WVTK Local & State News April 26, 2013

The Ticonderoga Central School District is facing budget issues.  The district is trying to close a $600,000 budget gap.  The superintendent says he wants to limit the number of layoffs, but worst-case scenario 15 staff members could be cut.  Some members of the community have expressed concern over cuts to the athletic programs but officials say they will not be cut.  Instead, the district may have to cut some lower-level programs.  The cuts would begin next year.

AARP Vermont and the Vermont Attorney General's office is holding fraud prevention forums in South Burlington and Rutland on April 29 and 30.  People over the age of 50 are especially vulnerable and account for more than half of all victims.  The South Burlington Forum is being held on Monday from 10 AM to 11:30 at the DoubleTree Conference Center on Williston Road.  The Rutland Forum will be held on Tuesday from 10 AM to 11:30 at the Holiday Inn on Route 7.  Both events are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Now that petitioners have triggered a re-vote on the Brandon town budget after it passed on Town Meeting Day by eight votes, the stage is set for voters to ask their long-awaited questions.  An informational meeting about the budget will be held at the Neshobe School Monday night at 7 o’clock.  The Brandon selectboard will take budget questions from voters.  Residents will then re-vote on Tuesday.

New York has released a new notification system allowing thousands of cell phone users to receive free and automatic AMBER Alert notifications.  A press release says members of the public can subscribe to receive these alert text messages by going to the NY Alert website.  Once on the website, the public then can create an account and select where they want to receive the alert by text messages, fax and/or email.  An AMBER Alert is sent out when police believe a child under the age of 18 has been abducted and is in imminent danger of death or serious harm.

Firefighters say a cement truck ruptured a Vermont natural gas line in Hinesburg last night.  Vermont Gas says the truck hit a valve.  They say the damaged valve didn't pose a serious risk, but crews closed down Shelburne Falls Road to O'Neil Road until Vermont Gas could turn off the flow of gas.  Jiffy Mart, across the street from the construction zone, was evacuated as a precaution.  No one was hurt.

The Charlotte Central School Board has been busy this week preparing to present a revised budget to residents at a public hearing on Monday Night.  Since Town Meeting Day, the CCS School Board has held two meetings to discuss weather to live without some funding or present the same budget again to voters.  Residents on Tuesday will be weighting in on the second portion of the overall budget proposal known as Part B because it required a second vote due to a legislative technicality.  The CCS School Board’s public hearing on the matter will be Monday Night at 6:30 in the school’s multi-purpose Room.  Voting will take place on Tuesday in the same place from 7 AM to 7 PM.