Craftsbury

CRAFTSBURY — Police are looking for a 28-year-old Craftsbury man, who is facing numerous charges, including sexual assault.

On Saturday morning, police responded to a 911 hangup call from a residence in Craftsbury. They met with a victim who reported they had been assaulted by Nicholas Hill, with whom they shared a relationship of a domestic nature.

Police say Hill had fled just prior to police arrival in a vehicle.

A statement issued by Trooper Daniel Lynch reads:

“Subsequent investigation revealed Hill had committed the offenses of sexual assault, domestic assault, unlawful restraint/2nd deg, and aggravated D/C upon the victim at the residence around the time the call was received, also interfering with access to emergency services by taking the phone as the victim attempted to call 911.”

Police say he was also found to have operated a vehicle while his license was criminally suspended as he fled the residence.

At this time, Hill is wanted by State Police. A felony warrant for his arrest has been issued by Judge Robert Bent.

Police say anyone with information regarding Hill’s whereabouts should not approach him and is encouraged to contact police at (802) 334-8881.

CRAFTSBURY — A 27-year-old man from Walcott was taken to the hospital after a motorcycle accident in Craftsbury on Friday.

At around 10:00 a.m. emergency workers were notified of the crash, which took place on VT Route 14.

The operator was identified as Evan Lloyd.

Police say Lloyd was headed north when his motorcycle, a 2016 Harley-Davidson, experienced head shake after traveling over several groves and bumps in the roadway.

As a result, Lloyd was ejected off the motorcycle.

He was wearing a helmet but was transported to the hospital with what police describe as non-life threatening injuries.

CRAFTSBURY — Police are investigating a burglary that took place in Craftsbury over the weekend, where over 100 gallons of maple syrup was stolen.

The burglary took place at 921 Guy Lot Road.

Authorities say the incident occurred sometime between Saturday afternoon, and Monday morning.

The syrup belonged to Paul Ryan and Marvin Ryan.

Police say it appears that some of the syrup was taken, and some dumped on the ground.

They are asking anyone with information to contact Lyle Decker with the Vermont State Police at 802-748-3111.

CRAFTSBURY — A 91-year-old Craftsbury man has died at Copley Hospital following a head-on collision that took place last Thursday.

Police say the crash happened on July 16, at around 5:15 p.m. in Craftsbury.

The accident report indicates that Addison Merrick, 91, of Craftsbury, was traveling north on Route 14, and Scott Smith, 57, of Hardwick, was traveling south on Route 14.

Merrick was attempting to turn left on Wild Branch Road, and collided head-on with Smith.

Merrick was transported to Copley Hospital for his injuries.

Police say he succumbed to those injuries on Tuesday.

CRAFTSBURY COMMON — Building on the growing interest of veterans in farming at a time when the Department of Labor reports that the nation’s farmers are nearing retirement with an average age of 56, Sterling College has announced the creation of the Veteran College-to-Farm Program.

Sterling was among the first institutions in the United States to focus on sustainable practices in agriculture. Starting this fall, veterans that complete a degree in Sustainable Agriculture or Sustainable Food Systems at the Vermont college will receive a $10,000 grant to launch a farm or food business.

“We are proud to launch this first-of-its-kind program and enlist veterans in furthering a more sustainable future for farming,” said Sterling College President Matthew Derr. “With these grants, Sterling will help start the post-service careers of veterans who will redesign the nation’s food system into one based in environmental stewardship that is more just, healthy, and doesn’t exacerbate climate change.”

Eligibility to join the first cohort is limited to veterans who are admitted and enroll at Sterling College for September 2015. Assistance with post-graduation careers in food entrepreneurship will be augmented by continued support from the Center for an Agricultural Economy and Yankee Farm Credit.

The Center for an Agricultural Economy, based in Hardwick, will offer business and technical services for farm and food businesses started by veterans. Through its multi-use shared food business incubator, the Vermont Food Venture Center, veterans will have access to food safety training and regulatory assistance, industrial production kitchens, and specialized food business advising, such as marketing, nutritional labeling, and more.

“With our shared-use food hub facility, we’ve worked with over 200 specialty food and farm products in the past four years,” said Sarah Waring, Executive Director of the Center for an Agricultural Economy. “The range of services can be tailored to meet the needs of each veteran’s specific enterprise. With this new program, we’re thrilled to partner with Sterling to provide support as the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs is fostered in Vermont and beyond.”

In collaboration with Sterling’s partners at Yankee Farm Credit’s Farm Start program, each veteran who meets the criteria of the program will also be provided with access to business and finance planning consulting and management development programs. Additionally, based on creditworthiness, qualified participants will be eligible for the FarmStart program which includes up to a $50,000 working capital investment, a personal Farm Start advisor, and a written business plan.

“Yankee Farm Credit is enthusiastic to collaborate in the launch of the Veteran College-to-Farm Program at Sterling,” said George Putnam, President and CEO of Yankee Farm Credit. “We are proud to work with America’s farmer veterans and look forward to this partnership to help support the transition from service to college and then to launching farm businesses where veterans will continue to serve their neighbors and communities.”

This new program will enroll five students for September 2015. Priority will be given to those who apply by July 15, 2015.

CRAFTSBURY — Sodexo, a leader in providing integrated facilities management and food service operations, recently announced the hiring of Anne Rowell of Craftsbury, as the director of its “Vermont First” local food initiative.

Rowell is a Vermont native, Middlebury College graduate and local food advocate. She will lead Sodexo’s program to help grow the local food economy and to supply consumers with more locally sourced food.

Rowell comes to Sodexo from her job as program manager of the Center for an Agricultural Economy in Hardwick, where she developed partnerships with private markets, institutions, farmers, and charitable food networks. While in college, she interned for Vermont Natural Coatings and Vermont Soy, both in Hardwick, and in the Washington, D.C. office of Senator Patrick Leahy.

“I have done this work on a micro-scale, and I am excited to help tap into the more than 7,000 local farms in Vermont that have annual sales of $673 million annually,” Rowell said. “With Sodexo’s support, farmers who don’t currently sell wholesale can make the infrastructure changes to do so. Vermont First will create jobs and expand markets.”

Rowell, who graduated magna cum laude from Middlebury, serves as the secretary of the Craftsbury Village Improvement Society, and is a member of the Town Planning Commission. She is a cellist in the Porter Brook Trio, and a volunteer stage manager of the Craftsbury Players summer music festival.

Sodexo, which serves approximately 34,000 institutional and corporate meals in Vermont daily, launched its “Vermont First” initiative in September. In announcing the venture, Phil Harty, Regional VP of Campus Services for Sodexo, committed the company to an annual summit on local food economics, to the training of providers, distributors and others, and to offering technical expertise in quality control to bring more local food into the supply chain.

“We want to be the leader in driving local food procurement, and Annie’s hiring is our first step in making that leadership a reality,” said Harty. “Her charge is to use the passion, expertise and market power of Sodexo to grow Vermont’s local food system in partnership with those who have been at this for many years.”

Chuck Ross, Vermont’s Secretary of Agriculture, Food & Markets, previously hailed “Vermont First” as benefiting farm sustainability, job creation, access to fresh local food, and our “agricultural literacy of understanding where our food comes from.”

CRAFTSBURY — A 48-year-old man from Craftsbury was the victim of an assault and robbery on Tuesday night. Police are reporting that at 8:30 p.m., they responded to the incident that took place at the victim’s home, located at 47 East Craftsbury Road.

Richard Gutzmann informed police that two subjects had stopped at his residence asking him for assistance, explaining that they were having trouble with their vehicle.

As Gutzmann turned for the telephone the subjects grabbed him, sprayed his face with some sort of mace or pepper spray, and assaulted him with a baseball bat. 

The subjects reportedly stole an undisclosed amount of money from Guzmann’s wallet before fleeing the scene in a vehicle of unknown description. 

The suspects are described as one Caucasian male approximately 6 foot tall with dark colored hair, dressed in dark clothing with a hood pulled tightly over his head. The other was described as a short male or female dressed in dark clothing and wearing a mask.

Gutzmann was transported to Copley Hospital by Hardwick Rescue Ambulance Service to be treated for his injuries.

State Police Troopers and detectives are continuing the investigation.  Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Vermont State Police Derby Barracks at 802-334-8881.

NEWPORT — The Northeast Kingdom Farm-to-School Conference is taking place on November 5, in Craftsbury. The conference will be exploring ways Farm to School Programs can celebrate, grow, and thrive. The conference is ideal for preschool – 12 educators, food service professionals, Farm to School Coordinators, administrators, farmers, parents, and students.

The conference is an excellent opportunity to network, ask questions and get involved in the farm-to-school network. The day will begin with presentations from inspiring individuals currently involved in the farm-to-school movement, workshops focused on engaging schools in farm-to-school practices, and break-out sessions that include farm field trips. Certificates available for professional development.

The day includes great workshops on:

Farm & Food Curriculum Connections (K-12), Improving and funding school meals, Best practices for school composting, Using school gardens as outdoor classrooms.

Harvest of the Month: Taste tests and beyond, Harvest Lessons, Hands-on field trips to local FTS sites and much, much more.

The early bird rate (until Oct. 24) is $20 half-day and $30 full day. The full price rate is $30 half-day and $40 full day. There is a special reduced rate for Food Service Staff and Farmers. The registration fee includes a delicious, local lunch prepared by Sterling College.

Registration is now open so please visit their website, www.greenmountainfarmtoschool.org to register.

The 2014 Conference is presented by Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Sterling College, and Vermont Community Foundation.

Wednesday, November 5th 2014
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sterling College
Craftsbury, Vermont

CRAFTSBURY — Parts of Orleans county had been under a tornado warning early Saturday morning, after meteorologists had detected some rotation in the clouds. Some had even believed that we got hit with a surprise tornado after reports of damage started coming in.

Near the intersection of Collinsville and Wild Branch Road in Craftsbury, a roof was torn off of a barn, bewteen six to ten pine trees were uprooted, and a pole was driven into the roof of a shed, as shown in the picture above.

One report from a turkey hunter who was out at around 4 a.m., said he had heard the sounds of a tornado.

By Saturday afternoon meteorologists from the National Weather Service were in Craftsbury inspecting wind damage.

They are saying that the incident early Saturday morning was not a tornado, but a microburst. The damage was isolated and confined mostly in this one area of Craftsbury.

A microburst is usually less than 2 1/2 miles wide, with peak winds lasting less than 5 minutes. They cause dangerous horizontal and vertical wind shears. The National Weather Service estimates maximum wind speed from Saturday’s incident to be around 75 miles per hour.

There were no injuries from the incident.