Essex County News

Session at Milton School Tuesday night MILTON - Vermont's Public Service Board will hold a second public hearing on the proposed Georgia Mountain Community Wind Project here on Tuesday night.

A special commission on judicial operation voted Friday to recommend a sweeping reorganization of the state's court system to unify its management, eliminate duplicative staffing and produce more than $2 million in ongoing savings in state and local taxes.

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.

A plan to reorganize Vermont's courts, closing them in the two smallest counties, is drawing criticism from many lawyers.

Their clients may not yet realize the enormity of the changes coming to Vermont's courts, but lawyers around the state do.

Essex County, tucked into the northeast corner of Vermont, is slated to receive nearly double the stimulus funding for road improvements than that bound for Chittenden County, despite having no major roads deemed in 'unacceptable condition.

Ver mont's largest law-en forcement organizations say they can achieve bet ter coordination and communication without consolidating - contrary to the recommendation of a consultant hired by the Legislature.

MONTPELIER -- A commission tasked with finding $1 million in cuts to the Vermont judiciary is considering consolidating state and county court management and closing courts in Grand Isle and Essex counties.

The courts are likely the least-well-known branch of government in Vermont. The judicial branch is also among the portions of state government that the greatest number of citizens interact with directly, and during the most serious times of their lives.

Last year Vermont lawmakers instructed the judiciary to find ways to become more efficient and cuts costs.

A 22-year-old Vermont man has been charged with cruelty to a child after allegedly holding a lit marijuana pipe up to a toddler's mouth and allowing the child to inhale, according to Vermont State Police.

MONTPELIER -- An influential lawmaker says he'll introduce a bill in the next legislative session calling for the Vermont Public Service Board to be elected rather than appointed, as the utility regulation panel is now.

An Essex County police chief will not face criminal charges after he was accused of embezzlement and fraud.

Lawmakers on Wednesday approved special-session legislation that will help staunch the fiscal bleeding in the state's unemployment trust fund.

No drunk drivers were apprehended Memorial Day weekend at DUI check points in Caledonia and Essex counties, said Vermont State Police.

Vermont's congressional delegation says the U.S. Border Patrol is going to build a new station in their state, instead of New Hampshire.

A massive littering and illegal dumping case in Essex County has Vermont State Police asking the public for help.

SUMMARY: After a joint investigation with the Department of Children and Families, Frank Fellows, age 36, of Concord, Vermont was cited to appear In Essex County Court on April 28th, 2009 to answer the charges of Sexual Assault.