March 30, 2020
WESTERN MASS RADIO GROUP ANNOUNCES COVID-19 NEWS WEBSITE
(Greenfield, MA) — Franklin County residents have a new option for up-to-the-minute information on the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Western Mass Radio Group, a division of Saga Communications of New England LLC and operator of radio stations WHAI 98.3, Bear Country 95.3 and 92.3 The Outlaw, has announced the publication of “FranklinCountyNow.com,” a comprehensive, free news aggregation website featuring the latest information on the pandemic which continues to impact the lives of residents in Western Mass and the United States.
“Since 1938, when John Haigis put the first radio station in Franklin County on the air, we’ve had one mission–to serve our community,” Radio Group President and General Manager Dan Guin said. “FranklinCountyNow.com is a continuation of that tradition.”
Guin said the site will include breaking news related to the pandemic, as well as other practical information for residents, including but not limited to business closings, unemployment and veterans’ services, and public safety and transportation, among others.
“We wanted to provide a one-stop information site where people could get all the information they need with a simple mouse click,” Guin said. “This has affected all of our lives in a very profound way which goes far beyond what you may see in the daily headlines.”
Guin said the site also has a town-by-town breakdown of news and information specific to individual communities.
“Every town has different advisories and things going on,” Guin said. “Whenever a release gets issued by a town or city, we will put it up in its entirety as soon as it comes without editing it, so residents have the most comprehensive information possible.”
Guin says the site also has a section where viewers can report news and items of interest, all of which will be vetted by FranklinCountyNow.com staff prior to publication.