They love Vermont! pg. 5
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COMMUNITY NEWS
TAKE ONE February 24, 2018
Serving Addison, Rutland & Chittenden Counties
FLOOD PLAN BOND VOTE EXPECTED
MIDDLEBURY | At a Middlebury Selectboard meeting Feb. 13, members examined design plans for flood mitigation in the town. Amy Sheldon of Landslide Natural Resource Planning, Inc., and Roy Schiff of engineering firm Milone & MacBroom presented the final preliminary design plans intended address recurrent flooding on the Middlebury River in East Middlebury. Th e Flood Resiliency Project, as it is known, is part of a formally adopted Hazard Mitigation Plan for East Middlebury created after Tropical Storm (nee Hurricane) Irene caused extensive flooding in 2001, and that has been approved for partial funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Much of the presentation focused on project design elements intended to mitigate the accumulation of sediment, to reduce further erosion along vulnerable stretches of the river bank. With the preliminary project design nearly complete, next steps include a public outreach phase in March and April. Local, state and federal permitting, and ultimately, an anticipated bond vote in November will consider construction funding. Note: Thanks to Chris English, assistant town manager of Middlebury for this report. ■
Icy Hot
Teen arrested; threatened to “shoot up” school By Lou Varricchio EAGLE EDITOR
Mayor David Allaire of Rutland shared his photo of the Jump Fore Fun sculpture at the Rutland City Winterfest event located at Main Street Park. By all accounts the festival had a big turnout and got residents outdoors to enjoy community spirit, creative ice sculptures, fun winter activities, and special treats.
FAIR HAVEN| Vermont State Police detectives, along with officers of the Fair Haven Police Department, arrested Poultney resident Jack Sawyer, 18, on Feb. 15 for threatening to “shoot up” Fair Haven Union High School in the town of Fair Haven. Sawyer’s threats against the school had been under investigation for several days with initial news reports downplaying the incident. Detectives reported that Sawyer said that he had a desire to cause “mass casualties” at the Fair Haven school. According to Fair Haven Police Chief William Humphries and VSP Det. St. Todd Wilkins of Rutland County, the investigation is active and ongoing; anyone who may have had contact with Sawyer is asked to contact police. A a court appearance Feb. 16 Sawyer faced multiple charges including attempted aggravated murder, attempted first degree murder and attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He plead not guilty and was ordered held without bail. » Sawyer Cont. on pg. 7
Brandon Police Department issue heroin warning From News & Staff Reports THE EAGLE
BRANDON | Brandon Police officers responded to two drug overdose calls in one day last month. One victim was a 19-year-old who had stopped breathing and for a period of time had no pulse. Brandon P.D. officers safely revived the person using Narcan, a drug that reverses the effects of an overdose. The second victim, a 36-year-old, was revived by members of the Brandon Area Rescue Squad, also using Narcan. The police report indicated the victim had been down for about 30 minutes. Without intervention by both the local police and rescue personnel, both heroin addicts would be dead. Vermont law allows for anyone, including the person experiencing the overdose, to contact police for help without fear of being arrested, cited, or prosecuted for a violation of possession and control of regulated drugs. “We feel it necessary to post this information in the event a friend, family member, or other person is experiencing an overdose and needs help,” according to Chief Christopher Brickell. “We do not want a fear of law enforcement action to delay a medical response that is urgently needed.” For those wanting help in escaping the addiction of opioids, there are several options available. “For those who are users of illegal drugs, we ask that you
Brandon Police officers responded to two drug overdose calls in one day recently. are extremely careful in the drugs you consume and who you receive them from. Drugs acquired from dealers, friends, associates, have no guarantee of purity, or products mixed with the drug,” Brickell said. “As always, in addition to our efforts to combat illegal drug use and trafficking, we want to be a
Photo courtesy of the Brandon P.D.
resource to those in need of escaping the grip of addiction.” The Brandon Police Department praised the actions of its officers, members of the Brandon Area Rescue Squad, and the Brandon Fire Department for their efforts in protecting and serving the community. ■
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