Vermont Man Wanted for Escape Is Arrested 12 Years Later

Calais, Vt. — Vermont State Police say a family disturbance call yielded the arrest of a man who’d been wanted for 12 years.

The trooper called to the scene of an argument Friday in the town of Calais discovered that 31-year-old Matthew Mitchell had an outstanding warrant.

Trooper Daniel Burrows said Sunday that a routine background check showed Mitchell was wanted for for escape in 2006 from Barre Probation and Parole.

Burrows said no one was charged because of the disturbance, but that Mitchell was taken into custody.

Mitchell was transported to the Northeast Correctional Facility.

He could not be reached on Sunday, and it was not known if he had a lawyer.

Volunteers Plant Nearly 6,000 Trees for Arbor Day

Durham, n.h. — Nearly 6,000 aspen and willow trees were planted by Sunday in honor of Arbor Day at a river preserve in Durham.

More than 100 volunteers contributed to the efforts, which started on Friday with about 60 students from Phillips Exeter Academy. The trees were planted across six acres at the Lamprey River Preserve.

Shrubland plants also were planted, including dogwood, alder and winterberry. The short plants create habitat for some rare species of birds, including woodcocks, according to Joanne Glode, stewardship ecologist at The Nature Conservancy.

“We thought there was no better way of celebrating Arbor Day than by planting a tree,” Glode said.

The Nature Conservancy teamed up with the Strafford County Conservation District and a local farmer from Lee, Dorn Cox, to organize the volunteer event.

Vt. Troopers: Teen Hit 105 Mph During Police Pursuit

Thetford — Vermont State Police said two 19-year-olds who led troopers on a chase that reached 105 mph are facing charges.

Troopers said they found alcohol, marijuana edibles and fake IDs belonging to the two young men and two female passengers when they stopped the Jeep Grand Cherokee on Saturday.

Troopers cited the driver, Franco Avara Suarez, and a passenger, Christopher Moore.

They’re due back in court in June, and it’s unclear if they have a lawyer. Police said they had addresses in Lima, Peru, and in New York City.

Troopers also issued diversion notices to all four for underage consumption and possession of alcohol, and possession of marijuana products.

Vermont Drastically Reduces Moose Hunting Permits

Montpelier — The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board has voted to drastically reduce the number of moose-hunting permits to 13 this year, down from 80 in 2017.

The fall hunt will also be limited to bull moose in the northeastern corner of the state, where the Fish & Wildlife Department recommends the moose population be maintained at its current level to reduce the effects of winter ticks, the department said Friday.

Wildlife biologist Cedric Alexander, Vermont’s moose project leader, estimates the state has 1,650 moose with the greatest concentration in the Northeast Kingdom.

“We are limiting the hunt to the portion of the state where the moose population is stabilizing, and we believe it is in the best interest of moose to keep their density at its current level of one moose per square mile,” he said. “By maintaining moose at this level, research indicates winter ticks will have fewer hosts to feed on.”

He has said that studies suggest warmer, wetter weather allows two moose parasites to thrive: winter ticks and brainworms.

Five of the permits will be available to Vermont military veterans and up to three will be available for recipients with life-threatening illnesses. The other five permits will be auctioned.

— Wire reports