WVTK Local & State News October 30, 2014

On Tuesday, voters in Bristol, Lincoln, New Haven, Monkton and Starksboro, the five towns that make up the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union, will decide whether or not to approve a $32.6 million bond to finance renovations at Mount Abraham Union High School. The plan includes building a new middle school gymnasium, installing 21st-century electronic and communications infrastructure, moving the library and media center to the front of the building, making upgrades to the pool, constructing new bathrooms and locker rooms, updating auditorium lighting and seating and renovating the lobby to improve aesthetics and heighten security. If voters approve the bond, work on the project can begin as soon as next summer.

MIddlebury will be phasing out townwide recycling. Beginning next April, residents will have to choose their own haulers to collect curbside recyclables from their homes and businesses. On Tuesday Night, the the Middlebury selectboard voted unanimously to discontinue the townwide recycling once the current contract with Casella expires on March 31, 2015. The board members say their decision was in anticipation of the impending changes to the state’s recycling / solid waste regulations, Act 148, which goes into effect in phases starting next July.

Vermont Officials are holding a public hearing on a study surrounding the issues of possible marijuana legalization in the state. A press release says the hearing scheduled for November 12, will allow Vermonters to contribute comments for a study on the issues around legalizing marijuana in the state.
 The hearing will run from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. via the Vermont Interactive Technologies network. Vermonters can view and provide feedback at the site in Middlebury and other sites around the state. For more information on Vermont Interactive Technologies and directions to the sites, go to: http://www.vitlink.org.

Police were involved in a high speed chase through Shoreham yesterday afternoon that topped speeds of 90 miles per hour. According to reports, just before 6 pm, police say 29-year-old Gemmar O'Connor was spotted driving 74 miles-per-hour on Route 74. That's when police say the Shoreham man refused to pull over and sped up to over 90-miles an hour. He eventually came to a stop on 22A. O'Connor was arrested for attempting to elude and careless and negligent operation.

Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy is urging dairy farmers to take action. The deadline to sign up for New Dairy Price Insurance Programs has been extended until December 5. It's a type of insurance that locks in a certain amount of profit for dairy farmers. The minimum coverage plan costs $100 dollars a year and ensures farmers get at least a few cents profit for each gallon of milk produced. The insurance program was created under the 2014 Farm Bill.