Derby - page 2

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.

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.