News & Citizen

Serving the People of Lamoille County with News Since 1881

Volume 123     No 10 No 5569              February 15, 2007 Thursday                           Morrisville, VT 05661                        Web Edition

Oxbow Moves on to Phase II by Amy Kolb Noyes  MORRISVILLE – A phase I brownfield assessment is now complete at Morrisville’s Oxbow Park, and a phase II assessment is about to get under way. The results of the assessment will guide the town in deciding if it is safe to continue to use the property for community gardens and recreation, including youth soccer and the walking path.  Continued on page 2 Click here to check out the new Lamoille Home Buyer Guide Senate Transportation Coming for Bypass Tour and Talk MORRISVILLE – The Vermont Senate Transportation Committee will be visiting Morrisville next week to learn more about the Alternative Truck Route construction project that Transportation Commissioner Neale Lunderville has proposed putting off until 2012. Lamoille County Senator Susan Bartlett is a proponent of the bypass project, and asked the Senate Transportation Committee to come to Morrisville on a fact-finding visit. Committee members are scheduled to tour the project area and affected Village roads, beginning about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 20. Continued on page 2 State Police Converge to Find Manning  by Mickey Smith  ELMORE – One day shy of the third anniversary of his son’s death, the Vermont State Police Tactical Services Unit prowled Elmore on Wednesday monitoring the home of Harland Manning Sr. The Vermont State Police were concerned over threats alleged to have been said by Manning regarding the people he believed to be involved in his son’s death. Continued on page 2  Visitors For Questions or Comments on this web site please contact webmaster at http://www.kingdomsedge.com dan@kingdomsedge.com Valentines Day Blizzard of 2007 Parents Revive Project Graduation at Lamoille Union by Kathy Johnson         Thanks to a suggestion made at a Lamoille Lancer Booster Club meeting, Project Graduation is once again on at Lamoille Union High School. Dodi Gomez, parent of a member of the class of 2007, is coordinating the alcohol and drug-free party this year and Beth Carrier is chairing the effort for the class of 2008. “We’ll start with whatever we can pull together from now until June,” Gomez said. Event planning is in the initial stages, but currently includes casino-type activities, dinner and games, and a late-night/early morning cruise on Lake Champlain.  Continued on page 2 Tenney Bridge Project Back to Drawing Board by Amy Kolb Noyes MORRISVILLE – The plan to realign Route 15A and replace Tenney Bridge is being revisited by state transportation officials. The strategy to build a new bridge beside the existing Lamoille crossing remains intact. However, the idea to extend 15A to the east, bisecting the cornfield, and creating a four-way intersection with Route 15 and Garfield Road, is being scrapped.   Continued on page 2 Read all the News, Sports and More Click Here To Subscribe Today Looking for something? Search for: Copyright © 2004 News&Citizen Inc. All rights reserved. Have a press release? edit@newsandcitizen.com e-mail correspondence concerning advertising should be addressed to news@newsandcitizen.com

Things Look This Way to Me

Editorial by J.B. McKinley 2/25/07

Pivotal Days for Bypass

People who consider themselves well informed on everything having to do with the Morrisville Alternate Truck Route have good reason to believe  the next few days are pivotal for the bypass. The bypass will either be on track for construction before the hot place freezes over, or it will be time for Mapquest to figure other routes for travelers that truly bypass Morrisville. Within a very short time span, Lamoille County drivers are going to know where they stand with state government. Is government going to hear  the message that a diverse group of serious bypass boosters is shouting?

“We are Republicans and Democrats, we are shoppers, on the way to work, manufacturers and retailers, travelers and kids on school buses. We are tired of broken promises and sitting in traffic. We have a growing local economy and would like to keep it that way.” This is the message that Morristown is sending with its request to build the bypass!

Within a very short time span, with their inaction our state officials and agencies  may write a message to us  virtually emblazoned in fiery letters,  and it will read “After decades of promises we still don’t give a darn about you.” We are going to sideline your project until a time when it’s highly likely it will NEVER be built.

The Senate  Transportation Committee will be in county next Tuesday and they are a sort of last gasp chance to re-energize the bypass for construction – say before the first quarter of the 21st century is past!

Remember November election day when you “read” the message we are ultimately sent deciding the fate of the Morrisville bypass. Remember that Lamoille County, short of having a governor born here and the population of Chittenden County, has the most powerful legislators in Montpelier, especially when looking at this issue.

If there are markers out there to collect, let’s hope they are called.