Two
days before Christmas, fire broke out in an historic
brick building in St. Johnsbury. Fire
has been an all-too-frequent occurrence in the Northeast Kingdom town. In 2000, 2003 and 2008, major chunks
of the downtown were destroyed by flames.
In
St. Johnsbury, the firing of Town Manager Ralph Nelson continues to prompt
questions from residents who are growing increasingly agitated about why.
They’ve also been wondering why no replacement has been appointed.
Late last week, when federal drug enforcement
authorities took down what they say was a methamphetamine lab hidden behind an
historic cemetery in St. Johnsbury, many residents were shocked.
Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom has the highest unemployment rates in the state. Much
of the reason has to do with the loss of manufacturing jobs over the years.