Lebanon
Rob Morse, a member of the board of the Lebanon Outing Club, the nonprofit group that runs the ski area, said the vandals broke all the windows in the lower lift shack; broke into the Jump Inn building, where ski-jumping skis and other equipment are stored; and broke a television and tossed a heavy bench across the room.
They also smashed windows, benches and other property at the judge’s tower.
“There’s been some damage before,” he said of prior incidents at the ski hill, “but this has been the worst.”
Morse said volunteers had boarded up the facilities and estimated the damage at more than $5,000.
In a Thursday evening news release, Lebanon police said officers responded to the ski area around 8 p.m. on Wednesday following a report that four to five males were “kicking doors and breaking windows” at the ski area.
The news release said officers “located five individuals in the area.”
Two were taken into custody on unrelated charges, and a third was issued a summons to appear in court on an unrelated charge, police said.
Jordan Whiting, 19, of Enfield, and a 16-year-old boy from Lebanon were arrested and charged with unlawful possession of alcohol, the release said. Enfield resident James Lussier, 24, was issued a summons to appear in court on an open container of alcohol charge, the release said.
All three were released on personal recognizance bail.
Police said “the investigation into this matter continues and additional charges are expected.”
Lebanon Recreation Director Paul Coats said the city recently has cleared some trees at the ski area to conform with the original design of Storrs Hill, making the buildings more open and visible. He said he thought that also would have been a deterrent to vandalism.
“You can see the 50-meter jump very easily now, and the judge’s tower, even from the base lodge,” Coats said. “It’s quite ironic that we’re talking about this.”
John Gregg can be reached at jgregg@vnews.com or 603-727-3217.