MONTPELIER â When it comes to the tales of central Vermontâs Twin Cities, it is mercifully time for some 2020 hindsight.
The dominant story line â the COVID-19 crisis â was the same in Barre as it was in Montpelier for much of the year thatâs about to end.
If nothing else, the pandemic was the great equalizer â forcing communities to confront common problems in the context of a global public health crisis the likes of which the world hadnât seen in more than 100 years.
And yet, while there were plenty of predictable similarities, the Granite Cityâs version of 2020 was distinctly different from the Capital City edition in ways that were jarring if you were paying attention to both.
Dec 30, 2020
NORTHFIELD â Short of decertification as a law enforcement officer, the public may never be told what the outcome is of the Criminal Justice Councilâs review of the allegations levied against Northfield Police Chief John Helfant.
The town has sent Gov. Phil Scott a letter asking him to intervene after Washington County Stateâs Attorney Rory Thibault told the Select Board he would not prosecute most cases involving Helfant because of the chiefâs credibility issues.
In 2019, Thibaultâs office dismissed two drug cases involving Helfant, who was working as an officer in Berlin when the arrests were made. In one of the cases, Helfant said in his affidavit he got consent to search a backpack where drugs were found. But the stateâs attorney said the body camera footage didnât show him getting that consent.