by Guy Page

The body of a Bennington man missing for 10 days was found floating in the Sherman Reservoir in Whitingham on Saturday morning, August 24.

At 9:47 AM, the State Police, responding to a call, located the body of a male floating in the reservoir. The body matched the description of Matthew Houskeeper, 59 who was reported missing on August 14.  

The body will be sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, in Burlington, Vermont where an autopsy and formal identification will be performed. 

Housekeeper has not been seen or heard from since Wednesday morning, Aug. 14. The Bennington Police Department initiated an investigation Thursday, Aug. 15, after he failed to show up at work and was reported missing. At about 11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 16, Housekeeper’s vehicle, a white 2023 Subaru Crosstrek, was located near the Sherman Reservoir.

The Vermont State Police would like to thank all the agencies that assisted in the search to include the Rowe Massachusetts Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife; New England K9 Search and Rescue; and Rescue Inc.

Car rear-ends propane truck – An Alburg man has been cited for DUI after his car crashed into the back of a propane tanker truck in Swanton, state police say.

At 4:36 PM Friday August 23, Vermont State Police received a report of a crash on the off ramp of Exit 21 on I-89 in Swanton. Police say Lee Collins, 43, was operating a Toyota Tundra pickup truck and rear ended an Ameri Gas propane truck in front of him that was stopped on the ramp.  It was determined that Collins was under the influence of alcohol, and he was arrested for DUI.  There was no reported damage or leaks to the propane truck.

Collins was issued a citation and charged with DUI #2, Violation of Conditions of Release (in regards to alcohol and driving), and Driving with a Suspended License.

Cops seek school bus gas siphoner – On August 13 at 9 AM, state police received a report from the Twin Valley Middle High School in Whitingham that two of their school buses had gas siphoned from them in August (see photos of perpetrator). If anyone can identify the perpetrator, please contact Trooper Acevedo at  802-722-4600, option 3, or email ericacevedo@vermont.gov.