Bob Audette

Swanzey

Reporter at Brattleboro Reformer

Articles

The flames of Burning Man come to Westmoreland

1 week ago | reformer.com | Bob Audette

WESTMORELAND, N.H. — Burning Man made a visit to the hills over the Connecticut River during the Memorial Day Weekend in the form of a fire-breathing, tentacled, boggle-eyed mechanism standing nearly 28 feet tall. El Pulpo Magnífico, which has been described as a "demented windup toy," by its creator, Duane Flatmo, is a mobile kinetic sculpture with articulating legs, eyes, and mouths.
Former BF man gets 14 days in jail for assaulting a police officer

1 week ago | reformer.com | Bob Audette

BRATTLEBORO — A man accused of assaulting a police officer with his vehicle was sentenced to eight to 12 months all suspended, with 14 days to serve. Matthew Saunders, 33, pleaded guilty to assault of a police officer and grossly negligent operation Friday afternoon, and was ordered to serve half of the 14 days right away, and the other half in September, minus two days for time served following his arrest in 2024.
Land use review board overturns Act 250 decision for Bent Apple Farm in Londonderry

1 week ago | reformer.com | Bob Audette

LONDONDERRY — The State of Vermont Land Use Review Board has overturned a decision by the Act 250 district coordinator that required the owner of a bed and breakfast complex in Londonderry to file an Act 250 application before he does any work on his properties. A request for a jurisdictional opinion was filed in April 2024 by attorney Merrill Bent on behalf of a neighbor, Bret Williams, who contended Bent Apple's rental properties constituted a commercial use and needed an Act 250 permit.
Accused bank robber transferred to Vt. Dept. of Mental Health

2 weeks ago | reformer.com | Bob Audette

BRATTLEBORO — A 41-year-old Brattleboro man accused of robbing TD Bank on Main Street in Brattleboro on Thursday was transferred into the custody of the Vermont Department of Mental Health following his arraignment in Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division, on Friday afternoon. "The court will a suspend bail at this time, while Mr. Tate is in the care and custody of the commissioner of the Department of Mental Health," Judge John Treadwell said of the suspect, Christopher A. Tate.
Accused bank robber in court today

2 weeks ago | reformer.com | Bob Audette

BRATTLEBORO — A 41-year-old Brattleboro man will be arraigned Friday afternoon, accused of robbing TD Bank on Main Street in Brattleboro. According to information from the Brattleboro Police Department, Christopher A. Tate robbed the bank at just before 3 p.m. on Thursday. After Tate allegedly robbed the bank, he got into a vehicle and left the scene. A Brattleboro Resource Assistance Team officer was on foot patrol on Flat Street and located the vehicle in the Preston Lot.
Land use review board overturns Act 250 decision for Bent Apple Farm in Londonderry

2 weeks ago | benningtonbanner.com | Bob Audette

LONDONDERRY — The State of Vermont Land Use Review Board has overturned a decision by the Act 250 district coordinator that required the owner of a bed and breakfast complex in Londonderry to file an Act 250 application before he does any work on his properties. A request for a jurisdictional opinion was filed in April 2024 by attorney Merrill Bent on behalf of a neighbor, Bret Williams, who contended Bent Apple's rental properties constituted a commercial use and needed an Act 250 permit.
Drug dealer pleads guilty in 2023 shooting death

2 weeks ago | reformer.com | Bob Audette

BRATTLEBORO — A 20-year-old Connecticut man accepted a plea agreement that could see him spend the next decade in jail for the shooting death of a 21-year-old man in an apartment at 14 Birge St. on March 30, 2023. Elias Lopez, of Hartford, Conn., has been in custody since he was arrested in August of 2023 after a months-long investigation into the shooting of Tamico "Mack" Williams, also of Hartford, Conn.
Driver who struck two women in Putney remains in jail

2 weeks ago | reformer.com | Bob Audette

BRATTLEBORO — A man accused of striking with his vehicle two woman on a sidewalk in Putney on May 8 will remain held without bail pending a judge's decision on whether there are any conditions that would guarantee Jason Ball, 23, of Alstead, N.H., doesn't get behind the wheel again while his case is pending.
Nature Conservancy grants to benefit Windham County conservation efforts

2 weeks ago | reformer.com | Bob Audette

JAMAICA — Nearly 600 acres of forest in Jamaica will be conserved as part of a project to connect wild areas across the Northeast. A Montpelier-based regional land trust that focuses on wilderness conservation, Northeast Wilderness Trust, hopes to acquire a swath of land for the future College Hill Wilderness Preserve, which will be passively managed to allow the property’s forests to transition to old growth.
Brattleboro stabbing incident may have been self-defense

2 weeks ago | reformer.com | Bob Audette

BRATTLEBORO — A man who was arrested Monday night following a stabbing at a residence on Winding Hill Road was released on Tuesday after pleading guilty to violating conditions of his release. According to information from the Brattleboro Police Department, officers responded at 7:45 p.m. to a report of a fight resulting in one person with stab wounds. The stab-wound victim was transported to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and later airlifted to another hospital for further treatment. Trevor J.