WVTK Local & State News November 16, 2011

Police say an armed homeowner in Rutland Town scared off a would-be intruder. Around 10AM Tuesday, a man trying to pull himself into her house on Quarterline Road through a bedroom window startled a woman. The suspect then jumped back outside and fled. That's when police say the homeowner grabbed a handgun and began shooting at the suspect. Police are not sure if he was injured, but warn the public not to take the law into their own hands. The homeowner, Patricia Billings, was not hurt. Police say a small red vehicle was seen driving away. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Sgt. Chris Barber at the State Police Barracks in Rutland. (802-773-9101)

Yesterday morning was a busy one for Middlebury rescue crews. Two auto accidents on Route 7 had Middlebury Heavy Rescue and MVAA crews called out to multiple emergencies. The first accident, involving two vehicles, occurred around 9:30AM on the highway in front of the A&W Drive-In south of town. A second, more serious accident occurred at 11:15AM at the intersection of Route 7 and Route 125. An eyewitness said a woman was removed from the passenger-van involved in that accident and taken to Porter Hospital.

Otter Creek Brewery was planning to resume full operation yesterday afternoon despite an explosion Monday morning. Otter Creek personnel say a fermenting barrel was over-pressurized, causing a 40-barrel tank to rupture. No one was hurt but the brewery says the force of the explosion tipped the tank, spilling all of its contents. The brewery is now finishing repairs and performing a rigorous safety audit.

The Rutland Police Commission talked earlier this week about hiring an international association to help with the search for a new police chief while at the same time the five-member group considered the possibility of foregoing the hiring of an interim police chief. The search for a new chief has been a work in progress since longtime Police Chief Anthony Bossi announced earlier this month he would retire on January 3rd.

Town officials in Castleton voted this week to purchase a three-acre property along Route 4A as discussions regarding the town hall continue. The property is located at 1600 Main St. in Castleton, in front of the old Goddard site, where the town offices have been installed in trailers. The Select Board has been discussing the potential purchase of the property since the summer, after the town’s building commission recommended purchasing property in town and building a new town hall.

Vermont state revenues continue to come in at a slightly brisker pace than had been forecast. Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding said Tuesday that October general fund revenues were about 4% higher than the state's consulting economists had forecast in July. So far this fiscal year that fund, which supports most functions of state government, has pulled in about $10 million more than the $384 million that had been expected. He says impacts from Tropical Storm Irene and the global economic slowdown continue to be a worry.

In the days and weeks following Tropical Storm Irene's flooding, Vermont became what one lawmaker called a "lawless state" concerning its rivers, with crews digging gravel from stream beds and piling boulders on river banks to strengthen them. Environmentalists and some state officials say the result is serious environmental damage, especially to fish habitats, as well as a possible worsening of future floods. Vermont lawmakers heard testimony Tuesday that efforts to put rivers back in the courses they ran before the August 28th storm may have done more harm than good in some instances. In addition to hurting fish habitats with the digging, river experts say efforts to strengthen river banks can increase the speed at which the river flows, which can make future floods more damaging.

The state of Vermont has received 10 proposals for what to do with the flooded-out state office complex. Last month, the state took developers on a tour of the buildings in Waterbury. The state is trying to decide whether to rehab the aging complex, construct new facilities on the site, or sell the property and find new office space elsewhere. Most of the proposals conclude that the cost of redevelopment will require continued state ownership and primary use for state offices. But some proposals suggest part of the property could be used for commercial purposes.

One piece of the Vermont state office complex in Waterbury that will not return to prior use is the state hospital. Representatives from nearly half-a-dozen health care organizations met with lawmakers and state officials Tuesday to present their visions for new treatment options. Both the Brattleboro Retreat and Rutland Regional Medical Center have floated ideas for expanding their services. Another group that includes the Howard Center and Washington County Mental Health has also offered different options. Other organizations will present their ideas at a similar meeting set for Monday.

Protestors with Occupy Vermont say they're changing their strategy to get their message across. The last of the tents from the group's camp have been removed from City Hall Park, in Burlington. However, members say their network is growing. Working groups are focusing much of their efforts on organizing events throughout the state. As for camping in another location the group says it's an ongoing discussion.

Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss says he still has not decided if he will seek re-election. The mayor says December will be an important month for campaigns and says he still plans on making his decision by the end of November. Kiss says right now his focus is on the Champlain Parkway, the Moran plant redevelopment, updating the climate action plan and finding a way to fix Burlington's financial problems.

Some land in one Vermont community is being considered for a solar array project. Vermont Energy Parks LLC, a company based in Connecticut, intends to apply for the project on 20 acres in Stamford. The Bennington Banner reports a notice has been filed with the Bennington County Regional Commission. The project will make use of the Vermont Sustainability Priced Energy Enterprise Development program. Referred to as SPEED, the state initiative provides fixed, above-market rates for certain forms of energy sources. The Vermont Public Service Board would look at the application to determine the project's impact on the environment, economy and public.

Democrats in Burlington plan to hold another caucus to choose their candidate for mayor, after the first caucus ended in a tie vote between two candidates. Vermont Sen. Tim Ashe and developer Miro Weinberger were tied on Sunday. Democrats will decide today when to hold the second caucus. Party officials say only those registered for the first caucus can participate in the second one.

Vermonters will get to weigh in on the future of public transit systems in the state ranging from buses and trains to ride-share programs. Transportation officials will hold a meeting today at 4PM at Vermont Interactive Television sites around the state. Another meeting is set for Thursday at 6:30PM at the Opera House on Merchants Row in Rutland. A plan drafted by the state Agency of Transportation has been posted on its web site under Public Transit Policy Plan.

The assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and New England health commissioners are meeting to discuss tobacco policies. He will join the health commissioners from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont today to call on state and local leaders to strengthen policies aimed at getting tobacco users to quit. They also will discuss the problem of secondhand smoke.

Grace Potter is continuing her meteoric rise in music, following her win with Kenny Chesney last week at the Country Music Awards. Now, the Vermont singer and her band, the Nocturnals, are planning a summer concert tour with Chesney and country music star Tim McGraw. The stadium tour begins June 2nd in Florida, and wraps up at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Adirondack Community Action Programs Inc.'s Weatherization Assistance Program has been serving Essex County homeowners and renters since 1976. More than 3,500 dwellings have received weatherization services. Since 2009, more than 485 families have benefited from ACAP services. Cost-effective weatherization measures include installation of insulation, furnace and boiler retrofits, new energy-efficient refrigerators and air-sealing measures. For more information on the Weatherization Program, call ACAP at 873-3207.

Passengers on Spirit Airlines now face nearly $34 in fees just to buy their tickets online. The only way most customers can avoid the fee is to head to the airport and wait on line to see a ticket agent there. Spirit Airlines flies to Ft. Lauderdale out of Plattsburgh International Airport, attracting many Canadians to the local airport. The no-frills airline advertises base fares as low as $9 but then charges passengers for everything from placing a carry-on bag in the overhead bin to having a glass of water onboard. In January it plans to start charging $5 for each boarding pass a ticket agent prints.

Crown Point churches and businesses are again joining together to serve a community Thanksgiving dinner. The meal will be served at the United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall on Creek Road next Wednesday. There will be a continuous serving from 4 to 7PM. There will be no cost for the community dinner that will include turkey, stuffing, potatoes, vegetable, rolls and homemade apple and pumpkin pies. Meanwhile the third annual “Miracle on Montcalm Street — Adirondack Dinner Table” will be shared Thanksgiving Day from Noon to 3PM at the Ticonderoga fire house. The entire community is invited to attend. Volunteers are needed to help with both dinners.