All Entries in the "Latest News" Category


Updated: Fire engulfs old Adams Funeral Home in Chester
UPDATED 2:45 p.m.: More photos, details from the fire scene, information from Fire Chief Matt Wilson. By Shawn Cunningham and Cynthia Prairie ©2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC The home of the former Adams Funeral Home at 35 Depot St. went up in flames this morning as Chester firefighters and those from around the area battled to […]

ARPA funds info session at Cavendish Town Meeting, March 6
© 2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Cavendish ARPA Committee will hold an info session at the Cavendish Town Meeting to discuss the use of the town’s ARPA funds. Town meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 6 at Cavendish Town Elementary School, 573 Main St. in Proctorsville. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) […]

Ludlow Police: Mt. Holly man took his own life in parking lot
By Cara Philbin ©2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC A Mount Holly man found dead in his car at the base of Okemo Mountain last Wednesday afternoon apparently used a firearm to take his own life, according to Ludlow Police. Police Chief Jeff Billings told The Chester Telegraph that the body of Ronald McGreevey, 54, was discovered […]

Regional legislative breakfast set for March 13
A forum with area legislators will be held at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 13 at River Valley Tech Center, 303 South St. in Springfield. This event is sponsored by Springfield Regional Development Corp., Mt. Ascutney Regional Commission and the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce. The annual forum is being held in person for the […]

Andover Select Board agenda for Feb. 27
The Select Board for the Town of Andover will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27 at the Andover Town Office, 953 Andover Road, and via Zoom. To access via Zoom, click here. Meeting ID: 869 021 5007 and Passcode: 146374 1. Call Meeting to Order. 2. Act on Agenda. 3. Act on Minutes […]

Chester Select Board agenda for March 1
The Chester Select Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1 at Town Hall, 556 Elm St., and via Zoom. To access the meeting via Zoom, click here or https://zoom.us/join with Meeting ID: 819 8884 2129. Below is its agenda. 1. Approve Minutes from the Feb. 15, 2023 Select Board Meeting 2. Citizen […]

Meet the five candidates for Chester Select Board’s two open seats
The Chester Telegraph sent a series of questions to the five candidates who are vying for two one-year terms on the Chester Select Board. Those two seats are currently held by Leigh Dakin and Ben Whalen, neither of whom is seeking re-election. These questions just address some of the issues for many Chester voters. […]

Resignations leave Cavendish Planning Commission quorumless Select Board to mull next steps; votes Eddy as health officer despite objection
By Cara Philbin @2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC Last Monday, the Cavendish Select Board voted unanimously to accept the resignations of Etienne Ting and Doug McBride from the town’s Planning Commission. Their departures follow a fractious January meeting for the commission several members’ resistance to the Select Board’s October 2022 decision to adopt a Vermont state […]

Chester board OKs Canal St. site for town gardens Group will work under Rec Dept. for community grow plots
By Shawn Cunningham © 2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC After two years of back and forth discussions, the Chester Select Board voted last Wednesday to allow the Chester Community Greenhouse and Gardens group to use a portion of town land at the end of Canal Street for public garden plots. Rather than signing a lease or […]

Sen. McCormack: It’s demeaning to mascot somebody
By Cynthia Prairie ©2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC Sen. Dick McCormack speaks of his bill — now Act 152 of 2022 — with conviction. That bill now bans mascots at Vermont public schools that depict racial or ethnic individuals or groups or their customs to ensure a safe learning environment. Recent actions of the board of […]

GM board hears of racial bias incidents; reinstates Chieftain name 8th grader, family tell of school inaction; board considers rebranding 'Chieftains'
By Shawn Cunningham ©2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC In an emotionally charged meeting Thursday night, the board of the Green Mountain Unified School District heard from an 8th grade student and her grandmother who said that stress from racism that the girl has experienced since coming to the school last year has gotten to the point […]

Fuel to the Fire: Recent reports on gas stoves fail rural Vermont Propane and natural gas are not the same, but have been lumped together in news coverage
By Shawn Cunningham © 2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC If you’ve read a major newspaper or watched the news on television or listened on the radio, you’ve likely heard that your gas stove is emitting toxic chemicals and other substances that can injure your health — even when the stove is not being used. But […]

Andover looks to solutions for possible FY 2023 shortfall
By Cynthia Prairie ©2023 Telegraph Publishing LCC The Andover Select Board on Monday night discussed a possible shortfall to this fiscal year’s budget, which ends July 1. Member Richard Griswold said he had “done some figuring” and found that after taking out for scheduled payables through the end of the fiscal year, about $45,000 would […]

Chester Select Board agenda for Feb. 15
The Chester Select Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, following a special meeting for a site visit at 5 p.m. at the Canal Street well location. The regular meeting will take place at Town Hall, 556 Elm St., and via Zoom. To access the meeting via Zoom, click here or https://zoom.us/join […]

Five seeking two seats on Chester Select Board Elimination of elected treasurer, clerk to be voted on March 6
By Shawn Cunningham © 2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC While there’s often a challenger for two of the one-year seats on the Chester Select Board, this year brings an unusually large group of candidates. With incumbents Ben Whalen and Leigh Dakin deciding not to run for re-election, seven residents took out petitions to run and five […]

Appraisal of Route 103 solar farm kicks off Chester negotiations for purchase
By Shawn Cunningham © 2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC In a meeting that took just 30 minutes to complete, the Chester Select Board learned that an appraisal of the Route 103 solar farm has been completed and that the town is now in a position to begin negotiations to buy it from its owner, Greenbacker Renewable […]

Andover Select Board agenda for Feb. 13
The Select Board for the Town of Andover will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13 at the Andover Town Office, 953 Andover Road, and via Zoom. To access via Zoom, click here. Meeting ID: 869 021 5007 and Passcode: 146374 Below is its agenda. 1. Call Meeting to Order. 2. Act on Agenda. […]

New Chester Police Chief outlines approach, goals
By Shawn Cunningham © 2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC As Chester’s new police chief, Tom Williams says he wants to bring the department closer to the community and he’s started with his office. Williams, who as a lieutenant in the department, could have continued working out of that office, but decided to move into the office […]

State Supreme Court seeks input on remote proceedings proposals
The Vermont Supreme Court seeks comments on proposed amendments to two court rules governing remote proceedings in civil, environmental, and family division cases. The proposed revisions to Vermont Rule of Civil Procedure 43.1 and Vermont Rule for Family Proceedings 17 were recommended by the Supreme Court’s Special Advisory Committee on Remote Hearings. The proposed rules […]