WELLS RIVER—In the aftermath of the annual village meeting in Wells River on March 16, there is one disputed election, one resignation from a longtime village clerk, and at least one complaint over open meeting law violations.
There was plenty on the ballot for the village of approximately 400 people, including two vacant seats on the board of trustees. One of those seats was filled by Brian Emerson in an uncontested election.
The other seat was sought by candidates Jean Welch and Jason Winchester. Welch prevailed 25 to 21.

WEST FAIRLEE—A blighted property near Lake Fairlee that prompted a heap of complaints to local officials in West Fairlee was recently cleared of its trash piles and debris, according to selectboard chair Delsie Hoyt.
Town officials and neighbors became frustrated about the lack of response to their multiple cleanup requests at the neglected property along Route 244. Last year, after many months of effort without result, the situation was “kicked upstairs” to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources for enforcement, Hoyt said.

NEWBURY—Community members continue to resist the state’s plans to operate Vermont’s only juvenile detention facility in a repurposed former inn in rural Newbury.
Becket Family of Services, the private contractor chosen to run the facility, held their third forum to gather community input on March 18. Despite continued efforts to allay local concerns about safety and security, Becket and Vermont’s Department of Children and Families continue to face a backlash.
At the first community meeting to discuss the proposal on Feb. 11, DCF Commissioner Sean Brown said the state hoped to gain community support before proceeding with the project.

WARREN—An attempt to informally rename the Baker River its original Abenaki name of Asquamchumauke was defeated after town meeting voters deadlocked on the proposal.
In an 18-18 vote on March 13, Warren residents could not approve the article on the town meeting warrant that would change the name of the river in Warren to Asquamchumaukee River.
The article’s protagonist said the name change would not prompt any need for money or new signage.
Selectman Charles Chandler said he proposed the article to make everyone aware of the heritage and that Abenaki lived on its shores for 11,000 years before European settlement.

CHELSEA—There was a court hearing last week on a woman’s request to be discharged from probation after a 2007 fatal car crash on Route 5 in Newbury.
Former Wells River resident Kristy O’Meara was convicted of gross negligent operation with death resulting after the car she was driving collided with another car driven by Christina Vinnacombe Ellison, a 27-year-old North Haverhill mother of two.
Ellison, who was on her way to work as a waitress at P&H Truck Stop, was over eight months pregnant with her third child. The baby, named Taylor, was stillborn at the scene. Ellison died two weeks later.