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No one hurt, but 12 people now homeless

WAREHAM-A Saturday night fire at a Cranberry Highway motel is considered suspicious according to investigators.

Wareham Week reports that firefighters who first arrived on scene at the Silver Lake Motel saw smoke coming from the basement and a quickly spreading fire. “"the fire is suspicious in nature and was possibly set intentionally,"  according to the State Fire Marshall’s Office.

New regulations promote energy efficiency

There might be a bit of a stretch in at least two local Town Meetings this spring.

Property may be used for affordable housing

Kingston Selectmen voted this week to tear down the Maple Avenue School, almost a year after Town Meeting voted to fund its demolition.

According to WATD-FM, the board seemed favorable to using the land for affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity has been pushing that idea, though it, and the Historical Commission wanted the building rehabbed.

Neighbors though wanted the vacant building taken down.

Three counties uniting in lawsuit

Plymouth County is filing suit in an effort to recoup land recording fees it believes it is owed.

The county is joining Bristol and Norfolk Counties in a class-action suit against the Mortgage Electronic Registration System, Banker and Tradesman reports. According to its website, MERS was created by the mortgage banking industry to streamline the mortgage process.

Selectmen will seek to have seat included on April 3 ballot

 The election to replace Wareham Selectman Michael Schneider will take place sometime after March 31, the day he officially steps down from office.

Local shops bracing for impact of expanded licensing

Local package stores are preparing themselves for changes in state liquor licensing laws and the competition it might bring.

PDN quote: “I saw them and I said, ‘Oh my God, can I have two of those?’ ’’ - Tracy Hernandez.

Providence company declined work in other community

Duxbury is hiring a Providence-based firm, which recently ran into a disagreement with another town, to oversee its multi-million dollar school building project.

The Duxbury Clipper reports that Dimeo Construction will serve as construction manager-at-risk for the co-located middle and high school planned for the site of the current middle school.

Several other South Shore towns on top 75 liquor licenses per resident list

Cohassett, Fair Haven, West Bridgewater and most Cape towns make the list

By Walter Brooks