Island Pond VT.

Snowmobiler survives 20 cold hours trapped under his sled

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:49:59 +0000

Phil Corriveau (left) of Fort Kent and Warden Adrian Marquis tend to Paul Lessard on
Wednesday morning in St. John Plantation after the 64-year-old snowmobiler was found
trapped under his overturned sled in a ditch just off the trail.

SAINT JOHN PLANTATION, Maine — A Massachusetts man was taken to a Bangor hospital Wednesday after spending more than 20 hours pinned in running water under his snowmobile.

Paul Lessard, 64, of Milford, Mass., was reported missing around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday by his friend Nelson Gagnon of Wallagrass, who said Lessard was overdue from a snowmobile ride, according to information released by John MacDonald, spokesman for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Lessard, known locally as “Moses,” reportedly had left a Fort Kent rental camp earlier Tuesday and planned to meet Gagnon for supper.

Warden Gary Sibley and acting Sgt. Jeff Spencer first began checking local businesses and restaurants frequented by Lessard and learned he had visited Corriveau Arctic Cat Plus at 10 a.m. and told several people that he planned to ride into the Deboullie Township area west of Fort Kent.

Wardens immediately began a snowmobile ground search, checking routes of travel, area campsites and ponds in the Deboullie area, covering close to 110 miles in wind-chill temperatures near zero, according to MacDonald.

The search was further hampered by heavy snow squalls which reduced visibility and diminished any tracks Lessard may have made.

The search was called off at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday and plans were made to resume later that morning with additional wardens, volunteers and a search plane, MacDonald said.

En route to join the search at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Phil Corriveau, owner of the local Arctic Cat dealership, and his son Tyler Corriveau came across Lessard trapped beneath his snowmobile, which had overturned in a watery ditch adjacent to the trail.

“We were going toward Carter Brook and we saw a track that went in [toward Black Lake in Saint John Plantation] but that did not come back out,” Phil Corriveau said Wednesday afternoon. “I was pretty sure it was an Arctic Cat track, so I told my son, ‘Let’s go see.’”

The two men got to the Black Lake clubhouse without seeing any further sign of Lessard, but 200 feet later, they spotted his sled overturned in a ditch.

“We could not see [Lessard] at all,” Corriveau said. “The sled was on top of him.”

When they approached the snowmobile, they saw Lessard.

“He moved his arm and said, ‘You found me,’” Corriveau said. “We told him to hang on.”

Tyler Corriveau called wardens on his cellphone and the two men attempted to move the sled to free Lessard, whose head was trapped under the machine’s back storage rack, but the sled was too heavy.

Using a small shovel, they eventually were able to move enough snow and move the sled just enough to free Lessard’s head, Corriveau said.

“It’s just plain luck we found him there,” Corriveau said. “It was only 8 degrees this morning.”

Neither the Corriveaus nor the wardens could determine how Lessard ended up trapped in that position, Corriveau said, adding Lessard never indicated how the accident occurred.

Lessard, who MacDonald said was conscious but showing signs of hypothermia when found, indicated he had been trapped since noon the previous day.

Lessard was taken from the scene by rescue toboggan and ambulance to Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent and subsequently transferred by ambulance to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor in stable condition, according to Joan Fortin, NMMC spokesperson.

Richard Claude Seguin

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:10:52 +0000

Richard Claude Seguin, 97, of Morgan, formerly of Island Pond, died on March 11, 2013, in Newport, surrounded by family.
He was born on February 12, 1916, in Rock Island, Quebec, a son of Walter L. and Hazel (Pelow) Seguin. He was raised in Island Pond and as a boy worked on the Stevens farm just outside of town, caring for horses, haying and delivering milk to help support his family. As a young man, he worked as a meat cutter at Lanpher’s grocery store, also in Island Pond.
On June 28, 1939, he married Marjory Currier of Island Pond with whom he had seven children — five sons and two daughters.
He began his career with the Canadian National Railroad prior to World War II, working as a brakeman and conductor for 35 years, retiring in 1976. During World War II, he proudly served his
country in the army in the European Theater, during which time he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Mr. Seguin was a member of the American Legion Post #80 and the VFW in Island Pond, a former member and past president of the Lion’s Club, a former town selectman and a former lister for the Essex County Unorganized Towns and Gores for several years.
He enjoyed 30 plus years of (winter) retirement in Florida, mainly in the DeLand area. An avid hunter and fisherman, Mr. Seguin, at age 96, was still catching lake trout and salmon in Lake Seymour with his son Bob. His skill and enthusiasm for playing cribbage were well known and he still enjoyed the game until almost the time of his passing.
Survivors include his devoted companion of several years, Edith MacDermott of DeLand, Florida; his sons: Robert Seguin and his companion, Debbie Cameron, of Island Pond and Palm Bay, Florida, and Dana Seguin of Lebanon, New Hampshire; his daughters: Claudia Epstein and her husband, Richard, of Morgan, and Janella Clarke and her husband, Michael, of Island Pond; two sisters: Ruth (Seguin)
Couture of Meriden, Connecticut, and Francesca (Seguin) Jodrey of Gorham, New Hampshire; a sister in-law, Maria Seguin, of Forest, Ontario; a former daughter-in-law, Fernande Seguin; seven grandchildren; 11 greatgrandchildren; and by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 59 years in 1998; three cherished sons: Leon “Lee” in 2012, Bradley in 1967, and Timothy in 1965; his only brother, Walter F. Seguin, who passed away nine years ago, also on March 11; and by two sisters: Catherine (Seguin) Philippon and Dorothy (Seguin) Dawson.
Mr. Seguin was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, great-grandfather and uncle who thrived on being around family and friends, and who was adored by his children and grandchildren. His zest for life and his ever-positive attitude undoubtedly contributed greatly to his longevity. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him, including his friends and wonderful caregivers at Bel-Aire.
A memorial service will be held in May, with details to be announced at a later date.

Woman seriously injured in snowmobile crash

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:18:20 +0000

PERU, Vt. —Officials say a 45-year-old woman suffered serious injuries in a snowmobile crash in the southern Vermont town of Peru.

Winhall Police & Rescue says Pamela Goulet lost control of her snowmobile Sunday morning while attempting to make a turn on a wooded trail. They say the snowmobile appeared to have rolled over her, causing serious injuries to her leg, arm, back and pelvis.

Goulet's son was traveling with her on a separate snowmobile and was able to get to a location with cellphone service and call for help.

Police & Rescue says emergency crews used a sled to remove Goulet from the woods. She was taken by ambulance to Springfield Hospital, then flown to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for treatment.

Read more: http://www.wptz.com/news/vermont-new-york/upper-valley-wnne/Woman-seriously-injured-in-snowmobile-crash/-/9277648/18394862/-/4qei1j/-/index.html#ixzz2JvqTtnqA

N.H. Man Killed In North Country Snow Machine Crash

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:04:31 +0000

N.H. Man Killed In North Country Snow Machine Crash

A young man riding alone last night on a Shelburne, N.H. snowmobile trail died after being injured in a snow machine crash and spending the bitterly cold night on the trail.
John Arsenault of Shelburne, N.H., age 29, left for an evening ride on his snowmobile at approximately 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. It was determined that he went over a hill at a high rate of speed and crashed sometime during the night. When he did not show up for work Wednesday morning, friends went out looking for him and found Arsenault, injured and unconscious, on the Gorham Pipeline Trail. They called 911 for help at 10:45 a.m.
When emergency responders reached the scene, Arsenault was alive, though unconscious. He was transported to the Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, N.H., where he died.
Speed and alcohol were contributing factors. Arsenault was wearing a helmet.
Responders included New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers, Gorham Police and Gorham Fire and Rescue personnel.
The incident is under investigation by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

Paul A. King

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:26:02 +0000

Paul A. King, 79, of Island Pond died suddenly on January 14, 2013, at his home.
He was born in Island Pond on October 19, 1933, a son of John and Evelyn (Kehoe) King. On November 27, 1959, he married Sylvia Cloutier, who survives him.
Mr. King was a supervisor for the Canadian National Railway. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy.
He served his town as a selectman, cemetery commissioner, and for the water department. After his retirement in 1989, he enjoyed reminiscing about his railroad days. In his earlier years, he also enjoyed hunting and fishing at K-B-Dam. He held membership with the American Legion Post #80 of Island Pond and was a member of the Masons.
He is survived by his wife, Sylvia King, of Island Pond; by his children: Tia Martin and her husband, Robert, of Bluewater Bay, Florida, Dawn King of Newport, Miriam King of Oxford, Massachusetts, and Sarah Gajus of Fayetteville, North Carolina; by his grandchildren: Lance, Corey, Neil, Danae, and Steven; by his greatgrandchildren: Chance, Sarah, Corey James, and Austin; by his sister Ruth Driscoll and her husband, Jim, of South Yarmouth, Massachusetts; and by numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a half brother, Ralph Stebennes, and by a half sister, Vera Brickett.
Funeral services were held on January 18 at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home in Island Pond. Spring interment will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Island Pond.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to American Legion Post #80, Island Pond, Vermont 05846.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtisbritch.com

Man Injured in Snowmobile Crash. Lewis VT.

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 02:27:39 +0000

A Long Island, N.Y., man injured his chest and shoulder in a snowmobile accident Saturday, according to Vermont State Police.
John Kennedy, 49, failed to negotiate a curve and went off the side of a trail in Lewis at about noon, said police. He was driving north over a hill with a sharp turn.
Police said Kennedy was riding with two other friends who helped him after the crash. State police and Lyndon Rescue responded with a rescue sled.
Investigation is continuing but speed appears to be a factor, police said.

Woman missing after snowmobile falls through ice on Rangeley Lake ME

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 17:37:11 +0000

RANGELEY, Maine — A woman is missing after the snowmobile she was riding on went through ice on Rangeley Lake on Sunday.
Cpl. John MacDonald of the Maine Warden Service said the 45-year-old woman and her 16-year-old son were riding separate machines when the woman’s sled cracked the surface.
The snowmobile fell through the ice around 7 p.m., according to MacDonald.
The teenager was riding behind the woman and his machine also started to fall through the ice, MacDonald said. He was able to jump to solid ice, get to shore and call 911.
The woman did not resurface, and MacDonald said recovery efforts are under way. The woman’s identity was not being released Monday morning.
In a separate incident, game wardens are also investigating a report of three missing snowmobilers near Carrabassett Valley, MacDonald said.
Three men left Carrabassett Valley for a ride at 6 p.m. Sunday and were last seen in nearby Eustis. MacDonald said game wardens searched for the men Sunday night with no success, and resumed efforts Monday morning.
The missing snowmobilers names weren’t being released Monday morning.

Gerald "Jerry" Latouche

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 23:35:50 +0000

Gerald "Jerry" Latouche, 87, of Island Pond, Vt., passed away while visiting at his daughter Rita and Gary's home in Illinois.

He was born April 7, 1925, in Island Pond, Vt., a son to Alphonse and Minnie Latouche. He was a WW II Veteran and proudly served in the United States Navy 1943-46. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Random Post #230 and the American Legion Brighton Post #80. He retired as a machinist from Butterfields and as a foreman at Dartmouth Woolen Mills.

Jerry was an avid fisherman, hunter, golfer and card player. He enjoyed watching and supporting the Red Sox and Patriot's. He truly enjoyed the family dogs and being around his family.

He is survived by five daughters and their spouses: Joan (Lorne) LeClaire of Pittsburg, N.H., Jean (Duane) Graveline of Derby, Vt., Phyllis (Gary) Ming of Island Pond, Vt., Rita (Gary) Major of Zion, Ill., Rena (Mark) Ellingwood of Newark, Vt. The following grandchildren survive him: Kirk (Jennifer), Paul, John, Matthew, Jennifer (Muzafar), Tiffany, Thomas (Jennifer); great-grandchildren: Kyle, Allison, Andrew, Kaleb, Brianna, Christian, Michelle, Alexandra, Ahmed, Myah; step grandchildren: Jenny, Nick, Jenis (Joe), Aimee; step-great-grandchild Madison; and special friend Jay.

Siblings surviving Jerry: Gladys (Richard), Betty, Lorraine, Roger (Dot), Claire (Jim), Rodney (Belle); and several nieces and nephews from the Latouche and Michaud families.

His wife Pauline, whom he had been married to for 55 years; a grandson Richard; his brother Richard; and a step-great-granddaughter Courtney predeceased him.
Contributions in his memory may be made to NEKCA Food Shelf, P.O. Box 430, 70 Cross St., Island Pond, VT 05846.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, 1199 Railroad St., Island Pond with the Rev. Richard Whitehill officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday Dec. 31, 2012, from 11 a.m. until the hour of the funeral. Spring interment in Lakeside Cemetery in Island Pond, Vt.

On-line condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch.com

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, locally family owned and operated.

Ruth Mae Martin

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:00:53 +0000

Ruth Mae Martin, 72, of Island Pond died at her home on December 17, 2012, surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services were scheduled to be held at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 19, at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home at 1199 Railroad Street in Island Pond with the Reverend Jacob Kocis officiating. Interment will follow in Lakeside Cemetery in Island Pond.

New Hampshire-Vermont Commerce Trail Opens up Possibilities on Border

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:53:02 +0000

New Hampshire-Vermont Commerce Trail Opens up Possibilities on Border

Various snowmobile club volunteers and state and local officials gathered in Colebrook and Lemington on Friday to celebrate the opening of the New Hampshire-Vermont Commerce Trail and the reconditioned Connecticut River Recreational Trail that runs along the old railbed from Colebrook to Stewartstown.
"Anybody riding in New Hampshire that is registered as a New Hampshire rider can come around and go to Canaan" and vice-versa, said Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) Essex County president Ray Dubreuil. "It's a benefit to Colebrook, Canaan and West Stewarts-town."
Part of the trail follows the reconditioned railbed, which is owned by the State of New Hampshire. Riders can travel down the trail, across Bridge Street and into Lemington, where they can connect with Trail 103 to Trail 96, then to C105/96, and from Trail 96 into Canaan. The commerce trail utilizes about 18 miles of previously established Canaan Border Riders trails in Vermont and the eight-mile railbed trail. Mr. Dubreuil said he worked with Vermont Reps. Chip Conquest and Bill Johnson on legislation to allow creation of the trail.
Chris Gamache of the N.H. Trails Bureau said the state bought the railbed a decade ago, and next year it will be open to ATVs as well. "The trail should draw a lot of riders to the area," he said. "It's been a great project for us." He thanked the clubs and the volunteers for making the trail possible, and noted that other organizations working on the project include the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, the New Hampshire Snowmobile Associa-tion, the Colebrook Ski-Bees and Canaan Border Riders.
Rep. Johnson said it is "great" that the two states were able to work together to make the trail a reality. "I think it's a very positive thing for the area," he said. Colebrook Ski-Bees president Clay Hinds said the Colebrook area's economy will benefit greatly from the trail.
Tri-State Reciprocal Weekend
NHSA announced last week that New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont will observe a reciprocal snowmobiling weekend on January 25-27. All snowmobiles legally registered in Maine and Vermont will be able to operate on New Hampshire trails during the three-day open weekend. All other New Hampshire laws and rules regarding the operation of snowmobiles must be followed, such as speed limits and youth operation standards.
All snowmobiles legally registered in New Hampshire may travel in Maine and Vermont during the reciprocal weekend. All other Maine and Vermont snowmobile laws and rules must be complied with, including the Vermont mandatory liability insurance and youth requirements.
Information on snowmobiling rules in Vermont is available at www.vtvast.org; information on snowmobiling in Maine can be found at www.mesnow.com; New Hampshire rules are on-line at www.nhsa.com.

Brighton eighth-graders pay it forward

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 15:47:12 +0000

Brighton’s eighth-graders pose with the wreath the class will donate to the Brighton American Legion Post. The students have held fund-raisers over the last two years to support their class trip to the Great Escape water park in Lake George, New York. They decided to donate their surplus to the Bid for Kids Christmas toy program and to make a wreath in thanks for the tremendous support the town has given them. The students are, from left to right: May Hanlon, Katelyn Deslandes, Brianna Bertsch, Mark Fauteux, Bryan Lefebvre, Sierra Trembley, Joy Walker, and Colby Worth.

Attached Thumbnails

Fire Takes Out NorthWoods Shed, Boiler. Main Building Unharmed

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:46:24 +0000

A fire at NorthWoods Stewardship Center in East Charleston Saturday wiped out the heating system, the wood boiler, and the shed but left the main building unharmed. No one was injured. The Charleston Fire Department responded.

Former Clyde River Hotel Gets New Name and Dusting

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:20:45 +0000

The former Clyde River Hotel, that was sold at auction in October and purchased by Sharon and Guy Daniels now has a new name.

The "Green Mountain Lodge" is set to open for business in a few weeks as Sharon and Guy do some painting, and cleaning of the interior of the building. They have been busy with moving their restaurant equipment from their former location at "Hobo's Restaurant" to the Green Mountain Lodge.

Sharon and Guy are no strangers to Island Pond and the Northeast Kingdom as they are not only the owners of Hobo's Restaurant but also the owners of the Avalon Bed and Breakfast both also located in Island Pond.

Their present contact number 802-723-3055

Website - www.green-mountain-lodge.com

Former Clyde River Hotel Gets New Name and Dusting

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:19:20 +0000

Island Pond man jailed in meth lab case

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:40:56 +0000

ISLAND POND, Vt. -
A man arrested after a meth lab bust in Island Pond last year will spend years behind bars.
Authorities raided a home on Railroad Street in Island Pond last November, allegedly finding a meth lab in a ground floor apartment.
Frank Santaw, 29, of Island Pond, accepted a plea deal admitting he purchased large amounts of Sudafed to use in making meth.
He was sentenced to 6.5 years behind bars.
Nine other co-defendants in that case have pleaded guilty and are facing sentencing next year.

Poultney Man Charged with Deer Poaching

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:35:31 +0000

A Poultney man is facing charges after poaching two deer in Fair Haven in October.
Vermont State Game Warden Robert Sterling and Fair Haven Police Officer Ken Jones were patrolling for deer poaching activity on the evening of Friday October, 19. At approximately 11:00 p.m. they observed a vehicle shining a light into fields along Swamp Road in Fair Haven. The vehicle’s driver was then observed firing a 30.06 rifle at a deer in a field.
Warden Sterling and Officer Jones then stopped the vehicle and made the arrest. The driver and shooter was 21-year old Joshua Newton of Poultney. In the vehicle was a loaded 30.06 rifle with a fired cartridge casing still in the gun. The following day blood was found in the field where the shot was fired, indicating that Newton had wounded a deer. This deer was not located.
Further investigation revealed Newton had also illegally killed a deer with the same rifle on Swamp Road in Fair Haven a week earlier and left the deer in the field. The remains of this deer were located.
Newton is facing charges of taking a wild deer by use of a light and at night for the deer on the 19th and taking a deer in closed season with a rifle on October 7th.
If convicted of both offenses, Newton will be subject to fines and restitution of up to $5,000 and forfeiture of his rifle to the State. Newton will also have his privileges to hunt, fish and trap suspended for three years.
The illegal shooting of deer at night is on the rise in Vermont. Wardens need your help in apprehending these thieves of our natural resources. When you see or hear of illegal activity, please immediately contact a Vermont State Game Warden by calling your local State Police Barracks. You can also contact Operation Game Thief at 1-800-75ALERT (1-800-752-5378).

Starksboro Man Charged with Taking Moose Out of Season

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:34:49 +0000

A 25-year old Starksboro man has been charged with taking a moose in closed season by Vermont State Game Wardens.
Vermont State Game Warden Robert Currier and State Game Warden Sgt. George Scribner responded on October 5 to a report of a moose found dead on Guthrie Road in Lincoln, VT. The wardens determined the moose had been illegally shot. Vermont’s firearms moose hunting season was October 20-25 this year.
Further investigation revealed that Shaun E. Rublee of Starksboro was involved in killing the moose.
Wardens and VT State Police executed a search warrant on Rublee’s residence. Wardens seized eight bags of moose meat, moose antlers, several tools used to butcher the moose, a rifle, and several rounds of .32 caliber ammunition. Rublee was then charged with taking a moose in closed season.
Rublee is subject to fines and restitution totaling up to $2,500 and faces up to 60 days in jail or both. Rublee is also facing the loss of his privileges to hunt, fish and trap in Vermont for three years.
You can help protect Vermont’s fish and wildlife resources by reporting poaching violations to a State Game Warden or anonymously through Operation Game Thief (OGT). Operation Game Thief, a non-profit joint project of the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, pays rewards to citizens who turn in poachers. Callers do not have to reveal their names, testify in court or sign a deposition. Rewards are paid if an arrest is made or if a citation is issued.

Hunting from a Tree Stand?

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:34:04 +0000

Hunting from a Tree Stand?
Here are Safety Tips from VT F&W
Hunters are using tree stands much more today than they did historically. Tree stands can be helpful in some hunting situations, but they also can be dangerous. Here are some tips to get the most out of your tree stand hunting experience:
• Choose a live, straight tree.
• Buy smart. Only use stands certified by the Treestand Manufacturers’ Association (TMA).
• Inspect them each time you use them.
• Know the rules. On state lands, it is illegal to place nails or other hardware into trees or to build permanent structures. On private lands, you must have landowner permission to erect a tree stand, cut or remove trees or other plants, or to cut limbs. All stands, including ground blinds, must be marked with the owner’s name and address. More rules are on page 24 of the 2012 Fish & Wildlife Regulations book.
• Always wear a full-body safety harness, even for climbing. Most falls occur going up and down the tree and getting in and out of the stand.
• Don't go too high. The higher you go, the vital zone on a deer decreases, while the likelihood of a serious injury increases for you.
• Never carry firearms or bows up and down trees. Always use a haul line to raise and lower all gear. Make sure your firearm is unloaded.
• Familiarize yourself with your gear before you go. The morning of opening day is poor time to put your safety belt on for the first time.
• Be careful with long-term placement. Exposure can damage straps, ropes and attachment cords. Also, the stand’s stability can be compromised over time, as the tree grows.
Hunt smart. Hunt safe. Wear Orange.

Deadline for Watershed Grants Applications is December 7

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:32:19 +0000

Deadline for Watershed Grants Applications is December 7
Applications are available for the 2013 Vermont Watershed Grants Program to fund projects that help Vermonters protect, restore and enjoy the state's watersheds. Applications are due to the Vermont Watershed Grants office by Friday, December 7.
"Watershed Grants are available to municipalities, local or regional governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, and citizen groups," said Rick Hopkins of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC). "Watershed Grants can be awarded for many types of watershed projects, including those that protect or restore water quality, shorelines or fish and wildlife habitats."
“In light of the damage from Tropical Storm Irene and other recent Vermont floods, we are very interested in projects that implement practical measures or involve education on stream habitat protection, restoration, flood resiliency and related topics," added Hopkins.
Rod Wentworth, of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, explained that watershed grants provide a way for local people to make a difference. "This is a great opportunity for sporting clubs or watershed groups to do something to help their local stream or lake, such as planting trees or developing a watershed conservation plan or outreach program," said Wentworth. “Many Vermont rivers have sustained a lot of damage as a result of recent floods and in some cases the recovery work that followed. The more we can do to spread the word about best practices for flood remediation, the better.”
Vermont Watershed Grants is a joint project of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and VTDEC. It is funded by Vermont Conservation License Plate sales. The program has funded 309 watershed projects statewide since 1998. This year, $120,000 is available to fund grants up to a maximum possible per grant amount of $15,000.
"When Vermonters purchase a Conservation License Plate they're helping protect healthy streams and lakes as well as conserving wildlife and important habitats for future generations," said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Patrick Berry. “Proceeds from the sale of Conservation License Plates fund the Watershed Grants program and help support the Fish & Wildlife Department's Nongame Wildlife Fund."
The Watershed Grants application guide and application forms are available on the web at: www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/waterq/lakes/htm/lp_watershedgrants.htm

Deadline for Watershed Grants Applications is December 7

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:31:17 +0000

Rifle Deer Season Starts Saturday, Nov. 10

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:29:52 +0000

Rifle Deer Season Starts Saturday, Nov. 10
Vermont hunters are looking forward to opening day of rifle deer season on Saturday, November 10. Vermont has more bucks and older bucks in the deer population due to an antler restriction regulation put in place a few years ago.
Vermont’s traditionally popular 16-day November rifle season begins November 10 and ends Sunday, November 25. One legal buck with at least one antler having two or more points may be taken anywhere in the state.
The antler regulation for a “legal buck” is designed to recruit more bucks and older bucks into the population. Hunters may take one buck with at least one antler having two or more points one inch or longer. Spike-antlered deer are protected except during the youth deer weekend. A point must be one inch or longer from base to tip. The main beam counts as a point, regardless of length.
“Vermont’s pre-hunt deer population is estimated at approximately 125,000 animals this year with the greatest numbers of deer found in the southwest, east-central, and northwestern regions of the state,” said Deer Project Leader Adam Murkowski. “Deer populations have benefited from excellent survival during the mildest winter recorded over the last four decades and good fawning conditions during the spring and summer.”
Planning Your Hunt
The 2011 Vermont Deer Harvest Report, available from the Fish & Wildlife Department’s web site ( www.vtfishandwildlife.com ) has a wealth of information to help plan a hunt, including the number of deer taken in each town. Click on “Hunting and Trapping” and “Big Game” to download a copy of the report.
Vermont’s regular hunting licenses, including a November rifle season buck tag and a bear tag, still cost only $22 for residents and $100 for nonresidents. Hunters under 18 years of age get a break at $8 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. Licenses are available on Fish and Wildlife’s web site and from license agents statewide.

Antlerless Deer Permits are in Postcard Format

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:29:00 +0000

Antlerless Deer Permits are in Postcard Format
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says antlerless deer hunting permits for the December 1-9 muzzleloader deer season will be mailed to recipients in early November. The department cautions, however, that the permits are in the form of a postcard -- so if you receive one, be sure to put it in a safe place until December.
Hunters who will be receiving the muzzleloader season antlerless deer permits are listed on the department’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). The Fish and Wildlife Board approved the number of December muzzleloader permits at 12,425 for 15 of the state’s 24 Wildlife Management Units.
“The antlerless permit allocation represents a conservative approach to antlerless deer hunting this fall,” said Murkowski. “Deer herds throughout the state are at or below population objectives. Thus, the number of muzzleloader season antlerless permits for this year will allow for slow growth in the deer herd throughout much of the state.”
Biologists expect hunters who receive the permits will take about 2,200 antlerless deer in the muzzleloader season.
“The winter of 2011-2012 was the mildest recorded in recent decades,” said Murkowski. “It will be important for hunters to continue to manage their local deer herds for deer herd health to ensure the number of deer remains appropriate for the available habitat.”

Youth Hunters Encouraged to Visit Biological Check Station

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:28:01 +0000

Youth Hunters Encouraged to Visit Biological Check Station
During the Youth Deer Hunt November 3 and 4
Youth deer hunters who get a deer on the November 3 and 4 youth deer hunting weekend can help Vermont’s deer management program by reporting their deer at one of 23 biological check stations around the state.
Youth deer hunting weekend helps ensure that young hunters get the quality training they need for lifelong participation, and it also provides biological information needed to manage the herd into the future.
“The information collected from deer during the youth deer hunting weekend is vital to deer management in Vermont,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s Deer Project Leader Adam Murkowski. “Our ability to assess the health of local deer herds increases with the number of deer that are examined at biological check stations.”
Youth hunters who bring their deer to a biological check stations will receive a youth hunter patch, be entered into a lottery drawing for a new muzzleloader rifle, and have their picture taken for a Youth hunt 2012 photo album that will be available through the department’s website.
“Managing for deer herd health means monitoring the physical condition of individual deer to ensure they are healthy,” said Murkowski. “The Youth Deer Weekend is our best opportunity to assess the physical condition of individual deer and examine the demographics of the deer herd as youth hunters are allowed to harvest any deer without sex or antler restrictions.”
The mild winter combined with good fawning conditions means population growth is expected in deer herds throughout Vermont in 2012. Youth hunters and the adults accompanying them should feel upbeat about the upcoming youth deer hunting weekend.
The Vermont fish and Wildlife department will have personnel at the 23 biological check stations listed below during the youth weekend November 3rd and 4th.
The biological check stations listed below will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on November 3 and 4: Barre, R & L Archery; Eden Mills, Ingall’s Market & Deli; Enosburg Falls, Magnon’s; Irasburg, Bob’s Quick Stop; Jericho, General Store; Pittsford, Keith’s Country Store; Pawlet, Mach’s General Store; Bennington, Marty’s Sports & Gunsmithing; North Hartland, Steve’s Bait Shop; Island Pond, Northern Wildlife; Danby, Otter Creek Campground; Hardwick, Riteway Sports; Swanton, St. Marie’s; Springfield, Fire Department; East Randolph, Messier’s Store; Middlebury, Vermont Field Sports; Bradford, Bradford Bottle Shoppe; Newport, Wright’s Sports; West Barnet, West Barnet Quick Stop; Concord, Barnie’s Market; Stowe, Fly Rod Shop; Orwell, Lake Hortonia Country Store; West Brattleboro, Paradise Farm.
Vermont’s big game reporting stations are also shown on a map on Fish and Wildlife’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). Click on “Maps” on the left side of the home page.

During the Youth Deer Hunt November 3 and 4
Youth deer hunters who get a deer on the November 3 and 4 youth deer hunting weekend can help Vermont’s deer management program by reporting their deer at one of 23 biological check stations around the state.
Youth deer hunting weekend helps ensure that young hunters get the quality training they need for lifelong participation, and it also provides biological information needed to manage the herd into the future.
“The information collected from deer during the youth deer hunting weekend is vital to deer management in Vermont,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s Deer Project Leader Adam Murkowski. “Our ability to assess the health of local deer herds increases with the number of deer that are examined at biological check stations.”
Youth hunters who bring their deer to a biological check stations will receive a youth hunter patch, be entered into a lottery drawing for a new muzzleloader rifle, and have their picture taken for a Youth hunt 2012 photo album that will be available through the department’s website.
“Managing for deer herd health means monitoring the physical condition of individual deer to ensure they are healthy,” said Murkowski. “The Youth Deer Weekend is our best opportunity to assess the physical condition of individual deer and examine the demographics of the deer herd as youth hunters are allowed to harvest any deer without sex or antler restrictions.”
The mild winter combined with good fawning conditions means population growth is expected in deer herds throughout Vermont in 2012. Youth hunters and the adults accompanying them should feel upbeat about the upcoming youth deer hunting weekend.
The Vermont fish and Wildlife department will have personnel at the 23 biological check stations listed below during the youth weekend November 3rd and 4th.
The biological check stations listed below will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on November 3 and 4: Barre, R & L Archery; Eden Mills, Ingall’s Market & Deli; Enosburg Falls, Magnon’s; Irasburg, Bob’s Quick Stop; Jericho, General Store; Pittsford, Keith’s Country Store; Pawlet, Mach’s General Store; Bennington, Marty’s Sports & Gunsmithing; North Hartland, Steve’s Bait Shop; Island Pond, Northern Wildlife; Danby, Otter Creek Campground; Hardwick, Riteway Sports; Swanton, St. Marie’s; Springfield, Fire Department; East Randolph, Messier’s Store; Middlebury, Vermont Field Sports; Bradford, Bradford Bottle Shoppe; Newport, Wright’s Sports; West Barnet, West Barnet Quick Stop; Concord, Barnie’s Market; Stowe, Fly Rod Shop; Orwell, Lake Hortonia Country Store; West Brattleboro, Paradise Farm.
Vermont’s big game reporting stations are also shown on a map on Fish and Wildlife’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). Click on “Maps” on the left side of the home page.

Vermont Youth Deer Hunt Weekend is Nov. 3-4

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:26:33 +0000

Vermont’s youth deer hunting weekend is November 3 and 4 this year, the Saturday and Sunday before the rifle deer season opens.
“Vermont’s special youth deer hunting weekend helps ensure that young hunters get the quality training and experiences they need for lifelong participation,” said Fish & Wildlife Hunter Education Coordinator Chris Saunders. “By design, the youth weekend hunt reinforces the route of initiation that is critical in recruitment -- learning through the family.”
Anyone, resident or nonresident, who is 15 years old or younger on the weekend of the hunt and who has successfully completed a hunter education course may purchase a hunting license and obtain a free youth deer hunting tag.
The young hunter must be accompanied by an unarmed adult over 18 years of age who holds a Vermont hunting license. The adult may accompany up to two young hunters.
The law now requires the adult to have direct control and supervision, including the ability to see and communicate with the youth hunter without the aid of artificial devices such as radios or binoculars. Landowner permission is required in order to hunt on private land during the youth deer hunt weekend.

The young hunter may take one deer of either sex. The antler restriction that applies for other Vermont deer seasons does not apply for youth deer hunting weekend.
A violation of the youth deer hunting law can result in a fine that is doubled and assessed against the adult who accompanies the youth.
A 2007 survey proved that Vermont’s youth hunting seasons work. Current youth hunters, past youth hunters and their mentors were highly satisfied with their experiences, and this translated into an increased desire to hunt in the future. Perhaps most telling of all, the youth hunting weekend was the first time hunting for 69 percent of youth hunters.

For more information, go to Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website Youth Hunting page:
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/hunttrap_youth.cfm

Clyde River Hotel Sold

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:21:44 +0000

BRIGHTON - The Clyde River Hotel, built in 1866, was sold on Friday at a foreclosure auction to Guy and Sharon Daniels of Island Pond. The Daniels' already own the Avalon Inn and Hobo's Restaurant.

Guy Daniels said he plans on closing Hobo's permanently and moving the kitchen equipment and focusing their efforts on the hotel. He also said they received an offer on the Avalon Inn within minutes of purchasing the Clyde and will sell it.

"It is bitter sweet as we love the Avalon but feel it is time for us to work on a new project. We will have a breakfast buffet on the weekends and a limited menu similar to the one at Hobo's. We are looking forward to the challenge," said Guy on Friday.

The Clyde River Hotel has 28 rooms, 24 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, and a 44 seat restaurant and bar. Daniels said he plans renovations on the hotel restaurant and entry, working on the landscaping, and plans to re-open the establishment within 30 days.

"We care very much about the community," Daniels added.

The purchase price for the hotel was $133,000 and it was listed by the town as being assessed at $317,400 according to a sales brochure provided by Thomas Hirchak Company. The flyer also mentions past due taxes of $9,053 and past due water and sewer amounts of $3,580 as of Sept. 19.

The hotel was also sold at a tax sale in October of 2011, however it has remained open until last

Clyde River Hotel Sold

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:21:07 +0000

Anita E.“Bootie” (Gilman) Tilley

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:07:35 +0000

Anita E.“Bootie” (Gilman) Tilley, 85, of State Street, Groveton, died suddenly at her residence on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012.
Born on Aug. 23, 1927, in Groveton, a daughter of Antonio “Tony” and Nancy (Young) Gilman, she was a lifelong resident.
Anita enjoyed reading, knitting, going for rides and going to yard sales. She was a great mom and was always there when you needed her.
She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Miles and husband Herbert of Groveton; son Danny Joel Tilley and wife Carol of Fairbanks, Alaska; a
sister, Constance “Connie” Connary of Island Pond, Vt.; and one brother, Richard Gilman of Stark. Anita was predeceased by her parents, Antonio Gilman and Nancy Chadwich; one son, David Tilley, in 1984; three brothers, Robert Gilman, Donald Gilman and John Gilman; and one sister, Patricia
McLeod.
At Anita’s request, there will be no calling hours or services. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Armstrong-Charron Funeral Home in
Groveton.
Memorial donations may be made in Anita’s name to the American Heart Association, Founders Affiliate, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005 or by going t o www.heart.org.
For more information or to send the family your condolences via the online register book one may go to; www.armstrongcharronfuneralhome.com

Marilyn J. Wade

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:12:01 +0000

Marilyn J. Wade, 79, of Island Pond died on October 17, 2012, in Lyndonville.
She was born on March 2, 1933,in Canaan, a daughter of Earl and Margaret (Edwards) Gray. She graduated from Canaan High School. She was married to Edgar Leigh, who predeceased her in 1955, on January 3, 1952. She later married Joseph A. Wade, who predeceased her in 1999.
Mrs. Wade is survived by her five sons: Edgar T. Leigh of Newport, Earl E. Leigh and his wife, Wendy, of Holland, Sidney G. Leigh and his wife, Carol, of Island Pond, Joseph A. “Lonnie” Wade and his wife, Pam, of Derby, and Timothy M. Wade of Sumter, South Carolina; by her brothers and sisters: Anna Johnson of Orleans, Gleigh Heath and her husband, William,ꉟof Island Pond, Patricia Gray and her friend, Diane Brindley, of St. Johnsbury, Charlotte Gunn of Island Pond,
Virginia Wing and her husband, Alan, of Island Pond, and Niles “Jody” Gray and his wife, Monique, of Coventry; by her sister-in-law Gunda Gray of Danville; by her grandchildren: Felicia Farrow, Melissa Marcinkeviez, Jana and Gabriel Leigh, Laura Bixby, Serena and Chad Leigh, Joey and Justin Wade; and by many ꉟgreatgrandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was predeceased by two brothers, Earl and Glen Gray, and a grandson, Joshua Leigh.
Mrs. Wade was employed as a secretary for the Navy Department in the early 1950s, and she was a longtime employee of Community National Bank in Island Pond. She held memberships with the Order of the Eastern Star and American Legion Auxiliary Post #80 of Island Pond. She enjoyed baking Sunday evening meals, crossword puzzles, and most of all spending time with her family.
Funeral services were scheduled to be held on October 22 with the Reverend Alan Magoon officiating at the Curtis-Britch-Converse- Rushford Funeral Home in Island Pond with interment to follow in Lakeside Cemetery in Island Pond.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mrs. Wade’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Vermont, 300 Corner Stone Drive, Suite 128, Williston, Vermont 05495.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtisbritch.com

I.P. man charged in Charleston shooting

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:25:56 +0000

NEWPORT — A squabble sparked by a beer bottle tossed into the bed of a pickup ended up in a shooting at a Charleston Halloween party, police say.
The man charged with the shooting, Lee M. Sykes, 24, of Island Pond, pled innocent Monday to a felony charge of aggravated assault with a weapon.
In the Orleans Criminal Division of Superior Court, Judge Howard VanBenthuysen set bail at $50,000. Mr. Sykes paid a $5,000 cash deposit and was released. While he awaits trial Mr. Sykes has been ordered not to harass and to
stay at least 300 feet away from his alleged victim. He was also placed under curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and ordered not to possess or use firearms or alcohol.
As State Police Detective Sergeant Walter Smith related the incident in his affidavit, police were called around 1 a.m. Sunday morning by a woman who said a man had been shot in Charleston.
The officers’ statements in this story are taken from Sergeant Smith’s affidavit.
Around 3:30 a.m. Trooper Andrew Jensen was at North Country Hospital, where he spoke with a man who was being treated for a gunshot wound to his hip. He said the wounded man told police that Mr. Sykes, whom he did not know, tossed a bottle or can into the back of his truck.
A joking exchange led to a fight, during which the man was shot, Sergeant Smith said.
Both Mr. Sykes and the wounded man were intoxicated, Trooper Jensen said.
Trooper Jensen also spoke with the wounded man’s wife. She said that when her husband noticed Mr. Sykes throwing bottles in the back of his truck he told him “Hey buddy, there is a place for those and they are worth five cents apiece.”
He said Mr. Sykes asked “If I don’t put them there, what are you going to do about it?”
Sergeant Smith said the wounded man asked, “Should I do something about it?” to which Mr. Sykes replied “Oh yeah, what if I got a gun?”
The wounded man’s wife said everyone thought Mr. Sykes was joking, Sergeant Smith said. He said the fight and shooting followed quickly.
The wife told police that she held the gun to the ground and punched Mr. Sykes in the face and hand to make him drop it. After seeing to it that the police had been called, the wife said, she arranged a ride to the hospital for her husband.
The woman said she punched Mr. Sykes again before leaving with her husband.
Sergeant Smith said Mr. Sykes denied ever telling anyone that he had a gun.
When State Trooper Debra Munson arrived at the party a group of about ten people pushed Mr. Sykes against her cruiser, shouting that he had shot someone. Trooper Munson told everyone to back away from the cruiser.
Trooper Munson asked Mr. Sykes if he had shot someone, and he said he did, said Detective Smith. Mr. Sykes said he acted in self-defense because he feared the wounded man was going to kill him.
Trooper Munson told Mr. Sykes she was putting him in handcuffs while things were sorted out, although he was not under arrest. Trooper Munson saw blood on Mr. Sykes’ face and swelling beginning to take place.
Trooper Munson spoke to a witness whose story of events leading up to the fight was similar to that told by the wounded man. The witness told Trooper Munson he heard two shots and saw the muzzle flash from the pistol. After the shots
several people pulled the two men apart, Sergeant Smith said.
Sergeant Smith said somebody unloaded the handgun and tossed it aside. So far, he said, the weapon has not been found.
He said Trooper Munson and some Border Patrol agents found two spent .40 caliber shell casings near where the shooting took place.
Sergeant Smith said Mr. Sykes waived his Miranda rights and discussed what happened at the party. Mr. Sykes said he threw a bottle cap in the back of the truck and began what he thought was a joking conversation with the truck’s owner.
All of a sudden, Mr. Sykes said, the truck’s owner began hitting hitting him, said Sergeant Smith. He said Mr. Sykes told him that he shot twice with the .40 caliber Glock pistol he carries with him for protection.

Voters add $69,000 to town hall renovation

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:08:23 +0000

ISLAND POND — The push to restore an element of historic grandeur to the old town hall here got a boost from voters following a special meeting Tuesday night.
By a strong voice vote without any objections, voters approved an additional $69,000 appropriation that will enable restoration contractors to make the building look more like it did the day it was built in 1889.
Money already had been earmarked for the project, thanks to $465,000 in grants and a $50,000 appropriation that voters approved in 2009.
But town officials found themselves in a bind when the job went out for bid and came in at $69,000 more than estimated.
“We are roughly $69,000 short to do the complete project we proposed in the bid,” said chairman of the selectmen Melinda Lamoureux.
Ms. Lamoureux told a crowd of about 70 people that to keep the job going, the board stripped components off the project. Two of the three components included nineteenth-century period windows, including a large palladium window, and two storefront windows, at a cost of $33,000, which would go into the street side of the building where the town library and offices of the Passumpsic Savings Bank are located.
Still pending is another $20,000 grant, but Ms. Lamoureux said the town had to order the windows tomorrow, by November, or lose out on the possibility of including them in the project.
One resident in the crowd expressed misgivings that one more appropriation would be followed by additional funding requests.
“What happened?” asked Jennifer Hanlon, who said it sounded as if the town had been caught in mid-stream with no other place to go.
Administrative Assistant Joel Cope said that voters have a history of putting money into the town hall, which is also known as the Opera Block, every 20 years or so. He noted there are still ongoing discussions on how to rehab the building’s third story.
Someone else from the crowd asked if the additional appropriation would dampen the town’s chances of getting the $20,000 grant that is still pending.
On the contrary, replied Mr. Cope. “It will only improve our chances.”
The last word of the evening appeared to belong to citizen Pat Clark.
“I think the town is doing a good job,” he said. “And as a taxpayer, I willing to pay 13 more dollars a year.”
According to an information sheet handed out at the meeting, a loan of $69,000 over five years will add one penny to the tax rate. Taxes on property worth $100,000, for example, will increase by $10.

Charleston man hospitalized in shooting

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:03:30 +0000

CHARLESTON, Vt. (AP) - One man is in jail and another man is hospitalized following a shooting at a party in northern Vermont.
State police and Border Patrol agents were called to a party in Charleston about 1 a.m. Sunday regarding a shooting.
When police arrived, a crowd pushed 24-year-old Lee Sykes of Charleston against a trooper's cruiser, telling police he had shot another Charleston man, Eric Baker, during a fight.
Officials say Baker was taken to North Country Hospital by his wife with a gunshot wound to the hip.
Sykes was also treated for injuries to his face and hand from the fight and from the crowd that went to Baker's aid.
Sykes is being held on $25,000 bail at the Northern State Correctional Facility on a charge of aggravated assault

Fire at abandoned Vt. radar base was arson

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:55:20 +0000

EAST HAVEN, Vt. (AP) - Investigators say a fire at an abandoned Air Force radar station on the top of a mountain in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom was arson.
The working structure fire in the radar base in East Haven was reported about 10 a.m. Monday.
Assistant Newark Chief Pat McLaughlin says a mattress and chair were set on fire in the abandoned dining hall.
The base was built by the Air Force in the 1950s, but it was abandoned in the early '60s. Over the decades the buildings at the base deteriorated.
The Caledonian Record says it took firefighters some time to find the source of the fire.
McLaughlin says the fire didn't spread beyond the mattress and the chair.
The investigation into who started the fire is continuing.

Horses, bikes, get okay in wildlife areas

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 18:08:49 +0000

Horses, bikes, get okay in wildlife areas

Vermont’s Fish and Wildlife Board may have mollified baffled horse and bicycle riders when it clarified recently that they will be allowed in the
state’s wildlife management areas (WMA), or at least some parts of them.

At a recent public hearing in Montpelier, the 14-member board heard from bicyclists and horseback riders who could not understand why activities that are quiet and leave a small footprint would be banned from public land.

Actually, they aren’t, said Orleans County Fish and Wildlife Board member Grant Spates this week.

The board gave its second round of approval to the proposed set of rules on September 19. It also offered what Mr. Spates called a
“clarification” about who and what can use the land.

Horses and bicycles will be allowed wherever in the WMAs that a motorized vehicle would be, as well as on designated corridors. Basically, that means that patrons of both sports can use the roads that wind through the roughly 133,000 acres in Vermont’s 87 wildlife management areas.

Mr. Spates said that he and Craig Nolan, who represents Essex County on the board, had planned to offer an amendment allowing bicycling and horseback riding on the WMA roads and were told it was unnecessary, since both activities were already permitted.

“They’re still listed as a prohibited use,” Mr. Spates said. “But wherever you can drive a motorized vehicle you can also use that road for horseback riding or biking. Once you enter the land, if it’s a gravel road, if you can take your vehicle on it, you can take your horse on it.”

He said that banning bicycles and horses from roads that could be used by cars and trucks didn’t make any sense.

The new rule designating what can and can’t be done in the wildlife management areas was proposed earlier this year. The Fish and Wildlife Board must vote on it three times. So far, it has approved it twice. Next the rule will go to a legislative committee to be reviewed before returning to the board for final approval.
Mr. Spates said it was prompted by the fact that there is a great deal of land in the WMAs, but rules about how that land is to be used were
vague at best.

“When the (Fish and Wildlife) Department came to the board they said we have all this land, let’s call it Vermont’s playground. But we have no playground rules,” Mr. Spates said.

The primary uses of land owned by the Fish and Wildlife Department are hunting, fishing, and trapping. What the board has been struggling with is what else to allow and what to ban or restrict.

In addition to fishing, hunting and trapping, under the new rule permitted uses include photography, cross-country skiing, collecting shed antlers, some boating, primitive camping where designated, snowshoeing, and swimming.

At a public hearing in August, dog mushers and rock climbers, as well as horse and bicycle riders, objected to not being allowed to use the
WMA property.
Ilene Douglas of Morgan was at that hearing and said she was appalled to learn she could not ride her horse in the Wenlock wildlife management area in Essex County. She said it’s a wonderful area to ride in.

She said on Tuesday that she’s satisfied with the board’s decision that riding will continue to be allowed on roads.

“For now, that’s okay,” she said. “I think we have to be content with that for now.”

Down the road, Ms. Douglas hopes to sit down with Fish and Wildlife officials and others, as well as those interested in using the WMA land
and “just talk,” as she put it.

“There should not be any animosity,” she said.
“There should be ways to work together.”
Mr. Spates said the Fish and Wildlife Department is willing to work with various groups that have an interest in using the land.

Route 105 in Brighton to be closed

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:09:23 +0000

The Vermont Agency of Transportation will close Route 105 in the town of Brighton in order to replace two culverts. Construction is set to begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 28, with a planned completion time of 6 a.m. on Monday, October 1.

The closure will start on the west side of Lake Street and extend east to near the Ferdinand town line.

Local traffic will be allowed access to side streets to get around the construction activities. — from the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

Patricia Luella Allard

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:44:33 +0000

Patricia Luella Allard, 50, of Island Pond died on Wednesday, August 8, 2012, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on June 17, 1962, in Burlington, beloved daughter of Francis and Luwina (Dubois) Allard.

She graduated from North Country Union High School in Newport in the Class of 1980. She was employed as a Licensed Nursing Assistant at the Morrison Nursing Home in Whitefield, New Hampshire, and she was a paraeducator at the North Stratford, New Hampshire, elementary school. She was also a bartender at the Groveton Legion in Groveton, New Hampshire.

Her hobbies included cooking, working in her flower gardens, decorating and she had a love for horses.

She is survived by her children: Jennifer Doolan and her husband, Mitchell, of Lancaster, New Hampshire, and Ashley and Robert Bean of Island Pond; her parents, Francis and Luwina Allard of Island Pond; her grandchildren: Layliah, McKenzie, Henry, Madison, Morgan, Sawyer, and Kamryn; her brother Edward Peter Allard and his fiancée, Tammie Perez, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire; her nieces: Sarah Allard, Nina Perez and Nicole Perez; her special friend Kathryn Manning of Portsmouth; and by many cousins and her dog Zoey.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 25, at St. James Catholic Church in Island Pond where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated. Interment will follow in Lakeside Cemetery in Island Pond.

Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Mater Dei Parish, for St. James Catholic Church, 191 Clermont Terrace, Newport, Vermont 05855.

Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch.com

Bertha D O’Keefe

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 11:57:27 +0000

August 9th 2012 at 1:00 pm Bertha D O’Keefe left her loving family and Friends to go where she wanted to go the most, Home.

With a last and longing smile on her face, her head held high and a song in her heart she left us to go on a new journey in the footsteps of the Lord.

She was born to Fred and Inola Henry which both have predeceased her. Bertha had six other siblings. Cora Hill from Norton VT, Ted Henry from Lyndonville VT, Eva Martin from Island Pond VT, Rita Daniels also from Island Pond VT, Shirley Adams from Milton VT, and her brother Ned Henry who predeceased her.

In 1949 Bertha married Lawrence “Muscles” O’Keefe and they were married for 43 years before he passed on in 1992. They had four children together which are all still living. Michael O’Keefe and his girlfriend Linda Deslandes of Island Pond VT, Patrick O’Keefe and Lisa O’Keefe of Island Pond VT, Gary O’Keefe and Ginette O’Keefe of Island Pond VT, Roger O’Keefe and Shawnda O’Keefe of Ferdinand VT. Also her daughter-in-law Vicky O’Keefe of Island Pond VT and her very special friend Camille Deslandes of Island Pond VT. Also surviving are her grandchildren Thomas O’Keefe from Washington DC, Molly O’Keefe and her boy friend Lucian Ducharme from Cranston RI, Lucas O’Keefe of Island Pond VT, Jonathan O’Keefe and his wife to be Crystal Tetreault of Island Pond VT, Jeffrey Adams and Laurie Adams of Jericho VT, Keith O’Keefe of Island Pond VT, and Jacob O’Keefe of Ferdinand VT, as well as numerous other nephews and nieces.

Bertha worked for the Island Pond Dress Factory till she moved on to work at the Ethan Allen Furniture Factory of Island Pond VT which she retired from in 1995. Bertha loved doing things for her family including making holiday dinners, playing cards and also her favorite game which was called buttons. She was also a big fan of the game Bingo. She loved trees and animals as well.

Bertha was like a “Mother Goose” to all our friends growing up and still in the very end her door was always open to anyone who came past her thresh hold. We will miss you and you will be forever in our hearts. We will never forget you. Love all your family and friends.

Services will be held at Saint James the Greater Catholic Church in Island Pond VT on Thursday August 16 at 11:00 am where a mass of Christian burial will be celebrated. Friends and family may feel free to stop at Bertha's house at anytime as there will be no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers please make your donations to the Mater Dei Parish, for Saint James the Greater of Island Pond VT, 191 Clermont Terrace, Newport, VT 05855.

Please NO Flowers as per the wishes of Bertha O’Keefe.

Thanks the O’Keefe family.

On Line condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, locally family owned and operated.

Accidental death in Lemington, Vt.

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:38:41 +0000

LEMINGTON, Vt. -
A 64-year-old Vermont man died after a tractor rolled over him at his camp in the Northeast Kingdom, a Vermont State Police detective said late Sunday.
Reginald Ellingwood was unloading his tractor from a trailer when the truck rolled backward causing the trailer to jackknife, the detective said. That in turn caused the tractor to roll over off the trailer on top of Ellingwood.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ellingwood's death has been ruled an accident. Funeral arrangments are pending.

Brian Albert Goulet

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:46:58 +0000

Brian Albert Goulet, 71, died suddenly on Sunday, July 22, 2012, in a tragic accident while working on his beloved farm.

He was born on August 5, 1940, in Vermont to Albert Joseph Goulet and Beatrice Nugent Goulet and was raised in Island Pond. He graduated from Brighton High School in Island Pond, served in the U.S. Army and, shortly after being discharged from the military, he met the love of his life, Judith Flow. They were married on July 7, 1962; they recently celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in Vermont with family.

Mr. Goulet and his wife moved from Vermont to Alexandria, Virginia, where he started his career in automobile sales and quickly became the general sales manager for Koons Ford. Later he joined his father-in-law in the heating and air conditioning business. He became the president of M.E. Flow and expanded the business from Alexandria to Leesburg and Winchester, Virginia. His son, Scott, and daughter, Michelle, joined him to create a very successful business. A friend once said that Mr. Goulet “walked the walk” without anyone dictating to him what he “must do.” He simply “did it” by living his life and running his business in such an admirable way.

He was He was a beloved member of the communities of Leesburg and Island Pond. He was active with the Leesburg Lions Club, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Interfaith Relief, and other charities in Virginia and Vermont. He was generous and always gave back to his community. He never forgot his Vermont heritage. He always wanted to be home around his family, friends, horses, dogs, and farm. He was especially proud of his grandkids and attended many of the games and events in which they participated. He was generous, cheerful, and funny with a charismatic personality.

He is survived by his wife Judith D. Goulet; his son Scott B. Goulet and his wife, Teri Goulet; his grandchildren: Michael, Ben and Krista Goulet of Hamilton, Virginia;his daughter Michelle Goulet-Swart and her husband, Frankie Swart; his granddaughter Amanda Swart of Hamilton; his sisters: Bonnie Goulet Maurycy of Niskayuna, New York, and Claire Goulet Barnes of Island Pond; his brothers: Craig and Albert Goulet of Island Pond; and by his aunt Roberta Harvey of Manchester, New Hampshire.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 4, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Leesburg. Internment will follow in Union Cemetery in Leesburg. Eulogy and reception to follow for friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to St. Paul’s Catholic School in Barton, Catholic Charities of Leesburg, or American Legion Brighton Post #80 in Island Pond, VT.

Russell L. Cook Sr

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 16:02:42 +0000

Russell L. Cook Sr., 62, died on Wednesday, June 18, 2012, in Florida, from complications of cancer, with his family by his side.

He was born on October 10, 1949, in Barton, to Charles Burt and Lorraine (Wheeler) Cook.

Mr. Cook attended Glover Graded School and Barton Graded School and graduated from Enfield High in Connecticut. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served honorably for four years. After returning home from Vietnam, he became an electrical apprentice under his father’s tutelage. He was a journeyman electrician until he retired for health reasons in 2009.

He married Ruby Wood of Island Pond in June of 1976. They relocated to Bradenton, Florida, in 1978. They had two sons: Jamie and Russell Jr. Mr. Cook was very active in his sons’ lives. He coached his sons’ teams for many years in soccer and baseball. He held leadership positions and even refereed youth soccer. This support continued with his grandchildren, as he attended and cheered at countless recreational league basketball games.

Later in life, Mr. Cook was active with organizations such as the Moose Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He devoted countless hours at American Legion Post #312 in Oneco, Florida. He was proud to wear many hats for the American Legion. He could be found helping in the office, kitchen, calling bingo, or organizing various charity events, and was honored to have been a past commander for the American Legion.

He is survived by two sons: Jamie Cook and his wife, Cristi, of North Port, Florida, and Russell Cook Jr. and his wife, Crystal, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; five grandchildren: Connor, Emily, Ben, Ayden, and William; his mother Lorraine Cook Carter of Newport; two brothers: David and Larry Cook; two sisters-in-law: Elizabeth Cook and Linda Cook; an aunt, Wilma Devost; an uncle, Wayne Wheeler; his close cousins: Chuck Cook and Diane Parenteau; his nieces: Kristine, Jodie and Kim; and by his nephew Lance. He was predeceased by his father Charles Burt Cook of Greensboro, and by his step-father Richard Carter of Albany.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the Westlook Cemetery in Glover.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Russell Lee Cook Sr. may be made to Tidewell Hospice, 3355 26th Street W, Bradenton, Florida 34221.

Dale M. Willey

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 15:51:03 +0000

Dale M. Willey, 72, of Lowell, died suddenly of a heart attack on July 18, 2012, at his home.

He was born September 12, 1939, in Brighton, a son of Haroldand Ella (Judd) Willey.

He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. On October 10, 1959,he married Sadie Cutting, who survives him. Mr. Willey was employed as a heavy equipment operator for most of his career with Blow & Cote Inc., of Morrisville. He retired in 2011 with Gravel Brothers in Wolcott.

He held membership with the American Legion in Morrisville. Mr.Willey loved hunting, fishing, gardening and working on his gentleman’s farm. His grandchildren were the light of his life during his later years.

He is survived by his wife, Sadie Willey, of Lowell; by his children: Anita Gagner and her husband, Mark, of Eden, Brian Willey of New York City, and Darcy Patch and her husband, Jeremiah, of Eden Mills; by his grandchildren: Emily, D.H., and Joseph Gagner, and Sidney, Caleb, and Casey Patch; by the following siblings: Marilyn Curtis and her husband, William, of Newport, Paul Willey and his wife, Mary, of North Adams, Massachusetts, Harold Willey Jr. of Derby, Wayne Willey and his wife, Patricia, of Florida, Donald Willey of Massachusetts, Roger Willey and his wife, Deborah, of Lowell, and Brent Willey and his wife, Judy, of Troy; by sisters-in-law Linda Willey of Wolcott and Beverly Willey of Williamstown; by his former sisters-in-law Susan of Massachusetts and Avis of Enosburg; by numerous nieces, and nephews; and by great-nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a son, Craig Willey, in 1987 and by three brothers, Bruce, David, and Larry Willey.

Funeral services were held at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home on July 23. Interment followed in Mountain View Cemetery in Lowell with full military honors.

Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, Vermont Division, Inc., 55 Day Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495.

Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtisbritch.com .

Please help find a Disabled Veterans Daughter that lives or lived in Island Pond.

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 21:16:35 +0000

Dear Residents and Guests of Island Pond, VT.

The Veterans Administration (VA) in Northampton, Massachusetts has a disabled veteran whom is in search of his daughter whom he has not seen in many years. If someone knows of this persons location and how to contact her please contact us so we many make his wish come true.
...
The name of the person we are in search of is Crystal McCormick, however, she may have a taken a married name. The veteran has explained that she was born and raised in Island Pond, Vermont, so this is my first logical attempt at possibly locating her. According to the veteran, his daughter would be about nineteen years old today. If you know of the party in question or you if you don't, would you please refer me to someone that might be able to help?

In this time of so much pain here in the United States and Canada let us try to make this a happy ending.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration in this matter.

Dale - Webmaster Island Pond Dot Com http://www.islandpond.com/

Blueberries

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:18:27 +0000

I was wondering about the blueberries, when are they expected to be ripe? Just bought blueberry rake, anxious to go to Camp and try it out. Thanks

Area Young People Enjoy Working Outdoors In YCC

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 17:07:14 +0000

Area Young People Enjoy Working Outdoors In YCC

For the past several years, the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge has hired local youth to help preserve the environment
of the North Country, and has partnered with the Northwoods Stewardship Center, based in East Charleston, Vt., to sponsor the Youth Conservation
Corps (YCC).

The YCC group from Blueberry Swamp in Colebrook has been working for the past two weeks in Bloomfield in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. Eleven-year veteran leader Steve Farrow of Newport explained, “The Blueberry Swamp YCC group received its name because the original YCC group started working in Blueberry Swamp to help preserve the endangered Spruce Grouse. Each YCC group receives a special identifying government name, and that’s how this group’s name came to be.” Farrow’s assistant leader, first-year leader, Amanda Marquis of Canaan, said, “Where else would you get paid to be outdoors and enjoy the beautiful North Country every day?” Those sentiments were echoed by their group consisting of Dylan Pepin and Maylynda Fairgruve of Island Pond, Ethan Emerson of Groveton and Daniel Eastland of Bloomfield.

The summer program lasts for six weeks and consists of one week of training before the actual physical work begins. This group has spent the past two weeks clearing the woods and providing grazing areas for wildlife that would otherwise be hampered by the tree growth leaving no clear space for the animals to group. Most days, they hike at least a few miles to where their work is then laid out for them.
The day begins at eight and ends at four thirty, but, as Eastland said, “This is my third year with YCC, and I love being in the woods all day as well as working in the area where I live.”

The second group working with them is led by Susie Riley of Brunswick, second-year leader, and Brendan Jacob Whittaker of Brunswick, first year leader. This group has also worked in Whitefield, but, according to Riley, “We are looking forward to being at Great Falls National Wilderness in Massachusetts during the week of July 16, when we will be part of the YCC crew, and we will camp out with the crew for the week and help with their projects. They will then come north and help us.” The youth working on this crew consists of Kyle Howarth of Brunswick, Nathan Fogg and Willson Bronson of Groveton, and Asenath Brooks of Colebrook. This crew had special praise for their two leaders. Added Fogg, “I love working with my hands to accomplish something, and also know that I have helped everyone who hikes in the woods or the animals living there have a better quality of life because of our hard work in clearing the trails.” Riley said, “I returned for a second year because I love physical work and the environment, but I especially enjoy working with youth and teaching them an appreciation for nature and our North Country.

Although both groups cited heat, bugs and fatigue as negatives, all of them agreed they were very happy they were chosen out of the many applicants
to be part of the program. Bronson summed up the experience by saying, “I enjoy nature and all it has to offer, but I am especially glad to be
preparing for my career in the U.S. Army, which will be very physical, and which I will join after I graduate next year.”

Although, the work is difficult and physically demanding, leaders and crew all agree that they have the “best jobs of the summer.”

40th Army Band, August 5th 2012 Pavilion Park

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:47:06 +0000

The Vermont National Guard
in association with the
Island Pond Chamber of Commerce

Presents

Vermont's own

40th Army Band

August 5th 2012

1 PM

Free!

Pavilion Park
Down Town Island Pond

Karaoke Saturday July 14th from 6 to 9:30 PM. Downtown Island Pond Pavilion.

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:24:57 +0000

Karaoke
Saturday July 14th from 6 to 9:30 PM.

Come join the fun!

Downtown Island Pond Pavilion.

July 4th Festival another success in Island Pond, VT.

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:28:50 +0000

July 4^th Festival another success in Island Pond, VT.

The weekend of July 6^th thru the 8^th of 2012, was another great success for the Island Pond Chamber of Commerce and its July 4^th Festival.

With events held each day through the weekend a good draw of people from all over the area including Canada, and the so called “Flatlanders” from the states south of here enjoyed the weekend. Starting on Friday evening July 6^th the guests and residents were treated to the Annual “Friday Night Live” with the band Classis Rewind, many vendors great food and nice weather to boot.

Saturday started a little cloudy a few sprinkles and than clear skies made for another great day. The annual parade was a great site to enjoy and watch as many floats passed by and the bands played some great music. Than we made our way back to the park and the Vendors, Food, Beverage’s started flowing again as the Kingdom Dixie Band started off another nice day to enjoy the outside. The Canoe Race was an event that one should come and participate in. Those whom participated enjoyed the event just a well as the on lookers. Music by Twelve Tribes was well attended and the Valley Improv - Improvisational Comedy was a sight to see and enjoy. Than came along the Easy Street Band which played their heats out as they stated playing at 7pm and stopped just long enough for the fireworks and than continued to shall we say “The lights went out”. The band was so welcomed and enjoyed by the residents and guests that they were supposed to stop playing at 11pm but everyone was enjoying then so much they played until they just about fell asleep. Maybe the Chamber will bring them back for a encore gig before the snow flies. Hint, Hint.

The fireworks show was another spectacular event with an estimated crowd waiting around the lake of 2000 (not bad for a small town of less than 1000), from the first explosion to the end, the show of approximately 22 minutes was better than anyone expected for a chamber that relies heavily on donations to provide the Fireworks, Friday Night Live and other events through out the year. Than came the traffic jam! What? A traffic jam in Island Pond which has not even a real traffic light (other than the flashing stop sign). Brought back many memories when Island Pond was an active railroad area with its Train Station, Round House and 13 sets of rails in the center of town.

Sunday arrived with a nice cool breeze out of the northwest, while the states south of us had highs in the 90’s. (always cooler up here ya know) Noon stated the Cardboard Boat Race where the only materials allowed: Cardboard, duct or masking tape, liquid nails adhesive, latex paint and varnish, and NO plastic sheeting. This was a sight to see, some sank, some gave up paddling to the finish line and everyone had a grand time. Remember folks there is always next year, so start planning now.

In a closing fashion of the July 4^th festival, the annual Rubber Duck race was held and as usual some lucky person won the pot. So folks don’t forget to purchase your duck for next years race and make plans to attend next years annual July 4^th festival.

Remember Island Pond does not go away any time of the year (well maybe we slow down a little during “Mud Season”) our stores, lodging faculties and residents are always waiting for you to come on up and spend a day or more and enjoy what we have to offer. We welcome you with open arms.

Click here to watch the last 10 minutes of the July 4th 2012 fireworks display

Enjoy and stay safe

Vermont man attempts break-in, found dead

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 12:58:07 +0000

BURKE — Vermont State Police say a man has died after he attempted to break into a house by smashing a glass window, then receiving numerous, severe cuts as he climbed through it.
Police responded to a report on Wednesday of a dead man on the kitchen floor of the house in Burke, which was unoccupied.
They identified the man as 73-year-old Duwayne Masure of Sutton.
They are investigating it as an untimely death. Autopsy and toxicology results are pending.

A view from Island Pond, VT

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:55:40 +0000

Looking out over Island Pond toward Canada over toward Newport than Jay Peak

Attached Files

ipnw2.wmv 4.99MB 4 downloads

Friday Night Live & July 4th Weekend in Island Pond, VT. 2012

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:37:01 +0000

Just a reminder folks;

The now famous “Friday Night Live” starts this Friday June 22^nd 2012, at 6 PM with the band Rock On which is a classic rock band. Plenty of food and entertainment, at area restaurants, fine lodging and hospitality here in the Village of Island Pond.

Friday Night Live runs from June 22^nd to August 31^st. So make a weekend of it and come and spend a weekend in Island Pond, and explore the back roads and what we have to offer not only in the winter but what we have also in the summer.

July 4^th weekend in Island Pond, VT. is what Independence Day is all about!

With many towns and cities not holding a fire works display this year. The Island Pond Chamber of Commerce is once again sponsoring the July 4^th Weekend starting on Friday July 6^th with the following:

6-10 PM
Classic Rewind band
Vendors & Barbecue

July 7th

11 AM - Parade - DowntownIsland Pond
12 Noon - Kingdom Dixie Band
1:30 PM - Canoe Race
2-4 PM - Music by Twelve Tribes
4-6 PM - Valley Improv - Improvisational Comedy
7-11 PM - Easy Street Band
Dusk-Fireworks (rain date July 8th)

July 8th

12 Noon - Cardboard Boat Race
Materials allowed: Cardboard, duct or masking tape, liquid nails adhesive, latex paint and varnish, NO plastic sheeting
For more details contact Jeanne Gervais 802-723-6138.

1 PM - Duck Race

Buy your ducks online at www.islandpondchamber.org or at participating merchants.

Please note that the Chamber of Commerce is always looking for new Members and Donations for its yearly events.

If you would like to become a member or make a donation please contact the Island Pond Chamber of Commerce.

Click here to contact

Friday Night Live & July 4th Weekend in Island Pond, VT. 2012

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:31:27 +0000

Just a reminder folks:

The now famous “Friday Night Live” starts this Friday June 22^nd 2012, at 6 PM with the band Rock On which is a classic rock band. Plenty of food and entertainment, at area restaurants, fine lodging and hospitality here in the Village of Island Pond.

Friday Night Live runs from June 22^nd to August 31^st. So make a weekend of it and come and spend a weekend in Island Pond, and explore the back roads and what we have to offer not only in the winter but what we have also in the summer.

July 4^th weekend in Island Pond, VT. is what Independence Day is all about!

With many towns and cities not holding a fire works display this year. The Island Pond Chamber of Commerce is once again sponsoring the July 4^th Weekend starting on Friday July 6^th with the following:

6-10 PM
Classic Rewind band
Vendors & Barbecue

July 7th

11 AM - Parade - DowntownIsland Pond
12 Noon - Kingdom Dixie Band
1:30 PM - Canoe Race
2-4 PM - Music by Twelve Tribes
4-6 PM - Valley Improv - Improvisational Comedy
7-11 PM - Easy Street Band
Dusk-Fireworks (rain date July 8th)

July 8th

12 Noon - Cardboard Boat Race
Materials allowed: Cardboard, duct or masking tape, liquid nails adhesive, latex paint and varnish, NO plastic sheeting
For more details contact Jeanne Gervais 802-723-6138.

1 PM - Duck Race

Buy your ducks online at www.islandpondchamber.org or at participating merchants.

Please note that the Chamber of Commerce is always looking for new Members and Donations for its yearly events.

If you would like to become a member or make a donation please contact the Island Pond Chamber of Commerce.

Click here to contact

Frieda Neubauer Gibbs

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:05:06 +0000

Frieda Neubauer Gibbs, 95, of Island Pond died peacefully in West Lafayette, Indiana, on June 6, 2012.
She was born on June 14, 1916, in Germany. She married Oscar Gibbs of Woodstock, who died in 1997. They lived in Woodstock for some 40 years. In the mid-1980s, they retired to Island Pond, the place Mrs. Gibbs treasured for the deep friendships she developed.
For many years she worked at the Mary Hitchcock and VA hospitals as an EEG and EKG technician, jobs in which she found great satisfaction.
She loved many things — animals, gardening, needlework, books, puzzles, people, and rousing discussions and debates.
But above all, she loved her family. She is survived by her daughter Inge Erickson of West Lafayette; her grandchildren: Cassandra Erickson and her partner, Jackie Weller, of Indianapolis, Indiana, Catherine Toon and her husband, Brian, of Colorado Springs; and by her great-grandchildren: Veronica, Rachel and Robert Toon.
She will be missed very much, but she rests in the loving comfort of the Lord.
Arrangements are pending

Mountiain Bikers Flock To Northeast Trails

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 04:23:35 +0000

EAST BURKE, Vt. (AP) -- Vermont's remote Northeast Kingdom is getting a financial boost from mountain bikers.

Cyclists began arriving in the northern Vermont region in late April to ride on Kingdom Trails' 110-mile trail network at a cost of $15 a day or $75 for a season pass. Cross-country skiers use the trails in the winter.

The average visitor spends about $100 a day, meaning last year's 49,000 riders pumped about $5 million into the economy, said Kingdom Trails Executive Director Jim Tierney.

It wouldn't be possible without the generosity of the 55 or so property owners who loan the use of their land and expect nothing in return except for well-behaved bike riders. Kingdom Trails is a nonprofit organization based in East Burke that encourages recreational use of the Northeast Kingdom.

"Non-motorized recreation can make a pretty big difference in the community and have a pretty low impact, really," Tierney said. ""These people come, they enjoy, they leave and they come back."

On a recent day, most cars at the Vermont Trails' welcome center had Canadian license plates. Word has spread about the trails, Brian Scott told Vermont Public Radio (http://bit.ly/MjtpOW ) as he cleaned his bike.

"People from Montreal, through the Internet and forums and things like that, we all know that this is one of the best places in New England, and, actually, in North America, to go biking," he said.

Vermont’s Free Fishing Day is Sat., June 9th

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:20:26 +0000

Vermont’s Free Fishing Day is Sat., June 9th

If you’ve been looking for a good excuse to give fishing a try, here it is! Saturday, June 9, is Vermont’s Free Fishing Day -- the one day in the year when residents and nonresidents may go fishing in the Green Mountain State without a fishing license.

Fishing is a quiet, relaxing way to enjoy Vermont’s scenic outdoors with many accompanying benefits. There’s the opportunity to catch-and-release, or take home for dinner, a variety of fish, including trout, salmon, bass, perch, and northern pike as well as other species. Almost invariably you will see wildlife while fishing in Vermont. A bald eagle or osprey soaring overhead is an experience you will always remember. Whether you get out there alone or take friends or family, a good day of fishing makes memories that will last a lifetime.

Vermont has 284 lakes and over 7,000 miles of clear streams offering the greatest variety of high quality fresh water fishing in the Northeast, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Finding a place to fish in Vermont is easy, but the department also hosts a special event especially for kids on Free Fishing Day in Grand Isle.

The “Grand Isle Fishing Festival” will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Free Fishing Day at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle. Designed for young anglers, this free event offers basic fishing instruction and the chance for kids to catch big trout in a pond next to the hatchery.

To find out more about Vermont's great fishing opportunities and to plan your fishing trip, contact the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (Tel. 802-241-3700) and ask for a copy of their “Hunting, Fishing & Trapping Laws and Guide.” You can also email them at fwinformation@state.vt.us or discover more from their website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com ).

While there, check their new interactive page about Family Friendly Fishing spots: http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/fish_familyfishing.cfm

Vermont’s Free Fishing Day is Sat., June 9th

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:03:47 +0000

Vermont’s Free Fishing Day is Sat., June 9th

VERMONT FISH & WILDLIFE

Vermont’s Free Fishing Day is Sat., June 9th

If you’ve been looking for a good excuse to give fishing a try, here it is! Saturday, June 9, is Vermont’s Free Fishing Day -- the one day in the year when residents and nonresidents may go fishing in the Green Mountain State without a fishing license.

Fishing is a quiet, relaxing way to enjoy Vermont’s scenic outdoors with many accompanying benefits. There’s the opportunity to catch-and-release, or take home for dinner, a variety of fish, including trout, salmon, bass, perch, and northern pike as well as other species. Almost invariably you will see wildlife while fishing in Vermont. A bald eagle or osprey soaring overhead is an experience you will always remember. Whether you get out there alone or take friends or family, a good day of fishing makes memories that will last a lifetime.

Vermont has 284 lakes and over 7,000 miles of clear streams offering the greatest variety of high quality fresh water fishing in the Northeast, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Finding a place to fish in Vermont is easy, but the department also hosts a special event especially for kids on Free Fishing Day in Grand Isle.

The “Grand Isle Fishing Festival” will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Free Fishing Day at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle. Designed for young anglers, this free event offers basic fishing instruction and the chance for kids to catch big trout in a pond next to the hatchery.

To find out more about Vermont's great fishing opportunities and to plan your fishing trip, contact the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (Tel. 802-241-3700) and ask for a copy of their “Hunting, Fishing & Trapping Laws and Guide.” You can also email them at fwinformation@state.vt.us or discover more from their website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com ).

While there, check their new interactive page about Family Friendly Fishing spots: http://www.vtfishand...milyfishing.cfm

Hellbilly Hideaway Stays Open

Tue, 29 May 2012 21:28:33 +0000

Hellbilly Hideaway Stays Open
DERBY – In what was going to be a sad weekend for patrons of Hellbilly Hideaway turned out to be anything but.
Hellbilly Hideaway is located at the Border Motel on Route 5.
Up until last week, co-owners Serena and Ira Morgan faced closing the popular bar because the town planned to sell the property at a tax auction. The Village of Derby also shut off the water because the owner had not paid the water taxes. However, that has all changed and the future of the bar is safe for now.
“The owner of the motel worked out a lease agreement with somebody who wanted to manage it,” said Ira Morgan of the motel. “The new manager took care of all the water bills and whatnot.”
The person who leased the motel is working on cleaning it to make the property look “real nice,” Morgan said.
Ira Morgan is delighted with the news that the bar will remain open.
“You never want to go out of business on someone else’s terms,” he said. “When and if we decide to close the doors, we want to make that decision, not be forced into it.”
According to Ira Morgan, many of the bar’s customers were happy about it remaining open.
“We opened up Friday night and started letting people know,” said Ira Morgan. “Some people came in with tears, sad we were closing. We told them we were staying open and there were smiles all around.”
The tax sale is still a possibility, but Ira Morgan is hopeful everything will work out.

Friday Night Live in Island Pond, VT. 2012

Sun, 27 May 2012 11:54:57 +0000

Friday Night Live
in
Island Pond, VT.
2012

Live Music, Vendors and Food

Every Friday 6 PM to 10 PM

June 22 - August 31

Pavilion Park
Down Town Island Pond, VT.

Summer Event Schedule
Come Join The Fun
Shop - Eat - Be Entertained

Food, lodging and camping
Available, spend
the summer with us!

June 22 - Rock On - Classic Rock

June 29 - Tim Bricks - Country

July 6 - Classic Rewind - Classic Rock

July 13 - Tommy & The Tricksters

July 20 - Mark Shelton - Rock & Roll

July 27 - Bus Drivers - Classic Rock

August 3 - Jimmy T - Classic Rock

August 10 - Michael Hands Band

August 17 - Flashback - Classic Rock

August 24 - ETA - Classic Rock

August 31 - Area 51 - Rock

Sponsored by

Island Pond Chamber of Commerce

PO Box 255

Island Pond, Vermont 05846

802-673-1854

www.islandpondchamber.org

802-723-6194 (Katherine)

802-723-6138 (Jeanne)

Vendor Contact 802-723-6184 (Justin)

July 4th Celebration Weekend, July 6th, 7th, 8th 2012

Sun, 27 May 2012 11:49:33 +0000

July 4th Celebration Weekend
July 6th, 7th, 8th
2012
in
Island Pond, VT.

Friday July 6th

6-10 PM
Classic Rewind band
Vendors & Barbecue

July 7th

11 AM - Parade - Downtown Island Pond
12 Noon - Kingdom Dixie Band
1:30 PM - Canoe Race
2-4 PM - Music by Twelve Tribes
4-6 PM - Valley Improv - Improvisational Comedy
7-11 PM - Easy Street Band
Dusk-Fireworks (rain date July 8th)

July 8th

12 Noon - Cardboard Boat Race
Materials allowed: Cardboard, duct or masking tape, liquid nails adhesive, latex paint and varnish, NO plastic sheeting
For more details contact Jeanne Gervais 802-723-6138.

1 PM - Duck Race
Buy your ducks online at www.islandpondchamber.org or at participating merchants.

2 PM - Boat Parade
Sponsored by The Lake Association

Events may be changed, canceled or rescheduled due to weather or situations beyond our control

Limited All-Terrain Vehicle Reciprocity with Vermont and New Hampshire

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:47:54 +0000

Limited All-Terrain Vehicle Reciprocity with Vermont and New Hampshire

All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) enthusiasts in New Hampshire and Vermont will be able to enjoy limited ATV reciprocity between the two states.

During 2012 and 2013, from May 23 through December 1, ATVs that are properly registered in Vermont may be operated in New Hampshire on state ATV trails without being required to obtain a New Hampshire Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV) registration. Likewise, properly registered New Hampshire ATVs may operate in Vermont on approved ATV trails during the May 23 to December 1 time period without the requirement to purchase a state of Vermont registration, however a Vermont All Terrain Vehicle Sportsmen Association (VASA) trail pass is required on VASA trails, as well as proof of having completed an approved ATV safety class for operators under 18 years of age.

This rule includes a two-year sunset provision and will end on December 1, 2013.

Vermont ATV enthusiasts riding in New Hampshire must follow all applicable laws and rules governing operation, include youth operation equirements, spark arrestors, exhaust requirements, etc. Any operator 12 years of age and over must show proof of an approved safety education class or possess a valid motor vehicle driver's license.

An ATV is defined as any motor-driven vehicle which has one or more lowpressure tires (less than 10 pounds per square inch), weighing less than 1,000 pounds and not exceeding 50 inches in width. Therefore, operation of side-byside utility vehicles (UTVs) and trail bikes is not included in this new rule. These vehicles must be properly registered in New Hampshire to ride here, and may only ride in approved areas.

For New Hampshire OHRV rules and information visit www.ride.nh.gov or www.nhtrails.org. In Vermont: www.vtvasa.org.

Limited All-Terrain Vehicle Reciprocity with Vermont and New Hampshire

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:45:14 +0000

Vermont Moose Hunting Applications Are Available Statewide

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:10:37 +0000

Vermont Moose Hunting Applications Are Available Statewide

WAITSFIELD, VT -- Vermont moose hunting permit applications have been available on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) since early May, but printed applications are now at Vermont license agents statewide.

Lottery applications are $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. The deadline to apply is July 5. Winners of the permit lottery will purchase resident hunting permits for $100 and nonresident hunting permits for $350. Hunters also will have the option to bid on five moose hunting permits in an auction to be announced later.

The Fish and Wildlife Department is issuing 385 moose hunting permits for the regular October 20-25 moose season, and 50 permits for an archery moose season October 1-7.

The 2011 Vermont Moose Harvest Report with details on last year’s hunt, including the towns where moose were taken, is on Fish and Wildlife’s website. Look under “Hunting and Trapping” and then “Big Game.”

Vermont Moose Hunting Applications Are Available Statewide

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:08:19 +0000

George Nelson Testut

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:25:58 +0000

George Nelson Testut, 79, of Island Pond died on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in his winter home in Brooksville, Florida, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with kidney disease.
He was born on July 12, 1932, in Somerville, New Jersey, to Gustave Testut and Mary Korona Testut. He came to Island Pond as an infant and attended St. Mary’s School. As a young adult he worked in the Roxie Theater in town and was fond of reminiscing about his adventures running the film projectors and growing up in Island Pond. He played basketball at St. Mary’s High School, enjoyed tennis, golf, shuffle board, and was known to shoot a good game of pool. He spent the majority of his working life as a conductor and brakeman for the Canadian National Railroad until his retirement in 1989.
Mr. Testut loved being surrounded by his family and looked forward to having family and friends in his home. He enjoyed good food, sitting in the sun, and visiting with friends and family. He loved playing cards, cribbage, canasta, and gin rummy, and looked forward to his next competitor.
During his last year of life, he was happy to escape the long Island Pond winter and become a “snow bird” in Florida. He loved the Florida winter weather and spent many of his days in leisure on his porch, visiting with his friends and neighbors. Despite his progressively worsening health, he
looked forward to trips to the ocean and riding his golf cart around his new neighborhood. He will be remembered for his wit and humor, for always being in for a good laugh, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
He is survived by his wife Barbara Coppola Testut; his brother Gilbert Testut and his partner, Joan Lozier, of Branford, Connecticut; his step-children: Kenneth Carlisle of Alexandria, Virginia, Michael Carlisle and his wife, Peggy, of Danville, Suzanne Carlisle Stebenne and her husband, Donald, of Hartland, Patrick Carlisle of Quechee, and Peter Carlisle and his wife, Lisa, of North Attleboro, Massachusetts; his children: Lorraine Savoy and her husband, Ron, of Ridgecrest, California, Michael Testut and his wife, Lois, of Island Pond, Connie Walker of Underhill, Gayle Reynolds and her husband, Dennis, of Virginia, and Lori Testut of Lyndonville; his nephews: Jeff Testut and his wife, Tammy of Branford, Gary Testut and his wife, Sandi, of Gainesville, Virginia, and Brian Testut and his wife, Socorro, of Norwich, Connecticut; and by many grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents; a daughter, Doreen Testut; a son, Larry Testut; his sister-in-law Monica Testut; and by
his son-in-law Robert Walker.
A Catholic graveside ceremony and interment will be held at Lakeview Cemetery in Island Pond at a later date.

Marilyn A. Page

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:17:09 +0000

Marilyn A. Page, 70, of Island Pond died on May 11, 2012, in Newport.
She was born on May 23, 1941, in Enosburg, a daughter of Walter and Evelyn (Kennison) Page.
She was employed by Columbia Forest Products where she retired in 2000 after 38 years of service. She enjoyed NASCAR and baseball as she was an avid Red Sox fan.
She is survived by her sister Sheila Joyal of South Burlington; by her lifelong friend Helen Corliss of Island Pond; by her sisters-in-law: Rachel Page and Gabriel Page; and by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Bonnie Gendreau, and by three brothers: Ronald, Dale and Jerry Page.
Graveside services will be announced at a later date.
Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may made to the Lund Family Center, 76 Glenn Road, Burlington, Vermont 05401.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britchconverse-rushford.com

One last bash for Hellbilly Hideaway

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:57:31 +0000

One last bash for Hellbilly Hideaway
DERBY — Come Saturday, the owners of Hellbilly Hideaway, a bar located at the Border Motel in Derby, will have their last bash. A sign stuck on the front door informs the bar’s clientele that, due to circumstances beyond the owners’ control, it will be closing for good on Sunday.
“Come help us celebrate an unfortunate end to three great and fun filled years at Hellbilly Hideaway,” the sign says.
“We were unfortunately forced into closing due to our landlord refusing to make payments on the water and sewer, forcing the town to shut off the water to the building. Fortunately the wonderful people at the water department are willing to turn the water on so we can have an appropriate celebration to end our run as the best bar in the NEK.
Hellbilly Hideaway owner Ira Morgan said he showed up for work Tuesday, May 15, and discovered he had no water. The week before, the electricity had been shut off for nonpayment. He restored power to his bar, but the motel itself, which he does not own and has nothing to do with, remains without power, as well as water.
Mr. Morgan said his bar is now the only area of the once popular Border Motel that has electricity.
But he isn’t going to pay the past due water and sewer bills for the motel as well as his own business. Those bills amount to $7,567, according
to Derby Village Clerk Betsy Bumps.
Mr. Morgan leases his bar from Christine Barch of Granby, Massachusetts, who bought the Border Motel in 2002.
Since then there have been numerous financial problems. The motel was up for tax sale in 2010, but the taxes were eventually paid. It’s again up for tax sale, with $26,830 in overdue taxes — two years worth — said Derby Treasurer and Tax Collector Mary Ann Tetreault.
A sale date has not yet been scheduled, but the matter is in the hands of the town’s attorney, which means that legal fees are added to the original tax bill, Ms. Tetreault said.
At this point, it would take nearly $47,000 to get the building simply functional again.
Besides the $26,830 in taxes and the $7,567 in overdue water and sewer bills, it would cost $12,500 to restore electricity.
That’s according to George Patropoulos, Ms. Barch’s partner.
He said the motel originally owed $12,000 for electricity. Had Vermont Electric Cooperative kept the power on for another eight hours, the bill
would have been paid, he said. However, Motel’s water and electricity have been cut off electricity was disconnected in the midst of payment negotiations, and now a $6,500 deposit is required to turn it back on, he said.

Mr. Patropoulos attributed the motel’s financial troubles to “a sign of the times. The business has gone down, and the water has gone up 500 percent,” he said. “The bills were astronomical.”
He said that he and Ms. Barch have been absentee owners for the past five years and other people have been running the motel.

“We didn’t even know it was in financial distress,” Mr. Patropoulos said.
He said he did not currently know how to get hold of the manager, who has “disappeared.”
Originally, Ms. Barch had planned to run the motel herself, he said. The couple viewed it as a business that could stay afloat and pay the bills,
particularly with a good trade from snowmobilers.
But a few winters with skimpy snow hurt the snowmobiling business, Mr. Patropoulos said.
And then Ms. Barch got got sick. She is now disabled, Mr. Patropoulos said. He said that he, too, is disabled, so it’s out of the question that he
and Ms. Barch could run the motel themselves.
They have put it up for sale, and he said there is some interest. He said he is also talking to someone who is serious about leasing it.
The motel had several long-term tenants, people who rented by the week or month rather than by the night. They have been asked to leave, he said.
“We’ve had no motel business for two years,” Mr. Petropoulos said.
He said the income from tenants has been nowhere near enough to cover expenses.
For his part, Mr. Morgan said he asked the owner to pay the water and sewer bill and was told they didn’t have the money.
“We had to make a decision on what to do, and we decided to close up shop,” Mr. Morgan said.
The village kindly agreed to turn the water on for two days so he could have a final party, he said.
“We’re going to have music and drink specials all weekend long.”
He said he’d grown attached to the bar, its location, and its clientele. Hellbilly Hideaway has been a mellow bar with fun-loving but relaxed customers who have helped the business raise a lot of money for charities in the area, he said.
Mr. Morgan said he’s reliably paid his rent, and it’s absolutely unfair to be forced out of the lease and location under these circumstances.
“You always want to go out on your own terms.”
The bar has been his livelihood, and there is no unemployment for the self-employed if they go out of business, he noted.
He does not know what the next step will be. “That’s the million dollar question. We’ve got a few weeks ahead of us, getting our bar cleared of
equipment.”
Asked about the looming tax sale, Mr. Patropoulos said he thinks he and Ms. Barch will come up with the taxes due.
The Border Motel is at least 50 years old and once had a popular restaurant and lounge.

Jay Peak owners buy Burke Mountain

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:22:04 +0000

BURKE, Vt. -
The owners of the Jay Peak ski resort are expanding their ski empire and buying the other major Northeast Kingdom ski area-- Burke Mountain Resort.
Bill Stenger and Ariel Quiros completed the purchase of Burke earlier this week for an undisclosed price.
Burke has been in the process of trying to expand with permits to add new slope-side housing. The new owners say they will review those plans and hope the resort will continue to prosper and grow. They also expect to run some joint promotions between Burke and Jay.

Island Pond Resident Marsden Faces Sentencing On Federal Firearms Charges

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:03:56 +0000

When state police Sgt. Sean Selby visited the home of Darlene Marsden in Island Pond, he was there to question her son, Mark Marsden, 50, about some burglaries that occurred in Lyndonville and Danville on Feb. 10, 2010.

After speaking with Mark for awhile about the burglaries, Sgt. Selby obtained Darlene Marsden's consent to search her home. Selby also obtained Mark Marsden's consent to search his bedroom. Mark lived with his mother.

The state police observed guns in plain view through the open door of his bedroom. At the time, Marsden had a criminal record with convictions which made it illegal for him to possess firearms. Because Mark Marsden admitted the firearms were his, he was eventually charged by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont with being a convicted felon in possession of firearms.

The offense carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine.

The federal prosecutor, Tristam Coffin, cites Marsden's convictions on three counts of third degree burglary in the State of Connecticut as grounds for charging Marsden with the federal firearms charges.

On February 10, 2010, Marsden and James Sherman, 34, Island Pond, allegedly broke into the Lyndonville Agway and the Bagel Depot, both on Broad St. in Lyndonville. They then drove to Danville, where state police say the pair burglarized Marty's First Stop. The thieves stole a large quantity of cigarettes and other tobacco products from Marty's, a cash register from the Bagel Depot and a cash register and road salt from the Agway store in Lyndonville.

During the investigation of those crimes, state police recognized a truck, captured on surveillance video, as belonging to Marsden. Within hours state police caught up with Marsden and Sherman, both of whom eventually admitted burglarizing the businesses.

When Sgt. Selby traveled to the Marsden home in Island Pond to question Mark Marsden, the firearms were discovered. Marsden entered guilty pleas to burglary charges in connection with the breakins and was sentenced in state court to three-to-eight years in prison, all suspended except for 18 months.

Found in Mark Marsden's bedroom were a 12-gauge shotgun and a .38 caliber Revolver. On March 28, 2012, U.S. District Judge J. Garvan Murtha issued a final order of forfeiture. The forfeited firearms will be disposed of by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Marsden pleaded guilty to the federal firearms charge on December 28, 2011 and will be sentenced in U.S. District Court in Burlington on April 30, 2012. According to assistant federal prosecutor Wendy Fuller, she will recommend Marsden be given a sentence of time served. Marsden has been in federal custody on the firearm charges since February, 2011. A time served sentence will mean Marsden spent more than a year in federal custody on the gun possession charge, according to Fuller.

13 Indicted In IP Meth Case

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:22:38 +0000

BURLINGTON, VT - Thirteen Northeast Kingdom defendants have been indicted by federal grand jury with methamphetamine-related drug crimes following a raid on an Island Pond house in November of 2011.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Burlington will be prosecuting Carl Dewayne Coker, Charles Thomas Amerine III, Mandy Darlene Johnson, Frank Santaw, and Kevin Dodge with conspiring to manufacture five grams or more of methamphetamine from Spring 2011 to November 2011.
Frank Santaw and Kevin Dodge are also charged with conspiring to manufacture five grams or more of methamphetamine from September 2011 to December 2011.
Alicia Ovitt, Joshua Ovitt, and James Castrogiovanni are charged with conspiring together and with Coker, Amerine, Johnson, Santaw, and Dodge to possess and distribute pseudoephedrine, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine, from Spring 2011 to November 2011.
James Castrogiovanni, Honey Lee Lacourse, Roger Chaffee, Cheryl Hackett, Richard Lavoie, and Jaime Cross were charged with with conspiring together and with Santaw and Dodge to possess and distribute pseudoephedrine, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine, from September 2011 to in or about December 2011.
Coker, Amerine, and Johnson, all formerly of Island Pond, were arrested on November 18, 2011. Coker is detained pending trial. Santaw and Dodge, both of Island Pond, were arrested on December 16, 2011. Santaw is detained pending trial. The other eight defendants were arrested on April 17, 2012. Cross, Chaffee, and Lavoie are detained temporarily pending hearings scheduled for April 19, 2012.
United States Attorney Tristram J. Coffin emphasizes that the charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, defendants charged in Count 1 or 2 face imprisonment for a term between 5 and 40 years and defendants charged in Count 3 or 4 face imprisonment for a term up to 20 years. Actual sentences in the event of conviction would be determined pursuant to the advisory federal sentencing guidelines and the federal statutory sentencing factors.
The investigation of these crimes was led by the Vermont Drug Task Force with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Vermont State Police Field Force Division, the United States Marshals Service, and the Brighton Police Department assisted in the arrests of defendants. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Nolan.

Towers will be trucked from Brighton

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:30:16 +0000

ISLAND POND — Wind turbines destined for the Lowell Mountain project will start arriving in Brighton by rail in June, selectmen heard at their Tuesday night meeting.

Parts up to 203 feet long will travel by truck along town roads on their way to the construction site, according to representatives of Green Mountain Power (GMP) who traveled to Island Pond Tuesday to explain their plans.

According to Charlie Pough, one of GMP’s representatives, the turbine towers are assembled from three sections, and each is topped by three blades. Each part must move on its own truck, he said.

Plans call for the turbine parts to be shipped by Union Pacific Distribution via the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad to Island Pond.

They will arrive in two shipments — one in June, the other in August, Mr. Pough said. The Pelletier lumber yard will be used as a staging area.

Mr. Pough said trucks will start rolling on July 16 and continue through September 11, assuming weather doesn’t interfere. Under the terms of GMP’s permit from the state Agency of Transportation two trucks will run on one day, each carrying a section of the tower.

On the following day, four trucks will roll, three carrying the turbine blades and one with the last section of the tower.

Trucks are limited to running on weekdays in fair weather. According to Mr. Pough, each truck must wait to start for at least a half hour after the previous one sets out.

State regulations also require that each truck be preceded and followed by pairs of escort cars to warn traffic.

Mr. Pough said the trucks will travel toward Derby on Route 105. In Derby they will turn onto Interstate 91, getting off at Orleans and heading to Lowell on Route 58. He said there will be 105 truck trips in all.

Originally, Mr. Pough said, plans called for the parts to be shipped to Bellows Falls, but going by rail to Island Pond will save a total of 20,000 miles of trucking. He said GMP plans to file an amended transportation plan with the Public Service Board (PSB).

The loaded trucks, he said, weigh about 180,000 pounds, about twice as much as a normal tractor trailer, but because the weight is distributed across 13 axles, it causes less damage to roads.

The GMP representatives said they would survey town roads and repair any damage found to have occurred. The planners were surprised to hear from Town Administrator Joel Cope that Route 105, within Island Pond, is a town road, not a state road. They were also somewhat taken aback by the information, also provided by Mr. Cope, that plans to reconfigure the Pelletier property may require an amendment to the site’s conditional use zoning permit.

Mr. Cope said he believes much of that property is a wetland, although he was unsure of its category.

Doug Jones, who is supervising the necessary upgrades to the lumberyard, said wet conditions at the yard will necessitate raising the road leading out to Route 105 by at least six inches.

Mr. Cope said he thought any changes in the wetland area might require Act 250 approval, but Mr. Pough said such issues can be covered under Section 248 of Title 30, the statute under which the
PSB acts.

Mr. Pough said that GMP’s wetland experts will survey the area and write a report for state approval.

Giselle Chevallay, a Newark resident who attended the meeting, said she thought there might be a conflict of interest in that way of proceeding, but Mr. Pough assured her that it was how things are normally done.

After the GMP delegation left, the selectmen turned their attention to a potential wind project that would be closer at hand. Seneca Mountain Wind LLC, a joint development project of Eolian Renewable Energy, LLC and Nordex USA, has applied to the PSB for a permit allowing the company to place meteorological towers in Island Pond to see if the area is suitable for wind development.

The selectmen and Mr. Cope discussed what steps the town ought to take. Chairman of the Selectmen, Melinda Gervais, said she thinks it’s important for the town to participate in the process regardless of whether residents decide they want wind towers or not.

Selectmen and townspeople are to meet with representatives of Seneca Mountain Wind on Wednesday, April 18, at the Brighton Town Hall. The meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

NORTHEAST KINGDOM: Wind Test Towers Get Mixed Reviews

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:09:41 +0000

NORTHEAST KINGDOM: Wind Test Towers Get Mixed Reviews

A proposal to erect four temporary meteorological towers to help monitor wind in remote sections of Essex and Caledonia counties has triggered mixed reactions among some of the residents in the area.

Seneca Mountain Wind LLC, based in Portsmouth, N.H., sent advance notice dated March 6 describing a proposal for four test towers in the towns of Brighton, Ferdinand and Newark. The four towers are described as temporary meteorological towers ("METS").

After the 30 day advance notice period has passed, Seneca Mountain Wind LLC will apply for a Certificate of Public Good ("CPG") to install and operate the MET towers for a five-year period. The notice was signed by Jack Kenworthy, on behalf of Seneca Mountain Wind, LLC.,

The Brighton Select Board met Wednesday night and, according to Municipal Assistant Joel Cope, had a "broad ranging discussion" on the topic of the MET towers and wind power in general. While the selectmen took no formal action, according to Cope, the selectmen have directed Cope to forward a letter drafted by the Brighton Planning Board. The letter expresses concern over the planned MET towers.

The letter states "wind towers as proposed by Seneca Wind LLC may not be appropriate for this area," adding, "This area of the state contains some of the most sensitive and fragile natural areas in the state, as classified in a 1990 report done for the state Fish and Wildlife Dept." The letter continues, "The Planning Commission sees little of value or need in regard to this project." It was sent April 3 to Kenworthy as well as Newark, the Unified Towns and Gores of Essex County, the Vermont Public Service Board, the Dept. of Public Service, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Northeastern Vermont Development Agency and Northern Vermont Resource Conservation and Development Association.

According to Cope, the selectmen may decide to send a separate letter to Seneca Mountain Wind on behalf of the board as well. The selectmen's letter, according to Cope, will also express concern over the proposed temporary towers.

A selectmen's meeting on Tuesday in Newark also included a discussion of the proposed MET towers, according to an unapproved version of the minutes. Jack Kenworthy and Travis Bullard, representing Seneca Mountain Wind, attended the meeting at the invitation of Mike Channon, chairman of the Newark board.

Channon said a representative from Seneca Wind had called and offered to come to the meeting "to introduce himself." The matter was not on the warning and not everyone thought Kenworthy and Bullard's presence was appropriate.

According to the draft minutes, planning commission member Mark Whitworth said he thought "it was highly inappropriate that they were at the meeting." According to the minutes, "The Planning Commission had arranged for them to come to one of their meetings next week and everyone was working hard to get informed and educated so they could ask good questions and he felt that their showing up at this meeting hijacked the meeting for next week."

Eolian Wind, the parent company of Seneca Wind, is scheduled to meet with the Newark Planning Commission at 6:30 p.m. on April 11 at the Newark School.

At the Newark meeting, Kenworthy said MET towers will generally give results in around six months to one year, but they won't go forward without one year's worth of data.

Each of the proposed towers would be 190 feet tall. One tower, designated the "Brighton Tower," would be erected at the same site where a MET tower was previously installed. A second tower would be erected on a site north of Bull Mountain in Brighton. A third tower, designated "Seneca Mountain Tower," would be located in Ferdinand at the same location as a previous MET tower. The fourth tower is designated "Hawk Rock" tower and would be installed in Newark. All four towers will be either tubular steel or lattice type.

On March 23, the Newark Planning Commission sent a letter to Kenworthy taking him to task, stating "The fact that you do not see how your project could impact these natural resources is a great concern to us."

There is support for the proposed MET towers or plans for a wind farm. Stephen Osborne, who lives on Lake Street in Island Pond, said Brighton Municipal Assistant Joel Cope and the Planning Commission "don't speak for everyone in Island Pond." He said the only people who are counted are "certain people who hang around downtown" and that the residents such as himself who tend to stay at home and not speak out support the wind farm. He explained that he retired as an employee of the Canadian National Railroad and that he has seen lost economic opportunities and lost jobs in Island Pond. He said, "Most of the people support the proposal," adding, "I have nothing against it. There'll be some jobs there."

Another landowner, David Jacobs, from East Haven, is more cautious. "I think they should wait and see what Lowell and Sheffield wind farms actually produce and how much electricity they turn out." He said he thinks the effects of a wind farm "on the ecology and the animals," should be measured and the question posed should be, "Are they worth it?" His advice is, "Don't be in such a hurry."

Jack Kenworthy said "we think the site is suitable." He added data from the two previous wind measurement towers tell him, "the site looks strong." He said the proposed area appears to have, "good winds and good roads." He said that the wind farms will sign long term power contracts with utilities that will be competitive" and, "in our view will be a key component of a diversified supply" of local, renewable power.

Burglaries Reported In Bloomfield

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:16:54 +0000

Vt. State police are investigating a number of break-ins in Bloomfield. It is not known if they are related at this time. Thomas Roy, Sr., of Bloomfield, Vt., reported to Vt. State Police that sometime between 10 p.m. and 12 midnight on March 20 someone entered his residence, while he and Eileen Purrington, 73, were asleep inside, and stole an undisclosed amount of cash. Anyone with any information, to include vehicles or people in the area during this timeframe are asked to contact Senior Trooper Amy Borsari at VSP-Derby at(802) 334-8881

Police report that Troy Champagne, 36, of Winnabow, N.C., called to report that sometime between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on March 21, 2012, someone entered his motor vehicle, which was parked in the driveway at 642 Vt. Rte. 105 in Bloomfield, Vt. The offender(s) then drove the vehicle into a ditch at the bottom of the driveway, getting it stuck and causing damage to the vehicle. Prior to leaving, the offender(s) stole several electronic items out of the vehicle, including an Apple Ipad 2, a cell phone, a DVD player and a camera. Anyone with any information regarding this theft, unlawful mischief and attempted theft of a motor vehicle is asked to contact VSP S/T Amy Borsari at VSP-Derby at (802) 334-8881.

Sometime between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on March 14, someone entered the Christiane Stinson residence at 2890 Vt. Rte. 102 in Bloomfield, Vt., and
allegedly stole jewelry, a bag full of old coins and a camera. Forced entry was made into the residence through the back door. Anyone with any information, to include vehicles and/or people that may have been involved with this burglary, is asked to contact Senior Trooper Amy Borsari at VSP-Derby (802) 334-8881.

Newark Man Denies Cocaine Dealing

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:01:23 +0000

A Newark man denied three felony charges of cocaine sale or delivery during arraignment in Caledonia Superior Court-Criminal Division.
Brandon Hedding, a.k.a. Brandon Robinson, 24, of Newark, was released after the court appearance.
The felony charges include two counts of selling 2.5 grams of cocaine or more and one count of selling less than 2.5 grams of cocaine. The case was investigated by Detective Jason Luneau, a member of the Morristown Police Department assigned to the Vermont Drug Task Force.
Luneau's affidavit states the investigation used a cooperating individual (CI) that is assisting the Drug Task Force "in exchange for consideration on pending criminal charges."
Luneau met with the CI on March 17 and monitored a telephone conversation between the CI and Hedding. The CI set up a purchase of one gram of cocaine. According to the affidavit, the CI met Hedding in the Price Chopper parking lot on Route 5 in St. Johnsbury March 17. The CI purchased a gram of cocaine for $80 and gave Hedding an extra $25 as repayment of money the CI owed him.
The second drug transaction also took place in the Price Chopper parking lot at 4:57 p.m. April 11, when the CI paid $235 for one eighth of an ounce of cocaine. The third cocaine sale also took place on April 11 and occurred in the White Market parking lot on Portland Street in St. Johnsbury. The sale to the CI was for $235 and also involved one eighth of an ounce of cocaine.
Hedding was arrested on Aug. 9 in Burke. According to Luneau's affidavit, Hedding admitted using suboxone and cocaine. He also admitted selling marijuana. Hedding told the officers he and three other people use of 3.5 grams of cocaine together a week.

Brighton man arrested for assault on officer

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 02:28:23 +0000

A Brighton man will face multiple charges in court today after being accused of breaking and entering and choking a Vermont State Police trooper during a violent encounter early Thursday morning.

Adam Verge, 30, was arrested for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, burglary and unlawful mischief.

Lt. Kirk Cooper of the VSP barracks in Derby said Trooper Debra Munson pursued and ultimately subdued Verge at gunpoint following a prolonged struggle as Verge fled arrest after he allegedly broke into his ex-wife's house and began smashing things.

"He did not want to go to jail," said Cooper.

State police said the incident began at approximately 3:17 a.m. Thursday when Munson, 27, received a report of an active breaking and entering incident at a private home in Brighton. Police said Munson responded to the residence of Michelle Irwin, 28, after Irwin called the Derby state police barracks to report that her "ex-husband," Verge, was trying to force his way into her home and was breaking things.

Police said that when Munson arrived on the scene Verge had already forced his way into Irwin's residence by kicking in a door and that he had caused damage to Irwin's property inside the residence. Police said Munson was talking with Verge who was outside Irwin's home but then the situation escalated after Munson informed Verge that he was under arrest for burglary and unlawful mischief.

State police said Munson was attempting to place handcuffs on Verge when he resisted, pushed Munson away and fled the scene on foot with Munson in hot pursuit. Munson kept chasing Verge and tried several times to subdue him, police reported, but Verge kept escaping and continuing to resist and fight with Munson. According to police, Verge briefly got the upper hand during the battle when he put Munson in a head-lock and choked her.

Police said Verge choked Munson so hard she could not breathe. But Munson was able to break Verge's hold and the pursuit continued until Munson was able catch up to Verge and take him into custody, this time drawing her service weapon and ordering him to the ground.
"She ended up having to draw down on him," said Cooper.
Police said Munson sustained minor injuries in the pursuit, but did not require medical attention.
Verge is scheduled to be arraigned today at 1 p.m. in Orleans Superior Court in Newport. Verge was lodged at the Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport, with bail set at $5,000.

Lucky lottery ticket sold in Norton

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:50:34 +0000

NORTON, Vt. -
A Vermont store sold a Mega Millions ticket worth a quarter million dollars. But the winner is still a mystery.
The Norton Country store in Norton sold a ticket for Tuesday night's drawing that matched five numbers, but not the mega ball.
The winning numbers were 01-04-06-11-14 and the Mega Ball was 30.
And because no one matched all of the numbers, Friday's jackpot is now up to $290 million.

Mike Worth receives Ethan Allen award

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:17:33 +0000

Mike Worth of Island Pond is a recipient of Ethan Allen’s highest recognition, the Golden Kite Award. Established in 1997 and presented annually, the Golden Kite Award program recognizes those who embody the highest standards of excellence from Ethan Allen’s network of more than 7,000 associates.

Mr. Worth, who is currently the regional operations manager in northeast Vermont, started with Ethan Allen in 1991 and was recognized for his continued commitment to Ethan Allen’s successful manufacturing. He was joined, via video, by his wife, daughter, and son in receiving his award last month.

Historically, the Golden Kite has been awarded to one individual per year, but this year the award was given to three outstanding individuals as well as a family who have been Ethan Allen retailers for more than 40 years.

The recipients were surprised with the awards during the company’s international conference in Danbury, Connecticut, on October 19. — from
Ethan Allen.

NEWARK — A tower to measure wind speeds

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:14:55 +0000

NEWARK — A tower to measure wind speeds is coming to Hawk Rock — a landmark feature here on Packer Mountain.

If, that is, plans proceed as scheduled by a joint wind project between a New Hampshire wind developing company known as Eolian Renewable Energy and a turbine manufacturer, Nordic USA, whose headquarters are in Kansas City, Missouri.

Calling its project Seneca Mountain Wind, the developers plan to erect four test towers, roughly 190 feet high, to measure wind conditions in three Northeast Kingdom towns: Brighton, Newark
and the Unified Towns and Gores (UTGs).

According to Kim Fried, chairman of Newark’s planning commission, two towers are planned for Brighton and one each for the UTGs and Newark.

No application has been made yet to the Public Service Board (PSB), the regulatory agency that must approve any new electrical generating project.

But in a document that developers are calling their 30-day pre-application notice, the towns have been put on notice of a commercial wind project that developers say on their website could
be “capable of producing 100 MW of power” — which is more than twice the 40 megawatts of power the 16 turbines at Sheffield are said to be capable of producing.

According to the Seneca Mountain Wind’s website, the project expects to use 2.5 MW turbines, or the same size turbines employed at Sheffield.

Notice of the project is “a little overwhelming” for a small town like Newark, said Mr. Fried Tuesday, speaking over the telephone. “It’s a very compressed time frame,” he said in light of the 30 days the town has to react to the planned filing by developers to erect the four towers.

The measuring (MET) towers have to be approved by the Public Service Board, but approval has been pretty much a formality for other commercial wind projects in the state.

Mr. Fried said the Newark Planning Commission is going to respond with a letter to developers, expressing concern about the impact the project will have, and perhaps expressing dismay that a tower might be placed on Hawk Rock.

“It’s a sobering experience,” he said, recalling his reaction to the news that big wind may be coming to Newark.

But he vowed the town would be a participant in the pending proceedings.

“We’re going to be involved as a planning commission,” he said.

Alert - Alert - Alert - ALL BRIGHTON TRAILS ARE OFFICIALLY CLOSED AND GATED FOR THE SEASON.

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:38:56 +0000

ALL TRAILS ARE OFFICIALLY CLOSED AND GATED FOR THE SEASON.

With that being said, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the landowners for allowing us the PRIVLEDGE of using their property. Without them, there would be no trail system. In addition to that, a special thank you to all of our volunteers and club officers for the countless hours that they have given to the club to make it what it is today, as well as the groomer operators that are known for giving you the best riding the Northeast has to offer.

For those of you that only know us for the snowmobiling, our town is also very vibrant in the summer as well. We are located directly on a beautiful lake and the town has many activities going on throughout the summer such as our "Friday Night Live" band concerts that start in June and end on Labor Day. So, come up and enjoy what we have to offer then as well. We can assure you that you will have a great time.

Truck falls through Ice on Lake Island Pond

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:17:54 +0000

An F-150 truck breaks through the ice at Island Pond on Saturday morning shortly after leaving the shoreline and starting onto the lake. Inside the vehicle were two adults and two children. No injuries were reported

Attached Thumbnails

Five snowmobilers involved in separate NH crashes, two hurt

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 11:27:21 +0000

BARTLETT — Two people were flown to hospitals in Maine after their rented snowmobile veered off a trail and crashed into a tree Saturday, New Hampshire Fish and Game officials said.

Charles Robillard, Jr., 40, of North Attleboro, Mass., was driving with passenger Susan Rouvelas on back when he failed to negotiate a turn on the Upper Haystack Trail and the snowmobile went down a 20-foot embankment around 11 a.m., stopping when it hit a tree, Fish and Game Sgt. Brian Abrams said.

Abrams and another Fish and Game officer were patrolling nearby and called for helicopters after they arrived and saw the injuries. Both were wearing helmets, which were still strapped on after the crash, Abrams said.

“The helmets made a huge difference,” Abrams said.

Rouvelas had an orbital fracture around her left eye and a broken left arm, and Robillard broke some ribs, Abrams said.

PITTSBURG — Three Manchester residents were involved in a three-snowmobile crash in Pittsburg Saturday afternoon, according to a New Hampshire Fish and Game officer who said no one was injured.

Rick Lovern, 46, lost control of his snowmobile while driving south into a corner on Corridor 143 at about 1:45 p.m., according to officer Adam Cheney, who said Lovern collided with a machine driven north by Denise Lawrence, 46, causing minor damage to her machine.

Lovern's sled then hit one being driven by Lawrence's son, Camden Lawrence, 16, heavily damaging Lovern's and Camden Lawrence's snowmobile. Cheney said Lovern was issued a summons for driving at unreasonable speed.

Mass. woman seriously injured in Maine snowmobile accident

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:37:15 +0000

JACKMAN, Maine — A Massachusetts woman suffered serious injuries Thursday when her snowmobile left a trail and crashed into the woods, according to the Maine Warden Service.
Bonnie Sancomb, 46, of Hopkinton, Mass., was among a group of six snowmobilers heading east from Jackman on Route 66 when she failed to negotiate a right-hand turn just after 10 a.m., according to warden service spokesman John MacDonald.
“Members of her party did not see her go off the trail and continued on,” MacDonald said. “They soon stopped after realizing she was missing from the group.”
The group located her about a half-hour later.
“The snowmobile had landed on top of Sancomb and it was also on its side with the studded snowmobile track continuing to spin while on top of her,” MacDonald said. “This caused serious injuries to her torso. Luckily there was cellphone reception in the area and their 911 call was received at 10:35 a.m.”
Jackman fire, rescue and ambulance, LifeFlight and the Maine Warden Service responded to the scene, MacDonald said. A LifeFlight helicopter transported Sancomb to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

Alice Gillis

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:32:52 +0000

Alice Gillis, 83, of Island Pond died on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, in Newport, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born Alice Ruth Carr at the home of George and Clara (Langmaid) Carr on July 23, 1928, in Newark. She was the fourth and last remaining of eight children.
She married Archie Joseph Gillis on February 2, 1952.
She was a loving mother of six children.
Mrs. Gillis enjoyed reading, knitting, quilting and spending time traveling to various parts of the country visiting family with Mr. Gillis. She also traveled to many exciting places with her friends from the Sunrise Manor. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Community Circle and volunteered for various organizations over the years. She enjoyed working at and retired from the senior meals site in Island Pond. She was adored by all who knew her and will be greatly missed.
She is survived by three sons: David Gillis and his wife, Linda, of Yuma, Arizona, Brian Gillis of Island Pond, and Steve Gillis and his wife, Laura, of Sterling, Arkansas; by two daughters: Betty
Biggs of Barre, and Donna Chesney and her husband, Roger, of Island Pond; by 14 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Archie Gillis, and their son, Scott Allen Gillis; by four brothers: Alton, Earl, Merton and Robert Carr; and by three sisters: Thelma Cutting, Florence Meyette and Elaine Carr.
Funeral services were held on March 5, in Island Pond. Burial to be announced.
Donations may be made in her name to the American Cancer Society, Vermont Division Inc., 55 Day Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the
funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converserushford.com.

VAST announces new Executive Director and Trails Administrator

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:09:18 +0000

Berlin VT – The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) is pleased to announce Alexis Nelson has accepted the position of Executive Director. The VAST Board of Directors voted to offer her the position at their monthly Board meeting February 27th. Alexis joined VAST in 2001 as the Trails Administrator of the Statewide Snowmobile Trail Program where she has successfully managed and assisted the 130+ VAST Clubs in maintaining the extensive network of snowmobile trails throughout Vermont. Matt Tetreault has been named the new Trails Administrator. Matt joined VAST in 2002 as the Trails Assistant and has been an integral part of the Trails Program with his GPS trail mapping, trail signing and construction expertise.
The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers is a 501 © (3) not-for-profit corporation and is charged with the development, maintenance and management of the 6,000+-mile Vermont Statewide Snowmobile Trail System. This is accomplished through a cooperative agreement between VAST and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Vermont’s 130 VAST affiliated snowmobile clubs facilitate snowmobile trail development and maintenance, more than 80% of all snowmobile trails are located on private land. Without the cooperation of Vermont’s private landowners there would be no SSTS. Vermont snowmobilers contribute more than $350 million to Vermont’s economy during the average snowmobile season.

Brighton Home Destroyed by Fire

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:35:25 +0000

Fire destroyed a home at 540 Lake Shore Drive in Brighton yesterday.
Firefighters were called to the home around 9:15 a.m. Upon arrival, the structure was fully engulfed and the garage had collapsed, said Fire Chief Rick Hannux. He said several witnesses said they heard explosions, which were believed to be the cause, possibly gas tanks inside the garage.
The blaze is believed to have started in the attached garage and spread to the house. Hannux said the home is a total loss. The cause is unknown, but is not considered suspicious. State fire investigators also responded to the scene.
Later in the evening, around 6 p.m., the fire department was called out again after a report of "flare ups" at the structure.
The structure had cathedral ceilings and pinewood interior, which made the blaze difficult to fight. Hannux said fire got between the roof and the insulation.
David Burns, the home owner, is staying with friends. There were no injuries and the home did have insurance.
The Charleston Fire Department provided mutual-aid.

Cahill McNamara

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:20:41 +0000

Harold James Cahill passed away last year. According to his obit he traveled to Ireland for genealogy research. I am looking for living any relatives.

Dan @ dmcnamara . net

Gary Alexander Hand

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:24:37 +0000

Gary Alexander Hand, 61, of West Charleston passed away suddenly on Feb. 25, 2012 in Newport, Vt. He was born Oct. 21, 1950 in Norwich, Conn., a son of Arnold and Esther (Hemel) Beaudoin. On Nov. 15, 1984 he married Shirley Baker who survives him. He enlisted in the U. S. Army and was stationed in Korea during the Vietnam War. While in Korea he was a personal driver for the Post Commander. He also was in the color guard and was a pallbearer for President Lyndon B. Johnson's funeral service.

Mr. Hand was a maintenance man for Ethan Allen MFG in Orleans, Vt., and by Pine Knoll Nursing Home in Lyndonville, Vt. He was also a mechanic for small engine repairs. His hobbies included camping, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends. He loved his Kubota Tractor and working on small engines.

He is survived by his wife Shirley Hand of West Charleston, by his children: Tammy Hand and Arnold Hand both of Montreal, Quebec, by his step children: Allen Marsh and his companion Hope of Island Pond, Vt., Mark Marsh Sr. and his wife Linda of West Charleston, Vt., Todd Marsh and his companion Patty Sargent of North Troy, Vt., Christopher Marsh and his wife Ashley of Island Pond, Vt., and by his daughter-in-laws Sherry Marsh of Newport, Vt. and Kristi Powers of Orleans, Vt. He is survived by 19 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He had a special nickname for all his grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters: Cynthia Ashcroft and her husband Ralph of Johnstown, N.Y., Leroy Hand of Cincinnati, Ohio, Claire Hand of Columbia, CT, Nancy Paradis of Willimantic, CT, Paula McMannus and her husband Tom of Columbia, Conn., and Kevin Hand of Lebanon, Conn. and by several nieces and nephews and special friends Denis and Cathy LaCourse of Wheelock, Vt., Tammy and Jim Wilkins and family of Waterford, Vt., David, Jr, and Rebecca Massey and family of Brandford, Conn., Bob and Sheryl Devaney of West Charleston, Vt., Raymond and Connie Lindall of Westmore, Vt. and other friends too numerous to mention.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012 at St. James Catholic Church in Island Pond, Vt. Friends may call on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, 1199 Railroad St., Island Pond. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, Vermont Affiliate, Inc, 434 Hurricane Lane, Williston, VT 05495. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, locally family owned and operated.

Lost 2 Up seat

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:11:58 +0000

Hello,

If anyone finds a two up seat along the trails 58, 114S, 51 or 122, please contact David Aho (information below). This would be a loop going through Brownington, Charleston, Burke, Sutton, Sheffield, and Glover.

Irene

Irene Farrar

Membership Chair

North Country Mountaineers

Orleans County

www.northcountrymountaineers.com

802-754-2370

northcountrymountaineers@gmail.com

Snowmobile goes through ice on Lake Champlain

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:46:31 +0000

ST. ALBANS TOWN, Vt. -
There was an ice rescue on Lake Champlain Tuesday.
A snowmobiler was riding about 700 feet off Sampson Point in St. Albans Town when his machine fell through the ice.
"The gentleman who fell through the ice was able to call 911 through his cellphone. They were in contact with him the whole time he was three-quarters submerged in the water," said Randy Swann, the assistant fire chief in St. Albans Town.
The St. Albans Town water rescue squad was able to pull Gary Girard, 53, from the water. He was transported to the hospital in St. Albans for treatment of hypothermia. His snowmobile is still in the water.

Woman Injured In Pittsburg NH Snowmobile Accident

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:09:16 +0000

PITTSBURG, N.H. -- Fish and Game officials said a woman was flown to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center after crashing her snowmobile in Pittsburg.
The accident happened Sunday afternoon. Officials said Jennifer Chaisson, 51, of Hudson, Mass., was riding a snowmobile on Hall Stream Trail when she failed to negotiate a corner at the end of a downhill stretch of the trail and crashed her sled into some trees.
Authorities said it appeared that Chaisson broke her right leg in the crash. She was taken by helicopter to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. There is no word on her condition.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, but officials said alcohol was not factor.

Read more: http://www.wmur.com/news/30498031/detail.html#ixzz1mxjkXUxQ

1 Killed In Snowmobile NH Crash

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:06:46 +0000

STEWARTSTOWN, N.H. -- A man was killed in a snowmobile crash in the Piper Hill area of Stewartstown on Saturday morning.
Jason Montambeault, 36, of Sunapee,NH. was last seen at about 1:30 a.m. crossing a field on a snowmobile, friends told police.
Montambeault's cousin found Montambeault's body and his snowmobile off of Trail 21A, about two miles from his camp, at about 9 a.m. Saturday.
The crash was still under investigation. Speed and alcohol both appeared to be contributing factors in the crash, according to a police news release.

Read more: http://www.wmur.com/...l#ixzz1mxj6E45s

Call to Action

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:50:31 +0000

Local and Regional Chambers of Commerce:

Please forward this email along to your members and to your boards!
**
We Need Your Support! On Wednesday, February 22 at 9 am, the House Commerce Committee is holding a public hearing at the State House in Room 11 on H. 640.
This bill would create a permanent funding for the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM), directing additional funds to the promotional budget of VDTM and delivering more marketing dollars to Vermont when the rooms and meals tax revenues increase year over year.

We need you to come to the public hearing on Wednesday to show your support! If you would like to testify, please contact Vicky Tebbetts (vtebbetts@vtchamber.com, 229-2259). We have scheduled a webinar to review H. 640 on Tuesday, February 21 from 11 am – Noon. To register for the webinar, please click here:.
If you are not able to make the hearing, we’d still like to hear from you. We’ve set up a simple online form where you can register your support.

The formula includes a ceiling and a floor, and would not tap into state revenue for additional funds in years where the rooms and meals tax did not increase year over year. Representative Ann Manwaring from Wilmington is the lead sponsor of the bill, and more than 20 legislators have signed on to evidence their support. The goal of the bill is to further enhance Vermont’s position as a visitor destination, and increase traffic in our tourism businesses.
We will present your name to legislators at the hearing on Wednesday.

Thank you for your support!
~J

Jessica Gingras

Legislative Assistant

Vermont Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 37

Montpelier, VT 05601-0037

Office: 802-223-3443

Direct: 802-262-2130

Cell: 802-343-3164

Click here to JOIN OUR ACTION NETWORK TODAY!

UPCOMING EVENTS

(Click event name to register)

Taste of Vermont Legislative Reception

March 13, 2012 – 5:00 to 7:00pm

Capitol Plaza, Montpelier VT

Become a Vermont Chamber Member!

What's Wrong in this Picture?

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:10:19 +0000

What's wrong in this picture

I.P. Man Convicted Of Fatal DUI To Serve 30 Days For Drinking At Bar

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:54:18 +0000

I.P. Man Convicted Of Fatal DUI To Serve 30 Days For Drinking At Bar

NEWPORT CITY -- An Island Pond man, convicted of causing the death of his friend in a drunken driving crash more than 10 years ago, was back in court after getting nabbed drinking at a bar.
This is the first alcohol-related probation violation for Robert Allen, 59, formerly of Brownington, according to probation officer Lisa Levesque.
In Orleans Superior Court-Criminal Division Tuesday, Allen was sentenced to serve an additional 30 days of his original sentence, four to 15 years with all but 36 months suspended.
Tammy Jewett, daughter of Allen's victim, Charles Bapp Sr., said at the close of the hearing, "I just hope he learns his lesson."
On June 24, 2001, trooper Lori Lumbra responded to a report of a truck that had crashed into a tree on Route 16 in Barton. There she found Allen unconscious and Bapp dead in the truck, which held more than 20 empty beer cans.
In October 2011, Orleans County Sheriff's deputy Tom Hanlon learned that Allen had been seen drinking at Island Pond bars.
Probation officer Andre Laliberte found Allen at the Pond's Edge Pub with a beer and an empty shot glass in front of him. Allen's blood alcohol level was .189 percent, and Laliberte arrested him.

In court Feb. 7, Orleans County State's Attorney Alan Franklin asked Judge Robert Bent to revoke Allen's probation and reimpose the original sentence.

"This is a serious matter. This is a case in which a man died," Franklin said.

Public defender Jill Jourdan wrote in her sentencing memorandum that there was no evidence Allen drove to the establishment, which she described as a restaurant, not a bar.

She called Marvin Menzel, who has spent seven years driving Allen wherever he needs to go, despite his wife's displeasure with the arrangement. Menzel said he's never seen Allen driving and sees him walking quite often.

Franklin described Allen's behavior as a "flagrant flouting of the rules."

Bent asked if the state would be seeking the same penalty if Allen had merely been drinking at home.

The probation condition prohibiting Allen from drinking at bars was put in place for a reason, Franklin said. Court documents state that Allen and Bapp were returning from the Crystal Saloon when the crash occurred.

Plus, Franklin said, the blood alcohol level was very high.

Allen said he'd been attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings twice a week and has completed about 700 hours of his court-ordered 1,000 hours of community service.

He said he works six days at week at a logging operation, a job he'd likely lose if he had to go to jail.

"Were you slipping?" Bent asked.

Allen said he was. It was a very bad time in his life when he was without a sponsor.

"What set this off?" Bent asked.

Allen said he was having "problems with a lady friend" at the time.

Bent said if the original offense had not involved the loss of a man's life, he would have considered just continuing probation, but in light of the fatality, more jail time was warranted.

The community is aware of what Allen did, and to see him out at a bar drinking creates a bad community concept, Bent said.

"I'm fully cognizant that slippage happens," he said, but in light of the fatality, a penalty had to be imposed.

Allen will report to jail 5 p.m. Feb. 27.

Rescuers Save Snowmobilers Who Fell Through Ice

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:17:04 +0000

Rescuers Save Snowmobilers Who Fell Through Ice

ALTON, N.H. -- Authorities rescued two snowmobilers on Lake Winnipesaukee in the area of the Broads on Saturday.

Gilford firefighters said they received a call from one of the two snowmobilers who said that he was riding with a friend, but when he turned to look back, he could no longer see him. Firefighters said the snowmobiler told them that when he turned around to look for his friend, he went through the ice himself. He was able to get himself out and call for help.

GPS coordinates from his phone indicated he was in an area approximately 1 mile east of Welch Island and 1 mile south of Sandy Island, rescuers said. An initial staging area was established at Ames Farm Inn and then moved to Lakeshore Park.

Rescuers said a DHART helicopter was able to locate one snowmobiler in the area identified on the initial call, and a Tuftonboro’s air boat was sent to the scene.

Crews were able to rescue a man and transported him to Lakeshore Park in Gilford. He was then transported to Lakes Region General Hospital by ambulance for evaluation for hypothermia.

Rescuers said the second victim had made his way to shore in Tuftonboro and was transported to Huggins Hospital by ambulance. The second man was transferred to Gilford's ambulance at Lakeshore Park.

"We have been hearing that ice conditions are very poor and this drives that point home. There are numerous ice ridges that have created open water -- even in the middle of the lake. These guys were extremely lucky that they weren’t more seriously injured, and that they had a phone that they could use and that could help them be located," said Gilford Fire Chief Stephen Carrier.

Alton Fire Department, Tuftonboro Fire Department, DHART, Gilford Fire-Rescue, Gilford Police Department, and NH Fish & Game assisted at the scene.

Read more: http://www.wmur.com/news/30437829/detail.html#ixzz1mBHRdKT9

Three NY Men Injured In NY Snowmobile Crash

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:59:25 +0000

Three NY Men Injured In NY Snowmobile Crash
Police Suspect Alohocol Was A Factor

Police in Chazy, NY. suspect alcohol as a factor in an early morning snowmobile crash on Friday that left three men injured.

Douglas M. Tetreault, 22, was operating a 2004 Polaris along the bank of the Great Chazy River on Rapids Road in Champlain, NY. said police. Robert Worrell, 20, of Plattsburgh, NY, and Johnny Vega Jr., 26, were riding as passengers.

Around 1:30 a.m. police received a 911 call advising of the accident in which the snowmobile had struck a pile of brush ejecting all three riders. One man was able to walk to get help, said police.

All three men were taken to CVPH Medical Center. Tetreault and Vega Jr. were later transferred to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, VT.

Charges are pending as the investigation continues, said police.

Both, Tetreault and Vega Jr. live on Rapids Road in Champlain, NY.

Read more: http://www.wptz.com/news/30430092/detail.html#ixzz1m6KSJHAM

VT. Warden Runs Snow Machine Into Unsuspecting Derby Woman

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:20:15 +0000

February 6, 2012

ByLaura Carpenter - The Newport Daily Express

SEYMOUR LAKE - A game warden drove his snowmobile into a woman on her sled because he thought she was trying to get away from him.
Game Warden Jason Dukette was patrolling Seymour Lake Sunday afternoon when he saw Marsha Archer, of Derby, on her way out to an ice fishing shack. According to Albert Stringer, an investigating Auxiliary Trooper for the State Police, Dukette said he thought Archer was trying to avoid him so he headed her way quickly. He did not turn his lights on, Acher said. Stringer confirmed that no lights were turned on.
Stringer said Dukette was headed right for Archer and turned his sled as he approached her snowmobile, but his machine ended up sliding into hers with both sleds ending up side by side.
Archer said she was not trying to avoid the game warden; in fact, she had not seen him until he was about to plow into her.
Archer was thrown from her sled, as was Dukette.
Dukette reportedly is not injured but Archer is. She went to the hospital and is now in a sling, bruised, and unable to work, she said Monday morning.
Neither Dukette nor his supervisor could be reached Monday as both were away at training for the day, according to the state police dispatcher in Derby.
Stringer is working on the investigation but said he did not intend to issue a press release on the accident.
Among their other duties, game wardens are charged with patrolling the lakes and monitoring ice fishing. The warden can check to make sure snowmobilers and any vehicles on the lake are registered, Stringer explained. Police can stop snowmobilers and check registration at any time.
Archer's snowmobile is registered and she was not cited for any reason.
Stringer is a retired Vermont State Police Trooper and serves as an auxiliary trooper on the weekends.

NH SNOWMOBILE ACCIDENT

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:26:01 +0000

NH SNOWMOBILE ACCIDENT

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5, a snow machine accident occurred on corridor five in Pittsburg, just north of Lake Francis. N.H. Fish and Game Conservations Officers, Pittsburg Fire and Rescue, Pittsburg Police Dept., and 45th Parallel EMS responded to the accident.
Jean Misulia, 76, of Old Bethpage, N.Y., lost control of her 2006 Arctic Cat and was launched off of it, landing in a stream. Jean’s son, Gary, was able to get her out of the water and transported her on his snow machine approximately seven miles out to where the ambulance was waiting.
Misulia had a possible right wrist fracture and was in the beginning stages of hypothermia. She was transported by 45th Parallel EMS ambulance to the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook for treatment.

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Mass. man killed in northern NH snowmobile mishap

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:21:40 +0000

MILAN, N.H.—A Massachusetts man is dead after a snowmobile accident at the northern fringe of the White Mountain National Forest.

February 9, 2012

Fifty-one-year-old Kenneth Smiley of North Billerica, Mass. was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on trail number 109 in Milan.

The accident occurred at 10 p.m. Wednesday, when Smiley lost control on a turn and hit several trees. He was the last rider in a group of four sleds and the third rider noticed Smiley's headlights going at odd angles in his rear-view mirror.

New Hampshire Fish and Game officials say his friends tried to resuscitate Smiley but his injuries were too severe and he died at the scene.

The accident is still under investigation but Fish and Game officials say they see no obvious contributing factors.

Island Pond Winter Carnival 2012 Feb 11, 17th, 18th, 19th

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:12:09 +0000

Island Pond Winter Carnival 2012 Feb 11, 17th, 18th, 19th

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:11:04 +0000

Book signing - S.P.I.R.T. Feb 18th 11 AM to 2 PM (Island Pond, Winter Carnival)

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:38:54 +0000

Book Signing by Dawn Gray, Island Pond Native - S.P.I.R.I.T:Firestorm
Saturday February 18th from 11-2 at the Island Pond Public Library.

Book Description:
Samantha and Zander never expected to find each other in the strange little town as fire tore through a church, but the more they were together, the more they found a common link in their past.Ghostly noises have always followed Sam, even in her small Vermont home town. When she wakes up to find that she is standing in an alternate reality, and a familiar soul shares her unique abilities, things become even more paranormal. Can Zander and his special team save Sam before it's too late, or with this alternate reality become her only reality.

About the Author:
Dawn Gray (Myers) grew up in Island Pond listening to ghost tales from friends and family. These tales have stuck, and the places they are associated with will always be in her mind. The Dale House is the haunted backdrop for this interesting haunted tale.

6-year-old girl hurt in Orono Maine snowmobile crash

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:16:47 +0000

ORONO, Maine — Authorities say a 6-year-old girl lost consciousness and required hospitalization after crashing a snowmobile.
Game wardens say the girl was a passenger on a snowmobile being driven by her 16-year-old cousin in Orono on Sunday when the vehicle hit a snowbank and threw the older youth off.
The young girl was left on the machine alone with her hand on the throttle. The snowmobile traveled about 70 yards before hitting a snowbank and a tree, throwing her to the ground.
Wardens told the Kennebec Journal that both youths were wearing helmets.
The girl’s injuries are not considered life threatening.
No laws were broken.