Missing Teen Found Safe, Tragic Skiing Crash, Barn Collapse: Top Westford News of 2015

WESTFORD, MA — Westford in 2015 saw a missing teenager found, a tragic skiing crash at Nashoba Valley, and a barn collapse.

These and more were among the 10 most-viewed local stories on Westford Patch this year.

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• Most-viewed Westford story this week: Local Teen Missing

Readers were also interested in several regional stories, including a crash that killed two high school sweethearts and a “Pastafarian” who won the right to wear a pasta strainer in her driver’s license photo.

Without further ado, these are the 10 most-viewed local stories on Westford Patch in 2015:

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10. Westford Boy Who Scored Touchdown in Wheelchair Makes ESPN

Matthew, 6, is bound to a wheelchair after being diagnosed with an untreatable form of spinal muscular atrophy. He loves football and plays with his brother on the Westford Junior Ghosts. During the first game of the season earlier this month, team organized a touchdown play for him. The boy was ecstatic as he streaked through the end zone

9. Westford Cat Shot, Killed With Arrow; Police Investigating

The cat was outside its East Prescott Street home Saturday night when it came running in about 10 p.m. with a 2-foot arrow sticking out of its chest. The family rushed Oliver to a local animal hospital. The arrow cracked its sternum and became embedded in its leg. Oliver did not survive.

8. Westford Man Charged in Prostitution Sting

Police said they set up the sting by placing an online advertisement that a Westford man and nine other men responded to ... One of the other men arrested included David Wihby, served as a senior staffer for U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH. Wihby resigned following his arrest.

7. Man Seriously Hurt After Falling Off Roof in Westford

Several recent snowstorms in the last week have dropped more than 3 feet of snow on Westford, weighing down roofs.

6. Westford Academy Sexting Incidents Prompt Police Warning

“We hope that these recent ’sexting’-related events will become a learning experience not just for the students involved, but for all Westford Academy students and parents,” Det. Geoffrey Pavao wrote in a statement. “No one wants to see a young student’s life ruined with a felony conviction; however, all students need to realize that their actions have consequences.”

5. Westford Academy Ranked One of Best High Schools in MA

Westford was ranked No. 40 in the Bay State. Sturgis Charter Public School in Hyannis was ranked No. 1.

4. Westford’s High-Level Sex Offenders

Westford has one Level 2 sex offender in town.

3. Westford Barn Collapses, Killing 2 Horses

The incident happened at Bobby’s Ranch on Durkee Lane—a day after state officials issued an advisory urging residents to clear snow from their roofs. About 5 feet of snow has fallen on the region in February alone.

2. Boy Dies After Crashing Into Tree at Nashoba Valley

Rajiv Paluri, an eighth-grader at Blanchard Middle School, was skiing between the Tomahawk and Lobo trails at the time of the crash. In a statement, the ski area said its ski patrol “did everything it could.”

1. Missing Westford Teen Found Safe

The teenager told police he spent Wednesday night night in the woods behind the Forge Village baseball field. “He was not aware of the large scale search going on for him, but figured people may be looking for him,” Westford police said in a statement.