WVTK Local & State News December 24, 2009

The state attorney general's office is warning Vermont consumers to beware of a telephone scheme they're calling the "grandparent" scam. In the scam, someone using an untraceable cell phone calls an elderly person and poses as their grandson, claiming to be in trouble and in need of money in Canada.

A Plattsburgh man who gave drugs to a teenager, who then overdosed last year, has been sentenced to 7 years in prison. 31-year-old Scott Miller pleaded guilty to drug charges in connection with the death of 17-year-old Julia Delsignore. but took off to Canada before he could be sentenced. This week, he returned to Clinton County Court, where he was sentenced to 7 years in prison and 3 years of post-release supervision.

Vermont State Police investigators say they've given up - for now - a search for the remains of a Westford grandmother believed buried in woods behind the elementary school. Authorities say they will resume the search for the remains of Mary Wilcox in the spring. Her daughter has been arrested in the 2006 death.

All Post Offices are open today, but many will shorten retail lobby hours. Regular mail delivery for today will be unaffected by the change. Post Offices will be closed tomorrow. Express Mail will be delivered tomorrow and regular mail delivery will resume on Saturday. Most locations across Vermont will be closing at noon except for the larger city branches.

A farm worker from Mexico is dead after what police say appears to have been an accident on a Fairfield farm late Tuesday. State police say the worker, who was under 21, got caught in a piece of equipment. Police say all indications are the death was an accident. Federal safety officials are investigating.

More than 300 Vermont National Guard Solders, who have been training in Indiana for an upcoming deployment, are back in Vermont to spend the Holiday with their loved ones. Their transportation was paid for by donations raised during Operation Holiday Homecoming. The solders will be here till New Years Day when they return to Indiana for more training.

None of the tickets sold for the Powerball game last night matched all six numbers drawn. The jackpot was estimated at $110-Million. Players matching all five numbers and the Powerball would have won or shared the $55.1 million jackpot. The prize goes to an estimated $122-Million for Saturday.

A Vermont woman whose wheelchair was stolen from her daughter's car at a Massachusetts mall is appealing to common decency during the holiday season for the thief to return her lifeline. Lucille Riccio of Wilmington says the $1,000 chair is the only way she can leave her home. Police have no suspects.