BY RYAN O’CONNOR Sitting outside on the clubhouse deck, glancing at the familiar 135-acre landscape of rolling fairways and pristine greens, Marilyn Campbell sat expectantly, waiting for the storm to roll in. Yet there wasn’t a dark cloud in the sky, and the only precipitation in the area were the tears swelling in ...

BY DARRELL HALEN During its previous fiscal year, which ended June 30, the emergency food pantry at the Greater Salem Community Action Center served 754 people from 295 households. This year, as families continue to struggle in a troubled economy, those statistics are expected to jump about 10 percent. That higher demand has ...

BY JENN McDOWELL The trial for Michael and Maureen Bell, accused of housing their five children in an uninhabitable home, will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 15, in Salem District Court. The Bells have been charged with five counts each of endangering the welfare of a child for keeping their children in the 31 Twinbrook Ave. home, which was ...

BY JENN McDOWELLPelham police arrested a Lawrence, Mass., police officer on Tuesday, Sept. 30, after Salem police asked for assistance on a well-being check for him. The Lawrence officer, who lives in Salem, is facing serious charges related to a possible rape that allegedly took place on Friday, Sept. 26. Kevin Sledge, 46, of Salem, is facing ...

BY DERRICK PERKINSFounded in 1922, Salem Cooperative Bank has weathered its fair share of economic downturns, and despite the ongoing Wall Street crisis, local bankers and financial advisers look to ride the storm out. “It has not been directly affecting us as much as it might be affecting other institutions,” said Ann Lally, ...

BY DERRICK PERKINSThe death of Michael Murphy, 35, of Londonderry remains under investigation by state authorities after his body was discovered in a vehicle parked in a North Main Street driveway on Thursday. The state Attorney General’s office said on Friday, Sept. 26, that investigators were awaiting further test results to determine the ...

BY RYAN O’CONNOR Days after suffering its first loss of the season, the Salem girls soccer team showed its mettle by winning a tough match on the road. The Lady Blue Devils, who fell to perennial force Manchester Central on Sept. 16, 5-0, rebounded by taking down a feisty West squad, 1-0, on Friday, Sept. 19. “We took it on ...

BY RYAN O’CONNOR When last the Blue Devils played under the lights at Grant Field, they were forced to say goodbye to 26 seniors after Manchester West came to town and handed them a 17-14 loss in the regular-season finale that kept Salem from the playoffs. On Friday, Sept. 19, the Salem football team returned to the scene of the ...

BY JENN McDOWELL Volunteers and community organizations in Salem are gearing up for the fifth annual Salemfest, featuring crafts, food and fun for the entire family. The festival takes place this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21, starting at 9 a.m. Most of the events wrap up in the afternoon. The weekend event evolved from the St. ...

BY DERRICK PERKINS A stretch of Route 28 already known for significant traffic entanglements may see some improvement by next year as plans to build a new Lowe’s store, which include a $2 million investment into road work, move forward. Planning Director Ross Moldoff called the potential road upgrades a “huge benefit” ...