The Brattleboro Reformer du lieu suivant : Brattleboro, Vermont • 3

Monday, October 31, 2005 VERMONT www.reformer.com tiraltlrboro ftrformrr Page 3 Jones convicted on charge of murder Road upkeep case headed to U.S. Supreme Court Up on the roof CAVENDISH (AP) A Massachusetts man is taking his fight with Vermont authorities over maintaining a mountain road to his property to the U.S. Supreme Court. Paul Bidgood of Boylston is suing Chester, Cavendish and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. The dispute involves a five-mile long mountain road Old Bailey Hill Road that runs from Proctorsville to Chester.

Part of the road is in Proctor Piper Forest. Bidgoods family has owned property on the road for 100 years. Bidgood says he wants to move his family to Vermont and re-establish the family farm. He argues the town should maintain the road year around. Cavendish Town Manager Richard Svec said the road is too winding and steep to plow in the winter.

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation refuses to plow its stretch of the road because it is a snowmobile trail. Several residents have suggested that Bidgood use the snowmobile trail to reach his property. To do so, he would have to become a member of the Vermont Association of Snow TVav-elers and pay membership fees or face fines of up to $500. The association also requires snowmobiles to be registered and insured. (VAST) is not a good organization.

I would shoot myself before I had to join VAST," Bidgood said in court filings. He argues that is a good example of a nationwide trend that gives preference to recreation groups over property owners. He really doesnt like snowmobiles, said Chester Town Manager Susan Spaulding. The state said it approved the snowmobile trail in the early 1970s. Svec said when Bidgood used the roads Class 3 status which requires maintenance as a mandate to plow, the town changed it to a lower class road.

We couldnt helicopter in a snow plow, Svec said. The change cut Cavendishs maintenance funding from the state highway program, but removed its obligation to maintain the road in the winter. Because we couldnt possibly do it, it seemed like the logical thing to do, Svec said. Bidgood claims the town reclassified the road to evade responsibility to maintain it. He also argues Cavendish colluded with Chester on the change.

The fight over the road has been going on for seven years and has already been before the Vermont Supreme Court. Gary Bressor and Dan Martin work on the roof of the Old Round Church in Richmond, Saturday. Officials tout emergency vehicle safety BURLINGTON (AP) A 37-year-old man faces life in prison after a jury found him guilty of beating his girlfriend to death two years ago. Jurors returned the verdict Saturday against Robert Jones. They convicted him of killing Sarah Genest, 32, in their Burlington apartment.

Jones trial lasted six days. The jury deliberated 3V2 hours, finding him guilty of second-degree murder and aggravated domestic assault as a habitual offender. Jones showed no emotion as the verdict was read. No sentencing date has been scheduled. Its been so long and weve been waiting and weve been so afraid, Genests mother, Gail Smith, said afterward.

Im so relieved. We dont have to hurt anymore. Genest died three days after the beating on May 4, 2003. She had a dozen broken ribs and a serious brain injury that caused swelling and her death. Prosecutors argued Jones beat Genest.

Prosecutor Rosemary Gretkowski said Jones had a history of domestic violence. She said he had been angry that Genest had gone out for the evening on the night of the beating. This is not a tragic accident. The defendant wants you to believe this is a tragic accident. But the evidence will not let you believe that, Gretkowski told jurors.

He started to assault Sarah and he didnt stop. Jones argued that Genest was drunk and fell and that some of the injuries, such as the broken ribs, happened during treatment. Nobody's saying that there were no marks on Sarahs body when she came into the hospital, defense lawyer Kate Moore said. Jones has two prior convictions for domestic assault against Genest during their 11-year relationship. Genest once applied for a restraining order against Jones, according to court records.

BURLINGTON (AP) Public safety officials are mounting a campaign to educate motorists that theyre required to make room on the roads for emergency vehicles that are pulled over with their lights flashing. The Governors Highway Safety Program has produced a video to demonstrate how dangerous it can be on the side of a road for a state trooper and an unscripted moment proved the point. The plan was for a tractor-trailer to drive by as a trooper stood by the side of Interstate 89 in Willis-ton. As the camera recorded, a motor home zipped past, blowing the hat off the head of State Police Sgt. Michael Macarilla as he watched.

The motor home sells the message, said Chuck Satterfield, spokesman for the Governor's Highway Safety Program. Drivers are required to slow down and move over, if possible, when they see an emergency vehicle pulled to the side of the road. Officials also are trying to remind drivers of the law with flashing signs along the interstate highway reading: Move left for stopped emergency vehicle. Police also are pulling people over if they don't obey. Cruisers have been parked along the side of the road with lights flashing and another officer waits down the road to pull over anyone who doesnt comply.

Briefs State colleges looking for ways to broaden their financial bases they wanted to comb through the forested region before snow made it difficult or impossible until spring. Police, using cadaver-sniffing dogs among other tools, planned to search for two days looking for remains or other evidence, said state police Jocelyn Stohl, who commands the Rockingham barracks and is a leader of the search. There were 44 people 7 dock and 17 dogs -involved. Police resume search for missing teen ENOSBURG (AP) Police have begun searching again for a teenager who has been missing since 2004. Using trained dogs and dozens of officers, officers began combing through Montgomery and Berkshire looking for Brianna Maitland, who was 17 when she disappeared in March 2004.

The search was not because there had been any new information uncovered, but because date a lot of functions. The colleges also will have to comply with new accounting requirements, requiring it to pay in advance for health care and pensions of retirees. So Wolk is looking at raising money from other sources, such as foundations, corporations and alumni. I think thats a key to our future degree of success, he said. Not the key, but a key.

beaded inset, inset, half-inset doors, custom antiqued, glazed, painted finishes A more PIA' KITCHENS BY Plato Woodwork Extraordinary Quality Period Styles We're seeing increasing enrollments, increasing applications and we have a record number of inquiries for next year, Wolk said. Were becoming more selective because of the increased interest in the college, he said. We dont want to increase to the point where the quality (suffers). We want to be sure students are known by name and not Social Security number. Nonetheless, stable or shrinking enrollments are troublesome for Vermont State Colleges because the system has been able to rely on tuition from a higher student population to balance its books.

From the fall of 2000 to the fall of 2005, weve grown by 26 percent, Clarke said. That enrollment growth has enabled us to balance our budgets. If you look at that period, we have exactly the same number of nonfaculty, full-time employees. The system has seen 26 percent growth, but what weve done is be more efficient and consoli RUTLAND (AP) Vermont State Colleges officials say they know there are financial problems looming, and theyre already thinking about how they can raise money without having to rely on the state or growing enrollment. They said the report to a legislative committee last week detailing some of the financial woes that are on the horizon were no surprise, especially the state and national projections of a shrinking student population.

In the next decade well see an 18 percent decline in high school graduates, said state colleges Chancellor Robert Clarke. That will have an impact on our recruitment, and every college in New England will have the same decline, so well have to be much more aggressive in our recruiting. Student population will not be an immediate concern. Castleton State College projects five years out and feels comfortable, although it is being careful, said president David Wolk. William D.

Lax, Ph.D., ABPP Licensed Psychologist-Doctorate Board Certified in Family Psychology Individual, Couple and Family Therapy Most insurances accepted Cabmetree Free Design Photorealistic Drawings Counters in Laminate, Granite, Slate, Soapstone. Corian and More 802-254-2224 428 Canal Brattleboro, VT 802-258-9120 billwilliamlax.com 167 Main Suite 207 Brattleboro, VT 05301 OIL, LUBE, FILTER Visit the Areas Premier Plumbing Showroom! 95 19 CBS POWERWASHING HANIJYIVIAN SERVICE POWERWASHING Building or Remodeling? See Us For: whirlpools, showers, bathtubs faucets kitchen sinks bath vanities medicine cabinets radiant heating $2.25 ENV Fee 4 to 5 Quarts of 10W30 Special Oil Oil Filters Extra. Most vehicles See store for details. HANDYMAN SERVICES: BuildingRemodeling, Drywall Much More SERVICES: Houses, Roofs, Decks, Trucks, Heavy Walkways, Much More 10 West St. (Rte.

5 Exit 21, W. Hatfield, MA Danco Design Ctr. 800-433-1311 413-247-5311 Vt. State Inspection 10 Yellow is Due. 22 Browne Court Exit 3, Brattleboro, VT Old Book Press Bldg.

802-257-8964 866-500-9230 802-254-0298 free estimates fully insured IMS Southeast Vermont Community Learning Collaborative Wi'll SELL YOUR STUFF ON eoay THIN SENO YOU MONEY! QuickSELUf All the Accessories too! Essential Issues in Education A year-long series of speakers and dialogues sponsored by The Learning Collaborative, beginning with: Full Service Schools Concept to Reality Speakers: Sue Maguire, Principal, Mt Anthony Union High School On Thursday November 10, Mt Anthony Principal, Sue Maguire, will come over the mountain from Bennington to share the story of how Molly Stark Elementary School and Mt Anthony Union High School have evolved to become "full-service schools meeting a broad spectrum of the educational and social needs of contemporary students. Sue was Principal at the Molly Stark School in Bennington where she led its transformation Into a full service school that intergrates educational, health, and social services at the school. She has now brought the full service concept to Mt Anthony Union High School with services and support tailored to adolescent needs. Date and Time Thursday. November I0.4:30pm-6:30pm Location: SE VT Community Learning Collaborative, Dummerston Challenge and Opportunity for Our Schools and Communftfes Speaker: Elaine Pinckney, Vermont Deputy Commissioner of Education As Deputy Commissioner Elaine Pinckney has supported schools and teachers in this complex era of federal regulation and change.

As an experienced principal and educational leader in Vermont for many years, her informed vision has helped to shape school districts and. now. the state. Listen to her newest thoughts and ask your own questions in this two-hour open session. Date and Time: Tuesday.

November I. tom-ton Location: SEVT Community Learning Collaborative. Dummerston Everyone with an interest in education is welcome at these sessions. No fee. donations welcome.

Call us anytime 257-8600 or toll free: 866-889-0042 Or visit: www.LeamingCollaborative.opg Grand 4S, Opening gdS 391 West Street Keene, NH (603) 357-SELL (7355) www.quicksellit.com Galvanized and Black pipe 6 8 metalbestos in stock Flue cleaning brushes, pokers, shovels, cast iron tongs, stands, cast iron log grates, ehi Trading Assistants FIRESIDE Franchises Available Ililncx Brutllebora, I.