[GRASSLIST:8779] can't delete vector, "can't open dbf database"

[Kirk R. Wythers]

I seem to have a circular problem deleting vectors and re-importing  
the shape files. g.remove gives the error:

GRASS 6.1.cvs (arrowhead_utm):~/grassdata/arrowhead_utm/ts2325 >  
g.remove vect=townships
REMOVE [townships]
DBMI-DBF driver error:
Cannot open dbf database: ~/grassdata/arrowhead_utm/ts2325/dbf/


WARNING: Cannot open database '~/grassdata/arrowhead_utm/ts2325/dbf/'
WARNING: Cannot open database '~/grassdata/arrowhead_utm/ts2325/dbf/' by
          driver 'dbf'
WARNING: Cannot get info if table 'townships' linked to vector exists.
WARNING: Cannot delete vector

In addition, I can't reimport the vector because the vector exists.  
At this point I'd like to keep all the rasters in this mapset, but  
delete all the vectors (so I can start over and re-import the  
original shapefiles).

Thanks,

Kirk