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Board weighs discontinuing roads

NORTH HAVERHILL—Selectboard members discussed a proposal that the town relinquish maintenance of several class V roadways in town. During the selectboard meeting on Nov. 23, Haverhill Town Manager Brigitte Codling asked board members to consider several warrant articles to discontinue town roads with three or less residences on them. Codling said that under state law, […]

Oxbow budget falls again

BRADFORD—Voters narrowly rejected a 2020-2021 operating budget for the Oxbow Unified Union School District last week. With 1,178 people in Bradford and Newbury participating, 50.3 percent (593) voted against the $16,780,183 proposal while 49.1 percent (578) voted in favor. There were seven blank ballots. This was the third attempt to get an operating budget for […]

Town meeting back to Tuesday

BRADFORD—It looks like next year’s town meeting in Bradford will be on a Tuesday. Earlier this year, residents were asked to consider alternatives to the traditional meeting date and time—the first Tuesday in March at 9 a.m. In an Australian ballot vote, held in conjunction with Vermont’s presidential primary, voters opted to hold the 2021 […]

Classroom shelter eyed for town forest

BRADFORD—Low-St. John Forest has long been used as an outdoor learning lab for students at Bradford Elementary School. But they may soon have an actual classroom to use when they are learning in the forest. The Bradford Planning Commission has given its OK to the construction of an outdoor classroom shelter. The forest was acquired […]

Cottage Hospital CEO to resign

WOODSVILLE—The leader of the local hospital for the last 10 years will step aside early next year. A spokesperson for Cottage Hospital confirmed on Monday morning that Dr. Maria Ryan had resigned. “Dr. Maria Ryan surprised the Board of Trustees and the hospital staff with her resignation, with the last day being Jan. 30, 2021,” […]

Men face charges in monoxide deaths

NORTH HAVERHILL—Three local men have been indicted for their roles in the January 2019 carbon monoxide deaths of a Lyman couple. John and April Courtney died as a result of the poisoning. Last week, Richard Mallett Jr., 49, of Woodsville, Philip Poirier, 28, of Corinth, and Adam Vigent, 51, of North Haverhill—all three licensed gas […]

Legislature approves detention center

NEWBURY—The Vermont Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Committee has approved a plan for the Becket Family of Services to operate a new state juvenile detention center in Newbury. The six-bed, residential treatment program for youth involved in the state criminal justice system would undergo a $3.1 million renovation to transform the former bed and breakfast into a […]

NH has mask mandate

New Hampshire imposed a statewide mask mandate last week after “substantial community transmission” of COVID-19 was found in all 10 of the state’s counties. Under the mandate, all New Hampshire residents over the age of 5 will have to wear masks or cloth face coverings over their noses and mouths when they are within indoor […]

ZBA holds hearing on sawmill

PIERMONT—The Piermont Zoning Board of Adjustment will consult town counsel about whether a small firewood processing mill that started operating earlier this year needs a permit. The ZBA held a hearing on the matter on the evening of Nov. 16. The mill is located at the intersection of Route 25 and River Road on the […]

Detention center plan moves forward

NEWBURY—A legislative panel voted on Nov. 12 to approve a plan to open a new state juvenile detention center in Newbury. The Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee signed off on a recommendation from the Vermont Agency of Human Services and Vermont Department of Children and Families to enter into a contract with the Becket Family […]