WVTK Local & State News June 25, 2014

Vermont Gas is ready to break ground on the Addison Natural Gas pipeline. Phase one now has its final stamp of approval. Vermont Gas Systems says it received its final permit from the Vermont Army Corps of Engineers this was needed before construction can get started. The next phase will extend the pipeline to the International Paper Mill in Ticonderoga a project that supporters say could save Vermonters $45 million.

Once again, voters in Brandon said no to the proposed municipal budget. The vote was 671-376 to reject the municipal budget. Also rejected by voters were three money items totaling $60,000. Those items included the creation of an emergency fund, a matching grant fund, and a capital improvement program. Select Board members will have to go back now and work on a new reduced version of the budget to bring before the voters for approval. Some of the options the Select Board will be looking at is reducing services and possibly laying off as many as 25 town employees.

New statistics show that in the first quarter of 2014, Vermont ranked second in the nation for fastest personal income growth. Federal data released yesterday by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis showed that personal income in Vermont increased about 1.4 percent in the first quarter. The national average was 0.8 percent. Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says overall the trends indicate economic strength.

A fire last night completely destroyed a home in Monkton. Crews arrived on the scene and found the home completely engulfed in flames. Only one person was home at the time and tried to fight the flames by themselves till help arrived. No one was injured in the blaze. Firefighters say the house is a complete loss.

The Vermont attorney general's office is warning people about a promotional flyer being mailed to consumers in the northeastern part of the state that offers free airline tickets and hotel accommodations. The attorney general says the advertisement is intended to lure people into a sales promotion that violates the Vermont Consumer Protection Rule on Bait Advertising. Consumers who contact the number on the flyer are told they must attend a seminar to obtain vouchers for free air fares. Last year, the attorney general's office shut down a number of such operations.