BRADFORD–Bradford town officials may consider asking voters whether the municipality should permit retail marijuana sales.
Act 164 passed in 2020 will allow retail marijuana sales in Vermont to begin on Oct. 1, 2022. While the state’s Cannabis Control Board regulates marijuana sales, including retail and wholesale markets, communities must first opt-in to permit retail sales within town limits.

WELLS RIVER—In a vote of 26 to 13, Wells River Village voters passed Article 6 to privatize highway maintenance during the annual village meeting on April 19.
The change will eliminate the in-house position that was occupied by John Paye in favor of subcontracting the work.
Prior to the discussion and vote, trustee Brian Emerson, who became board chair a year ago, described the reasoning behind the proposal.

WOODSVILLE—The April 25 Haverhill Selectboard meeting, like much of the town’s recent political discussion, was marked by conflict over the reach of Haverhill fire departments.
Firefighter Tony Smith criticized Haverhill’s handling of the merger of Haverhill’s fire departments for over 10 minutes during the section of the meeting where members of the public were invited to address the board.

ST. JOHNSBURY—A trial could start next month for a man accused of attempting to murder his late ex-wife with an ax.
Dereck Hamel, formerly of Lisbon, was in court last week as his defense attorneys seek to dismiss the case ahead of the trial which is set to start on May 3. Hamel faces numerous charges related to an incident at the home of Mary Ellen Corbett on Welton Road in Groton on July 1, 2020 when he allegedly used an ax to attack Mary Ellen.
According to the Caledonian-Record, Hamel has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, aggravated domestic assault with a weapon, unlawful restraint, burglary, and interference with emergency services.

BRADFORD—According to the National Center for Drug Abuse, drug overdoses in this country are up 30% nationwide. Vermont had 158 deaths attributed to drug overdoses in 2020. This past year, 210 Vermont residents died from drug overdoses, an increase of 33% from the prior year.
The number of young Vermonters dying of drug overdoses has risen as well. In 2010, just 8% of the overdose deaths were Vermonters under the age of 30, according to Vermont Department of Health data. By 2017, 27% of the state’s overdose deaths were people under 30. In 2021, the figure fell to 19%, or 39 of the 210 total overdose deaths.