Police are investigating a suspicious death in Woodbury. Troopers say that at
about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, they got a report from Woodbury residents of a body
found at a roadside pull-off along Route 14. Officials at the scene were peering
into an abandoned white Volvo, using a drone, placing flags, and looking for
evidence. Police are awaiting autopsy results before releasing the victim’s
identity. They say no one is in custody. Anyone with information should call the
state police in Berlin at 802-229-9191.
Advocates with the group Migrant Justice rallied outside of an immigration
office in St. Albans Friday in support of a woman facing possible
deportation. The group says Wendy Bernardo has an active application to stop
her deportation on humanitarian grounds and is scheduled for an appointment
on Friday. Bernardo, a parent to seven children, has lived on a dairy farm in
Orleans County for more than a decade.
Vermont’s single-use plastics ban is five years old. A new UVM study found that
it has not only proved to be very effective, but also popular. The study shows
plastic bag use dropped 91 percent following the law taking effect. “This was
really motivated by the fact that there’s a lot of plastic bag legislation in the
United States, but very little has been evaluated, and that which does exist is,
it’s different everywhere,” said Emily Belarmino, the study’s co-author. The
study also found that about 70 percent of the 745 people surveyed approved of
the legislation, many citing the positive impact on the environment.
Quechee’s 45th annual balloon festival takes to the skies today. Gates opened
at 3 p.m., and 17 pilots from across the northeast will take visitors for rides. The
annual fest is a major money maker for the Hartford Area Chamber of
Commerce, and it draws a massive crowd. Organizers say they expect between9,000 and 11,000 people this weekend. Many are local, but out-of-staters are becoming more common.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Jumanji, which is set in a fictional New
Hampshire town. The city of Keene served as the backdrop for several key
scenes. To celebrate the milestone, a three-day event is being held this
weekend in downtown Keene. The event will include props, people from the
film and community activities.