WVTK Local & State News August 13, 2010

Officials say so far so good on the new Crown Point Bridge. As construction crews continue to build the new span that will cross Lake Champlain, state officials say there have been no delays so far on the project. Right now crews are installing 7 new concrete piers that will support the new bridge. Then they will begin steal work on both sides of the lake.

Middlebury selectmen have agreed to seek a lower speed limit on Route 7 South between Middlebury village and East Middlebury. This was prompted in part by last week’s fatal accident at the intersection of 7 and Cady Cross Road. Scott Foster of the Middlebury Development Review board urged selectmen to petition the Agency of Transportation to lower the 50 mph limit between G. Stone Motors and Route 125.

After more than a year and a half of planning and permit deliberations, the McDonald’s Restaurant here in Middlebury closed last Wednesday for demolition and rebuilding. The demolition, reconstruction and preparation for the restaurant’s reopening are scheduled to take about 90 days.

A small part of the $16 million Cross Street Bridge project is continuing to take up a large part of Middlebury selectmen’s time. The question is what to place in the middle of the new roundabout that workers began to build this week at the bridge’s downtown end. In late June, a committee appointed by selectmen recommended a prominent public work of art that should be 20 to 25 feet tall, lighted at night, and designed to be appreciated from a safe distance.

The Leicester Select Board is seeking an individual to serve as an alternate delegate from the town to the Addison County Regional Planning Commission. They are also looking for full or part-time residents to serve on the town planning board to help with revisions to the town by-laws. For more information call 247-3786 for the Planning Commission position or 247-5305 for the Planning Board.

The Brandon Town Players will be holding auditions for their 5th annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theater August 31st and September 2nd at 6:30PM at the Brandon Town Hall. There are rolls for men, women and young adults who are at least 16. Performance dates are October 29th and 30th at the South Station Restaurant in Rutland. For more information contact Kathy Mathis at 247-6720.

New campaign finance reports show the two Vermont incumbents for Congress -- Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy and Representative Peter Welch -- are far ahead of their opponents in campaign contributions. Leahy has raised a total of $4.1 million and has $3.2 million in cash and Welch has brought in $759,700 and has $1 million.

The co-owner of a now-closed Vermont slaughterhouse has pleaded not guilty to an animal cruelty charge. Frank Perretta of Grand Isle was arraigned yesterday, three days after he turned himself in following his arrest on a fugitive from justice charge in New York. Perretta was released on $10,000 bail that he posted when he surrendered and the condition that he not be around livestock.

Vermont utilities have signed off on a new long-term power-purchase contract with Hydro Quebec. Under the deal announced yesterday, Vermont will purchase up to 225 megawatts of power -- equal to about a quarter of that state's demand for electricity -- starting in November 2012 and ending in 2038.

Two northeastern Vermont communities are considering joining forces to build a small wood powered electric generating plant. The proposal by officials in the villages of Orleans and Barton would generate enough electricity for the customers of the municipal utilities in the two communities.

The biggest audience Maiden Vermont ever sang to was a crowd of about 900 at one of the Castleton Concerts on the Green. 

The all-women barbershop chorus, whose members are primarily from the Rutland and Middlebury area, will shatter that record next week when they sing national anthems before a Red Sox game at the 38,000-seat Fenway Park. The Red Sox play the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 21, so the chorus will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “O, Canada.” The group will follow up its Fenway appearance with a benefit for the Brandon Town Hall Aug. 28 and one for the New Haven Town Hall Aug. 29 and then a show Sept. 11 at the Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society in Middlebury.

Drivers should expect delays and bumpy roads through the end of the summer as Rutland city continues road-paving projects. 

Traffic on Church Street has been delayed for the last week as contractors dig up the road for a fresh coat of pavement, and travelers should expect the same on portions of Crescent Street, Stratton Road, Grove Street, Gleason Road, Clinton Avenue and Campbell Road before winter.

Crown Point State Historic Site will host a British, French and Indian war encampment Aug. 14 and 15. No vast battles, only skirmishes, were fought at Crown Point in the 1700s, so four tactical weapons demonstrations are scheduled for the public to view during the encampment weekend. The "battles" will take place between at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on both Saturday and on Sunday.

Central Vermont Public Service and Green Mountain Power have signed a 26-year deal with Hydro-Quebec. Starting in November of 2012, Vermont will purchase about a quarter of its power, or up to 225 megawatts of energy, mostly hydroelectric the Canadian utility. The new deal also protects Vermonters from sudden price hikes.

A Massachusetts woman is recovering today after being rescued off of the Monroe Trail, which runs up Camel's Hump. Rescue crews from 4 different agencies raced up the trail to find 67-year-old Deborah Gardner, who was hiking by herself when she slipped and fell and fractured her hip. Some nearby hikers were able to help Gardner call 911 for help.

Police say a paternity test proves a New York inmate was lying about being raped by guards. Rhonda Dufoe is serving time for manslaughter in the Franklin County jail. In April she reported being 5 months pregnant after guards attacked her. The baby was born and tests prove the father is Richard Oakes, her boyfriend, who is also doing time for manslaughter.

39-year-old Eric Edson is going to prison for the next 10 to 14 years for breaking into a home in North Hero in 2008. Since 1987, Edson has been arrested 37 times on felonies. This time, the judge gave him the maximum sentence for burglary. Edson still faced other charges in Lamoille County that could have him spending the rest of his life behind bars.