Homecoming win for the Panthers pg. 10
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Middlebury with a 27-26 win over the Mules.
VERMONT
October 19, 2019
Published by Denton Publications, Inc.
Serving Addison, Rutland & Chittenden Counties
Ruling will impact school-choice in Vermont
HOMICIDE VICTIM FOUND IN SALISBURY
By Lou Varricchio STAFF WRITER
Police investigate link to Rutland shooting.
Route 53 in Salisbury, near Lake Dunmore, in the vicinity where the body of Nicholas Louras was found last week. Photo by Lou Varricchio
From Staff & News Reports THE EAGLE
A Vermont State Police photograph of the Smith & Wesson M&P-15 rifle that was used by Christopher G. Louras, 33, of Rutland during the exchange of gunfire with police Oct. 8. Photo by VSP
SALISBURY |Following an autopsy performed by the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office on Oct. 9, the Vermont State Police is able to positively identify the victim found deceased Oct. 8, near Route 53, in Salisbury as Nicholas Louras, 34, of Rutland. The cause of death is gunshot wounds, and the manner of death is homicide, according to police. Louras is a cousin of Christopher G. Louras, 33, of Rutland, who died after exchanging gunfi re with Rutland City and Rutland Town police officers Oct. 8 in downtown Rutland. Chistopher G. Louras was the son of former Rutland Mayor Chris Louras. Ex-Mayor Louras was not available to reporters to shed light on why his son decide to enter the Rutland P.D. with an assault rifle. The cause of death for Nicholas Louras found in Salisbury is gunshot wounds. Police concluded that the manner of his death is homicide.
The investigation into this case continues to be open and active, spanning multiple scenes and involving numerous members of the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Crime Scene Search Team, Field Force Division and Support Services Division, along with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. Among the pending components of the investigation is determining a possible motive for Christopher G. Louras’ actions. Gov. Phil Scott said that drugs likely played a part in the shootings. “It appears that some of this could be drug-related,” Scott told reporters at a news conference in Montpelier last week. “We’re not sure at this point... the investigation is ongoing, but no one is left untouched (by illegal drug addiction) no matter what family you belong to.” The Vermont State Police released
the names of the officers who fi red their service weapons during the Oct. 8 shooting in downtown Rutland. The three Rutland Police Department officers are: Sgt. Adam Lucia, who has served with the department for seven years, Sgt. Kenneth Mosher, who has served with the department for 12 years, and Cpl. Elias Anderson, who has served with the department for four years. The Rutland Town Police Department officer is Deputy Chief Ted Washburn, who has served with the department for six years. Police are investigating the death of Nicholas Louras with potential links to the subsequent shooting at the Rutland Police Department and the events that transpired afterward in a parking lot off Evelyn Street near the railroad tracks downtown. Police ask that anyone with information about these incidents call the Vermont State Police in Rutland at 802-773-9101. ■
MIDDLEBURY | The U.S. Supreme Court will hear one the most important education cases in decades and the outcome of the court’s decision will affect parents of school-age children, school-choice advocates and school officials every where, including those in Vermont. According to the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Education Until 1961, Vermont parents in Reform, organizations tuitioning towns could select a representing parents, religious school for their chileducators, schools and dren’s education and the districts policymakers have joined routinely paid tuition on their in filing an amicus brief behalf. Pictured: Amicus brief to the court in the case writer Paul Clement. Espinoza v. Montana Photo provided Department of Revenue. The case centers on the constitutionality of Montana’s Blaine Amendment and its application to deny parents the ability to direct the education of their children. A news release by the Center for Education Reform states that the amicus argues first that “denying parents the ability to exercise … the right because of the religious affiliation of the schools they deem best-suited for their children results in numerous direct and significant injuries to core constitutional interests. It infringes upon parents’ liberty interest in directing their children’s upbringing, and it infringes upon the fundamental First Amendment protection of free exercise.” The Montana Blaine Amendment, enacted in a majority of states following its 1875 conception, is the reason many states say they cannot permit the flow of tax dollars allocated for education to religiously affiliated schools, even if parents prefer those options to their traditional public school. Vermont’s own Blaine-like statute, the so-called Compelled Support Clause, was interpreted by the Vermont Supreme Court in 1961 to restrict public-funded tuition payments to religious schools. See SCHOOL-CHOICE » pg. 4
Where are the volunteers? Fire, EMS units face declining membership By Lou Varricchio EDITOR
ORWELL | According to former Vermont Lt. Gov. Don Turner, fire departments and EMS units across Vermont are finding themselves hit with the very same demographic crisis that has impacted our state politics and budget. Turner is the a long-time member of the volunteer fire department in the town of Milton; he is also the town manager. “We have fewer young people, which means fewer recruits for emergency services,” he said. “As a result, staffi ng and volunteer levels are declining considerably. When staffing levels go down, response rates go up. The burden on neighboring communities’ response services increase. And associated insurance costs may spike as well. All of these impacts have a real impact on the quality of services in many regions of our state.” Turner said that earlier this year, the Cabot Emergency Ambulance Service found itself at the short end of the current volunteer crisis. “The primary cause, according to the (Cabot) selectboard chair, was staffing challenges due to the inability to attract and retain people to serve,” Turner said.” One 30-year veteran of the squad put it best: ‘We got a bunch of people we trained. They went to other services or moved out or went to college and didn’t come back... .’” And it’s not just in Cabot.
Volunteer fire and EMS staffing and volunteer levels are declining statewide. “When staffing levels go down, response rates go up. The burden on neighboring communities’ response services increase,” according to former Lt. Gov. Don Turner. Pictured: Bridport volunteer firefighters train to improve their skill and efficiency. Photo courtesy of Bridport F.D. “The Cavendish Fire Department faced similar staffi ng issues, prompting merger discussions with the Proctorsville Fire Department. Just recently, St. Johnsbury officials expressed an openness to combining emergency services across the region due to the fact that fire departments around the area are having trouble maintaining their staff numbers,” Turner added. “Barton had to auction off its ambulances. And financial woes faced by the Williamstown Fire Department caused them to consider charging for some fire department services, with the funds going to give volunteer firefighters a $1,000 property tax deduction.”
In Addison County, several volunteer departments have similar concerns about their long-term effectiveness regarding a pool of dedicated young volunteers. According to First Assistant Fire Chief Mark Gebo of the Orwell Volunteer Fire Department, “Our membership has been steady. We have been at 21-22 members for a while now. We had a couple long-term members resign, but took on a couple more. We do not have people beating on our doors. And we have a lot of senior members that are at the age of resigning. We definitely could use some new faces.” ■ This is part 1 of a series.
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