Derby - page 3

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.

DERBY — A 30-year-old man from Derby is facing numerous charges after police say he ignored warnings not to reach for a loaded gun during a DUI stop.

Jeffrey Charland is being charged with aggravated assault/deadly weapon, DUI, resisting arrest, and grossly negligent operation, following the incident.

On Sunday, at around 7:45 p.m. police say they clocked a vehicle traveling 75 mph in the posted 50 mph zone on Route 111 in Derby Center.

The vehicle was pulled over near the intersection of Main Street.

Police say Charland displayed multiple signs of alcohol impairment and indicated there was a weapon in the center console. He was immediately advised not to reach for it.

“Charland subsequently ignored multiple orders by the Trooper not to reach for the weapon and to show his hands, and pulled a loaded handgun from within the vehicle,” a statement issued by Trooper Daniel Lynch reads.

Charland was ordered to drop the weapon and then ordered out of the vehicle.

As police attempted to take him into custody, they say he actively resisted attempts to secure him and was forcibly arrested.

DERBY — The Vermont Department of Labor has confirmed that 36 people employed at the Louis Garneau USA facility in Derby are set to lose their jobs this week.

Louis Garneau, a company that specializes in cycling and triathlon apparel and gear, had no comment on the layoffs.

The Derby facility houses the production, distribution, marketing, sales, and administration activities of Louis Garneau USA, and sits on a piece of land located on Route 5 that Garneau purchased in 2011.

The Vermont Department of Labor office in Newport says they are working with the company to help employees who are being laid off, but are not sure yet if those workers were full-time employees or not.

The Derby facility, totaling 60,000 square feet, was an 8 million dollar investment the company made to stay in Vermont, moving from a factory in Newport which opened in 1989, to Derby in 2013.

The factory is capable of employing 120 people.

DERBY — Someone smashed a storefront window in Derby and made off with a vintage guitar.

This morning at around 11:00 a.m. police were notified that Northeast TV & Music, located on Route 5 in Derby, was burglarized sometime overnight.

Police say the perpetrator gained entrance into the store by breaking the storefront window.

Once inside they damaged a Samsung television and stole a 1971 Guild acoustic guitar and a Marshall Combo guitar amplifier.

According to the report, the store owner is listed as Michael Routhier, 65, of Newport.

Police are asking anyone with information on this incident to contact the Derby barracks at 802-334-8881.

NEWPORT — An emergency call from a motorist to police led to the arrest of an intoxicated driver seen weaving across lanes of travel on I-91.

Shawn Britt, 36, of Orleans, is facing charges of DUI 2, and negligent operation following the incident.

Police last night at around 7:50 p.m., they received a “be on the lookout,” called in by another motorist for an erratic driver who was tailgating and weaving around traffic in Derby.

Troopers responded and positioned themselves at U-turns on the Interstate, and observed the vehicle traveling north near exit 28.

Trooper Daniel Lynch states that he observed the vehicle to still be operating erratically, weaving across lanes of travel and onto the shoulder.

The vehicle was stopped and police say numerous indicators of impairment were observed from the driver, who police identified as Shawn Britt.

He was screened and subsequently taken into custody for suspicion of DUI.

Britt was processed and released with a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI 2 and negligent operation.

He also received multiple civil violations.