Out & About Closing Its Doors
by Amy Kolb Noyes

MORRISVILLE – After nearly 24 years of providing adult day care services to area seniors, Out & About will be closing its doors at the end of next week. Although Executive Director Scott West said he could not elaborate, he did confirm the imminent closure.

“Unfortunately we’ll be closing next week, at the end of business January 15th” said West.

Out & About began at the Lamoille Senior Center, in April 1986, as Lamoille Area Adult Day Care. The program quickly outgrew its space at the Senior Center, and moved to its own location at the Farr House, on Washington Highway, in June of 1987. Around that same time, Nola Denslow was hired as the program’s first part-time executive director.

In 1992 Out & About moved again, to its current location on the corner of Court and Elmore Streets.

By 2003 the program was serving an average of 30 participants a day, and had to undergo building renovations to make more room and bring the building up to code. The expansion doubled the size of the downstairs activity room and upped the program’s capacity to 50 participants per day.

In the spring of 2006, Out & About celebrated its 20^th anniversary. By that time the staff had grown to include an executive director, a fulltime registered nurse, a transportation manager, a kitchen manager and staff, and LNA trained assistants to run activity programs and personal care services.

Enrollment in the program has dwindled, leading to budget problems over the past several years. The closure is presumably related to those issues.

Rehm Late, But Ruled Competent to Stand Trial

by Mickey Smith

 

HYDE PARK – He arrived about an hour and a half later than his hearing was scheduled to begin, but both the defense and prosecution agreed with a psychiatrist's ruling that Jacob Rehm, accused of joyriding in a Lamoille Valley Transportation tour bus, is competent to stand trial.

Burlington-based Dr. Paul Cotton conducted the competency evaluation and public defender Rory Malone said they did not contest his findings.

The competency hearing was listed on the schedule for 1:30 p.m. in Lamoille County District Court.  These times can vary due to the length of other hearings also scheduled, but this hearing did not start until 3 p.m. because Rehm was not physically present until then. Nothing was said about his tardiness during the hearing to Rehm, who skipped an arraignment in November. After missing that appearance, a warrant was issued for his arrest and Rehm spent a night in jail before being arraigned.

Rehm was arrested in early November for allegedly taking a bus owned by former employer Norman Prive's Lamoille Valley Transportation. He was also charged with obstruction of justice over videos posted on YouTube where he is alleged to have made threats towards Prive.

Rehm's competency was called into question following a series of events, including his posting of a video on YouTube showing him driving the bus.

Another status conference will be scheduled for about 60 days from now. Both sides will have until March 26 for discovery – where both sides present their evidence in the case, and April 16 for the filing of motions involved with the procedure.

 

Lafave Pleads Guilty

by Mickey Smith

 

A Derby man has pled guilty to assault and robbery with a weapon for his role in an August robbery of the Morrisville Mobil gas station and convenience store. He was sentenced to two to seven years for the August 15 crime.

Kenneth Lafave, 18, of Derby, still faces charges for a robbery in Barton on the same night.  Along with his sentence, Judge Dennis Pearson recommended Lafave participate in the Cognitive Self-Change Program, operated by the Department of Corrections at the Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport.

Morristown Police Department Corporal Michael Reeve caught Lafave and Joseph Bischoff just down the road from Morrisville Mobil.  Cpl. Reeve had observed a suspicious vehicle at the gas station and was questioning it when the burglary call came across the radio.

Charges against Bischoff are still pending. Another person in the vehicle, Jennine Bischoff was sentenced to serve six months to seven years for her role.

Truck Accident Leads to DUI

by Mickey Smith

 

An accident on Route 100 in Waterbury resulted in the arrest of a Johnson woman for driving while under the influence.

At about 6:34 p.m. on Tuesday, December 29, the Vermont State Police were called to Route 100 in the vicinity of the Waterbury Fish and Game Club for an accident involving a truck and trailer sliding off the road.

According to Vermont State Police Trooper Crista Maurice's press release, Barbara Culkins, 48, of Johnson, was found to be under the influence of intoxicants and refused to get out of her vehicle.

Trooper Maurice said after a brief physical struggle in which no one was injured, Culkins was taken into custody and processed for DUI, her BAC was 0.173%.

Culkins was charged with DUI and resisting arrest, and is scheduled to appear in Washington County District Court on Thursday, January 14.

Community Detox Center Coming

by Mickey Smith

 

As of January 1, 2011, incapacitated individuals (those drunk or on drugs) will no longer be housed by the Vermont Correctional Department and communities are being instructed by the state to come up with a plan for their local care.

People in Lamoille County who deal with those types of situations, including law enforcement, Lamoille County Community Connections' (Lamoille County Mental Health) Emergency Services team, Copley Hospital's Behavioral Medicine, and the Vermont Department of Health (through acting Field Director Scott Johnson) are looking at options for the local area.

Jim Berry, emergency services coordinator for Community Connections, said it is an on-going cooperative effort to decide where such a facility should be located and how it will be run.  He said one option being considered is the former Community Connections building across the parking lot from Copley Hospital’s physical therapy wing. He said there is a lot of work to be done over the next year, but the plan is to put something in place to offer better care, locally.

Under the current system, someone who is drunk and does not have access to someone who can care for him or her is taken to the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in St. Johnsbury where he is kept until he is sober.  Morristown Police Chief Richard Keith estimates his department transports about 30 such people each year and said most of those cases will involve overtime for the officers involved.

Berry said people are kept at St. Johnsbury until they “blow double zeros” and then are released. They have to find their own transportation home.

Lamoille County State Senator Susan Bartlett said sometimes these people are taken into custody without a coat or even shoes, and are released in the same condition when sober. She pointed out the correctional facilities are not medical centers and the “new” concept is a return to times when communities took care of their own. She said most of the time caring for the incapacitated is more of a medical issue than a legal issue. But by the same token, there are public safety concerns involved so simply taking them to a hospital is not the answer either.

“We as a community have to figure out how to deal with it,” said Senator Bartlett.

She said right now there isn't any money attached to the plan, and said there could be other areas where communities are asked to not rely on the state to deal with local problems. Bartlett was speaking on the first day of the new Legislative Session, where a report had been released looking into ways to save the state money. She said the ideas on the table will result in a paradigm shift bringing accountability and expected results into the equation when doling out money.

She noted part of the problem with the care of incapacitated people came about with the demise of local jails, which pushed the problem onto the state. She said things like this used to be considered a local problem and were dealt with at the local level.

Chief Keith said, while his department should see a reduction in costs for the transports, he is concerned they could see an increase in calls if this facility is located in Morristown. Keith has long raised the point that the Morristown Police Department sees an influx of cases from around the county due to most of the county's social services being located in Morristown.

While an official site has not yet been chosen, everyone agreed one piece is a definite, by this time next year taking drunks to St. Johnsbury will not be an option.

 

Holiday Sobriety Checkpoints

by Mickey Smith

 

A sobriety checkpoint utilizing the combined forces of Lamoille County law enforcement resulted in one arrest on Wednesday, December 30.

During a two hour period, the Lamoille County Sheriff's Department, Vermont State Police and Morristown and Stowe Police Departments stopped 143 vehicles, making contact with 293 people on Route 15 in Hyde Park.  According to Vermont State Police Trooper Joseph Paquette's press release, three people were given field sobriety tests, with Nancy Buonanno, 48, of Wolcott, being the only person arrested for DUI.

 

 

Second Denis Arrested

by Mickey Smith

 

MORRISTOWN – Jerry Denis, the brother of Eric Denis who last month pled guilty to aggravated assault for firing a rifle at someone, has been arrested. Jerry was arrested January 1 for allegedly stealing a furnace burner.

The victim reported in early December the burner had been stolen from the furnace in an unoccupied trailer she was attempting to sell in Pinecrest Trailer Park, on Cochran Road in Morristown. At the time she noted Jerry Denis, 27, of Morristown, had called her about two weeks earlier to tell her the door to the trailer was open.  On January 1, she told the Morristown Police she had reason to believe Denis had been involved with taking the burner and had put it into a family member's home in the trailer park. She visited that home and told police that burner matched the one that was missing from her trailer.

According to his affidavit, Morristown Patrolman Garth Christensen went to Denis' residence to ask him about the missing burner. Christensen alleges Denis “got upset and started to yell at me,” before asking for a lawyer.

He was arrested and lodged until his arraignment on Monday, January 4, when he posted bail and was released on conditions including to not have contact with the victim.

 

 

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2009 in Review Part II July through December

 

July

The Andrew Parker Homecoming Parade happens June 27. He returned home after

six months convalescence from a roadside attack in Afghanistan. All the way

from the Morrisville-Stowe Airport to the Hyde Park VFW people lined the

road with signs and waves. The party at the VFW was highlighted by the

presentation of a check for $100,000 over and above the costs of the

modifications to Andrew’s home. It was the culmination of a huge community

effort and outpouring. It was unprecedented. A welcome home, indeed.

Meanwhile the Lamoille Area Cancer Network raised $134,500 at its annual

LACiNG Up for Cancer walk.

Marc Newton, Peoples Academy’s varsity boys soccer coach for 11 years takes

issue with the official process and the fact of his not being rehired for

the job. Eventually he is offered the job – with conditions.

Construction work hits public places around Morristown. The Morristown

Police Department parking lot is redesigned, dug up and changed. Copley

Hospital breaks ground on a big utility update – new boilers and more. The

Morristown Centennial Library tears out its badly deteriorated handicap ramp

(eventually replaced with a new wooden structure.)

It is announced that Lamoille North and South School District will get $2

million in federal stimulus money.

Waterville Elementary searches for a new principal.

Union Bank barbequed hot dogs in celebration of 30 years at its busy

Northgate Plaza branch in Morrisville.

After 27 years as Cambridge-Waterville-Belvidere’s state Representative,

RichWestman has accepted a job as Vermont’s Tax Commissioner.

Peoples Academy boys soccer coach is reinstated after a public battle for

his job.

Lamoille County Mental Health became Lamoille Community Connections and has

moved into its new one location home in the former Genesis building on

Harrell Street in Morrisville.

Lamoille County Field Days in Johnson tallied up another record year,

despite some rain.

A $10,000 grant will help preserve the historic Lamoille Farm barn of the

McCuin family in Cambridge.

August

Emilie Smith, of New Hampshire, is the new Waterville Elementary School

principal.

Brian T. Comiskey, 25, of Johnson, is arrested for the robbery of the Hyde

Park branch of the Union Bank on February 27.

A ceremony August 4 marks the commencement of work to replace the Bridge St.

Bridge in Morrisville.

Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux explains how he and his department

will handle big changes mandated for the dispatch center.

State Rep. Richard Westman announced his resignation to accept the job of

Vermont Commissioner of Taxes.

Senator Sue Bartlett says she is laying the groundwork for her bid to be

Governor.

Three crooks are quickly captured after an armed robbery at Morrisville

Mobil on the corner of Rtes. 15 and 100. Senior Patrolman Michael Reeve just

happened to be driving by as the perps were doing the deed. Bad luck for

them.

Though rain was the major weather event of summer, the August 20 edition

featured a front page photo of fun at a swimming hole. Summer is summer, no

matter what!

Elmore’s Dave Peters is made state coordinator for AARP’s Driver Safety

Program.

It’s back to school for Morristown and Elmore kids a couple days ahead of

others in the county.

The Morristown Selectboard and Planning Commission are embroiled through the

summer over proposed changes to zoning bylaws involving how many, what kind

and how and where big businesses might be allowed.

September

The Bridge Street Bridge dismantling is on schedule.

Hearthstone stove builders, of Morristown, lobbied Congress and prevailed by

having specific new standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency

allowing them to better market their stoves in the world market.

U.S. Senator Leahy visited Hardwick to highlight grants made to local

agricultural projects in the region.

Morristown, the county and to some the degree, Vermont, is stunned by the

arrest of Morristown teacher and Selectboard Chair Shaun Bryer for 10 counts

of aggravated sexual assault, five counts of lewd and lascivious conduct and

two counts of disseminating material to a minor. He is arraigned, a

confession of sorts is revealed, and he is released to the custody of his

parents. His case continues as the New Year begins.

Author Ann Hagman Cardinal, of Morrisville, is appointed to a four year term

on the Vermont Commission of Women.

Deborah Whitney, 43, of Eden, will serve 41 months in jail for committing a

series of frauds against Lamoille victims. She embezzled or otherwise

converted to her own use $673,768. She was ordered to appear for prison

October 20.

A home built airplane flown by Dr. Peter Hebert, of Stowe, crashed at the

Morrisville-Stowe Airport, September 7.

The Morristown Selectboard voted not to support a “size cap” for Morrisville

retail stores.

It’s announced the long time Hyde Park Market building will be reborn as a

bake shop/catering service.

The Bryer case reverberates through the community in a variety of venues.

The Evelyn Earle-Geer home on the Moran Loop in Sterling burns down.

Brian Comiskey, 25, of Johnson, pled guilty to the February robbery at the

Union Bank in Hyde Park.

After 25 years with the re-named agency Lamoille Community Connections, its

director Butch Alexander announces he will retire after the transition to a

new building, with all services available in one location, is in hand.

The first annual Pumpkin Chuckin’ Contest for trebuchet and the like is

announced to be held at Boyden Valley Farm in Cambridge.

Morrisville Fire Department is the first in county to install an onboard

computer in a fire truck.

October

High Mowing Organic Seeds, of Wolcott, partnered in a lawsuit against the

U.S. Department of Agriculture involving genetically modified seed issues

and Monsanto sugar beets. It’s highly important on the national scene.

The Town of Johnson won a Superior Court case over property taxes assessed

against the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson.

Elmore State Park is named Park of the Year by the Department of Forests,

Parks and Recreation.

Emilie Smith, Waterville Elementary principal, loses her job over not

showing up for work.

The issue of availability and getting seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccinations

arises and seems very hit or miss well into December.

Vermont Electric Co-op announces a $2 million shortfall in revenues.

Employees take a pay cut in order to help.

David Coddaire is named Physician of the Year by the Vermont Medical

Society.

In a reversal of fortune,  the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is deemed to need

an Act 250 permit.

Laraway Youth & Family Services gets a new home on the outskirts of Johnson.

Rock Art brewer Matt Nadeau, his family and business run afoul of big

business in the form of a trademark fight vs. Hansen Beverage. With the help

of the internet’s social media and others, he prevailed in a fight that went

viral … enough.

Eric Denis, 25, of Morristown, is arrested for firing a rifle at his former

girlfriend’s new friend at the Pinecrest trailer park in Morristown.

Cambridge resident and magazine baron Adam Howard is named from among three

candidates to fill the vacant Rep. Richard Westman seat in the Legislature.

Hyde Park’s town offices undergo renovation.

The delivery of the new Bridge St. Bridge is delayed due to lack of a

Vermont road transportation permit. It finally arrives October 26 and 27 in

two parts.

It is announced that the Lake Elmore beachhouse will be renovated to the

tune of about $600,000. Bids to be let in early 2010.

Bourne’s Inc. unveils two hybrid fuel delivery trucks – the first in the

Northeast.

Vermont Electric Co-op is well in the lead in electric utilities’ race to

install “smart” meters and establish a “smart grid.” Federal money comes

down to help the rest of the state catch up.

November

Weekly updates concerning progress on the Bridge St. Bridge are necessary as

drivers tire of detours. Likewise updates are necessary concerning flu shot

offerings, as availability appears limited.

Missing for 24 hours, a luxury tour bus owned by Lamoille Valley

Transportation has been recovered. Jacob Rehm, 38, of Morristown, borrowed

the bus for a joy ride and made a YouTube video of his trip. He faces

charges in court.

The Peoples Academy Girls Soccer team won the Division III championship

title for the third time since 2005.

Local performer Allen Church brings back the performances of the beloved

Alfred “Crazy” Chase, a local character of the 1950s, and is very well

received.

The subject of installing a traffic light at the Hannaford entrance to Route

100 in Morristown is brought up again.

Alexandra Jump, Morristown’s solid waste district supervisor, resigns her

position and charges the organization harbors a “culture of continued

sexism…”

The Bridge St. Bridge is open! It happened about noon, November 17.

Michael Wooton, an off duty police officer who lives in Waterville, is found

innocent by jury of animal cruelty in a case where he shot a neighbor’s dog.

Local architect Paul Trudell is named Volunteer of the Year at the Vermont

Downtown Conference for his continuing work to beautify and revitalize

Morrisville Village.

Morrisville Eagle Scout to be Chris McDonnell remade the Morristown WWII

Veterans Memorial Plaque that had deteriorated to the point of irretrievable

decrepitude. His product will eventually be reinstalled at the Morristown

Centennial Library for permanent display.

December

The culinary students of Green Mountain Technical and Career Center once

again bring home top honors at the New England Culinary Institute’s annual

classic competition.

Tour bus videographer Jacob Rehm doesn’t show in court and is arrested

again.

Elmore hamlet looks into and prepares for a water system update.

A teen is launched through the big window at Big Lots in a stunt apparently

meant to imitate something similar in a movie. Though injury results,

thankfully no one dies.

Elmore citizens meet to discuss the possibility of “designating” a high

school, instead of allowing the current tuitioning system to operate as it

has done. Among those who attend the idea, brought up by a new state law, is

unanimously rejected.

Elmore citizens also meet to discuss what to do about several Class 4 old

roads. No one wants to give up any rights to the roads.

Johnson State College decides to focus its service learning program at home

instead of gallivanting off to sunny, but poor, foreign countries in 2009.

And, boy, is that decision a success for locals. Every Friday during the

fall semester students did some service that benefited the local communities

enormously. SERVE Fri was a huge success – and appreciated.

The News & Citizen Inc. helped raise almost $6,000 to help local National

Guard families during the holidays.

Morristown plans a much discussed sewer extension to Hearthstone.

Lamoille County’s assistant judges diligently cut the proposed county budget

by a few percent, but raise some ire by upping the amount of their salaries

raised locally!

The initial court charge leveled at alleged trailer park shooter Eric Denis

earlier in the year was attempted murder, but that is dropped pled down to

aggravated assault and he is sentenced to 3 – 7 years suspended with 90 days

to serve.

On a lighter side, after a year or two without holiday performances, The

Logger, Rusty Dewees, focuses his redneck, woodchuck Vermont humor on stage,

and with some help from his friends, gets folks laughing at the end of a

sometimes tough economic year.

 

Editor’s Note: The first half of  2009 in review was printed last week.

 

 

 

 

 

Around Town by J.B. McKinley 1-1-7-10

 

What I’ve noticed since snow began falling this season, is that the state

highways are not as good driving as town highways. Then there is Interstate

89 ... that’s more than an occasional disaster. Like many of you I even have

my own I-89 anecdote to prove the point. A week or so before Christmas a

colleague and I took the interstate to Randolph, driving down about noon.

From Middlesex to Randolph, over the heights of I-89, the highway was about

80 percent snow covered and spotted with black ice. For the most part

vehicles were moving under 55; nevertheless we saw at least six vehicles off

the road awaiting assistance. We did not see a highway truck. On the way

back four and a half hours later, conditions had worsened. The roadway was

at least 95 percent snow covered and blowing with terrible visibility. We

saw more than six vehicles off the road between Randolph and Montpelier, two

with police already present. That’s the modern state of maintenance. The

Vermont State slogan is “Safe Roads at Safe Speeds.” I’d have to check, but

it seems this might have been an equally valid slogan in 1890 – when we had

one horsepower under us or before us.

Please believe me when I say all this whining is NOT aimed at our road

crews, I think somewhere higher up someone is yanking on the purse strings.

The question is when is enough, enough?

Meanwhile what about conditions on state roads like Route 15 and Route 12?

Well, here’s a quote from Vermont state policy and I’d have to say they mean

it: 

“In Vermont, there is no ‘bare road’ policy

for any road during a snowstorm. The roads

are to be returned to bare pavement after the

storm is over.”

In fact, maybe they won’t be bare then. Or maybe I don’t have the definition

of “storm” figured out, maybe the “storm” will finally be over in May. After

all, the snow will wear away after awhile.

But, satire aside, I’m not actually opposed to a low salt policy. I’m for

saving money. But can’t they just plow a bit more often? What about sanding

a little more? Last weekend the berm of churned, but unplowed, snow lasted

all day Saturday and Sunday on Route 15 from Wolcott to beyond Hardwick and

was deep enough (3–6 inches)  to  really rock and pull a small fuel

efficient car that happened to let a wheel stray out of the two track

highway.

By the way, every car I’ve seen off the road this year was four wheel drive.

The state is correct speed is the danger. The state correctly advises us how

to handle modern Vermont roads on a Safe Roads at Safe Speeds poster, which

states –

Slow down. Put winter tires on your vehicle. Stay at least three car lengths

from the guy in front of you. Plan your winter trip during daylight.

Actually, folks, sure I’ve slowed down – had to. I even bought genuine snow

tires, not just all seasons. I could be the slow guy in front of you some

night, but I do wonder just how fast we  are paying for? Are we saving

money, when considering the lost time, missed appointments, accident

expense, insurance and hospital bills? Are we safer? I wonder how slow is

good for business? Since we had a really late start to winter, why isn’t

more sand and salt available for use now? How slow can we go and still

belong to the 21st century?