WVTK Local & State News December 9, 2014

A fire last night caused the evacuation of a senior living facility in Shelburne. Firefighters responded to Shelburne Bay Senior Care just after 8 o'clock for reports of a fire in a resident's room. They arrived to find the third floor room fully engulfed in smoke. No one was inside. Firefighters then evacuated the entire wing of the building. Firefighters believe a candle likely started the blaze. It's still under investigation. No one was injured during the incident.

The Rutland City Police Department has a new acting chief. Commander David Covell was appointed by the city's police commission. He will take over for Chief James Baker. Baker resigned after three years with the department to take a job with the International Association for Chiefs of Police. Covell joined the department 11 months ago as part of a major overhaul. The former trooper worked for the Vermont State Police for 25 years before taking the Rutland job.

Police are investigating a robbery at Chuck's Mobil Gas Station in Winooski early this morning. The robbery happened at around 1:30 a.m. Police say a man approached the counter and demanded cash. After receiving the money, he fled on foot. The man is described as being white, wearing glasses, a green "AERO" hoodie, blue jeans, and a red banana covering his face. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Winooski Police Department at (802)-655-0221.

A company that wants to bring Canadian power to New England through a new line under Lake Champlain has formally asked the Vermont Public Service Board for approval. TDI New England late yesterday filed documents promising several benefits to Vermont in exchange for the board's approval for a project that would run the length of the lake, and then cut east from Benson at the lake's southern end to link to the New England grid at Ludlow. Among the company's promises: $136 million in power cost reductions, and more than $120 million for environmental improvements on the lake.

Vermonters are encouraged to join the 115th annual Christmas Bird Count. The count begins on Sunday and runs through January 5. A press release says bird watchers will be on the lookout for snowy owls, some types of ducks, and songbirds. In Vermont, there are more than a dozen count areas where bird watchers gather together to conduct the Christmas Bird Count. The dates and contract information for each event are listed on the Vermont eBird website.