Claremont Woman Charged With DUI After Cars Goes into Sugar River

Claremont — Police say a 31-year-old Claremont woman received minor injuries after driving her vehicle into the Sugar River on Saturday.

Charlie Fotter was treated and released at Valley Regional Hospital, according to a Claremont police news release. Officers found her vehicle submerged in the Sugar River after being dispatched to Main and North streets around 10:15 p.m. on Saturday.

Police say a preliminary investigation also found impairment to be a factor in the crash, and Fotter was charged with driving under the influence. She was released on personal recognizance bail and is expected to appear on Claremont Circuit Court in February.

Three Openings on Claremont School Board In March Election

Claremont — There will be three openings on the seven-member Claremont School Board in the March election following the resignation last week of Brent Ferland, who has one-year left on his three-year term.

Ferland said he would remain on the board during the budget process and step down after the annual school meeting vote on March 14.

Two three-year terms, one held by Frank Sprague and the other by Alex Herzog, will also be on the ballot. Herzog was appointed to fill the position of Becky Ferland, Brent Ferland’s mother, who resigned in October.

The filing period is from Wednesday through Friday, Feb. 3 at 4 p.m. Anyone interested in running can file at the SAU 6 office at 165 Broad St., weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Also on the ballot are one-year terms for school district moderator, treasurer and clerk

Man Cited For Trying to Park On Interstate During March

Montpelier — Police say a Waterbury man has been cited on accusations of disorderly conduct for trying to park on the side of Interstate 89 to attend the women’s march in Montpelier and refusing to comply with police orders.

William Minter pulled to the side of the interstate after police had closed the Montpelier exit due to traffic backup Saturday from the march that drew 15,000 to 20,000 people.

Police say they told him he couldn’t park there and walk and must seek an alternative route. Police say Minter refused to return to his vehicle or to provide his license and registration multiple times.

Authorities say the incident caused traffic to stop in the travel lane.

Minter was issued multiple traffic tickets. He didn’t immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Police: Driver Clocked At 105 mph on Interstate 89

Bethel — Police say they clocked a driver traveling 105 mph — 40 mph over the speed limit — on Interstate 89 in Bethel.

Twenty-nine-year-old Jennifer Banegas, of Long Beach, N.Y., was cited for excessive speed on Saturday.

She is scheduled to appear in court in March.

It was not immediately known if she is being represented by an attorney.

Applicants Sought For White Mountain Forest Artist Program

Campton, n.h. — Applicants are being sought for the annual White Mountain National Forest Artist-in-Residence program.

The residency is a celebration of the connections between forest, landscape and culture. The deadline is March 3.

The program offers visual and performing artists, craftspeople, writers, composers and media artists a chance to pursue their particular art form while being inspired by the surrounding forest and sharing their work with the public.

The program was started in 2011, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Weeks Act, which enabled the federal government to purchase land in the eastern United States. That led to the creation of the White Mountain National Forest and more than 50 other national forests.

Mass Official: Troopers Approached SUV Before Crash That Killed 4

Springfield, Mass — Massachusetts authorities say undercover state troopers approached an SUV in Springfield shortly before the driver sped off and caused a crash that killed four people.

A spokesman for Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni told The Republican newspaper on Friday that troopers parked behind the SUV, turned on their unmarked cruiser’s emergency lights, got out and approached the SUV Tuesday night.

The spokesman, James Leydon, said the SUV then sped away. The troopers were patrolling the streets as part of a gang unit.

Leydon said the troopers got back in their cruiser, turned off the emergency lights and came upon the crash site a short time later.

The SUV was stolen in Milford, Conn., earlier this month.

All four people who died were from Springfield, including three high school seniors.

— Staff and wire reports