Tuesday, December 23, 2014

WVTK Local & State News December 23, 2014

Middlebury has selected a new Fire Chief. Town Manager Kathleen Ramsay made the announcement that David Shaw has been appointed as chief with a one-year probationary period. Shaw has a lot of experience with the department including 12 years as a captain and he has been the assistant chief since 2001. The current chief, Richard Cole is retiring at the end of the month.

Vermont's food pantries need donations to meet rising demand for the holidays. Governor Peter Shumlin highlighted the need for donations during a visit to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf in Burlington yesterday. Shumlin says the food shelf is 50-thousand dollars behind on its fundraising goals. He says that food donations are helpful, but the financial donations will be most helpful at this time.

A small earthquake was reported in the Adirondacks this morning. According to the United States Geological Survey, the magnitude 1.4 earthquake was recorded about 18 miles southeast of Tupper Lake at 6:40 a.m. The Adirondack region is one of the most seismically active areas of the Northeastern United States thanks in part to a series of small fault lines around the area.

The Neshobe School is offering incentives for a group of teachers to retire who have reached the top of their pay scales. According to Jeanne Collins, superintendent of the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union, eight teachers have salaries in the $70,000 range because they all have high levels of education and experience.

A Bristol Police Officer is being honored for his quick work to help a suicidal woman. Chief Kevin Gibbs says Sgt. George Crowe noticed a message on the department's Facebook page earlier this month describing another woman's post about her plans to kill herself. Crowe immediately began working with the woman who had reached out to police to locate the distressed woman and ensure she was safe. A letter of commendation for Crowe was presented at the Bristol Board of Selectmen's meeting last night.