, Logan's academic program included Honors and Advanced Placement coursework. He is active in Wahconah's athletic program, participating in the cross country running team and swim team, of which he was captain. He is a Boy Scout with Dalton's Troop 4 and a senior patrol leader. Through his work on multiple service projects, he earned the highest rank attainable — Eagle Scout — in 2025. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Quiz Team and the Cultural Connections Club, and plays percussionin the high school band.

He is a recipient of the John Philip Sousa Music Award, the John and Abigail Adams Award, and the Superintendent's Academic Excellence Award.

Kunde also received the Rensselaer Medal from the Rensselaer (N.Y.) Polytechnic Institute, which he plans to attend in the fall to study chemical engineering.

Celentano is the son of David and Anna Celentano, both of Dalton. He pursued an Honors and Advanced Placement curriculum at Wahconah and has been active in the many service projects sponsored by the National Honor Society. He is the Class of 2025 treasurer, a member of the Wahconah Student Council and Quiz Team and the Dalton Youth Advisory Board, and serves as a lector for St. Agnes' Parish.

He also is a member of Boy Scouts Troop 4, earning his Eagle Scout rank in 2025, and was selected as a student representative to attend the 2024 Massachusetts American Legion Boys State Conference.

Celentano received the Clarkson University High School Leadership Award and the Cornell Club of the Berkshires Outstanding Junior Award. He has been recognized with several schoolwide awards including AP Scholar designation, and is a John and Abigail Adams Award recipient.

Celentano will attend the University of Rochester (N.Y.) in the fall and plans to major in physics.

Tags: graduation 2025, val & sal, WRHS,

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Arrest Warrants Issued for Pittsfield Shooting

Staff reportsiBerkshires
05:29PM / Monday, August 24, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police were granted arrest warrants for two people suspected to be responsible for the Aug. 16 shooting on Francis Avenue.

Jason Wright, 41, and an unnamed juvenile are charged with assault and battery, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, and possession of a gun without an FID card or license to carry.

On Aug. 16, near 211 Francis Ave., three individuals suffered gunshot wounds and were all transported to Berkshire Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. This is one of four gun violence incidents on city streets this summer.

Police say two of the individuals who suffered gunshot wounds are the subjects of the arrest warrants.

"I first want to commend the Pittsfield Police Department on solving this case in just eight days. They, along with members of the Task Force who provided support when needed, worked around the clock to identify those responsible," District Attorney Timothy Shugrue wrote on Monday.

The DA said he understands that Pittsfield remains on edge, and said he is fully committed to providing resources, including funding for overtime and State Police detective resources, to support the Pittsfield Police Department as it continues its active investigations into the June 18, Aug. 4t, and Aug. 16 shootings.

"No stone will be left unturned. If you bring violence and guns to our county, you will be held responsible to the greatest extent of the law," he wrote.

The first arrest warrant issued is for a juvenile. The juvenile is charged with:

Two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit a firearm
Attempted murder
Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling
Possession of a firearm in commission of a felony
Possession of a firearm without an FID card/license to carry
Possession of ammunition without an FID card/license to carry

The second arrest warrant is for Jason Wright, 41, with a last known address on Woodlawn Avenue. Wright is charged with:

Attempted murder
Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit a firearm
Two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit a Firearm
Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling
Possession of a firearm in commission of a felony
Possession of a firearm without an FID/LTC
Possession of ammunition without an FID/LTC

There have been four gun violence incidents in Pittsfield since mid-June, leaving one person dead and a total of seven injured. Additionally, a Lanesborough man is facing multiple charges for allegedly shooting a gun near homes and a road while intoxicated on Sunday.

On June 18, a person died after being shot in the area of Tyler Street and Pleasure Avenue, and another person was injured. Following an extensive investigation, police on June 23 had an arrest warrant out for Terry Martizna, 35, on a charge of murder.

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