WNTK Local News

New Hampshire’s “stay-at-home” order will be allowed to expire, reports CBS Boston.

Governor Chris Sununu has announced that the “stay-at-home” order will be lifted as of 11:59 PM on Monday, allowing gatherings of more than 10 people to resume, and many businesses to re-open.

On June 15, amateur sports will move into Phase Two of their re-opening plan, allowing indoor athletic facilities to re-open. Gyms will now be able to permit normal activities, at 50% capacity. Bowling alleys will also be allowed to open. Amusement parks in the state will open, under safety guidelines and precautions. Tourist trains, motorcycle rides, and race tracks will return, with social distancing guidelines in place. Businesses such as charitable gaming facilities, funeral homes, and libraries will open as well.

As of now, indoor moving theaters can open on June 29th. 

Vermont’s Southern State Correctional Facility has been declared COVID-19 free, reports WCAX.

On Monday, the health department tested 336 inmates and 181 staff members at the facility in Springfield. There were no positive tests. The facility is the sixth and final facility in the state to receive COVID-19 testing.

The only prison in VT where there have been COVID-19 cases recorded since the virus was first detected among the population is the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans. 

A Bethel, Vermont woman was killed in a motor vehicle accident Tuesday night, reports WCAX.

At approximately 5:40 PM, 24-year-old Jenna Townsend was driving on Route 12, near Spring Hollow Road, when she crashed into a construction zone, hitting the abutment for a new bridge. She passed from her injuries.

According to police, Townsend was involved in another crash on Route 12, prior to the fatal accident, and that speed appears to have been a factor. 

The Vermont House has approved a preliminary bill which would allow mail-in voting in the fall, reports WCAX.

On Wednesday, the House followed the Senate’s lead by approving the bill that will allow mail-in voting. This goes against Governor Phil Scott’s wishes, as he hopes to take a more incremental approach, starting with this August’s primary. According to officials, voting by mail will help protect voters and poll workers from potentially spreading COVID-19 at the polls.

The Secretary of State’s office has stated that the complex process will need to begin immediately. Although Scott thinks an incremental approach is the better plan, he has repeatedly said he supports mail-in voting and will allow the bill to become law.

VT lawmakers will take a final vote on Friday. 

A New Hampshire man, who appeared in WMUR’s “Fugitive of the Week” and on the nationwide television program Live PD: Wanted, was apprehended last night, reports Info NH.

Douglas Carl Smith Jr., 31, was tracked down by law enforcement in West Charlestown, Vermont. Shortly before 6 PM, members of the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force located Smith outside of a residence on Hudson Road, where he had been staying with friends and using an alias. Smith attempted to evade police once he realized he was being arrested, but he was subdued by a Taser and taken in without further incident.

He was being sought on multiple warrants outside of NH including, “aggravated felonious sexual assault, 2nd-degree assault; bail violations on underlying offenses for being a felon in possession of a dangerous weapon & reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon; failing to register as a sex offender, and lastly voting fraud.”

Upon his arrest, he was given an additional fraud charge in VT by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department.

Eight new COVID-19 related deaths were announced Tuesday in New Hampshire, reports WMUR.

Six of the deaths are occurred in long-term care facilities within the state. According to State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan, there have been 294 COVID-19 related deaths since the start of the pandemic. Chan also announced 53 new cases, bringing the state’s total to 5,132.

Also reported were four new hospitalizations stemming from the coronavirus, which brings the state’s total to 496. NH has been averaging 1,800 tests per day, with around 3% coming back positive.

Governor Chris Sununu is still expecting a second round to come in late summer or early fall, and is encouraging citizens to continue following social distancing guidelines. 

According to WCAX, a section of Interstate 91 will be shut down in both directions on Wednesday night.

The closure allows the Vermont Agency of Transportation crews to complete demolition of the Depot Road bridge in Hartland, safely. Starting at 8 PM on Wednesday, the northbound and southbound lanes will be closed from Exit 9 to Exit 10. Traffic will be detoured onto Route 5.

As of now, the interstate should be re-opened on Thursday morning, although additional shutdown may be required. 

The city of Claremont is looking to continue a plan to take eight rundown properties from an absentee landlord, reports the Union Leader.

According to Claremont City Manager, Twin State Properties owes the city over $271,000 on eight buildings. According to Morris, most are crumbling or are in dire need of work. Last year, Morris went to the city council with the idea to take properties from the absentee landlord through the tax deeding process, but the council was hesitant because of the potential for the city to incur liabilities due to the state of the buildings. Morris states that the buildings have continued to deteriorate in the past year, and that the city has received no money from Twin State Properties.

The company’s owner, Frank Sargent, reportedly owes money to multiple entities on multiple properties. He currently owes the IRS close to $70,000 and has an IRS lien on his properties. The properties are close to $2 million in liens, city taxes included. According to city records, the most recent sales price on the buildings total $226,200.

Morris is looking to take the properties off the market so they can be put to good use generating property tax revenue for Claremont. 

A man was killed traveling along Route 3 in Hooksett this past weekend, reports WMUR.

At approximately 10:20 AM on Saturday morning, a 62-year-old man lost control of his vehicle near 1348 Hooksett Road. His Chevrolet Aveo collided with a GMC Yukon in the opposite lane. He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the report, the 47-year-old woman driving the Yukon sustained minor injuries and was treated at a nearby medical facility.

The crash is still under investigation. 

New Hampshire restaurants will resume full capacity dining, and wedding venues are set to re-open on June 15th, reports WCAX.

As of the aforementioned date, restaurants can allow indoor-dining at full capacity, with social distancing. On the same date, wedding venues will re-open, although at 50% capacity. Events held at these weddings are expected to use social distancing guidelines.

Governor Chris Sununu is expected to allow the stay-at-home order to expire on this date as well.