Category Archives: Windham County

Severe flooding hits parts of Southern Vermont

Posted on July 2, 2013 by | Comments Off on Severe flooding hits parts of Southern Vermont

Several towns surrounding Mount Ascutney found themselves coping with reports of roads washing away and brooks bursting their banks Tuesday night.

Beginning at about 8 p.m., the Windsor, West Windsor and Ascutney fire departments all put out “general alarms” within minutes of each other, calling in firefighters to deal with water problems.

In Reading, firefighters reported that Route 106 south of the village was “completely washed away in sections.”

All major roads between Windsor and West Windsor, including several spots on Routes 44 and 44A, were reported to be cut off with up to a foot of flowing water passing over them as darkness fell.

Ascutney firefighters could not make it down Route 131 and Vermont State Police reported a section of that highway was completely washed away a mile west of Interstate 91.

Farther down Route 131, in Weathersfield, “a big mud dam” had reportedly slid across the travel lanes near the intersection with Amsden Road.

Little Ascutney Road linking Weathersfield and Reading had to be closed, as did sections of Brook Road in West Windsor and County Road in Windsor.

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Posted in Southern Vermont, Vermont News, Windham County, Windsor County

Vermont’s smallest hospital opts out of aid in dying law

Posted on June 24, 2013 by | Comments Off on Vermont’s smallest hospital opts out of aid in dying law

TOWNSHEND (AP) — Vermont’s smallest hospital has become the latest one to opt out of the state’s new aid-in-dying law, but hospital officials expect to revisit the issue soon.
Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend made the decision Friday.
The law allows doctors to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill patients who request it. Most hospitals are expected, at least for the time being, to opt out of implementing it.
The Brattleboro Reformer reports (http://bit.ly/15ydl23) Grace Cottage Hospital administrators expect to re-examine the matter within 90 days. For now, they’ll work out the details of accommodating terminally ill patients who request lethal doses of medication.
Vermont’s largest hospital, Fletcher Allen, also has opted out for now to give administrators a chance to “develop a thoughtful, compassionate policy that will respect our patients and providers.”

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Posted in Health, News, Southern Vermont, Windham County

Large drug arrest sweep in Springfield area this morning

Posted on June 19, 2013 by | Comments Off on Large drug arrest sweep in Springfield area this morning

SPRINGFIELD, Vt. (AP) — Vermont State Police are planning to talk about a “large” drug arrest sweep in Springfield.
A news conference has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Springfield Fire Department.
Representatives from the state attorney general’s office, Department of Public Safety, Windsor County Sheriff’s Department and others are scheduled to attend.
Col. Tom L’Esperance of the state police said the agency is pleased to be coordinating with multiple law enforcement-agencies to combat the growing drug problem in Vermont.

The Rutland Herald has a reporter and photographer following these arrests as they happen; we will update as this story unfolds.

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Posted in Crime, Springfield, Windham County, Windsor County

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Trail development halts due to privacy concerns

Posted on June 19, 2013 by | Comments Off on Trail development halts due to privacy concerns

DUMMERSTON, Vt. (AP) — Development of a trail near Dummerston, Vt., has come to a halt as its ownership is being questioned.
The goal is have the trail follow a 36-mile former West River Railroad route from Brattleboro to Londonderry. It’s attracted hikers since the railway’s demise in the late 1930s.
Representatives of the nonprofit Friends of the West River Trail say they want to work with property owners and possibly re-route future trail sections.
The Brattleboro Reformer reports (http://bit.ly/17XJNkJ) some residents just north of the trail’s end in Dummerston have signed a petition opposing further development due to privacy concerns.
The trail is well-developed between Londonderry and Townshend. The trail group has begun publicizing the southern section between Brattleboro to an access point in Dummerston, which has brought up land ownership questions.

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Posted in Outdoors, Vermont News, Windham County

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House Blend to serenade Putney June 1

Posted on May 30, 2013 by | Comments Off on House Blend to serenade Putney June 1

PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts Project presents House Blend at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at 7:30pm at Next Stage, 15 Kimball Hill. All proceeds will be shared to benefit both Next Stage and House Blend, as the group prepares for its upcoming tour in France.
House Blend is a self-led a cappella chorus of experienced singers dedicated to the music of many cultures and traditions. Based in Saxtons River, the group is committed to sharing the joy of their music with the audience and to excellence in their performances, which include local concerts, benefits, and international exchanges.
Formed in 2006, House Blend is an assembly of 23 veteran singers from Vermont and New Hampshire devoted to the collective exploration of a cappella songs drawn from around the world in diverse historical settings. The diverse repertoire includes songs from American folk traditions such as spirituals, soulful gospel numbers, hill songs of Appalachia, and jazz, as well as lush Italian and Spanish ballads, work songs from the Republic of Georgia, South African freedom songs, village music of Italy, France, Quebec, as well as Renaissance madrigals, Jewish choral tradition, contemporary Latin chant and Bach.
Tickets are $10; go online to www.nextstagearts.org.

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Posted in Arts, Music, Entertaiment, Windham County

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Firefighters investigate blaze that left family of 5 homeless

Posted on May 23, 2013 by | Comments Off on Firefighters investigate blaze that left family of 5 homeless

WHITINGHAM, Vt. (AP) — Firefighters are trying to determine what caused a fire at a house in Whitingham, Vt., that left a family of five homeless.
No one was injured in the fire this week, which was complicated at first by a lack of water supply. Firefighters from Readsboro and Wilmington assisted.
Fire marshals are investigating.

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Posted in Fires, Southern Vermont, Vermont News, Windham County

Hartland prepping for multiple bridge repairs

Posted on May 2, 2013 by | Comments Off on Hartland prepping for multiple bridge repairs

HARTLAND — The Vermont community of Hartland will be undergoing $2 million in bridge repairs.
Lead paint removal is planned along the Route 5 bridge. One of the bridges also will get a new deck; concrete has been falling onto railroad tracks below.
The projects are expected to re-route traffic off Route 5 for two to three weeks in the summer of 2014.
A public meeting on the projects is planned for May 14 at the Hartland Town Hall.

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Posted in Traffic, Transportation, Vermont News, Windham County

Reading students win award for innovative goats program

Posted on April 30, 2013 by | Comments Off on Reading students win award for innovative goats program

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Posted in Education, Southern Vermont, Windham County

Windham Orchestra to present ‘Prelude’ to upcoming concert series

Posted on April 24, 2013 by | Comments Off on Windham Orchestra to present ‘Prelude’ to upcoming concert series

CHESTER – At 4 p.m. Sunday, April 28, musicians from the Windham Orchestra will present a special “Prelude” to its upcoming concert series at the First Universalist Parish.
The community orchestra’s May concerts in Brattleboro and Putney, under the direction of Hugh Keelan, will feature works by Beethoven and local Chester composer James Adams. Honoring the Chester roots of Adams, and fellow musicians Sue Lemei and Stan Norsworthy, the orchestra presents this special opening for their local community.
The Chester audience will preview the upcoming Beethoven concerts with his Quintet for Piano and Winds featuring Vermont woodwind soloists and Hugh Keelan as pianist. A centerpiece of both the “Prelude” and the orchestra’s full performances is Adams’ Concertino for Tuba written for Lemei (here with tuba and piano).
The program also includes music by Edvard Grieg and two songs by Richard Strauss for voice and piano, with local singer Stan Norsworthy.
Admission is by donation (a reception will follow); for information, go online to www.windhamorchestra.org.

‘A Prelude’
CHESTER – At 4 p.m. Sunday, April 28, musicians from the Windham Orchestra will present a special “Prelude” to its upcoming concert series at the First Universalist Parish.
The community orchestra’s May concerts in Brattleboro and Putney, under the direction of Hugh Keelan, will feature works by Beethoven and local Chester composer James Adams. Honoring the Chester roots of Adams, and fellow musicians Sue Lemei and Stan Norsworthy, the orchestra presents this special opening for their local community.
The Chester audience will preview the upcoming Beethoven concerts with his Quintet for Piano and Winds featuring Vermont woodwind soloists and Hugh Keelan as pianist. A centerpiece of both the “Prelude” and the orchestra’s full performances is Adams’ Concertino for Tuba written for Lemei (here with tuba and piano).
The program also includes music by Edvard Grieg and two songs by Richard Strauss for voice and piano, with local singer Stan Norsworthy.
Admission is by donation (a reception will follow); for information, go online to www.windhamorchestra.org.

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Posted in Arts, Music, Entertaiment, Windham County

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Speed, alcohol likely factors in life-threatening crash, police say

Posted on March 26, 2013 by | Comments Off on Speed, alcohol likely factors in life-threatening crash, police say

BRATTLEBORO — A 25-year-old Connecticut man received life-threatening injuries Monday in a single-car accident on Interstate 91, near exit one.
Vermont State Police said Timothy Liacos of Shelton, Conn., was ejected from his 2013 Mazda as the vehicle rolled over several times. Police said alcohol and speed played a role in the 11:30 a.m. accident.
Liacos was airlifted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., for what police said were serious and life-threatening injuries.
The accident is still under investigation.

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Posted in Crash, Windham County