WVTK Local & State News July 23, 2010

As construction continues on the new Crown Point Bridge, more money is being earmarked for the project. The state of Vermont has sold more than $14-Million in transportation infrastructure bonds. The federal government will pay 80-percent of the total costs of the bridge project, with the balance divided between Vermont and New York.

Efficiency Vermont is offering more money for old refrigerators and freezers. For the past year they've been offering a $30 incentive for you to recycle your old refrigerators and freezers. For the rest of this month and all of August they will be offering $50 for your old appliances and free pick too. Fridges must be operational, and there is a limit of 2 units per household.

Bristol residents approved the amended police department-spending plan for fiscal year 2011 in a 25-16 vote on Monday evening. The plan moved forward following an initial 20-19 vote to cut the proposed budget by $10,000. A good portion of the approved spending plan will be raised by taxes on residents in the Bristol police district.

Champlain Oil Company may not proceed as planned with a convenience store, gas station and fast-food restaurant on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh. It has been found that the project lacks sufficient space to conform with Conservation District zoning on some of its lot.

Vergennes aldermen this week have agreed to talk further with officials from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes about selling or leasing land near the city’s recreation area on which the club could build a youth center.

As Vergennes Area Rescue Squad officials approach the funding phase for their planned major expansion of the Panton Road headquarters, they are seeking more help from the community in raising the roughly $1 million needed. An initial meeting of the squad’s building renovations committee drew only four local residents even though 28 letters were sent to key community members they thought could help spearhead fund-raising efforts.

One of Rutland’s oldest motels is up for auction next month. Economy Inn & Suites, formerly the site of the Econo Lodge on South Main St., will go on the auction block at 11 a.m. Aug. 12. Merchants Bank foreclosed on the owner of the 51-room motel and decided to put it up for auction.

Katie Smith has announced she is running for the position of Rutland County State's Attorney. She is running in the Republican primary race scheduled for vote on Aug. 24. Smith has been engaged in the practice of criminal law, including experience in Rutland County at the Vermont State's Attorney's Office and at the Public Defender's Office, for the past decade.

The National Weather Service has confirmed three tornadoes in Maine and one in Connecticut following a day of wild weather in which fast-moving storms knocked out power to thousands of homes, flooded roads and felled trees across New England. In Vermont, weather service officials say damage in Brookfield and Chelsea, was caused by strong winds, not a tornado.

Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, who's in the middle-east this week with a delegation of 4 other U.S. governors, spent a second day in Iraq and also visited troops in Kuwait. Douglas visited Joint Base Balad in Iraq, touring a combat hospital and a Staging Facility, where wounded service members prepare to be flown out of country for treatment.

Perdue Farms is recalling more than 91-thousand pounds of frozen chicken nugget products that may contain foreign materials. The products subject to recall include the 1-pound, 13-ounce bag of "GREAT VALUE Fully Cooked Chicken Nuggets" with a "BEST IF USED BY" date of June 9, 2011. The company discovered small pieces of blue plastic. No injuries have been reported.

Burlington Police are looking for your help in identifying a thief that broke into several cars in the New North End. Police say he stole a wallet from one car last week, and then used the victim's credit card at Hannaford's and an ATM. He left in a white vehicle. If you have any information, please call the Burlington Police Department.

No charges have been filed yet in connection with a raid on 3 suspected meth labs in St. Albans and Georgia earlier this week. 20 people were evacuated during the raid Tuesday. St. Albans Police Chief Gary Taylor says authorities are still working with state and federal prosecutors about what charges to file if any.

Vermont had a Powerball winner from the July 14 drawing. The lucky anonymous player purchased the $30,000 winning ticket at Stewart's in Fair Haven. The winning ticket matched four numbers plus the Powerball number. And because the player selected the Power Play option, it multiplied their winnings from $10,000 to $30,000.

Former UVM Basketball player Trevor Gaines died unexpectedly yesterday. Gaines played for the Catamounts until 2002, leading the team to its first-ever regular-season championship. According to UVM Athletics, 29-year-old Gaines died after he collapsed during a pickup basketball game. Gaines has spent the past 7 years playing basketball overseas, mostly with a team in Austria..

Lamoille County Field Days gets underway starting today. This years schedule includes agricultural exhibits each day along with Arts and Crafts, Truck and Tractor Pulls, and shows for all ages from different musical acts, a talent show, and even a magician show. For a complete schedule of events, visit LamoilleFieldDays.com.