BRADFORD—Oxbow Unified Union School District voters will meet next week to vote on the 2026-2027 budget. The information meeting is set for June 15 at 5:30 p.m. with a vote on the revised budget on June 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Oxbow High School auditorium. At the annual meeting on April 28, the initial budget of $23,339,333 failed in a 145-119 paper ballot vote.
NORTH HAVERHILL—Police do not anticipate filing any criminal charges in connection to the collision involving a motor vehicle and bicycle on Dartmouth College Highway on the morning of May 27.
HAVERHILL—An early morning fire on June 5 on Cook Lane in Center Haverhill sent five family members to the hospital and destroyed a mobile home.
BRADFORD—The invasive pest that feeds on and kills ash trees has been detected in every town in Orange County. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, & Recreation formally notified Bradford last month that a state forester found trees infested by the emerald ash borer along the Waits River. This year, the invasive pest was also located in Topsham and West Fairlee, according to a state database.
WELLS RIVER—Less than 25 people appeared at a special village meeting on May 28. They were asked whether to authorize a $200,000 withdrawal from the general fund to pay expenses that should be covered by the sewage district.
WELLS RIVER—Leigh Guenther has been recommended as the next middle and high school principal of Blue Mountain Union following an interview process that began in late winter.
THETFORD—An unusually full room and Zoom of residents showed up for the selectboard meeting in Thetford Monday night to support a request to slow traffic on Route 113 coming downhill into Thetford Center. Because Route 113 is a state highway, any changes have to be approved by the Vermont Agency of Transportation through its traffic committee.
This column reviews the history of graduation activities prior to 1980. It covers topics ranging from baccalaureate, class night, and graduation ceremonies to class trips, yearbooks, and alumni reunions. Groton, Newbury, Bradford, Thetford, Woodsville, and Orford all had high schools included in this column. Each topic will feature stories from some, but not all schools.
NORTH HAVERHILL—If smiles and enthusiasm are any indication, visiting the Haverhill Town Clerk’s office will be a pleasant experience.
Bringing sunshine to the town is the goal of newly appointed town clerk Lindsay Bigelow Johnk. Her officemate is Haverhill Deputy Town Clerk Jessica Fiore, also new to the office.
RYEGATE—At a special meeting on May 18, Ryegate voters affirmed a town meeting vote to eliminate the office of elected town auditors.
In a paper ballot vote, residents voted 59-45 to uphold the town meeting decision, according to unapproved draft minutes from the special meeting.