WVTK Local & State News March 25, 2011

A Middlebury College student is missing in Syria. 21-year-old Tik Root of Ripton hasn't been seen or heard from since March 16th. Root is a junior studying Arabic and was recently involved in anti-government protests in Egypt. He then decided to continue his studies in Damascus. Family members say the U.S. State Department is investigating and has learned from the Syrian Government that Syrian authorities are “almost certainly” holding Tik.

The Vermont House of Representatives has given final passage to a bill that would set the state on a path toward a single-payer health care system. Thursday's 92-49 vote wrapped up two days of debate that saw supporters say the measure was needed to cover Vermont's uninsured and control costs by reducing administrative overhead. The measure puts off for two years a decision on how the new system would be paid for. Opponents said that leaves too much uncertainty and will hurt economic growth in the state.

Vergennes and possibly Addison residents will be going to the polls for a sixth time to decide on the proposed one-board governance for the Addison Northwest Supervisory Union. If the Unified Union proposal survives either one or two re-votes, it would be the first significant consolidation move in Vermont. Residents in all five Addison Northwest Supervisory towns must back any unification for it to take effect. If any town reverses the outcome from its Town Meeting Day unification support, the plan would be defeated.

The Counseling Service of Addison County has instituted a hiring freeze and could resort to layoffs depending on the severity of mental health program cuts lawmakers are considering for the fiscal year 2012 state budget. Executive Director Robert Thorn has said a 5-percent cut, coupled with inflation, would translate into a roughly $893,000 hit for the agency next year. The Counseling Service employs approximately 300 people and has an annual budget of around $16 million.

Local Sugarmakers are saying this winter’s massive snowfall is good for this year’s sugar season. The snow not only brings water to the tree, it also insulates it against the cold. Sugarmakers prefer a consistent cold-warm cycle. The packed snow keeps the roots in a slower warm up cycle, which preserves the quality of the sap.

The retired Bennington police chief is going to become the next executive director of the Vermont Police Academy in Pittsford. Richard Gauthier retired from the Bennington police in September after more than 30 years, including 12 years as chief. Since he retired, Gauthier has been working for the Bennington County sheriff and state's attorney.

Although the Legislature is primarily working on the state budget and health care bills, several lawmakers joined farmers and other community members to discuss agriculture issues that affect the county. The discussions took place at the annual Ag legislative luncheon at the Bridport Community Hall this week.

Local officials here would like to mark the 100th birthday of the Middlebury municipal office building by replacing it with a more up-to-date facility. Back in November of 2002 residents voted against a $6 million plan for a new two-story municipal office/police building that would have been attached to a renovated municipal gym at the intersection of College and South Main streets.

Elementary School directors in Bridport and Ripton are looking for new principals to fill upcoming leadership vacancies. The Bridport Central Principal as well as the leader of Ripton Elementary School recently confirmed they would be stepping down at the end of this academic year.

The Neshobe Family Practice medical building had to shut down last week after a sewer problem followed by a water problem. Brandon Town Manager Keith Arlund said that a lateral sewer line to the building adjacent to the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union offices was compromised after a clean-out box came apart. When public works crews were working to fix the sewer line, they discovered a leaking water main.

Debate has begun on a Vermont state budget for fiscal 2012 that closes what had been a projected deficit of more than $175 million and leaves some human services advocates happier than they were earlier. The House took up the budget late yesterday afternoon and prepared to work into the night. Appropriations Committee members were taking turns briefing fellow lawmakers on various sections of the massive document. Gov. Peter Shumlin had proposed cuts that left some human services advocates protesting loudly.

Legislative leaders say a rare on-time New York state budget is just days away and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says it will restore some school aid. Silver wouldn't say how much of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed cut to school funding would be restored in the budget. He would only say "some." Cuomo has proposed a 7.3 percent cut in money for public schools.

The Vermont attorney general wants to evaluate a proposed settlement between some northeast dairy farmers and a major national milk producer. Dallas-based Dean Foods has agreed to pay $30 million to dairy farmers and change its milk buying practices for 30 months to settle a class-action antitrust lawsuit.

Vermont’s congressional delegation applauded the federal government for expanding a program that provides fruits and vegetables to the state’s students with a boost of more than $1.7 million. Sen. Patrick Leahy and Sen. Bernard Sanders along with Rep. Peter Welch thanked the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the expansion of the Vermont Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. The money will provide free fresh fruits and vegetables to children throughout the school day at no cost to schools.

A bond rating service says it has downgraded the rating for $37 million in outstanding revenue bonds for Burlington International Airport. Fitch Ratings assigned a BBB rating to the bonds, with a negative outlook, citing the airport's over reliance on passenger facility charges and parking revenue, competition from other airports and heavy reliance on Canadian travelers. The rating is still investment grade. City of Burlington officials say it marks an improvement from the airport bonds' last rating, by Moody's Investors Service last October.

Ticonderoga High School Principal Michael Graney is one of two finalists in the search for a new superintendent at the Schroon Lake Central School. Board of Education President John Armstrong said that board members chose Graney and Oswego Middle School Principal Bonnie Finnerty to head into round three of the interviewing process. They interviewed four candidates earlier in the week.

The 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum has spent much of the last decade in Afghanistan. More than five hundred soldiers and reservists from the North Country are currently serving in that country. But New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says the time has come for President Barack Obama to set a clear timetable for bringing the troops home. She says New Yorkers, the American public, and the American taxpayers have grown weary of the war in Afghanistan.

The extension of the LaChute River Walk Trail is expected to be complete this summer. The Ticonderoga town board awarded the contract for the $230,000 project to Cleveland Brothers Landscaping during its March meeting. The contract must now be approved by the state Department of Transportation, although local officials believe that process is a mere formality.

Ticonderoga has applied for an Adirondack Park Community Smart Growth Planning Grant in hopes of getting its 18th Century sawmill project off the ground. The town is seeking $40,000 for planning and engineering for the project. The proposed replica sawmill would be a centerpiece of the Ticonderoga Quality Destination Plan.

Supporters of a plan to have the state of Vermont establish a single-payer health care system are headed to Montpelier for a rally. Medical school students, nurses and other health professionals from New England and beyond plan to press their cause in the Statehouse rally, set for 1 PM Saturday. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, who have been vocal advocates of single-payer, will be among the speakers.

Police are concerned about smartphone apps that could help drunk drivers and other people get away with crimes while behind the wheel. Members of Congress including New York U.S Senator Chuck Schumer are demanding smartphone companies ban apps that help drivers avoid DUI checkpoints and alert them to police. Already Blackberry's maker says it will pull the apps but others including Apple and Android have yet to respond.

Lake George is destined to get a little perkier in several weeks as the local high school's most famous alumnus, now an internationally renowned television celebrity and featured daily segment on WVTK’s The Wake Up Crew, is returning to conduct a benefit show at the high school, and tickets will go on sale this weekend. Celebrity chef, author and talk show host Rachael Ray is presenting her ninth annual local benefit show Friday, April 15 at the Lake George High School, and tickets will go on sale in the high school lobby from 9 AM – 1PM tomorrow. Proceeds from the show and book sales benefit the Lake George Alumni scholarships and purchase of school equipment.