Explosion rips through mobile home
CORINTH—Authorities are still investigating the cause of an explosion at a mobile home on Route 25 in Corinth last week.
RISD board presents draft budget
ORFORD—At a public forum on Jan. 25, Rivendell administrators outlined their proposed 2024-2025 budget for the annual meeting in March. The year-over-year increase is 6.6%, from $14,748,296 in the current year to $15,714,889 for the next year.
Adopt a Valentine finds staying power
Valentine’s Day can be a sad day for some when they remember their loved ones, like Way of Bradford whose wife Bette passed away a few years ago. After the Covid pandemic struck in 2020, seniors were forced into isolation from their loved ones compounding depression due to loneliness and loss. Laura Marsh, of Newbury, was acutely aware of the problem.
Fire chief and 14 other fire dept. members step down
ORFORD—Orford Fire Chief Terry Straight and 14 other members of the fire department resigned last week. The selectboard reviewed the letters of resignation at a meeting on Jan. 16.
Court hears arguments in Woodsville suit
CONCORD—The fate of two warrant articles approved by Haverhill town meeting voters in 2022 was before the New Hampshire Supreme Court on Jan. 18. Attorneys for the Woodsville Fire District and the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration appeared for oral arguments in Woodsville’s suit against the DRA.
Sheriff worries budget will undercut department
CHELSEA—The proposed 2024 Orange County budget does not appear to be a good thing for an already beleaguered Orange County Sheriff’s Department. A meeting on the final budget for fiscal year 2024 will be held at the courthouse in Chelsea at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 30.
Lower Plain fire destroys building
BRADFORD—Fire destroyed an outbuilding at a fuel depot on the Lower Plain over the weekend. Firefighters were called to the scene at 339 Waits River Road, or Route 25, at 10 p.m. on Jan. 20. The property belongs to Thomson Fuels, and serves as a bulk fuel facility with two buildings on site.
Fire chief partially reinstated
ORFORD—Ahead of several looming deadlines to finalize a budget for town meeting in March, the Orford Selectboard voted last week to partially reinstate Orford Fire Chief Terry Straight. The board suspended Straight in December after months of acrimony between. After meeting on Jan. 10 with Straight and his attorney Marc Beaudoin, the board administratively reinstated the chief to facilitate budget preparation and other administrative tasks.
Weekend storm takes toll
Winds howled. Trees fell. Wires snapped. Roads were blocked. A winter storm on Jan. 13 — the third in a week — delivered a little bit of snow and a lot of headaches. The gale-force wind gusts set this one apart from its 2024 predecessors.
Six state troopers on paid leave
ST. JOHNSBURY—Six Vermont State Troopers assigned to the St. Johnsbury barracks have been placed on paid administrative leave while they are investigated for conduct during an ongoing incident while on-duty last month. State Trooper David Garces was initially placed on paid leave Dec. 27 concerning a police case that spread into New Hampshire and back into Vermont just before Christmas.