WVTK Local & State News November 3, 2011

New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) officials refuse to give an opening date for the new Lake Champlain Bridge but say a “ribbon-cutting” media event with government officials will be held when it does open. As Flatiron Construction crews make final adjustments to the lighting and pour concrete between the pre-cast deck panels and sidewalk panels of the bridge, DOT Senior Public Information Officer Carol Breen says that work continues and she expects the span to open sometime before the end of 2011.

A man and a woman were taken into custody yesterday afternoon following a reported armed robbery at a Poultney bank. Police said they are investigating whether they are the same two people involved in four other bank robberies in the area in recent weeks. Shortly after 3PM a woman in her mid- to late 20s wearing a hoodie approached a teller at Citizens Bank in Poultney with a note saying she had a weapon and wanted money. Police said this was a similar method used during several bank robberies in recent weeks, including two in Granville, NY, and one in West Rutland and another in Rutland Town and believed this bank robbery was linked to other incidents.

Addison County Transit Resources will build a new center on a vacant lot on Creek Road, across from the MUHS playing fields and adjacent to the VTrans highway shed. Officials say the plan is to break ground in spring of 2012 and move in just in time to celebrate their 20th anniversary in November. Vermont architect Black River Design of Montpelier is responsible for the center’s concept.

The Vermont State Police responded to the Silver Street residence of Michael and Janet Burnor in Hinesburg for a report of a burglary of a gun safe, truck and jewelry this week. The suspect or suspects removed a large gun safe with several guns inside using the victim’s truck that was locked in the garage. The safe was located in a nearby town. The Vermont State Police are requesting anyone with information about the location of the missing guns, truck or jewelry please call the Williston Barracks. (802-878-7111)

Some ideas about parking in Rutland will be addressed sooner than others. No action was taken at the Community and Economic Development Committee meeting on Tuesday to discuss downtown parking options. At the center of the discussion is the future of the downtown parking deck. A meeting will be scheduled on November 16th to act on the mayor’s current proposal and refer additional ideas to the appropriate committees or city departments.

The northeastern stock car racing community is buzzing about Devil’s Bowl Speedway. Nearly 150 drivers, team owners, and crewmembers gathered Sunday at the track’s first “town meeting” to discuss the West Haven facility’s future. Meeting with new Devil’s Bowl Speedway owners/promoters Mike and Alayne Bruno in a segmented open-forum summit, racers from all over Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire expressed suggestions, concerns, and progressive ideas to lead the track into the future. Announcements will be made at a news conference in Rutland November 8th regarding the 2012 season at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.

After nearly two decades on the road, Moriah’s town board meetings will return home in 2012. The meetings will be held at the newly expanded and renovated court building, adjacent to the town hall at Park Place in Port Henry. It’s been three years in the making, but the town of Moriah has a renovated, expanded court thanks to a group of students. Champlain Valley Tech students constructed an 864-square-foot addition on the Moriah court, helping the town meet a state mandate and giving the community an updated structure.

Essex County lawmakers are preparing to see if they can buy fish cheaper than the Essex County Fish Hatchery can produce them. If the county bought fish from a private source, the Fish Hatchery in Crown Point would be closed and the three jobs there eliminated. The vote on seeking proposals to buy fish gets a final vote at 10AM Monday.

Gov. Peter Shumlin says he's open to having a conversation about banning teacher strikes in Vermont, but is stopping short of endorsing a proposal to do so. Shumlin told a news conference on Wednesday he is very willing to consider a proposal by the Education Commissioner to ban teacher strikes, as well as contracts being imposed by school boards. The comments from the commissioner and the governor follow the conclusion of a 9-day strike by teachers serving the Bennington area, who were opposing a contract imposed by the region's school boards.

Governor Peter Shumlin says he's worried some low-income Vermonters won't be able to heat their homes this winter. Shumlin says the Obama administration is proposing cuts in the Low Income Home Heating Assistance Program that, couple with increased costs of heating oil, could reduce the amount of heating assistance to the average recipient from 262 gallons last winter to 92 gallons this winter.

A new survey finds that alcohol and tobacco use has decreased among Vermont students. According to the 2011 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey released Wednesday, 60 percent of high school students reported drinking compared to 66 percent in 2009 and 82 percent in 1993. The latest survey also shows the percentage of students who smoked in the past 30 days dropped to 13 percent last year, from 18 percent in 2009 and 40 percent in 1995.

A Vermont covered bridge whose destruction during flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene was captured on video is going to be rebuilt. The select board in the town of Rockingham has agreed to build a new covered bridge over the Williams River in the hamlet of Bartonsville, not far from Bellows Falls.

The New York State Labor Department says a new state-funded jobs website attracted 20,000 hits in its first 24 hours of operation. The Jobs Express website lists more than 42,000 job openings statewide. The site also offers tips on seeking jobs and helps with skills such as writing resumes and interview techniques. The Labor Department is updating the list daily. The website is available through the Labor Department's WEBSITE.

New York soon will require insurers to cover screening, diagnosis and treatment for autism spectrum disorders, which will increase premiums for all individuals and businesses. Supporters say the new law will include routine toddler screenings, behavioral health treatments, speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Meanwhile the association of health insurers wants to negotiate changes to reduce coverage and costs before the law takes effect in one year.

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch wants the Federal Emergency Management Agency to expand its emergency declaration for the state to cover more costs related to the weekend snowstorm. Lynch says the declaration granted on Tuesday applies to direct assistance from federal agencies, which would cover the cost of water, food and other materials that are supplied by those agencies. But he said Wednesday that he's asked FEMA to amend the declaration to provide additional assistance for debris and snow removal, overtime, the cost of shelters and other emergency response costs.

New England and Canadian business leaders are meeting in Boston to discuss challenges and opportunities of energy trade and cooperation in North America. The 2-day conference beginning today will also feature policy makers, regulators and energy experts who are expected to discuss efforts to secure reliable and affordable energy supplies despite environment concerns and uncertainties caused by the slow pace of economic recovery.

Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling a public meeting on the future of the U.S. Postal Service. The independent lawmaker says he wants to hear Vermonters' thoughts about the Postal Service in an age of email and online bill paying. Sanders says he is working on legislation to maintain mail service to communities throughout Vermont and avert cuts that could cost thousands of workers their jobs. The session is set for 1PM Sunday at Montpelier High School. A free lunch will be served at noon.

Vermont's Green Mountain Power says it has exceeded its goal of installing 1,000 solar panels in 1,000 days. GMP says it has installed or had approved for installation 26,000 panels within its service territory. The solar facilities include 952 panels in Berlin, 616 panels on the roof of the company's Montpelier headquarters, and 308 panels at its Westminster Service Center. The company has also built 530 panels in a "solar orchard" at Shelburne Farms.

The Occupy Burlington movement got some help yesterday from students and staff at the University of Vermont. About 200 people gathered on the UVM campus rallying for labor solidarity and protesting the severance package given to the former university president. From there, about 120 protesters joined up with the Occupy Burlington group, marching and chanting through the city last evening.

Renovations at a Vermont performing arts center include getting rid of over 1,400 squeaky seats that date back to 1946. A fundraising project at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts would replace the chairs as part of $1 million in improvements. The seat project is included in a plan that also would improve acoustics and add lighting to play up the art-deco features in the lobby and on the façade of the 81-year-old building. Also planned is increased wheelchair-accessible seating.

The First Congregational Church of Crown Point will host its third annual Veteran’s Recognition and Appreciation this Sunday. The event will be part of the regular 9:30AM worship service. Essex County Veterans Affairs Agent Timothy Pierce will speak. Meanwhile the Hague Wesleyan Church will host a special service to honor veterans on Sunday at 10:30AM. All are welcomed to attend.

The Port Henry Fire Department Auxiliary is now taking applications for its fourth-annual Toy Drive. To apply for assistance this year for children up to 18 years old, call one of the auxiliary members for an application. The deadline for the program is December 1st.