FROM THE REGION.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

COLUMN: FROM THE REGION

Leominster

Fitchburg man charged with assault on girl, 10

LEOMINSTER - A Fitchburg man accused of indecently assaulting a 10-year-old girl pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday in Leominster District Court.

Alfredo L. Mallada, 59, of 292 Boutelle St., is accused of assaulting the girl, then 10, on two occasions in 2003. The girl, now 15, is acquainted with Mr. Mallada, according to court records. She told investigators that Mr. Mallada assaulted her again in 2007.

He was arraigned yesterday on two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and assault to rape. Judge Mark E. Noonan set bail at $1,000 cash and ordered him to return to court June 8 for a pretrial hearing.

Uxbridge

Write-ins give Pitman win in selectmen's race

UXBRIDGE - A count of the write-in ballots has confirmed that write-in candidate Beth A. Pitman was elected to one of the two three-year terms on the Board of Selectmen, Town Clerk Joseph Kaplan said yesterday.

Ms. Pitman defeated Mark D. Stacy by a vote of 540-308. Incumbent Selectman Cari Kay Robertson was re-elected to a three-year term. Ms. Robertson and Mr. Stacy were the only candidates to appear on the ballot for that seat.

Ms. Pitman decided to seek and campaign for the seat in the days leading up to Tuesday's election.

Leominster

Athol ambulance crew beats city crews to crash

LEOMINSTER - Firefighters and ambulance personnel from Leominster and Fitchburg converged yesterday afternoon on Route 2 to assist the victim of a rolled-over vehicle accident, but the situation was already well in hand.

An Athol Fire Department ambulance passing through the area after taking a patient to Worcester got an unexpected opportunity to lend mutual aid. As the Athol ambulance was heading west on Route 2 near the Fitchburg-Leominster line, the firefighters happened on the accident not long after it occurred.

Based on skid marks, it appears the Ford sport utility vehicle swerved from the passing lane, across the traveling lane and up and onto an embankment just past the end of the Exit 30 westbound on-ramp. There it rolled onto the passenger side.

The firefighters helped the driver climb out through a window, tied the vehicle to a tree with a rope to keep it from rolling back down the embankment, checked to make sure the woman was not injured, and waited for Fitchburg and Leominster firefighters to arrive a short time later.

Sturbridge

Volunteers will clean town-owned property

STURBRIDGE...