Monday, January 5, 2015

WVTK Local & State News January 5, 2015

The Vermont Attorney General's Office has determined that a Vermont State Police Trooper was justified in the use of deadly force in an incident in Bristol back in September. On September 4, 2014, Vermont State Police were called to a home on Pine Street after a report that 56-year-old Norman Michaud was threatening to kill himself. When officers arrived on scene they say they heard gunshots. While at the scene, police learned that 42-year-old Tina LaBossiere of Crown Point was at Norman's home and had a gun. A short time later, she was ordered multiple to drop her weapon. She refused and was shot by a Vermont State Trooper. After the situation was under control, police found Michaud with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. No one else was injured. Both Michaud and LaBossiere were taken to Fletcher Allen Healthcare. They both survived the incident.

Voters in Brandon are being asked to approve a bond for repairs and upgrades to the water system. Officials say the town has qualified for a $756,000 federal grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. The remaining $1.7 million of the $2.5-million project would be paid for through the bond, if approved. The bond vote is set for next Tuesday, January 13, at the Brandon Fire Station. An information meeting on the bond will be held at the station tonight at 7 p.m.

Gov. Peter Shumlin has tapped Sarah Hofmann to serve as a member of the Public Service Board. Hofmann is a former deputy commissioner and public advocate at the Department of Public Service, and is currently the executive director of the New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners. She will begin to hear new matters at the Public Service Board starting in March. Hofmann replaces retiring board member John Burke.

The project to replace two railroad overpasses in Middlebury has been put on hold till next year. The project was suppose to start this spring. Officials say due to raising cost estimates and the longer-than-anticipated construction timeframe, they will have to post-pone the project to replace the Main Street and Merchants Row overpasses.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board is set to meet later this month to consider a number of proposals. One would allow all hunters to use crossbows during the archery season regardless of age or disability. Another would do away with spikehorn restrictions for archery and muzzleloader seasons. Spikehorn restrictions have been in place for all hunters for a decade in an effort to increase the number of larger bucks. Any rule changes approved by the board would not take effect until 2016.