Tuesday, August 14, 2012

WVTK Local & Sate News August 14, 2012 (Afternoon Update)


The Middlebury Select Board will be holding its regular meeting this evening at the Russ Sholes Senior Center at 7PM.  Items on tonight’s agenda include Appointments to the Recreation Committee, reception of the Town Plan from the Planning Commission & Setting the Schedule for the Board's review & adoption of the Town Plan as well as bids awarded for the Painter Hills Water Main Project and the Riverfront Project.  Other items include reports from various committees and the Approval of the Bonding Certificate for Refunding of the 2004 Police Department Bond.  You can find more information by visiting the Select Board page at the Town’s Website

Vermont's Lake Dunmore Branbury Classic women’s champion Mariana Lara of Montpelier just edged 55-year-old Donna Smyers by 11 seconds to win in 2:21:15 last weekend. The Branbury Classic, like the race in London, was an “Olympic distance” triathlon, which consisted of a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike, and 10,000 meter run.

John R. Beyrle, the former Ambassador of the United States to the Russian Federation from 2008 to 2012, will deliver the commencement address marking the end of the Middlebury Language Schools’ 98th summer session this Friday at 8 PM in Mead Chapel.  The college is scheduled to confer 136 Master of Arts degrees and three Doctor of Modern Languages degrees at the ceremony.  In addition, Middlebury College will present an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree to Ambassador Beyrle.

The Vermont State Police at the Rutland barracks will be working with local and county law enforcement agencies to conduct checkpoints to screen for impaired drivers at various locations in Rutland County.   The checkpoints are part of the Labor Day enforcement period with will run from August 15 through September 3.  Through August, there have been 48 fatalities resulting from 43 crashes in Vermont in 2012, twice as many fatalities than at the same time in 2011. In addition to the checkpoints, troopers will be aggressively patrolling and enforcing motor vehicle laws with specific regard to aggressive driving, speeding and seat belt use in high crash areas.

Yesterday new Rutland Police Chief James Baker laid out some of his plans for fighting crime in the city and addressing a personnel shortage in his department. He talked about ongoing work to fill a number of vacancies that have sapped the department’s strength and a collaborative approach being fleshed out to combat drugs in the community.

Moses-Ludington Hospital is among the nation’s leaders in electronic records.  The Ticonderoga health care facility achieved “meaningful use” of its electronic health records July 31. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services only 151 of the 1,327 critical access hospitals in the country have achieved “meaningful use” and received a financial incentive payment.

The Ti-Alliance is welcoming Chattie Van Wert with her 20 years of experience owning and operating small businesses in Ticonderoga as the new Director of Ti-Alliance. A graduate of St. John's Academy in Plattsburgh, she also holds an Associate's Degree in Data Processing from SUNY Canton and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from SUNY Albany.  She has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce, is engaged in organizing StreetFest, serves on the Board of Directors of Interlakes Health as Treasurer and Chair of the Quality Improvement Committee.  She is also a member of St. Mary's Parish Finance Council and Chairperson for their recent Summer Festival Formal Dinner and Auction fundraiser.

Health officials in Essex County, New York are warning people about another confirmed case of rabies.  Health officials say a raccoon found in the Town of Wilmington tested positive for the virus. This is the town's first case of rabies, however, there have been other confirmed cases in the county. If you have any questions, please call the Essex County Public Health Department at 518-873-3500 or visit their website

Vermont State Police are seeking public views today on a proposal that would close the police outpost in Castleton.  That facility, which has housed a handful of troopers for the last 30 years, would close under a proposed plan for the troopers either, share space at the Fair Haven Police Department or utilize room at the Vermont Welcome Center on Route 4. The relocation concept was received favorably last month by officials in Fair Haven who said they were open to leasing space to the state police.  A forum taking place this evening at 6:30 at the Castleton Community Center on Route 4A is being held to gather public feedback to the proposal.

The case of a Virginia Mennonite pastor accused of helping a woman flee the country with her child rather than share custody with her former lesbian partner has gone to jurors for deliberation.  Prosecutors say 46-year-old Kenneth Miller of Stuarts Draft, VA arranged for Lisa Miller and her daughter Isabella to travel outside the U.S. with the help of a number of Mennonites.  Kenneth Miller's attorneys say he didn't know Jenkins had legal parental rights.

The Ti-Alliance Cultural Arts Initiative, with generous support from Aubuchon Hardware and Benjamin Moore Paints, is beginning an annual mural contest on key Ticonderoga buildings to incorporate public art in the community’s revitalization strategy. The winner of the contest will receive a $500 prize and special recognition through the celebration of the final product and its associated media coverage. This is a great opportunity for a young artist to become better known in the region or an accomplished artist to showcase their work in a community visited by over 100,000 tourists per year.  The mural will also be a key feature as they work to revitalize Ticonderoga through the arts! 

The Gallery at Brandon Music on Country Club Road in Brandon is pleased to feature works by local artists Nancy and Richard Weis. The exhibit, featuring small-scale encaustic paintings by Nancy Weis, and large-scale acrylic works by Richard Weis, is on display in the Music Café, and all works are available for purchase. Brandon Music Café is open from 10:00 am to 5:30pm every day except Tuesday.  Visit them online right now at www.brandon-music.net