Top Stories for Tuesday September 12, 2006

Dog Team Fire And Fatality Brings Many Irreplaceable Losses
By Ed Barna
    Addison County had a disaster of its own on September 1st, when an unstoppable early morning fire destroyed the Dog Team Tavern, with owner Christopher Hesslink inside.
    At first there were hopes that the 42-year-old Monkton resident had not stayed in his apartment at the Dog Team, even though his two dogs were found at the scene, safely confined in a truck. Hesslink was known to be an avid angler, sometimes going out of state to find good fishing, and perhaps he had gone on such a trip.
    By Friday afternoon, that part of the Brooksville neighborhood began to look as much like a wake as a fire scene. Most of the 10 departments that had helped with the blaze were gone, and replaced by concerned friends,  neighbors, and Dog Team employees.
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Side Judge Wayne Joseph Heath Dies Unexpectedly
By Mike Cameron
    An untimely death always comes as a shock.  Being told that Addison County Side Judge Wayne Heath had lost his life unexpectedly on  Sunday, September 3rd was exactly that. What a shock even for a person who comes to expect that if we meet many people every day in our particular line of work some might leave us abruptly.   All are very special. Wayne Heath was just that, very special!
    Judge Heath was our guest at The Valley Voice on Wednesday afternoon just four days before his death.  He was ready to announce publicly his intention to run again for Addison County Side Judge a position that he had held for 3, 4-year terms.  “I really feel that I can make a difference.  The process has been a learning experience and it has allowed me to witness both the letter of the law and the spirit of the law first hand,” he said during the early part of our interview.
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Wayne Heath Remembered
By Cheryl White
    Wayne Heath was proud of his career as a man of the law and many of  those  he associated with throughout his career were stunned and saddened by his sudden passing.
    Addison County States Attorney John Quinn had known Wayne for many years. “We had a long working relationship. Wayne was very good at his job.  He had a great sense of humor and was a terrific photographer.  I’m saddened that he is no longer with us,” Quinn conveyed to The Voice.
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