WTSA NEWS FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 27th:
On Thursday, October 24, it was reported to the Brattleboro Police that someone had attempted to set fire to Gougers Market and Deli on Canal Street. After an investigation took place, Brattleboro Police arrested Dennis Mayotte in connection with this incident. Mayotte was held on $50,000 bail and appeared in court earlier today (Thursday).
Colonel Matthew Birmingham, the director of the Vermont State Police, has spoken with his counterpart in Maine in the aftermath of Wednesday’s mass shooting in Lewiston to extend on behalf of all Vermonters his deepest sympathies on this unfolding tragedy, and to offer any law-enforcement resources that the Maine State Police might need. Maine State Police Director Col. William G. Ross was grateful for the condolences and offer of assistance but said his agency was not requesting resources from the Vermont State Police at this time.
Vermont authorities are investigating after two bodies were discovered in the town of Eden. The Vermont State Police Wednesday afternoon said the bodies were found in different locations in a wooded area off Albany Road adjacent to the Wild Branch Wildlife Management Area. Officials have not positively identified the victims or how they died. It comes as police have spent the week looking for two Massachusetts men who disappeared. Jahim Solomon and Eric White, both 21, disappeared under what police have called “suspicious circumstances” while traveling through Burlington, Lowell, Morrisville, and Stowe. Efforts to find them included a weekend search with dogs in Albany and Lowell.
Vermont State Police are investigating a suspicious death Wednesday in the town of Washington. Police say, hunters in the woods along Poor Farm Road in Washington discovered a body around 2:00 p.m. Responding troopers located the deceased victim and say the death is considered suspicious. No one is currently in custody. The discovery in Washington brings the number of active Vermont homicide investigations this month to six.
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu is putting pencil to paper in an effort to help higher education. An executive order signed Wednesday establishes a task force to study public higher education in the state. It comes as enrollment rates across the country have declined 8% between 2019 and 2022, with further declines expected as the birth rate drops. High costs of education and private online colleges are compounding the problem for New Hampshire’s state schools.
Vermont state leaders Wednesday spotlighted careers in the trades and construction as an alternative to traditional college, and they encouraged more women to get involved. Governor Phil Scott returned to his alma mater, the Central Vermont Career Center, at Spaulding High School in Barre, one of the state’s CTE programs. Officials say data shows that men and women have similar rates of participation in the workforce, but women only represent four percent of construction careers. Officials say a big part of getting people into the trades is overcoming stigmas and making more investments in career and technical education and apprenticeships.
Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.64, up 1 cent per gallon from last week, down 14 cents/g from a month ago and down 17 cents/g from the same time last year, according to GasBuddy’s survey. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest gas in the state is $3.19/g in Brattleboro, while the most expensive is $3.89, in Williston and also in Brattleboro. The national average price of diesel has risen 3.8 cents in the last week and stands at $4.48 per gallon.
WTSA SPORTS:
In Thursday night NFL football action the Buffalo Bills defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-18.
In the NHL, the Boston Bruins lost their first game of the season 3-2 in overtime against the Anaheim Ducks. The Bruins are now 6-1 on the young season. The Bruins play next on Saturday at home against Detroit.
Game one of the Major League Baseball World Series between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks is tonight. Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound for the Rangers at home to open the series. First pitch is 8:03 pm.
The Celtics will play tonight in their regular season home opener against the Miami Heat. Tip off is 7:30 pm on ESPN.
In local sports, the Brattleboro Bears boys varsity soccer team travels to play the Colchester Lakers today at 3:00pm in their Division 1 playoff game.
The Brattleboro Bears football team will take on the Burr & Burton Bulldogs in the Division 1 State Quarterfinal tomorrow in Manchester, VT. Game time is 2:00 pm and can be heard up the dial on our affiliate 99.5 The Beast. Pregame begins at 1:45.