Orleans

ORLEANS — Route 58 over the Barton River in Orleans is scheduled to reopen to one-way alternating traffic across the new bridge on Monday

The bridge is located approximately 0.4 miles east of the intersection of VT Route 58 and US Route 5.

The sidewalk at the location of the bridge has been closed and pedestrians will still be required to use the signed pedestrian detour.

The contractor says the granite curb will be set Wednesday and Thursday next week and sidewalk work will follow.

The full project completion is scheduled for June of 2020.

NEWPORT — A 32-year-old woman from Newport is scheduled to appear in court today after she was arrested following an incident involving a vehicle and a pedestrian in the Waterfront Plaza area on Monday.

Police are saying that Monica Donofrio is facing a charge of “grossly negligently operating a motor vehicle with serious injury resulting.”

Yesterday, at approximately 7:45 p.m., police responded to the scene of the incident and say they found a 35-year-old Orleans woman on the ground behind a van.

She was conscious and alert but had suffered serious injuries.

The victim was taken by ambulance to the hospital and later airlifted to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.

According to police, the victim was in serious but stable condition this morning.

After a preliminary investigation, police say that the driver of the vehicle, identified as Donofrio, had been confronted by the victim and another woman, who had become concerned when they observed that she had left her four children inside the van while she went into a store.

Prior to the crash, the two women were in the process of calling the police.

Donofrio was booked and is expected to be arraigned in court today.

According to police, her children were taken into the custody of a family member after the incident, and the Department of Children and Families was notified.

ORLEANS — A 39-year-old man from Orleans was arrested on Monday in Newport.

Erik Polite is facing charges of burglary, possession of stolen property, and violation of conditions of release.

Police say they were notified at around 1:00 a.m. of a burglary that took place at a residence on Maple Street in Orleans.

A State trooper and a Newport Police Department Officer located the vehicle and parties of interest on Third Street in Newport.

The vehicle was stopped in the Maplefields parking lot.

Police allege Polite entered the residence without the right to do so and while inside he committed a felony.

According to the report, a search warrant was sought for both the vehicle and Polite’s clothing.

The execution of the search warrants resulted in the location of evidence of the crime, police say.

Polite was lodged on the charges.

ORLEANS — Police were called to Orleans this afternoon after a report that gunshots were fired into a parked vehicle.

At around 1:30 p.m. police arrived at the scene on First Avenue.

According to a statement issued by police, there was a family disturbance at the time of the incident.

Nobody was inside the vehicle, and nobody was harmed.

The suspect, Craig Daniels, 30, of Orleans, was not there when police arrived but he was located shortly afterward.

Police allege Daniels shot a firearm into the parked vehicle and in doing so recklessly engaged in conduct which placed another person in danger of death or serious bodily injury.

Daniels also damaged the vehicle which was not his.

He was placed under arrest for reckless endangerment and unlawful mischief and taken to Derby for processing.

Daniels was cited into court and released into the care of Northeast Kingdom Human Services.

ORLEANS — A 24-year-old man from Orleans who was on escape status with the Department of Corrections, led police on a high-speed chase on Sunday.

Police say Christopher Conley is facing multiple charges following the incident.

At around 3:50 p.m., a trooper was monitoring traffic on I-91 north when he clocked a white Subaru doing 111 mph in the 65 mph zone.

The trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle failed to yield and got off the interstate at exit 27.

Police say Conley was identified as the driver, and he accelerated to 80 mph in the 35 mph zone, traveling west on Schuler Road towards Hinman Settler Road.

The pursuit continued down Hinman Settler Road through Brownington and ultimately into Barton.

According to police, Conley at times hit speeds of 100 mph on the dirt roadway.

He ultimately failed to negotiate a turn, leaving the road on Churchill Road just north of Route 58.

The vehicle overturned, striking a tree.

Conley had a passenger in the car with him and both were transported to North Country Hospital and treated for injuries.

Police say Conley was found to be on escape status and was transported to the Northern State Correctional Facility and returned to DOC custody.

He will face charges for felony eluding a police officer with gross negligence, grossly negligent operation, recklessly endangering another person, excessive speed, as well as DUI.

ORLEANS — A pair of car thefts in Orleans has police warning residents to be on the lookout.

According to the report, a 26-year-old woman on High Street stated that sometime overnight yesterday her vehicle was taken without her consent.

The vehicle, a white, 2012 Ford Focus with Vermont plates, had been parked in her driveway when it was stolen.

Police say it was returned back prior to her leaving for work this morning, but was missing items inside and covered in mud.

The incident may be related to the theft of another vehicle that occurred this morning at around 1:40 a.m. on South Avenue in Orleans.

The vehicle was in a parking lot when it was stolen.

It is a green, 2001 GMC Yukon, and is still reported missing.

Police are reminding everyone to lock their vehicles and not to leave keys inside.

NEWPORT – Randall Swartz, the suspect in the May 15 homicide of his wife in the town of Orleans, was discharged Friday from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and is due to be arraigned next week in Newport.

Swartz, 58, was arraigned by video May 23 on a fugitive warrant and waived extradition to Vermont.

Upon discharge from the hospital, he was transported by the Windham County Sheriff’s Department to the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield.

He had been undergoing treatment at Dartmouth-Hitchcock for a gunshot wound to his torso.

He is scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Monday, June 4, in Vermont Superior Court, Criminal Division, in Newport.

He is scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Monday, June 4, in Vermont Superior Court, Criminal Division, in Newport on a charge of second-degree murder related to the fatal shooting of 54-year-old Thea Swartz at their residence in Orleans.

ORLEANS — A 58-year-old Orleans man is facing a murder charge following the death of his wife, 54-year-old Thea Swartz, on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, an arrest warrant was issued for Randall Swartz, 58, on suspicion of second-degree murder.

Following an autopsy Thursday morning on the body of Thea Swartz at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington, the cause of death has been determined to be a single gunshot wound to the chest, and the manner of death has been classified as a homicide.

Randall Swartz was located by police at the crime scene lying on the floor with an apparent wound to his torso.

He is reported to be stable at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and is expected to survive.

Thea Swartz was located deceased on the floor in the same room.

The shootings took place at the couple’s home on Irasburg Street.

Police report getting a call from Thea Swartz prior to the shooting, claiming her husband was drinking and aiming a gun at her.

ORLEANS — A 68-year-old man from Orleans was arrested after police say they received several complaints over the last month about his conduct around juvenile females in the area.

Raymond Benson was picked up on Sunday for violation of an order against stalking, and felony aggravated stalking/person under 16.

Police say for the past month they have received several complaints regarding Benson’s conduct around juvenile females in Orleans, particularly the area of School Street.

During this time a protection order against stalking was issued on behalf of one such juvenile female.

On Sunday troopers again received a complaint that Benson had approached a number of juvenile females, one being the protected person.

Police say an investigation led to the development of probable cause and the arrest of Benson for suspicion of aggravated stalking and the order violation.

Benson was processed in Derby, and upon order of a judge, released on personal recognizance with conditions of release.

Police are reminding parents and guardians to educate their children on how to respond if approached or solicited by a stranger, and are encouraged to supervise their children in the area of Orleans Village.

Anyone with information regarding this case or who may have observed a white camper van with green markings in the Orleans Village area around 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, is encouraged to call police at 802-334-8881.

ORLEANS — Police are looking for two suspects who robbed the Subway restaurant in Orleans at knife-point last night.

At around 7:30 p.m. two individuals entered the restaurant, located at 25 Railroad Avenue, and demanded money.

One of the individuals then displayed a knife.

Police say the two left the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.

They were last seen traveling east towards the Ethan Allan Plant.

The suspects are described as being approximately six feet tall with a stocky build.

Police say no injuries to restaurant employees were reported during the robbery.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the State Police at 748-3111.

ORLEANS — There is an ongoing search for a 23-year-old Orleans man who has been missing for a few days.

Police are requesting assistance in locating Tyler Robinson, who was last seen at his residence on Water Street in Orleans, on May 12, 2017, at approximately 10:45 a.m.

Authorities say they will be continuing their search efforts and will be expanding the area of search.

Anyone with information as to Robinson’s whereabouts is asked to contact State Police in Derby.

NEWPORT — PGA Professionals in the greater Newport area are offering PGA Junior League Golf, a fun and social opportunity that gives boys and girls ages 13 and under of all abilities the opportunity to learn, play and enjoy the game of golf.

PGA Junior League Golf takes a team approach to the game. Much like other recreational youth sports, kids wear numbered jerseys, and play on teams with friends, utilizing a popular scramble format for competition.

Facilities hosting PGA Junior League Golf in the greater Newport area include the Newport Country Club and the Orleans Country Club.

Recognizing the tremendous growth potential of the region, the PGA of America and the New England PGA Section have partnered to support an open enrollment initiative, with the aim of creating new golfers and introducing them to a game they can play for a lifetime.

The plan is for the New England open registration model to serve markets across the country next year.

“PGA Junior League Golf presents a welcoming and engaging way for kids to play and learn golf in a fun, engaging and encouraging team environment,” said Mike Higgins, Executive Director of the New England PGA Section. “Kids are learning more than just a game they can enjoy for a lifetime. And PGA Junior League Golf is an excellent option for parents looking for a sport that develops character skills and life lessons for their children.”

PGA and LPGA Professionals serve exclusively as captains for PGA Junior League Golf teams, ensuring kids are given the opportunity to learn from the experts in the game.

With parents and family members encouraged to serve as coaches, volunteers and spectators, PGA Junior League Golf involves the entire family and introduces them to an all-ages sport they can play and enjoy together.