Archive - Aug 29, 2011
ADDISON COUNTY — Officials at the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) on Monday afternoon were continuing to work toward full recovery of the roadways around Addison County and Vermont that were flooded on Sunday as the remnants of Hurricane Irene swept through Vermont.
In Addison County the flooding appears to have been less severe than in other parts of the Vermont. According to Chris Cole, VTrans Director of Policy, Planning and Intermodal Development, the southern counties Bennington and Windham were hit especially hard.
ADDISON COUNTY — Driving rain and wind gusts exceeding 30 miles per hour toppled trees into telephone lines, cutting power to thousands of Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) and Green Mountain Power (GMP) customers.
At about 10 a.m. Monday, CVPS was reporting 2,518 outages in Addison County and GMP was reporting 91. More than 55,000 customers lost power statewide, with officials warning it could be days before electricity was completely restored.
RIPTON/MIDDLEBURY — In a scene somewhat reminiscent of the flooding of August 2008, Route 125 from East Middlebury to Ripton experienced washouts in three locations as Tropical Storm Irene ripped through Addison County Sunday.
In one location, the Middlebury River took out a swath of guardrail, noted Ripton Selectman Richard Collitt.
“It’s nothing as serious as 2008,” Collitt said, harkening back to a brutal stretch of rain that erased several portions of Route 125 and took out entire sections of some local roads in Ripton, East Middlebury, Salisbury, Leicester, Goshen and Hancock.
Update (9/1/11):
BRISTOL — Bristol residents who use the municipal water system were told to boil their water Sunday after officials became aware that flooding may have contaminated a part of the system.
Bristol water users were told to boil their water for five minutes before consuming it until further notice. Officials hoped to rescind the order as early as Wednesday, but at press time the order was still in effect.
In the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, hundreds of local residents are still reeling from her damaging effects. To help us all better weather this storm, the Independent wants to know how you and your towns were impacted. What better way to share your experiences and stories than through a picture?
ADDISON COUNTY — Residents across Addison County and Brandon this morning are coping with the massive amount of water that the remnants of Hurricane Irene dumped on Vermont over the weekend.
State roads — including parts of Routes 7, 30, 22A, 116, 125 and 17 — were closed for a time on Sunday and into Monday, as well as local roads in many communities. In New Haven, the Nash Bridge on River Road was closed due to water being over the bridge, and a part of River Road in Bristol was also closed for a time.
Help wanted: Independent-minded resident willing and unafraid to devote hours of community service time to lay the foundation for a stronger Middlebury. Challenges: to imagine new opportunities for the town in changing times, and convince residents and community leaders to see each issue as an opportunity, not an obstacle. When and what: to fill the mid-year vacancy of Middlebury Selectwoman Janelle Ashley, who is relocating to Whiting. Compensation: pats on the back for a job well done, and knowledge that you’ve helped your community.
BRANDON — Muffie Harvey is thrilled to be leading the Otter Valley boys’ varsity soccer team, and by all accounts the team is thrilled to have her.
Harvey was named head coach by OV Athletic Director Sumner Erbe earlier this month, and the player and parents had a lot to do with the selection of the Forest Dale resident for the job.
“I was told that they spoke up on my behalf, and I am forever grateful for that,” Harvey said. “I am very grateful to get this position.”
