WNTK Local News

According to the latest data from the Vermont Department of Health, the state has hit a new high for most COVID-19 cases reported in a single day.

On Wednesday, health officials reported 72 new COVID-19 cases in VT, which marks the state’s highest single-day increase in cases since counting began in March. There have now been 2,535 total cases in VT.

As of today, 59 deaths have been linked to the virus, which makes up for 2.3% of all cases. There are 14 VT residents in hospital, with six of them being in Intensive Care Units (ICU).

So far, 1,947, or 76.8%, people have recovered from the coronavirus. 

A Royalton, Vermont man has been charged with DUI and Cruelty to a Child following an incident Tuesday night in Sharon.

According to a VT State Police press release, troopers were informed of a dispute involving 34-year-old Norman Corliss at approximately 9 PM on Tuesday, November 10th. The incident took place at 132 VT Route 132 in Sharon.

Upon arrival, authorities determined that Corliss had driven his vehicle to the location with a juvenile child(ren) inside. Troopers found that Corliss was under the influence of alcohol and he was arrested for DUI. He was later processed and released at the Royalton VSP Barracks.

He is scheduled to appear in Windsor County Superior Court on December 1st at 1:30 PM. 

A Monday afternoon fire proved fatal in Henniker, New Hampshire, reports WMUR.

According to the report, a neighbor reported the blaze at 41 Ryan Road just before 5 PM. While crews were able to quickly extinguish the flame, an adult and one child inside the home were unable to escape and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Deputy State Fire Marshal Keith Rodenhiser stated, “One of the working theories that the investigative team is looking at right now is that a candle may have caused this fire.”

The two deceased individuals were the only people inside the home at the time of the fire.

Additional details will reportedly be released on Wednesday upon the completion of the autopsies. 

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is reporting that one dirt bike rider has been killed, with another seriously injured, following a collision in Canterbury.

According to witnesses at the scene, a 20-year-old man and a 21-year-old man were traveling in opposite directions when they collided on Sunday. Two family members attempted to give first aid, while another called 911. The two riders were both wearing protective equipment, which included helmets and eye protection.

One of the victims died at the scene, while the other was transported to a local medical facility with life-threatening injuries.

The crash remains under investigation, but authorities believe speed and the riders’ inattention are to blame. The drivers’ identities were not released. 

A post from the SAU 6 Facebook page has announced a positive COVID-19 case at Stevens High School in Claremont, New Hampshire.

According to the post, the case, announced on Monday, November 9th, holds no relation to the positive test confirmed at Disnard Elementary School on Saturday.

Reportedly, the student infected did not come into close contact with any students or staff during their infectious period, which SAU 6 attributes to their stringent COVID-19 protocols. Although no students or staff came into contact with the individual on school grounds, it is possible they could have outside of school, and those individuals will be contacted by the Department of Health and Human Services once contact tracing is conducted. If you are contacted, the district asks you to self-quarantine, and contact the school nurse.

The report goes on to state that whenever they are informed of a positive case, additional infection is conducted in the areas where the infected individual may have been. This disinfection has been performed, and due to this, Stevens High will remain open. 

The Hartland, Vermont man who was wanted in connection to a home invasion last week has turned himself in.

According to a press release from the VT State Police, the incident occurred at approximately 7 AM last Thursday at a home in North Hartland. Two men forcibly entered the home of two female acquaintances, physically assaulted them, stole cash, and then fled the scene. The victims suffered minor injuries.

At approximately 3:30 PM, 33-year-old Aaron Gobin of Hartland was located in Wilder and taken into custody on suspicion of assault and robbery, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, burglary, unlawful mischief, and unlawful trespass.

At that time, his accomplice, 29-year-old Colby Bowen of Hartland was still at-large. According to WCAX, Bowen has now turned himself into authorities. 

The Vermont State Police – Westminster Barracks are reporting that the victim of a hit-and-run accident about two weeks ago has died.

On October 17th, troopers received a report of a semi-unconscious woman lying in the roadway on Stratton Arlington Road  in West Wardsboro, VT at approximately 8 PM. The victim, 65-year-old Deborah Ayers, was airlifted by DHART to the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

On Thursday, November 5th, the Westminster Barracks announced that Ayers had succumbed to her injuries she suffered in the accident. At this time, the driver of the vehicle that struck her is still at large.

The VSP are asking anyone with information pertaining to the incident to call the Westminster Barracks at 802-722-4600.

In addition, investigators are asking to speak to anyone who may have traveled Stratton Arlington Road that night, anyone who may have video of the area, and people who are aware of someone with unexplained damage to their vehicle. 

The Newport, New Hampshire Fire Department have provided an update on Wednesday’s midday evacuation of Newport Middle High School.

In a press release, they report that at approximately 9 AM on Wednesday, November 5th, members of the Newport Fire Department responded to the school’s claim of a suspicious odor in the building.

Upon arrival, the building had already been evacuated of all students and staff. Fire personnel then entered the building and discovered a strong odor of vehicle exhaust inside. At this time, no life threatening levels of CO were found. The source of the smell was found to have come from a vehicle inside the automotive repair classroom in the Sugar River Valley Technical Center.

Reportedly, exhaust from the vehicle entered the hallway and then was circulated throughout the building via the ventilation system. As a precaution, students were dismissed at 11:30 AM. The school was fully ventilated and cleared by 4 PM.

According to the report, personnel set-up a mobile triage site to evaluate any students or staff experiencing symptoms. In total, 78 patients were tested at the site.

Three were taken by ambulance, and one by vehicle, to a local medical facility for non-life threatening medical issues. 

According to the Vermont Secretary of State’s office, the state recorded a record voter turnout in this year’s general election.

This news comes via a tweet from the office, which states that VT’s previous highest turnout was in 2008, when 326,822 ballots were cast. In this election, Vermonters voted overwhelmingly in favor of Democrat Barack Obama (219,262 votes) against the Republican candidate, John McCain (98,974 votes). Obama went on to win the presidency.

This year, according to the Secretary of State, over 360,000 VT residents participated in the general election, with some towns and ballots still uncounted. Approximately 260,000 of these ballots came from early voting.

According to the Associated Press, 242,805 voters cast their ballot for the Democratic candidate Joe Biden, while 112,689 voted for the incumbent, Republican Donald Trump. 

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced another 132 new COVID-19 cases in the state on Tuesday, November 3rd.

This brings the state’s total for the duration of the pandemic to 11,448 confirmed cases, with 1,450 of these still considered active. To date, 483 (4% of all cases) deaths have been linked to the outbreak, while 83% (9,515 people) of all cases have resulted in recovery.

784 NH citizens have been hospitalized due to the virus, with 41 people are still in hospital.

There are 4,750 people being monitored for COVID-19 symptoms, while 381 test results are still pending.