Board delegates to town administrator
BRADFORD—After officially appointing an Interim Town Administrator earlier this month, the Bradford Selectboard voted last week to delegate its authority on a dozen tasks to the newly formed office.
BMU finalizes warning, budget
WELLS RIVER—The Blue Mountain Union School Board signed off on its annual warning on Jan. 22 ahead of a budget vote in March.
BMU Board Chair Kelsey Root-Winchester said the $12,054,049 budget essentially preserves the status quo.
Local man, fair feted at chamber dinner
HAVERHILL—“My name is Mike Thomas and I’m a volunteer. That sums it up.” Accepting the Cohase Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Citizen of the Year Award, Thomas of Wells River.The North Haverhill Fair Association, which is celebrating its 80th year, was chosen as the 2024 Business of the Year and the award was received by David Lackie, president.
Biden commutes prison sentence in NEK homicide case
Outgoing President Joe Biden has agreed to provide last-minute clemency for the 15-year federal prison sentence imposed on a man linked to a drug-related homicide in the Northeast Kingdom in October 2018 — apparently without checking with prosecutors. Vermont News First has been told Michael Anthony Hayes, 42, was one of nearly 2,500 federal inmates that Biden announced on Friday that he was slashing their prison sentences. Hayes will be discharged by summer.
Fuel spill stirs response
WELLS RIVER—Wells River Village and state officials are monitoring a 600-gallon fuel oil spill near the source of the village’s public water supply. Thus far, the water quality has not been affected. And, as of Jan. 16, there had been no complaints about water quality, taste, or odor.
The spill happened in the basement of the Evernorth-owned Baldwin block, a mixed-use downtown building on Main Street that hosts the post office and multiple apartments.
Skating trail back on track
FAIRLEE—With perfect conditions, skaters took to the ice trail on Lake Morey on Saturday. But it almost was not to be. After the Lake Morey Resort was told by its insurance company that it “would not absorb” the risk of winter events on lake ice, the Town of Fairlee has agreed to organize and manage the 3.5-mile ice skating loop on Lake Morey. This change in management will preserve the trail for public use.
Support group aims to help those touched by addiction
VERSHIRE—Addiction looms like a dark shadow. And there are few resources available in rural towns to support suffering families or those seeking help. It’s hard to see anything beyond it, so Dr. Gregory Wilson started the Vershire Wellness Group.
Board votes to keep libraries in budget
WOODSVILLE—The Haverhill Selectboard unanimously voted on Monday night to keep public funding for the town’s three libraries within the municipal operating budget.
Skate park vote eyed
BRADFORD—It’s not set in stone, but the Bradford Selectboard voted on Jan. 9 to put an article on the 2025 town meeting warrant asking voters if they want to allocate surplus funds to a capital fund set up to support renovations, including the construction of a skate park, at Elizabeth’s Park.
Caledonia deputies to cover Newbury
NEWBURY—Newbury will have regular police patrols again. A contract, effective Jan. 1, between the Orange County town and the Caledonia County Sheriff’s Department has been signed by Newbury Selectboard Chair Susan Culp and Caledonia Sheriff James Hemond. It runs through the end of 2025.