WVTK Local & State News August 11, 2011

Addison County Fair & Fields Days continues today. Remember you can ride the ACTR bus “fare-free” to the fair this week. On Saturday the full Tri-Town Shuttle Route will run “fare-free” all day from Middlebury, Bristol, New Haven and Vergennes. The first bus departs Middlebury at 11AM and will run continuously every 2 hours until the final returns to Middlebury at 7PM. For a complete shuttle schedule visit www.actr-vt.org. Also, join our very own Amada Leigh as she takes her show on the road this afternoon from 3 – 7 live from Field Days. http://actr-vt.org/latest-news/fare-free-to-the-fair/

A bus hit a 75 year-old woman yesterday afternoon in Middlebury. Police say the woman was in the intersection of Main Street and Merchant's Row in the downtown area when she was hit. She suffered severe injuries and was rushed to the hospital. If you witnessed the accident, please contact the Middlebury Police Department. (802) 388-3191.

Landmarks of state and national stature are some of the highlights of the historic walking tour of Middlebury by the Sheldon Museum on Sunday. The walk, starting at 2PM will explore the people and stories behind the buildings and styles of the town’s colorful history from the 18th century into the 20th century. The tour will begin at the bandstand on the Middlebury green and finish at the Sheldon Museum via the Marble Works footbridge. Tickets may be purchased at the Sheldon Museum for $10. For Sheldon Museum members, tickets are $5.

The weekly publication The Mountain Times, based in Killington, has been sold to Angelo Lynn, owner and publisher of the Addison Independent. No employees are going to be laid off. Lynn said he plans to keep the newspaper local, continuing to bridge the gap between the ski mountain, the town of Killington and Rutland. The Mountain Times has free circulation of 10,000 to 15,000 copies each week to approximately 350 stand locations and is mailed to 4,000 homes.

A Vermont man is pleading not guilty to charges he shot and killed a former supervisor at the Brattleboro Food Co-op. Police say Richard E. Gagnon, 59, of Marlboro, went to the co-op on Tuesday morning and shot to death Michael Martin, an assistant manager who had recently written an evaluation that was critical of Gagnon's job performance.

In the past six months, there have been 486 incidents of property crime in Rutland City. Of those, 111 have taken place in the past 30 days. And 31of those 111 are incidents of breaking and entering. Police say property crime always spikes in summer months, but this summer a number of break-ins have come from people pushing in air conditioning units. Police say the rest are from trusting Vermonters leaving their doors open. Police say most of the AC units in these break-ins weren't nailed to the window or wall. They suggest nailing them down to help prevent criminals from pushing them in with very little effort.

Standard & Poor's historic downgrading of the United States credit rating rippled shock waves all over the globe, but here in Vermont things seem much more stable. Most states around the country are grappling with their own poor credit ratings while Vermont continues to benefit from the highest ranking ratings by two agencies, Moody's and Fitch along with a AA+ rating from Standard and Poor's, the 2nd highest achievable grade. And Vermont has the best overall credit rating of all New England states.

Federal regulators say Vermont Yankee must continue to pay into its Decommissioning Fund. The decommissioning fund is set up to ensure proper shutdown when the nuclear plant closes. Entergy argued that since the Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted a 20-year license extension, interest on the money already in the fund, would be enough to decommission the plant. The company argued that making payments into the fund was no longer necessary as a result. The NRC is willing to hear Entergy's case again once its legal battle with the state is resolved.

The University of Vermont Board of Trustees says a relationship between the wife of the former president and another senior official broke no laws or university policies. Officials have announced that former Vice President Michael Schultz had resigned his position. The board launched the investigation after it was discovered that Rachel Kahn-Fogel, the wife of former President Dan Fogel, sent romantic letters and emails to Schultz.

One of the premier hospitals here in the Northeast is looking to cut costs by offering early retirement. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center announced Wednesday it will offer voluntary separation to about 725 of its employees. The move comes as the hospital faces financial challenges, including recent cuts in Medicaid reimbursement from the state of New Hampshire. The downsizing is also part of an ongoing effort to "optimize efficiencies" and reduce expenses.

A Vermont man charged with stalking a teenager says he's not guilty. 34-year-old Timothy Bunce Richard, of East Hardwick entered the plea Tuesday and was released after a court appearance. 18-year-old Tiffany Colbeth told police May 6 that he sent her a Facebook message saying, "I can see you" as she used a computer at a library and then approached her. She said Richard followed her to libraries and parks and once grabbed her from behind and refused to let go. He has no previous criminal record.

Specializing in hiking, health and physical wellness, Appalachian Trail Adventures offers daily-guided hikes throughout the Green Mountains for all levels including novice, intermediate and advanced hikers. Located at the scenic Summit Lodge in Killington, ATA has chosen the best trials throughout the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail, which offer the most scenic mountain vistas, water falls, lakes and historical features. To learn more visit their website at www.appalachiantrailadventures.com.

Not only did the actors in this year's Shakespeare in the Park performance at Westport's Ballard Park get to perform outside last weekend, but they will also get to take their talents on the road to Vermont. The annual Shakespeare in the Park participants will take to the stage right here in Middlebury at the Town Hall Theatre on Sunday at 2PM. For more information visit www.townhalltheater.org.

The U.S. Department of Energy says it has awarded a $2.5 million contract to a Vermont company for development of new technologies for vehicles. Plasan Carbon Composites, of Bennington, will develop models for predicting crash response of carbon fiber composites. The contract, announced Wednesday, is one of dozens being undertaken as part of $175 million being spent over the next five years in 15 states. The 40 projects will target innovations including better fuels and lubricants, lighter-weight materials, longer-lasting electric vehicle batteries and more efficient engine technologies.

The Ticonderoga Historical Society will host the 9th annual Summer A'Fair on Saturday from 10AM – 3PM on the lawn at the Hancock House in Ticonderoga. This annual event is a Fundraiser for the Ticonderoga Historical Society supporting educational, artistic, historical and cultural programs for the Community.

A new business in downtown Burlington had job seekers filling out applications and getting interviews Wednesday. Panera Bread held interviews for up to 60 positions for its new Church Street location in Burlington. The VT Department of Labor says about 75 people applied for a job with the company. Panera bread representatives say they may hold another job fair if all the positions have not been filled.

Burdock and Hollywood will be spotlighted this weekend during the annual Benson Burdock Festival. Designed to be a highlight of the summer, the festival, kicking off at 9AM Sunday, will include burdock sculptures, a Hollywood-themed dog show, magicians and more. The Burdock Festival surrounds the annual Fire Department Barbecue, which is a fundraiser for the Benson Fire Department. The barbecue begins at 11:30AM.

Vermont has set this fall's Canada goose hunting season. The statewide open hunting season will run from September 6-25. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says the daily bag limit will be five Canada geese except in the Lake Champlain zone within Addison County north of Route 125 where the daily limit will be two daily. Officials say the purpose of the season is to control Vermont's resident Canada goose population before more Canada geese arrive as they migrate south from northern Canada.

The Stanley Cup is coming to Burlington in a few weeks. Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas is bringing the big silver cup to the city for public display September third. Thomas is a former star for the University of Vermont, besides leading his team to the Stanley Cup championship over Vancouver in June. While the date for the display is set, the location is still being finalized.