WVTK Local & State News May 12, 2011

Police in Milton say the body of David Driscoll was found at about 9AM Wednesday, in the Lamoille River near Interstate 89 in Milton. Driscoll, of Essex, and a friend were fishing on Arrowhead Mountain Lake April 12th above the Clark Falls Dam when their motorboat's engine failed.

Vermont Emergency Management officials are encouraging homeowners and renters who've suffered damage due to Lake Champlain flooding to call 2-1-1 to report that damage. The information will be passed along to assist in efforts to win a federal disaster declaration and financial help for homeowners. VEM is working up an estimate of private property damage to determine if the state qualifies for an Individual Assistance disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The state hasn't received a disaster declaration for individual or public assistance yet.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has more than 25 fishing access areas on Lake Champlain and major rivers that feed the lake but, due to flooding, many of the sites are closed until the water recedes and damage can be assessed. As of this week, the access areas in our area that remained usable for launching boats included Converse Bay in Charlotte and Larabee's Point in Shoreham.

In a response to a wave of rising crime locally, the Town of New Haven will host a Crime Watch Informational Meeting on Wednesday, May 18th at 7PM at the New Haven Town Hall cafeteria. Residents are invited to voice their concerns about rising crime in the community. The meeting will also provide tips to better protect property and local neighborhoods. For more information, call the New Haven Town Office at 453-3516.

A junior at Middlebury College is suing the college and its hockey coach for dismissing him from the team in January. James Knelman played forward on the hockey team for two seasons before coach Bill Beaney suspended him for the remainder of the season. In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Vermont on Wednesday, Knelman argues that he was wrongly dismissed and publicly humiliated for leaving an alumni hockey banquet early to spend time with his father who was visiting for the weekend on January 15th. He is seeking reimbursement for damages to his reputation and for the economic loss of his professional hockey career.

A woman who police say exchanged $120 worth of $20 bills at a Rutland restaurant answered to a felony charge of counterfeiting this week. Marissa A. Fitzgerald pleaded innocent this week to a charge that she handed over phony bills at the Wendy’s restaurant on North Main Street late last year. She was released after her arraignment on conditions of release, including that she stay away from the restaurant. If convicted, Fitzgerald faces up to 14 years in jail.

A Mount Holly man was arrested Tuesday when a sheriff’s deputy clocked him driving 101 mph on Route 103 in Shrewsbury. Rutland County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Brady said he was monitoring traffic on the highway near Lincoln Hill Road when he recorded a car traveling at more than twice the posted 50 mph speed limit. Tyler B. Davis was arrested and issued a citation for excessive speed.

Governor Peter Shumlin has signed a bill aimed at eradicating from state laws any language considered offensive to people with disabilities. The measure creates a working group to identify words that shouldn't be used in Vermont statutes and regulations and suggest words that reflect positively on people with disabilities. The group will also report to lawmakers by Nov. 1 on specific statutes related to respectful language that should be addressed by lawmakers.

Vermont is preparing to move toward a publicly funded program to provide health care to every resident. But big questions loom. A bill that awaits Gov. Peter Shumlin's signature calls for creation of a new five-member state panel to provide answers. Among the questions are how the program will be paid for and what health services it will cover. Also uncertain is whether Vermont will be able to get permission to use federal health care dollars to help establish its new system.

Central Vermont Public Service Corp. reported first quarter earnings of $8.4 million compared to $4.2 million for the same quarter last year. CVPS attributed the improved earnings in part to increases in operating revenue and decreases in operating expenses and storm restoration costs compared to the first quarter of 2010.

Another potential impact from the wet spring and all of the flooding might be a buggy summer. Mosquitoes and other biting bugs like black flies and horseflies could be plentiful this summer. The rain and flooding left lots of standing water, which is prime breeding ground for mosquitoes. It is recommended that you try to drain any areas of standing water near your home. Bugs can even breed in old tires, buckets and tin cans that have stagnant water in them.

The University of Vermont has named a former assistant coach to be interim coach while a permanent replacement is sought for Mike Lonergan, who left Vermont for a coaching job at George Washington University. Interim Coach John Becker has been an assistant to Lonergan for the last five years.

Twelve jurors and four alternates have been selected to hear the case against double-murder suspect Anthony Pavone. Jury selection began Monday, and officials expected the process to take up to two weeks. But, to the surprise of many, the jury was seated late Wednesday afternoon. Jurors are expected to return to court today for legal instructions in the case, but officials said opening statements would not be given until May 23rd.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he doesn't want to bring a bill to legalize gay marriage to a floor debate and vote in the state Senate unless he's certain there are enough votes to pass it. Private negotiations continue with lawmakers in the Republican-led Senate, where the measure failed in 2009. Cuomo said he expects the measure to again pass in the Democrat-led Assembly, where it's been approved in two previous years.

A basic school-lunch drink is stirring up some big controversy in Vermont and around the nation. It is chocolate milk. Some Burlington parents are trying to ban the beverage because it is too sugary. Other food experts say chocolate milk is a great way for kids to get essential nutrients like calcium. Efforts by other school systems have shown a 35 percent drop in milk drinking when flavored milks are taken out of the picture.

The Ticonderoga Republican Party Committee is searching for individuals to fill eight election inspector positions. All those interested must be registered Republicans. Training is provided in June or July with a stipend of $35. The position pays $12 an hour for both the primary and general elections. Contact Town Party Chairman Lew Sanders at 585-9821 by May 18 to sign up.

Vermont's ski season isn't finished just yet. Jay Peak Resort will reopen this weekend - making it the last resort in the East to close. It is also the latest closing date in the history of the northern Vermont resort. The resort will be open both Saturday and Sunday from 8:30AM to 4PM. Jay received nearly 400 inches of snow this winter. Lift tickets are priced at $39.

The Rutland Railway Association will host an open house and model train show from 10 AM to 3 PM Saturday at the old depot at 79 Depot St. in Center Rutland. HO and N scale model layouts will be on display along with a children’s layout. The association will also feature a “Pageant of Model Trains” showcasing examples of both historic and modern models. Visitors will also be able to tour the museum.

Vermont State Police responded to a burglary yesterday at a residence on Bingham Brook Road in Charlotte. Numerous electronic items were taken from the residence. Evidence was recovered from the scene and will be sent to the Vermont Forensics’ Laboratory for analysis. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Williston State Police Barracks or Chittenden County Crime Stoppers.

Teachers in the Chittenden East Supervisory Union have a new contract. An agreement reached by the union and the school board gives the nearly 300 teachers an average pay raise of 2.5 percent next year and 2.85 percent the year after. Teachers will not pay more for health insurance. They currently contribute 15 percent to insurance premiums.