COLUMN: REGIONAL DIGEST

Chemical mix forces evacuation

WEBSTER - A homeowner improperly mixed a herbicide and an ant killer Saturday, leading to a foul smell, skin and respiratory irritations and the evacuation of six homes in the Whitcomb Street area, according to Fire Chief

Shortly after 9 p.m., fire and police personnel went to a Goddard Street address after a receiving report of a foul odor in the area. The odor was later traced to a house at 45 -1/2 Whitcomb St., owned by Kevin Provost, the chief said. The state's hazmat team was notified and units from Westboro and Stow responded. They identified the chemicals after talking to Mr. Provost.

"The owner had spread a foliage killer and a bag of ant killer and they reacted," the chief said.

The moisture in the air that night set off a chain reaction that caused the odor and irritation of skin and respiratory systems of people nearby, he said.

Residents in the evacuated homes had to find housing for the night. Mr. Provost paid for housing some of the residents in a nearby hotel, the chief said. They were allowed to return to their homes Sunday after the odor had dissipated.

During the hazmat response, Whitcomb Street was closed.

The chief said the owner had mixed the wrong concentration of the herbicide. The chief cautions people who use chemicals to carefully read instructions provided on the labels.

Leicester on summer hours

LEICESTER - This will be the first full week of summer hours for the offices in Leicester Town Hall.

Most of the offices will have extended hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays beginning today, and will be closed Fridays. Hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

An exception this week will be the town clerk's office, which will also be closed Thursday so the town clerk and her assistant can take part in mandatory training sessions.

A few Town Hall offices that are staffed by part-time employees will not follow the summer schedule. These will include the Building Codes office, which will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursdays; the Conservation Commission, which will be open from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; and the Veterans Services Office, which will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Mondays only.