Border patrol dropping immigrants in St. Johnsbury

BY ETHAN WEINSTEIN VTDigger

Overwhelmed by border crossers, federal border patrol agents have begun transporting immigrants to the St. Johnsbury Welcome Center without plans or supplies, according to St. Johnsbury Police Chief Timothy Page.

“We just became aware of it yesterday,” Page said Tuesday, noting that his officers had noticed a few immigrant families appearing in town in recent weeks. He said he received confirmation from U.S. Customs and Border Protection that the agency had indeed transported immigrants to St. Johnsbury.

“We had no idea how they got there,” Page told VTDigger.

Those who were left at the St. Johnsbury center sought transportation to Plattsburgh, N.Y., as well as New York City, he said. St. Johnsbury is about 40 miles south of the Canadian border crossing at Derby Line.

“I just know they were being dropped in the area by the border patrol because they had so many people up at the border lately, and they needed to do something with people because the resources up there were being overrun,” Page said. He did not know where the immigrants were from, nor did he know their immigration status, he said.

Page did not know the current whereabouts of all the people left at the historic train depot in downtown St. Johnsbury, but he told the Caledonian Record some of them may have taken a Rural Community Transportation bus to other locations in the state.

At his press conference on Tuesday, Gov. Phil Scott said he learned about the situation late Monday night, and his office got in touch with Page.

Jennifer Morrison, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, said “approximately a dozen people” had been “seeking asylum” at the northern border and “appeared to have no plan.” She said that anecdotally, most asylum seekers have a transportation plan in place when they cross the border.

“We will stay in constant contact with (border patrol) to address this issue in the most humane yet responsible manner. I think we need to have some conversa - tions on a larger scale about exactly what we’re prepared to do,” she said.

Jenney Samuelson, secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, said at the press conference that her agency and the Department of Public Safety had previously planned around “housing, food and other services that are necessary (for asylum seekers).”

A team “has begun working with the local towns and agencies in that area to both assess what’s available and to contemplate and put in place what will be necessary if we continue to see an increasing number (of asylum seekers),” Samuelson said.

Border patrol at the agency’s Swanton sector has reported a “major increase” in apprehensions at the northern border in recent months, and additional border patrol agents were recently transferred to the Swanton sector — which covers the length of Vermont’s border with Canada — to deal with the influx of immigrants.

In St. Johnsbury, Chief Page thanked staff at the welcome center for helping the immigrants, and stressed that local residents do not need to worry about the few families who’ve been transported to town.

“There’s nothing that led me to believe we need to fear these people. I think we need to help them,” he said. “It’s not an easy situation for anyone.”

Phone and email requests for comment left for border patrol officials were not returned on Tuesday.

Obituaries

David Bartlett, Sr.

David Bartlett, Sr., 88, beloved husband and father, passed away March 13, 2023, surrounded by his loving family at the Miller-McClure Respite House. David was born Aug. 5, 1934, in Burlington to Earl & Jessie (Gleason) Bartlett. He spent his childhood in Underhill. While attending Essex High School, David met the love of his life, Janice Osborne. They were married April 21, 1951.

David and Janice spent their early married years raising their family on the family farm in Williston. They settled in Milton in 1963.

David was a hard-working, Vermont farmer through-andthrough. David worked for H. P. Hood for years and then went into landscaping where he owned his own business, Bartlett’s Landscaping and Lawn Service, until he retired.

David enjoyed being outside, hunting, fishing, gardening, driving the back roads and puttering in his garage.

David is survived by his loving and devoted wife of almost 72 years, Janice. He is also survived by his loving children, David Jr., his wife Marie, and their children Kim, Nicky and Jessica; Kathy Chase and her partner Noah and children, Sean and Chad; Linda Hanson and her husband Jeff and children, Missy, Jen and Jason and Liz Miller and her husband Tim and their children Thomas and Katie. David is also survived by 16 great-grandchildren, his brothers and their spouses; Arthur and Toni, Robin and Pat Bartlett and his sister Betsey Berryman, sister-in-law Shirley DePaul, brother-in-law Howard Osborne and his wife Ann. David is predeceased by his parents, Earl and Jesse Bartlett; in-laws Howard and Flora Osborne; his daughter Sandy Chapman and her husband Rick; son-in-law Jim Chase; his brother Irving Bartlett; granddaughter Christine Dubuque and great-granddaughter Courtney Tousignant.

A Celebration of Life was held March 20, 2023 at New Life Christian Church.

Charles J. McDonald

Charles J. McDonald, 84, of Williston and formerly Stanhope, New Jersey, passed away at the McClure Miller Respite House on March 6, 2023, following a long illness. He spent his last days surrounded by adoring family.

Fondly known as Joe, he was born in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania on July 9, 1938, to Helen and Joseph McDonald. Joe was a talented athlete who loved playing baseball, basketball, and football. Following graduation, he enlisted in the US Army and served as a radar instructor. Later, he began a 40-plus year career as an electronic technician at Picatinny Arsenal in Wharton, NJ. He retired in 1996.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Elizabeth, his son Joe and wife Lissa of Essex, Vermont, son Tom and wife Mai of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, brother-in-law Steve Kozup and wife Sue of McGaheysville, Virginia, cousin Margaret of Pennsylvania, and nieces Sarah of Virginia, Jill of Missouri, and Gina of California.

Joe was a dedicated father who coached his sons in little league,

Barbara (Sargent) LaPlant

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Barbara (Sargent) LaPlant, 86, of Richmond, VT, on March 12, 2023. She was born January 26, 1937, in Hartford, VT, to M. Jackson and Harriet I. (Cote) Sargent. After graduating from High School, Barbara attended the former Johnson State Teacher’s College.

On December 29, 1957 she married Ralph H. LaPlant at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Burlington, VT. They celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary a few days prior to Ralph’s passing on January 1, 2003.

Barbara and her husband, Ralph, owned and operated Richmond Burner Service in Richmond, VT for many years. In her spare time, Barbara enjoyed selling Sarah Coventry jewelry, designing and sewing clothing for family and loved ones and using her endless creative talents for various projects. After being a long time enthusiast of the Richmond 4th basketball, and football in the Stanhope, New Jersey area. Joe and Betty followed their sons’ college football careers as they played for the University of Maine Black Bears, traveling to every game, home and away. He was well known in South Burlington as the vociferous man behind the camera as he filmed South Burlington High School football games for 25 years. Joe shared his love of sports, dirt bikes, motorcycles, and cars with his sons. They taught him to ski at age 50 so they could continue to be active as a family and spend quality time together. Joe and Betty packed up their truck and RV and traveled from Vermont to California for 17 years in a row to spend winter months with their son

Tom and his wife Mai. They enjoyed traveling, site seeing, and exploring areas from the northeast to the west coast. He also adored his cairn terrier, Ozzie who made friends with everyone in their neighborhood at Williston Woods and at every rest stop, hotel, and campground from Vermont to California. Joe continued to discuss the purchase of his next best vehicle until his final days.

We invite you to share your condolences and memories of Joe at awrfh.com. A celebration of life for close family will be held at a later date. Many thanks to all staff at Thomas Chittenden Health Center and to Dr. Ahmed from the UVM Cancer Center for their excellent care. Our family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the McClure Miller Respite House where Joe received the best of comfort, compassion, and dignity in his final days. So that other patients and families may benefit from this amazing facility, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the McClure Miller Respite House at UVMHomeHealth.org, or send via mail to: McClure Miller Respite House, UVM Health NetworkHome Health and Hospice 110 Prim Road, Colchester, VT 05446 of July celebrations, she and her friends joined together in 1987 to form the Richmond Parade & Fireworks Committee where she sat for 32 years.

In retirement, she and Ralph set off on another business venture. Traveling in their RV, lovingly named “Ramblin’ Rose,” they combined Ralph’s love of driving with Barbara’s love of selling jewelry and meeting people, operating booths at local fairs and markets around New England.

Left to cherish Barbara’s memory are her children Vicky LaPlant and her partner, Shawn, Dana LaPlant and his wife,

Kathy, Gail LaPlant-Mongeon and her husband, Lenny, niece Lisa Wright and her husband, Harry. Her grandchildren, Denver Webb and his wife, Crystal, Amanda Tetreault, Katelyn Nadeau and her husband, Paul, Miranda Young and her husband, Mike, Trevor LaPlant and his wife, Tatum, Bailee Montgomery-Noel and her husband, Kyle, Mindy Vincent and her partner, Brad, Melinda Crosby and her wife, Sarah, Laura Crosby and her partner, Brian, Christina Mispel and her husband, Shane, and Janet Hill and her husband, Paul. As well as, 20 great grandchildren. Also many special friendships including, Susan and Peter Glennon, and Norman Perkins.

She was predeceased by her husband Ralph LaPlant, her brother Gaynor Sargent, and sister-in-law, Anne Sargent.

Visiting hours were Monday, March 20, 2023 from 4pm to 7pm at the Richmond Congregational Church, 20 Church Street, Richmond. A service was held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 11:00am at the Richmond Congregational Church.