WVTK Local & State News March 11, 2010

The Vermont Department of Education has released its list of "persistently low-achieving schools". The 10 schools on the list failed to make adequate progress on student assessment tests for the past several years. They have 4 options to qualify for improvement grants; close the school, reopen as a charter school, fire the principal and half the teachers, or submit a restructuring plan. The schools on the list are … Bridport Elementary School, Fair Haven High School, Johnson Elementary School, Mount Abraham Union High School, Northfield Elementary School, Otter Valley High School, Rutland High School, Windsor High School, Winooski High School and H.O. Wheeler Elementary.

Service at the Center Rutland Post Office will be suspended by the end of the month. Concerns about the condition of the building were cited as the top reason for closure in a letter customers received Wednesday from Cynthia Thurston, a manager of post office operations at the U.S. Postal Service. While the office is suspended delivery and retail services will be provided by a rural carrier to roadside mailboxes installed by customers effective April 1. Post office boxes will be moved and serviced at the West Rutland Post Office at no cost to customers.

Vermont utility officials say they're hopeful that can get new power purchase deals from Canadian utility Hydro-Quebec. The heads of Green Mountain Power and CVPS are visiting Canada this week as the companies try to wrap up more than a year of talks on new deals to replace contracts expiring over the next few years.

Hundreds of Vermont residents got a change to speak their minds about the possible school district consolidation plans. Their main concern is that it will force children to attend a specific public school and will eliminate the choice to attend independent schools. There are 3 bills now being discussed, 2 of them call for reducing the number of districts to 14 or 15.

A Canadian company hopes to place high-powered electric transmission lines under the entire length of Lake Champlain. Toronto-based T-D-I wants to use the buried line to carry cheaper power from the Canadian Maritimes to New England and New York City. The company says going underwater will have less impact on the environment than building new lines above ground.

Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch has proposed a 5-year plan to control state spending. The proposal includes borrowing up to $2 billion a year for the next three years. It also would create an independent financial review board. Ravitch says his proposal would eliminate the state’s projected deficits over the next 5 years, which could total $60 billion without action.

Burlington officials say despite a reduced credit rating the city is not in financial trouble. With Burlington Telecom unable to repay the city the 17-million dollars it borrowed, Moody’s Investor Service raised concerns about the city's fiscal health, and dropped its credit rating two notches. The city's Chief Administrative Officer says the city is having no trouble paying its bills.

Plattsburgh City Councilors voted on a tobacco-free policy last night. The policy means that smoking would not be allowed at the City Beach or any of the city’s public recreation areas. The city would also create designate areas, away from the public portions of the beach and parks, for people to smoke.

Vermont's jobless rate remained unchanged in January at 6.7 percent. State officials say the unemployment rate in the state has been on a slight decline since last May. Around the state, unemployment rates ranged from 5 percent in Hartford to 11 percent in Newport.

Williston Police were lead on a high speed chase early yesterday morning. Police say they tried to stop 54-year-old Susan Benjamin of Wolcott shortly after 1 AM yesterday morning. That's when she reportedly led police through South Burlington, Burlington, Williston, and Essex. Police had to deploy spike strips on Route 117 in order to stop Benjamin. She now faces a number of charges.

The Clinton County Health Department is offering a Rabies Clinic tonight from 6 to 8:30 at the Plattsburgh Public Works Building. The rabies clinic is for dogs, cats and ferrets and is free for Clinton County Residents. All pets must be at least 3 months old and must be on a leash or in a carrier to be admitted to the clinic.

Police have arrested a man for allegedly stealing $400 worth of fish from Noah’s Ark Pet Center in Colchester. The suspect, Robert Hintze, was identified by the store manager on a surveillance video. According to police, Hintze used the stores nets, bagged up the fish, and walked out the door on March 2 without paying. The fish were returned to the store, safe and sound, yesterday.

With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, police are reminding residents to stay safe on the road after their holiday celebrations. The crackdown started Tuesday and will run through next Thursday, bringing sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols throughout area. Police suggest you plan ahead and arrange for other transportation from any party or holiday event.

The Vermont corrections department is encouraging crime victims to register with its new database. The Vermont Automated Notification Service, or VANS, keeps victims, their relatives, and others up-to-date on offenders. It provides recorded messages with information on when the offenders are due in court or when they've been released from prison. VANS launched last August. Since then, more than 1,700 Vermonters have signed up. For more information on signing up, you can call the VANS toll-free number at 1-866-976-VANS (8267) or visit www.vinelink.com.