WNTK Local News

One of two Wednesday school bus crashes in Hanover results in death of driver, reports MyChamplainValley.com.

According to police, the first bus crash occurred when the driver had a medical emergency, resulting in the bus veering into the opposite lane and hitting the guardrail.

The driver, Heather Billingham, 44, of Canaan, was transported to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, where she later passed.

In the second crash, around a dozen students were transferred to a separate bus, which then collided with a car trying to turn around after being stuck in traffic near the crash site.

There were no injuries reported from this second accident. 

The New Hampshire State Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing Keene man, reports 7 News Boston.

Jonathan Amerault, 25, of Keene, was reported missing on Monday morning after not arriving for his job in Jaffrey. According to family and friends, he has not been heard from since Saturday night.

Amerault is described as standing approximately six feet tall and weighing around 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes, and believed to be traveling in a 2016 Subaru Impreza with a NH license plate.

At this time, Keene and Jaffrey Police are assisting in the investigation.

If you have any information as to his whereabouts, please contact the NH State Police at 603-223-8494. 

A “red flag warning” has been issued by fire officials across New Hampshire, reports WCAX.

On Tuesday, the decision was made to issue the “red flag warning”, due to the extremely dry conditions statewide.

Due to this, many cities and towns have issued burn bans, which include small campfires. Fire officials have stated that with the wind, even small fires can spread quickly.

The current seven day forecast for the region does not indicate any significant amount of rain is oncoming. 

The Vermont National Guard’s 15th Civil Support Team conducted multiple training exercises Monday in Barre, reports WCAX.

The exercises, conducted near the Barre Auditorium, began in the morning and were scheduled to last until late in the afternoon. These training drills included; building monitoring, building and school searches, and scanning for biological, chemical, and nuclear elements.

According to the report, the 15th Civil Support Team assists local civilian authorities during the actual or potential use of weapons of mass destruction and all other hazards. 

Vermont state officials have declared September 23rd as Alexander Twilight Day statewide, reports NBC 5.

Twilight became the first Black American to graduate college in the United States in 1823 when he earned his degree at Middlebury College.

After graduating college, Twilight went on to become a teacher, principal, the first POC state legislator, and a pastor.

September 23, 2020 will mark the 225th anniversary of his birth, and will henceforth be celebrated as Alexander Twilight Day.

A ceremony was held at the Stone House Museum in Brownignton, Twilight’s former home, that kick started the beginning of a four-day celebration.

A small plane made a rocky landing at an airport in Gilford, New Hampshire Sunday afternoon, reports WMUR.

Officials are reporting that a small aircraft landed in the grass off Laconia Municipal Airport’s runway at approximately 2:20 PM on Sunday.

According to Gilford Fire Chief Capt. Mike Bloom, the four-seat plane was carrying a pilot and one passenger, and both escaped the situation unscathed.

The FAA will be notified of the incident, and an investigation could be forthcoming. 

Vermont Governor Phil Scott has given hotels and restaurants the green light to expand operations and allow more customers, reports vpr.

On Friday, Scott cited the “low-relevance” of COVID-19 in VT as reasons why he was easing restrictions on hotels and restaurants statewide. As of now, hotels can begin renting all their rooms as they would have pre-pandemic.

Also, restaurants can resume bar seating, as long as there is a minimum of six feet of distance between customers, and a lexian barrier between customer and staff.

Along with these measures, Scott states that his administration is launching a new program to assist businesses in finding ways to traverse the ongoing pandemic. 

Authorities have opened a criminal inquest into the disappearance of a Barre, Vermont man, reports WCAX.

Ralph “Rizz” Jean-Marie has been missing since April 13th. At the time of his disappearance, he did not have his glasses, prescription medications, or wallet on his person.

According to police, they have classified his disappearance as suspicious and they believe he may have been the victim of foul play.

On Tuesday, Washington County State’s Attorney Rory Thibault announced that his office had opened a criminal inquest last month, which includes the issuing of several subpoenas to help the development of evidence. Witnesses will be called to testify under oath before a judge in closed proceedings.

This announcement follows an event last weekend where several of Jean-Marie’s family members gathered in front of Barre City Hall to demand justice. 

The Vermont House of Representatives has voted to override Governor Phil Scott’s veto of the Global Warming Solutions Act, reports WCAX.

The bill, which would set strict greenhouse gas reduction goals until 2050, was vetoed by Scott earlier this week. If VT were to fail to meet these goals, they could be sued by Vermonters. The bill would also create a climate board that will draw up policies on how to reduce emissions.

Lawmakers voted 103 to 47 to reverse Scott’s veto. According to lawmakers, the bill would be a big step in the state’s efforts to slow climate change.

Many expect the Senate to follow suit and override the veto next week. 

A member of the US Air Force from New Hampshire has died following a non-combat incident in Kuwait, reports the Associated Press.

According to the US Department of Defense, Staff Sergeant Ronald Ouellette, 23, of Merrimack perished on Monday. He was assigned to the 42nd Aerial Port Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts.

He was reportedly in an ATV accident at the Ali Al Salem Air Base, and succumbed to his non-combat injuries after the incident. The incident is still currently under investigation.

US Senator Maggie Hassan said of Ouellette in a statement that he, “represented the best our state has to offer.”