2004's Front Page Headlines


1/1/ 04 Beattie Pleads Nolo to Murder 2 - Keefe Beattie, a diagnosed
schizophrenic and mental health client, pleads no contest to a
particularly brutal killing of Margaret "Peggy" May, his care home provider.
1/8 Town Center Cost Estimates - Morristown Selectboard voted to present
about a $3.3 million bond vote at Town Meeting for a joint town
office/library building project.
1/15 Turn-Out Allows Tuitioning - Voting 68 to 56, Belvidere voters
agreed to allow their school board the option of tuitioning Belvidere
students to Waterville Elementary.
1/22 Cross Family Asks: Please Give Blood - On January 10, Caleb Cross,
son of Morristown's Harold and Leila, was burned over 90% of his body at
his home in Minnesota. Our communities gave blood in a symbolic
outpouring for Caleb's need. Bucket Brigade Gives Firemen Fighting
Chance - Barn owner Ray Proulx, of Waterville, his daughter and
neighbors formed a bucket brigade and kept flames down until the Johnson
Fire Department arrived to save his barn.
1/29 Steve Hall Honored for Lifetime of Service - Representative Harold
Bailey sponsored a joint House and Senate Resolution honoring centen-
narian Steve Hall, who served the area as a teacher and eminent
dramatist "long beyond the age when most persons have retired." School
Budgets - LUHS/LUMS announce a proposed 6.4% budget increase for Town
Meeting Day. GMTCC similarly states its increase will be 5.4%.
2/5 Wolcott Voters Face Big Questions; Johnson Proposed Budget Up 3.7%;
Morristown Budget Overview.
2/12 Fire Guts Johnson Dept. Community and County FDs Rally - At 4:36
a.m., Sunday, February 8, the 1998-built Johnson Fire Department burned
to the ground. By 8 p.m. that same Sunday, the JFD was on duty again
with borrowed equipment. "There was just a sea of emergency vehicles,"
said neighbor Greg Stefanski.
2/19 $192,000 for JFD - Governor Jim Douglas delivered a check for the
money, that came from the Department of Homeland Security, to help
rebuild the fire station. Hyde Park's Joneslan Farm Conserved with VLT -
A conservation easement of 314 acres of the Brian and Steven Jones
families was sold to the Vermont Land Trust.
2/26 Budget Pinch Leads to Mental Health Layoffs - $200,000 is trimmed
from Lamoille County Mental Health's budget, forcing staff layoffs.
North Wolcott House Lost - The North Wolcott home of Robert Brown burned
to nothing.
3/4 Town Meeting: Morristown Approves Town Hall Complex, Stowe Taxes Up,
Up, Up; Close School Vote - Belvidere voters demand a paper ballot and
controversy remains over schoolchildren tuitioning issue.
3/11 Bailey Eyed for Next LNSU Superintendent - With a statewide
shortage of school superintendent candidates, tech center director, Dr.
Terry Bailey indicates his willingness for the job at Lamoille North.
Water Reservoir Refills - ...in Jeffersonville, where ice caused an
automatic valve to close not allowing the tank to refill correctly.
Several homes were brieflly without water.
3/18 CREW Opens to a Crowd - pictured the week before, John Connell and
daughter, Georgia, put their handprints in the CREW facility cement.
Indoor soccer was the inaugural sports event held at the new Morristown
recreation facility/ice rink.
3/25 Three Fatalities: Sundays' Doubly Fatal Half Hour - Rochelle
Lockman, of New Jersey, and John Dalton, of Wolcott, died in separate
vehicle accidents, Sunday, March 21, due to very poor road conditions.
Lynn Kingsbury, 17, a Lamoille Union student, died at an accident near
Willow Crossing in Johnson, March 22. Sugar Season Up and Running! Some
sugarmakers report between a quarter and a third of a normal crop
already has been boiled.
4/1 Frenzied Man Attacks Police - Brendan Mayworm, 20, was arraigned on
two counts of attempted murder after bizarrely attacking an off-duty
police officer and state troopers with a shovel and baseball bat.
Johnson "Visit" Leads to Improvement - Johnson Town and Village hosted a
"community visit" with the Vermont Council on Rural Development to
identify an prioritize town improvement projects.
4/8 Bond Revote Forced - A petition of 237 verified signatures forces
reconsideration of the Morristown offices/library addition bond vote.
Thieves Plague Cambridge - Trucks, a safe, tools and cigarettes are
among items stolen over several weeks of thievery and state police ask
for information. OSSU Co-Superintendents - It's apparently the year for
new area school superintendents, this time Orleans Southwest chooses
David Ford, of Morristown, and Mark Andrews, of West Bolton, as
co-superintendents. Ford will oversee secondary education and Andrews,
primary.
4/15 Four Life Sentences, No Parole - Douglas Provost, 37, who murdered
four people at a Belvidere home in 2001 was sentenced. The victims were
Mitch Bishop and daughter, Jessica; Jessica's fiancee George Weatherwax
and a friend, Deric Davis. This kind of killing "leaves us absolutely
speechless," said Judge Edward Cashman.
4/22 Baghdad to Birthing Center: Soldier "Attends" Birth - Corporal
Chris Joseph Richard heard the birth of his son at Copley Hospital via a
telephone call to Iraq. There were a few problems with the phone - it
kept getting disconnected, but it was an overall success!
4/29 Brooklyn St. Project Spans Two Seasons - Morristown officials say,
due to funding requirements sidewalk, storm drainage and water line
improvements along Brooklyn St. will now take two construction seasons
instead of one. Beattie Gets 20 Years to Life - Keefe Beattie is
sentenced for the murder of Peggy May.
5/6 Joe Teegarden Named New GMTCC Director, (self-explanatory).
Renovation & Production Coincide at Opera House - A state-of-the-art
sprinkler system goes in at Hyde Park Opera House as Lost in Yonkers is
on stage.
5/13 Morristown Tackles Stormwater Management - In the second year of a
plan, Morristown will work on several projects in the north end.
5/20 Eight Voter Margin Said No to Town Hall - A 428 to 420 revote
(compared to the Town Meeting Day 513-444 vote) defeated the Morristown
office/library joint building project, May 18. Towns Experiencing Lister
Woes - The state's takeover of school property taxes is making the
lister's job arguably larger, more time-consuming and, definitely, hard
to fill. Several county towns have problems keeping listers and filling
the offices.
5/27 First Grade Memories - Hyde Park teacher Joan Bradley retires after
38 years. Lanpher Looks for Final Dollars - Hyde Park's library asks the
town for $75,000 to complete their long-awaited addition.
6/3 Missing - Jodie Whitney, 35, of Johnson, was reported missing
Thursday, May 27, by her husband Edgar. "The circumstances are
suspicious," said Sheriff Roger Marcoux Jr. Nolo to Negligent Operation
Three Deaths Resulting - Theodore Pecor, who killed three people in a
car accident at Willow Crossing in Johnson, as he drove home from a UVM
drug treatment program, pled no contest. Bus: Morrisville to Waterbury -
The possibility of a new low cost bus service and route is announced.
6/10 Husband Arraigned for Whitney Murder - At a June 7, arraignment,
Edgar Whitney, 33, pled not guilty to murdering his wife, Jodie. Six
days after her "disappearance," Whitney told his brother he had
strangled Jodie after she had threatened to leave him. HPES Picks
Principal - Coming from a job in Milton, Dr. Ilene Levitt is chosen Hyde
Park Elementary principal.
6-17 Application #3 for FQHC - Copley Professional Services Group sends
out its third try to attain Federally Qualified Health Care status, that
means more affordable local healthcare for many residents of the Copley
community. Tobin Brothers Garage to Close - The garage of Robert and Art
Tobin at the north end of the Wrong Way Bridge in Cambridge will close
upon the brothers' retirement.
6/24 Lamoille's Largest Graduation - The 154 member 2004 graduating
class is Lamoille Union High School's largest ever. Peoples Graduates
156th Senior Class - Ninety-one members graduated Peoples Academy for
2004. Morristown Buys Option on Cole Property - Morristown bought an
option to buy a piece of land where a house is being demolished next to
the Centennial Library.
7/8 Green Mountain Access Signs On-Air - Cable TV subscribers in
Morristown, Hyde Park and Johnson can now watch, or even choose to
participate, in their very own public access television. The first show
was a broadcast of the Lamoille Union graduation ceremonies. Homemade
Cannon Explodes, Kills 2 - Eden's Tim Bullard is being held without bond
in Ohio after his homemade bread cannon killed two of his friends. NHP
Public Water System - North Hyde Park votes for an $810,000 bond to
expand its water system. "Yes" for Lanpher Library - Hyde Park taxpayers
unanimously authorized $75,000 to finish a library building addition.
7/15 Second Hearing for Whitney's Competency - A hearing to determine
accused murderer Edgar Whitney's competency to stand trial is to be held
which essentially reopens a question that had been agreed upon by both
prosecution and defense - that he was competent. DRB Approves Hyde
Park's First Wind Turbine - Rick Fearing, Diggins Hill Rd. resident gets
a permit.
7/22 Brooklyn St. Project on Schedule - Water main replacement along the
street from Harrel St. to Bridge St. was off to a good start, but things
were to change soon! Town Hall Project Feedback - Two members of a
community citizens' group expressed concern over the Morristown
Selectboard's purchase of an option to buy the Cole property next door
to the library.
7/29 - Arbitration Decision Reinstates Nadeau - A Boston arbitrator
ordered the Lamoille School Board to reinstate terminated teacher Wayne
Nadeau and restore back wages and benefits. GMC Hikers' Bridge Will Go
Ahead as Planned - The Green Mountain Club and the Town of Johnson
patched up misunderstandings about a hiking path bridge over the
Lamoille River. Less Lethal Option for Police - Just as questions arose
nationally over their safety, the Lamoille County Sheriff's Department
researched the use of Tasers to save lives.
8/5 Operation Red Clover - The Vermont Department of Health ran a
three-day emergency preparedness exercise. A mock outbreak of pneumonic
plague helped emergency organizations pinpoint their strenghs and
weaknesses. Funding in Flux - Problems in funding money and its flow
hindered county seniors' opportunities to get around even for essential
chores. Costs Up - Sidewalk Construction to Start - Within a few weeks
Morrisville's Brooklyn St. sidewalk construction was to begin despite
increased costs, but it never happened.
8/12 - Lanpher Addition Completion - After 15 years of planning,
fundraising and work, Hyde Park taxpayers loaned $75,000 to the Lanpher
Memorial Library to finish their building project. Phish to Overflow to
Copley - Copley Hospital is part of the plan to handle any concertgoers
with orthopedic emergencies. Her Swedish Fjord of Dreams - Heather Cook,
formerly of Hyde Park, plays professional softball in Sweden.
8/19 Tech Center Requests $14 Million Bond - Though this headline was
correct as to the project's overall cost, the bonding amount was badly
mis-stated and later was adjusted to be far less. The project proposed
the first major addition/expansion at the 40 year old Hyde Park facility
and at Hazen Union. Library Says Project Urgent - After winning a vote,
then losing a vote, with the town to build an addition, the Morristown
Centennial Library trustees tell selectboard rising costs of building
make decision-making urgent.
8/26 Nadeau Signs - Wrongly terminated veteran teacher Wayne Nadeau
signs a contract to come back to Lamoille Union to teach social studies.
Tech Center Bond Actually $7 Million - Only part of the project's cost
would have to be paid by bonding, due to state and federal funding.
Runaway Pickup - A pickup truck with its emergency brake off rolled down
the Portland Street incline and through the front window of Power Play
Sports, formerly Jones Jewelry.
9-2 Peters Murder Investigation Renewed - September 2 is the 11th
anniversary of the 1993 murder of Cheryl Peters in a small rented home
in Morrisville. State and local police scheduled time to re-interview
people and show that the murder case will never be closed until her
murderer is found. Anti-Nadeau Petition Filed - About 500 people sign a
petition asking reinstated LUHS teacher Wayne Nadeau to resign and move
on. A Community of Walkers & Readers - A survey of 1,000 Morristown
residents ranked, walking, gardening and reading as their top
recreational activities.
9/9 Copley to Acquire Orthopedics - Tentative plans to acquire an
orthopedic practice, Mansfield Orthopedics, and build a new medical
office building are acknowledged by Copley Health Systems officials.
Wolcott Seeks $3.6 Million for School/Library Addition - Wolcott
Selectboard unanimously decided to seek a 20 year bond to enhance the
school and town library. MW&L Rate Hike: Round Two - After getting an
8.25% rate raise in the spring, Morrisville Water & Light Department
seeks about a 10% hike later in the year.
9/16 Town Puts Brooklyn St. Work on Hold - Due to delays in the ongoing
water main work, the town decides to postpone sidewalk and stormwater
drainage work till next summer. Open House at Manosh Hardwoods - About
125 suppliers, customers, and visitors, to the reinvigorated, new
sawmill facility in Morristown were treated to a tour and even a bite to
eat at an open house August 31. Be Protected This Flu Season - Lamoille
Home Health & Hospice and Copley Hospital started urging folks to get
their flu shots...as our presses were ready to run, the national flu
shot crisis arose and the announced flu clinic schedules were all
cancelled on the last page of the newspaper to be set on the press.
9/30 Understaffed, Underpaid Sheriff's Department - Lamoille County
Sheriff Roger Marcoux Jr. explains his worries about lack of staff
retention and salary and wage competitiveness. First Hearing Upbeat for
Wolcott Addition - A small crowd at the first of three explanatory
meetings for the school/library addition seemed positive. Car Break-ins,
Vandalism - Ten vehicles were entered, things broken and items stolen in
about a week's time in Morrisville. A baseball cap was left behind and
police sought information.
10/7 Cambridge Will Decide on School Updates - An $8 million project to
fix and expand the Cambridge Elementary School will be voted on November
2. Nadeau Resigns! - Teacher Wayne Nadeau reached an agreement with the
Lamoille School Board in the wake of a petition drive asking for his
resignation and went on administrative leave effective immediately. Geer
to Defend Head of the Charles Title - Judy Geer, of Morristown, and
Grand Master Singles Champion of the prestigious rowing event will
defend her title. (She eventually wins again under historically bad
conditions.)
10/14 Blockbuster to Move In - A Blockbuster video store is to be the
newest tenant in the Morrisville Plaza, taking the space vacated by The
Music Shop. Morrisville Intersection Study - A consulting group will
take a few months to study options to improve the intersections at the
base of Copley Avenue in Morristown. Teacher Honored - Morristown
Elementary's Janet Steward earns an "American Star Teacher" award.
10/21 Wolcott Bond Quietly Denied - By a vote of 153 to 110, Wolcott
voters defeat a bond issue to fund a school/library building
addition/renovation. Waterbury Bus Starts - A new Lamoille Valley Bus,
operated by Green Mountain Transit Agency, will take over the former Hub
& Spoke routes and will run a commuter link to Waterbury and points beyond.
10/28 Candidates on the Issues - and Gauging the Candidates in Contested
House Races - Lamoille County's candidates for office answered questions
about the hot political issues just prior to Election Day. Johnson H2O,
Yes or No? - Johnson Village voters will be asked to approve or disallow
a $44.25 million water system overhaul.
11/4 Election Day Snapshot - N&C provides its traditional chart of
Lamoille County voting results. We voted Kerry for President, Douglas
for Governor, and kept our Sen. Sue Bartlett at the State House. Mr.
Ianni's Band - Two hundred turn out at a special concert to honor the
lifetime achievements of bandleader/music teacher extraordinaire, Robert
Ianni.
11/11 Champions! The Lady Lancers win the Div. II soccer championship in
four overtimes! Johnson $4.25 Million Water Bond Passes - The important
water supply improvement work is approved with a tiny turnout of 47-10.
Wolcott Discusses Space Solutions - In the wake of a failed bond vote,
the town and citizens try to figure out what to do next.
11/18 War Affects Local Families - N&C interviews several people
affected by events in Iraq. FQHC Remains Elusive - In the third round of
applications, Copley Professional Services Group is still not chosen for
this federal cost-saving healthcare status.
11/25 Sheriff's Budget Dials 911 - The Lamoille County Sheriff's
Department budget for the next year shows a 24.6% increase. N&C breaks
out a town by town table to show the increased communications bill.
Fugitive Caught in Nebraska - Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux Jr.
announces a Wolcott woman has been found safe in Grand Island, NE, a
passenger in a fugitive's car.
12/2 $2 M to "Calm" Johnson - Johnson gets $1.984 million from the
federal Omnibus Appropriations Act to fund the Main Street Traffic
Calming Project that has been in planning for years. Eden Central Makes
Grade - The Eden school is removed from the "failing school" list that
reflects lack of Adequate Yearly Progress under the No Child Left Behind
rules. It is commended for being one of only two Vermont schools that
moved off the list - several moved onto it. Eden Soldier Pays Price -
Sergeant Michael Dubie is awarded a Purple Heart for a wound he received
while on convoy duty in Iraq.
12/9 Town Hall Alternatives Narrow to 2 - A special committee created to
investigate options for the town hall/library building needs in
Morristown gets down to a more modest proposal at the site formerly
suggested, or buying the huge facility that was formerly Union Carbide's
record storage on the outskirts of downtown. Morristown Quarterly Tax
Installments Re-examined - With a headline like that why'd we write the
story? Zucker Sets 50 Mile Record - Cambridge's Zeke Zucker wins the JFK
50 mile Race in Williamsport, MD.
12/16 Inadequate Says Court - A $25,000 grant has produced plans for a
$5 million expansion and renovation of the Lamoille County Court House.
The plan will need much more discussion over the next months/years. What
Next for GMTCC? - Seventy percent of the voters who turned out to decide
the GMTCC multimillion dollar bond vote turned the project down and
officials need to know why. Morristown Hires Administrator - "Tag"
Taginski will take Paul McGinley's place as Morristown's new town
administrator.
12/23 Ron Stancliff Files for Greenia Spot - Stancliff, who has formerly
served on the Morristown Selectboard, will challenge Brian Greenia,
board chair. It's Greenia's first challenge in the 26 years he's been a
selectman! Local Merchants Feel Blessed - The merchants the N&C spoke
with said retail sales are good or better locally for the holiday
selling season.