Dispatch Hiccup

Sheriff, Police Explain Chelsea 911 Response

According to Lt. William Jenkins, commander of the Royalton State Police Barracks, there was an oversight but no technical glitch in the 911 system when Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) did not respond to an active burglary/assault that happened near the department’s headquarters in Chelsea on July 10. The 911 call was routed to Rockingham and then to the Royalton […]

A Tribute to Pete



A large and enthusiastic crowd of about 300 people attended the Pete Seeger Memorial Concert Thursday evening, July 24 at the new Hancock town green. Sponsored by the Hancock Town Pride Committee, the concert was organized by Dorothy Robson and other committee members. Members of the Seeger family and community musicians, including Manny Flaherty, Judy Seeger, Tony Seeger, Kate Seeger, […]

Water & Sewer Bills To Double Nov. 1

Higher Rate To Pay For Treatment Plant

The time is coming to “pay the piper” for the nearly $9 million upgrade of the Randolph wastewater system that will be built over the next year. The town will be paying about $250,000 a year for 30 years to pay off bonds for the project. The Randolph Selectboard this month agreed to a new water and sewer rate schedule […]

New Labor Contract Comes To Randolph



The Randolph Selectboard last week put their signatures on a new three-year contract that will give 5% annual raises to between 40 and 50 municipal employees. The board had given informal approval in June, by a 4-0 vote after an executive session, but the final version had not been available at the time. Town Manager Mel Adams said that the […]

Area Towns Get Help Going Solar



This week, the state announced that $442,750 in Clean Energy Development Fund grants have been awarded to nine community solar projects, two of them in the White River Valley. The town of Strafford and the Newton School received a $32,250 grant, towards the installation of a 65-kilowatt photo-voltaic array, to be installed in a field at 264 Route 132 in […]

Open Meetings Meet The World of the Web

WRV Towns Meeting New Requirements

Despite grave warnings from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, the recent changes to Vermont’s Open Meeting law have caused major disruptions in only one local town, Vershire. Another, Tunbridge, is still deciding on a course of action. The changes require towns to place all draft minutes for any town committee or board on the town website (if one […]

Ancient Art of Yoga Makes Inroads Here

Students & Teachers Are Multiplying

It has taken almost 5000 years, but Vermont is finally catching up to one of the world’s most popular paths to a healthy mind and body—yoga. During the more than 5000 years it has been around, yoga has developed a dizzying variety of forms and practices, but core principles remain the same. Many varieties of yoga are being taught by […]

Vt. Law School Shocked by Death of Prof. Hanna



The Vermont Law School community in South Royalton and elsewhere was reeling this week at the sudden death of one of their most wellknown and popular professors, Cheryl Hanna, who was found dead in her Burlington home Monday. She was 48 and left a husband and two children. No cause of death had been announced as of Wednesday. Funeral services […]

Fire at Royalton Home Believed To Be Arson



State fire investigators believe that a small fire that caused $1000 damage to a Royalton home Tuesday was intentionally set. State police are seeking information about the fire at 1249 Mill Road in Royalton; the property is owned by Scott and Marcee Laframboise. Fire investigators said the fire was reported by one of the owners at 2:13 a.m. on Tuesday, […]

WANDERERS



Foot prints of birds dot the sand alongside the First Branch in South Royalton. (Herald / Tim Calabro)