WVTK Local & State News July 25, 2011

Police say a man is dead after his boat lost control and tossed him overboard Saturday night into Lake Champlain. Police say 46-year-old Rene Viau of Ferrisburgh did not resurface. Crews searched the area of Kellogg Bay and Porter Bay until it got dark Saturday night. A New York State Helicopter was called in to aid in the search. The Vermont State Police Scuba Team was out on the lake Sunday into the afternoon to look for his body. Police say it is now a recovery mission. They also say he was not wearing a life jacked. They also say alcohol was not a factor in the accident. The search continues today.

A Burlington man has been arrested in the death of a man whose body was found under a railroad bridge. Daniel Whalon, of Burlington, has been charged with fatally stabbing Ralph Bell. Whalon, who's charged with murder, is expected to be arraigned today in Chittenden Superior Court. Police say he has a criminal record dating to 2002 that involves property crimes, fraud and misdemeanor assault.

Vermont State Police are currently investigating the report of a vandalism incident to a motor vehicle in the town of Starksboro. The report says that someone smashed out the front window of his 1998 Nissan Frontier. The approximate value of the damage is $300.00. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vermont State Police New Haven Barracks. (1-802-388-4919)

Gov. Peter Shumlin will take part today in a forum designed to answer questions about the state’s efforts to implement a first-of-its-kind state-run universal health care system. At a forum hosted by the Rutland-Addison Central Labor Council, Shumlin will talk about the bill he signed during the last session that outlines a number of steps the state will undertake to create the new system dubbed Green Mountain Care. He is just one of several speakers who will lead a discussion panel from 5:30 to 7PM today at the Rutland Intermediate School auditorium.

Seven properties in Wallingford may be put on the block in an effort to collect delinquent property taxes of $92,800. Delinquent tax collector Lee Perry notified the Wallingford Select Board last week he would be sending information on the properties to an attorney in an effort to set the tax sales in motion. All seven accounts are more than two years past due and the property owners are not making any efforts to resolve the delinquencies.

The slopes are bare but the state’s ski areas are focused on laying the groundwork for the 2011-12 season by investing tens of millions of dollars in capital improvements. Those improvements range from new amenities including a restaurant atop Killington Peak and hotel and Water Park at Jay Peak to more mundane items like energy-efficient snow guns and computers. Despite the high-risk nature of the business, the Vermont Ski Areas Association President said resorts continue to invest heavily in improvements.

Construction could resume soon on a $6.6 million Vermont road project that was halted suddenly because of traffic snarls and complaints by motorists and businesses. The Route 2 improvement project in Danville entails rebuilding the road and village green along with relocating utilities. It was halted July 14th.

Gov. Peter Shumlin says Vermont will receive $2 million in federal funds to help redevelop polluted former industrial sites, known as brownfields. Shumlin says the projects have led to the creation of jobs, new housing and more green space.

Vermont state officials had planned to pull the plug on water coolers and bottled water deliveries in state offices and buildings this month but now are reconsidering amid a wave of complaints from state workers. Officials say bottled water is a waste of taxpayer money and Vermont could save up to $200,000 a year by having workers use fountains and tap water instead. But many workers complained that the tap water in their buildings is dirty and that they'll have no way to get clean drinking water if the state stops buying bottled water for them. The policy was to take effect July 1st.

A woman was taken to the hospital after being struck by a personal watercraft while she was on an inflatable tube in Lake Champlain in Colchester. Elizabeth Fish of St. George was on the tube at about 6:30PM Saturday when she was struck by a SeaDoo operated by Newton of Colchester. Newton told police he lost control of the SeaDoo as he was turning close to Fish's tube. Fish was taken to Fletcher-Allen Health Care in Colchester. Police are investigating.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Department is investigating a shooting in West Swanton. The incident happened around 11:30 Saturday night on Route 78. Deputies cordoned off a dark colored sedan, with multiple bullet holes visible. According to detectives, a shooting did take place and one person was transported to the hospital. The extent of the injuries is unknown. The incident is still under investigation.

With Vermont Yankee set to close its doors next year, a number of Vermonters came out to get educated on how nuclear power works. The Vermont nuclear power conference took place Saturday at the University of Vermont. People got the chance to learn how atoms are spilt, but also ways to get involved in the fight to explore new energy options without using Vermont Yankee. Organizers say they hope to hold more events like this in other parts of the Green Mountain State.

Vermont's unemployment crept up slightly in June, for the second month in a row. The state Department of Labor says the rate rose to 5.5% - an increase of one-tenth of a percent - but that it's still well below the national jobless rate of 9.2%. Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan says Vermont employers are adding jobs but that there has still been a decline in total employment and labor force.

Kids on bikes may soon start getting tickets from Ticonderoga Police. Ice cream tickets, that is, for cold treats at Stewart's Shops. Ticonderoga Patrolman Randy Bevins came up with the idea to reward children he sees on the roads and trails wearing helmets and otherwise following bicycle safety rules. He contacted the Stewart's Shops corporate headquarters and was given 100 tickets to start.

Community groups are working hard to regenerate downtowns in Port Henry and Ticonderoga with bright colors and art. By the end of this summer, colorful murals will adorn many storefronts in Port Henry. More than 10 downtown Ticonderoga businesses will have renovated their facades using state grant money. Moriah Community Economic Development Group has also been working to help the area.

The town of Derby wants a dog park, and is in the running in a national competition to get it. The PetSafe Company, which handles pet training, fences and other items is running the PetSafe Bark For Your Park competition, which relies on Internet votes for cities. Out of five hundred towns, Derby came in 5th, and was the only city in the Northeast to make it to the 15 finalists. The winning city gets 100-thousand dollars to build a dog park. If you'd like to cast a vote for Derby, go to BarkForYourPark.com. The contest ends August 3rd.

After a wet spring, officials say the state’s summer tourism industry is thriving. Steve Cook, deputy commissioner of the Department of Tourism and Marketing, said stable gas prices and nice weekend weather can be credited for the strong presence of visitors in the state so far this season. He also pointed to state parks, which have had a good turnout for overnight camping, by both Vermonters and out-of-state visitors, and he is elated by the number of campsite reservations already for August.

Burlington's downtown will come alive with street performers from around the world during the city's annual Festival of Fools. Organizers say the event on August 5th – 7th is a festival of street theater that celebrates circus arts, music and comedy for family audiences. Four main stages downtown will feature continuous street theater.