WVTK Local & State News January 25, 2012

Albany-based Independent Optical Network has imbedded a 3,500 fiber-optic line in the new Lake Champlain Bridge. Work on the project started two years ago but has hit a bit of a roadblock. Crown Point Telephone has connected to ION's fiber-optic line. But its 700 customers will have to wait until the company can upgrade its system before passing the faster speeds along to customers. Now that the fiber-optic line has made its way across the new Champlain Bridge, ION hopes to run it 45 miles north to Burlington by early next year. The company also plans to connect a fiber-optic line between Whitehall and Rutland in the near future.

Police have made a third arrest in connection with a violent home invasion in Rutland over the weekend. Police have arrested 20-year-old Shane Haven of Rutland Vermont on charges of burglary and unlawful restraint. Authorities suspect the three were looking for drugs. Shane Haven will be arraigned in Court today. He is being held at the Marble Valley Corrections for lack of $150,000 bail.

The Vermont company that runs much of the electric distribution system in the state is joining with IBM to build a fiber optic control system designed to make the system more efficient and reliable. The Vermont Electric Power Company and IBM announced yesterday an agreement to build what's called an intelligent fiber optic communications and control network across the state. The system will span more than 1,000 miles and connect transmission substations to Vermont's distribution utilities and be part of the smart grid that's being designed.

Nearly 150 people packed the Statehouse last night to offer their opinions on the future of the state's mental health system, after Tropical Storm Irene forced the closure of the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury. Some favor a centralized state hospital. Others support Governor Peter Shumlin's plan to have smaller facilities in different locations.

Vermont's newest commercial wind farm is starting to pay dividends. Earlier this month the town of Sheffield received a check for $117,000 for hosting the First Wind project. The sixteen turbines started producing power in October. The project is obligated to pay $520,000 a year for the life of the project. Officials say so far the farm has generated enough energy to power about 16,500 homes daily.

The union for Burlington police officers is now officially backing the Republican candidate for mayor. The president of the Burlington Police Officers Association said the views of Kurt Wright did not seem to be vastly different from his opponents. But, it's his experience in city and state government along with his leadership style. The last time the union endorsed a Republican for mayor was the last time a G-O-P candidate was elected, in 1993.

When it comes to students doing well on national tests, Vermont students hold their own. The 17th annual Report Card on American Education released by the American Legislative Exchange Council ranks Vermont second in the nation when it comes to test scores. Massachusetts placed first while West Virginia was at the bottom of the list. However, as for education reform policies, such as academic standards and a state's ability to hire good teachers and fire bad ones, it was a different story. Vermont received one of the lowest grades, with a D-plus.

Many northeast residents are seeing a very rare sight in the night sky, the Northern Lights. Scientists say a big solar flare up on Sunday is just now affecting Earth. It's so big that it's actually sending enough radiation our way to disrupt satellites and radio communications. In Canada, many GPS units aren't working accurately. The solar flare up also means many people in the northeast can see the Northern Lights. The spectacular display is visible in most states that border Canada.

Vermont police are working with a state senator to create a gang task force to attack a growing illicit drug trade. The director of the Vermont State Police said low-level gang associates are turning up as dealers in every corner of the state. He says the effort is more organized than in the past. The existing drug task force focuses on mid- and upper-level dealers. A gang task force would focus its efforts on street-level activity.

Four repaving road projects for western Rutland County are on the state Agency of Transportation’s docket this year. The projects, which will involve Castleton, Fair Haven, Ira and West Rutland, are estimated to cost a combined $9.2 million. An expensive repaving project is scheduled for Route 4A and Route 30 that will include changing guardrails, maintenance of ditches, some new signage and markings. In addition to those three paving project, another project in western Rutland County is planned for Route 4 which will include resurfacing the state highway from the New York state line to the intersection with Route 7 in Rutland Town.

Essex County lawmakers now say they regret their decision to break out Medicaid mandates on county tax bills. That's because the bills that just went out show a 16.9 percent tax hike, instead of the 10.54 percent the County Board of Supervisors approved in December, prompting taxpayer alarm. The actual county tax-levy increase was 10.54 percent, but with state and Medicaid mandates figured in, it totaled 16.9 percent, and that was automatically printed on the bills.

Applications are being accepted for $30 million in grant funds for communities and businesses in New York recovering from the devastating storms Irene and Lee. Empire State Development and the Department of Environmental Conservation announced the $21 million Business Flood Recovery Grant Program and $9 million Flood Mitigation Grant Program yesterday.

The court hearing for Port Henry arson suspect Joseph P. King was canceled Monday. The preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Moriah Town Court, but court officials said it was called off after King's Counsel waived the statutory time frame for the proceeding. King's next appearance will probably be in Essex County Court, at a date yet to be set.

The state of Vermont is soliciting ideas for how to spend the $21.6 million dollar federal community-rebuilding grant announced last week as part of the Irene recovery effort. The Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development will hold a hearing February 13th in Montpelier. Jen Hollar of the department says there's already been a great deal of communication with towns and organizations about how to fill gaps after FEMA and other assistance money is spent.

The Vermont Economic Development Authority has approved $13.4 million in financing to support a group of projects around the state. The main projects include the restoration of a Hinesburg manufacturing factory to lease to several businesses; new machinery and equipment for Autumn Harp in Essex Junction, which makes personal care products; land for Washington County Mental Health Services in Barre to convert a building to a school; and insurance and line of credit for the New England Culinary Institute. Financing also has been approved for Vermont farmers through the authority's agricultural loan program; small businesses through its small business loan programs; and repairs for privately owned drinking water systems.

Williston Police Chief Roy Nelson submitted his letter of resignation Monday. He has served as Williston's chief since July 2010, but has been on leave since last summer while undergoing cancer treatment. Although Nelson's cancer is now in remission, he says he is still concerned about his health and wants to be near his family in Connecticut. Douglas Hoyt is already serving as interim chief. Williston hopes to have a new chief of police picked by June.

Vermonters can anticipate taking on more than $10 million in fees this year, as opposed to $400,000 in fees last year. The fee bill has yet to be finalized as it sits before the House Ways and Means Committee. They expect to finalize them by February. The majority of the fees will be applied to services provided by the Agency of Natural Resources and the Agency of Transportation. For example, fees could be applied to solid waste disposal or air pollution from factories. At the DMV, drivers can expect to pay more for a new license or to register their car. Fees are expected to be unusually high this year because of a lack of federal funding for certain programs and added transportation demands after Irene.

This year's Vermont Farm Show is the biggest one so far. The annual event opened Tuesday at its new location at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction. Organizers say it is the largest Farm Show in the state's history, with 266 booths, representing 168 vendors.

The Vermont Health Department says whooping cough is still on the rise in the state. Preliminary data indicates there were 91 cases of whooping cough reported in December, compared to 18 cases for all of 2010. The Burlington Free Press reports at least 17 cases have been reported this month.

Labor officials say Vermont's unemployment rate has dropped to 5.1%, the lowest statewide rate since October of 2008. The national rate is 8.5%. Department of Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan said Tuesday that Vermont appears to be making headway in its economic recovery. She says she hopes Vermont employers will continue to work with the Labor Department to recruit employees because there are many Vermonters who want to work and need a chance at a job to prove themselves.

The performance of Vermont's attorney general is coming under scrutiny after losing three cases with a national profile. Vermont lost as the office of Attorney General William Sorrell defended campaign finance and drug data mining laws before the U.S. Supreme Court. Last week, a federal judge ruled that the state couldn’t close the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. The data mining case is expected to cost the state more than $5 million in legal fees paid to the drug and data mining industries. Sorrell says his office also has its share of wins and has been recouping more than $40 million a year for the state treasury.

Cpl. Chuck Hall has been with the Rutland City Police Department for more than 25 years and will retire at the end of the week. His stint in law enforcement stretches over 30 years counting the time he served as a military police officer with the U.S. Air Force. Now he feels it’s time for something new. Hall has also served as second constable in Clarendon for the last 15 years.

The Lake George Land Conservancy is holding a contest to name the summit trail at its Cook Mountain Preserve in Ticonderoga. Naming rights will go to the winner of the conservancy's Name-the-Trail Drawing, which will take place March 6th. Entries are being accepted until February 25th. The conservancy is charging $50 to enter, or three chances for $100. To buy a naming ticket, contact Cornelia Wells. (644-9673, or email cwells@lglc.org)