WVTK Local & State News September 26, 2011

Vermont State Police are warning of a variety of telephone scams following an upsurge in incidents reported around the state. Police say the ploys include a lottery scam, one offering a free home security system, and a debt collector scam. Police say they are issuing the warning because the number of reports has increased. The lottery scam has mostly targeted the elderly. In the home security scam, victims are asked for personal information and credit card numbers. The debt collector scam is a nationwide fraud scheme that targets people who have a "payday loan" they got online.

Almost a month after Tropical Storm Irene knocked Rutland city's water supply, Mayor Christopher Louras announced Friday that it was “fully re-established.” Louras said repairs to the main line into the reservoir from Mendon Brook meant an end to water conservation orders, but warned the public that the city still lacked a backup supply, meaning contamination in Mendon Brook could again put the city in crisis mode.

Fundraising efforts in the town of Pittsford to help communities hurt by tropical storm Irene are just starting off and they have already raised approximately $8,000. A committee of residents and businesses in the town are spearheading efforts to raise funds through the month of October and they are off to a good start, with a $5,000 donation from OMYA and $3,000 from the Marble Valley Lions. A collection box can be found at the town offices and other local businesses.

Contractors for a proposed biomass plant and wood pellet manufacturing facility in Fair Haven said permitting applications for the project are back on track after Beaver Wood Energy closed financial deals to cover additional permit costs. A company official said they acquired more than $1 million in additional funds to complete development. It removed a roadblock in the project’s permit process.

Officials from Vermont say an emu in Brandon was found to be suffering from Eastern equine encephalitis, a disease carried by mosquitoes that can in rare cases be fatal. The case of the Emu was the first time that EEE has been confirmed in a live animal in Vermont. No cases have been reported in humans, although cases have been reported in bordering states and Quebec. Last year testing of deer and moose samples confirmed the virus is present in Vermont.

Taxpayers may soon be able to pay their Essex County property taxes with a credit card. The County Finance Committee has approved issuing a request for proposals to provide the collection of property taxes by credit card. The county would have to contract with a company that would process the credit card and charge the property owner a separate amount to compensate for the fee levied on the recipient by the card issuer.

A top U.S. Department of Agriculture official will visit Vermont farms recovering from flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Irene. Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will tour several farms in Westminster and Brattleboro in southern part of the state on today. Tomorrow, she plans to visit the Brattleboro Co-op, which is undergoing an expansion.

Gov. Peter Shumlin will hold a news conference this afternoon to announce his support for the Vermont Long Term Disaster Recovery Group. The organization helps Vermont residents recover from losses caused by devastating floods that accompanied the remnants of Hurricane Irene.

The head of the University of Vermont's student health center is contesting allegations the center improperly prescribed opiate painkillers for student patients. Dr. Jon Porter is set to appear before the state's Medical Practice Board today. The Burlington Free Press reports documents in the case contend Porter failed to supervise a doctor's assistant who refilled prescriptions that had supposedly been lost or stolen and other improprieties.

An informational meeting is planned for tomorrow in Colchester as the town considers whether to buy the lakefront Camp Holy Cross from the Diocese of Burlington. Proponents say the purchase may be the town's best chance to gain lakefront acreage but opponents say the asking price, more than $4 million, is too much for the town to afford.

Results of Vermont residents' well tests following Irene are beginning to turn up, and they show some cases in which the water is contaminated. In at least one case, test results came back positive for coliform, requiring the owner to disinfect the well this weekend. More than 2,800 test kits were distributed by Vermont's Department of Health during the last few weeks. Homeowners can send the tests in for the cost of a postage stamp. Many residents are boiling their water or using bottled water.

State Auditor Tom Salmon, who had previously said he would not seek another term, says he'll run for re-election as auditor after all. Salmon says his decision was based on the need for continuity as Vermont recovers from Tropical Storm Irene's floods. Salmon says he believes his office will continue to play an important role in recovery, especially in working with federal agencies.

Ticonderoga Emergency Squad ambulances should be operating from their new headquarters by the end of the year. The squad is currently constructing a 4,100-square-foot building on the site of the old Ticonderoga Civic Center that will include two ambulance bays, offices, crew quarters, a meeting room and other amenities. The squad provides advanced life support with critical-care technicians but has no paramedics. A new emergency medical technician class starts in October, offering training two nights a week and some Saturdays.

The Essex County Prescription Drug Discount Card is provided free to all county residents through a partnership between the Essex County Board of Supervisors and ProAct Inc. The cards provide users with a savings of between 10 to 50 percent, depending on the medication and the brand. Residents should contact ProAct directly with any questions at (877) 776-2285 or visit www.proactrx.com.

Vermont tourism officials are hoping leaf-peepers won't be shy this fall foliage season, out of fear the state's roads are a mess from Tropical Storm Irene. Megan Smith, the state's commissioner of tourism and marketing, says 95% of the state's roads are open. She also says the state is ready for people to come. The foliage season is getting under way, as leaves in the top northern third of the state already have color. The fall foliage season brings in about $300 million in business for the state each year.

OnStar may be taking its role of tracking cars a bit too far. New York Senator Chuck Schumer called on the Federal Trade Commission yesterday to investigate a change in company policy that would mean drivers who had canceled the service would still have their vehicles location and speed tracked unless they formally opted-out. OnStar also said it was reserving the company's right to sell driver information. Six million American drivers currently use the service.

The New York State English Council has named a Ticonderoga Central School instructor 2011 “Educator of Excellence”. Ticonderoga High School physics and chemistry teacher Paul Jebb was nominated for the award by two of his students. This is Jebb's 27th year in teaching. He's been at Ticonderoga for 11 years, and had taught for 16 years at Newcomb Central School before. He was the only teacher in the tri-county area to receive the “Educator of Excellence” honor.

New York's apple farmers are establishing an online guide for apple pickers this fall in what is seen as a bumper crop. A guide to apple picking is scheduled to be at www.nyapplecountry.com. The New York Apple Association is urging New Yorkers to hit the orchards for fresh apples and cider from one of the best apple harvests in years.

The Ticonderoga Booster Club has purchased Sentinel Pride signs for all local businesses in an effort to increase the show of school spirit throughout the community. Businesses without a sign can contact the Booster Club and one will be delivered as soon as possible. Spirit Week begins on Monday, October 3rd, culminating with Homecoming on Friday, October 7th.

Vermont doesn’t necessarily come to mind when you think of exploring the final frontier of outer space. However, four in-state colleges are collaborating on the building of a mini satellite called CubeSat. Students from four area colleges; Vermont Technical College, the University of Vermont, Norwich University, and St. Michael’s College are working together on the high-tech satellite with help from engineering and physics faculty members. Vermont’s first homegrown satellite will likely be launched aboard a NASA rocket next year.

A long-time member of the WCAX-TV Channel 3 family has passed away. Stuart Hall started working at the station in 1954, just after the station first went on the air. He died peacefully Sunday morning at the age of 90. Stuart came to Channel 3 in 1954; two months after the station went on the air. He came here from Illinois looking for a change in scene. In 1964, Richard Gallagher joined Stuart Hall and Tony Adams on the news set and those three men worked together for 20 years, one of the longest running teams in broadcast history.