N.H. police chase ends in arrest

SALEM, N.H. (AP) – A Derry man was arrested Saturday after police said he rammed a police cruiser, almost hit an officer and led police on a chase.

Thomas Blanchette, 20, was pursued by police from Salem into Derry after he tried to get away from a motor vehicle stop. He has been charged with aggravated drunken driving, receiving stolen property and reckless conduct.

Police said Blanchette was observed driving on lawns shortly before 3 a.m. on Saturday. Police said he also hit a car in an intersection then dropped three juveniles off near a school. When police approached, they said he rammed one of the cruisers and drove in the direction of one of the officers. Police fired shots in an attempt to stop him, but did not hit him.

Police caught up with Blanchette when he crashed on South Range Road in Derry. Police said the car was stolen from Derry. Blanchette was taken to Parkland Medical Center. Police said he assaulted an officer and a nurse while being treated there and additional charges may be filed.

Sick child alerts church evacuation

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) – A sick child at a morning church service Sunday resulted in the evacuation of the building after carbon monoxide was detected.

The child became ill while attending Pilgrim Congregational Church was taken across the street to a local fire station, WTNH-TV reported Sunday night.

Firefighters described the child as having seizure-like symptoms and immediately went across the street to the church to test for carbon monoxide.

Nearly a dozen people were sickened by the odorless gas that authorities traced to a faulty furnace.

Officials inspect chopper crash

ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – Aviation officials are investigating a helicopter crash at Skyhaven Airport.

Officials said a two-person helicopter crashed Saturday, but both people inside were able to walk away.

Officials said Christopher Meyer of Nottingham was with an instructor when they came down for a landing and crashed at the end of the runway. Officials have not said who was flying the helicopter. Meyer and instructor Clive Spedding of Springvale, Maine were not hurt.

The cockpit glass broke and the rotor blades bent in the crash. Fuel also spilled from the helicopter. Fire officials were called to douse the fuel to prevent a fire.

Highway tokens earn holiday funds

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – A local lawmaker is crafting old highway tokens into earrings to raise money for holiday gifts for needy children.

Concord state Rep. Liz Hager is selling the earrings at the Statehouse visitors center. She’s even incorporating the traditional 50 percent discount that the tokens provide to drivers at the tolls. The full cost of a pair of earrings is listed at $16 per pair, but she’s selling them at a 50 percent discount for $8 a pair.

The tokens will no longer be accepted at tollbooths starting in January. They are being replaced by an electronic toll system that allows drivers to put devices on their cars that automatically deduct the toll from a computer account.