WVTK Local & State News June 16, 2011

The Ticonderoga Ferry will be up and running today. Ferry service between Shoreham and Ticonderoga was supposed to begin on May 1, but the record flooding made it impossible for the ferry to launch from the Vermont side. The ferry will start running again today. It's open from 7 AM to 7 PM, making about three trips an hour.

Gov. Peter Shumlin says the White House has approved a disaster declaration that will bring federal aid to homes, businesses and public agencies in flood-ravaged Vermont. The declaration, which covers Addison, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orleans counties, will translate to federal aid for homeowners and renters as well as funding for roads, bridges and infrastructure repair that were damaged between April 23 and June 6. Not included are Washington, Caledonia and Windham counties, which are still under review and may still qualify for the disaster assistance.

Spring flooding has delayed the planting of crops and harvesting of hay in Vermont. It's also damaged farm buildings and fields. Vermont Agriculture Secretary Chuck Ross is urging farmers to report the damages or losses to state and federal agencies. He says officials need to hear from farmers to evaluate the damage and determine what kind of help might be available.

Vermont State Police are currently investigating the theft of a 2007 Gray-Yellow MX7 Harley Rake used for landscaping from Pine Oak Park in Waltham. The rake is pulled behind a skid steer. The total estimated value of the property stolen is approximately $8,000.00. Anyone with information concerning the theft is asked to contact the New Haven Barracks. (802-388-4919)

Vermont State Police in New Haven received a stolen ATV complaint from Salisbury on June 15th. The ATV is a green 2000 Arctic Cat 300. It had a winch on the front. The ATV was stolen from the victim’s property in Salisbury some time between 6PM on June 14th and 4PM on June 15th. Anyone with information regarding this stolen ATV is encouraged to contact the State Police at the New Haven Barracks. (802) 388-4919.

Superintendent Mary Moran said the school district has the intention of “buttoning up” the Dana School in Rutland and is not obligated to fix the sprinkler system inside that is estimated to cost at least $80,000. Moran made it clear she hasn’t had an official dialogue with the city or Mayor Christopher Louras about the future of the recently closed building.

Work on the town office building in Castleton will force police in the town to move in with the department in Fair Haven. Castleton’s four full-time officers, Chief Bruce Sherwin and the department’s part-time office administrator will move into the Fair Haven town office where the police department there occupies the back half of the building. Castleton residents won’t see any difference in police services.

Civil War re-enactments, an historic house tour and birthday cake are all part of the 250th anniversary celebration of the town of Brandon on Saturday. The weekend has a few activities surrounded around celebrating the town’s 250th birthday. Starting at 10 AM, the Champlain Valley Historic Re-enactors will be camped out on Brandon’s central park. They will be offering various re-enactments and demonstrations from the Civil War era. Brandon’s birthday celebration will begin at 4:15 PM with a special performance by Gene Childers and the Brandon 250 Singers in front of the Congregational Church. For more information just visit www.brandon.org.

The Crown Point Town Council has voted to swap its elected Board of Assessors for an appointed professional assessor. The vote at a recent Town Council meeting was 3 to 1 to make the conversion. The next step will be to set a date for a public hearing, which would be followed by a final vote.

A composite sketch is revving up the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of an Essex, VT couple. Police say it's generated several leads from the public. Police wouldn't comment how many people they've questioned, but did confirm that no one's been taken into custody. Right now the man in the sketch is simply a person of interest, not a suspect, but police are holding out hope that somehow this will lead them to Bill and Lorraine Currier.

The valedictorian of a Vermont high school says his speech was censored. Kyle Gearwar told the audience at Fair Haven Union High School's graduation ceremony that he was only able to deliver half the speech he wanted to. Gearwar says he wanted to talk about how God had changed his life but was told he couldn't. Principal Brett Blanchard says students aren't allowed to preach religion at school-sanctioned events.

A girl who just completed her sophomore year at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg has been appointed to the Vermont Board of Education. Gov. Peter Shumlin announced the appointment of Laura Harris this week. During her first year on the board Harris will serve in a nonvoting capacity. In her second year she was be a full voting member. Harris was one of about 30 students who applied for the seat.

Vermont ski areas logged nearly 4.4 million skier visits this season, a 5 percent increase over last season. The Vermont Ski Areas Association made the announcement Wednesday at its annual meeting held at Sugarbush Resort. Vermont remains the third-largest ski state in the country behind Colorado and California. Vermont and Northeast ski areas capitalized on what the VSAA said was the third snowiest season on record.

Marble Valley Regional Transit District will offer free rides today as part of “National Dump The Pump Day.” Fares for The Bus will be free on all routes, including in-city and out-of-town, and the first 25 passengers on each of the in-city fixed routes and the first 15 on each of the outgoing routes will get free passes for the month of July. National Dump The Pump Day is an event designed to promote public transportation as an alternative to driving. For more information, visit thebus.com.

Beginning July 1, the Chittenden County Transportation Authority will let cities and towns from other counties join as members. CCTA will take over the Green Mountain Transit Agency, which has provided bus service in surrounding counties, with no changes in service. It will also take representatives from Washington, Franklin, Lamoille and Grand Isle counties. GMTA, a nonprofit created by CCTA eight years ago, will keep providing service in those areas. Once the two have merged, the authority will serve 47% of Vermonters.

Republican state senators who are key to the future of gay marriage in New York have taken a break from their closed-door debate on the issue. That will delay a possible vote on a legalization bill, although the Senate could still act today or tomorrow. The Senate Majority Leader said after a three-hour session yesterday that no decisions have been made to even send the bill to the floor.

New rules protecting student athletes will soon take effect in New York. The Senate and Assembly have signed off on the changes, which now go to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his signature. Starting July 1 schools must immediately bench any athlete who may have a concussion and keep then out of sports and gym classes until they're symptom-free for 24 hours. The student also needs a doctor's note. Each school district must now establish a group responsible for training staff and educating students and parents.

A Vermont organization created a relief fund for Montpelier businesses that were destroyed during spring floods. Montpelier Alive raised $19,000 and is now collecting applications from businesses that feel they need the money to help them recover. 

The organization is taking applications until June 21st.

Vermont is still in the running to be one of the homes of the Air Force's new fighter jet, the F-35. On Wednesday, Vermont contractors heard directly from the jet's manufacturer Lockheed Martin. They learned what they could do to land a contract to build parts for the F-35. Staff from Vermont Composites based in Bennington says landing a more than $1-million contract could allow them to hire dozens of new workers.

Hundreds of cows are safe after a fire destroyed their barn in Alburgh, Vermont. Firefighters received the call around 3:30 Wednesday afternoon. Up to 75 firefighters from across that region, including Canada, raced to the scene. The fire chief says no one was hurt and it appears that all the cows and calves are okay. They were moved to nearby pen. The chief says it's too early to know the cause of the fire.

Sen. Bernie Sanders wants federal regulators to crack down on oil price speculation. He has introduced legislation aimed at forcing federal commodity regulators to halt what he terms excessive oil speculation that has driven up gasoline prices. He says the national average price for a gallon of gasoline today is $3.69 a gallon, although supplies are greater and demand lower than two years ago, when prices averaged about $2.44 a gallon.

Both supporters and opponents of the Lowell Mountain wind power project planned for northern Vermont are protesting the recent approval of the project. In filings at the state Public Service Board, project developer Green Mountain Power Corporation says the board is requiring it to bring equipment to the construction site prematurely.

A Vermont camp for kids with cancer received a big check last night. South Burlington Knights of Columbus presented Camp Ta Kum Ta with a $57,000 check. This year will mark the third summer at Ta Kum Ta's new location in South Hero. Camp officials say it wouldn't be possible without community contributions.