RepoRteR The
www.essexreporter.com
essex
MARCh 10, 2016
Vol. 36, No. 10
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Prsrt Std ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 266 Essex Junction, VT 05452 Postal Patron-Residential
Debating pot pros and cons Locals arm legislators with ideas on legalization
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By JASON STARR The Essex Reporter
he Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana cited a poll during a forum in Essex last week showing that 56 percent of Vermonters favor legalizing marijuana. Yet when the forum’s floor was opened to public comment in the Essex High School cafeteria, it was those speaking against legalization who were in a clear majority. As a bill to legalize recreational pot moves from a February endorsement in the Vermont
Senate to the committee rooms of the House of Representatives, Essex’s five representatives invited constituents to air their opinions last Wednesday. Before the floor was opened to residents, a representative from a group lobbying against the bill – the Vermont chapter of Safe Approaches to Marijuana – presented the opponents’ case, and a representative from the Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana presented the proponents’ case. The poll that coalition director Laura Subin cited was released in October by the polling institute
at Castleton State University. It shows that in September of last year, 56 percent of Vermont residents favored legalization while 34 percent did not. Ten percent of respondents said they have no opinion on the issue. Roughly four times as many residents spoke against legalization during the Essex public forum as spoke in favor of it, a ratio likely influenced by a hesitancy to support an outlawed substance in the presence of fellow community members, including the chief of police. Essex Police Chief Brad Larose was among those speaking
against legalization. “I’ve been smoking for 45 years,” said a woman who asked to remain anonymous. “I like being able to do it, and I’ve always been afraid of getting caught. I’m a constructive person and a constructive citizen. I’m in the health profession, and I’ve never told the truth.” When Larose spoke, he directly addressed Essex’s representatives — Tim Jerman, Linda Myers, Debbie Evans, Bob Bancroft and Paul Dame. “We’re asking you to slow down,” he said, “because once you legalize it, it’s hard to pull back.”
Most opponents argued for completely abandoning the idea. “The conversation around legalization is undermining those of us in the education profession,” said Essex High School Athletic Director and father of three Jeff Goodrich. “I don’t think saying ‘what we’re doing isn’t working, so let’s give up on it’ is the right message. “There is nothing harder in society than raising children,” Goodrich added. “Let’s stop making it harder.”
– See POT on page 2a
Man shot near St. Mike’s expected to survive
THE FINAL PUSH
Police searching for ‘armed and dangerous’ suspect By COLIN FLANDERS The Essex Reporter
From left, Ryan Young, Maverick King and Jarret Cram celebrate after King’s overtime goal, which gave Essex a 2-1 overtime victory in the state semifinals versus CVU on March 2. The Hornets will face No. 1-ranked BFA-St. Albans on Thursday in hopes of securing their second-straight state championship. See page 1B for more. PHOTO | KYLE ST. PETER
Essex Reporter gains new leadership The Champlain Valley Newspaper Group is pleased to announce two promotions within its ranks that will strengthen its three weekly newspapers in the region. Emerson, Angelo and Suzanne Lynn — co-publishers of The Colchester Sun, The Essex Reporter and The Milton Independent — have tapped Milton Independent editor/ reporter Courtney Lamdin to serve as executive editor of the Independent, Colchester Sun and Essex Reporter. Milton Independent reporter Abby Ledoux was promoted to associate editor of the three papers. The leadership change comes after the Reporter and Sun’s editor/ co-publisher Maria Archangelo, with Lynn Publications since last April, announced her departure to take a publishing position in her home city of Philadelphia. “This is a great opportunity for Courtney, Abby and the readers of all three papers in our group,” Emerson Lynn said. “With their leadership and direction, we look forward to Milton, Essex and Colchester becoming a powerhouse for news in Chittenden County.” In her new role, Lamdin, 28, will oversee the editorial direction of all three products and continue reporting on local news. Ledoux
Colchester police are looking for a Williston man who they say was involved in the shooting of a Colchester man Monday morning. Police identified the suspect as Patrick J. Bombard, 29, and said the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office obtained an arrest warrant for Bombard on Monday evening. Police say information received on Tuesday morning indicates that Bombard’s behavior over the past six months had become increasingly erratic, and he should be considered armed and dangerous if approached. When officers initially responded to the scene at 106 College Parkway (Route 15), Apartment 2, they found a 36-year-old man who had been shot twice. Police say he lived in the apartment. He was transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center by St. Michael’s College Rescue and is currently in stable condition. The shooting occurred just after 9 a.m., according to Lt. Douglas Allen, who was still on scene at 5:15 p.m. Monday. From outside the residence, streaks of blood could be seen along the wall just inside the doorway. The Burlington Free Press identified the victim as 36-year-old Travis Carl, reporting that court documents show his address matches that of the crime scene. Carl has a criminal history in Chittenden County dating back to 1997 — five felony and 10 misdemeanor convictions — including two counts of selling heroin, sale of cocaine and possession of heroin, according to the Free Press. Three bullet casings were recovered at the scene, police say.
– See SHOOTING on page 3a
Growing concern
Local couple looks for contributions to finance plan to harvest potatoes for the hungry By COLIN FLANDERS The Essex Reporter
Courtney Lamdin
Abby Ledoux
– See LEADERSHIP on page 2a
For the past six years, Jericho residents Charlie and Jean Siegchrist have been helping keep hungry Vermonters fed by donating a wide array of fruits and vegetables to the Vermont Food Bank. This year, the couple is hoping to expand this effort with a little help from the community. They’re looking for donations to help purchase a potato planter, harvester and seeds in hope of growing an acre of potatoes this year, and estimate the yield from the planting will generate 30,000 servings for the Vermont Foodbank and Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. In just eight days, the Siegchrist’s GoFundMe page had raised $3,800 of its $14,000 goal. Charlie Siegchrist said the response has been “amazingly gratifying.” “It’s very cool to see that people get it,” he said. Any money raised beyond the goal will be used to expand production for donation efforts in the coming years; Charlie Siegchrist said there are an additional eight acres that the couple plans to prepare for use next year. Throughout most of the 1980s, the Siegchrists grew 40 acres of fruits and vegetables. They own The Barber Farm, located in Jericho, which was preserved for agricultural use by the Vermont Land Trust in 2010. Jericho Settlers’ Farm leases nearly all the land for beef and vegetable production, while a portion remains available for the Siegchrists’ project. They will collaborate with Salvation Farms — a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to Vermont farmers — to help with harvesting and distributing the food. Theresa Snow, the executive director of the Morrisville-based organization, called the project “inspiring.” “We’re excited and quite honored that Charlie is open to working with us as a partner on his project. It’s nice to be part of this farms legacy,” Snow said. Charlie Siegchrist began donating to the Vermont Food Bank in 2009 — “the year of the big financial crunch,” as he recalls. It was a slow start to the year for
Charlie and Jean Siegchrist pose for a picture outside their Jericho residence. COURTESY OF CHARLIE SIEGCHRIST
Siegchrist, who was heading a landscaping crew at the time. Taking advantage of this down time, Siegchrist decided to “scratch up some ground” and put down 500 pounds of potatoes. His project has only expanded from there. “We have long received support from Jean and Charlie,” said Judy Stermer, a spokeswoman for the Vermont Foodbank. “They have been loyal food donors and with this new effort, they are expanding their ability to provide fresh, healthy food to Vermonters who need it most.” Stermer added that the food bank is on pace to distribute 2 million pounds of fresh produce this year, and “the increased donations we will receive from Barber Farm will help us reach that goal.” So what motivates the Charlie and Jean Siegchrist to donate their time, land and effort? To put it simply: “There’s a need.” “I’ve been blessed enough in my life that I’ve never gone hungry for a day…there’s no reason why anyone in America should be in that boat,” Siegchrist said. The Siegchrists’ GoFundMe page can be found at www.gofundme.com/thebarberfarm.