Rutland City’s Rental Rehab Revolving Loan Fund

This Week the City of Rutland released its Rental Rehab Revolving Loan Fund. This fund is focused on the revitalization of market rate housing in our community. With a target goal of 1000 new housing units over the next 5 years, this fund will help inspire growth and revitalization of housing in Rutland City

Drug, gun bust in Barre

On Friday (May 31), Barre City officers executed two search warrants at a residence along the unit block of Plain Street. Officers seized a firearm, ammunition, a large amount of US currency, approximately 4.5 ounces of marijuana, approximately 17 grams of cocaine/crack cocaine, and other regulated drugs.

As a result, 38-year-old Mikell Parizo of Barre, was taken into custody and is scheduled to appear in Washington County Superior Court on June 3, 2024 to answer various drug charges, violation of conditions of release, and illegal possession of a
firearm by a prohibited person.

Gov. Scott appoints Aliena Gerhard as Lamoille County State’s Attorney

Governor Phil Scott, Tuesday, announced the appointment of Aliena Gerhard as state’s attorney for Lamoille County, replacing former state’s attorney, Todd Shove.

Gerhard joined the office in 2021 as a deputy state’s attorney and has been serving as acting state’s attorney since December 2023. Prior to that role, she spent over 10 years actively practicing, specializing in the areas of criminal, environmental, and administrative law. Before moving to Vermont in 2010, Gerhard worked as an assistant district attorney in Pennsylvania, where she prosecuted thousands of cases from trial through appeals.

Since former State’s Attorney Shove was elected as a Democrat, Governor Scott solicited recommendations from the Democratic committee in Lamoille County. Her term will conclude on January 31, 2027.

“When a Presidential Election Led to Civil War (and Three other Times it Almost Did)”

Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Colchester – June 16 at 2 PM – “When a Presidential Election Led to Civil War (and Three Times it Almost Did)”, by Doug Slaybaugh, Emeritus Professor of History St. Michael’s College. We are hearing threats of civil war if our current presidential election doesn’t go a certain way. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 led to the Civil War which resulted in over 700,000 casualties. Lest we think this was unique, Professor Slaybaugh will analyze the elections of 1800, 1824, and 1876 which threatened similar results.

Vermont State Police promotion announcement — Commander, Berlin Barracks

Sgt. Thomas Howard, Vermont State Police Special Operations Unit/Crash Reconstruction Team and acting lieutenant at the Berlin Barracks, has been named lieutenant/station commander at the Berlin Barracks. 

Lt. Howard began his career with the Vermont State Police in 2015. He graduated from the Vermont Police Academy in May 2015 and was assigned as a trooper to the Williston Barracks patrolling Chittenden and Lamoille counties. A year later he joined the Crash Reconstruction Team, then in 2018 he became accredited as a crash reconstructionist by the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstructionist (ACTAR). In March 2019, he began working full-time as a VSP crash reconstructionist. He was promoted to sergeant within the Special Operations Unit in September 2020. In early 2024, he was named acting lieutenant and commander of the Berlin Barracks.

In addition to these duties, Lt. Howard instructs the Basic Collision Investigation course at the Vermont Police Academy and received the VPA Instructor’s Award in 2021. He also serves as an active member of the Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team, served as the co-commander of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program, and has assisted the Underwater Recovery Team with the operation of sonar and remotely operated vehicles. Lt. Howard also received a Vermont State Police commendation for his work in traffic safety in 2017 and a Vermont Highway Safety Award in 2020.

A Vermont State Police field station commander is responsible for overseeing delivery of law enforcement services to the communities served by that station. Field station commanders are the local representative of the Vermont State Police to the community it serves, and they work with local officials and residents to address public safety and law enforcement concerns in their service area.

The Berlin station provides police coverage throughout Washington County and portions of Orange County. Primary law enforcement services are provided for the Washington County towns of Cabot, Calais, Duxbury, East Montpelier, Fayston, Marshfield, Middlesex, Moretown, Plainfield, Roxbury, Waitsfield, Warren, Waterbury, Woodbury and Worcester, along with support and assistance for a half-dozen municipal police departments in the county. In Orange County, the station provides service to Orange, Washington and Williamstown. Troopers based in Berlin also patrol 30 miles of Interstate 89. 

Lt. Howard can be reached at the Berlin Barracks at 802-229-9191 or by email at thomas.howard@vermont.gov. The Field Station is located at 578 Paine Turnpike North, Berlin, VT 05602. His promotion to lieutenant was effective earlier this spring.

Tour de Slate: Bike Ride to End Addiction

Addiction profoundly affects many lives, often too close to home. In Middletown Springs and throughout the
neighboring Slate Valley, it’s a tale of redemption. It’s also a story of riding bikes to raise money to support the
recovery of friends, family, and our own neighbors – at the seventh annual Tour de Slate, “riding to end
addiction”. The event will take place on Saturday August 3, 2024.

“Tour de Slate does change lives,” said event coordinator Stan Achey. “100% of the net proceeds go
directly to cover the expenses of men, women and teens ready to turn their lives around and break the chains
of addiction at Adult & Teen Challenge Vermont”. Achey, an avid road cyclist, was inspired to combine his love
for cycling with his desire to support Teen Challenge. “God put this on my heart, and I thought ‘I’ve gotta do it’,”
said Achey.

Adult and Teen Challenge Vermont (ATC VT), never turns away anyone due to their financial situation.
Since they receive no government funding, fundraising is vital.

Travis Morehouse, Donor Relations Supervisor, ATC VT, attests to the program’s success. His life, once
plagued by addiction, has been restored due to the program’s skills and training. “Tour de Slate holds such a
special place in my heart. I rode in the first year as a resident in the ATCVT program. I instantly felt like family
because not only was the money being raised to support my stay at ATCVT, but they also allowed me to ride in
the event with other riders. I felt so included that I fell in love with every aspect of this event, what it was
accomplishing, and the people involved. I have been a part of the fundraising campaign ever since.”

The event will feature six routes to accommodate various cycling levels, including two groad (gravel and
paved) rides and a family-friendly rails/trails ride. All routes are fully supported with rest stops and SAG
(support and gear) vehicles. The rides start and finish in Middletown Springs, VT.

In its six years of being held, the Tour de Slate bicycle ride to “end addiction” has raised an aggregate of
over $195,000. Last year, the donations totaled $53,090. This year, the goal is $60,000. All these funds
support the care, counseling, and educational services for residents at Adult and Teen Challenge Vermont.

Register online at http://www.tourdeslate.org, where donations can also be made. You can also mail your
donation to Tour de Slate Inc., P.O. Box 1012, Middletown Springs, VT 05757. For more information, contact
Stan Achey at info@tourdeslate.org or call (802) 558-0934.

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