WVTK Local & State News June 13, 2011

The Vermont State Police in New Haven are investigating the theft of a boat motor from a boat storage facility located on Route 7 in North Ferrisburgh. The theft occurred between June 3rd and June 10th 2011 and the motor was taken off the back of the victim's boat. The motor is a 2001 9.9 horsepower Mercury 4 stroke, serial number 0H000843 and is silver in color. Anyone with information is urged to contact the State Police at 388-4919.

Vermont State Police are currently investigating the theft of a wallet, credit card, insurance card, social security card and a black helmet from a private residence in Bristol. The victim reported that the theft occurred around May 15th but did not report the incident to the State Police until June 12th. Anyone with information concerning the theft is asked to contact the New Haven Barracks at (802) 388-4919.

Family members spoke yesterday about the disappearance of Bill and Lorraine Currier. They thanked police and pleaded for help. They ask anyone with information about the disappearance to call police. On Friday forensic investigators photographed and marked evidence at the couple's home. According to police the phone wires were cut and a window was broken. Police are treating the case as a criminal investigation. Investigators also say they located the Currier's car on Pearl Street near an apartment building in Essex Junction. The car had been missing since Wednesday night.

Vermont State Police say they once again caught a man on the road that should not have been behind the wheel. On Sunday afternoon police stopped Clay Paini on South Main Street in Rutland. They say the 29-year-old Rutland man was driving a car with plates belonging to a different vehicle. He was also allegedly driving without a valid license for the tenth time. Police say his license is criminally suspended because of five civil violation complaints and convictions in Vermont since 2003.

Colchester police are investigating an armed robbery that happened late Friday night. Police say the Maplefields Convenience Store near Exit 17 off I-89 was robbed at gunpoint at around 11:30PM. According to police the man walked up to the register and demanded cash. The clerk gave him the money and he fled on foot heading north on Route 7. If anyone has any information about this incident you are asked to call Colchester Police. Meanwhile Police in Essex (VT) are still looking for a man they say robbed a convenience store just before midnight on Thursday.

One of the oldest companies in Vermont has been sold to a Rutland firm. Burgess Brothers Inc. has been sold to Earth Waste Systems, a recycling and demolition firm. Penny Burgess, former vice president of the Burgess Brothers said Earth Waste Systems would continue to operate the business under the Burgess Brothers name. The company dates back to 1792. It was first run as a farm and then as a fish hatchery. It eventually evolved into a construction company.

Vermont's capital and several other cities and towns are considering whether to create a wood-fueled district heating system for city buildings and schools, one into which residents and businesses eventually could hook up. Burlington, Randolph, Middlebury and Brattleboro are examining similar ideas. Establishing a district heating system for downtowns that uses wood as the fuel is the norm in parts of Europe. Backers see financial savings, a way to keep their energy spending circulating in the regional economy and a way to reduce carbon emissions. Skeptics see a big up-front expense, though Montpelier is being helped by state and federal grants.

Vermont State Police are still searching for the man who impersonated a police officer last week, but they say the public should not panic, as these types of incidents are rare in Vermont. Police released a sketch of the suspect. He's described as 6 feet tall with dark hair that is graying on the sides. Police say there are signs to look for in these cases; a car that doesn't look like a traditional police vehicle, or someone wearing a not-so-familiar uniform, or none at all. Officials say it's also OK to ask for identification or a badge and you can call 911.

Vermont officials say the number of riders on Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express has increased. The Vermont Agency of Transportation says ridership and revenue figures show a significant jump in riders traveling north of Albany last month. Ethan Allen Express runs daily between New York City and Rutland, through Albany. The Deputy Transportation Secretary says the numbers strengthen the Shumlin administration's focus on extending the Ethan Allen Express service to Middlebury and Burlington and the state's exploration of additional service options between Albany and Bennington.

At least one Vermont family is questioning why Gov. Peter Shumlin vetoed a bill that would have required all new residential wells to be tested for toxic elements. Laurel Coburn is questioning the governor's decision after her son became ill. After months, his family pieced together what caused him to become sick and it was the water he was drinking at his grandparents' Whiting home. That crisp, clear water contained arsenic. Their son is better now but after all his family's been through, they believe Vermont wells should be tested.

Sen. Patrick Leahy says first lady Michelle Obama will be thanking Vermont troops and their families when she visits the state at the end of the month. He says the presidential spouse will meet with Vermont military families and announce her new military family program called Joining Force when she's in Vermont on June 30. The Vermont Democratic Party says the first lady will be attending a fundraiser at the Sheraton Hotel in South Burlington for the president's 2012 re-election campaign. Tickets are $100 and up.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Vermont’s economy as measured by gross domestic product outpaced the nation as a whole last year, increasing 3.2 percent to $25.6 billion. The national statewide average was 2.6 percent with GDP increasing in 48 states and the District of Columbia in 2010. The turnaround follows a drop of 2.5 percent in overall state GDP the previous year.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants stricter penalties for drivers who text behind the wheel. He wants to make it a primary offense, which would allow officers to pull over motorists solely for texting. Right now the violation is a secondary offense, which means a driver must break another law before they can be pulled over and cited for texting. Cuomo also wants three points added to a driver's record rather than two. Every state in New England now has a texting while driving law.

Growers from the tip of Long Island to the northern shores of Lake Champlain and west to the Niagara Frontier are informing the public that strawberries are now ready for consumption. The New York State Berry Growers Association has a web site that will assist in locating the closest berry farm. Visit www.nysbga.org to access the site and view many helpful tips on the 2011 berry crop. The association wishes to tell consumers that they have many other berries for consumption all summer and into the fall. Shortly after the last strawberry is harvested, raspberries and blueberries will be available.

After having received a record number of applications, the Honeybee Community Fund has awarded two dozen grants during its spring funding cycle. The Honeybee Community Fund offers grants of up to $1,000 to assist small Businesses, farmers, not-for-profits, environmental and arts projects in Essex County. For more information E-mail bzzwords@gmail.com.

Burlington is a finalist in Outside Magazine's best places to live contest. The Facebook competition ranks cities based on culture, scenery, cost of living and ease-of-access to outdoors activities. The other finalists: Charleston, SC, Chattanooga, TN, Madison, WI, Portland, OR, Portland, ME, Santa Fe, NM, Ashland, OR, Boulder, CO, and Tucson, AZ.