CHELSEA—A Bradford man accused of killing his friend last year will remain behind bars ahead of trial after a hearing on April 1 in Orange County Superior Court. James D. Nickles, 43, has been charged with second- degree murder for shooting Corey Crooker inside his Old Post Road home in January 2025. Nickles has been in custody since his arrest, initially on federal weapons charges, in February 2025.
NEWBURY—Aly Richards, who grew up in Newbury and attended Oxbow High School, will seek the Democratic nomination for governor. She launched her campaign on Monday morning in Newbury.
FAIRLEE—It does not appear that a section of Route 5 in Fairlee closed last month after a rockfall will reopen in the next few days.
The rockfall took place on Tuesday, March 10. It shut down a section of the state highway, between Sawyer Mountain Road and Mountain Road, below the ledges. The Journal Opinion asked the Vermont Agency of Transportation for an update: “The focus right now is acquiring all the necessary clearances to advertise this project using federal highway funds. After a contractor has been hired, AOT will be able to provide a time estimate for completion.”
NEWBURY—A home at 3567 Route 302, close to Boltonville Road, burned to the ground early Monday, March 30. Having just moved in November 2025, life was good for 29-year-old George Houghton and 32-year-old Sarah Higgins and they had big plans for the day. She set an alarm the night before for an early 4:30 a.m. wakeup. It was the day labor was to be induced for her third child. On their way to the hospital, they planned to stop by the Groton Cemetery to sing “Happy Birthday” to Houghton’s brother Brock who died in May 2025.
The alarm woke them only to discover the house rapidly filling with smoke.
NEWBURY—An early morning fire on Monday destroyed a home in Boltonville. Volunteer firefighters responded to 3567 Route 302 in Newbury, across from Boltonville Road.
WOODSVILLE—A transient woman with ties to the area allegedly struck a Haverhill Police Department officer with a motor vehicle as she fled a welfare check on Central Street in Woodsville on March 27.
WOODSVIILLE—The Haverhill Selectboard announced at its meeting on Monday that the town clerk position will be filled by Lindsay Bigelow.
FAIRLEE—An hour and a half is not long enough to discuss all of the interlocking challenges Vermont faces, but Little Rivers Health Care CEO Andrew Barter and four legislators gave it a try on Monday morning at the Fairlee Town Hall.
ORFORD—The March 21 annual meeting for the Rivendell Interstate School District started out with a chuckle when board chair Charles Newton apologized for not wearing last year’s suit because “… the winter has been way too good to me.” He went on to present a thorough, thoughtful, clear and detailed plan to improve the two-state, three-school, four-town education collective.
ORANGE—A motor vehicle crash in snowy conditions on Route 302 in Orange claimed the life of a Berlin, Vermont man on March 20.