Allison Teague
Landowners warned of increased brush fire danger
Fire crews were called shortly before 1 p.m. Monday to contain a brush fire ignited by power lines brought down by a fallen oak tree in a wooded area off Hitchcock Road in Saxtons River.
The fire was contained until Green Mountain Power crews could assess the suspected “live” electrical line that was the cause of the fire.
Detention center project dead, sheriff says
Citing lack of community support, U.S. Marshal revokes promise of financial support for Southern Vermont Justice Center
With one phone call on Tuesday, Windham County Sheriff Keith Clark's plans to locate programming and detention facilities for inmates entering and leaving the justice system appears to be dead in the water. The decision not to move forward with locating the justice center came after District of Vermont...
New site for justice center
Rockingham voters weigh in against original detention center proposal, 1,053—287
“I don't know if it will be the end-all, be-all,” Windham County Sheriff Keith Clark told The Commons last week, following his announcement of an anonymous donation of 11.5 acres of property for his controversial detention center project. The new site for the project, now called the Southern Vermont...
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Many races on Rockingham ballot
Selectboard incumbants Susan Hammond and Ann DiBernardo face unusual competition this year. Four new names are on the ballot in bids for three seats on the board. Hammond is vying for the three-year seat against Lamonte Barnett and Charles Thurston. Incumbent DiBernardo's challengers for two one-year seats are Steve Adams, Cass Wright, and Stefan Golec. Golec currently sits as a Village Trustee. Rockingham Free Public Library has three open three-year seats, and three candidates, one of whom is a write-in,
Town seeks voter approval to demolish TLR buildings
Voters will be asked to approve raising $100,000 to demolish the long-standing TLR buildings on the southeast side of the rail tunnel beneath the Village. The town has aggressively gone after a number of “unsafe buildings” within the Village over the past few years, in an effort to force landlords and building owners to maintain safety standards. Municipal Manager Willis “Chip” Stearns II said that the town has been struggling to find someone qualified to take on the project of...
Town temporarily suspends agreements with BFADC, BFDDA
In the wake of sharp criticism of a seemingly incestuous relationship between the town development office, the Bellows Falls Area Development Corporation (BFADC), and the Bellows Falls Downtown Development Alliance (BFDDA), the agreements between the town and those two entities are paused for six months. During that time, Development Director Francis “Dutch” Walsh and Zoning and Planning Administrator Charles Wise will work on updating the town plan. Municipal Manager Willis “Chip” Stearns II told The Commons that with former Zoning...
Chemco building remains under consideration for justice center
In spite of recent news reports, the Liberty Mill Justice Center (LMJC) proposed location in the former Chemco building, “is not off the table,” Windham County Sheriff Keith Clark confirmed with The Commons. Speaking from Montpelier on Feb. 12, Clark said he is continuing to “do due diligence.” He said that he is investigating alternative locations in Westminster and Rockingham, but he said that disclosing them would “hurt [his] ability to negotiate” and “keep costs down.” At the heart of...
Vilas Bridge restoration project removed from N.H. agenda — for now
In spite of news reports that the Vilas Bridge could be reopened for pedestrians, New Hampshire officials say that is not going to happen until more assessments are done - or anytime soon. Stuck in limbo in a nationwide infrastructure funding crisis, the Vilas Bridge is not a priority for either Vermont or New Hampshire transportation officials. Indeed, since testimony before the Public Works and Highways Committee in the New Hampshire House of Representatives on Jan. 23, 2014, by Development...