WVTK Local & State News December 7, 2011

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor barrage, which lasted just two hours. In the bombardment, the Japanese navy managed to destroy nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight enormous battleships, and almost 200 airplanes. Two thousand Americans soldiers and sailors died in the attack, and another 1,000 were wounded. The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war. Three days later, Japanese allies Germany and Italy also declared war on the United States, and again Congress reciprocated. More than two years into a conflict that had engulfed much of Europe, America had finally joined World War II.

The Vermont State Police reported yesterday that a runaway teen left her Main St. residence in New Haven. The teen has been missing since November 11th. 17-Year-Old Cheri Jean Karzmarczyk ran away from her foster residence sometime after 10:30PM on November 11th. She is described as being a white female, 5'4" tall, approximate 160 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes. She has some scratch marks on her left wrist that are relatively fresh and may be wearing sweat pants and a maroon Carhartt jacket. It is possible that she may be headed to her biological mother's home in Colorado. Anyone with information should contact the State Police New Haven Barracks.

This evening ACRPC and the Acorn Renewable Energy Coop are co-sponsoring a program on plug-in cars and Vermont’s Transportation Infrastructure. The presentation will cover plug-in electric cars and the future of plug-in electric cars in Addison County. The discussion will also feature Tom McGrath, University of Vermont Transportation Research Center and Coordinator of the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition, who will present an overview of Vermont’s Transportation Infrastructure; the “Clean Cities” design concept, and eco-driving. ACRPC is hosting the free event and snacks will be provided.

Rising concerns of local business owners about burglaries and robberies led the Brandon police chief to hold a seminar on how to help prevent such incidents. One business owner said the concern comes from nightly reports of convenience stores and banks getting robbed. The Brandon Police Chief said robberies are not a big concern in the community with crime down about 30 percent from last year. The largest crime issue in Brandon is the sale of pharmaceutical and prescription drugs. The Chief suggested various basic safety precautions to store owners.

Rutland City Police said they found heroin, crack cocaine, almost $14,000 in cash and a handgun during a drug raid on Strongs Avenue. Keith D. Dunn of Brooklyn pleaded innocent yesterday in Rutland criminal court to two felony charges of selling heroin, one misdemeanor charge of possession of heroin and one misdemeanor charge of possession of cocaine. If convicted on all charges he could face a maximum of 22 years in prison.

G. Stone Motors of Middlebury presented a $7000 award check yesterday to Vergennes Union High School as part of the Ford Drive One for UR School Event that took place in September. As part of the event, Ford matched what G. Stone raised for Vergennes and gave it to Ted Greene Ford in Rochester to present to Rochester High School as Tropical Storm Irene prevented Ted Greene the opportunity to hold the Drive One for UR School Event at Rochester High School.

Vermont is taking the top spot in the UnitedHealth Foundation's 2011 edition of "America's Health Rankings." New Hampshire ranks second on health-related criteria that include high rate of high school graduation, low violent crime, usage of early prenatal care and availability of primary care physicians. Connecticut, Hawaii and Massachusetts round out the study's five healthiest states. Mississippi ranks lowest in the 2011 health ranking. To see the complete list, go to AmericasHealthRankings.org.

A Ticonderoga graduate is coming home to perform a benefit for Moriah students. Megan Walls, a graduate music student at Illinois State University, has organized a concert by the Snow Bones Trombone Ensemble. The show will be Wednesday, December 21st at 7PM at St. Mary’s Church in Ticonderoga and will benefit the Moriah Central School women’s chorus, which is raising money for a trip and performance at Disney World this spring.

The Essex County Board of Supervisors voted to override the New York state-imposed 2 percent tax cap after a public hearing on the topic earlier this week. It preceded the much-anticipated hearing on the tentative 2012 county budget, where people overwhelmingly asked supervisors to add funding for several agencies and services back into the budget. Along with the cap override, the board also unanimously seconded a resolution asking the state to pass a bill implementing a multi-year state takeover of the local share of Medicaid.

More than 100 people packed into the Old Courthouse at the Essex County Government Center with a request to raise taxes. A total of 24 people spoke at the 2012 county budget hearing on Monday with most asking for the Essex County Board of Supervisors to reinstate funding for a number of programs, including the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Adirondack Harvest and the Adirondack Regional Airport. The board decided to meet again this coming Monday to further look at the budget. The county budget has to be approved by the board on or before December 20th.

A section of Route 107 will be closed next week as part of an effort to get the whole highway repaired and re-opened by the end of the year. Starting at midnight Sunday a 1.1-mile section of the highway will be closed. That will enable highway crews to install two new culverts. That section of 107 has only been open to local traffic since Tropical Storm Irene, and local residents will have access to a detour route.

Police say there is more evidence of a rise in robberies across Vermont. There were two armed robberies in Franklin County yesterday and more than half a dozen in the past month. Police say a man walked into a St. Albans pharmacy on Tuesday, told the owner he had a gun, and demanded cash. Then he fled. Hours earlier there was an armed robbery at a Sunoco in Swanton. He then left with an unknown amount of cash and cigarettes. Police say they are seeing a trend. They are just not exactly sure what is causing it. They say most likely, some of the robberies are linked to drugs.

The latest national survey of vaccination rates has been released, and Vermont's statistics show that more parents are deciding to opt out of vaccinating their children. The Vermont Health Department says about six percent of Vermont school kids haven't had all their shots, one of the highest rates in the country. Parents who choose not to vaccinate often cite concerns about vaccine safety, side effects or harmful ingredients in vaccines. Dr. Jerry Larrabee is the medical director of University Pediatrics in Burlington and says the risks of vaccines are low and there is a lot of misinformation.

Federal prosecutors say a Virginia man helped a former Vermont woman leave the country with her daughter so she wouldn't have to turn custody of the girl over to her former lesbian partner. The U.S. Attorney's office in Burlington says Kenneth Miller surrendered yesterday to face charges stemming from his role in helping Lisa Miller leave the country with her daughter in September 2009.

Two Vermont men are facing a variety of charges after they fled police by crossing into Canada. The two were arrested several hours later as they tried to re-enter the United States. State Police say a trooper tried to stop a vehicle early Monday in Island Pond because it had a loud muffler, but the car fled north, reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour until its crossed illegally into Canada.

The deaths of a husband and wife in St. Johnsbury are considered a case of domestic violence turned deadly. A friend of 50-year-old Penny Birch called police when the woman didn't turn up to meet her as they'd planned. Police obtained a search warrant and went in the house on Monday, making the grim discovery of 55-year-old David Birch and his wife. Police say Penny Birch died from several gunshot wounds while her husband died from one wound. A pending breakup of the marriage and financial problems are believed to be the motives behind the deaths.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who promised to "freeze taxes" since his campaign a year ago, is now pushing a proposal that would revamp New York's tax code and apparently increase taxes on the wealthy next year. The plan would also cut taxes for the middle class as a response to indications of worsening national and state economies, while avoiding more cuts to education.

Each year the Rutland County Women's Network & Shelter hosts a holiday give away. The nonprofit agency works to provide gifts to families who might not otherwise receive much, if anything. Last year, the organization was able to provide gifts to more than 600 children thanks to donations from the community. This year, because of the economy and Tropical Storm Irene, the need is expected to be even greater. Time is running out, however and this is the last week to donate items for the women's shelter. Donations of toys and gifts for infants through teens can be dropped off at their office at 101 Grove St. between 9AM and 4PM until Friday of this week. For more information, call the RCWN&S at 775-6788.

There's a difference between art and tackiness, and apparently Anne Marie Blackman knows just how far to go. Her Killington based business is called "My Ugly Christmas Sweater" and is turning into a booming one. She says since many people are now wearing the tackiest clothes they can find at themed Christmas parties, she takes gently used sweaters and embellishes them even more. She says you can never have too many bells on a sweater or too much fringe. Prices range from 35 to 80-dollars, and Blackman ships thousands worldwide.

Sen. Bernie Sanders once again is inviting Vermont high school students to participate in an essay contest about the state of the Union. It's the second annual such contest sponsored by Sanders, who calls it a way to get Vermont's young people engaged in the issues facing the nation. The contest is timed in advance of the president's annual State of the Union address. Participants are invited to write from 250 to 500 words and submit the essay by January 6th to stateoftheunion@sanders.senate.gov.