WVTK Local & State News June 27, 2011

Sen. Bernie Sanders will announce this morning funding he secured for the construction of 25 new rental homes for seniors. HUD Regional Director Barbara Fields will join Sanders, representatives of Housing Vermont, the Addison Country Community Trust and other funders and members of the community.

Vermont State Police are currently investigating the report of vandalism at the Long Point Fish and Wildlife Fishing Access in Ferrisburgh. Someone placed a Porta-Potty from the site in a Creek, which accesses Lake Champlain. They also tore down a State of Vermont Fishing Access sign. A fresh fire pit was located at the scene as well as fresh ATV marks. Anyone with information concerning the vandalism is asked to contact State Police at the New Haven Barracks. (802-388-4919)

The Vermont State Police are currently investigating a report of a theft involving two unsecured picnic tables. The 6 foot and 10 foot tables were stolen from a yard area off of the Vergennes-Monkton Rd. in the Town of Monkton. The tables are both brand new, for sale, and were stolen from the victim's yard who hand crafts them from his residence. Anyone with information is asked to contact State Police at the New Haven Barracks. (802-388-4919)

Vermont communities in counties that were declared a disaster from spring flooding will get some help applying for federal aid. The first two meetings are scheduled this week. A briefing will be held Wednesday at 9AM for Addison and Chittenden county towns at the Essex Alliance Church. On the following day, Franklin and Grand Isle county community representatives are invited to a briefing at the La Quinta Inn and Suites in St. Albans.

The Vergennes community will put the spotlight on personal Health with five special screenings held this Wednesday in an effort to increase public awareness. Residents living in and around Vergennes can be screened to reduce their risk of having a stroke or bone fracture. American Legion Post 14 will host the special Life Line Screening on Wednesday. For more information regarding the screenings or to schedule an appointment visit the screening website at www.lifelinescreening.com. (Or call 877-237-1287)

Another benefit available to flood victims is unemployment assistance. The funds are available to Vermonters left jobless as a result of flooding. The parameters for eligibility address many factors like damage or destruction of a workplace, a personal injury or transportation problems relating to the disaster, or business downturn because of the disaster. The deadline for applying is July 25th. To make a claim call the Vermont Labor Department's Unemployment Claims Assistance Line or visit www.labor.vermont.gov. (1-877-214-3330)

Firefighters in Ferrisburgh burned the Skyview Motel yesterday as part of a practice drill. Burning a structure like that not only gets rid of a building that had sat vacant for years. It provides young firefighters the tools too not only save their lives but yours as well. More than 50 firefighters from 6 different departments took part in the exercise. Firefighters say it takes about 9 hours for a building such as this to finish burning. Fire officials say once they removed the pieces of the motel from the property, a local business plans to expand its operations on that site.

An American flag on a 50-state tour that will end at Ground Zero on September 11th is arriving in Rutland on Tuesday. The 30-foot by 55-foot Patriot Flag is touring the country as a memorial to those who died during the terrorist attacks a decade ago and as a tribute to emergency responders and military personnel who risked their lives during the attacks and served in the wars since 2001. On Tuesday sometime between Noon and 2:30PM, the flag is expected to arrive in the city where it will cover the side of City Hall until 6PM.

The Burlington City Council is expected to pass a budget tonight, just three days ahead of the July deadline. Cuts are expected as the city is facing a $760,000 gap in revenues. Earlier this spring the council shot down a proposal by Mayor Bob Kiss to shore up the deficit with a two-cent property tax increase.

The Vermont American Legion held it's annual conference in Rutland over the weekend. The event started by granting a charter to post 84 which will open in White River Junction. The post will be dedicated to Jeffery Holmes. The 20-year-old died serving in Iraq. The post already has twenty members. Organizers say it will be substance free and will focus on community activities.

The new superintendent of the Rutland Central Supervisory Union in charge of schools in West Rutland, Rutland Town and Proctor is holding summer office hours to become acquainted with the district. Debra Taylor was recently hired as the superintendent to replace outgoing district leader Wendy Savery. She served as superintendent and special education director in the Lamoille North Supervisory Union in Hyde Park and director of instruction and special education in a district in Wisconsin.

A lifetime came to an end as a federal court threw out a class-action lawsuit against the Killington ski resort. Holders of “lifetime” passes at the resort sued its new owners in 2007 after Killington stopped honoring the passes. The lawsuit was dismissed last year by the federal district court and the plaintiffs announced Friday that the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month had upheld the dismissal and that they planned no further appeals.

Out of 18 town supervisors in Essex County, two are not seeking re-election, one isn't sure, and three aren't up yet. The remaining 12 supervisors say they are gearing up for re-election campaigns. Among those not running for re-election is Supervisor Cathy Moses from Schroon Lake, who said recently she's retiring from the job. Those looking at re-election include Bethany Kosmider from Crown Point, Thomas Scozzafava from Moriah, Debra Malaney from Ticonderoga and Daniel Connell of Westport.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin will be giving out federal development money at an appearance in Hinesburg. Shumlin will announce $2.1 million in community development program grants at an awards ceremony tomorrow at the former Saputo Cheese Plant. The grants are funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant Program, which is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

A bill in Congress would expand the impact of a Vermont outreach program for veterans returning home from deployments to Afghanistan and elsewhere. Congressman Peter Welch will hold a news conference today in Bennington to outline the provisions of the legislation, which he is introducing along with New York Republican Congressman Chris Gibson.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 1st for a Vermont contractor who has pleaded guilty to operating without workers' compensation insurance. Prosecutors say Donald Bevins, of Williston, doing business as Twin City Roofing and Around the Clock Property Maintenance, operated without the insurance and in violation of a state Department of Labor stop work order for several months last year. During the time frame, two of his employees were seriously injured while working.

When documentary filmmaker Art Jones and his five-man crew set out from New York to shoot footage of a blood drive in Rutland he figured it might make a nice four-minute film. The 80-minute documentary he ended up making, "The Blood in This Town", is now getting notice from community leaders and rural development groups who hope to replicate Rutland's self-reliance instead of waiting for Washington or corporate America to deliver them from hard times.

A 20-year-old University of Vermont student has been crowned as the new Miss Vermont, giving her the opportunity to compete for the Miss America title in Las Vegas in 2012. Katie Levasseur of Burlington won the Miss Vermont Scholarship Competition over 10 other contestants Saturday night at the South Burlington High School Performing Arts Center.

The President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site will celebrate the birth of the country and its 30th president on the Fourth of July. The Vermont National Guard will lead a march at noon. Members of the Coolidge family are expected to attend. Afterward, a chicken barbecue will be held at The Wilder House, the site's restaurant.

The founder of Killington ski resort is headed for the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum Hall of Fame. Preston Smith, who founded the resort and built it into one of North America's best, is among four people who'll be inducted October 23rd at the Killington Grand, in Killington.