WVTK Local & State News November 8, 2013

The Vermont State Police are still looking a missing Ferrisburgh teen.  17-year-old Hailey Rheaume-Fox was first reported missing October 11. Since the time of her disappearance it was believed she was in the Burlington area with friends avoiding police; and Hailey was believed to be in contact with her mother through text messages, since running away.  New information received from friends indicates that Hailey may not be in possession of her cell phone and the text messages may not have been from her. Hailey may also be traveling to and from New York City and Massachusetts areas.  The Vermont State Police urge anyone with information about Hailey's whereabouts to please contact them at 802-388-4919.  Or submit an anonymous tip by texting "CRIMES" (274637) with keyword: VTIPS or online at http://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

Nurses at Porter Hospital have voted to unionize.  The nurses voted 72-58 to form a union and join Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, AFT Vermont.  Because 16 of the votes cast were challenged by one side or the other and thus not counted, the National Labor Relations Board will hold hearings to determine the final tally.  A press release today say the registered nurses of Porter Medical Center reported that they have organized their union "to empower and protect" patients and the profession.

Green Mountain Power is alerting customers that more attempts to scam GMP customers over the phone have been reported recently.  The caller claims to be representing Green Mountain Power and requests the customer to pay their account balance by releasing credit card information to the caller.  The caller also says that the customers’ electric service will be disconnected if they do not comply.  GMP officials say this is definitely a phone scam.  Green Mountain Power follows very clear state rules when working with customers about paying past due bills and they do not demand credit card information or alternate payment mechanisms from a customer for any purpose.

Tomorrow, Vermont Health Connect navigators will be hosting statewide public outreach and enrollment events.  These events are designed to help people enroll in VT Health Connect, the state’s new health insurance, and answer any questions people might have about the program.  VT Health Connect Navigators will be at the following locations in our area: Community Health Centers of Burlington from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife is warning people not to release aquarium fish into the state’s waterways.  The warning came after a non-native clown knife fish was found dead in a central Vermont pond.  Fisheries Biologist Shawn Good says it’s likely the 17-inch fish had been someone’s pet, but it outgrew its aquarium and was released.  The clown knife fish is a native of Southeast Asia and it cannot survive temperatures below 55 degrees.  People who release aquarium fish can be subjected to $500 fine.  If a dangerous fish were released it could have required biologists to kill all the fish in the pond to keep them from spreading.