WNTK Local News

A family fight in the town of Reading, Vermont has led to one man being charged with Domestic Assault.

According to the VT State Police-Westminster Barracks, troopers were notified of the altercation at approximately 6:45 PM on November 30th. A preliminary investigation upon arriving at the scene found that Justin Wagner, 34, of Reading had assaulted an individual at the residence on North Puckerbrush Road.

Wagner was then detained and transported to the VSP-Westminster Barracks for processing.

He was then released and issued a citation to appear in WIndsor County Superior Court earlier today to answer to Domestic Assault charges. 

A Franklin, New Hampshire child has been found safe a day after he was reported missing, reports WMUR.

According to the report, the 11-year-old had last been seen Sunday at approximately 3:15 PM near Gile Road in Franklin. Franklin Police Chief David Goldstein states that they were first informed of the missing child at around 9 PM, when his mother called and reported that he had gone missing following a family disagreement. She told police that the 11-year-old had taken a walk down the driveway, and then disappeared.

The child was found on Monday following an effort from crews with the NH State Fish and Game, NH State Police, and several K-9 units. While the boy was not dressed for the rainy, cold conditions, he was reportedly found dry, warm, fed, and “generally OK”. 

New Hampshire health officials announced nearly 500 additional COVID-19 cases for the state on Sunday.

According to new data from the Department of Health and Human Services, Sunday saw 491 new COVID-19 infections statewide. This brings the total number of infections in NH since the beginning of the pandemic to 20,480. The recovery rate stands at 73% as 14,999 NH residents have recovered from the virus.

On Sunday, three additional deaths were linked to COVID-19, bringing the number of total deaths to 526 (3%). There have now been 839 people hospitalized due to the virus, about 4% of all cases. 146 are currently in hospital.

As of now, there are 4,955 active cases. 

An untimely death is under investigation in Bellows Falls, according to a press release from the Bellows Falls Police Department.

At approximately 12 PM on Wednesday, November 25th authorities were notified of a woman down and unresponsive at an apartment at 9 Pine Street. Upon arrival, first responders discovered an adult woman unresponsive. Emergency care was administered at the scene, however, they were ineffective and she was pronounced dead on site.

The cause of death for the victim, 67-year-old Elizabeth Schwartz, is still under investigation. Her body has been transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy.

If you, or anyone you know, have information pertaining to Schwartz’ death, please contact the Bellows Falls Police Department at 802-463-1234. 

The Associated Press is reporting that New Hampshire set a state record for voter turnout in the 2020 general election.

According to figures from the NH Secretary of State’s office, 814,499 ballots were cast by NH voters this year. This is a marked increase from the previous record of 755,850 ballots cast in the 2016 general election.

However, the percentage of registered voters who participated in the election did drop. In 2016, 3/4 of all registered voters cast a ballot, but this year that number shrank slightly to 73%. This is thought to be due to the increase in number of registered voters.

Latest figures state that 40% of NH voters are registered as undeclared to either party, 31% are registered as Democrats, and 30% consider themselves to be Republicans. 

A single-car accident in Royalton, Vermont has resulted in a DUI charge for the operator.

According to a press release from the VT State Police-Royalton Barracks, At approximately 4:40 PM on Monday, November 23rd, troopers responded to a single-car accident on Back River Road in Royalton. Upon arriving at the scene, authorities discovered that a 2003 Lincoln had driven over the roadway’s guardrail and down an embankment.

A discussion with the driver, 38-year-old Derek Noble of Rochester, led to suspicion that he was under the influence of alcohol. Noble then took the Standardized Field Sobriety Test and was arrested for DUI.

He was then transported to the Royalton VSP Barracks for processing, and was released with a citation to appear in court the VT Superior Court’s Windsor Criminal Division on December 8th at 1:30 PM. 

The Charlestown, New Hampshire Police Department have reported a fatal accident from Monday, November 23, 2020.

According to the press release, the department was notified of an accident on Bellows Falls Road at approximately 12:50 PM on Monday. Upon arriving at the scene of the accident, authorities discovered a collision between a 2000 Volvo and a tractor trailer truck.

The driver of the Volvo, 22-year-old Rebecca Higgins of Claremont, was pronounced dead at the scene. The two other occupants, two toddlers, were “properly restrained” and sustained non-life threatening injuries.

At this time, the cause of the accident is still under investigation. 

The Lebanon Police Department has issued a press release to remind citizens of the city’s Winter Parking Ban.

The ban will prohibit parking in certain areas around the city beginning on Tuesday, December 1st and ending on April 1st, between the hours of 12 AM and 6 AM.

Section A of the City of Lebanon Code 168-06 states that parking is prohibited between the aforementioned dates and times on any street or sidewalk within the city with the exception of emergency vehicles, and in the Hough Square parking lot. It also states that the Chief of Police may suspend enforcement of this section if need be.

Section B of the code states that, between the hours of 1 AM and 6 AM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the aforementioned dates no person can park in Lot A or Lot C.

And finally, Section C states that between the hours of 1 AM and 6 AM on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and the aforementioned dates, no persons can park in Lot B.

For additional information and rules, follow this link; https://lebanonnh.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1546. 

A Strafford, Vermont man has been charged with Domestic Assault following an incident on Saturday, November 21st.

Troopers from the VT State Police-Royalton Barracks responded to a residence on Lafleur Road in Strafford at approximately 12:30 PM after receiving reports of a fight. Upon investigation, it was discovered that Lawrence Welch, 26, had struck a 46-year-old family member in the face, resulting in injury.

Welch was taken into custody and transported to the Royalton VSP Barracks where he was processed and issued a citation to appear in court. He was then issued conditions of release by the court, and released to family members in Hartland.

Welch is scheduled to appear on Monday, November 23rd, in Orange County Superior Court at 12:30 PM. 

New Hampshire health officials have announced the state’s fifth case of the Jamestown Canyon Virus, and this time, it has hit locally.

According to a report from the Greenwich Times, health officials stated that the case was in an adult from Newport. On Friday, the individual was hospitalized after feeling left side weakness, unresponsiveness, and having multiple seizures.

JCV is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Currently, there have been no vaccines developed to cure it, and the only treatment is supportive care. The report states that while many of the illnesses caused by the virus are mild, moderate-to-severe central nervous system symptoms can require hospitalization, and could cause death. Early symptoms include; fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue.

In a statement, State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan commented, “Although JCV is still a rare disease, we are seeing more infections in NH, which is concerning. The risk for mosquito-transmitted infections is present from when snow melts in the spring until there is a mosquito killing frost in the fall.”