WVTK Local & State News May 21, 2010

Authorities are investigating burglaries at two elementary schools. Vermont State Police say sometime this week, the Ferrisburgh Central School and the Monkton Elementary school were broken into. A number of items were stolen and some damage was done. Police are not sure if the two incidents are connected.

Vermont National Guard soldiers were involved in a violent clash in Afghanistan Wednesday. U.S. forces say Taliban suicide bombers tried to get into Bagram Air Base while other insurgents fired rockets and grenades. Officials say 9 U.S. troops were wounded in the attack, but would not release their names.

Bristol residents in the village police district could see a 12.5 percent hike in the amount to be raised by taxes if the police department’s spending plan is approved on Monday. The proposed police district budget for 2010-2011 is slated for a vote on May 24 at a 7 p.m. meeting at the Bristol Hub Teen Center, where residents will also discuss the town’s water and sewer budgets for the coming fiscal year.

Ferrisburgh selectmen will hold a meeting Monday night to discuss the future of the town-owned Union Meeting Hall. Selectmen are concerned about the condition of the historic building and the increasing cost of maintaining it. The building is now rented for a modest fee to a church, but officials said the income is not enough to pay for building upkeep in the long term.

One of Addison County’s largest farms has secured a $250,000 grant to put toward the construction of an on-farm methane digester to convert manure into electricity. Bristol’s Four Hills Farm received the grant from the Clean Energy Development Fund. It’s part of the $3 million in grants and low-interest loans for 15 Vermont renewable energy projects.

A Rutland Regional Medical Center registered nurse is facing 23 felony criminal charges and could lose her professional license for allegedly stealing painkillers from the hospital on more than 30 occasions. Jessica K. Larson of Fair Haven, was due in Rutland District Court Monday to answer 23 charges of prescription fraud. She failed to appear, prompting the Judge to issue a warrant for her arrest with bail set at $750.

A house fire on River Street in Rutland yesterday morning is being considered a suspicious blaze by state police fire investigators. The fire was mostly contained to the dining room where the it started, but the chief said damage from smoke, heat and water spread out from there. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the police of the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program.

Vermont Technical College in Randolph has scheduled a daylong symposium June 4th to focus on energy efficiency in historic buildings. Organizers say the gathering is for owners and managers of historic properties, energy efficiency practitioners and renewable energy installers.

It was once the biggest bike race in the Northeast, and now the Killington Stage race is back. The race folded in 2000, but now has new financial backing. The idea is to use events like it to turn Killington into a four season draw for tourists. Businesses are hoping for a big boost when the race rolls into town Memorial Day weekend. About 400 riders are expected. The race kicks off Saturday the 29th.

Officials say Vermont State Employees have been using the computers for more than just work. An internal Agency of Human Resources document says a number of employees have been using state computers to bid on items on eBay, watch sporting events, as well as visiting other websites. The state will soon be installing a monitor system on all state computers.

By the end of next month you will be able to fly nonstop from Plattsburgh to Boston. Starting June 24, there will be 3 flights a day during the week, and 2 flights a day on the weekends. Colgan Air, which operates U.S. Airways will make the trips with a plane that seats 34-passengers. You can book your tickets now through U.S. Airways.

The State of New York is opening dozens of campgrounds today in the Adirondack and Catskill parks for the summer season. But 2 popular local recreation sites are not among those. Point au Roche State Park in Beekmantown and Macomb State Park in Schuyler Falls were placed on a closure list by Governor David Paterson and will not be opening this year.

15 people are facing drug charges after police broke up a major drug ring in Burlington. Investigators say during one 60-day period of the investigation alone, the group purchased or sold over 4,000 Oxycontin pills with a street value of over $300,000 in the Burlington area. Police say 29 year-old Larry Bushey Jr. of Burlington is the alleged ringleader.

A man already in jail and charged with the kidnapping and murder of his 12-year-old niece, Brooke Bennett, may be facing more charges. Federal prosecutors say in a new court filing that Michael Jacques of Randolph, from behind bars, planned a series of e-mails, which were supposed to appear they were from a sex ring. The court filing says a friend of Jacques in Arizona was supposed to send the e-mails but cooperated with authorities instead.

The painting that was stolen from the Courtyard Marriot in Burlington 2 weeks ago, has been returned. Burlington Police say someone dressed in all dark clothing placed the painting at the front door early Wednesday Morning and then ran. The painting, that was taken on May 5, appears to not have any damage.

Police in Burlington are investigating vandalism at Perrywinkle's Jewelry on Main Street. According to police, a surveillance camera caught a man hurling a rock through the store's front window. The vandal is described as having a medium build and brown hair. Nothing was taken from the store. Police say it's clear from the video if anyone witnessed the crime.

A Satellite drifting in space might disrupt a number of cable and television stations on Sunday. Galaxy 15 was knocked out of its orbit by a solar storm and is predicted to drift dangerously close to AMC 11. AMC 11 carries a number of channels including Discovery, A&E, and The Weather Channel as well as a number of programs aired on the 4 major networks.