WVTK Local & State News March 1, 2010

Here in Middlebury budgets only changed slightly this year. The town budget of $5,571,824 to be raised by taxes is up $1,012, or less than 1 percent, from last year's $5,570,812. The town school budget went from $5,685,813 to $5,771,989, up $86,176, or 1.5 percent. The Middlebury Union budget went from $15,530,470 to $15,967,209, an increase of $436,793, or 2.8 percent. The town ballot also features items authorizing the Select Board to borrow up to $203,000 to replace vehicles over the next five years, to establish a reserve fund for technology to preserve land records and to phase out the business personal property tax. Middlebury meets at 7 p.m. today in the Town Hall Theater, where budgetary items are voted from the floor. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the municipal auditorium/gymnasium.

Vermont merchants said they have high hopes for the upcoming sales tax holiday. They're confident it will provide a much needed boost for their sales. Saturday, March 6, is one two sales tax holidays this year for any purchase less than $2,000. Many businesses will be open 24 hours on March 6 for stoppers to take advantage of no sales tax.

A judge has declared the Plattsburgh man accused of a double murder in Dannemora competent to stand trial. 52-year-old Tony Pavone is accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend Patricia Howard and her new boyfriend Timothy Carter at Carter's home last month. Pavone is charged with two counts of second-degree murder.

Officials have lifted a weight limit on trucks using the temporary ferry between Addison and Crown Point. Vermont and New York had imposed the weight and axle restrictions when the new temporary ferry opened last month. Vermont Transportation Secretary David Dill said truckers may now use the ferry in the same capacity as they used the bridge.

Vermont police say they've arrested a Massachusetts man in connection with a break-in at a home decor and gift shop in South Burlington. Police responded to a burglar alarm at The Willow House and followed footprints in the snow before arresting 21-year-old Derek Wales of Brimfield, Mass.
He was charged with burglary and taken to the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility.

The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife is warning anglers across the state to beware of thin ice. Vermont head game warden Colonel David LeCours says the ice fishing has been good in recent weeks, but the water is warming and ice is moving away from shores in some places.

Burlington is looking at a potential partnership with Google to become a test site for a new super-high-speed fiber optic communications network. Google is looking for communities to act as test sites. The city is planning a public meeting on its application to Google this Thursday at 6:30 at City Hall.

Governor David Patterson has announced that he is ending his campaign for governor. Paterson insisted that ending his campaign had nothing to do with the recent controversy surrounding his office. The State's Attorney General is investigating whether Paterson tried to stop a woman from filing a domestic abuse case against one of the governor's close aides.

Voters in Colchester on Town Meeting Day will decide if the town should look into buying some waterfront property. The Catholic Diocese is selling the 29 acres Camp Holy Cross in Colchester to help settle lawsuits. Supporters worry the land could be snapped up by developers. Voters would have the final say if and how the land is purchased.

Crew worked through the weekend to restore power to customers throughout New England. Now the lights are back on for customers in Vermont but New York still has about 87,000 without power, New Hampshire more 83,000, and Maine 16,000. At the peak of the storm last week, more than a million utility customers throughout the region had lost power.