Lyndonville

LYNDONVILLE — Police responded to a reported robbery at the Subway in Lyndonville yesterday evening.

According to police, the offender entered the store displaying what appeared to be a “canister of chemical spray” and demanded that the store clerk hand over the money from the cash register.

The offender was described as a caucasian man approximately 6’ tall with a slender build and light complexion.

He was wearing a dark-colored hooded raincoat and dark-colored mask that covered most of his face.

Police say after receiving an undisclosed amount of money, he fled the scene on foot.

The investigation is being continued by the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the state police at 802-748-3111.

LYNDON — Police are investigating a reported assault/abduction that took place early Sunday morning.

The incident occurred near the dorm area of Lyndon Institute at around 1 a.m.

Police say a male subject believed to be approximately 5’8” to 5’10” attempted to grab a female who had been walking alone near the parking area of the lower practice fields at the time.

The female victim was able to get away, and no injuries were reported.

Lyndonville Police Chief Jack Harris notified Lyndon Institute staff of the incident.

Anyone with information regarding this case is being asked to contact Lyndonville Police at 802-626-1271.

LYNDONVILLE — An arrest has been made following a fatal hit-and-run that took place in Lyndonville on Saturday.

According to police, interviews and surveillance video showed the operator of the vehicle at the time of the crash was Gary Hale, 41, Lyndonville.

On Saturday, members of the Vermont State Police located the victim, identified as Mattie Lynn Hale, 46, of Lyndon, deceased just off the travel portion of Route 5 in the town of Lyndonville.

Police say the woman sustained multiple injuries consistent with that of being struck by a vehicle, and evidence at the scene suggested that the vehicle involved in the crash was a silver Ford Fiesta.

Police later located a silver Ford Fiesta with heavy front-end damage at an apartment complex in Lyndonville.

After locating the vehicle, the driver and the passenger were found at a nearby residence.

Gary Hale was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with death resulting, which is a felony. He was lodged at the Northeast Correctional Facility for lack of $15,000 bail.

The passenger, Katrina Haslam, 47, also of Lyndonville, was charged with accessory after the fact and was released with a citation.

Both Gary Hale and Katrina Haslam will appear in Caledonia Superior Court on Monday.

LYNDON — An 80-year-old woman from Lyndon was killed in a single-vehicle crash on I-91 this morning.

Police say she was a passenger in the vehicle and identified as Hugette Thompson. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at around 9:40 a.m.

The driver, Richard Thompson, 85, also of Lyndon, was transported to the hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.

Police say Thompson entered I-91 South at exit 24, and was traveling on an uphill grade and around a left curve.

The car drove off the right-hand side of the road and onto a grassy shoulder, where it traveled approximately 200 feet through the grass before striking a rock outcropping and overturning onto its roof.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call 802-748-3111 and ask for Trooper Lewis.

LYNDONVILLE – A proposal to unify Lyndon State College and Johnson State College under one administration is moving forward.

Spearheaded by Chancellor of Vermont State Colleges, Jeb Spaulding, the merging of the two schools would create one larger and expectantly stronger college with two distinct campuses, each with its own identity.

According to the proposal, Lyndon and Johnson will share administration and academic programs while retaining their names.

Spaulding presented the recommendation to the Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees and received a provisional approval to combine the colleges by July 1, 2017, with Dr. Elaine Collins as the recommended president of the unified college.

The board of trustees will make a final decision, based on a unification report and analysis by Spaulding, at a trustee meeting in September.

According to Spaulding, unification will combine the best qualities of the colleges, increase opportunities for students, focus limited resources on students and learning, and allow both campuses to succeed.

“I understand that unification represents significant change, and that the Lyndon family has had its share of change in the past few months,” a statement issued by Spaulding reads. “At a time when all of our colleges are challenged by external pressures like declining demographics, increased competition, low state support, and competition from new delivery modes, we must be proactive and position ourselves for a strong future. We must reach a critical mass of students in order to balance budgets. Shared administration and robust academic programs will help us get there.”

The unified college will have a single accreditation and budget, and each campus will have its own identity.

The NCAA has confirmed that each campus is allowed to have its own mascot and array of sports teams under the unified model. The Lyndon State Hornets and the Johnson State Badgers would continue to compete in a Division III conference.

LYNDONVILLE — Lyndon State College unveiled the third and final phase of Veterans Park, a “Wall of Honor” plaque displaying the names of LSC faculty, staff, and students who have served in the armed forces. It was part of the annual Veterans Day ceremonies held on the Northeast Kingdom campus.

Now officially complete, the Veterans Park is comprised of the lettering on the wall overlooking the pond, a memorial bench with the seals from all branches of our military, and the Wall of Honor. Every year on Veterans Day, new names will be added to the wall as the list of recognized LSC service men and women continues to grow.

Today’s event, put on by the Lyndon State College Veterans Association, paid tribute to the 120 current and former faculty, staff, and student veterans. Current LSC Veterans Association president Heather Morris recited the names from Lyndon’s new Wall of Honor.

“Throughout Lyndon’s 100 plus year history, faculty, staff and students, both men and women, have faithfully served in America’s Armed Forces,” said Thom Anderson, LSC Veterans Association advisor and Associate Academic Dean. “These sons and daughters of Lyndon have demonstrated their willingness to put country before self, patriots who serve for the greater good and who don’t seek glory or recognition or personal gain.”

Lyndon State College was recently given the 2016 Military Friendly School Designation from Victory Media.

Currently, Lyndon has 45 veterans enrolled at the college, 38 of whom receive some sort of tuition benefit. There are also 14 students who are dependents of veterans who are receiving tuition benefits so that they may attain a college degree.

Lyndon is also a member of the Yellow Ribbon Program, which makes additional funds and scholarships available for veterans beyond the GI Bill entitlement. Military spouses also receive tuition benefits at Lyndon State College, and out-of-state veterans are eligible for in-state tuition rates.

LYNDONVILLE — Police have arrested a Newark man after they say he drove his vehicle into the Miss Lyndonville Diner on Monday evening.

The incident happened at around 9:45 p.m., when police received a call of a motor vehicle crash at the Miss Lyndonville Diner on Broad Street.

Responding troopers located a man who was later identified as Jared Anderson, 24, of Newark, walking away from the scene.

Police say Anderson had driven his vehicle into the diner causing damage, and that he was under the influence of intoxicants at the time of operation.

Anderson refused to take a preliminary breath test. Police say he also provided false statements as to his involvement in the collision.
 
He was taken into custody and processed at the St. Johnsbury Barracks for the charges of DUI, false information to a law enforcement officer, and leaving the scene of an accident. He was issued a citation to appear in Caledonia Court at a later date.
 
Police say the case is still under investigation pending the execution of a search warrant.

Anyone who witnessed or has information regarding this incident is asked to contact Trooper Rancourt at the St. Johnsbury barracks.

LYNDONVILLE — Police say that a lone male robbed a store in Lyndonville at knifepoint.

Vermont State Police received a call at 5:30 a.m. regarding an armed robbery that took place at the M & M Beverage Center in Lyndonville.

Police say the man entered the store, displayed a knife, and demanded money from the store clerk.

The store clerk gave the man all the cash in the register, and the man took off on foot.

The suspect is described as being approximately 5’09” to 5’11”, and around 170-180 pounds. He was wearing a neon green T-shirt, dark colored sweat pants at the time. He also had a red bandanna covering his face.

No one was injured during the robbery.

The Vermont State Police and Lyndonville Police Department are continuing with the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vermont State Police in St. Johnsbury at 802-748-3111.

Below is a surveillance photo from the incident:

LYNDONVILLE — State police say that a woman hit a black bear while traveling on Interstate 91 on Tuesday.

The accident took place in the southbound lane, between St. Johnsbury and Lyndonville, at around 9:15 p.m.

Melissa Bushey, 45, of Barnet, was nearing mile marker 134 when the bear came down into the roadway. Bushey was unable to avoid the collision.

Police say that after the accident Bushey drove to the State Police Barracks in St. Johnsbury, to report hitting the animal.

Her vehicle sustained minor damage to the front bumper and undercarriage, but she was uninjured.

The bear was later located and removed from the roadway.

LYNDONVILLE — The annual Northeast Kingdom College Night for high school students and parents will be held on Monday, March 30 on the campus of Lyndon State College.

The free college fair runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. High school sophomores, juniors, and their parents are particularly encouraged to attend to meet admissions representatives from more than 100 colleges and universities from New England and across the U.S. offering liberal arts as well as technical and business-oriented studies.

Back by popular demand, the Vermont Student Assistance Corp. will offer free college planning workshops before, starting at 4:15 p.m., and after the college fair. Topics include finding colleges that fit, specifics on how to apply, SAT/ACT test prep and strategies, writing an admissions essay that sets you apart, and navigating college costs and financial aid.

Free food will be provided to workshop attendees, and attendees will be entered in drawings for a chance to win an iPad Mini or $500 college savings account.

For more information and to register for workshops, visit http://www.vsac.org/CollegePathways.

Students and parents say the workshops offer important information and insights to the college process.

“It’s awesome to see all these people here because they’re all going through the same steps as me and I know everyone’s feeling the same,” Mount Mansfield Union High School student after past workshop in Chittenden County.

Don’t miss this great opportunity, a double feature with two programs in one night, for Northeast Kingdom students and families to get information and resources needed for applying and preparing for college.