Derby - page 3

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.

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.”