NORTH HAVERHILL—Thefts, motor vehicle offenses, assaults, domestic violence, and sex crimes were the five types of crimes most reported to the Haverhill Police Department from 2017-2019.
The data comes from a staffing and resource analysis presented to the selectboard last week. The study was undertaken earlier this year after a pair of officer departures left the department short-staffed.
BRADFORD—Like many school districts around the region, Oxbow Unified Union School District faces staffing challenges during the COVID-19 era. But with an increase in the number of absences taken by regular teachers and staff combined with a reduced pool of substitutes to draw from, it’s likely the problems will only get worse as flu and cold season peaks.
The number of absences during the first six weeks of the school year has been “exponentially” higher than in previous years, Orange East Supervisory Union Human Resources Director Melanie Elliott told school board members during a presentation on Oct. 21.
BRADFORD—The fate of the fledgling Oxbow Unified Union School District weighs in the balance.
The district for Bradford and Newbury is still searching for voter approval of an operating budget for the school year underway. At an Oct. 21 meeting held by Zoom, the school board finalized a $16,780,183 proposal for the four schools and scheduled a Nov. 24 Australian ballot vote.
PIERMONT—Several Piermont residents are moving forward with a study considering the privatization of Piermont Village School.
The chair of the Transition to Private School Advisory Committee briefed the Piermont Village School Board during its meeting on Oct. 20. The committee was formed last December after consultation with the school board.
The panel’s chair, Lee Robie, told school board members the committee has only managed one meeting—in August—since its formation due to the pandemic.
BRADFORD—Parts of Bradford, Corinth, Fairlee, and West Fairlee could see a deployment of a new broadband network as early as next year.
ECFiber announced on Oct. 21 that it plans to build over 160 miles of fiber-optic network in those towns and Windsor in 2021 if a proposed operating budget is approved by its directors next week. Newbury, Topsham, and Washington would follow one year later, while the communications district expects to complete its buildout to all member towns by the end of 2023.
BRADFORD—The Bradford Selectboard approved a couple of purchases to get the town ready for winter weather at its meeting on Oct. 22.
One is an annual item. The selectboard approved the purchase of winter road salt from American Rock Salt, the lone company that supplied a quote to the town.
Bradford Highway Chief Phil Page said the price was $76 per ton, or $10 less than last year. The price is based on a quote of up to 1,400 tons, but the town only pays for the salt that it orders, which are placed periodically throughout the winter.
BRADFORD—The Bradford Selectboard approved a couple of purchases to get the town ready for winter weather at its meeting on Oct. 22.
One is an annual item. The selectboard approved the purchase of winter road salt from American Rock Salt, the lone company that supplied a quote to the town.
Bradford Highway Chief Phil Page said the price was $76 per ton, or $10 less than last year. The price is based on a quote of up to 1,400 tons, but the town only pays for the salt that it orders, which are placed periodically throughout the winter.
Bradford used only 700 tons last year.
BRADFORD—Oxbow High School joins a number of other schools in the Upper Valley with a COVID-19 diagnosis. Students will spend this week entirely in remote learning, through at least Oct. 23.
“This is the first confirmed case we are aware of in our staff or student body,” Orange East Supervisory Union Superintendent Emilie Knisley wrote in response to a question from the Journal Opinion. “We are following the Vermont Department of Health protocols closely.”
WOODSVILLE—The Haverhill Selectboard signed off last week on the initial phase of a short-term, low-cost plan to bring public Wi-Fi access to downtown Woodsville.
The board voted 5-0 on Oct. 13 to approve initial outreach and planning for a $50,000 Wi-Fi mesh network that would rely on existing private broadband connections in the village.
The project will be led by Lyndon-based IT consultant Andy Mosedale, who had previously briefed the board. Mosedale generally described the internet speeds in Woodsville as “pretty bleak.”
BRADFORD—Wondering what is happening this Halloween? Festivities will vary from town to town as COVID-19 safety measures take precendence this year.
And you do not need to wait until Halloween weekend. There are plenty of events getting underway this weekend.
Haverhill plans a Haunted Trail Oct. 23 and 24 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at 26 Rowley Road near Cemetery Road.
An online announcement describes the trail where a 700-square-foot tree house and haunted hundreds of square feet of “living hell awaits thrill seekers.”