West Lebanon Applebee’s Not Slated to Close

Lebanon — The Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar on Route 12A in West Lebanon is in no danger of closing, the owner and operator said Saturday, despite the announcement last week by DineEquity, the parent company of the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar brand, that it would close 105 to 135 Applebee’s restaurants across the country.

The West Lebanon restaurant, which opened in 2011, is owned and operated by Apple American Group, a subsidiary of San Francisco-based Flynn Restaurant Group. The decision by DineEquity “in no way affects franchised Applebee’s locations that we own and operate,” Greg Flynn, chairman and CEO of Flynn Restaurant Group, said in a news release on Saturday.

Flynn Restaurant Group’s 477 Applebee’s restaurants “are 100 percent open for business,” the release said.

Chelsea Man, 72, Faces Trafficking Charge

Lebanon — A Chelsea man faces a charge of conspiracy to commit human trafficking following his arrest in Lebanon on Thursday, Lebanon police said. According to a news release issued Saturday by Lebanon Police Chief Richard R. Mello, Lebanon police engaged in a conversation via social media with Erik Polson, 72, of Chelsea, as part of an ongoing investigation of people looking to victimize children through social media.

On Thursday, police said, Polson traveled to Lebanon to engage in sexual contact with an adult and a juvenile but was met by Lebanon police officers, the release said.

Polson was arrested at the scene and charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking in persons, a Class A felony, and conspiracy to commit certain use of computer services prohibited, a Class B felony. His bail was set at $20,000 cash and he was transported to the Grafton County House of Corrections, according to the release.

The Lebanon Police Department is an affiliate of the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Planned Power Outage In Sharon, Stafford

Sharon — Green Mountain Power crews will interrupt electric service to residents in areas of Sharon and Strafford on Wednesday at 1 a.m. The overnight power outage is expected to last for half an hour and affect 435 customers. During that time, crews will be making updates to improve reliability.

In Sharon the outage will affect Route 132 from Interstate 89 northeast, including side roads such as Steele Road, Mosher Lane, parts of Carpenter Road, Dyer Road, O’Donnell Farm Road, Drum Heller Road and part of Beaver Meadow Road, Muir Road, Day Road and Old Orchard Road. Downer Road, Krivak Road and the section of Turnpike Road in Sharon also will be affected.

In Strafford, residents on Route 132 and connecting roads, including ONeil Lane, Stableford Road, Star Mountain Road, Lent Road, Downer Forest Road, Stage Road, Redden Road, Whitcomb Hill Road, Turnpike Road, Stocklas Road and Mine Road will lose power.

In case of inclement weather, the outage will be postponed until Thursday at the same time.

— Staff reports