WVTK Local & State News March 4, 2011

The Addison Central Supervisory Union will focus on hiring an interim superintendent rather than launch an immediate search for a full-time replacement for current superintendent Lee Sease. The hiring of an interim administrator will give school directors more time to map out the qualities they would like to see in the new superintendent.

The Vermont Folklife Center is hosting a panel discussion that focuses on the changing nature of Town Meeting Day. The event, set for 7 PM March 10 in Middlebury, will feature town clerks talking about the pros and cons of floor voting, Australian ballot voting and meetings that combine the two. It's being organized by Sandra Elkin, a photographer who is presenting a Vermont Folklife Center exhibit entitled "Women Town Clerks of Vermont" that's at the center through the end of March.

A Vermont Passport Agency is opening in St. Albans. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy will join federal officials for a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for 2 p.m. Friday at the former post office building on South Main Street. The passport office will eliminate the need for Vermonters to go to Boston for emergency services.

The U.S. Forest Service is asking for help from the public in determining what caused the fire that destroyed the Tucker Johnson Trail Shelter in Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest near the intersection of the Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail in Mendon. The shelter was destroyed on Wednesday afternoon.

A landmark business in Hinesburg was destroyed by fire Wednesday night. The blaze broke out shortly before 1 AM at the Jiffy Mart on Ballards Corner Road, known as Ballards. Flames were shooting through the roof by the time firefighters arrived and despite the efforts of 80 firefighters the building is a complete loss. The store's owners say they do plan to rebuild. Investigators aren't sure what started the fire, but believe a faulty furnace may be to blame.

The school board in South Burlington says it will hold a special meeting today to discuss a contract impasse that has 275 teachers threatening to walk off the job next week. School board officials haven't formally responded to the strike threat yet.

According to the Vermont Tax Department Killington can use money originally intended for economic development for other municipal expenses, now that voters overturned a 2008 vote. The state does not regulate how local option tax money is used, but the Select Board now has more say than it ever did on the more than $800,000 pool of local option tax dollars.

An attack at a Vermont ski resort is baffling police. On Monday, January 17th, police say a 14-year-old boy was standing in line for ski lift at Bromley when he was reportedly punched numerous times and knocked on his back. The suspect kept attacking him while he was on the ground. The teen was seriously injured. Police say the suspect is a white male in his mid-to-late teens, about 6' tall with a trimmed beard. He was wearing a brown Carhartt-style jacket with black ski pants and a black hat. Anyone who saw the attack or has any information is asked to call Vermont State Police.

Police are looking for anyone who witnessed a hit-and-run in Williston on Wednesday afternoon. They say at 3:45 PM a silver car hit a pedestrian at the Taft Corners intersection and then took off on Saint George Road. The victim was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Anyone with information is asked to call Williston Police.

Police in Milton are teaming up with the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations to get to the bottom of a string of "sexting" incidents at Milton High School. According to the Milton Independent, there were explicit photos of dozens of female students posted on the Internet. Police confirm that a group of high school boys might have organized a website or email exchange sending the photos to classmates.

It's no surprise, not everyone makes healthy choices when shopping at the supermarket. But one Vermont lawmaker says some people are using food stamps to fund their unhealthy habits. Republican Vermont Representative Oliver Olsen co-sponsored a bill asking the federal government for a waiver so Vermont can start restricting what people can buy instead of the Federal Government. He doesn't care what people purchase with their own money, but says taxpayer dollars should not be used on unhealthy food items, which in turn will raise healthcare costs for the state of Vermont.

Vermont State Auditor Tom Salmon says he can beat sitting U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. What Salmon hasn't said yet is whether he plans to run against the independent incumbent in 2012. After months of speculation, Salmon moved a little closer to running for U.S. Senate Thursday as he is taking the next step to enter an exploratory phase. That means the republican can bring on staff and more importantly raise money.

Jaime Laredo is pretty proud of the young violinist he is introducing at this weekend's Vermont Symphony Orchestra concerts in Bellows Falls, Burlington and Rutland. Bella Hristova Laredo's graduate student at Indiana University will be the soloist in Dvorak's Violin Concerto. Performances take place this Saturday evening at 8 at the Flynn Center in Burlington and Sunday afternoon at 4 at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland. For more information visit VSO Dot Org.

A trade expert says exports of New England agriculture have soared in the last two years as the region capitalized on its brand. The U.S. Commerce Department statistics show that exports to China from New England jumped from $85 million to $236 million. Other countries buying from New England include Nigeria, Poland and Russia. Exports include produce, nursery and greenhouse products and other agriculture products.

Questions about yards littered with junk and the need to attract new businesses dominated Port Henry's village election candidates’ forum. All seven office-seekers, two for mayor and five for trustee, came to the Port Henry firehouse recently to talk about themselves and field questions from the 30 people in attendance.

Three Essex County police agencies are getting interview cameras courtesy of District Attorney Kristy Sprague. Sprague said her office just got a $14,800 grant to buy video-recording equipment for the Essex County Sheriff's Department, Ticonderoga Town Police and Moriah Town Police. The funding allows the county to prepare for any possible future mandates for video-recorded interviews without any cost to local municipalities and taxpayers.

Former Essex County State Supreme Court Justice James P. Dawson has pleaded guilty in Saratoga County to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. Dawson of Elizabethtown appeared in Wilton Town Court this week to enter the plea and receive a conditional discharge.

The Westport Library has a new face when it comes to the Internet. Library director Stephen Smith said that the new Web site for the library is now up and running at Westportnylibrary.org. The new site features a variety of items that are offered through the library and the Westport Library Association. The site will help the library keep those who use it up on the latest events and hours.

Officials involved with a grassroots effort to host the Empire State Winter Games are pleased with the outcome of this year's event. This is the first time in the history of the games that it was not organized and funded by the state of New York. Instead, a regional coalition of local governments, organizations and private businesses hosted the event and the results are being hailed as a success.