WVTK Local & State News January 10, 2011

News of the shooting rampage over the weekend in Tucson, Arizona that killed six, and critically injured more than a dozen others spread quickly throughout our region. In written statements, Vermont's congressional delegation and governor expressed their sympathies with the victims. President Obama has called for a moment of silence to honor all of the shooting victims at 11AM today.

Teachers in the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union said they are looking at their "right to strike" after the school boards imposed a contract that raises their health insurance costs and won't guarantee them regular pay raises. The boards for the six schools in the Union said they don't believe it's fair to ask taxpayers to pay for salary increases without giving the boards opportunities to negotiate. The contract covers 187 teachers. Teachers hope to be able to resume negotiations and reach a contract.

The voices, viewpoints and visual images of Vermont's women town clerks are the focus of a new exhibit opening February 1 at the Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury. "Women Town Clerks of Vermont -- Reflections on Democracy," by New York photographer Sandra Elkin, uses portrait photographs and audio recordings of 19 women talking about democracy, citizenship and their concerns. The exhibit will run through March 31.

One hundred and sixty members of the Vermont Air National Guard are heading overseas to train in Korea for the next two months. The Guard says this mission is not associated with heightened tension in the region. Rather, it's strictly training that's been planned for months.

You may want to check your phone bill. That’s the advice of state officials who are reporting an increase in the number of complaints about phone “cramming” which is the act of adding unauthorized third-party charges to someone’s phone bill. And officials say the number of complaints doesn’t reflect the severity of the problem. Consumers with a complaint can contact the Department of Public Service at 800-622-4496 or the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424 or 656-3183.

Rutland Regional Medical Center President Thomas Huebner has lent his voice to the fight against repealing health care reform. Rep. Peter Welch quoted him during recent testimony to the House Rules Committee and Huebner stood by the quote Friday, saying the free preventive services provided in the bill were important.

After 12 years as the detective sergeant overseeing the Rutland City Police department’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Sgt. Kevin Stevens is swapping places with Sgt. James Tarbell. As of last week, Stevens took over as the department’s administrative sergeant in charge of community outreach, school resource officers and security alarm permitting while Tarbell moved upstairs to run BCI and its four investigators. It’s a change that both men said they welcomed.

North Country Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward said that the state is likely to consider a bill that would no longer require counties to seek legislative approval before hiking the local sales tax. Both Essex and Hamilton counties are currently seeking legislative authority to increase their sales tax rates. If Essex County's rate increases from 3.75 percent to 4 percent, it could mean an additional $1 million in revenue for the cash-strapped municipality.

Throughout the region, superintendents and school boards are bracing for what could be a very tough budget season. Westport Central School superintendent Dr. John Gallagher said while he has mentioned the budget in every board meeting since the 2010-11 spending plan was passed, he wanted to get to work on the details as soon as possible. The Westport Central School District Board of Education will hold a budget meeting beginning at 6 PM, followed by its regular meeting, on Thursday, January 13, in the school library. All Board of Education meetings are open to the public.

Vermont Yankee nuclear plant and its backers say they hope they'll be able to reverse their fortunes and get a favorable vote for continued operation out of the Vermont Legislature this year. Vermont is the only state that requires legislative approval for nuclear license renewal. Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell says he sees no chance of that happening.

The 19th annual Yankee Sportsman's Classic Show kicks off Friday at the Robert E. Miller Expo Center in Essex Junction. Organizers say the 15,000 people are expected at the show, which features more than 175 exhibitors with hunting and fishing supplies, boats, recreational vehicles, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and other outdoors supplies and equipment. The show also features dozens of free seminars on topics ranging from fly-fishing and moose hunting to dog training and wildlife management.

The Vermont Youth Orchestra will likely get a new conductor this week. In December, the orchestra board voted to fire conductor Ronald Braunstein after less than a year on the job. The reason why is still under wraps. On Tuesday night they'll vote on the appointment of a new person to fill the position. Board members say this person was a candidate for the job last year.

Registered snowmobile owners in New Hampshire will be able to ride in Vermont for an upcoming weekend without paying for a trail pass and other costs. Vermont riders will have the same privileges in New Hampshire. It's the first time the two states have agreed to the trail sharing. The free crossover will take place Friday, Jan. 21, through Sunday, Jan. 23.

A group organized to set up a process for state recognition of Indian tribes in Vermont is going to ask the Legislature to recognize two Abenaki tribes. Commission Chairman Luke Willard said he will present the recommendations to the House General and Military Affairs Committee for legislative action. The Abenaki say recognition will allow them to sell their crafts as Native American and seek federal funding for education and other benefits.

Officials at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center are looking for more kids to take part in a flu vaccine study. The hospital currently only has a handful of patients for the study. They are looking for 88 kids between the ages of two and nine. The children will receive either the shot, nasal spray, or combination of the two vaccines. Gift certificates are being offered to those who take part. Doctors say the flu has been reported in both New Hampshire and Vermont this season.

The Vermont Army National Guard armory in Lyndon is going to be renovated. The $350,000 renovation will include upgraded locker rooms and the construction of an interior mezzanine with a lift to accommodate more storage and lockers. The Lyndon armory is home to Charlie Troop of the 3rd Battalion of the 172nd Infantry, Mountain, which just returned from a mission in Afghanistan.

Stewart's Shops' Holiday Match program completed its 24th year of collecting donations for local children's charities with a record dollar amount. The company proudly announces Stewart's customers contributed $640,000. Stewart's Shops is matching that amount, with a total of $1.28 million to be distributed to local children's charitable organizations in this Spring. The Holiday Match program relies on customers making contributions in the 328 Stewart's Shops located in upstate New York and western Vermont from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day. Stewart's then matches the customer donations.

The Vergennes Lions Club recently donated $3,000 in funds to go toward fuel assistance and food for needy families in the Vergennes area. The Lions Club President presented checks to Jackman Fuels Inc. and to the manager of the Vergennes Area Food Shelf.