WVTK Local & State News June 29, 2011

Police say a man tried to rob a Rutland drug store by claiming he had a bomb. They say Eric Lind of Rutland, walked into the Rite Aid on West Street at about 11:40AM Tuesday and demanded pharmacy workers give him narcotics. Police tried to talk Lind into surrendering but he refused, so they Tased him. He was taken to the hospital because investigators say it appeared he had taken narcotics. Police say staff and customers got out safely.

Congressman Chris Gibson and will hold a town-hall meeting in Schroon Lake Central School auditorium from 2 – 4 this afternoon. Following some remarks, the congressman will field questions on federal issues. State Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward and Town Supervisor Cathy Moses will also take part.

A major plan is moving forward to bring jobs and fill a hole left in Hinesburg, Vermont. Nearly three-years ago a fire heavily damaged a factory and erased around eighty jobs. The old Saputo Cheese plant will soon be brought back to life, this time as a smokehouse. Gov. Peter Shumlin presented grants to several towns but saved the biggest, more than a half-million dollars, for Hinesburg. The town will loan the money to Vermont Smoke and Cure. They hope to start production early next year.

Following a meeting with the president of Green Mountain Power Corp., some Rutland County lawmakers remained skeptical of a possible sale of Central Vermont Public Service Corp. to GMP’s parent company. Of concern by some was the long-term potential loss of Rutland jobs if Gaz Metro’s offer is accepted by CVPS. GMP has said repeatedly since the offer was made last week that the only layoffs would be executive management jobs at CVPS. Any job losses in the future at both companies would occur through normal attrition, including expected retirements over the next six years.

The Patriot Flag flew in Rutland yesterday to honor the loved ones lost on September 11, 2001. The 75-pound, 30 by 55 and a half foot Patriot Flag is touring the country. It will stop in every state before flying at the Pentagon, Shanksville, PA and at ground zero at the 10th anniversary this year. It was in Rutland to honor those lost in 2001 but was inspired by a man born in West Rutland. It will be in Essex Junction this afternoon at 5.

The Burlington City Council passed a big budget on Monday night. The $54.5 million spending plan is a 2 percent increase from last year. Several departments will see cuts as the city tries to shore up a $760,000 deficit.

For a state panel adjusting Vermont's state Senate districts, it's back to the drawing board. The seven-member Legislative Appointment Board voted last week to recommend a plan to lawmakers that would reconfigure northwestern Vermont. But they realized later that their plan to rework the Chittenden, Grand Isle and Franklin districts contained an error, yielding 31 senators, instead of 30. The board meets at Noon Today at the Secretary of State's office in Montpelier.

Vermont Congressman Peter Welch plans to announce legislation that he says will catch the law up with technology now that new mobile devises make it easier to use GPS technology to track individuals. The Geolocation Privacy and Surveillance Act sponsored by Welch and a Utah Representative is aimed at giving clear guidelines for when and how geolocation information can be used.

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources wants to give the developers of a wind-power installation on a Lowell ridgeline more time to protect wildlife habitat while construction gets going. Green Mountain Power wants to begin construction in August on a plan to install 21 turbines as part of what is called the Kingdom Community Wind Project.

Voters in Burlington have said yes to a measure allowing smart-grid electricity, thanks to funding from a federal grant. A smarter grid detects and reports power use, fluctuations and problem circuits in "real time." Burlington Electric Department officials say stabilizing rates at a time of rising energy costs is the primary goal for everyone.

The Lake Champlain Transportation Company is set to open its final ferry route for the summer season. The one-hour ferry between Burlington, Vermont, and Port Kent, New York, is going to open on Thursday morning.

Vermont State Police say two people needed treatment after a shooting in the town of Athens, but they're not giving details of what happened. The shooting, which happened early Sunday, led to the arrest of 22-year-old Shaun Frazier, of Athens, who was charged with aggravated assault. The victim of the shooting was 28-year-old Jessica Kittredge, who was treated and released at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. He was cited into Windham Superior Court on August 9th.

After 20 years on the drawing boards, a bike path is finally about to become reality in St. Johnsbury. Construction starts Friday on the Three Rivers Transportation Path, which will run for 1.5 miles along the former Lamoille Valley rail line and proposed Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Town Manager Ralph Nelson says the $3.5 million project will be mostly complete by year's end.
Voters in the town of Woodbury want to keep their elementary school open.

Residents voted 129-63 on Monday against a measure that would have closed the school and sent kindergarten through sixth-grade students somewhere else. Like other small schools, Woodbury's enrollment has dropped in recent years. This fall, 34 students are expected to be enrolled, down from 40 this school year.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will consider protecting two species of bats that have been threatened by "white nose syndrome." The Wildlife Service says it will consider adding the eastern small-footed and northern long-eared bats to its list of endangered species. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned to have the two species of bats placed under federal protection.

The town of Killington just got a fresh new look. The ski resort town unveiled a new “brand” marketing campaign yesterday, which was the culmination of a partnership between the municipality and the privately owned resort. New banners, logos, brochures and stationary used by the town will include a similar image to the resort’s own big letter “K,” and will play off the resort’s existing color schemes for summer and winter marketing.

The state teachers union has sued New York's Board of Regents and the education commissioner to stop a new teacher evaluation system that relies more on student performance in standardized tests. State Supreme Court Justice Richard Platkin has ordered the board and Commissioner John King to show why the disputed regulations shouldn't be suspended pending a ruling on whether they violate state law.

Environmental groups are pleased that two of their so-called "Super Bills" passed the Legislature before the session ended over the weekend, but they're disappointed the other three measures on their top priority list failed. One of those bills protects the state's water from wasteful withdrawals. The other, called "Complete Streets," incorporates the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists into future road design. A bill to designate gas-drilling waste as hazardous material didn't make it. Neither did a cap on global warming pollution and a solar industry promotion bill.

Preparations are underway to welcome first lady Michelle Obama to Vermont on Thursday. She's coming to thank National Guard and other military service members and their families for their service to the country. After Mrs. Obama thanks National Guard and other armed service members for their dedication, she'll head to two campaign fundraisers for her husband's re-election. Party organizers said they've sold more than 800 tickets for the first lady's reception at the Sheraton. It's sold out, as is the smaller, higher-priced fundraiser at the ECHO Science Center.