Two local DOC employees retire after combined 71 years in Newport

NEWPORT — Two longtime Newport-based employees of the Vermont Department of Corrections have retired after a combined 71 years of state service.

Sheila Martin of Orleans retired this month after 41 years with Vermont state government. She started in 1983 with the Vermont Department of Health, then worked with biologists for the Department of Fish and Wildlife in St. Johnsbury, followed by service as a dispatcher with Vermont State Police.

After eight and a half years in that position, she transferred to the Department of Corrections in Newport, where she retired as a probation officer supervisor. Martin will work as the full-time chief fiscal officer for the town of Barton.

Art Gibney of Newport also retired after 30 years of state service. He started as a correctional officer at Northeast State Correctional Complex in St. Johnsbury, then transferred to the Newport DOC office. He worked as an FSU officer, then as a probation officer, and finally as district manager of the Newport DOC office, the position from which he retired this month.

Rosemary Webber of Orleans has been selected as the new DOC Newport district manager.

A retirement party was held Sunday in Newport, attended by current and former colleagues, family, friends and representatives of area criminal justice agencies.