WVTK Local & State News June 15, 2011

The Ticonderoga Ferry will soon be up and running again now that Lake Champlain's water levels are going down. Ferry service between Shoreham and Ticonderoga was supposed to begin on May 1, but the record flooding made it impossible for the ferry to launch from the Vermont side. The ferry will start running again on Thursday. It's open from 7 AM to 7 PM, making about three trips an hour.

Jury selection is set to begin on today in the trial of a New Haven man charged with a brutal attack at the Basin Harbor Club. Police say in September of 2010, 48-year-old Joseph Forziati attacked another worker at the Vergennes resort's restaurant. The two reportedly have a history of disagreements. He pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated assault with weapons.

Police have released a sketch of a man who may have been spotted driving a car registered to a missing Essex, VT couple. Essex police say a citizen reported the possible sighting took place on Pearl Street in Essex Junction on Thursday. 49-year-old William Currier, an animal care technician at the University of Vermont, and his 55-year-old wife Lorraine, who works at Fletcher Allen Health Care, were last seen a week ago Wednesday by co-workers. Their car was found near their home, but the couple is still missing.

Gov. Peter Shumlin sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture yesterday requesting help for farmers statewide. Wet weather has undeniably delayed this year's crop. Farmers at Bordeau Brothers say the past few windy days have dried out a plot of land to the point where they can plant here, but that's not the case around the state or the country. Jim Bushey says if farmers don't plant soon, they may be forced to feed their animals with out-of-state feed, which can be expensive. Shumlin's disaster designation letter encompasses all counties. No word on when the governor's office expects to hear back from the Department of Agriculture.

Vermont businesses damaged by recent flooding are now eligible for an emergency low-interest loan program approved by Gov. Peter Shumlin and the chairs of the Legislature's money committees. They approve a $1 million appropriation to support a loan program to help businesses damaged by the flooding. That will enable the Vermont Economic Development Authority to borrow an additional $3 million, and from that pot, loans of up to $25,000 will go to businesses that suffered flood damage. Officials say the loans will require no payment and no interest for one year and carry a 1% interest rate after that.

President Barack Obama declared late last week that 21 upstate New York counties suffered a major disaster as a result of widespread flooding earlier this spring, freeing up federal funds to pay for clean up and repairs. Franklin, Essex, and Clinton counties are among those designated as a federal disaster area. In the North Country alone, damage to public property is estimated at well over $25 million, the minimum level to qualify for disaster relief through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Applications are available now for mini grants to help individuals and families affected by flooding in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties. The disaster-relief funds, offered by united way of the Adirondack Region Inc, in partnership with the united way of New York State, come from money set aside by members of the civil service employees association. Applications are being accepted through June 27th. For more information or referrals dial 2-1-1.

The Vermont Department of Education said little yesterday about an ongoing criminal investigation at Castleton Elementary School involving sexual misconduct between students, but said the process of getting to the bottom of the issue involves both an internal review of any harassment of students and a possible state review of educators’ licenses. Superintendent Ronald Ryan wrote in an email that there was no additional information yesterday.

The city of Rutland is preparing to spend more on pipe replacement, but less money overall, in the new proposed water and sewer budget. Mayor Christopher Louras presented his proposed water and sewer budget to the Board of Aldermen last week and it goes before the Public Works Committee tonight. Louras has said he intends to build small increases into the budget for long-term replacement of water lines. Many city pipes are more than 100 years old and some still date back to before the Civil War.

The Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce and the Rutland Economic Development Corp. on Monday endorsed the sale of Central Vermont Public Service Corp. to Fortis Inc. In a joint statement, both organizations said the sale of Vermont’s largest power company “will ultimately be good for Rutland and good for Vermont.” Fortis, which agreed to buy CVPS for $700 million, has promised CVPS local autonomy with its headquarters remaining in Rutland.

Students from Champlain Valley Technical Education Center lined up Monday to receive praise for their construction of the addition to the Moriah Town Courthouse. The Mineville-based students constructed the one-story courtroom building after commercial bids came in far above what the town could afford to spend. The addition to the town's court building will include a full courtroom and conference room space.

Vermont State Police say a woman who reported being stopped and groped by a fake police officer says she made the story up. Police say 25-year-old Ashley C. Martin of East Calais reported last Wednesday that an armed police impersonator stopped her on Route 15 in Morrisville and groped and sexually assaulted her after ordering her out of the car. Authorities say in a follow-up interview yesterday Martin acknowledged fabricating the incident. She will be arraigned today on charges of making a false report to a law enforcement officer.

Vermont's capital city is going ahead with a plan to expand state government's wood-fired heating system into city schools and government buildings. In a referendum yesterday, Montpelier voters said yes to a $2.75 million bond issue to help finance a $20 million biomass project that would hook up City Hall, the police and fire stations and two schools to the wood chip-burning system that's been heating the Statehouse and other state buildings for more than 20 years.

The state of Vermont is now taking applications for tax credits from businesses that have hired recently returned veterans. Under a new law, businesses that hire veterans with recent military experience can get a $2,000 credit, and veterans who start their own business can qualify for a similar benefit. For more information, contact the Office of Veterans Affairs.

Governor Peter Shumlin's press secretary plans to leave the administration later this summer to attend law school. Bianca Slota says she'll attend the University of Connecticut law school and hopes to pursue a career in politics after graduation. Slota says she told Governor Shumlin and his staff before she was hired that she was interested in law school and would probably attend if she were accepted.

Gov. Peter Shumlin has announced the appointment of a new commissioner for the state Department of Information and Innovation, which oversees computer networks and related technology in state government. Richard Boes comes to Vermont from a job as information technology officer at the California State University Fresno campus. Shumlin says the goal of the department will remain creating and running a state-of-the-art information system to enhance state services and efficiency.

There is some good news for people out of work. Northern New England post offices are hiring temporary workers. Applications are being accepted from June 21st - July 7th. The salary ranges from $12.00 an hour to more than $15. For more information, click HERE.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's bill to legalize gay marriage in New York provides several protections for religious groups opposed to same-sex marriage. The Marriage Equality Act would assure married gay couples have the same legal protections, rights and benefits of traditional married couples. The Democrat-led Assembly is expected to pass the bill easily. The Republican-led Senate, where the vote is very close, plans to consider it today behind closed doors.