WVTK Local & State News November 4, 2010

Governor-Elect Peter Shumlin will be holding a press conference today to announce the members of his incoming administration transition team. Shumlin yesterday at a noontime rally said he was humbled by the victory and the task ahead. Shumlin received a call from Brian Dubie just after 9-yesterday morning conceding in the race for governor.

The Vermont State Police started provided security details immediately for Governor-elect Shumlin. Troopers are now driving him around the state and staying with him at appearances throughout the day. Troopers say it's policy to provide two security details during a transition in state leadership, one for the sitting governor and one for his successor.

New York State Police have found an empty boat on Lake Champlain and are now trying to figure out if it belongs to a woman who is missing in upstate New York. Helicopter and ground searchers from numerous law enforcement agencies spent yesterday looking for 56-year Francine Marcel of Morrisonville.

A top Vermont utility regulator tells the Associated Press that Entergy Corp. will announce this week that it wants to sell the troubled Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. David O'Brien, commissioner of the Department of Public Service, says an Entergy executive told him the public announcement that Vermont's lone reactor is on the market will come within the next day or two.

The Vermont National Guard is opening a new unit headquarters at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho. The $11.3 million Readiness Center will serve as the administrative headquarters for the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which has been serving in Afghanistan for the last year.

Vermont's capital city is asking for a re-do on its vote counting, but the move isn't expected to change the outcome of any of the races in the just-completed election. Secretary of State Deb Markowitz says the city had a problem with a vote tabulation machine and brought in a backup machine.

Central Vermont Public Service has asked the Vermont Public Service Board to authorize an 8.34 percent rate increase under the company’s alternative regulation plan. The change would leave the company’s rates among the lowest of the major utilities in New England. It would take effect with bills rendered starting Jan. 1, 2011. The bill for a residential customer who uses 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month would rise from $78.11 to $84.54, a difference of $6.43. CVPS sited reliability and transmission improvements and increasing power costs as the reason for the increase.

Wildlife Director Mark Scott with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife says it's shaping up to be a good deer season for the state. Scott calls the deer rifle season vital to Vermont, with up to 90-thousand hunters in the woods later this month. He says it's culturally and socially important to the state, as hunting is the foundation providing some economic support.

Champlain Valley Christian School faculty and staff recognized Senior Kendra Powers of East Middlebury as Student of the Month. Kendra has achieved academic High Honors and Honors for the past three years. She is a member of the National Honor Society. Kendra is the recipient of a $44,000 merit scholarship from Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina, where she has been accepted to attend next fall. Kendra is also considering Champlain College.

Kathy Hutson has been named the 2010 Poultney Citizen of the Year Award. Hutson has served as a volunteer at the Poultney Food Shelf for many years and is currently director. She serves on the board of directors of the Poultney Summer Theater and has participated in "Shakespeare on Main Street " productions, since its inception, as well as stage manager for the last four years. The Citizen of the Year will be the grand marshal of the 2011 July 4th parade in Poultney.

Gov. Jim Douglas has invited the public to join members of the Vermont Fallen Families organization to observe the Veterans' Day holiday and the unveiling of the Vermont Global War on Terror Memorial at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The Vermont Global War on Terror Memorial will be unveiled Thursday, November 11th at 11 AM. Vermont's Gold Star Families and friends along with state officials have worked hard to organize and create a lasting monument to honor 36 Vermont servicemen who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation.