WVTK Local & State News August 11, 2010

Vermont State Police are seeking assistance from the public with the recent rash of daytime burglaries in Addison County. Police are asking people to report any suspicious activity including unfamiliar people knocking on doors and unfamiliar or suspicious acting vehicles. Anyone with information is asked to call the Vermont State Police New Haven Barracks at (802) 388-4919.

Rutland City Police are investigating several burglaries and attempted break-ins on Woodstock and Harrison avenues over the weekend. Three businesses, including Ginger China, the Flower Exchange and a dog obedience school were broken into Saturday night and thieves tried unsuccessfully to pry open the door of another business on the block. Anyone with information about the break-ins is asked to call the Rutland Police Department.

The town of Poultney will hold a public forum on its participation in the e-Vermont Community Broadband Project at 7PM today in the Poultney High School Library. Poultney was one of 12 towns chosen by the Vermont Council on Rural Development to participate in the project that makes technical assistance available for projects that are created locally.

According to Essex County officials the search for a new site for the Veterans' Administration clinic in Elizabethtown may soon be over. The owner of the former State Police barracks in Westport has submitted an application to Westport's Planning Board to renovate the single-story brick building for use as a new site for the VA Clinic. The project will still need the approval of the Westport Planning Board, which will hold public hearing on the issue August 25th.

Second Blessings thrift shop in Crown Point is collecting back-to-school supplies for local students. Items needed include crayons, glue sticks, pocket folders, small drinking cups, tissues, plastic pencil boxes, no. 2 pencils, boxes of assorted color pencils, pencil cap erasers, loose leaf paper, composition notebooks, highlighters, gallon-size zip lock bags and book bags large enough to carry books, sneakers and extra clothes. You can bring your donations to Second Blessings on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during the next few weeks. Second Blessings thrift shop is located on the corner of Creek Road and Route 9N.

Teachers in Vermont and New York who have lost their jobs because of budget cuts might be going back to work. Yesterday afternoon, President Barack Obama, signed the "Jobs Bill" which will provide millions of dollars to both states to protect teachers and other public workers. But officials are still waiting to see if there are any strings attached.

Senator Patrick Leahy will meet with first responders at the Montpelier Firehouse this morning at 11. Senator Leahy has long supported first responders and has ensured they have the resources they need to do their job safely and effectively. He also worked to pass the Dale Long Emergency Medical Services Providers Act, which qualifies volunteer EMS personnel for benefits that were previously only available to professional emergency workers.

Vermont businesses and organizations are going to use $4.5 million in federal stimulus money to train unemployed and underemployed people for green jobs. The 2-year grant will train people for a number of fields, including weatherization, renewable energy, recycling and sustainable agriculture.

The state of Vermont is studying the impact of a federal ruling that said California's renewable energy program is not permitted under federal law. Vermont Public Service Department Commissioner David O'Brien says a new Vermont law is similar to one in California that requires utilities to pay more for local green energy.

Former Assemblyman Chris Ortloff will spend the next 12 and half years behind bars. Ortloff pleaded guilty last year to federal child sex charges after being caught in a sting operation in October of 2008. He was also order to pay a $50-thousand fine. The 62-year-old represented the North Country in the state Assembly from 1986 to 2006.

New York State Police say they have found human remains in Minerva that may be a woman who was murdered over 30-years ago. Thomas Collard allegedly confessed to police recently that he had killed his wife. Some of the bones are now being DNA tested to make sure they are the remains of Judy Collard. Mr. Collard is awaiting an appearance before an Essex County grand jury.

There's a job opening at Burlington Telecomm. The General Manager, Chris Burns, has taken a job out of state. Burn has been GM since the creation of B-T in 2002. He will be leaving at the end of the month. Dorman and Fawcett, which has served as an advisor to the city on B-T, will takeover as interim management.

Vermont is trying to get a lawsuit over Lake pollution, tossed out of federal court. The Conservation Law Foundation is suing the state, saying its regulations allow too much phosphorous to enter Lake Champlain. Vermont officials are urging the judge to throw out the suit because New York shares responsibility but is not named in the complaint.

Details about a new power contract between Hydro-Quebec, Central Vermont Public Service, and Green Mountain Power will be released during a press conference tomorrow. Officials say Vermonters will be happy with what they hear. Tomorrow's press conference is scheduled for 11 AM at The Essex (formerly known as the Inn at Essex).

The 162nd Annual Essex County Fair opens today on Route 9N in Westport. This year's fair includes the Torres One-Ring Family Circus; agricultural exhibits; rides; daily magician shows with Jeff Boyer, the Mad Scientist; and much much more. The fair starts today and runs thru this Sunday.