News - page 2

NEWPORT — Officer Josh Lillis and K-9 Ozzy of the Newport Police Department were recently recognized as the 2019 K-9 Tracking Team of the Year.

Officer Lillis and K-9 Ozzy were honored by the Vermont Canine Police Association on Friday, Feb. 21 at the Vermont Police Academy with the 2019 K-9 Tracking Team of the Year Award.

“I’m very proud of the accomplishment and happy to be recognized for this achievement,” Officer Lillis said.

The award recognizes the duo’s exceptional work tracking and apprehending criminal suspects and missing persons.

Over the last year, the pair have had six successful tracks that led to the apprehensions of suspects attempting to elude arrest and missing persons.

“This award is a true testament to the endless hours and hard work put in by Officer Lillis and K-9 Ozzy to be proficient and successful in tracking,” said Lt. Travis Bingham. “We are proud of their accomplishments.”

Lt. Bingham was the Newport Police Department’s K-9 handler from 2006-2018, and has worked closely with both Officer Lillis and K-9 Ozzy.

Officer Lillis and K-9 Ozzy have been working together on the road for approximately one year.

K-9 Ozzy is a two-year-old Belgian Malinois certified in both Patrol/Tracking and Narcotics Detection.

The Tracking team of the year is one of the many awards that is voted on by the Vermont Canine Police Association Committee members for K-9 teams in the states of Vermont and New Hampshire.

There are approximately 50 K-9 teams that belong to the association.

NEWPORT — Northeast Kingdom Learning Services recently had the opportunity through the Regional Prevention Partnerships Grant to send a staff member to CADCA’s National Leadership Forum in D.C.

Local Prevention Specialist Ally Howell attended alongside many state-wide colleagues to learn and share what Vermont needs to make substance use and misuse prevention a priority in communities.

“This was an excellent opportunity to learn from great work happening in coalitions and communities all over the nation facing the same struggles we are here in the NEK,” Howell said.

She says workforce development, high poverty, and high rates of substance use and misuse are some of these key issues.

CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is a 4-day conference packed with multiple adult and youth-oriented opportunities to learn the latest strategies to fight substance misuse and hear from nationally-known experts and policymakers with a full day dedicated to Capitol Hill events.

Workshops Howell attended ranged from engaging the next generation, to how to build a teen center with no money.

“I’m proud to report that Vermont was well represented by bringing on one of the largest numbers of youth in the nation,” Howell said. “It was inspiring to hear the successes and passion as well as challenges from young people all across the state. Despite the tough work we are faced with there’s a lot of potential and hope.”

For more information and to get involved in local prevention efforts, contact allyson.howell@neklsvt.org

NEWPORT — Newport Police have charged a man with DUI after locating his vehicle stopped facing the wrong direction on I-91.

Justin Gaboriault, 28, of Brownington, has been charged with driving under the influence, gross negligent operation, and reckless endangerment.

At around 4:20 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, Newport Police responded to a report of a vehicle facing the wrong direction at mile marker 175 on I-91.

Two Border Patrol units were already at the scene when police arrived.

They say a Chevrolet truck was facing north on the southbound shoulder.

Border Patrol Agents say attempts to wake the driver of the truck had been unsuccessful.

Newport Police were able to wake Gaboriault, who was sitting in the driver’s seat with the engine running.

He allegedly appeared disoriented, smelled of intoxicants, had bloodshot and watery eyes, and declined transportation to an area hospital, police say.

He was transported to the Newport Police Department, where police say he submitted to and ultimately failed multiple sobriety tests.

He declined to take a preliminary breath test.

Gaboriault was held overnight at the Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport on $2,500 bail and is expected to be arraigned today at Orleans County Superior Court.

NEWPORT — Newport resident Cynthia Shelton was recently selected to be one of just 1000 NASA Solar System Ambassadors nationwide.

This competitive program only accepts applications once per year, which are then vetted by NASA JPL staff for applicants with the right combination of presentation experience, motivation, and ideas for community engagement events.

Ambassadors are given exclusive training on NASA missions, both manned and unmanned, from scientists and astronauts, which they use to create engaging events in their local communities.

On Wednesday, February 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the Work Commons in Newport, Shelton is hosting an event called “Who Knew?”

Come find out what NASA is up to in 2020 during this free event.

Shelton says she hopes to spark interest in and excitement for the broad spectrum of NASA activities happening both on and off the Earth.

If you want to schedule a free event for your group, contact Shelton directly at SSAcynthiashelton@gmail.com.

NEWPORT — A car hit a snowmobile in Newport on Saturday.

The crash took place on Lake Road at around 2:30 p.m.

According to the police report, Michael Fontaine, 32, of Newport, crashed into the snowmobile as it was crossing the road.

Police say Aaron Martin, 39, of Dallas, PA, had failed to yield to oncoming traffic before crossing.

Both vehicles had some damage, but nobody was injured during the incident.

NEWPORT — A candidate forum will take place on Thursday, Feb. 20, featuring all five candidates seeking election to the Newport City Council.

The forum will be held at the meeting room of the United Church of Newport from 6 to 8 p.m.

There are five candidates seeking two positions of alderman on the city council, creating a best two-of-five race.

Voters will make their choices at the polls on Town Meeting Day, Tuesday, March 3.

All five candidates have said they will attend the forum.

They are Kevin Charboneau, the only incumbent in the race; John Wilson, a long-time former alderman; and three newcomers to the council, Amy Gillespie, Carl King, and Chris Vachon.

Julie Raboin, whose term is up as alderman this year, has opted not to run again right now.

The moderator will be Bruce James, president of Vermont’s North Country Chamber of Commerce based in Newport City.

Questions will be asked by area journalists and members of the audience.

The forum is organized by Robin Smith, a reporter for The Orleans County Record/The Caledonian-Record.

Residents, voters, and anyone interested in Newport City are invited to attend.

NEWPORT — A fire that broke out in Newport was caused by a heating device that was being used to thaw frozen pipes, fire investigators say.

At around 9:30 a.m. on February 9, the Newport City Fire Department responded to 1161 Lake Road for a house fire.

The homeowners were home at the time of the fire.

Authorities say the fire was on the second floor and attic area of the house.

After putting out the fire, Newport City fire chief requested an origin and cause investigation.

Investigators determined that the fire had originated on the first floor, on an inside wall.

The fire traveled upward within the walls of the old house and into the attic space.

Once in the attic the fire quickly spread.

The second floor and roof structure of the house was destroyed, and the remaining first floor resulted in heavy smoke, water, and fire damage.

Investigators say the cause of the fire was determined to be the use of a heating device by the homeowner to thaw frozen pipes inside the house.

Fire investigators say you should never use an open flame to thaw frozen pipes.

To prevent pipes from freezing open cabinet doors to expose the pipe to the natural heat in your home.

They say insulating your pipes or leaving your faucet at a slow drip can also avoid any freezing.

NEWPORT — Ready Set Grow Center for Early Childhood Education opened in Newport this past September thanks to the support of many community and state-wide partners.

Locally, Casella Waste Systems came on board as a strong supporter early on.

Michelle Faust, Executive Director of Northeast Kingdom Learning Services, the organization that both created and oversees Ready Set Grow, says she understands the importance of collaboration in order to make life in the Northeast Kingdom viable for families.

“NEKLS, Inc. is grateful to Casella for their generous donation in supporting the opening of Ready, Set, Grow Childcare Center,” said Faust.

Casella and its subsidiary company New England Waste Services of Vermont (NEWSVT) which owns and operates the Coventry landfill, donated $10,000 to Ready Set Grow to support the startup of the center this past fall.

With Casella’s support, the center is looking forward to having all rooms open with full enrollment by the end of February.

“We were blown away by Michelle’s vision for the center and knew we wanted to help in any way possible,” said Jeff Weld Director of Community Engagement at Casella. “To see her vision come to life has been amazing. We are so honored to be a part of this vibrant community and to play a small role in helping this vital asset come to life.”

Faust says she feels that Casella’s commitment to community, employees, and children is to be applauded.

“If we want a thriving economy, we must recognize the important role that employers can play in supporting their employees that have children that need childcare,” she said. “High-quality childcare is costly, ask any working parent how much of their paycheck goes to provide care for their children.”

Ready Set Grow provides childcare in-house along with services from Northeast Kingdom Community Action Headstart.

Meals are provided through a collaboration with Umbrella’s Cornucopia Program and The Northeast Kingdom Children’s Museum will open in 2020.

For more information or to enroll your child, call 802 995-2051.