Good Neighbor Services installs camera surveillance
LUDLOW—Citing recent dumping and shoplifting activity, the Black River Good Neighbor Services thrift store and food shelf has installed new electronic surveillance equipment that the executive board and staff wish was not necessary.
“We’ve had some shoplifting in the last few months,” said Executive Director Audrey Bridge. “Also, people continue to leave items in the parking lot after store hours when employees are gone, even though our signs say not to. For example, a chair was left after hours and it snowed, which ruined it. We have to pay by the pound to get rid of it; the wetness raised the cost even higher.”
BRGNS sells donated goods to support the food shelf and financial assistance service. Their mission is to help those who cannot afford food, clothing or shelter.
“While most people have good intentions in donating, they don’t always think about the consequences of their actions. Dumping unsalable furniture on us is a cost, not a benefit. Such actions cause us to be a trash disposal intermediary and diminish our mission of caring for those in need,” she said.
Black River Good Neighbor Services is located at 37B Main Street in Ludlow and can be reached at 802-228-3663.
Men cited for fighting, shooting gun
WALLINGFORD—Two men are due in court following a fight earlier this month during which one of them fired a gun. On Feb. 1, troopers from the state police Rutland Barracks were notified of an altercation involving a firearm being discharged on Route 7 in Wallingford. Investigation revealed that Wallingford resident Christopher Phillips discharged a 9 mm firearm toward Route 7 and toward Terry Burdick of North Pownal, Vt. Investigation also revealed that Burdick engaged in fighting or in violent, tumultuous, or threatening behavior. Phillips was issued a citation for recklessly endangering another person, and Burdick was issued a citation for aggravated disorderly conduct. Both parties will appear before the Vermont Superior Court, Rutland Criminal Division, at a later date.
Police arrest speeding driver
CLARENDON—Police arrested a Massachusetts man in Clarendon on Friday, Feb. 17 for driving nearly twice the posted speed limit. Troopers from the Rutland Barracks were monitoring traffic on Route 7 Clarendon when they observed a vehicle traveling northbound at 98 mph in a posted 55 mph zone. They were able to stop the vehicle and identified the driver as Noes Legaspi-Delgadil, 27, of Wellfleet, Mass. Legaspi-Delgadil was subsequently taken into custody for excessive speed and taken to the Rutland Barracks for processing. Legaspi-Degadil was released on citation to appear in Rutland Superior Court, Criminal Division, at a later date.
Lake outing ends in double tragedy
By Lani Duke
As much fun as a person can have on frozen local lakes, venturing onto them is not without danger. Brandon Barrett of Benson and Jonathan Ryan of Shoreham, both experienced snowmobilers familiar with Lake Champlain, were snowmobiling on Lake Champlain and broke through the ice. Friends found their truck and snowmobile trailer parked at Benson Landing. Authorities found snowmobiles and articles of the men’s clothing on the New York side of the lake. Joint search operations included sonar equipment and scuba divers.
Barrett and Ryan were last seen alive in Benson Village the evening of Feb. 10. Searchers retrieved Barrett’s body Feb. 15 and Ryan’s body the following day, near where the two are thought to have fallen through thin ice. The men seem to have ridden a pair of snowmobiles on the lake, heading north late in the afternoon. Police believe they intended to go to a restaurant in Ticonderoga, N.Y. Many thanks are due the search teams for continuing their efforts and to the public in the Putnam, N.Y., area for their support.
