Robert Blechl, The Caledonian-Record Journalist Profile

Articles

Local Leaders To Take End-Of-Life Options Bill Into 2026 Session

1 week ago | caledonianrecord.com | Robert Blechl

A bill seeking to legalize medical-aid-in-dying for those with terminal illnesses didn’t make it out of the 2025 legislative session, but its local leaders and supporters cite growing bipartisan support statewide and plans to bring it back in 2026.
Judge Rejects Murder Conspirator’s Plea To Suspend Remaining Sentence

1 week ago | caledonianrecord.com | Robert Blechl

A Grafton Superior Court judge has denied a push by a murder conspirator to suspend the remainder of his state prison sentence, concluding that he “willingly conspired” in the gunning down of a confidential informant for police.
Local Man Pleads Guilty To Having Sex With Vt. Minor

1 week ago | caledonianrecord.com | Robert Blechl

Following his arrest in June, a Groveton man is set to serve more than four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to crossing the state line into Vermont to have sex with a minor. Brandon L. Couture, 39, who also faces separate charges in New Hampshire superior court for sexually assaulting another minor, is scheduled to formally enter his plea during a hearing on May 22 at New Hampshire federal court in Concord.
Second Of Three Locals Sentenced In Mass.-Based Drug Trafficking Operation

1 week ago | caledonianrecord.com | Robert Blechl

On Monday, after pleading guilty in January, the second of three locals charged in federal court for his participation in a large-scale Lawrence, Massachusetts-based drug trafficking operation that extended into Coos County was sentenced. In 2023, Benjamin Conkright, 29, was one of 15 people — most of them from southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts — indicted by a grand jury for their involvement in trafficking fentanyl and cocaine.
Town Honors Retiring Museum Curator

1 week ago | caledonianrecord.com | Robert Blechl

LITTLETON — The man knows his history. He’s spent his career and retirement sharing it with others, and for the past decade and a half, has devoted his time to leading the Littleton Area Historical Society museum and preserving the town’s past and present for current and future generations. kAm“%96 7:CDE @C56C @7 3FD:?6DD :D E@ 46=63C2E6 2 86?E=6>2?[” {:?52 |24}6:=[ 492:C @7 E96 $6=64E q@2C5[ D2:5 2E E96 E@A @7 |@?52J’D 3@2C5 >66E:?8] “s:4< p=36C:?: 92D 366? da J62CD :? E96 D6CG:46 @7 E96 E@H?
Local Felon Indicted On Charges Of Firing Gun At Deputy Marshals

1 week ago | caledonianrecord.com | Robert Blechl

A felon facing federal firearms charges in Vermont has now been directly indicted for allegedly firing a handgun at deputy U.S. marshals following a high-speed chase that began in Dalton on Oct. 24 and ended in East Ryegate. In a second superseding indictment delivered by a grand jury on April 3, Douglas Reynolds Jr., 37, faces a total of five felony counts. kAm%9C66 492C86 9:> H:E9 36:?8 2 76=@? :? F?=2H7F= A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 ]bdf >28?F> C6G@=G6C 2?5 2 ]aa\42=:36C C:7=6 @?
Police: Beware Of Certain Contractors

1 week ago | caledonianrecord.com | Robert Blechl

For several years, Littleton police have been contacted by residents lodging complaints about contractors who accept pre-payments for construction and other jobs and then either don’t start the jobs or don’t complete them. “We run into this a lot,” said Littleton Police Detective-Sergeant Scott Powers.
Tourism Officials Concerned About Canadian Boycotts, Domestic Pullback

1 week ago | caledonianrecord.com | Robert Blechl

As trade wars, on-again-off-again tariffs, and daily uncertainty circulate from the Trump Administration, New Hampshire tourism officials are bracing for impacts from Canadian tourist boycotts and possible spending pullbacks in the domestic consumer market. For the past two consecutive months, year over year, Canadian traffic has already decreased. kAmx? }6H w2>AD9:C6[ E@FC:D> :D E96 DE2E6’D D64@?5\=2C86DE C6G6?F6 5C:G6C[ 2?5 :E’D 2? 6G6? 8C62E6C 5C:G6C :?
State Studies Options For Nearly Century-Old Bridge

1 week ago | caledonianrecord.com | Robert Blechl

State transportation officials are studying options for a nearly century-old bridge that spans the Ammonoosuc River in Bethlehem Hollow. Officials with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation addressed the Bethlehem Select Board last week. In 2017, the department red-listed the bridge along Route 142 between Wing Road and Maplewood Hill Road because of its overall poor condition. kAmq642FD6 @7 :ED DECF4EFC2= 2?5 86@>6EC:4 567:4:6?4:6D[ E96 3C:586 H2D :?EC@5F465 :?
Executive Council Approves Grants For Border Patrols, Local Conservation

1 week ago | caledonianrecord.com | Robert Blechl

The New Hampshire Governor and Council on Wednesday increased the dollar amount of a previous grant to address crime and activities at the Canadian border and also approved grants for local conservation projects.