Grand Isle, Essex services in jeopardy



ST. ALBANS — As expected, the final draft of the Commission on Judicial Operation report to the legislature recommends the near-closure of the Grand Isle and Essex County Courthouses. The two courts would each have a full-time docket clerk, but no other staff.

Conflict of interest for Judge Rainville



ST. ALBANS CITY –– The newest judge on the Franklin District Court bench has recused himself from a continuously delayed road fatality case because of former ties to a defense witness.

Could local professionals serve prison?



By MICHELLE MONROE

Messenger Staff Writer



ST. ALBANS TOWN — Vermont’s Defender General Matt Valerio would like to see changes made to the way Vermont arranges for health care for prisoners. The recent death of an inmate in the Northwest State Correctional Facility may provide the political momentum needed to make those changes happen.

Trail goes cold in Swanton bank robbery



ST. ALBANS CITY –– Police Chief Gary Taylor was in a meeting at city hall Tuesday morning when he heard the news: a masked, hooded robber with a knife had just hit the Chittenden Bank in Swanton, in broad daylight, and then disappeared, on foot.

St. Albans dairy hearing attracts written comments



ST. ALBANS — “We went from bring able to pay all our bill to losing about $5,000 each month. We have cashed in our retirements and life insurance policies. We’ve borrowed more money from the bank to continue operating… We are living from day to day, not sure if we will go bankrupt and lose our farm, our home…”

Evidence fails to support manslaughter charge

 

    ST. ALBANS CITY –– One of two men charged in the fatal alcohol and drug overdose of a young Swanton man changed his plea in court here Wednesday – because the state could not meet its burden of proof on the original manslaughter charge.

Town planner urges public input



ST. ALBANS TOWN — If all of the housing currently allowed under St. Albans Town zoning laws were constructed, there would be 10,000 housing units in the town. There are just 2,600 units today.

Police unable to say if it ties to local cases



By LEON THOMPSON

Messenger Staff Writer



ROCHESTER –– Following two bank robberies in Franklin County, police are now on the lookout for a pair of men they believe committed another robbery at the Randolph National Bank here early Thursday morning.

Housing site fire set in entryway



ST. ALBANS CITY –– A sprinkler system late Tuesday night partially doused a suspicious fire that posed significant harm to dozens of elderly people here, according to Fire Chief Joe Beaudry.

Processers appear to avoid direct competition



ST. ALBANS — While Dean Foods receives a competitive credit from financially strapped area farmers to help it compete against smaller processors, there is one area where Dean and others do not appear to be interested in competing – school milk contracts in northern Vermont.