Chester Winter Carnival See Page 10B Winter Storm Does Not Cripple Winter Carnival by JO ROBBINS the Hearty Who Have Planned One Took the Speed Award
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE 58 PAID POSTAL CUSTOMER FREE Years RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER PERMIT #2 N. HAVERHILL, NH ECRWSSEDDMECRWSS Menu Guide Page 4A Your Local Community Newspaper FEBRUARY 12, 2020 | WWW.VERMONTJOURNAL.COM VOLUME 58, ISSUE 37 Chester Winter Carnival See Page 10B Winter storm does not cripple Winter Carnival BY JO ROBBINS the hearty who have planned one took the Speed award. This grabbed a time of 9.78 seconds The Shopper for this carnival all year. year that trophy went to “The to Tim Gould’s 10.04, but after On Saturday morning when Lamborghini” driven by Lucas a final round between the two SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – The The Shopper asked event di- LaCross. Lily Justice secured a men, Martin lost his first-place winter storm might have ren- rector Andy Bladyka if weath- Bling award for her “The Rain- status to Gould. dered the skating pond unus- er would have an impact on bow Dash” along with Ayden A banner was strung across able and delayed the bonfire scheduled races, he said, “Win- Stevens for his “Titanic,” which the front porch of the club scheduled for Friday night be- ter Carnival, winter weather.” his parents said has been ready that thanked Winter Carnival cause of high winds, but it also Bladyka said Friday night was since Halloween when Ayden supporters: ARC Mechanical, provided the snow pack neces- quieter than usual because of wore his sled as his costume. Vermont Packinghouse, The sary for the historical sledding the strong winds and spotty Spirit awards went to Eliza- Kurt Dechen Fund, third grad- events at the sixth annual Win- power outages, but the John beth Warren for her “DeLo- er Charlie Keefe, Red House ter Carnival held at the Crown Sullivan Band played for an rean” and to Haleigh Goodrich Press, Rewind 106.5, Members Point Country Club Feb. 7 intimate setting of those guests for “Team Goodrich.” Bentley Advantage Community Credit and 8 where all activities and that braved the outdoors to sit Parker, Tristen Stagner, Julian Union, The Edgar May Health events were free both days. The inside, stay warm, and enjoy Roberson, Jameson Clapper- & Recreation Center, Spring- weather took a toll on the mas- the food and music. ton who built his sled with field Cinema 3, SunCommon, sive pines and hemlocks that Bladyka said he expected a Austin Tewksbury, Autymn Davidson Hill Builders, Kevin surround this property but also good turnout that afternoon Cardboard sledders line up for race. Epler, and Ryan Gould all re- Heiden, Denise E. Photogra- shrouded it with picturesque for the legendary snow events PHOTO BY JO ROBBINS ceived medals for their entries. phy, and Crown Point Excava- ice crystals that covered all of and said the cold was not a bad The Shopper asked some of the tion. the trees and sparkled in the thing because people would go fun for the children, like Diab- ly after the races, but this day, parents if the sleds were tested Fireworks sponsored by sunlight. outside to watch the races and olo – a huge yoyo on a string the cold drove the ceremony before the main event and one Kelley’s Sales and Service were It was 22 degrees on Satur- come inside often to get warm. with two sticks – hula-hoops, inside. Hands and faces were said, “We don’t test them. We held Saturday night while day, but the wind chill was 16. For some people, like Cris- dish spinning, and giant floor covered to protect against the just put them together and let many people huddled by the The sun came out for moments tine Campbell, the power was checkers. There was face paint- wind, but everybody was excit- ‘em go!” bonfire to watch the bright but most of the day the sky still out at home, but she said ing and even a table for teens. ed and ready to see whose sled Bladyka announced the lights explode over a canopy was blustery, and the wind was the weather and the snow was Bladyka officiated the inno- creation would win the Bling, downhill kayak runoffs be- of snow and Bladyka said, “If fierce. Make no mistake about good for these events. vative and colorful cardboard Spirit, and Speed awards. tween two men he referred to you have never seen fireworks this kind of cold, to stay out- On Saturday, live radio was sled and downhill kayak races This year, there were 11 en- as “downhill kayak legends.” in the winter, it is something to side for more than 10 minutes broadcast courtesy of WCFR, and for each event he stood tries and although five trophies North Springfield’s Russ Mar- s e e .” was brutal – tingling in fin- Springfield’s Rewind 106.5 at the top of the hill and ex- were given in the main catego- tin defended his champ status The evening wrapped up gers and faces happened fast. FM. Troy Wunderle’s Big Top plained the rules of the road. ries, everybody got a medal. from last year and faced off with music by the Tricksters, Although the weather caused Adventures provided all kinds He said typically the awards Two entrants won for Bling against Tim Gould of Spring- and Bladyka said the band was some hiccups, it did not stop of inside entertainment and were given outside immediate- and two for Spirit, but only field. In the first race, Martin phenomenal. Shaun McGinnis steps down as acting police chief BY BETSY THURSTON currences happened that day; of North Walpole, was pres- would not [do his duty] because supervisors with the most se- and Jonathan Wright agreed that The Shopper McGinnis expressed he was no ent at the meeting to represent he was intimidated.” niority.” “none of us were.” longer interested in being acting a resident of Bellows Falls who Harrison said she had to ap- Gary Lique asked if issues At the end of the meeting, BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – In a police chief and Officer Paulette he explained “fears for his life.” point the next person for interim would be addressed and Bemis the Village Trustees thanked special meeting Monday, Feb. 3, was on a non-disciplinary sus- VanEtten warned the board chief but that she would like Mc- stated, “There are several issues McGinnis for his service and the Bellows Falls Village Trust- pension. against promoting Mario Chec- Ginnis to continue. Stefan Golec we need to address, and we will wished Bemis good luck. ees discovered that Fire Chief Resident Paul Ries, who was chi to chief and explained that asked McGinnis, “Would you address all of them.” On Monday, Feb. 10, the At- Shaun McGinnis wanted to step concerned with the leave of Of- the person he represented went consider sticking around?” until Harrison explained that the torney General’s office con- down as acting police chief and ficer Josh Paulette, made public to the Vermont State Police be- a police chief was hired. McGin- challenges were not new, having cluded a review of the allegation that an investigation of the Bel- comment that Paulette was ap- cause BFPD would not help nis replied, “Absolutely not.” “developed over years.” She later against Bellows Falls Police De- lows Falls Police Department proachable and well-liked in the and the VSP directed him back Village President Deborah shared, “I may have told you pre- tective Mario Checchi. Attor- had been ongoing by the Ver- village. He said he would recom- to Bellows Falls. VanEtten ex- Wright asked if he would remain viously, but there is an active in- ney General T.J. Donovan an- mont State Police since August mend him as police chief. plained, “Checchi refused to as fire chief and McGinnis re- vestigation by the Vermont State nounced that his office reviewed 2019. Two other residents in atten- help. He showed a dereliction of plied that he would. Police on the Bellows Falls Police all the materials provided by the Municipal Manager Wendy dance voiced disappointment in duty.” Harrison supported appoint- Department.” Vermont State Police and found Harrison explained that co- the police department. He said, “I would question the ing Sargeant Bemis as acting James McAuliffe immediately no credible evidence to support incidentally two separate oc- James VanEtten, a resident leadership of any officer who police chief. “He is one of two said, “I was not aware of that,” the allegation of misconduct. Springfield on the Move Rockingham Selectboard approves presents Wayfinding project new Town Hall storefront proposal BY BETSY THURSTON that the town would pay to relo- the detour over Bridge Street. BY JO ROBBINS ing, rivers, parks, schools, and engineering structural analy- The Shopper cate utilities. He said, “I thought Susan Hammond made a mo- The Shopper municipal offices – key public sis done. After the bid was sewer and water was supposed tion to approve the agreement locations. Yennerell said Spring- accepted, expenses were cov- BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – to be included in the contract.” and the motion passed unani- SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – Jessica field on the Move is working ered, and the purchase was On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the town Both Golec and Susan Ham- mously. Martin, executive director of with the Main Street Com- made, there was a balance of of Rockingham Selectboard mond understood this to be in- Developent Director Gary Fox Springfield on the Move, asked mittee and together they have approximately $17,000. Mar- proceeded with the Depot cluded with the bridge in place, introduced a proposal to lease the Selectboard at its Jan. 27 discussed and researched the tin asked the board to con- Street Bridge agreement, a and if the town had chosen the the storefront of Town Hall.