November 1, 2018 • The Essex Reporter • 1
the essex
RepoRteR
Prsrt Std ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 266 Burlington, VT 05401 Postal Patron-Residential
FREE Vol. 17, No. 44 essexreporter.com
{ Thursday, November 1, 2018 }
Case against suspect in missing teen case sent to family court By COLIN FLANDERS
PHOTO BY AMANDA BROOKS
ADL art teacher Tina Logan shows a sixth grade student how to score his clay mug to attach features. Logan was awarded with the Vermont Art Teachers Association’s 2019 Art Educator of the Year award last month.
'Best job in the school' Beloved art teacher Tina Logan lauded for her work at ADL
T
By AMANDA BROOKS
ina Logan’s art classroom at the Albert D. Lawton middle school would bring back nostalgic memories for any adult that remembers the creative, colorful art classes of their youth. The back wall is full of windows which let in the sunlight reflecting off the maple tree whose leaves have turned bright yellow, illuminating the room in a soft, golden glow. Old art projects sit on every surface, from papier-mâché pumpkins to spaceship sculptures. Flags
in all colors, reminiscent of Nepalese prayer flags, hang from the ceiling and match the rainbow crayon and paint smears on the well-worn art tables below. On a cool October morning, those tables are filled with about 15 sixth-graders attaching eyes, ears, noses and other shapes to their clay “ugly mugs” with a bustling, frenetic energy that could only be found in a middle school art class. “I need more arms!” Logan exclaimed as she moved from student to student, showing them how to score the clay to better attach the features they created. “I wish I See LOGAN, page 2
Mark BBQ expands to brick-and-mortar By COLIN FLANDERS Few bells and whistles decorate the interior of Mark BBQ, a food truck-turned-brick and mortar restaurant at 34 Park St. Tarps cover picnic tables atop a checkered floor. Large chalkboards line the back wall with dispatches from children. A paper towel holder sits on the front counter beside the cookbooks of BBQ legends. The reserved presentation mimics what owner Darrell Langworthy calls the “essence” of making Texasstyle barbecue, in which pizzazz and flair take a back seat to tried-and-true methods of generations past: “Low and slow, and keep it simple.” Langworthy, 39, served for 12 years in the military and is a Vermont Army National Guard and See BBQ, page 10
PHOTO BY COLIN FLANDERS
Darrell Langworthy, owner of Mark BBQ, takes a look inside his smoker, Black Betty, last Thursday. Langworthy's new restaurant on Park Street serves up Texas-style barbecue.
The case involving a Wisconsin teen accused of picking up a 14-year-old local boy and nearly prompting police to issue an Amber Alert has been transferred to family court. The 17-year-old suspect pleaded not guilty to a single felony charge of unlawful restraint during a brief court hearing last Friday afternoon. Convictions for such a charge carry punishment of up to five years in prison and $25,000 in fines. Judge Kevin Griffin granted attorney Brooks McArthur’s motion that his client be transferred to the family division as a youthful offender. Family court proceedings and any documents related to them are confidential by law. Deputy State’s Attorney Dana DiSano said she can’t comment on family court cases but explained a new state law passed in July requires the family division to hold a hearing whenever a defense attorney files a youthful offender motion. Depending on what happens at that hearing, the case
may or may not stay in family court, she said. Last week’s arraignment comes a month after New York State Police located the victim and suspect outside of Ithaca, N.Y. According to a sworn affidavit from Essex police Detective Nick Van Winkle, the two had communicated online for about a month prior to the incident, discussing plans to run away and even visiting the webpage 1800runaway.org, a federally run national communications system for runaway youth and their families. The two knew one another’s age and discussed the potential consequences if they were caught heading to Wisconsin together, court records show, and the suspect told New York State Police he had driven from Wisconsin to Vermont to pick up a friend he met playing video games online. Video footage from a nearby ATM and the Essex Cinemas showed the victim riding a bike in the area near the movie theater before getting into the suspect’s black Toyota Prius See SUSPECT, page 7
Village takes steps to combat loitering on multi-use path By COLIN FLANDERS Addressing the issue of loitering along the multiuse path is no bed of roses, but village officials hope that may be the answer to their problems. The village planted rose bushes on Tuesday along a 130-foot retaining wall that runs parallel to the path, where residents have reported an increase in loitering and illegal activity. Municipal manager Evan Teich told trustees that staff considered several other options – including more “draconian” measures, like spikes along the wall – but felt the plants could get the job done. “They will have thorns, so it is not going to be a pleasant place to sit,” Teich said. The moves come in re-
sponse to a complaint in August from Joe Kudrle, a Grove St. resident who lives adjacent to the path. He said he’s called Essex police numerous times to report unsavory activity there, including times when loiterers have thrown trash into his backyard. He blamed the retaining wall, where people often congregated to drink and hang out. Trustee Lori Houghton has echoed his concerns, pointing to several street lamps near the wall that were vandalized. Village staff have since placed two garbage cans to cut down on littering, and police say they will try to patrol the area when possible, though some obstacles stand in their way. For one, barricades prevent vehicles from driving down the path, See PATH, page 10
In race for lt. gov., candidates view role of second-in-command differently Zuckerman seeks re-election, disputes opponent’s criticism
Hoping to unseat incumbent, Turner stresses affordability
By MICHELLE MONROE St. Albans Messenger
By MICHAEL FRETT St. Albans Messenger
ST. ALBANS — In his race for reelection, Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman is defending himself against what he says are attacks from Republican challenger Don Turner, the current minority leader in the Vt. House of Representatives. Zuckerman, a Progressive Democrat, seems particularly frustrated with Turner’s criticism over the lieutenant governor’s office budget, pointing out that while the amount did go up, nearly all of it was due to health insurance. Zuckerman’s predecessor, now-Gov.
ST. ALBANS – Don Turner, the animated Milton town manager, former Milton fire chief and retiring minority leader in the Vermont House of Representatives, said he’s running for lieutenant governor to make a difference. “People were telling me that I had a lot of experience and dealt with a lot of emergencies in the fire and rescue world,” Turner said. “I do think I could make a difference.” In an interview last week, Turner preferred to not discuss policies proposed by
See ZUCKERMAN, page 7
PHOTO BY KATIE CHAPA
Incumbent Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman speaks to a reporter at the St. Albans Messenger last month.
See TURNER, page 15
COURTESY PHOTO
Don Turner waves to passersby alongside supporters during an event last month.
RE-ELECT DAVID ZUCKERMAN Paid for by Zuckerman for Vermont P.O.B. 9354 S. Burlington, VT, 05407. Cheryl Rivers, Treasurer VOTE TOMORROW, 11/6!
FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
FIRST FARMER TO SERVE AS LT. GOVERNOR IN OVER 50 YEARS!