WVTK Local & State News April 1, 2014

A Brandon man has been arrested on a charge of arson in connection with a fire at his home. Firefighters responded to the fire on the first and second floors of the home yesterday. They said it was the second fire at the home in 24 hours; there had been a small fire in the basement on Sunday. Investigators determined the second fire was intentionally set and wasn’t related to the basement fire. They later arrested 33-year-old Ethan McArdle on charges of arson and reckless endangerment.

Vermont has its first confirmed case of Swine Disease. The positive diagnosis occurred at a swine operation in Rutland County on March 26. The disease only affects pigs and is similar to Transmissible Gastroenteritis. Officials say it does not make people sick and it does not affect other species of livestock. It also does not affect pork safety and the pork remains completely safe to eat. The first detection of this disease in the U.S. occurred approximately one year ago, and since then it has impacted over 4,000 premises in 27 states.

CCTA management is looking at hiring temporary drivers or going to court to end the strike. Yesterday, the board met to look at ways to restore service. They say they’d prefer both sides to end the strike through negotiation or binding arbitration. But they need to look at other options including hiring temporary workers or court action. Any legal action or hiring of temporary workers would still need the approval of the board.

Police in Bristol have arrested 5 people in connection with a burglary and an armed robbery at the Big Wheel Variety Store on Route 116. According to Vermont State Police, Bristol resident 28-year-old Joshua Martell walked into the store at 4:45 p.m. on Sunday with a “large knife” and demanded money from the owner. The owner chased Martell out of the store. He was pick-up a short time later in the woods. Martell was also found in possession of stolen goods from a burglary at a home a week earlier. An investigation of both incidents also lead to the arrest of 26-year-old Nathan Pecor, 29-year-old Chastity Pecor, 18-year-old Kimberly Jimmo, and 26-year-old Kyle Little.

Tuition is going up at Middlebury College. The Board of Trustees has approved raising the cost starting with next school year by 2.5-percent to $45,637. This is the fifth consecutive year that Middlebury College has limited the increase in tuition to 1 percentage point above inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).