Little did Sunapee residents know when Scott Hazelton became Sunapee Highway Department Director two weeks ago, they got a crime fighter too. On May 15, just after 6 am Hazelton stopped by the Town’s gravel/storage area where he found someone allegedly taking scrap metal. He blocked the unknown vehicle in and called Sunapee Police. Police arrested and charged Dallas A. Bona 33, of Somersworth NH on one charge of Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer and Acts Prohibited, police also found a hypodermic needle, a spoon with an unknown substance and a prescription pill bottle. Bona appears in court on June 4 to answer charges.

NH Senator Bob O’Dell

The NH Senate Ways and Means Committee unanimously voted to ban the Business Enterprise Tax on tipped wages on Tuesday. Senator Bob O’Dell issued the following statement,
“The Department of Revenue Administration’s own Business Enterprise Tax guidelines state that pass-though wages, like tips, should not be considered compensation under the BET. It appears the department decided to move in another direction on this issue by asking restaurants to collect the tax with the possibility of audits.
“Creating new taxes on employers based on dollars their businesses do not count as income is the wrong approach to take towards the state’s hospitality industry, particularly as we near the summer tourism season. Today’s vote establishes a clear statutory guideline against this sort of taxation and I look forward to a strong, bipartisan vote in support of the bill on the floor next week.”

Scott Hazelton at Selectboard Meeting on Monday

It’s a county thing. Sunapee has stopped accepting brush and wood products from New London in hope to curb the ash borer. Scott Hazelton the new Sunapee Highway Department Director explains that although they are close neighbors, Sunapee is in Sullivan County and New London is in Merrimack. There are 25 million ash trees in New Hampshire’s forests and many more in residential and commercial landscape. If left unchecked NH could lose all it’s ash trees in 10 years. Currently the pest is only in Merrimack County.

Lebanon’s Top Dog for 2013 is Sasha. Sasha is a 13 year-old shepherd and chow mix and owned by Kelly Howerin. Besides bragging rights, Sasha won the coveted City of Lebanon Dog Tag #1, a year supply of dog food from West Lebanon Feed and Supply, gift certificates to Affectionate Pet Salon, S.A.V.E.S and Stonecliff Animal Clinic, a care package from Stoney Brook Veterinary Hospital, her photo on display at City Hall for one year, and a certificate signed by the Mayor and City Clerk.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board will hold three public hearings on proposed regulation changes that increase trout and bass fishing opportunities for anglers and reduce the daily brook trout limit.
Eleven new river sections are proposed for catch-and-release trout fishing. Bass catch-and-release open water angling outside the normal bass would include all lakes, ponds and reservoirs not listed as seasonally closed.
The daily creel limit for brook trout is proposed to be reduced from 12 to 6.
The fish regulation, with the proposed changes is on vtfishandwildlife.com, under Law Enforcement and Game Wardens.
The three public hearings begin at 6:30 pm.in the following locations:
Tuesday, May 28, at St. Johnsbury Elementary School, School Auditorium, and St. Johnsbury. Wednesday, May 29 at the Pavilion Auditorium, Pavilion Building, in Montpelier. Thursday, May 30 at the Kehoe Education Center, Castleton.