a mental health crisis when he shot seven times at officers, as well as at the Were not like the Kool-Aid drinkers in Burlington, he said. 5, As the board of aldermen meeting crept into its fourth hour, Louras moved closer to the front, leaning against the wall, shuffling from side to side, occasionally shaking his head or curling his lips into a sarcastic smile. If its that controversial an idea that you can't let anybody know what's going to happen until after it's happened, you're doing something wrong, Smathers said. VTDigger publishes a wide range of stories about Vermonts educational system from early childhood education issues to public and private K-12 schools to higher education. racist or sexually-oriented language. The Tangled Tale Behind the Abrupt Resignation of Middlebury Union High Schools Principal, 2. "The people that have concerns about process, the people that say they have concerns about process, my issue with that is the other option would have been voting on allowing people to come into our community," Louras said. Four officers fired on Louras in the shootout in which he also shot at the officers, according to police. All the while, the man responsible for the controversy stood silently in the back of the room, his wife and young son by his side for moral support. Employees at Ben & Jerrys Burlington store celebrate companys commitment to fair union negotiations, Rachel Smolker: PUC snuffs out a chance to weigh in on a flawed pipeline, Kelsey Wentling: What FirstLight wont be doing for the next 10 years, Jennifer Durgin: Climate activists and evangelicals can be allies. Be Proactive. home/garden Louras grabbed his iPad and gleefully pulled up a video of Simpson speaking at a recent event in New Hampshire. "I think that was a fearless approach, and color Thom Lauzon a coward, but I would not have taken that approach," Lauzon said. It's a moving message, but Louras didn't think it would play well with the public. I'm so sorry for your loss. "There's not a successful, vibrant and growing community in the country that hasn't embraced New Americans.". Officers won't be charged in shooting of former Rutland mayor's son, WHICH INVOLVED A HIGH- PROFILE FAMILY IN LOCAL POLITICS. Well check it out and report the results. "And there's ample housing," she added, in contrast to the real estate markets in Burlington and Winooski. All content Former Rutland mayor Christopher Louras sits at home with his dog, Raye. life or someone elses. 255 So. "We have a workforce and population problem." My concern is: What's the plan?" Drugs are believed to be a factor in the Louras cousins This is a whole different thing down here. Yourcontribution will be matched! Correction 4:30 p.m. 9/27/2019 An earlier version incorrectly identified the model type of the Chinook helicopter. Police spotted the vehicle around 7:00 a.m. and began to pursue. Louras remembered sitting in his office with a former city attorney talking about what to do. After getting stuck on railroad tracks, the driver gets out and can be seen shooting at officers, who return fire. This, along with support from the local fire department who had their own beef with Louras was enough to oust the incumbent mayor in March 2017. 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((T.J. DONOVAN / D- VT Attorney General: 7:41: we consider this matter now closed.)) "The immigration and refugee agenda is one of their more malevolent issues," Simpson said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. "I discount that totally," said Allaire. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Concluding that he's a "technocrat, not a politician," he returned to Rutland and rebranded himself as a nonpartisan fixer. No civilians or officers were injured in the gunfire. anti-anything. The family patriarch came to Rutland in search of all the same things the Syrians want today: justice, religious freedom, security and work. Despina N. Louras, 91, of Rutland, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, January 27, 2013, at Mountain View Center. Footage from a police cruisers dashboard camera, obtained by NECN Tuesday, shows a chase through a popular shopping areas parking lot in downtown Rutland on Oct. 8. VTDigger is now accepting letters to the editor. I'm just doing my thing, Louras said. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. I'd be honored to hav Absolutely. Chris Louras shot up the police station on Wales Street around 5:30 a.m., firing multiple times into the buildings front entrance and then fleeing the scene. post your listing. Bree Johnley death, obituary: Bree Isabel Johnley death what happened? They ask that anyone with information call the state police in Rutland at 802-773-9101. Louras alleges that many of those finding fault with the "process" are being disingenuous: Their real objection, he said, is to the idea of welcoming refugees to Rutland. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. The fleeing vehicle became lodged trying to cross a set of train tracks on the edge of the large parking lot near the Amtrak train station. For that, I am eternally grateful to these officers and thank them for their actions, Kennedy said. Commissioners refused; Bossi resigned in 2012. Louras had a wife and kids by then, but the marriage broke up after the war. A Rutland Welcomes Facebook page has 1,000 members. Christopher Louras was mayor of Rutland for a decade, president of the citys board of aldermen, and served two years as a state representative. In 2007, he ran for mayor along with five other candidates. 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", Although Louras said the planning "maybe could have been handled a little better," he insisted that if he could do it all over again, he wouldn't change anything. But the resettlement agency has long wanted to open up a second refugee hub in Vermont to be able to serve more people. Last November, after the Paris terrorist attacks, several Republican governors across the country declared they would not welcome refugees fleeing Syria into their states, citing concerns about possible terrorist infiltration. If he wins reelection he told Seven Days he will run for a new two-year term in 2017 he will be the longest-serving mayor in Rutland history. Ironically, Rutland's refugee issue is now thoroughly politicized. Vermont-Based Feds Pursue Fraud Claims Against Health Records Company, Newport Prison Superintendent Removed From Post, Former Rutland mayor Christopher C. Louras. He is the son of former Rutland Mayor Christopher Louras who served five two-year terms as the city's top elected official. Louras had cruised to reelection five times. If you're looking for "ISpys," dating or LTRs, this is your scene. The Vermont State Police responded to the scene to continue the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. ((MAYOR DAVE ALLAIRE / Rutland, VT: 12:49: life is fragile, and we need to hold our loved ones tight.)) Even if he was clearly avoiding the microphone, Mayor Chris Louras wasn't hiding. Notifications from this guestbook will end. NBC5 chose not to broadcast or publish the moment 33-year-old Christopher Louras is struck by police bullets. improving the quality of life and addressing drug concerns in Rutland for years ((Nats car crash)) After getting stuck on railroad tracks- the driver gets out, shooting at officers. In 2016, Chris Louras, Rutland's then-mayor, announced that the city would welcome 100 refugees from war-torn Syria. RUTLAND, Vt. . accounts, the history behind an article. From 2014-2020, Seven Days allowed readers to comment on all stories posted on our website. Donovan and Rutland County States Attorney Rose Kennedy both said they wont charge the four officers who returned fire. That didn't sit well. Technically, Louras was a maintenance pilot he oversaw repairs, then flew the choppers to make sure the work had been done right. Then there was an exchange of gunfire between the police and the suspect driving the white vehicle. Since 2014, Seven Days has allowed readers to comment on all stories posted on our website. Three are from Rutland City, one was from Rutland Town. "He is very blunt. Trudeau said he wouldnt say why investigators believe the Rutland shooting is connected to the Salisbury homicide. Theres no way we can possibly afford this.. He said he's not ready to self-reflect on losing his sixth reelection bid in the midst of Rutland refugee resettlement debate. The car chase ended when Louras' car got stuck in front of the Amtrak station. There were other officers on scene, but only those four opened fire. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. "They come with goals and dreams, and we're here to give them the tools. According to Major Tradeau, Chris Louras, armed with an AR-15-style rifle exchanged some fire towards the officers. deaths, as Gov. He was predeceased by a brother, Peter Louras and by four sisters, Antoinette Candello, Georgia Bartlett, Koula Carignan and Despina Louras. But longtime alderman Dave Allaire, who had challenged Louras twice before and lost, harnessed anger over resettlement. She can be reached at ehewitt@vtdigger.org. Agenda 21, as defined by the United Nations, is a strategy for sustainable development. They'd say their greatest problem is finding enough workers," Huebner said. Following high school, he served in the US Air Force in the Korean War as an Airplane Mechanic. It's so wrong that I can't get past that to talk about how good it is that we have these three families here.. After he accepted a plea deal and was fired from the force, Rutland aldermen urged the police commission to dismiss the man in charge: former chief Tony Bossi. I can't get past the recognition of how much more it could have impacted Rutland had it continued," Louras said. Vermont State Police have said they are not looking for any other suspects in Nicholas Louras death at this time, though the killing has called a homicide. To criticize, correct or praise our reporting, please send us a letter to the editor or send us a tip. wouldnt discuss that while the murder investigation is still underway in If we dont get a say in this, this will be used in March.. We had too much housing stock and not enough people to fill it.". His paternal grandfather, Nicolaos, emigrated from Greece in 1906 to escape Ottoman Turks. A year from now, Louras envisions dozens of refugees renting apartments, filling jobs, and opening businesses. The citys Project Vision program has been working on Thanks for reading. When asked if he had any plans to re-enter politics, the former mayors answer came fast: Hell no. So besides the three refugee families that moved to Rutland, Louras is probably the one whos seen his life change the most because of how resettlement played out in this city. Louras was the son of Rutlands former longtime mayor, also named Chris Louras. Either safety track, where all the grumpy guys go; instructor pilot track, where all the prima donnas go; or maintenance, where the people who want to just work and get [stuff] done go. Newly-released footage from a police cruiser's dash cam showing a chase through a popular shopping area's parking lot in downtown Rutland in October 2019. Donovan and Rutland County States Attorney Rose Kennedy Vermont State Police say Louras drove by the police station around 5:30 a.m. and fired several shots into the front entrance and drove away. Louras died to be the way the totality of his life should be judged. And for someone who was very much in the public eye, he's not anymore. Board of Alderman President William Notte recalled a campaign debate in which most of the contenders gave "flowery speeches" and made a lot of promises, while Louras, looking down, hands in pockets, told the crowd that whoever won was probably going to have to raise taxes to help balance the city's budget. Investigators have not yet identified a motive for the killing. She was born in Rutland October 31, 1921, the daughter of Nicholas and Amalia (Alex Smathers, who is now the director of the Rutland Free Library, said he fully supported the idea of bringing in refugees. At the time, he referred all questions to the city's attorney. Nick Louras, 34, of Rutland, was found dead of gunshot wounds off . Louras makes $72,000 a year compared to Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger's $94,000. He bleeds Rutland.". Louras was the son of Rutland's former longtime mayor, also named Chris Louras. She can be reached at emansfield@vtdigger.org. She warned of increasing costs for city schools. Louras wielded an "AR-15-style" gun, Trudeau said. He lets himself dream of Syrians opening falafel shops and young people moving back to be part of the newfound diversity. "Lauzon just takes it and does it, and that's what I like about Thom," Louras said. He's loved by his girl friend, Lauren Stacey; mother Crystal King; sister Hannah Lamarche; father and stepmother Chris and Judy Louras; brothers Augie, Ian and Justin Louras; and grandparents Ruth and Gus Louras and Mary King. Cyclist Killed in Crash With Truck While Riding in Rasputitsa Race, 2. He stumbles over his words; sometimes he doesn't come up with the words he's looking for. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. When he's encouraging fellow mayors to act decisively, Lauzon urges them to go "full-on Louras.". Allaire noted he is optimistic a focus on addressing substance use disorders and forming neighborhood partnerships in Rutland can help strengthen his community after the encounter many here say really rattled locals. Although he opposes marijuana legalization and other lefty causes, Louras has endorsed high-profile Democrats, including Gov. Mayor Allaire voiced his full support for the men and women of the Rutland Police Department, and thanked them for their work in a high-stress and highly dangerous situation to prevent further loss of life. click here. Make a one-time, tax-deductible donation to our spring campaign by May 12. Will the State Pony Up? Your email address will not be published. He came to Burlington for a three-hour meeting in December, and his pitch proved persuasive. RUTLAND, Vt (NEWS10) Police officers in Rutland, Vermont shot and killed a man they say fired shots at the Rutland City Police Department building Tuesday morning then drove off. Nick Louras, 34, of Rutland, was found dead of gunshot wounds off Route 53 in Salisbury last October. "I think a lot of people thought they were voting for my uncle Pete," Louras said. The major wouldnt say if Chris Louras was a suspect in that homicide. Chris, the youngest of three children born to Gus and Ruth, chose a different path. Be Nice. Earlier that morning, police said, Louras fired multiple times into the front entrance of the citys police station before he was spotted about 90 minutes later and exchanged fire with the officers. Following high school, he served in the US Air Force in the Korean War as an Airplane Mechanic. When no jobs appealed to him after college, Louras enlisted as a warrant officer in the U.S. Army and learned to fly twin-rotor Chinook helicopters. Whether its a short vacation or theyre jetting off to begin their career, show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift. for sale by owner Footage from a police cruisers dashboard camera, obtained Tuesday, shows a chase through a popular shopping areas parking lot in downtown Rutland on Oct. 8. Required fields are marked *. It is unclear if a public vote will happen, or, if it does, whether anyone in power will care about its result. However, Donovan wouldnt discuss that while the murder investigation is still underway in Addison County. After getting stuck on railroad tracks, the driver gets out and can be seen shooting at officers, who return fire. Local obituaries for Rutland, Vermont 219 Obituaries Friday, April 28, 2023 Add Photos Add a Memory Barbara A Cagney Barbara A. Cagney Barbara A. Cagney, 85, of Rutland died Wednesday. In 2010, Vermont State Police charged a Rutland police sergeant for viewing pornography on his work computer and removing a pornographic video from the police evidence locker. He was born in Rutland, Vermont April 4, 1934, the son of Christopher and Esther (Ladue) Webber, Sr. John married his wife of 35 years Kathleen (Kurdeka) Webber in 1966. Al Gobeille, Top Exec at UVM Health Network, to Resign, 5. Acting unilaterally, however, may have jeopardized his laudable gambit. Life is fragile, and we need to hold our loved ones tight, Allaire said at Tuesdays news conference. You have permission to edit this article. "Agenda 21," Louras casually explained to a puzzled visitor. I'm certainly concerned about that, too, but that's not my issue. The citys Project Vision program has been working on improving the quality of life and addressing drug concerns in Rutland for years now. Champlain St. Ste. Louras said. Sister Valerie and brother Nico were also on the payroll. Life is fragile, and we need to hold our loved ones tight, Allaire said at Tuesdays news conference. The city's population has steadily declined since 1970, and the U.S. Census Bureau forecasts that it will sink further, from 16,500 today to 14,800 in 2030. A bitter divorce left him with full custody of the couple's two sons (who now have two young stepsiblings the result of Louras' second marriage, to Judith). Burlington's Old North End is full of restaurants and shops opened by refugees. "This has to be planned very, very well. After the brief chase, the officers drew their own guns, striking Louras nine times, with a fatal wound to the head, according to prosecutors who discussed their probe of the case during a news conference Tuesday in Rutland. Louras, the son of former Rutland mayor Christopher Louras, died within seconds or minutes of suffering a gunshot wound to his head in the shootout, a death certificate filed Tuesday with the state Department of Health stated. Investigators concluded all four officers acted appropriately. Police said Christopher Louras shot through the front door of the Rutland City Police Department early on Oct. 8, 2019. "It does not paint a pretty picture," Louras said. Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, said in October. Da Capo Publishing, Inc. She can be reached at tpache@vtdigger.org. At 91, he still goes to work every day at Sam Frank Distributors in downtown Rutland. Keeps a lot of information and ideas close to the vest, except for a close-knit group he has around him," said Alderman David Allaire, a longtime Louras rival, in an interview. Or send us a tip. Louras, the son of former Rutland mayor Christopher Louras, died within seconds or minutes of suffering a gunshot wound to his head in the shootout, a death certificate filed Tuesday with. "It was an itch I had to scratch," he said. We also specialize in coverage of state finances and the impact of tax and budget policy on Vermonters. Get him worked up, and his voice rises. We consider this matter now closed, announced Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan, who added that he does not consider the way Louras died to be the way the totality of his life should be judged. Chance of rain 60%.. The cousins death is still under investigation in Addison County, Donovan said. They brought up health concerns like tuberculosis, questions about employment and housing, and many, like Sharon Leonard, wondered why the city would help foreigners before attending to locals in need. At the same time, local employers like GE were complaining about the citys shrinking workforce. "We decided that would be a great idea to try to replicate what happened at the turn of the century, when all the southern and eastern Europeans came to Rutland and built this community," he said. If I had been brought in on the front end of this and had been given the information that apparently a select few of the elites had been given, I would have guaranteed the vetting process was thorough and there would be a program laid out about how these people would assimilate; I would have been at the front of the line welcoming them with open arms. Peter Shumlin was among the first to declare that his state would welcome the Syrians. VRRP, the organization tasked by the U.S. Department of State with settling refugees in the state, usually accepts 300 refugees a year. He lost a reelection bid in a four-way Town Meeting Day race in March 2017 to David Allaire. But, if enough of his constituents disagree, Louras knows he may not be in office to see his vision come to fruition. Use the 'Report' link on Louras said that despite his city's reputation for economic woe, it had plenty of cheap housing, employers struggling to fill entry-level jobs, and a willingness to welcome the refugees. Vermont State Police, the agency heading the investigation in both deaths, have not released any information in either case since Thursday. Nicholas attended Mount Saint Joseph Academy and graduated from Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, MA, class of 2005. Nick was a 1945 graduate of Rutland High School. "The way it was handled in the fall of 2015 and the spring of 2016 was the only way it could have been handled in order to get the three families we did into Rutland.". No one was injured. "Ask any employer in town. Many who know the former mayor say this was an especially tough blow, and one he took personally. "Rutland has been addressing our issues, and, having turned our community around, this is the next logical step to embrace New Americans and enjoy the economic and cultural benefits that level of diversity will provide," Louras said in an earlier interview. Although his parents weren't much into politics, his uncle Peter Louras had served for years on the board. We cover state elections, the Vermont Legislature, the governors office, state agencies and major political parties. Controversy erupted, and Taylor returned to document it. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. In the possible homicide in Salisbury case, the body of a man was discovered early Tuesday afternoon off Route 53, also known as Lake Dunmore Road. As mayor, he definitely weathered his share of criticism. Maj. Dan Trudeau, head of the state police criminal division, said at a press conference late Tuesday afternoon that authorities are investigating a link between the shooting in downtown Rutland and a possible homicide in Salisbury. Goodbye, Off Message Blog. One in five Vermonters is considered elderly. Keep it Clean. Nicholas R. Louras RUTLAND Nicholas R. Louras, 34, of Rutland died unexpectedly in Salisbury on October 8, 2019. Lauzon's take on Louras: "When Chris believes in something, he goes at it. UVM Student Wins Inaugural Nonbinary Division at Boston Marathon, 6. It serves him well many times and gets in his way many times, and I think he knows it. Now Louras is a general manager for Foley Distributing. He recalls a fellow Republican telling him, "You shouldn't be supportive of the bill because those people don't vote for us.'" An off-duty officer spotted the suspect car about an hour-and-a-half later, and a police chase ensued through the Rutland City Plaza. However, through the surveillance cameras that the police department had, police was able to identify the vehicle and its registration. One individual asked how Rutland would handle the imposition of Sharia law. Soon afterward, officials from Middlebury, Woodstock, Warren, Waitsfield, Brattleboro, Bennington and other communities reached out to VRRP, offering to help. Yeah, I get it. Rutland Nicholas N. Louras, 89, passed away on November 12, 2016 at Rutland Regional Medical Center. And it was. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Nicholas Louras body was found by a passerby early on the afternoon of Oct. 8 on the edge of Route 53, also known as Lake Dunmore Road, in the Addison County town of Salisbury, about a 40-minute drive to Rutland. For that, Louras is supposed to answer for the actions of city employees including the police. But at times, he has had little to say about what's gone wrong on his watch. A French Private Equity Firm Owns Six Vermont Childcare Centers, a Possible Harbinger of Things to Come, Vermont Senate Backs Expansion of 'Death With Dignity' Law, Burlington Ballot Proposes Big Changes in City Election Rules, Burlington Considers Kicking Fossil Fuels to the Curb, A resident reading a flier about resettlement, by Mark Davis, Chelsea Edgar and Ken Picard.
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