WVTK Local & State News February 27, 2012

Last Thursday evening around 10 Vermont State Police were called to a residence on Quaker Village Road in New Haven to investigate a suspicious incident. According to homeowner Cindy Kayhart, a large vehicle struck and damaged a concrete retaining wall, several fence posts, and a metal gate causing her cows to roam away the premises. She told the troopers that she was alerted to her cows being loose by a passer by and upon checking her animals she discovered the damage. An exterior mirror, possibly from a large Ford truck, was found at the scene. There are no suspects at this time; the vehicle and its operator have not been identified. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Vermont State Police New Haven Barracks. (802-388-4919)

A chairlift at Pico Mountain ski area derailed Saturday afternoon causing a hurried evacuation. The Summit Express Quad stopped moving at about noon due to a derailment near the load terminal. Chris Danforth, Killington’s marketing manager, said 120 to 130 were stuck on the lift, as eight crews of about 30 rescuers started a chairlift evacuation, with trapped guests lowered from the chairs with ropes and harnesses to the ground. No one was injured during this incident.

Miss Vermont 2011, Katie Levassuer, will meet teens at the Bristol Hub tomorrow afternoon from 3-4. The 20-year-old will talk about her Miss Vermont platform, which stresses community involvement, political involvement, and civic leadership. All local teens are invited to attend the event. Katie is a senior at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont where she majors in Political Science and minors in both Economics and Business Administration. Miss Vermont grew up in Lyndonville and Waterford and is a graduate of St Johnsbury Academy.

Vermont State Police meet with fire officials yesterday to discuss proposed changes to search and rescue missions. Republican State Senator Vince Illuzzi recently proposed a bill that would relieve police of primary responsibility for backcountry rescue operations. The early January death of a lost hiker from New Haven prompted the measure. The Green Mountain State is one of only five nationwide that requires state officers to find and rescue lost outdoors men and women. A legislative committee will consider a range of alternatives including the use of firefighters, game wardens and volunteers.

The March meeting of the Ferrisburgh Historical Society will feature guest speaker Maj. Randall Gates. Gates served two tours of duty in Afghanistan working for the U.S. Army as an activated Vermont National Guardsman. Gates’ tours of duty were in 2003 and 2004. His presentation will present you with a familiarization of Afghanistan and he will answer your questions. The meeting will be held at the Ferrisburgh Town Hall and Community Center on Wednesday March 14th at 7PM.

A draft letter from Rutland Treasurer Wendy Wilton calls on the city to step up its contributions to the pension fund. The draft states that the board will not agree to any new contract that does not cover the pension’s costs while drawing down its liabilities. The board is scheduled to consider the draft during a meeting tonight.

Rutland Town budgets are up this year from last, with increases all around, including general, highway, fire, recreation and school spending. On the municipal side, voters will be asked to approve $1,021,313 for the general fund, an increase of 1.48 percent. Revenue from the local option tax will cover the full amount of the general fund; therefore, no money will need to be raised by taxes. Overall, general fund increases are due to 2.5 percent salary increases for all town employees, two extra elections this year, a new compactor for the transfer station, new computers in town hall and increased building maintenance for town offices.

Several Essex County bridges destroyed by flooding last year are finally closer to being replaced. The County Department of Public Works Superintendent said the Titus Road Bridge reconstruction has started in the Moriah Center hamlet. Construction has also begun on the washed-out Mason Road Bridge in Lewis. In Crown Point, the Amy Hill Road Bridge has been removed, and the new design is under historic review. And design plans are near completion on the washed-out Lacy Road Bridge in Keene and the Hulbert Road Bridge in Lewis. Replacement bridges are costing $300,000 to $500,000, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state are picking up most of the tab.

Most of the almost $1 million cost of rebuilding the ruined Port Henry Village Campground and Beach Park will be paid by the federal government. The Port Henry Village Board has accepted a low bid of $777,000. The total project cost is estimated at $950,000. The campground will open normally before Memorial Day weekend in May.

Refinancing could give Essex County a windfall on some of its bonds. Essex County Treasurer Michael Diskin had an idea recently that could save the county $1.4 million over 14 years. He said there is "the possibility of refinancing two bonds that we have out there. One is a 2004 bond, and one is a 2005 bond." The 2004 bond totaled $8 million for roadwork, and the 2005 one was $35 million for the new County Jail and Public Safety Building in Lewis. The Board of Supervisors Finance Committee approved Diskin's request, and it gets a preliminary vote today at the Ways and Means Committee session, with a final vote at the board's regular March session.

The Lake George Association has released findings from the 2011 lake steward program. It is available for download from the LGA website: www.lakegeorgeassociation.org. Since 2006, lake stewards have inspected boats at high traffic launches around the Lake and have educated boaters about invasive species spread prevention. The data gathered helps define how invasive species are spread, and the pathways that exist between other regional waterways and Lake George.

The deadline to register to vote in Vermont's presidential primary is fast approaching. Vermonters have until 5PM on Wednesday to sign up. The primary takes place on Town Meeting Day on March 6th. Secretary of State Jim Condos says this is exciting time in Vermont's voting history now that voters approved allowing young adults who will turn 18 by the November general election to vote in both statewide and presidential primaries. Anyone with questions about registering is asked to contact the secretary of state's office (828-2148) or the League of Women Voters (229-4737) or to check out their websites.

The Vermont Senate is set this week for a final vote on a sweeping overhaul of the state's mental health system, in the wake of the closing of the Vermont State Hospital due to flooding from Tropical Storm Irene. The Senate on Thursday gave preliminary approval to a plan to replace the 54-bed hospital with smaller facilities around the state, including a new, 16-bed hospital in Berlin. It was expected to win final passage on Friday, but was put off after the Shumlin administration announced the impending layoffs of 80 state employees who had worked at the hospital.

A possible new tax for soda and other sugar-sweetened drinks could be underway. This all stemming from a coalition of Vermont health care and consumer groups following a new study linking sugar consumption to health problems. The tax increase would bring in about 27 million dollars a year. This money would go towards lowering the cost of fruits and vegetables for low-income residents and certain health care programs. The Vermont Grocers Association Executive Director says a new tax won't discourage soda consumption.

An environmental group is appealing the Forest Service's approval for a wind farm in Searsburg and Readsboro. The Bennington Banner reports the appeal claims the project would harm the Green Mountain wilderness and claims there was a conflict of interest involving the experts who prepared the Forest Service analysis.

The four remaining GOP presidential candidates seem to have no interest in appearing in Vermont in the run up to the state's March 6th primary. Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich have yet to make a campaign stop in the state during their campaigns and seem unlikely to do so before the primary. The state will award 17 delegates to the Republican National Convention on Super Tuesday, when nine other states will hold election primaries.

President Obama's March appearance in Burlington is so popular, it's been moved to a bigger venue. Obama campaign officials announced Friday that the March 30th stop has been moved from the Sheraton to the athletic complex at the University of Vermont. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals will also perform at the campaign event, which does have a charge for admission.

The head of the Vermont Lottery Commission is stepping down after nearly 14 years as executive director. Alan Yandow said Friday that he would not seek another appointment to the position. Gov. Peter Shumlin thanked Yandow for his service saying that all profits from the state's lottery go to the Education Fund, so an efficient and effective state lottery provides crucial resources for educating Vermont's students. The Vermont Lottery says Yandow served as spokesman for the "Good. Clean. Fun" campaign that started in 1999.

Middlebury College has a complete arts program offering for the month of March. All events are open to the public and many are either free or have a small admission price. For complete details on all upcoming March events click HERE.

Middlebury’s Woodchuck Hard Cider has expanded its cider line to include Belgian White, the firm’s latest hard cider. Woodchuck officials have announced the introduction of its limited run hard cider, the newest in a line of ciders that were first introduced two decades ago with Woodchuck Amber. The company describes the new cider as “cloudy, with a rich, golden hue reminiscent of wheat beer.

Never one to steer clear of controversy, Ben and Jerry's newest flavor for its icy desserts is dropping one particular ingredient. Pro-basketball phenom Jeremy Lin is the inspiration behind the new "Taste the Lin-Sanity" flavor. The first plans called for frozen vanilla yogurt, honey swirls, and bits of fortune cookies, which some called "racist" as Lin is Asian-American. Ben and Jerry's is dropping the fortune cookie bits, officially reasoning the cookie bits would become too soggy.

A more than 20-pound catfish caught by a Rutland man with a minnow was the highlight of the Fair Haven Rotary Club’s 40th annual Great Benson Fishing Derby. David Bartlett, Sr. caught the massive fish on Lake Champlain 50 minutes before the contest ended. He pulled it up at 2:10PM and made a quick trip to Crystal Beach on Lake Bomoseen to claim his $300 prize for the biggest “other” fish. Prizes were awarded to the top three heaviest fish in six categories. Fish could have been caught over two days, Saturday and Sunday, anywhere in the state.

Teams on cross country skis and snowshoes will race in Vermont to raise money for cancer research. The annual Relay for Life NordicStyle, an overnight event, takes place March 10th & 11th at Trapp Family Lodge Stowe. Patrick Spain, a wildlife biologist, explorer and host of the National Geographic Channel's "Beast Hunter," will be the guest speaker. He is also a cancer survivor. Organizers of the event say he credits his survival to research funded by the American Cancer Society.