Derby

PEACHAM — The search for a missing woman from Derby ended tragically today, after police say she was found deceased.

Cecile Aubin, also known as Cecile LaClair, was located in the town of Peacham.

Police have not released much information, but say her death is not suspicious at this time.

Authorities say the cause and manner of her death is pending an autopsy.

It was reported that Aubin left a residence on Pine Hill Road in Derby sometime around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 21.

She was last seen leaving the residence in her orange Subaru Impreza.

Police say there is no more information available at this time.

DERBY — Police are looking for a woman from Derby that went missing last week.

Cecile Aubin, also known as Cecile LaClair, left a residence on Pine Hill Road in Derby sometime around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 21.

It was reported that Cecile has not reached out to any family members, which is highly unusual for this long.

She was last seen leaving the residence in her 2010 orange Subaru Impreza, with Vermont registration FTB220.

The vehicle is registered to Cecile.

She is described as a white female, 5’6″, 120 lbs, hazel eyes with black shoulder length hair.

Police are asking anyone with any information about her whereabouts or the location of her vehicle to call 802-334-8881.

DERBY — Police were called out to North Country Junior High School in Derby this afternoon after they say a juvenile made several verbal threats.

At around 12:50 p.m. Vermont State Police responded to NCUJHS.

According to a statement issued by police, they investigated the incident and found the threats made were not credible.

“Vermont State Police stress this is an isolated incident and at no point was there any threat to students or staff,” a statement issued by Sgt. Sean Selby reads.

Police say that the investigation is ongoing.

DERBY — A 35-year-old man from Newport escaped with minor injuries after rolling his vehicle on I-91 on Saturday night.

Police and emergency crews responded at around 9:00 p.m. to a report of a single-vehicle rollover crash near mile marker 171 on I-91 south, in Derby.

The driver was identified as Nathan Kemnitz.

Police say Kemnitz reported minor injuries and was transported to North Country Hospital.

According to the report he traveled off the side of the road down a slight embankment.

The vehicle rolled and landed back on four wheels.

Newport Ambulance and Derby Fire were at the scene to assist.

DERBY — A 44-year-old man from Maine escaped uninjured after rolling his vehicle in Derby on Sunday.

At around 8:50 a.m. police responded to the single-vehicle rollover on West Street.

The operator was identified as Jeffrey Andrews, of Strong, ME.

Police say he was traveling west in a 2009 Subaru Forrester at approximately 40 miles-per-hour before the incident.

Andrews failed to maintain control of his vehicle leaving the north side of the roadway crashing into boulders and rolling over into the roadway.

He was not injured, however, the vehicle was totaled.

According to the police report, the roads were slick and snow covered at the time.

EAST CHARLESTON — The NorthWoods Stewardship Center recently announce that Trevor Evans of Derby will receive this year’s George Buzzell Forest Stewardship Award.

The award is given annually to a person who has made significant contributions to sustainable forestry and education in the Northeast Kingdom.

Evans has shown an exceptional commitment to managing his own forestland in Derby since the 1980s and is an active member of many forestry organizations.

Over the years, he has been sharing his knowledge and passion for good forestry with students, landowners, and foresters.

In addition to his outstanding efforts to promote sustainable forestry, Evans was a friend and colleague of the late George Buzzell, and the two collaborated on managing his forestland.

“Evans carries the spirit and dedication that George brought to his work, and NorthWoods is honored to recognize this with the 2018 George Buzzell Forest Stewardship Award,” Sam Perron, Sustainable Forestry Coordinator at NorthWoods, said.

Evans will be presented with the award at a ceremony on February 5, 2019, at 6 p.m. at the NorthWoods Stewardship Center.

All are invited to attend.

DERBY — Police are looking for a 31-year-old fugitive considered armed and dangerous after he fled police with several children in his vehicle.

According to police, Lucas Putvain was spotted traveling on West Street in Derby when he saw a marked state police vehicle.

Putvain fled at a high rate of speed. He was last seen traveling east.

Police say they did not initiate a pursuit because of the children in the vehicle.

Putvain is wanted for an armed robbery that took place in Newport back in November, in which he and an accomplice ordered a man into a vehicle at gunpoint.

Putvain is charged with assault and robbery, unlawful restraint in the first degree, and in possession of a deadly weapon while committing a crime.

Police say he is armed and dangerous and should not be approached.

Anyone with information regarding Putvain should immediately contact the Vermont State Police.

DERBY — The Derby Walmart had an early visit from Santa when an anonymous man paid off all the layaway items in the store, several local news outlets have reported.

Walmart shopper Julie Gates told WCAX that she encountered the anonymous man in the store.

“This can’t be, who can afford to pay for [everyone’s] layaway?” she said. “And he said ‘Santa Clause can.'”

Customer Tammy Desautels also told WCAX that her items had been paid for.

“It was kind of like surreal when they said no balance due, then it was really a reality,” she said.

Walmart could not provide a total amount that the man spent. It is also unknown how many people went home with free gifts.

The man did not want to be recognized for his good deed, and the only known photo of him was taken as he was walking away.

“There were people ahead of me who were eight, nine-hundred dollar layaways,” Gates said.

Customers purchase items on layaway by handing over an initial deposit to ensure the store holds the product.

When the shopper pays the item off in full, they can take it home. The payment method allows customers to obtain a product without putting down a major sum in one sitting.

DERBY — The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) has awarded its Year of the Book grant to Derby Elementary School for this school year.

The grant provides $25,000 in literacy programming and new books, including visits and workshops with CLiF’s many Vermont authors and storytellers.

The money will also allow for free family programming, such as a community dinner with storytelling and tips for sharing stories with young kids, special literacy initiatives, new books for classrooms and the school library, as well as the local public library.

The grant will also allow ten new books for each child to choose throughout the year.

CLiF kicked off the grant on September 24, with storytelling and the first of ten book giveaways, where kids picked out their books.

The next author visit will be with John and Jennifer Churchman of the popular picture book series, Sweet Pea and Friends, about the animals on their Essex farm.

They will visit the school with their dog Laddie on November 20, beginning at 8:40 a.m.

The Year of the Book grant is designed to build a culture of literacy within a community.

Derby Elementary was one of five elementary schools in Vermont selected.

Along with creative ideas and a demonstrated commitment to improving literacy, selected schools have high percentages of low-income students and students underperforming on reading and writing assessments.

NEWPORT — There will be an opportunity to comment on the proposed opening of public trapping at the Eagle Point Wildlife Management Area in Derby.

Located on the east shore of Lake Memphremagog and bounded to the north by the US/Canada border, the Eagle Point Unit is co-managed by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department under the state’s Wildlife Management Areas program.

Acquired through a donation from Michael Dunn in 2010, the 457 acre Eagle Point Unit is proposed to be open for public trapping.

The use is a public use opportunity for both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and also continues an activity Dunn allowed on the property.

The proposed public trapping program will follow all state seasons and regulations. One exception will be to require a Special Use Permit from the refuge for conducting trapping activities.

There will be two public meetings held next week to discuss the draft Environmental Assessment for Public Trapping on the Eagle Point Unit, and take public comment.

Dates and locations for the public meetings are September 26, at the Municipal Building in Derby, and September 27, at the North Country Union High School Auditorium in Newport.

Both meetings will start at 6:30 p.m.

DERBY — Police are looking for someone they say vandalized five mailboxes in Derby with an axe.

This morning, police took a report of multiple mailboxes that were vandalized along the length of Derby Pond Road.

They say the incident occurred sometime overnight.

The mailboxes had been either knocked over or damaged with a blunt object and an axe.

Police say the suspect left evidence at the scene indicating it was likely the work of a male who may be large or tall in stature.

Initially, police were looking for the operator of a 2005-2007 Ford Focus, but the vehicle was later ruled out and is no longer of interest to the investigation.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect is encouraged to call VSP-Derby at 334-8881.

NEWBURY — Police say a 20-year-old man from Derby fatally shot himself during a traffic stop in Newbury today.

It happened at around 11:00 a.m., on U.S. Route 5 near Moore Hill Road, when a trooper initiated a stop on a vehicle having an expired inspection sticker.

The driver was identified as Austin M. Durocher.

Police say as the trooper was running the information, Durocher, who was still sitting in his vehicle, shot himself with a firearm.

“The investigation into this matter is ongoing, but all indications are that Durocher took his own life,” a statement issued by police reads.

The trooper was not injured during the incident.

U.S. Route 5 between Snake Road and Newbury Crossing was shut down temporarily while this incident was being investigated.