WVTK Local & State News October 28, 2011 (Afternoon Update)

All State of Vermont departments are being asked to cut 4-percent of their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. Governor Shumlin says he wants these cuts to apply to programs not people, but state employees remain concerned. Each department will submit a proposal in the coming weeks cutting as close to 4-percent as possible. Secretary Spaulding will then sit down with the head of each department to determine what cuts they can live with before submitting the proposals to Governor Shumlin and eventually the legislature.

Vermont's 2011-2012 ski season is getting under way. The Killington Ski Resort says it will open one trail on Saturday. The mountains that make up the resort received nine inches of snow in the last 24 hours. It's expected the resort will be open Saturday and Sunday. After Sunday, operations will depend on conditions.

Porter Medical Center will be closing its popular and innovative palliative care medical practice at the end of this month due to the recent resignation of one of the two physicians in the practice and an inability to put together a new business model to continue the service with a smaller workforce. While PPHC proved to be a popular and valuable service, it was not one of the most solvent in PMC’s portfolio.

After two months of public debate and careful consideration, the Bristol Zoning Board of Adjustment has voted in favor of issuing the Bristol Works business campus “a comprehensive conditional use permit”. The permit is for the 5.5-acre space previously occupied by cosmetics manufacturer Autumn Harp.

If you have bottles of unused prescription medications in your house, there's an opportunity to get rid of them safely this weekend. Saturday is prescription drug takeback day. Last April, Vermonters turned in 14-hundred pounds of prescription drugs. Overall, 188 tons were collected nationwide. Officials say the pills collected will be incinerated so they don't pose a danger to the community. There will be more than 50 collection sites set up across Vermont from on Saturday. To find one near you, visit Justice.gov.

Paving will take place Monday on South St. beginning around 8AM from the south entrance of the Hospital, south to the end of pavement. At 8AM crews will be working on the South Side of Court Square to the intersection of Court St. north. During this time all southbound traffic will be detoured south on South Pleasant St. and there will be a uniformed Police officer at the intersection of South Pleasant and Cross St. to facilitate in traffic flow. Once done on Court Square the milling crew will proceed to Seminary Ext. to mill the Sewer leak. The paving crew will move from South St. to Court Square to pave there and same detour will apply during paving. Paving crews upon completion will then move to Seminary Ext. and pave in the milled area there.

Today is the final day of Bruce & Hobbes Cash For Paws – “You PAY, we PLAY!” It’s all about raising money for the Addison County Humane Society's Homeward Bound Campaign. The humane society has already raised 830-thousand dollars in donations toward the project and so far we’ve raised, with your help, over $6,000! For more information and to donate visit 921wvtk.com.