Union officials in Vermont say the Douglas administration's objections to a proposed labor contract for the Champlain Bridge project are unfounded. Vermont transportation officials last week rejected a so-called Project Labor Agreement that would govern labor practices on the $110 million project. While provisions in the PLA, in some instances, mandate the use of union labor, according to Teamsters representative Dan Brush, that doesn't mean Vermont contractors can't bid on the project. The PLA simply means that nonunion workers would temporarily work in a union framework. The dispute over labor rules will go to the Statehouse later this week when the Senate Committee on Economic Development convenes a hearing on the issue Friday.
A group charged with improving Rutland's quality of life unveiled their list of projects for the summer. The Rutland Creative Economy is a volunteer organization that develops, fundraises, and implements a variety of projects across the city. This summer's top priorities include improving Friday Night Live, adding more art to downtown, expanding the city Farmer's Market, and creating a city bike path.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders announced energy efficiency and conservation grants totaling $5.8 million for 147 schools, towns, and cities across Vermont. The economic stimulus funds were distributed to the state through a federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants program. The program was created by legislation cosponsored by Sanders. The Vermont Department of Public Service and the state Clean Energy Development Fund reviewed applications and recommended the recipients. In Addison County, the grant winners and the amount of the awards include:
· Bingham Memorial School $50,000
· Bridport Central School $45,675
· Bristol Elem School $50,000
· Leicester Central School $50,000
· Lincoln Elementary School $35,429
· Middlebury Union Middle School $50,000
· Monkton Elementary School $50,000
· Mt Abraham Union High School $50,000
· New Haven (Beeman) Elementary School $46,553
· Shoreham Elementary School $32,175
· Starksboro (Robinson) Elementary School $49,785
· Whiting Village School $17,905
· Town of Granville $48,930
· Town of Lincoln $50,000
· Town of Middlebury $43,380
· Town of Shoreham $50,000
· Town of Starksboro $26,555
A debate is raging over whether to scrap the state's "Seal of Quality". The seal is given to Vermont products so consumers know there are getting genuine Vermont products. State agriculture officials say the seal's lost its meaning but some lawmakers say they're looking for ways to shore up the program.
A new program in Vermont schools will help students learn to safely navigate the web. iKeepSafe is a national program that teaches elementary kids about online safety. Kids are taught how to be careful with their personal information, cyber-bullying, social networking, and how to stay away from Internet strangers. Comcast is paying the cost to bring the program to Vermont.
Police are investing a bomb threat at South Burlington High School that was reported yesterday morning. Police say a note was found just before 9 AM. Students and staff were evacuated and sent to the Frederick Tuttle Middle School. Classes were not canceled. Police say they have collected evidence and are actively involved in a criminal investigation.
Vermonters who lost their homes to foreclosure will get some help thanks to a legal settlement. Countrywide Financial settled a 3-billion dollar lawsuit brought by 43 states. Vermont's share is 100-thousand dollars. The Attorney General's office says half of the money will go to borrowers whose loans were foreclosed upon. The rest will be used in general foreclosure relief efforts.
2 Vermont solders have been wounded in Afghanistan. Major General Michael Dubie offered a progress report yesterday saying 2 soldiers have been wounded by enemy fire in the last week. Both soldiers are expected to make a full recovery. Dubie added that a number of Vermonters have already received combat badges for their performance.
Captain Richard Phillips has written a book about his 5 days last year as a hostage of the Somali Pirates. The Underhill resident was taken hostage after the pirates tried to seize his ship, the Maersk Alabama. The 286-page hardcover, titled "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS and Dangerous Days at Sea," hits bookstores Tuesday.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
WVTK Local & State News March 31, 2010
Construction crews are still in the process of removing the old Crown Point Bridge. Before construction can begin on the new bridge, the old one must be completely removed. The U.S. Coast Guard requires all the debris to be out of the main channel of Lake Champlain by April 15 and entirely out by June 1. State officials say they appear to be right on schedule. The new bridge has already been designed and will open to bids next month. A contract will be awarded in early May, with construction starting early this summer. Construction on that new $70 million bridge is expected to be done in September 2011.
An engineering firm has been chosen to oversee repairs to McKinley Bridge in Rutland Town, which could begin as early as April. McKinley Bridge spans East Creek and is a bypass from Route 7 to the State Police Headquarters as well as to the McKinley Avenue fire station. During the process of bridgework traffic will be diverted from McKinley Avenue to North Grove Street to Grove Street to Field Avenue to Route 7.
Police in Ticonderoga believe they've solved a string of residential burglaries dating back to late last year. 25-year-old Timothy D. McDougal was arrested Monday for 5 burglaries in which a variety of items including firearms, jewelry and cash were stolen. Authorities say the investigation is still open, and more charges are possible.
Dairy farmers from around the state demanded help at a conference yesterday. They say the low milk prices are causing them to lose money. One plan they discussed would require dairy farmers to give up some production control and basically be told how much milk to produce. Many dairy farmers said it might not be the perfect plan but anything is better than what they’ve got now.
State Human Services Chief Robert Hoffman says Vermont needs to step up its efforts to get low-risk offenders out of prison as it tries to trim spending. Hoffman's assessment came as state officials unveiled an efficiency plan that could save $38 million. Hofmann says Vermont's incarceration rates have been going up while its crime rate has been flat or declining.
Vermont is hoping better technology could help the state trim the budget and improve services. Governor Jim Douglas has suggested larger companies electronically file their W-2 forms electronically with the state. It's a move officials say could result in greater efficiency and faster processing of tax returns.
Governor David Paterson is suspending hundreds of current and new construction projects because of the state’s budget issues. Paterson administration officials said all projects not paid for by federal economic stimulus funds will be delayed until the Legislature and the governor agree on next year’s budget or emergency funding.
Days after Vermont Yankee officials declared they'd fixed a tritium leak state health workers are reporting higher readings of another radioactive isotope. Cesium 137 is said to be more dangerous than the tritium that plant and state officials have been measuring in the groundwater. The reading came from the soil around the nuclear power plant.
The head of the Vermont National Guard says some of the state's soldiers in Afghanistan are involved in ongoing combat. Major General Michael Dubie says one Vermont soldier suffered minor wounds in an explosion. The soldier is expected to recover fully and is planning to return to duty. The Vermont National Guard is leading a 3,200-member brigade.
Plattsburgh City School Officials got together again last night to work on next year’s budget. The Plattsburgh City School District needs to cut nearly $1.7 million due to a reduction in state aid. The district is looking at cutting 13 positions and not filling another 8. The board must approve the budget by April 8. Taxpayers will vote on it on May 18.
The Vermont House of Representatives gave final approval to making Instant Runoff Voting, or IRV, history. On Town Meeting Day, voters in Burlington voted to not use the controversial system in electing the mayor. Since the Legislature has to approve all local charter changes, the next stop for final approval is the Senate.
An engineering firm has been chosen to oversee repairs to McKinley Bridge in Rutland Town, which could begin as early as April. McKinley Bridge spans East Creek and is a bypass from Route 7 to the State Police Headquarters as well as to the McKinley Avenue fire station. During the process of bridgework traffic will be diverted from McKinley Avenue to North Grove Street to Grove Street to Field Avenue to Route 7.
Police in Ticonderoga believe they've solved a string of residential burglaries dating back to late last year. 25-year-old Timothy D. McDougal was arrested Monday for 5 burglaries in which a variety of items including firearms, jewelry and cash were stolen. Authorities say the investigation is still open, and more charges are possible.
Dairy farmers from around the state demanded help at a conference yesterday. They say the low milk prices are causing them to lose money. One plan they discussed would require dairy farmers to give up some production control and basically be told how much milk to produce. Many dairy farmers said it might not be the perfect plan but anything is better than what they’ve got now.
State Human Services Chief Robert Hoffman says Vermont needs to step up its efforts to get low-risk offenders out of prison as it tries to trim spending. Hoffman's assessment came as state officials unveiled an efficiency plan that could save $38 million. Hofmann says Vermont's incarceration rates have been going up while its crime rate has been flat or declining.
Vermont is hoping better technology could help the state trim the budget and improve services. Governor Jim Douglas has suggested larger companies electronically file their W-2 forms electronically with the state. It's a move officials say could result in greater efficiency and faster processing of tax returns.
Governor David Paterson is suspending hundreds of current and new construction projects because of the state’s budget issues. Paterson administration officials said all projects not paid for by federal economic stimulus funds will be delayed until the Legislature and the governor agree on next year’s budget or emergency funding.
Days after Vermont Yankee officials declared they'd fixed a tritium leak state health workers are reporting higher readings of another radioactive isotope. Cesium 137 is said to be more dangerous than the tritium that plant and state officials have been measuring in the groundwater. The reading came from the soil around the nuclear power plant.
The head of the Vermont National Guard says some of the state's soldiers in Afghanistan are involved in ongoing combat. Major General Michael Dubie says one Vermont soldier suffered minor wounds in an explosion. The soldier is expected to recover fully and is planning to return to duty. The Vermont National Guard is leading a 3,200-member brigade.
Plattsburgh City School Officials got together again last night to work on next year’s budget. The Plattsburgh City School District needs to cut nearly $1.7 million due to a reduction in state aid. The district is looking at cutting 13 positions and not filling another 8. The board must approve the budget by April 8. Taxpayers will vote on it on May 18.
The Vermont House of Representatives gave final approval to making Instant Runoff Voting, or IRV, history. On Town Meeting Day, voters in Burlington voted to not use the controversial system in electing the mayor. Since the Legislature has to approve all local charter changes, the next stop for final approval is the Senate.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
WVTK Local & State News March 30, 2010
A West Rutland man has been convicted in the stabbing death of his girlfriend's ex-husband. Trevor Herrick was found guilty yesterday of second-degree murder in the 2009 slaying of 52-year-old Kerry Munger, of Benson. Prosecutors say Herrick stabbed Munger during an argument in the parking lot of the Diamond Run Mall.
A runaway 13-year-old has been found safe and sound. Police put out an alert for the boy who ran away from his home in Mount Holly Sunday. Police were particularly concerned because an out-of-state truck was reported near where the boy had been seen hitchhiking. But police say the teen was found safe and sound yesterday morning in the Clarendon area.
A jury has found 51-year-old Robert Kolibas of Williston guilty of drugging and inappropriately touching a 13-year-old girl. The girl, whose name is not being released, was sleeping over as a guest of Kolibas’s daughter. Kolibas claimed the sleeping pills he mixed into a smoothie were intended for his wife. He could face more than 30 years in prison.
Peru Central School could eliminate several positions and cut programs under its 2010-11 spending plan. Officials say the cuts are a response to cuts in state aid, declining enrollment, and steep cost increases. The majority of reductions the board is considering fall in the category of personnel.
Schools and municipalities around Vermont will get some help with making renewable energy and conserving energy, thanks to $5.8 million in grants. The money for the 147 grants is coming from federal stimulus funds. The money will go into a variety of efforts -- including new insulation for buildings and more efficient lighting.
The Rutland Creek Path has moved one step closer to becoming reality. The city received word that it is being awarded a $300,000 transportation enhancement grant from the Agency of Transportation for the Creative Economy-driven project. The award will allow the group to break ground on the first section of the two-mile path, which is planned to stretch from the edge of Giorgetti Athletic Complex and Pine Hill Park to the College of St. Joseph on Dorr Drive. The first section of the path will take the project to State Street.
The results are in from the annual Doyle Poll taken on Town Meeting Day. 96-percent of those questioned believe texting while driving should be banned. 74-percent said cell phone use while driving should be banned all together. The poll also showed that 31-percent of respondents said yes to re-licensing Vermont Yankee, that’s down from 40-percent the year before.
New York's Senate has approved emergency spending that will keep the state operating, as lawmakers leave Albany for the Passover-Easter vacation. The new fiscal year is likely to begin Thursday without a final budget. Gov. David Paterson forced lawmakers to consider what he calls a "bare-bones" emergency spending bill.
A Vermont man who allegedly held police at bay during a three-hour standoff says he's not guilty. Prosecutors say 39-year-old Jonathan G. Fenimore leveled a rifle at police Sunday during the confrontation at his Burlington home. No one was hurt in the incident. Fenimore was ordered yesterday by the courts to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
A St. Albans man who was pulled from his burning home last week has died from his injuries. 73-year-old Orville Fields was rescued from his home on Nason Street by two people who were driving by and saw the flames. Fields suffered severe burns to his legs and lower torso. Investigators say the fire was accidental but have not determined the cause.
The deaths of a husband and wife in Morrisonville have officially been ruled a murder-suicide. Patrick and Rose Maynard were found dead from gunshot wounds in their home on Route 3 Friday morning. Police are looking into reports that the couple had been having marital problems as a possible motive.
Lawyers for the man accused of killing his 12-year-old niece Brook Bennett asked a judge to block prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in his case. In a 186-page motion filed yesterday, attorneys for Michael Jacques argued that since the state of Vermont doesn't have the death penalty, it shouldn't be applied in the federal prosecution of Jacques if he's convicted.
Clinton County is one step closer to selling 600 acres of property off Route 3 in Plattsburgh. The Federal Aviation Administration approved last night to seek requests for potential buyers. People or companies will have 90 days to submit offers for the county to review. The process is expected to take about four to six weeks.
A boy, not even old enough to drive, is under arrest for stealing 45 road signs worth about $2,000. According to police, the signs were stolen in Essex, Georgia, Fairfax and Westford. Authorities are not releasing the boy’s name or age. Police made the discovery while trying to resolve a family dispute. The boy faces grand larceny charges.
A runaway 13-year-old has been found safe and sound. Police put out an alert for the boy who ran away from his home in Mount Holly Sunday. Police were particularly concerned because an out-of-state truck was reported near where the boy had been seen hitchhiking. But police say the teen was found safe and sound yesterday morning in the Clarendon area.
A jury has found 51-year-old Robert Kolibas of Williston guilty of drugging and inappropriately touching a 13-year-old girl. The girl, whose name is not being released, was sleeping over as a guest of Kolibas’s daughter. Kolibas claimed the sleeping pills he mixed into a smoothie were intended for his wife. He could face more than 30 years in prison.
Peru Central School could eliminate several positions and cut programs under its 2010-11 spending plan. Officials say the cuts are a response to cuts in state aid, declining enrollment, and steep cost increases. The majority of reductions the board is considering fall in the category of personnel.
Schools and municipalities around Vermont will get some help with making renewable energy and conserving energy, thanks to $5.8 million in grants. The money for the 147 grants is coming from federal stimulus funds. The money will go into a variety of efforts -- including new insulation for buildings and more efficient lighting.
The Rutland Creek Path has moved one step closer to becoming reality. The city received word that it is being awarded a $300,000 transportation enhancement grant from the Agency of Transportation for the Creative Economy-driven project. The award will allow the group to break ground on the first section of the two-mile path, which is planned to stretch from the edge of Giorgetti Athletic Complex and Pine Hill Park to the College of St. Joseph on Dorr Drive. The first section of the path will take the project to State Street.
The results are in from the annual Doyle Poll taken on Town Meeting Day. 96-percent of those questioned believe texting while driving should be banned. 74-percent said cell phone use while driving should be banned all together. The poll also showed that 31-percent of respondents said yes to re-licensing Vermont Yankee, that’s down from 40-percent the year before.
New York's Senate has approved emergency spending that will keep the state operating, as lawmakers leave Albany for the Passover-Easter vacation. The new fiscal year is likely to begin Thursday without a final budget. Gov. David Paterson forced lawmakers to consider what he calls a "bare-bones" emergency spending bill.
A Vermont man who allegedly held police at bay during a three-hour standoff says he's not guilty. Prosecutors say 39-year-old Jonathan G. Fenimore leveled a rifle at police Sunday during the confrontation at his Burlington home. No one was hurt in the incident. Fenimore was ordered yesterday by the courts to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
A St. Albans man who was pulled from his burning home last week has died from his injuries. 73-year-old Orville Fields was rescued from his home on Nason Street by two people who were driving by and saw the flames. Fields suffered severe burns to his legs and lower torso. Investigators say the fire was accidental but have not determined the cause.
The deaths of a husband and wife in Morrisonville have officially been ruled a murder-suicide. Patrick and Rose Maynard were found dead from gunshot wounds in their home on Route 3 Friday morning. Police are looking into reports that the couple had been having marital problems as a possible motive.
Lawyers for the man accused of killing his 12-year-old niece Brook Bennett asked a judge to block prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in his case. In a 186-page motion filed yesterday, attorneys for Michael Jacques argued that since the state of Vermont doesn't have the death penalty, it shouldn't be applied in the federal prosecution of Jacques if he's convicted.
Clinton County is one step closer to selling 600 acres of property off Route 3 in Plattsburgh. The Federal Aviation Administration approved last night to seek requests for potential buyers. People or companies will have 90 days to submit offers for the county to review. The process is expected to take about four to six weeks.
A boy, not even old enough to drive, is under arrest for stealing 45 road signs worth about $2,000. According to police, the signs were stolen in Essex, Georgia, Fairfax and Westford. Authorities are not releasing the boy’s name or age. Police made the discovery while trying to resolve a family dispute. The boy faces grand larceny charges.
Monday, March 29, 2010
WVTK Local & State News March 29, 2010
As contractors ready their bids for the Lake Champlain bridge replacement, transportation officials in New York and Vermont are jousting over what kind of labor rules should govern the project. At issue is a so-called "Project Labor Agreement" proposed by the New York Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the $110 million project. That agreement, according to John Zicconi, director of planning and community outreach for the Vermont Agency of Transportation, gives undue preference to unionized labor and would effectively shut Vermont workers out of the highest-dollar bridge project in recent memory.
The state is continuing its investigation into a Vermont storyteller. The state Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration is having trouble getting answers from Malcolm "Mac" Parker of Addison, who state investigators believe may have raised as much as $10 million since he began soliciting investors for his film, "Birth of Innocence," in 1999. Filings in Washington Superior Court show that investigators have identified nearly 700 individuals who entered into more than 2,600 separate investment agreements with Parker.
3 Vermont downtowns are getting almost $150,000 to help replace sidewalks and add signs. The money for Brattleboro, Rutland and Vergennes is from Vermont's Downtown Transportation Fund and is designed to help support the revitalization of the state's downtowns. Brattleboro will get over $47,000 while Rutland gets $25,000 and Vergennes will get $75,000.
The New York State Budget is expected to be late again this year. The budget is due on Thursday but lawmakers may not have the budget ready by the Passover-Easter Holiday Break. Governor David Paterson says the Legislature only agrees on about $3.3 billion in cuts compared to his $4.8 billion. Lawmakers are expected to approve an emergency-spending plan today.
The Vermont Seal of Quality, which has marked products from maple syrup to eggs for nearly 30 years, is being suspended. Agriculture Secretary Roger Allbee says the program hasn't worked properly in years. Governor Jim Douglas says the program is not going to be eliminated. It's going to be rethought.
More than 100 people gathered in Burlington Saturday for a cycling and pedestrian summit. Discussion at the event centered on ways to make local communities more pedestrian and bike friendly. Organizers hope the summit will spark change, making Vermont a more pedestrian friendly place to live.
A state legislative committee plans to take up the question of paying for decommissioning the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. Governor Jim Douglas has vetoed two previous bills addressing the issue. Tony Klein, chairman of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee, says the new bill would require the plant to set aside $50 million to pay for dismantling the reactor.
A Florida businessman who brokered the first sale of Vermont cows to Cuba five years ago wants to increase food and agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia. John Parke Wright The Fourth tells the Times Argus newspaper that Vermont is 1 of a number of states that could increase exports to a country with 30 million consumers.
An armed standoff with Burlington Police ended peacefully yesterday after the gunman gave himself up. Police say the “intoxicated and despondent” man had fired a gun in the house before police arrived at about 2 PM. The gunman was held-up in his Lopes Avenue home for about 3 hours before surrendering to police.
New York State Police are still investigating an apparent murder-suicide in Cadyville. Police were called to the home on Route 3 around 7:30 Friday Morning and found Patrick and Rose Maynard dead inside the home. According to police, the couple's oldest daughter found her parents after her mother's failed to show up to work.
Closing arguments are expected today in the trial of Robert Kolibas. The Williston man accused of inappropriately touching his daughter's friend at a sleepover. On Friday, Kolibas took the stand and said the drugs in the smoothie given to the girl were meant for his wife. The 51-year old also denied touching her.
Vermont police have arrested a man accused of armed robbery of a pharmacy and making a bomb threat at a high school last week. 47-year-old Gary Reynolds of Highgate is accused of holding up the Rexall Pharmacy in Swanton for prescription drugs. Police say he also made a bomb threat at Missiquoi Valley High School.
The City of Plattsburgh is planning on a number of street repairs this summer. Officials say the relatively mild winter has been kind to the road-repair budget this year. This summer, the city plans to reconstruct 4 streets, and it will resurface 8 others. The budget for street repairs this year is about $1 million.
The federal government has again denied certification for the Vermont State Hospital. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told Vermont officials in a letter Thursday that certification has again been denied. That means the state will miss out on $8 million in federal funds.
South Burlington Police stopped to help a driver with a broken down car and ended up arresting him on drug charges. An officer driving on I-189 stopped to help the disabled vehicle when a drug-sniffing dog indicted something was up. A search of the car revealed almost $7,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia and heroin.
A Plattsburgh woman who suffered severe injuries in a 4-wheel ATV crash Saturday afternoon has died. State Police say 31-year-old Heather M. Smith was riding a 4-wheeler near Chateauguay Lake in the Town of Bellmont with a group of 5 other riders when she crashed into several small trees. Smith was airlifted to Fletcher Allen were she was later pronounced dead.
The state is continuing its investigation into a Vermont storyteller. The state Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration is having trouble getting answers from Malcolm "Mac" Parker of Addison, who state investigators believe may have raised as much as $10 million since he began soliciting investors for his film, "Birth of Innocence," in 1999. Filings in Washington Superior Court show that investigators have identified nearly 700 individuals who entered into more than 2,600 separate investment agreements with Parker.
3 Vermont downtowns are getting almost $150,000 to help replace sidewalks and add signs. The money for Brattleboro, Rutland and Vergennes is from Vermont's Downtown Transportation Fund and is designed to help support the revitalization of the state's downtowns. Brattleboro will get over $47,000 while Rutland gets $25,000 and Vergennes will get $75,000.
The New York State Budget is expected to be late again this year. The budget is due on Thursday but lawmakers may not have the budget ready by the Passover-Easter Holiday Break. Governor David Paterson says the Legislature only agrees on about $3.3 billion in cuts compared to his $4.8 billion. Lawmakers are expected to approve an emergency-spending plan today.
The Vermont Seal of Quality, which has marked products from maple syrup to eggs for nearly 30 years, is being suspended. Agriculture Secretary Roger Allbee says the program hasn't worked properly in years. Governor Jim Douglas says the program is not going to be eliminated. It's going to be rethought.
More than 100 people gathered in Burlington Saturday for a cycling and pedestrian summit. Discussion at the event centered on ways to make local communities more pedestrian and bike friendly. Organizers hope the summit will spark change, making Vermont a more pedestrian friendly place to live.
A state legislative committee plans to take up the question of paying for decommissioning the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. Governor Jim Douglas has vetoed two previous bills addressing the issue. Tony Klein, chairman of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee, says the new bill would require the plant to set aside $50 million to pay for dismantling the reactor.
A Florida businessman who brokered the first sale of Vermont cows to Cuba five years ago wants to increase food and agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia. John Parke Wright The Fourth tells the Times Argus newspaper that Vermont is 1 of a number of states that could increase exports to a country with 30 million consumers.
An armed standoff with Burlington Police ended peacefully yesterday after the gunman gave himself up. Police say the “intoxicated and despondent” man had fired a gun in the house before police arrived at about 2 PM. The gunman was held-up in his Lopes Avenue home for about 3 hours before surrendering to police.
New York State Police are still investigating an apparent murder-suicide in Cadyville. Police were called to the home on Route 3 around 7:30 Friday Morning and found Patrick and Rose Maynard dead inside the home. According to police, the couple's oldest daughter found her parents after her mother's failed to show up to work.
Closing arguments are expected today in the trial of Robert Kolibas. The Williston man accused of inappropriately touching his daughter's friend at a sleepover. On Friday, Kolibas took the stand and said the drugs in the smoothie given to the girl were meant for his wife. The 51-year old also denied touching her.
Vermont police have arrested a man accused of armed robbery of a pharmacy and making a bomb threat at a high school last week. 47-year-old Gary Reynolds of Highgate is accused of holding up the Rexall Pharmacy in Swanton for prescription drugs. Police say he also made a bomb threat at Missiquoi Valley High School.
The City of Plattsburgh is planning on a number of street repairs this summer. Officials say the relatively mild winter has been kind to the road-repair budget this year. This summer, the city plans to reconstruct 4 streets, and it will resurface 8 others. The budget for street repairs this year is about $1 million.
The federal government has again denied certification for the Vermont State Hospital. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told Vermont officials in a letter Thursday that certification has again been denied. That means the state will miss out on $8 million in federal funds.
South Burlington Police stopped to help a driver with a broken down car and ended up arresting him on drug charges. An officer driving on I-189 stopped to help the disabled vehicle when a drug-sniffing dog indicted something was up. A search of the car revealed almost $7,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia and heroin.
A Plattsburgh woman who suffered severe injuries in a 4-wheel ATV crash Saturday afternoon has died. State Police say 31-year-old Heather M. Smith was riding a 4-wheeler near Chateauguay Lake in the Town of Bellmont with a group of 5 other riders when she crashed into several small trees. Smith was airlifted to Fletcher Allen were she was later pronounced dead.
Friday, March 26, 2010
WVTK Local & State News March 26, 2010
Legislators in the Vermont House worked late last night and eventually passed the proposed budget. Lawmakers this year are looking to save about $150 million. The governor's office said he is happy with the progress but would like to see more cuts in education and taxes. The proposed budget now goes on to the senate.
Rutland's police chief moved to fire the officer facing criminal charges in connection with a pornography investigation. Sergeant David Schauwecker was arraigned Wednesday on charges he neglected his duty and lied to investigators. Chief Anthony Bossi submitted a letter to Mayor Chris Louras requesting that the Board of Civil Authority approve Schauwecker's termination. The Board will take up the issue on April 7th. For now Schauwecker remains on paid administrative leave.
The National Bank of Middlebury has fast-tracked the completion of a Habitat for Humanity project. Habitat member Margaret Carothers said the group recently accepted a $4,500 check from the bank. A statement from the bank said it spent three months setting aside $25 each time a certain type of checking account was opened. The house on Weybridge Street will be dedicated next month.
Vermont manufacturers will have to wait a bit longer for a previously scheduled tax cut after the state House voted to delay it. That change was part of a package of tax changes approved yesterday. Lawmakers also voted to apply the state's sales tax to dietary supplements, which currently are exempt.
The trial of Trevor Herrick, charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing of Kerry Munger of Benson, opened in Rutland District Court yesterday. Along with witness testimony, the jury heard part of a recording of an interview between Herrick and Vermont State Police Detective Albert Abdelnour. Herrick fatally stabbed Munger during an argument in the Rutland Town Sears parking lot in April 2009. In the recording, Herrick said he did not believe Munger had any weapons and Munger did not hit him, but just pushed him.
A gas station in Plattsburgh is not allowed to sell any gas until a leak in the underground storage tanks is fixed. Investigators were called to the Sunoco Station next to Jreck Subs on Route 3 yesterday after a number of customers complained about bad gas. They found a crack in one of the tanks that allowed water to leak into the tank.
Vermont Yankee officials say they have found and fixed the source of leaking radioactive tritium. The leak was from two pipes in a concrete tunnel, one which contained liquid and one which contained steam. Yankee officials say groundwater cleanup at the plant began yesterday. No tritium has been detected in drinking water supplies or the nearby Connecticut River.
New York utility regulators have rejected Entergy Corp.'s plan to spin off its six nuclear power stations into a separate company. The state Public Service Commission acted Thursday after its staff determined the deal wasn't in the public interest, primarily because the resulting company - Enexus Energy Corp. - could be financially shaky.
A Vermont mother has pled not guilty to driving drunk with 7 kids in the car. 37-year-old Mary O’Neil was arrested last Friday while driving a car full of kids to the movies in Williston. Police say her blood alcohol content measured point-37 … more than 4 times the legal limit. Several lawmakers in Montpelier say O'Neil's case highlights the need for stiffer drunk driving penalties.
Officials at Momot Elementary School are warning parents that their children may have been exposed to the mumps. A letter was recently sent to the entire Momot Community warning of the potential exposure. A student teacher from Plattsburgh State recently visited the school and has now started showing symptoms of the mumps.
A Plattsburgh teen has been sentenced for her role in a Clinton County burglary spree. 19-year-old Lisa Joy was placed on probation for 5 years and will have to perform 250 hours of community service. Police say she participated in a crime spree in the Plattsburgh area last spring where more than a dozen homes were broken into.
Williston's new ambulance service will start in July. On Town Meeting Day voters approved a budget that included $200,000 to pay for the ambulance service. In the past, the town relied on rescue services provided by neighboring communities. But many said Williston has grown so much it needs its own ambulance service.
Due to cuts in federal and state aid, the Plattsburgh School District may have to cut nearly 20 positions and some popular programs. At a meeting last night, Superintendent Jake Short said it’s either budget cuts or tax hikes. The board did not finalize a plan last night. The public will have another chance to speak-out at a forum next Tuesday night at 6:30.
Rutland's police chief moved to fire the officer facing criminal charges in connection with a pornography investigation. Sergeant David Schauwecker was arraigned Wednesday on charges he neglected his duty and lied to investigators. Chief Anthony Bossi submitted a letter to Mayor Chris Louras requesting that the Board of Civil Authority approve Schauwecker's termination. The Board will take up the issue on April 7th. For now Schauwecker remains on paid administrative leave.
The National Bank of Middlebury has fast-tracked the completion of a Habitat for Humanity project. Habitat member Margaret Carothers said the group recently accepted a $4,500 check from the bank. A statement from the bank said it spent three months setting aside $25 each time a certain type of checking account was opened. The house on Weybridge Street will be dedicated next month.
Vermont manufacturers will have to wait a bit longer for a previously scheduled tax cut after the state House voted to delay it. That change was part of a package of tax changes approved yesterday. Lawmakers also voted to apply the state's sales tax to dietary supplements, which currently are exempt.
The trial of Trevor Herrick, charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing of Kerry Munger of Benson, opened in Rutland District Court yesterday. Along with witness testimony, the jury heard part of a recording of an interview between Herrick and Vermont State Police Detective Albert Abdelnour. Herrick fatally stabbed Munger during an argument in the Rutland Town Sears parking lot in April 2009. In the recording, Herrick said he did not believe Munger had any weapons and Munger did not hit him, but just pushed him.
A gas station in Plattsburgh is not allowed to sell any gas until a leak in the underground storage tanks is fixed. Investigators were called to the Sunoco Station next to Jreck Subs on Route 3 yesterday after a number of customers complained about bad gas. They found a crack in one of the tanks that allowed water to leak into the tank.
Vermont Yankee officials say they have found and fixed the source of leaking radioactive tritium. The leak was from two pipes in a concrete tunnel, one which contained liquid and one which contained steam. Yankee officials say groundwater cleanup at the plant began yesterday. No tritium has been detected in drinking water supplies or the nearby Connecticut River.
New York utility regulators have rejected Entergy Corp.'s plan to spin off its six nuclear power stations into a separate company. The state Public Service Commission acted Thursday after its staff determined the deal wasn't in the public interest, primarily because the resulting company - Enexus Energy Corp. - could be financially shaky.
A Vermont mother has pled not guilty to driving drunk with 7 kids in the car. 37-year-old Mary O’Neil was arrested last Friday while driving a car full of kids to the movies in Williston. Police say her blood alcohol content measured point-37 … more than 4 times the legal limit. Several lawmakers in Montpelier say O'Neil's case highlights the need for stiffer drunk driving penalties.
Officials at Momot Elementary School are warning parents that their children may have been exposed to the mumps. A letter was recently sent to the entire Momot Community warning of the potential exposure. A student teacher from Plattsburgh State recently visited the school and has now started showing symptoms of the mumps.
A Plattsburgh teen has been sentenced for her role in a Clinton County burglary spree. 19-year-old Lisa Joy was placed on probation for 5 years and will have to perform 250 hours of community service. Police say she participated in a crime spree in the Plattsburgh area last spring where more than a dozen homes were broken into.
Williston's new ambulance service will start in July. On Town Meeting Day voters approved a budget that included $200,000 to pay for the ambulance service. In the past, the town relied on rescue services provided by neighboring communities. But many said Williston has grown so much it needs its own ambulance service.
Due to cuts in federal and state aid, the Plattsburgh School District may have to cut nearly 20 positions and some popular programs. At a meeting last night, Superintendent Jake Short said it’s either budget cuts or tax hikes. The board did not finalize a plan last night. The public will have another chance to speak-out at a forum next Tuesday night at 6:30.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
WVTK Local & State News March 25, 2010
A Rutland police sergeant accused of taking evidence from a case he wasn't involved with and then lying about it to investigators pleaded not guilty yesterday in Rutland District Court. Sergeant David Schauwecker is charged with neglect of duty and making a false report to law enforcement authorities. The charges stem from an investigation launched last fall into whether Schauwecker had viewed child pornography on his work computer. Investigators couldn't prove that the images in the material involved children under the age of 16. Schauwecker is on paid leave from the department.
Construction will soon start again on the Cross Street Bridge in Middlebury. A portion of the span across Otter Creek was built before winter. Project engineers say they are trying to be sensitive to local needs. Contractors will take a break during Middlebury College graduation but there will be some impact to summer traffic. Construction is set to begin April 5 and will continue throughout the summer. The bridge is scheduled to open October 10.
Help is on the way for businesses losing money because of the closure of the Lake Champlain Bridge, but what kind of help remains to be seen. The Vermont House of Representatives last week approved an aid package with $350,000 in loans and $150,000 in grants. The funds are part of a larger bill dealing with stimulus money. The two bills are now likely to go to a conference committee composed of House and Senate members who will work to reconcile them.
Money matters take center stage at the statehouse today. Lawmakers are slated to take up the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, along with bills on taxes and transportation spending. The spending plan includes some cuts in human services as the state tries to close an expected $150 million budget gap.
Funding for the Olympic Regional Development Authority and Moriah Shock still remains up in the air. The State Assembly budget plan calls for funding both entities while the Senate plan doesn’t. Both plans however, still call for the closure of the Lyon Mountain State Correctional Facility. It’s now up to the budgeting committees to come up with a compromise budget plan.
The results are out from the National Assessment of Educational Progress exams and they show Vermont is at the top of the class in reading. Vermont 4th-graders are second only to Massachusetts in reading, while Vermont 8th-graders are number one in the country. Vermont students took the NAEP math exam last year and performed at similar levels.
The man charged with robbing Zuke’s Corner Store last year has plead guilty to the indictment against him. Police say 27-year-old Anthony Vallee robbed the store with an air pistol and made off with $720. Without a plea deal, the Plattsburgh man admitted to robbing the store. Vallee will now be sentenced on May 24.
One person is dead after a horrific crash on Interstate 89 in Georgia. The force of the crash caused a tractor trailer to burst into flames and forced police to shut down Interstate 89 for hours last night. Vermont State Police say the car was heading south on I-89 when the driver crossed into the median, became airborne, and slammed head-on into the truck.
Police in Burlington are still investigating an attempted robbery and assault on North Union Street. Police say 2 men approached a woman late Tuesday Night and demanded money. When she refused, they pushed her down and ran. The 2 unidentified men are still at large. If you have any information, call the Burlington Police Department.
The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission has appointed a new senior resident inspector for the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. David Spindler will be one of two inspectors at the Vernon reactor, acting as the federal agency's eyes and ears at the plant. He previously had worked at the FitzPatrick nuclear plant in New York State and was a reactor operator in the U.S. Navy.
Some South Burlington Residents want to put a curfew on the Burlington International Airport. In fact, they’ve started a petition to deter planes from taking off or landing during the overnight. The noise ordinance would charge airlines a fee for using the runway during those hours. Residents say the planes not only make a lot of noise, they sometimes shake their houses.
First, she won an Olympic silver medal in women's halfpipe. Now, snowboarder Hannah Teter can claim an ice cream flavor all her own. Teter of Belmont showed up at a Burlington Ben & Jerry's scoop shop Tuesday to introduce the ice cream maker's newest flavor: Maple Blondie. The ice cream features maple ice cream, blonde brownies and a maple-caramel swirl. Proceeds from the sale of Maple Blondie will benefit Teter's charity Hannah's Gold.
Construction will soon start again on the Cross Street Bridge in Middlebury. A portion of the span across Otter Creek was built before winter. Project engineers say they are trying to be sensitive to local needs. Contractors will take a break during Middlebury College graduation but there will be some impact to summer traffic. Construction is set to begin April 5 and will continue throughout the summer. The bridge is scheduled to open October 10.
Help is on the way for businesses losing money because of the closure of the Lake Champlain Bridge, but what kind of help remains to be seen. The Vermont House of Representatives last week approved an aid package with $350,000 in loans and $150,000 in grants. The funds are part of a larger bill dealing with stimulus money. The two bills are now likely to go to a conference committee composed of House and Senate members who will work to reconcile them.
Money matters take center stage at the statehouse today. Lawmakers are slated to take up the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, along with bills on taxes and transportation spending. The spending plan includes some cuts in human services as the state tries to close an expected $150 million budget gap.
Funding for the Olympic Regional Development Authority and Moriah Shock still remains up in the air. The State Assembly budget plan calls for funding both entities while the Senate plan doesn’t. Both plans however, still call for the closure of the Lyon Mountain State Correctional Facility. It’s now up to the budgeting committees to come up with a compromise budget plan.
The results are out from the National Assessment of Educational Progress exams and they show Vermont is at the top of the class in reading. Vermont 4th-graders are second only to Massachusetts in reading, while Vermont 8th-graders are number one in the country. Vermont students took the NAEP math exam last year and performed at similar levels.
The man charged with robbing Zuke’s Corner Store last year has plead guilty to the indictment against him. Police say 27-year-old Anthony Vallee robbed the store with an air pistol and made off with $720. Without a plea deal, the Plattsburgh man admitted to robbing the store. Vallee will now be sentenced on May 24.
One person is dead after a horrific crash on Interstate 89 in Georgia. The force of the crash caused a tractor trailer to burst into flames and forced police to shut down Interstate 89 for hours last night. Vermont State Police say the car was heading south on I-89 when the driver crossed into the median, became airborne, and slammed head-on into the truck.
Police in Burlington are still investigating an attempted robbery and assault on North Union Street. Police say 2 men approached a woman late Tuesday Night and demanded money. When she refused, they pushed her down and ran. The 2 unidentified men are still at large. If you have any information, call the Burlington Police Department.
The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission has appointed a new senior resident inspector for the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. David Spindler will be one of two inspectors at the Vernon reactor, acting as the federal agency's eyes and ears at the plant. He previously had worked at the FitzPatrick nuclear plant in New York State and was a reactor operator in the U.S. Navy.
Some South Burlington Residents want to put a curfew on the Burlington International Airport. In fact, they’ve started a petition to deter planes from taking off or landing during the overnight. The noise ordinance would charge airlines a fee for using the runway during those hours. Residents say the planes not only make a lot of noise, they sometimes shake their houses.
First, she won an Olympic silver medal in women's halfpipe. Now, snowboarder Hannah Teter can claim an ice cream flavor all her own. Teter of Belmont showed up at a Burlington Ben & Jerry's scoop shop Tuesday to introduce the ice cream maker's newest flavor: Maple Blondie. The ice cream features maple ice cream, blonde brownies and a maple-caramel swirl. Proceeds from the sale of Maple Blondie will benefit Teter's charity Hannah's Gold.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
WVTK Local & State News March 24, 2010
A Rutland police sergeant Wednesday will answer to criminal charges. Sergeant David Schauwecker has been under investigation since last summer since suspected child pornography was allegedly found on a computer he had logged onto last July. State Police say the sergeant will appear in Rutland District court to answer charges of filing a false report to authorities and neglect of duty by a public officer. Those charges are not related to child pornography but he has been under the microscope for all of his actions since last year.
The Vergennes Police Department and Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects who robbed the Marble Works Pharmacy in Vergennes on February 4. Police say the unidentified man enter the pharmacy brandishing a handgun. He then made off with an unspecified amount of prescription drugs.
Rutland school officials and administrators talked Tuesday about substantial changes that could affect how the district provides a public education — from proposed state directives to Rutland High School's new federal designation of being low-performing. Rutland High School Principal Bill Olsen explained to the School Board what he knew and didn't know about why his school was named "persistently low-achieving" — ranked as one of 10 schools in the state as high need by the Vermont Department of Education two weeks ago based on a poverty and testing measurement required by the federal government.
Shaws Supermarkets is cutting 4-percent of its full-time employees company-wide and that means some Vermonters can expect layoffs. The company won’t say exactly how many Vermont jobs will be cut. Officials say the layoffs have nothing to do the ongoing labor dispute in Southern New England. They also add that they have no plans to sell or close any stores in the state.
Swanton Police are investigating a robbery at Rexall Pharmacy in Swanton. Police say someone walked into the pharmacy around 2:30 yesterday afternoon and demanded medication. He then left on foot. Police are looking for a white man, about 30-35 years old, around 6 feet tall, who weighs about 220 pounds.
Opening arguments are expected to come today in the trial for Robert Kolibas. The Williston man is accused of inappropriately touching a teenaged friend of his daughter's during a sleep over. Authorities say Kolibas gave the girl a drug-laced smoothie. Jury selection in the case took the better part of the last 2 days.
State officials say 7 campgrounds and 2 day-use areas in the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves will not open this year because of the state’s fiscal crisis. One of those is Taylor Pond, a popular campsite in Black Brook. The Department of Environmental Conservation says the sites were selected based on use and proximity to other campgrounds.
Supporters of stronger penalties for drunk drivers rallied at the Vermont Statehouse yesterday. Friends and family of Nick Fournier, who was killed by a drug driver going the wrong way on Interstate 89, want tougher drunk driving penalties. Some lawmakers support the move but bills have stalled in committee. They say they will return every year till a new law is passed.
A Vermont company that makes instant baby formula has been sold for $800-Million. PBM Nutritionals in Georgia has reportedly been purchased by Perrigo. Reports indicate the company expects the purchase to increase sales at the company by $300 million in the first year. The company is hiring now and holding a job fair today.
The owner of the Comfort Inn in Plattsburgh, which was destroyed by a fire, hopes to re-open this summer. The fire in November of 2008 destroyed the hotel on Route 3 along with Perkins Restaurant and Legend's Sports Bar. The owner, Terry Meron, hopes to open the hotel in June and the restaurants a few months later.
Vermont State Police say they have found the remains of a missing Swanton man. Police say 41-year-old Kenneth Murray of Swanton was reported missing on May 4, 2007. Murray's skeletal remains were found in a wooded area off of Lake Road on Monday. Authorities say the cause of death is undetermined but say there are no signs of foul play.
The Town of Plattsburgh wants to spread the word about a new carbon-monoxide-detector law and a ban on open burning. The law, which took effect on February 22, requires new and existing single-family or multi-family buildings to have carbon-monoxide detectors. And due to the large number of wildfires each spring, there is now a ban on burning between March 15 and May 15.
Ben & Jerry's ice cream has a new boss. Jostein Solheim, a veteran executive with parent company Uniliver, has been named CEO of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream. He succeeds Walt Freese, who recently stepped down after 8 years on the job. Solheim has worked for Unilever for 14 years in 5 countries.
Home sales in the Northeast rose in February as the economy showed signs of recovery. The National Association of Realtors also said that Northeast sales were 13 percent higher compared to a year ago. The Burlington housing market saw the largest price increase for existing home sales in the Northeast, at 12 percent.
An 11-year-old girl is leaving Vermont as the 2010 "Rotten Sneaker" champion of the United States. Trinette Robinson of Bristol, Connecticut, was crowned yesterday in Montpelier at The 35th annual National Odor-Eaters Rotten Sneaker contest. The runner up was 6-year-old Madilyn Taylor of West Jordon, Utah.
The Vergennes Police Department and Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects who robbed the Marble Works Pharmacy in Vergennes on February 4. Police say the unidentified man enter the pharmacy brandishing a handgun. He then made off with an unspecified amount of prescription drugs.
Rutland school officials and administrators talked Tuesday about substantial changes that could affect how the district provides a public education — from proposed state directives to Rutland High School's new federal designation of being low-performing. Rutland High School Principal Bill Olsen explained to the School Board what he knew and didn't know about why his school was named "persistently low-achieving" — ranked as one of 10 schools in the state as high need by the Vermont Department of Education two weeks ago based on a poverty and testing measurement required by the federal government.
Shaws Supermarkets is cutting 4-percent of its full-time employees company-wide and that means some Vermonters can expect layoffs. The company won’t say exactly how many Vermont jobs will be cut. Officials say the layoffs have nothing to do the ongoing labor dispute in Southern New England. They also add that they have no plans to sell or close any stores in the state.
Swanton Police are investigating a robbery at Rexall Pharmacy in Swanton. Police say someone walked into the pharmacy around 2:30 yesterday afternoon and demanded medication. He then left on foot. Police are looking for a white man, about 30-35 years old, around 6 feet tall, who weighs about 220 pounds.
Opening arguments are expected to come today in the trial for Robert Kolibas. The Williston man is accused of inappropriately touching a teenaged friend of his daughter's during a sleep over. Authorities say Kolibas gave the girl a drug-laced smoothie. Jury selection in the case took the better part of the last 2 days.
State officials say 7 campgrounds and 2 day-use areas in the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves will not open this year because of the state’s fiscal crisis. One of those is Taylor Pond, a popular campsite in Black Brook. The Department of Environmental Conservation says the sites were selected based on use and proximity to other campgrounds.
Supporters of stronger penalties for drunk drivers rallied at the Vermont Statehouse yesterday. Friends and family of Nick Fournier, who was killed by a drug driver going the wrong way on Interstate 89, want tougher drunk driving penalties. Some lawmakers support the move but bills have stalled in committee. They say they will return every year till a new law is passed.
A Vermont company that makes instant baby formula has been sold for $800-Million. PBM Nutritionals in Georgia has reportedly been purchased by Perrigo. Reports indicate the company expects the purchase to increase sales at the company by $300 million in the first year. The company is hiring now and holding a job fair today.
The owner of the Comfort Inn in Plattsburgh, which was destroyed by a fire, hopes to re-open this summer. The fire in November of 2008 destroyed the hotel on Route 3 along with Perkins Restaurant and Legend's Sports Bar. The owner, Terry Meron, hopes to open the hotel in June and the restaurants a few months later.
Vermont State Police say they have found the remains of a missing Swanton man. Police say 41-year-old Kenneth Murray of Swanton was reported missing on May 4, 2007. Murray's skeletal remains were found in a wooded area off of Lake Road on Monday. Authorities say the cause of death is undetermined but say there are no signs of foul play.
The Town of Plattsburgh wants to spread the word about a new carbon-monoxide-detector law and a ban on open burning. The law, which took effect on February 22, requires new and existing single-family or multi-family buildings to have carbon-monoxide detectors. And due to the large number of wildfires each spring, there is now a ban on burning between March 15 and May 15.
Ben & Jerry's ice cream has a new boss. Jostein Solheim, a veteran executive with parent company Uniliver, has been named CEO of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream. He succeeds Walt Freese, who recently stepped down after 8 years on the job. Solheim has worked for Unilever for 14 years in 5 countries.
Home sales in the Northeast rose in February as the economy showed signs of recovery. The National Association of Realtors also said that Northeast sales were 13 percent higher compared to a year ago. The Burlington housing market saw the largest price increase for existing home sales in the Northeast, at 12 percent.
An 11-year-old girl is leaving Vermont as the 2010 "Rotten Sneaker" champion of the United States. Trinette Robinson of Bristol, Connecticut, was crowned yesterday in Montpelier at The 35th annual National Odor-Eaters Rotten Sneaker contest. The runner up was 6-year-old Madilyn Taylor of West Jordon, Utah.
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