Wednesday, December 12, 2012

WVTK Local & State News December 12, 2012


This evening at 5:30 the Middlebury Recreation Committee will meet in the Small Conference Room at the Town Offices.  You can get more by visiting the Town Of Middlebury’s Website.

Yesterday Green Mountain Power issued a request for proposals from companies interested in providing detailed engineering and design services for the Stafford Hill Solar Farm, which GMP hopes will be the largest solar farm in Vermont upon completion.  The project, to be built on Rutland’s former landfill behind the Stafford Technical Center, is part of Green Mountain Power’s effort to make Rutland the solar capital of New England.  GMP President and CEO Mary Powell said “The project will also contribute to the larger statewide goal of producing 90 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2050.”  Earlier this fall, GMP agreed with the city on a 25-year lease on the former landfill, which is renewable for an additional 25 years. Bids are due by 5 PM on January 11, 2013.

Last Thursday just after 2 PM Vermont State Police responded to a report of a burglary at 793 Route 116 in Starksboro.  The caretaker for the residence saw a vehicle there and stopped to investigate. He and his wife discovered two males inside the residence.   The males fled north on Route 116 in a brown Subaru wagon.  The males were described as late 20s to early 30s.  One of the men had blonde hair and blue eyes.  The other was described as having dark hair and dark eyes. Both were short in stature.  Anyone with information regarding this crime are encouraged to contact the Vermont State Police in New Haven at 802-388-4919, or submit an anonymous tip by texting CRIMES to keyword VTIPS.

Vermont State Police are currently investigating a burglary in Addison at the residence of Thomas Turley. Mr. Turley's residence was burglarized on Tuesday sometime between 8AM and 2PM. Stolen from his residence were several silver plates, a silver ladle, and a small amount of jewelry.  If you have any information please contact the Vermont State Police in New Haven at 802-388-4919 or Submit An Anonymous Tip: Text “CRIMES” (274637) to Keyword VTIPS.

A 1913 car being donated to the City of Rutland by Vermont Rail System looks like it’s headed for the Vermont Farmers Food Center, home to the winter farmers market.  The General Committee discussed how to locate the car last week and the issue is expected to go before the full Board of Aldermen next week.  Rutland City officials could not find a good spot outside the train station to locate the antique rail car.

The Moriah Central School Board will meet at 6 PM tomorrow in the High School library.  This is a change from the original date of December 18th.  Items on the agenda include personnel appointments, budget discussions and changes for 2013. The meeting is open to the public.

The sound of construction vehicles could be heard along the Ausable River yesterday in Upper Jay.  Crews worked on clearing debris left behind more than a year ago when Tropical Storm Irene came through and flooded the river.  Massive piles of trees, trash and other items remain scattered along the area.  It's something local leaders wanted to pick up sooner but couldn't find the money to do it.  Officials were able to get half-a-million dollars from New York State.  County leaders say the grant money is a good start but they still need millions more to pick up all the debris.  The project is expected to take six weeks to complete.  Although, it will take many more months and possibly years before the rest is cleaned up.

Essex County leaders say FEMA has approved to buy back homes ruined by Tropical Storm Irene. 26 properties that applied for the program have the green light.  At least 50% of the house had to be destroyed and had to be in the flood plain to be considered.  Local leaders say with the unpredictability of the Ausable River, it's something that had to be done.  The properties will now be appraised to see how much money homeowners will get.  Once a deal goes through the government owns the land and nothing can be built on it again.

The tentative 2013 Essex County Budget was passed adopting a spending plan that represented a 1.13-percent increase to the tax levy.  The tentative budget was passed during a special county board meeting on Monday, with the average tax rate expected to increase five cents up to $2.40 per $1,000 of assessed property value.  The budget calls for $95,000,115 in spending.  County Manager Dan Palmer said the tax levy was decreased from 2.68 percent to 1.13 percent when charge-backs from the towns were added into the budget.

Police have arrested 29 people in connection with thefts and under-age drinking at a summer residence in Crown Point.  According to State Police an October investigation of a burglary led to a seasonal camp that was used for four separate parties allegedly involving under-age drinking.  Some of the defendants who were of legal drinking age allegedly provided the younger, under-age participants with alcohol.  The parties were held on the nights of September 21st, 28th and 29th and October 5th.  Those who are age 16 and older were charged as adults. Additional arrests and charges are possible as the investigation continues.

Attracting a business to the Moriah Business Park will be a top priority for the Moriah town board in 2013.  The Moriah Business Park is a 32-acre park, owned and managed by the Essex County Industrial Development Agency. It is currently home to a 22,000 square foot spec building occupied by Pre-Tech Plastics of Vermont and High Peaks Hospice. The Moriah Health Center is also located at the park in a separate building. The IDA will work with Moriah officials to attract business to the park.

The Lake George Land Conservancy is selling an 8-acre plot with 350 feet of lakeshore in the town of Putnam.  The sale is part of the conservancy’s efforts to protect land along the lake.  The asking price for the lot is $494,990. The land is located on the north side of Warrick Road and is within walking distance of nearly 900 acres of preserved land including Anthony’s Nose, the Last Great Shoreline and Gull Bay Preserve.  More than 99 species of birds inhabit the land with Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons nesting on the cliffs of Record Hill, according to the LGLC. The Lake George Land Conservancy will not receive a commission on the sale. Contact Nancy Williams at the Lake George Land Conservancy for more information at PO Box 1250, Bolton Landing 12814 or by calling 644-9673.

Two southern development organizations are getting $470,000 to boost long-term recovery efforts following last year's Tropical Storm Irene.  The state's congressional delegation says the Windham Regional Commission and the Bennington County Regional Commission will use the funds to work with businesses and encourage public and private approaches to promote job creation.  Sens. Patrick Leahy and Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch say the money will speed the recovery of many southern Vermont communities still recovering from Irene.

Vermont's Jay Peak Resort is seeking to build a barn to hold weddings and other special events.  The 3,600-square-foot barn would be located near the first hole of the golf course and the clubhouse.  The clubhouse contains wedding party suites that have been in use in conjunction with a large tent to host outdoor weddings and other events.  The Caledonian-Record reports a local environmental commission would need to approve the project.

New York and six other states say they plan to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over methane emissions from oil and gas drilling.  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman claims in a release yesterday that the EPA is violating the Clean Air Act by failing to address the emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Other major sources come from landfills and livestock.  Howard Feldman, a spokesman for the American Petroleum Institute, says the lawsuit "makes no sense" since EPA has already passed rules on methane emissions.  Federal climate researchers say they haven't yet seen signs that increased drilling is affecting global methane levels, but they're worried about the threat.  Schneiderman says Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont joined in sending a required 60-day notice to EPA.

The deputy commissioner of Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation is going to become the deputy secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources.  The appointment of Justin Johnson was announced Tuesday by ANR Secretary Deb Markowitz.  Johnson has 18-years of experience in local, state and federal government in both the United States and Australia.  Johnson's first job in Vermont state government was as a marketing specialist with the Agency of Agriculture.

For the sixth year in a row, Vermont has been ranked as the healthiest state in the country.  Gov. Peter Shumlin and Health Commissioner Dr. Harry Chen say the state did well in categories including low incidence of low-birth-weight babies, low violent crime rate, and low infectious disease rates as keys to Vermont's success.  Vermont's obesity rate is growing, but not as fast as those in most other states.  Among the state's challenges: a relatively high rate of binge drinking and a higher rate of deaths from cancer than many other states.  The United Health Foundation does the rankings.


Vermont State Police are asking for the public’s help in solving thefts in Ripton and Weybridge.  In Ripton, police were called to a home on Lincoln Road where the owner reported about $1,400 worth of scrap metal and automotive batteries had been stolen at some point during the last month.  In Weybridge, police were called Monday to a home on Morgan Horse Farm Road where about $1,000 worth of jewelry was reported stolen.  Anyone with information about the crimes is asked contact the New Haven State Police Barracks at 802-388-4919.

Average gasoline prices in Vermont fell 4.1 cents a gallon in the past week, averaging $3.59 a gallon, according to VermontGasPrices.com. But that’s still 25 cents a gallon higher than the national average of $3.34 a gallon.  The national average price fell 4.8 cents a gallon in the last week.   The average price in Vermont on Sunday was 12.3 cents a gallon lower than a month ago but 20.9 cents a gallon higher than the same day a year ago.

A Vermont man wanted on escape charges from the Department of Corrections is back in custody. The U.S. Marshals Service says Jason Cannon was arrested yesterday in his hometown of Winooski. Cannon was charged with escape last month after he removed his monitoring bracelet. Cannon is also a suspect in several Chittenden County burglaries.

Santa's sled for some New Jersey victims of Superstorm Sandy is a Vermont tow truck.  Matt Norton of Richmond owns Anytime Towing, and he'd collecting items like toys, appliances and winter clothes, which he'll be taking down to the stricken area.  It's all going to a group there called Jersey Shore Santa, and he'll make the trip shortly before Christmas Eve.  Donations can be dropped at Anytime Towing on River Road in Richmond, Nate's Auto in Essex, or City Tire in Williston.

There are reports of a tentative labor agreement at Brattleboro Retreat.  The deal between the union representing about 500 of workers at the non-profit mental health and addictions hospital was reached after a marathon bargaining session, which began on Monday and went well into Tuesday.  This is according to the Brattleboro Reformer, which says before the talks started both sides were far apart on staffing, health insurance, pay scales and retirement.  Workers will vote on the proposed deal, and contract details are expected to be released then.

The six people convicted of trespassing in their efforts to halt construction of the wind project in Lowell are sentenced to community service.  The Lowell Six, as they're called, are being ordered to each serve 25 hours for their actions nearly a year ago, but the group says the battle is far from over.  All six people are appealing their convictions as well as what they call misconceptions of green energy and the project being built by Green Mountain Power.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced yesterday that there are currently over 74-thousand jobs openings available.  They are listed on Jobs Express, a website that is designed to help New Yorkers who are seeking employment.  The site has help find 59-thousand individuals work since it launched back in October of last year.  You can visit Job Express at Labor.NY.gov under jobs.

There will be a world record set in Albany in the 12th month on this 12th day in the year 2012.   It’s the largest group of people singing jingle bells while ringing jingle bells.  The event, which is taking place right now (Noon), will have appearances from Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and of course a visit from Santa Clause is scheduled.  The world record that will be set today will be registered with recordsetter.com.


Soon there will be more help for people struggling to pay college loans.  Students are graduating with more debt. Last year on average it was nearly $27,000.  The federal program called "Pay As You Earn "really helps people who either graduate without a job or think they'll end up in a career that doesn't pay well.  On December 21st, the program is changing and could make it easier for people to pay off their loans. "I think this will actually be a tremendous improvement particularly for borrowers who are struggling in the current economy," says Scott Giles, VSAC Vice President.  Giles says he helped draft the program's new rules.  Right now for people who qualify their monthly loan payment is capped at 15-percent of their spending money.  That will soon drop to just 10-percent.  Also now people can have their loan wiped out after 25-years no matter how much they owe.  That will be reduced to 20-years.  "This plan I really think will help millions of people across the country make their payments," says Giles.  One of those people could be UVM sophomore Nick Kuvalanka.  "Pretty concerned. It's an expensive school and paying a lot to go here," says Kuvalanka.  Kuvalanka says his environmental studies major will leave him with tens of thousands of dollars in college loans, which could be hard to pay back.  "Especially with my major, I'm not sure if I'll end up a place that will pay me much," says Kuvalanka.  VSAC really encourages people to check out all the options.  Especially because if you land a better job and you make too much to be in the program, you'll be kicked out and owe potentially even more money.