Louras emitted a high-pitched laugh as he watched, shaking his head. Fairlee Developer Wants to Help Others Tackle Small-Town Housing Roadblocks, 4. Peter Shumlin and Chittenden County State's Attorney T.J. Donovan. click here. Critics worried about how the city would pay for a large influx of new residents. VRRP never announces refugee arrivals in Burlington or Winooski. Cindy Seager. Relatives of two Rutland mayors dead after officer-involved shooting Da Capo Publishing, Inc. Now that President Trump is expected to call . The major wouldnt say if Chris Louras was a suspect in that homicide. He was born and raised in the city he has led for the past decade through multiple police scandals, record-setting blood drives, opiate-related urban blight and countless Rut-Vegas jokes. A recent afternoon saw Louras grappling with a problem that would be unimaginable in Burlington reducing his city's housing stock. "It was an itch I had to scratch," he said. Meanwhile, by all accounts, the three refugee families that did make it are doing well. People respect him for that," Notte said. Chance of rain 60%.. Louras won by a landslide and hasn't lost a race since. But he also believed the mayor made a crucial mistake in not informing all the members of the board of aldermen ahead of time. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Deputies investigating church donation box burglary, Flooding closes multiple roads in Canajoharie, 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Neighbors swimming, 05/01/2023: Exercise for your umbrella and wipers, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day. home/garden justified under the states self-defense rules, which consider someone Police said Christopher Louras shot out the window at the police. Both prosecutors praised police for facing a threat with Louras was one of only two Republicans who signed onto the bill, which former Republican governor Jim Douglas vetoed. Officers cleared in Rutland shootout that killed ex-mayor's son "People lived full lives before coming to the U.S.; we have to remember that," Merdzanovic said. Those are the big ones with two rotors. She was born in Rutland October 31, 1921, the daughter of Nicholas and Amalia (Alex But the resettlement agency has long wanted to open up a second refugee hub in Vermont to be able to serve more people. The cousins death is still under investigation in Addison County, Donovan said.This has been a tragic event for our community, and of course, personally for my family, said Mayor Dave Allaire, Rutlands current mayor, who is related by marriage to his predecessor at city hall and to both of the Louras cousins who died, Nick and Chris.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.Separately, Chris Louras mother, Crystal King, told NBC5, that she and Chris grandmother, Mary, loved the young man dearly and miss him every day.Life is fragile, and we need to hold our loved ones tight, Allaire said at Tuesdays news conference.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.The citys Project Vision program has been working on improving the quality of life and addressing drug concerns in Rutland for years now.Drugs are believed to be a factor in the Louras cousins deaths, as Gov. Now, they say lab tests have confirmed it. It didn't help when local, national and even international journalists descended on Rutland's blighted Northwest and Southwest neighborhoods, portraying the areas as ground zero in Vermont's "opiate crisis.". "I have to imagine there's at least one or two people considering a run against him, thinking he's shot himself in the foot here, either for bringing in the refugees or the close-to-his-chest nature," predicted Notte. Subscribe To 'The Frequency,' Our Daily Morning Newsletter, Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program Plans For Fewer Refugees After US Admissions Cap, Vermont Officials, Businesses Concerned About Decline In Refugees. Three are from Rutland City, one was from Rutland Town. He then attended the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, MA. 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. Former Rutland Mayor's Son Killed in Gunfight With Police 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. ((He's got a gun!)) In Vermont, A Town Is Divided Over Syrian Refugees - NPR Drugs are believed to be a factor in the Louras cousins deaths, as Gov. However, Donovan wouldnt discuss that while the murder investigation is still underway in Addison County. Allaire's optimistic a focus on addressing substance use disorders and forming neighborhood partnerships can help strengthen his community after the encounter many here say really rattled Rutland. Theres no way we can possibly afford this.. The Vermont State Police responded to the scene to continue the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. "It does not paint a pretty picture," Louras said. However, Donovan wouldnt discuss that while the murder investigation is still underway in Addison County. However, through the surveillance cameras that the police department had, police was able to identify the vehicle and its registration. Last week, the first two of an expected 25 Syrian refugee families arrived in Rutland, Vt., a scenic, blue-collar town of 16,000 people. All content Tuesday the A.G. and the Rutland County State's Attorney announced they won't charge the four officers who returned fire: three from Rutland Both prosecutors praising police for facing a threat with bravery before anyone else was hurt. With Bernie Looking On, Ben & Jerry's Scoopers Announce Progress in Union Talks. Vermont State Police on Tuesday confirmed that Christopher Louras was responsible for the murder of his cousin, Nicholas Louras. Six years later, he tried again and coasted to victory over Democrat Ted Lindgren. Rutland has an unemployment rate of 3.3 percent, right around the statewide average of 3.2 and well below the national rate of 5 percent. Nicholas R. Louras | Obituaries | rutlandherald.com NBC5 chose not to broadcast or publish the moment 33-year-old Christopher Louras is struck by police bullets. both said they wont charge the four officers who returned fire. Investigators have not yet identified a motive for the killing. 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. At the time, he referred all questions to the city's attorney. The family patriarch came to Rutland in search of all the same things the Syrians want today: justice, religious freedom, security and work. Chris works his ass off. President Donald Trump has capped U.S. refugee admissions for fiscal year 2018 at 45,000 people.Amila Merdzanovic, director of the Vermont Refugee, The Burlington area is a hub for refugees and immigrants in Vermont, but area officials and businesses are concerned about this population shrinking., announced the city would become Vermonts newest resettlement community, announced Vermont would open its doors to Syrian refugees. The citys Project Vision program has been working on improving the quality of life and addressing drug concerns in Rutland for years now. At the same time, local employers like GE were complaining about the citys shrinking workforce. Don't just lay it on everybody and say, 'I know better, and that's it.'". More than 170 people turned out to a meeting at a Unitarian church, volunteering to help the refugees. 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. 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. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, said in October. If all goes well, backers say, this will not be a one-off event: Rutland will take its place alongside Burlington and Winooski and welcome a new batch of refugees every year. entrance of the Rutland City Police Department. A firefight broke out between the suspect and police, during which the suspect was hit. Ruth M. Nichols. Christopher Louras death, obituary: 33 year old Christopher G. Louras was killed Tuesday in an early morning Rutland Vermont shooting with officers. VTDigger regularly publishes stories about Vermont politics. Its too early to draw that conclusion, he said. There were no injuries to police or other civilians. Need more info? 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. The younger Louras, Vermonts attorney general said, was in a mental health crisis when he shot seven times at officers, as well as at the entrance of the Rutland City Police Department.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.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.Donovan and Rutland County States Attorney Rose Kennedy both said they wont charge the four officers who returned fire. Louras makes $72,000 a year compared to Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger's $94,000. "I think a lot of people thought they were voting for my uncle Pete," Louras said. Vermont Gov. Kelly Clarkson's Home Collection Is Up to 74% Off During Way Day Deals, The Best Wayfair Way Day Deals 2023 Starting at $30, Wayfair's Way Day Sale Includes Up to 60% Off Outdoor Furniture Here's What to Shop ASAP, Amazon Has So Many Good Mother's Day Gifts on Sale Right Now. The man killed in the officer involved shooting has been identified as Christopher Louras, 33, of Rutland. Christopher George Louras RUTLAND In memory of Christopher George Louras, a gathering for friends and family will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, at his A few months later, during a crowded press conference at Rutland City Hall, Louras stood with dozens of high school students, refugee resettlement organizers and select local officials and announced his plan to resettle 100 Syrian refugees in the city, with more to follow. Louras was the son of Rutlands former longtime mayor, also named Chris Louras. Victim in Salisbury Killing Is Cousin of Man Shot by Police in Rutland Not surprisingly, Louras feels a kinship with Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon, a brash businessman and booster with similarly unpredictable politics. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. He recalls a fellow Republican telling him, "You shouldn't be supportive of the bill because those people don't vote for us.'" Sign up here to get a weekly email with all of VTDigger's reporting on courts and crime. This year, there will be an estimated 60 million refugees and displaced people worldwide. Louras remembered sitting in his office with a former city attorney talking about what to do. My issue is process. We cover the states hospitals, the states psychiatric care system, the Green Mountain Care Board, insurers, state health care policy, Medicaid and Medicare. He bleeds Rutland.". Alan J. Keays is the former longtime news editor of the Rutland Herald. Police are investigating the death as a possible homicide, along with potential links to the subsequent shooting at the Rutland Police Department and events occuring in a parking lot off Evelyn Street near the railroad tracks downtown. These days, however, politics are notably absent from his private sector job managing a local distribution business. Both men are supporting Phil Scott for governor. To criticize, correct or praise our reporting, please send us a letter to the editor. One lives just down the street from Louras and is in the process of buying a home. The younger Louras, Vermonts attorney general said, was in a mental health crisis when he shot seven times at officers, as well as at the entrance of the Rutland City Police Department. It was standing room only at the Godnick Adult Center, where more than 120 local Rutlanders were hammering officials from the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program about a plan to bring 100 Syrians to their city. Get him worked up, and his voice rises. Mr. Louras was owner of Nick Louras Auto Body Shop. NECN chose not to broadcast or publish the moment I choose to remember the good times with young Chris back in our "hockey family" days. Bree Johnley death, obituary: Bree Isabel Johnley death what happened? "He's not by any means your standard slick politician. Life can be cruel and there are many twists and turns we may never understand. The younger Louras,. Bets are in. Instead, he says "people with an R next to their name," or "guy with a D next to his name." 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. If you want a pest-free patio this spring, the most important thing you can do is take away those elements that bugs find desirable. He keeps a model of the chopper in his city hall office along with a crushing amount of paper piled on the desk, floor and coffee table and couch. He stumbles over his words; sometimes he doesn't come up with the words he's looking for. Refugees are needy folks, said former Rutland City Treasurer Wendy Wilton. ((Nats car crash)) After getting stuck on railroad tracks- the driver gets out, shooting at officers. UPDATE 10/10/2019: The Vermont State Police today identified Nicholas Louras, 34, of Rutland, as the homicide victim found on Tuesday in Salisbury. Four officers, including three from Rutland City and one from neighboring Rutland Town, fired shots at Louras. From 2014-2020, Seven Days allowed readers to comment on all stories posted on our website. Louras own grandparents had been among them, settling in Rutland after fleeing Greece. Sister Valerie and brother Nico were also on the payroll. They engaged in secrecy for one simple reason they feared that involving the public sooner would derail the effort. The discovery came as investigators followed up on a police shootout in Rutland earlier that day, that left his cousin, Christopher Louras, 33, of Rutland, dead. Need more info? Vermont Wants an Equitable Cannabis Industry. VTDigger is now accepting letters to the editor. With Bernie Looking On, Ben & Jerry's Scoopers Announce Progress in Union Talks, 1. Police ID Salisbury homicide as cousin of man killed in Rutland "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. His cousin, Nicholas Louras, 34, of Rutland, suffered gunshot wounds to his head and neck and died within seconds, his death certificate filed Tuesday stated. or anything. There will be no criminal charges filed against four Vermont police officers who shot and killed the son of Rutland's former mayor back in October, after he led them on a chase . Threats of harming another Christopher Louras death, obituary: Rutland Vermont shooting Anyone who may have information about the incident, including and photos or videos, should contact the Vermont State Police in Rutland at 802-773-9101. Police had always suspected that Christopher Louras killed his cousin. Published June 8, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. ", 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. Cloudy with showers. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. post your service, apartments Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. "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.". Well check it out and report the results. Lauzon's take on Louras: "When Chris believes in something, he goes at it. Use the 'Report' link on 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. 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. Louras' rifle was found with a total of 15 cartridges remaining in a 30-cartridge capacity magazine, and on the front seat of his vehicle investigators found two 30-cartridge capacity magazines,. The Vermont State Police learned that a mans body was discovered off of Vermont Route 53, also known as Lake Dunmore Road, in Salisbury. He said he's grateful to have the job. Learn how Report for America and local philanthropists are contributing to the cause, Tags: Politics, cannabis related, Chris Louras, New Americans, Rutland, Syrian refugees, Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program, Cyclist Killed in Crash With Truck While Riding in Rasputitsa Race, Shooting Victim Found on Downtown Burlington Sidewalk, The Tangled Tale Behind the Abrupt Resignation of Middlebury Union High Schools Principal. "The immigration and refugee agenda is one of their more malevolent issues," Simpson said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dalton Beitel death, obituary: Florida Southern college student death cause. Literally. | Updated August 25, 2020 at 6:53 p.m. Police have said the deaths are linked, but have stopped short of calling the younger Christopher Louras a suspect in his cousins death. Other communities, large and small,. deaths, as Gov. 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. With so many employers promising jobs, Rutland became Merdzanovic's top choice. Yeah, I get it. "You should be doing just the opposite. "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. ", "I wasn't built for it," Louras said of Statehouse politics. Keep it Clean. improving the quality of life and addressing drug concerns in Rutland for years Both prosecutors praised police for facing a threat with bravery before anyone else was hurt. "I would like to be considered before outside people, Leonard said at a board of aldermen meeting. Mayor Chris Louras Rutland and Burlington are the only two Vermont cities in which an elected mayor functions as the day-to-day chief executive officer. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WPTZ-TV. The plan took many city officials by surprise. Chance of rain 80%. And I know everything is right in their world., He added, However, I can't look at anything broader for this community because of the tragedy for our country. Gov Phil Scott, speaking at his weekly press conference last Wednesday, said the deaths may be tied to drugs. Although his parents weren't much into politics, his uncle Peter Louras had served for years on the board. At 91, he still goes to work every day at Sam Frank Distributors in downtown Rutland. Get an email notification whenever someone signs the guestbook. "I'm sure there are some in the community who are concerned about the refugees themselves. Yourcontribution will be matched! Like his predecessors dating back to the 1970s, Louras has focused on Rutland's economy, which started declining when local industries mills, quarries and a railroad shut down. 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. There's an internal report documenting problems in the Rutland Police Department, but Louras did not release it to the public when news of Todd's lawsuit broke. Merdzanovic was evasive when asked at the meeting if a "no" vote would prompt her organization to look elsewhere. While weve appreciated the suggestions and insights, the time has come to shut them down at least temporarily. Christopher George Louras RUTLAND Christopher George Louras, died at age 33. If you're looking for "ISpys," dating or LTRs, this is your scene. It serves him well many times and gets in his way many times, and I think he knows it. "Have you ever experienced enough pushback that you've stopped the program?". According to a press release . The United States has agreed to take in 85,000, including 10,000 Syrians, though the country has fallen behind on its schedule to fulfill that pledge. Two Buildings That Straddle the Canadian Border Bedevil Tenants and a Health Inspector, 7. Louras privately lobbied the VRRP to choose Rutland, then spent months quietly laying the groundwork for the refugees' arrival without seeking approval from the board of alderman, or even telling most city officials what he was up to. life or someone elses. Rutland Nicholas N. Louras, 89, passed away on November 12, 2016 at Rutland Regional Medical Center.Nick Louras was born July 2, 1927, in Rutland, son of Nicholas and Amalia (Alexandrides) Louras. person will not be tolerated. Louras was the son of Rutlands former longtime mayor, also For that, I am eternally grateful to these officers and "And there's ample housing," she added, in contrast to the real estate markets in Burlington and Winooski. own cousin, Nicholas Louras, before that shootout with police. 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. The body, located just off the edge of the road, was reported to police by a person who spotted it while walking on the road at about 12:45 p.m. Tuesday. . The name of the man found in Salisbury will be released following notification of his family and further investigation. Your email address will not be published. According to Major Tradeau, Chris Louras, armed with an AR-15-style rifle exchanged some fire towards the officers. Vermont-Based Feds Pursue Fraud Claims Against Health Records Company, Newport Prison Superintendent Removed From Post, Former Rutland mayor Christopher C. Louras. Before he got into politics, he was in the Army. That landed him at a number of large military bases in Texas, Alabama and Kentucky before the 1991 Gulf War. In 1995, he left the military and moved back home to Rutland to work for the family business. Even if he was clearly avoiding the microphone, Mayor Chris Louras wasn't hiding. 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. How do I keep bugs off my patio this spring? Christopher George Louras | Obituaries | rutlandherald.com And thats where I went.". Louras got in line. But longtime alderman Dave Allaire, who had challenged Louras twice before and lost, harnessed anger over resettlement. Following high school, he served in the US Air Force in the Korean War as an Airplane Mechanic. And it was. But, if enough of his constituents disagree, Louras knows he may not be in office to see his vision come to fruition. Donovan and Kennedy said the officers actions were legally The expectation of partisan loyalty also turned him off so much so that he studiously avoids stating the names of America's two major political parties. In 2016, Chris Louras, Rutland's then-mayor, announced that the city would welcome 100 refugees from war-torn Syria. In August, the Rutland Chapter of the NAACP awarded Louras its "Courage in Action Award" for his efforts on behalf of Syrian refugees. Louras was the son of Rutland's former longtime mayor, also named Chris Louras. "Now should I be looking at the positive? Chris, the youngest of three children born to Gus and Ruth, chose a different path. Acting unilaterally, however, may have jeopardized his laudable gambit. Mr. Louras is survived by a brother, Gus Louras, of Rutland and a sister, Marie Louras, of Rutland. "I think someone could make hay with that.". To criticize, correct or praise our reporting, please send us a letter to the editor or send us a tip. He's all over town," said Tom Huebner, president of Rutland Regional Medical Center a Rutland native who has known Louras for decades. Rutland Nicholas N. Louras, 89, passed away on November 12, 2016 at Rutland Regional Medical Center. 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. It. Now Louras is a general manager for Foley Distributing. We have too many things on our plate already. I dont think thats too much to ask.. Ben Cohens Cannabis Company Tries to Undo the Harm of the War on Drugs, 5. In the first of her three part series, Nina caught up with the former mayor. death is still under investigation in Addison County, Donovan said. They walked away from the homes we had squatters," Louras said.
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