Derby - page 2

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.

NEWPORT – On Saturday, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended eight individuals after they illegally crossed into the United States from Canada near the North Derby Road in Newport.

According to authorities, seven of the individuals are citizens of Romania and one is a citizen of Germany.

None of the individuals had immigration documents that would allow them to legally enter or remain in the United States.

Agents transported them to the Newport Station for processing.They were then turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office for removal proceedings.

“The men and women of the United States Border Patrol work diligently to protect the border and keep our community safe,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia. “Our border security efforts and enforcement of our nation’s laws doesn’t stop on holidays, and this past Easter weekend resulted in the apprehension of several individuals attempting to enter the country illegally.”

NEWPORT — A log truck ran off the roadway on I-91 in Derby on Tuesday morning.

Traffic was down to one lane on the interstate at around 10:45 a.m. and the fully loaded log truck could be seen in the median smoking and badly damaged.

Police, along with members of the Newport City Fire Department and Ambulance arrived on scene.

The driver, identified as Pascal Rodrigue, 61, of Quebec, was transported to North Country Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Police say the tractor-trailer drifted too far to the left in the passing lane and ran off of the roadway and into the trees in the interstate median.

Members from St. Onge Excavating arrived on the scene later in the day to assist with the removal of the tractor-trailer and are assisting with the removal of the logs this morning.

There were no other vehicles involved in the crash.

DERBY — Police are hoping the public can help locate a teenager from Derby who is missing.

According to a statement issued by police, sometime after 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Allison White, 17, of Derby, left her residence on Roy Street.

She is described as being 5’2″ and weighing 154 lbs. She has brown eyes and has recently dyed her hair brown, which she had braided and pulled back.

White was last seen wearing black spandex pants, black rubber knee-high boots, and a black jacket.

Police say she has no known access to a cell phone but does have access to the internet. They say she has friends in Newport, as well as the Barre and South Burlington area.

Anyone with any information about this incident or who may have seen White is asked to call the Vermont State Police at 802-334-8881.

DERBY — On Saturday, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Newport station say they arrested a man and woman, both citizens of Mexico, during a failed smuggling attempt.

Agents say they encountered two men driving a white Nissan Sentra near the international border.

According to authorities, both men claimed to be U.S. citizens from North Carolina and had rented a room at the Border Motel.

About a half hour later, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police observed two people with large backpacks enter the United States illegally just east of the town of Derby and notified the Swanton Sector.

While agents were attempting to locate the two that had entered illegally, they saw the two men driving the Nissan Sentra in the area also. The men allegedly drove the car slowly, flashing its lights, and turning around often.

Agents say the car remained in the area for about 20 minutes before they followed the Sentra back to the Border Motel.

The agents say they saw the two men exit their room with luggage, get in the Sentra, and head towards I-91. After noticing the Sentra now contained four people, agents performed a traffic stop.

Besides the two men, the Sentra contained a man and woman sitting in the rear seat.

During an immigration interview, the man claimed to be a citizen of Mexico, but the woman refused to state her citizenship.

Agents arrested the driver and front passenger for alien smuggling, a felony, and the two rear passengers for illegal entry, a misdemeanor.

Border Patrol agents brought the four to the Newport station for additional record checks and further processing. Those checks revealed that the Mexican man, age 36, had been previously removed from the United States in 2014, after an arrest in Buffalo, New York in 2008.

The checks also revealed that the woman, age 39, was also a citizen of Mexico. At the station, both Mexican citizens confessed to entering the United States illegally.

Authorities say both will be returned to Mexico.

The Swanton Border Patrol Sector is seizing the 2012 Nisan Sentra, and the two U.S. citizens from North Carolina were released.

“This case is an excellent example of the importance of information sharing between the United States Border Patrol and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,” said U.S. Border Patrol Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent John Pfeifer. “The Swanton Sector relies on its partners to secure the international border, and the quick sharing of information is a major part of the sector’s success.”

DERBY — Derby Green is one of only three Vermont nursing homes to receive the VT Health Care Association Quality Award this year. On top of that accolade, it is the only facility to have received this prestigious award 12 times.

“It is an absolute honor to have represented not only the nursing home, but the amazing staff who made all of these honorary awards possible,” said previous administrator, Lisa Bohlman, who received the top honor on behalf of Derby Green.

Derby Green first won the award in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2007 – 2013, 2016, and then again this year.

A monetary award is attached to this honor, and Derby Green received $17,491.90 to continue serving its residents with the highest quality care and compassion.

“The criteria for earning this is very rigorous and it takes the dedication and commitment of every staff member in each department,” Bohlman added.

High resident and family satisfaction scores and cost containment are reviewed during the selection process. There must be fewer than five deficiencies noted during the inspection by the Vermont Agency of Human Services Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living.

“I am so proud of the staff and the quality care they give to each of our residents every day of the year,” Bohlman said. “Working at a nursing home is not for everyone, it takes someone who genuinely cares for the residents and with another honor received Derby Green is obviously doing it right.”

NEWPORT — Steve Mengel of Derby has joined the Northeast Kingdom Learning Services (NEKLS) Board of Directors. Mengel brings with him a long and rich experience with accounting, specifically, experience with accounting for schools. He worked for the Caledonia North Supervisory Union as their accountant and eventually retired from CNSU.

Mengel’s idea of retirement is taking on more civic service as well as growing his private accounting business in Newport.

He is involved with Orleans County Citizen’s Advocacy, Trustee for Derby Center Village, serves on the Board of Directors for the United Christian Academy, teaches Adult Sunday School at the Derby Community Church, and is on the Board of Directors for the Life Center of the NEK.

He is also an alternate for the Town of Derby Zoning Board and is Assistant Treasurer for the town of Coventry.

One might wonder how Mengel had time to join another board or why he would. Mengel says it all started after chatting with a present NEKLS Board Member, Laura St. Onge.

“I was connected with NEKLS vaguely through Caledonia North Supervisory Union, but I had no idea until I spoke with Laura about all the things NEKLS does,” Mengel said. “It’s impressive.”

In January of 2017, Mengel attended an NEKLS board meeting. By late spring, he joined and says he is happy to stay on.

“I really enjoy the board, and I realized I know a number of NEKLS employees,” he said. “They’re fine people.”

When Mengel isn’t knee-deep in civic volunteerism, he enjoys continuing his 60 years of being an avid baseball fan, spending time hiking in the outdoors when he can, and caring for three rescue animals, a dog named Benji who spends days with him at the office, and two cats, Buttons and Sophie.

DERBY — A 20-year-old Derby man walked away from a rollover crash on Wednesday, but police say he is facing charges.

Police, EMS, Derby Line and Newport Fire responded to a report of a single-vehicle rollover on Access Road near the interstate on-ramps, at around 6:00 p.m.

The driver was identified as Jacob Pennington.

Police say Pennington was out of the vehicle and denying injury. The vehicle, a gray Kia Soul, was on its roof in the westbound lane.

According to police, Pennington was traveling west when his vehicle left the roadway and rolled over. They say Pennington was found to have a suspended license.

“Indicators of impairment were observed about Pennington,” a statement issued by police reads. “He was screened for impairment and subsequently placed under arrest for suspicion of DUI. He was transported to the VSP-Derby Barracks and released to a sober party upon completion of processing.”

Police say civil violations were issued for operating under suspension, texting while driving, driver possessing open container, as well as a diversion notice for possessing alcohol under 21.

DERBY — State police issued a warning today that they are looking for a Derby man they say is armed and dangerous.

In a statement issued by police, they are requesting assistance in apprehending Daniel Greenwood, 41, of Derby.

“Greenwood is currently wanted for escape out of Orleans County,” the statement reads. “It has been reported that Greenwood carries a firearm on his person, and is considered to be armed and dangerous.”

Police say Greenwood is known to frequently wear a bandana to cover his head.

He is currently wanted by Probation and Parole in Orleans County for escape. His prior cases involve possession of cocaine, violation of conditions of release, sale of narcotics, accessory before the fact, and possession of regulated drugs.

He is also wanted in connection to a case from Orleans County involving burglary, resisting arrest, eluding a police officer, excessive speed, and gross negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

Police warn the public not to approach him if he is located, and to immediately call 802-334-8881.

DERBY — A 21-year-old man from Montreal fell asleep at the wheel this morning on I-91 in Derby, totaling his car and causing the engine to be thrown about 100 feet.

The incident took place at around 8:00 a.m.

Police say William Owusu-Beateng was traveling at approximately 73 miles-per-hour in a 2005 Mazda, when he fell asleep and lost control of the vehicle.

The Mazda left the travel portion of the roadway onto the grass median.

Owusu-Beateng tried to gain control by steering toward the right, causing the vehicle to cross back over both travel lanes and into the ledge off the east side of the road.

The vehicle eventually came to an uncontrolled rest facing southbound.

The engine was thrown about 100 feet north from where the Mazda stopped.

Police say Owusu-Beateng was transported to the hospital with an injured wrist.

NEWPORT — A 43-year-old man from Newport is facing numerous charges after police say he attempted to run during a traffic stop.

At around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday the Vermont State Police attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation on US Route 5 in Derby.

Police say the vehicle, operated by Jaime Prue, 43, of Newport, refused to yield and after a brief pursuit came to a stop on Community Avenue, where Prue fled on foot.

Troopers apprehended and arrested Prue.

He is facing charges of driving under the influence, criminal DLS, attempting to elude, criminal refusal, and multiple violations of conditions of release.

He was held for lack of $15,000 bail at Northern State Correctional Facility.

NEWPORT — A crash this morning in Derby sent a 37-year-old man to the hospital with minor injuries.

Police say at around 9:15 a.m. Clark Lombardi, of Derby, was headed east on Shattuck Hill Road, when Lee Spates, 53 of Newport, was traveling west.

According to police, Spates turned left into the parking lot of Kinney Drugs and the front driver’s side of his truck struck the front driver’s side of Lombardi’s car.

Both vehicles sustained contact damage.

Police say Lombardi was treated and released at North Country hospital for minor injuries.

Spates was not injured in the crash.

DERBY — This week Community National Bank President and CEO Kathy Austin announced that Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Louise Bonvechio was presented with the Vermont Bankers Association’s Outstanding Community Service Banker Award at the Vermont and New Hampshire Bankers Annual Conference.

Each year, the Outstanding Community Service Banker Award is given to a banker from each state who exemplifies the best in the banking profession and in service to their communities.

Louise currently serves as a Trustee and Treasurer of the Goodrich Memorial Library, Board Chair of Rural Edge, a member of the Regional Advisory Board for the North Country Career Center, President of the Emory Hebard State Office Building Condo Association and a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Member Advisory Panel.

“Louise has worked tirelessly on a number of non-profit boards, providing leadership and expertise, and she truly does exemplify the best in a community banker,” Austin said.

Bonvechio has been with Community National Bank for over 24 years.

She makes her home in Newport with her husband Brian.

DERBY — A 34-year-old man from Derby is facing a slew of charges after being picked up by police on Thursday.

At around 12:45 p.m. police say they were notified that Russell Loiselle was present at 27 Boucher Circle, in Derby.

He had an active warrant for his arrest.

When they arrived, police say Loiselle attempted to run with aid of a bicycle and was subsequently apprehended.

“During the course of the investigation, Loiselle attempted to kick one of the arresting troopers,” said Trooper Calvin Burns.

He was taken to Northern State Correctional Facility and cited to appear in Orleans County Court today to answer to the charges of violation of conditions of release, violation of relief from abuse order, assault on a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest.

NEWPORT — Homes in Newport Center and Derby were burglarized last week, and police say in both cases firearms were taken.

On Thursday, someone unlawfully entered a residence on Lawson Road in Newport Center between the hours of 6:45 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Two firearms were taken from the residence.

On Saturday, police were notified of a burglary on Nelson Hill Road in the town of Derby. Someone entered the garage at the residence and stole a Springfield Armory XD .40 caliber handgun. The handgun was taken along with its Blackhawk holster.

Police say it does not appear that entry was made into the home in Derby.

Anyone with information about the stolen firearms is being asked to call the Vermont State Police at 802-334-8881.