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August 13, 2016
Rutland Herald in turmoil By Lou Varricchio lou@addison-eagle.com
RUTLAND — Owners of the struggling Rutland Herald and Montpelier Times-Argus have another challenge—meeting payroll. Several news sources, including WCAX-TV and Seven Days reported that employees of both papers have not received timely paychecks. An employee walkout was also reported Aug. 5. According to a Seven Days report, the problems were compounded when Alan Keays, the Rutland Herald’s news editor, was fired after approving a news story about his employer’s financial woes. A Herald subscriber, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the Eagle Aug. 8 that he did not receive the Aug. 6 edition of the paper at his home in Pittsford. The Burlington Free Press reported that truck drivers were not paid and hence Saturday, Aug. 6, edition went undelivered. “It’s not surprising in this day in age that a (paid) print newspaper is having problems with financial problems or otherwise,” said Lisbeth Dodd, a Montpelier subscriber told WCAX in a broadcast report over the weekend. Since June, both newspapers cut back on print editions. The Rutland Herald newsroom did not return calls from the Eagle.
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Minter’s ARE YOU BEING SERVED? gun control ad garners attention By Michael Bielawski bparker@watchdog.org
MONTPELIER — An ad released last week by Democrat gubernatorial candidate Sue Minter makes some bold charges about gun violence, particularly regarding domestic violence. Gun-rights advocates say that while Minter’s claims contain a kernel of fact, its lack of context make the ad highly misleading. “It happens every day, behind closed doors,” Minter says in the ad. “Domestic violence causes the most homicide in Vermont and half of them involve guns. We need to keep guns away from abusers and require background checks on all gun sales.” While she’s speaking, text on-screen specifies that 57 percent of domestic violence homicides in Vermont are gun-related. CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
Server James Steadman, a member of the North Ferrisburgh Methodist Church, delivers a Maine lobster dinner to a senior citizen attendee at the church’s annual Lobster Fest last week. This year’s event raised $4,000 which will be plowed back into the community through church’s good works. See story inside.
“Harlan County USA” filmmaker is festival’s guest By Lou Varricchio lou@addison-eagle.com
Barbara Kopple
MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival made its debut splash last summer. Now this summer’s second edition is about to pass through the Moviola’s film gate without missing a sprocket or the movie reel’s cue mark. Headlining the festival, Aug. 27-28, at Dana Auditorium will be featured guest filmmaker Barbara Kopple. Kopple made her mark with the awardwinning documentary “Harlan County, USA”. The Festival will showcase the film’s 40th anniversary celebration—quite an major Movieland event for this fledgling film fest. According to Festival spokesperson Phoebe Lewis, Kopple will screen three of her coveted documentaries at the Festival this month. “Released in 1976 as Kopple’s first feature film, �Harlan County USA’ chronicled the bitter 1974
strike of Kentucky coal mine workers that began when the Eastover Mining Co. refused to sign a standard union contract,” according to Lewis. “�Harlan County, USA’” won the Academy Award for Best Documentary; in 1991, the U.S. Library of Congress named it to the National Film Registry. The film was also named one of the top five documentaries of all time by the International Documentary Association in 2007.” Kopple and her crew spent several years in Harlan County working with the families appearing in the heartbreaking film. The one-time screening of “Harlan County, USA” will take place Saturday, Aug. 27 at 130 p.m. at Town Hall Theater in downtown Middlebury. Lewis noted that following the screening, Festival organizers will present a live performance on stage by David Morris. For those not familiar with the Oscar-winning film’s soundtrack album, CONTINUED ON PAGE 13