FBI Gets Involved
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A week in Cuba Winter sports Part Two. schedules. 28 18 the Chronicle THE WEEKLY JOURNAL OF ORLEANS COUNTY TWO SECTIONS, 48 PAGES VOLUME 44, NUMBER 2 JANUARY 11, 2017 ONE DOLLAR Maple producers meet In Coventry Truck, 4-wheeler lost to fire Climate FBI gets change, involved by Elizabeth Trail new logos COVENTRY — Auditor Jeff Graham told the selectmen at their meeting here Monday that he has discussed received a call from the Federal by Joseph Gresser Bureau of Investigation (FBI). His CPA firm, Graham & DERBY — About 60 members Graham, recently completed both a of Vermont’s Orleans County forensic audit and a financial audit Maple Producers gathered at of Coventry’s books, after more than Paul’s Sugarhouse and Dancehall a year of work to get the town’s here Monday evening to share a records organized enough to meal and gather information in the examine. short time before they begin “They’ve asked me to meet with gathering sap. them,” he said. “They’ll take my Sugarmakers heard about the records and go from there; that’s potential effects of climate change what they’ve done before.” and the likely threat of forest tent Mr. Graham is no stranger to caterpillars from Orleans County being in the middle of financial Forester Jared Nunnery. investigations. He’s unraveled a They also got a peek at the logo number of thorny cases, including and syrup can labels recently Orleans Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Jay Ratté calls for support the $1.5-million Hardwick Electric unveiled by the Vermont Maple Tuesday afternoon as firefighters from Orleans and Barton worked to keep a Company embezzlement case. So he Sugar Makers Association. garage fire from spreading to a nearby home on Water Street in Orleans. Orleans was able to explain to the select Mr. Nunnery began his talk by Chief E.J. Rowell said his department was called out at 12:35 p.m. and found Tony board what’s likely to happen next. asking how many people have seen Mason’s garage engulfed in flame. Around 30 firefighters kept the fire contained, “I’ve been assigned to an agent,” he said. An ambulance from Orleans rescue stood by, but fortunately nobody was the chart that shows Vermont he said. “My experience with the injured, he said. The fire was out and the firefighters sent home around 3:35 p.m. traveling down to Tennessee. Not FBI is they’ll interview me, and The garage and its contents, including a pickup, a side-by-side four-wheeler, and they’ll ask for my working papers many had. tools were a total loss. No cause for the fire has been determined. Chief Rowell from the audit.” “Good,” Mr. Nunnery said. “I hate said there will be an investigation, although the fire does not appear to be (Continued on page twenty-four.) suspicious in origin. Photo by Joseph Gresser (Continued on page twenty.) In Irasburg Parents troubled by school budget cuts Elizabeth Trail invited to share their ideas during by just under 14 cents, said Orleans population in the past decade, the public comment period. Central Supervisory Union (OCSU) school board Chair Amy Leroux IRASBURG — In the wake of The school lost 13 or 14 Business Manager Heather Wright. said. falling enrollment and rising per- students this year, bringing its That amounts to about $147 Everyone in the room, parents pupil costs, the school board here is enrollment down to 113. Because more in taxes on a $100,000 home. and school board members alike, looking for places to cut its budget. some costs, like teacher salaries and A decade ago, Irasburg had 153 understood the need to find places That brought about 30 people, heating the building, won’t change, students, Robin Kay said. to trim the budget in the face of mostly parents and teachers, to a that raises per-pupil costs by just And Irasburg isn’t alone. those realities. special school board meeting last over 17 percent. Vermont, as a state, has lost In fact, the proposed budget for Thursday night, where they were And it will push up the tax rate about 20 percent of its school-age (Continued on page twenty-one.) New dental center opens in Orleans by Brad Usatch Orleans Family Medicine building, The quick progress from an idea “We contacted North Country the brand new facility began taking to an open door was the result of Hospital to let them know we had ORLEANS — The Orleans patients on January 3. hard work and a few fortunate an opportunity to write a grant to Dental Center is up and running The Orleans Dental Center is breaks. NCHC applied for a federal help with this building, but that the and accepting new patients. now the third dental clinic owned grant in January of 2016 with the grant would fall short,” she said. Situated on Union Street behind and operated by Northern Counties knowledge that the grant money “They jumped on it.” the site of the now demolished Health Care (NCHC), which also would not be enough to build, equip, In the end, North Country came has dental centers in Hardwick and and staff a new facility. At about forward with a $100,000 donation Island Pond. Michelle Tetreault, the same time, North Country that made the project possible. director of dental operations at Hospital (NCH) completed a needs The land the building sits on NCHC, said the project developed assessment that identified oral had also been owned by NCH, but swiftly from an initial determination health care as an underserved area was donated to the village when the in 2015 that the area was “really the hospital was mandated to help (Continued on page twenty-two.) lacking in dental care.” with, Ms. Tetreault said. Page Two the Chronicle, January 11, 2017 the Chronicle Missing IP man found dead INDEX The body of a 23-year-old Island Pond man On January 5, local residents were doing just Crossword Puzzle..........................................22 was found in the Lightning Brook in Brighton on that — conducting a search — when they found Kids’ Corner...................................................22 Thursday, January 5. Mr. O’Gorman dead in the Lightning Brook, Kingdom Calendar ...............................10B-15B Quincy O’Gorman went missing on New according to State Police Public Information Letters to the Editor ....................................4-6 Year’s Eve. About a quarter to midnight a State Officer Scott Waterman.. Obituaries................................................3B-5B Police trooper pulled over the vehicle Mr. The body was transported to the Chief Perimeter .............................................28 & 32 O’Gorman was operating for failing to stop at a Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an stop sign and erratic operation, a press release autopsy. Ruminations..................................................2B says. It says that four occupants of the vehicle Investigation is ongoing, pending results from Sports.......................................................18-19 immediately got out and ran. the autopsy, police say. Sudoku Puzzle .................................................9 “The trooper was able to detain two Tax Time..........................................................9 passengers from the vehicle,” the release says. Advertising Sections “The operator and a third passenger continued to Auctions & Real Estate ............................6B-7B flee to the rear of a nearby residence.” Auto .........................................................28-31 Shortly thereafter, the Brighton Police chief Building Trades ........................................8B-9B found the vehicle’s third passenger, and by Classified Ads ..............................................15B talking to the passengers, police say they learned Hair................................................................24 that Mr. O’Gorman had been the operator of the Jobs................................................................26 vehicle. Pets................................................................25 A K9 was called to the scene, and based on Restaurants & Entertainment..............11B-12B his track, police believed that Mr. O’Gorman had crossed a small brook and continued on foot around Island Pond Village. Brighton Police, deputies from the Essex CURRIER’S QUALITY MARKET County Sheriff’s Department, and State Police 2984 Glover St., Glover, VT 05839 • 802-525-8822 continued to try to locate Mr. O’Gorman but were unsuccessful. On January 2, family members reported that Mr. O’Gorman was still missing. The Vermont scuba team was called in to Betty Crocker Brownie Shurfine Butter, $2.99 search the brook and swamp area near the village. Mixes, 5/$5 Tropicana Premium VAST trails were also searched. Fish and Wildlife Smucker’s Preserves, Orange Juice, 2/$6 wardens, New England K9, and Upper Valley $2.99 YoCrunch Assorted Wilderness conducted a ground search in the area, Shurfine Mac & Cheese Yogurt, 5/$3 but Mr. O’Gorman wasn’t found. Quincy O’Gorman. 5/$3 At that point, State Police asked Brighton Dinner, Scott Tissue, 12 roll, $8.99 Photo courtesy of Curtis-Britch- Shurfine Pasta, assorted, residents to check abandoned properties, Converse-Rushford Funeral Home 89¢ outbuildings, and old vehicles. General Mills Chex Mix Snacks, 2/$4 Waterfront Plaza, Newport • 334-2610 www.CityCinemaNewport.com UNITED CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Wednesday is 65 School Street, Newport, Vermont 05855 date night! All seats only $5.50 NOW ENROLLING GRADES K-12 469 Broad St., Lyndonville, VT IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO CHECK US OUT! Booster seats for kids! Teaching the ABCs of Academic Excellence, Biblical Values & Christian Unity since 1995. (802) 626-5996 • www.StahlerFurniture.com Phone: 802-334-3112 • Fax: 802-334-2305 • www.ucaeducation.org Playing Fri., Jan. 13 – Thurs., Jan. 19 • Fences (PG13) - 6:10 & 8:50* Sat. & Sun. Matinees: 12:30 & 3:30 • Hidden Figures (PG) - 6:20 & 9:00* GENERATORS Sat. & Sun. 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