Bristol Rescue at a crucial crossroads

BRISTOL — Faced with a diminishing number of volunteers, the Bristol Rescue Squad is at a crossroads: Unless the squad adds a paid staff member to its currently all-volunteer roster, President Brian Fox is worried the ambulance corps won’t be able to meet the demand...

Explosive exit: Champlain Bridge falls in a flash as thousands watch

MIDDLEBURY — A siren cut through Monday morning’s gray, flurry-filled sky above the Champlain Bridge and suddenly the anticipatory chatter among the assembled masses waned to a collective murmur. In an instant, the wintry tableau before them was shattered by a loud...

Tiger Woods’ fall from grace: a lost hero

I have a neighbor, an avid golfer, who a couple of years ago had the opportunity to play Augusta National Golf Club, and was absolutely thrilled. He would play on the course where the Masters Golf Tournament is held each April, the Valhalla, or Eden, of golf courses,...

The year in sports, part 2: Final six months of 2009 saw run to glory, drama

Editor’s note: Part 1 of the Independent’s look back at the local sports scene in 2009 ran in the Dec. 24 issue. ADDISON COUNTY — As the first six months of 2009 wrapped up, Otter Valley Union High School won the Division II softball crown, giving the area its first —...

Tigers defuse Bombers, continue surge

MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury Union High School boys’ hockey team on Monday capped off its 2009 schedule by defeating Lake Placid, 4-1, in the consolation game of the Tigers’ annual tourney at Middlebury College. Even though MUHS lost, 2-1, the day before in the...