WVTK Local & State News February 3, 2011

Cars off the road are a common sight during a winter storm in Vermont. Gov. Peter Shumlin has called for a look at the state's "Safe-Roads-at-Safe-Speeds" policy. It means instead of clearing the roads down to the bare pavement most of the snow and ice is removed to make them drive-able. The 30-year old policy is designed to save money and cut down on salt use. According to Shumlin "they are safe”. But some legislators disagree. They say cuts to the state's plow budget have led to unsafe roads and Representative Don Turner of Milton says we should spend more money to "ensure actual safe roads."

The replica sailing vessel Lois McClure will lead off the Champlain Bridge Grand Celebration when the new span opens this fall. Karen Hennessey, co-chair of the Lake Champlain Bridge Community, envisions a Saturday morning opening for the new bridge. The Lois McClure will be part of a boat parade. Another parade, on land at the bridge, will include local high-school bands. The group's next core meeting is at 2:30 PM on Thursday, February 10, at the Lake Champlain Visitors Center at the bridge site.

A Water Committee appointed by the Port Henry Village Board has decided that a water-rate increase is necessary. Village trustees said the current rates don't cover the operating costs of the Village Water Department, and there is a shortfall between the revenue received and the cost to produce and distribute water. Once a review process is complete, the Village Board and Water Committee will hold a special meeting to inform the public of all proposed water-rate increases and changes, as well as the projected impact on consumers.

During town meeting, Hubbardton residents will have the opportunity to vote for a cemetery commissioner for the first time in 28 years. Resident Marie Goodrich is challenging incumbent Fred Fuller for the first time since he was elected in 1983. Goodrich said she decided to challenge Fuller for commissioner this year because many people in town asked her to run.

A Rutland Town man is facing criminal charges for allegedly pointing a gun at an off-duty Rutland County sheriff’s deputy. James R. Chitwood was arrested yesterday and is expected to appear in Rutland criminal court today on charges of aggravated assault with a weapon and reckless endangerment. Police said no shots were fired and nobody was hurt.

Police in Colchester were out in the storm Wednesday night -- searching for an armed robber. Police say someone held up the Bayside Triple M Deli around 9:00 PM. No one was hurt. Police say a masked man showed a handgun to the clerk and demanded money. Officers were called to the scene and began tracking him in the snow.

It's been a bad winter season for Vermont state snowplows. There have been an unusually high number of cars hitting the plows, and yesterday crash number six was reported. Transportation crews say it happened as the plow was working Interstate-89 near Bolton, and a pickup truck slammed into the back of the plow, damaging the state vehicle and taking it out of service. No word on if there were any injuries.

Realtors are asking policymakers not to extend the sales tax to services. The Vermont Association of Realtors lobbied lawmakers Wednesday in Montpelier. They're concerned about a report that recommends adding a sales tax to a number of services, including transactions when someone buys or sells a home. Realtors say it could add $2,000 to closing costs on a $200,000 home.

The city of Montpelier and the state hope to share and expand Vermont's biomass heating plant in the capital. The state has used wood chips to supplement the oil-fired boilers since the early 1980s to provide heat to 18 state buildings and the capital. An $8 million federal grant will help the city try to tap into those steam lines to heat its own buildings. It also hopes to create its own utility to provide heat and hot water to private buildings.

Residents of Beekmantown have been paying millions of dollars in extra school taxes. An audit released yesterday by the New York State Comptroller's office revealed that for the past five years, the district has overestimated expenses while it underestimated revenues. That resulted in taxpayers shelling out $5.5 million that was not needed by the district. In a letter to the comptroller's office, the district says it plans to apply the surplus money to budgets for the next three to five years.

Vermont's secretary of Natural Resources is being urged to add two species of once-common bats to the state's endangered species list. On Tuesday Vermont's Endangered Species Committee recommended that little brown bats and northern long-eared bats be added to the list because their populations have been decimated by white nose syndrome. Being on the list will help protect the species.

The former office manager of a small Vermont electric utility is facing charges she embezzled almost $180,000 over 10 years. Joyce Bellavance pleaded not guilty this week in federal court in Burlington to 13 counts of wire fraud. While she was charged with embezzling $180,000, prosecutors say she took $1.4 million.

Authorities say the chief of the Missisquoi Abenaki tribe in Swanton is accused of exploiting a vulnerable adult. Franklin County Sheriff Robert Norris said Wednesday that 42-year-old April St. Francis Merrill is accused of manipulating the financial records of an elderly man during a 4 1/2-year period while she took care of his finances.

Panera Bread wants to build a café in front of the old Hannaford building in Rutland. The Missouri-based chain has applied for a 1.1-acre subdivision to the parcel. According to the application filed with the city, they want to construct a 4,000-square-foot building at the front of the property, facing South Main Street. The restaurant would include a drive-through window. The Rutland City Development Review Board has scheduled a hearing on the application for 6 PM February 16.