WNTK Local News

Collections from town traffic tickets dropped this spring, reports NBC 5.

The data comes from a Vermont Judiciary report, which states that from March to April this year, collections dropped from $147,059.19 to $65, 594.10. Collections were even lower in May, at just $40, 832.33, but they did jump up in June, to $82,312.41.  The June total is still approximately $32,000 less than in 2019.

According to Sheriff Michael Chamberlain of the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department, “The officer will issue a ticket to the violator, they send the ticket in, they pay the fine and then there is a percentage that goes to the state and then the other part of it goes back to the town.”

The loss of fine collections could potentially impact funding statewide. 

The state of New Hampshire is launching a campaign that encourages residents to wear masks to slow the spread of COVID-19, reports WMUR.

The campaign is being launched in response to the state’s 400th COVID-19 related death, which was reported Tuesday. The two deaths that brought the state to this total were connected to long-term care facilities. 16 new cases were also announced on Tuesday.

Governor Chris Sununu stated that the public service announcements will be targeted at citiznes 15-40 years in age.

The “Don’t Go Viral” PSA’s are being targeted at the age group that has been found to be less likely to wear masks. 

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has signed a bill making it illegal for adults in the NH school system to have sexual relationships with students, reports WMUR.

The bill was reportedly filed in response to a former Concord High School teacher’s arrest for sexually assaulting a student. The bill was written by a Republican State Representative from Derry, Katherine Prudhomme-O’Brien. The bill reportedly was stalled for months after it reached the Senate.

Sununu states that he pushed not to let another school year pass without signing the bill into law. “It’s one of those pieces of legislation you would assume would already be there, right?,” said Sununu. “That kids would be protected from teachers or other adults taking advantage of them in that position of authority in a school, of course, but we had nothing on the books.”

Police are searching for a missing Springfield, Vermont man, reports WCAX.

Robert Redfield has been missing since Saturday, when he left home in his car without his cell phone, and without leaving a note.

In 2019, Redfield received a lung transplant that reportedly “gave him a new lease on life.” However, his wife has stated that recovery has been harder than expected. Alysia Redfield stated, “There is a lot of struggle that goes with that, there is that depression. You have survived that but now what?” According to doctors, the lung transplant added decades to his life, but only if his medicine is taken daily. He left those at home prior to leaving.

The Springfield Police Department confirmed that they are actively searching for him, but gave no further details. They ask that anyone with information regarding his whereabouts contact the station. 

An early morning crash in Concord on Sunday has proved fatal for one individual, reports WMUR.

New Hampshire State Police received a report of debris on I-93 South at approximately 5:30 AM Sunday morning. Upon arrival, state troopers found a 2018 Hyundai Elantra at the bottom of an embankment, resting against trees.

The driver, 33-year-old Elisabeth Philbrick of Concord, was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman’s 5-year-old son, who was also in the vehicle, was found uninjured.

According to police, “excessive and unreasonable speed” was a key factor in the accident, but the crash remains under investigation.

No other cars were involved. 

A longtime Vermont radio personality passed Wednesday following a motorcycle accident, reports WCAX.

According to police, at approximately 6:30 PM on Wednesday, the 46-year-old Amy McGovern went off the road in Georgia, VT and hit a street sign. She passed at the scene.

McGovern worked for various radio stations across VT, most famously WKOL and WOKO, where she went by the name Amy Lynn. She grew up in St. Albans.

At this time, funeral arrangements are pending. 

On Thursday, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed a criminal justice reform bill which bans choke-holds by police officers and requires them to report misconduct, reports WMUR.

He stated that the bill moves NH in the “right direction” towards ensuring transparency.

The bill also hopes to make it easier to detain dangerous defendants through bail reform.

The action also adds a bail commissioner to the Commission on Pre-Trial Detention, while providing immunity from arrest or prosecution for some alcoholic beverage infractions.

Also required under the new legislation are psychological screenings for law enforcement trainees prior to becoming officers.

According to Sununu, the bill is comprehensive but still leaves work to be done.  

Vermont is joining 15 other US states and Washington, D.C. in an initiative to electrify buses and trucks, reports NBC 5.

On Tuesday, Governor Phil Scott stated that the agreement, which calls for all new medium and heavy duty vehicle sales to be zero emission by 2050, is an important step towards increasing the number of electric vehicles in the state.

According to the report, transportation currently accounts for 44% of VT’s greenhouse gas emissions. The vehicles included in this agreement include; box trucks, delivery trucks, large pick-up trucks/vans, long-haul delivery trucks, and school/transit buses.

This initiative builds off a 2013 commitment from the state to participate in the Zero Emission Vehicle Task Force, which hopes to electrify light-duty vehicles. 

An early morning fire in Hartford, Vermont has left a large building burnt to the ground, reports NBC 5.

According to reports, smoke could still be seen billowing from the Connecticut Valley Auto Auction location in Hartford for hours after the structure fire was reported.

Route 14 was limited to single lane traffic while the fire was being fought, but was reopened to traffic by 8 AM. Officials were still on-site for several hours after the flames had been extinguished.

At this time, the cause of the fire has not been reported, but lightning in the area could have started the fire. 

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu revealed the state’s guidelines for re-opening schools for the year, reports WMUR.

According to Sununu, the recommendations he has made allows each individual school district to make their own decisions on how to reopen their classrooms. He stated, “Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, this is a guide that values local control and helps each school district make the best decision for their students and teachers.”

At this time, masks will not be required for students when seated in the classroom, but are recommended in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained. Teachers and staff are encouraged to wear masks, as well as outside visitors to the school.

The Governor’s guidance also calls for daily COVID-19 symptom checks for all students, staff, teachers, and visitors prior to them entering the building. Desks should be arranged in a way that limits contact.

The guidance asks districts to develop plans for in-person instruction as well as remote learning for those that do not feel safe to return to school. Transportation plans will be made with social distancing guidelines in mind.

According to health officials, the guidelines were drafted with both the students’ and staffs’ safety in mind.