Author: WNTK News

A Bethel, Vermont man has been arrested following an early Tuesday morning altercation in Stockbridge.

According to a press release from the VT State Police-Royalton Barracks, at approximately 9 AM on Tuesday, troopers received a 911 call stating that a male had entered the residence. The VSP, along with the Bethel Town Constable, responded to the home, where they found 52-year-old Thomas Dodge asleep on the couch. An investigation discovered that Dodge had struck the homeowner’s face while she was sleeping, causing her to awake in pain.

He was taken into custody on charges of Violation of Condition of Release and Second Degree Aggravated Domestic Assault. He was released on a citation to appear in Windsor County Superior Court on January 20th at 12:30 PM. 

The Claremont School District (SAU #6) have announced another case of COVID-19 at an area school.

According to a Facebook post made on Sunday, January 17th, the district was informed of a new COVID-19 case at Bluff Elementary School. The post, written by Assistant Superintendent Donna Magoon, states that the district is currently working on conducting contact tracing. They will be reaching out to families who may have come into contact with the infected individual.

The school district is currently operating under a remote learning model. A post on the SAU #6 website indicates that remote learning district-wide has been extended until at least February 1st, due in large part to the spike in COVID-19 cases in the area.

On Wednesday, January 27th, the Claremont School Board will be meeting to discuss and review options for the return of students to each school and grade level. Also discussed will be the possible return of athletics at both Stevens High School and Claremont Middle School. 

A Cavendish, Vermont man has been arrested on multiple charges following a family fight, reports the Vermont State Police-Westminster Barracks.

According to a press release, troopers responded to a reported family fight at a residence on Cavendish’s Senna Road on Saturday, January 16th, at approximately 9:30 PM. An investigation uncovered that Patrick Harkins, 44, had assaulted multiple family members before operating his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Harkins was apprehended and transported to the Westminster State Police Barracks to be processed.

He has been charged with DUI #2, Domestic Assault, Reckless Endangerment, and Cruelty to a Child.

The court ordered conditions of release, and for him to appear in VT Superior Court Windsor County Criminal Division on January 18th to answer to the aforementioned charges. He was later housed at the Southern State Correctional Facility.

Dartmouth College in Hanover will be going smoke-free on March 18th, reports the Associated Press.

According to the report, on March 18th a new policy will go into effect which will ban the use of tobacco or nicotine products by faculty, staff, students, and visitors on any property run, owned, or occupied by Dartmouth College.

This will reportedly include; all indoor and outdoor public and private spaces, parking lots, Dartmouth-owned vehicles, fraternities, sororities, and along any public streets or sidewalks within 20 feet of a Dartmouth building.

Exceptions for religious or cultural observances may be granted. Products like patches or nicotine gum for the purpose of quitting smoking will be permitted.

Dartmouth will reportedly being offering several tobacco-cessation programs and resources. 

A Vermont State Police-Westminster Barracks investigation into a January 1st, 2021 motor vehicle accident has led to an arrest warrant being issued for a Massachusetts man.

According to a press release, an investigation into the January 1st incident discovered that after the initial collision, 25-year-old Kyle Uhlman of Framingham, MA exited his vehicle with a machete. He then approached the tractor trailer truck that he had crashed into, which was driven by Claremont, New Hampshire’s Roger Demar, 52. Then, he threatened Demar with the machete while walking in and out of the roadway, prior to being struck by a box truck passing by. The box truck fled the scene. Uhlman remains hospitalized at Lebanon, NH’s Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

The investigation also uncovered that the 2004 Ford Econoline, being operated by Uhlman, was stolen from a friend in MA. Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Uhlman on the following charges; Suspicion of Aggravated Assault, Negligent Operation, Disorderly Conduct, and Aggravated Operation Without Owner’s Consent. His arraignment will be scheduled when his medical condition improves.

Troopers from the VSP are still seeking information about the box truck, and hope to identify the driver. If you have information pertaining to the whereabouts of the box truck pictured, please contact the VSP at 802-722-4600. 

Vermont officials are warning citizens of a new telephone scam.

According to a Facebook post from Green Mountain Power, customers have been reporting that an individual is calling homes, threatening to shut off the call recipient’s power unless a bill is paid immediately. Green Mountain Power states that this is a scam.

Individuals who receive phone calls demanding personal information should hang up immediately.

Scam calls can be reported to the VT Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program by calling 800-649-2424, or online at https://ago.vermont.gov/cap/. 

According to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, hunters statewide harvested a record number of black bears in 2020.

Reportedly, preliminary numbers state that hunters brought in 914 black bears during the two-part early and late seasons.

A majority of bears harvested came during the early season, 823, versus the late season where 91 were. This is said to be largely due to the fact that deer season overlaps with VT’s late bear season. Participation in the early season also saw a large increase, with 13,866 hunters purchasing a $5 early season bear tag.

2019 held the previous record, with a total of 750 bears being harvested. 

The Newport School District, SAU #43, has announced a positive COVID-19 case at Richards Elementary School.

In a post on the district’s Facebook page, Superintendent Brendan Minnihan announced the positive case. In doing so, he also reported that Richards School will be moving to remote learning for Thursday, January 14th.

Due to a professional development day on Friday, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, this is currently the only remote learning date announced.

Newport Middle High School will remain open to in-school learning on Thursday. 

In a letter sent home to families, Sau #6 has announced the confirmation of six COVID-19 cases in the Claremont School District.

According to the letter, three cases come from Claremont Preschool Center, two come from Stevens High School, and one case was confirmed at Claremont Middle School.

The letter states that the case at Claremont Middle School is the same case families were notified of on January 11th, and that all individuals who were exposed to the infected individual have been contacted.

The two COVID-19 cases stemming from Stevens High School occurred in individuals who did not attend school during their infectious period, meaning no contact tracing will be necessary. The names of the infected students have been given to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services for out-of-school contact tracing.

On Tuesday night, SAU #6 worked to contact staff and families that were exposed to the infected student, with that work continuing into Wednesday morning. NH DHHS will be contacting these individuals to provide information on how to self-quarantine, while also directing them to get tested for the virus.

Students in the district are currently learning from home, fully remote.

An investigation at Lebanon’s Hilton Garden Inn has led to three arrests for heroin possession, reports the Lebanon Police Department.

According to a press release, the Lebanon Police Patrol and Detectives Unit, in conjunction with the New Hampshire Probation and Parole, conducted an investigation of the aforementioned hotel on Tuesday, January 12th.

Following the investigation, a search warrant for the hotel room was obtained, leading to the arrest of three individuals who were in possession of heroin. They have been identified as; 26-year-old Jayde Smith of Springfield, Vermont, 46-year-old Norman Bevins of Lebanon, and 49-year-old Eric Therrien of White River Junction, VT.

Smith and Therrien were each arrested on Possession of Heroin, a class B Felony. They were released on Personal Recognizance Bail and will be arraigned on February 1st at the Grafton County Superior Court.

Bevins was also arrested for Possession of Heroin, a class B Felony. Due to him being on probation, he was held at the Grafton County House of Corrections on a probation hold.