WVTK Local & State News March 6, 2014

A Rutland man has been sentenced to 33 months in jail for a fraudulent coupon scheme targeting baby-food companies. 44-year-old Jon Bilodeau plead guilty in October to a federal charge of fraud. Prosecutors say bank statements show baby-food companies were tricked into honoring over $571,000 worth of coupons. Bilodeau, owner of the Sweet Revival thrift store, would pay 50 cents to 80 cents for a $1 baby formula coupon, then started a business and website to sell the formula to ‘‘members.’’ Authorities say the name and website were a cover and the baby formula was never sold to anyone. He cashed in the coupons for about $114,000 over several years.

The Ticonderoga Select board has decided on water project. The town board voted in favor of the plan March 4, directing its engineering firm to design a system that will use water Gooseneck Pond, Lake George, and a recently-completed well. The new plan still needs approval from the state Department of Health. Supervisor Bill Grinnell said he has been in talks with state officials and doesn’t anticipate any problems.

CCTA is warning riders that you may need to find other forms of transportation due to a possible strike starting Monday. If CCTA bus drivers do not report to work on Monday, there will not be transportation service provided by CCTA. All routes except for a portion of the Montpelier LINK Express trips and 116 Commuter trips will be affected. Non-union drivers operate those routes. CCTA and the drivers' union have a contract negotiation meeting scheduled on Saturday. Drivers say their biggest concerns are surveillance and discipline, safety, and part time drivers.

Voters on Town Meeting Day gave their approval to four out of the five local high school spending plans. Residents rejected the Vergennes Union High School budget but the rest in Addison County passed.

The Vermont Labor Department is holding a day of workshops to help people improve their chances of finding jobs. The Friday workshops will be held at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in South Burlington. Among the topics that will be offered throughout the day are helping people get the tools they need to find career options that match a person’s skills and long-term goals. There will also be workshops on honing interviewing skills. And there will be a session on resume writing that will provide practical, writing tips to enhance an individual’s competitiveness in finding a job.