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Rash of car thefts rile Bradford

BRADFORD—More than half a dozen cars have been reported stolen in the Bradford area since March 25. The car thefts and several related break-ins have riled community members and frustrated investigators. An arrest warrant has been issued for a 30-year-old man who faces charges in both Vermont and New Hampshire, but there may be at […]

Haverhill lines up new police chief

HAVERHILL—David Appleby, a 22-year veteran of the New Hampshire State Police, has been hired as the new chief of police in Haverhill. Haverhill Town Manager Brigitte Codling made the announcement last week, just a few days after telling selectmen that she was negotiating contract details with a final candidate. “Appleby has been selected following an […]

Oxbow district vote set for next week

BRADFORD—The Oxbow Unified Union School District annual meeting is April 13 with Bradford and Newbury residents voting by Australian ballot. The OUUSD Board had the second of two informational meetings via Zoom on April 5 featuring presentations from all building principals outlining various coordinated programs, student numbers and other statistics. Polls will be open on […]

What’s next for Covered Bridges?

NEWBURY—Now that public forums on plans for a privately run juvenile detention facility in Newbury are finished, what’s next? And as one resident asked the state, “What can the community of Newbury do to stop you?” Sean Brown, the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Families and Children, which will oversee the Covered Bridges Treatment […]

Village meeting prompts complaints

WELLS RIVER—In the aftermath of the annual village meeting in Wells River on March 16, there is one disputed election, one resignation from a longtime village clerk, and at least one complaint over open meeting law violations. There was plenty on the ballot for the village of approximately 400 people, including two vacant seats on […]

Woodsville rejects FD merger

WOODSVILLE—One week after precinct residents in Haverhill Corner opted to join the new town fire department, their peers in Woodsville unanimously rejected that proposition. With close to 50 people attending the annual meeting at the Bagonzi Community Building on March 24, the question, as read aloud by moderator Jay Holden, of whether the precinct should […]

State fines mortgage company amid cleanup

WEST FAIRLEE—A blighted property near Lake Fairlee that prompted a heap of complaints to local officials in West Fairlee was recently cleared of its trash piles and debris, according to selectboard chair Delsie Hoyt. Town officials and neighbors became frustrated about the lack of response to their multiple cleanup requests at the neglected property along […]

State trooper denies domestic assault

CHELSEA—A suspended Vermont State Police detective from Bradford has pleaded not guilty in Orange County Superior Court in Chelsea to a charge of domestic abuse for attacking his fiancée over five months, according to court records. Nicholas J. Cianci, 25, of Fairground Road denied the misdemeanor count last week that he recklessly caused bodily injury […]

Final forum held on detention center

NEWBURY—Community members continue to resist the state’s plans to operate Vermont’s only juvenile detention facility in a repurposed former inn in rural Newbury. Becket Family of Services, the private contractor chosen to run the facility, held their third forum to gather community input on March 18. Despite continued efforts to allay local concerns about safety […]

Precinct votes to join HFD

HAVERHIL CORNER—At their annual meeting held on March 17, Haverhill Corner Precinct voters decided to relinquish their fire department and join the Haverhill Fire Department. The decision came one year after the precinct’s residents initially voted 45-6 against joining the new municipal department. At the time, according to meeting minutes, many residents said they were […]