EDITORIAL: Still No Investigation, No Answers on Jamie Atkinson Scandal

EDITORIAL: Still No Investigation, No Answers on Jamie Atkinson Scandal

VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL July, 2013 At issue was Attorney Richard D’Agostino, who was applying to replace McQuillan as city solicitor after the council voted not to renew McQuillan’s contract. While D’Agostino was being questioned at a public hearing, McQuillan was feeding questions and damaging information to Councilor Atkinson in an attempt to stop D’Agostino from […]

Loving Life, Serving the Community Methuen City Councilor Jamie Atkinson

Loving Life, Serving the Community  Methuen City Councilor Jamie Atkinson

  By: Eva Montabello   When telling a story about “strength of spirit”, Methuen City Councilor Jamie Atkinson wholeheartedly embodies the statement. A lifetime of health hardships hasn’t stopped him from continuing to cross items off of his “bucket list”. From his recent election win to a Methuen City Council seat with a focus on […]

Blistering Report Details Methuen Corruption

Blistering Report Details Methuen Corruption

REPORT: Four Councilors Benefited from Police Contract Vote The state Inspector General’s Office (IG) is an independent state agency that conducts investigations of government agencies and makes recommendations when wrongdoing is found. The IG investigated the process of the City of Methuen’s superior officer’s contract approval that has long been the subject of dispute. The […]

VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL (July, 2018) ~ “Rule of Corruption” Proves That Rules Don’t Matter

VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL (July, 2018) ~  “Rule of Corruption” Proves That Rules Don’t Matter

July, 2018 While voting on last year’s Methuen city budget and union contracts there were at least five (of nine) members of the city council who had a conflict of interest because they had immediate family members working for the city. The state’s conflict of interest laws say that elected officials with family members on […]

TOM DUGGAN’S NOTEBOOK ~ October, 2017

TOM DUGGAN’S NOTEBOOK ~ October, 2017

THE RACE FOR CONGRESS AND THE DEMOCRAT RESHUFFLE Lawrence’s freshman State Representative Juana Matias certainly doesn’t have any self esteem problems these days. Defeating Marcos Devers in a low turnout state primary a year ago, Mattias has already declared she’s ready to replace Niki Tsongas as your next congressman for this district. Yeah… seriously. Wide […]

Tom Duggan’s Notebook – November, 2015

Tom Duggan’s Notebook – November, 2015

PERISOCOPE – With the advance of technology, The Valley Patriot is now using a cell phone application called Periscope to do live video interviews online. On Election Day, we were able to get out to Lawrence and Methuen to interview the candidates and some of their supporters. As soon as we got LIVE on the […]

Methuen Stadium Funding Saga Ends, New Beginning for Students

Methuen Stadium Funding Saga Ends, New Beginning for Students

By: Jessica Finocchiaro – March, 2015 The Methuen Stadium Renovation Saga began in 1986, and seems to have ended this week, though many can hardly believe it. After a sudden turn of events, the City Council passed a last minute “7 Point Stadium Financing Plan” Monday, after a similar plan failed the week before. DEPLORABLE […]

Methuen Voters will Elect Two Out of Three Candidates in Central District City Council Race

Methuen Voters will Elect Two Out of Three Candidates in Central District City Council Race

October, 2013 Central District voters will vote for two of the three candidates for district council and this year’s election. Two incumbents are running for re-election (Atkinson and Ferry) and the former district councilor (Jack Cronin) is running for his old seat after being term limited from running two years ago. Cronin topped the ticket […]

Methuen Voters will Choose Two of Three Candidates for City Council in West End

By: Tom Duggan – October, 2013 Once thought to be unbeatable, incumbent West End City Councilor Sean Fountain now has a fight on his hands to be re-elected. With Jeanne Pappalardo unable to run for re-election because of terms limits, voters will have to choose two of three very popular polls. Sean Fountain: Fountain is […]

Drugs A Big Priority: Jajuga Says He Will Bring Different Kind of Leadership To Methuen Council

Drugs A Big Priority: Jajuga Says He Will Bring Different Kind of Leadership To Methuen Council

By: Tom Duggan – August 7, 2013                 OTHER METHUEN STORIES Former State Senator James Jajuga is running for Methuen City Council At Large (city wide). Jajuga is a Vietnam Era Veteran, was a member of the Massachusetts State Police, is former Public Safety Commissioner and is the former […]