WVTK Local & State News April 13, 2012

Middlebury Police report they received numerous reports of Addison County residents receiving scam phone calls. According to Police, the phone call tells the potential victim their debit cards are locked. The message then asks for the account number to unlock the debit card. Police say none of the complainants provided their account information to the callers. The recordings each call identified the bank as the Vermont Federal Credit Union, New England Federal Credit Union, or Key Bank. In some cases, the potential victims had an account with one of the banks. Police are reminding the public never to provide personal information over the telephone unless they are able to identify the caller. The calls have originated from the following telephone numbers, (813)-381-5251 or (303)-557-0153.

The new 116 Commuter Bus Route between Middlebury and Burlington begins Monday through Friday service on Monday, April 23rd. This new bus route, operated jointly by CCTA and ACTR, connects Chittenden and Addison Counties in Middlebury, Bristol, Starksboro, Hinesburg, South Burlington and Burlington along the Route 116 corridor. For more information about ACTR and other routes and schedules offered, visit actr-vt.org.

The next Addison County Chamber Of Commerce Mixer is coming up on April 19th at Art on Main in Bristol. The Chamber will be helping to celebrate Art on Main’s 10th anniversary, along with the usual food, drink, door prizes and a chance to win the Pot of Gold. There was no winner of the pot in March. So, on April 19th there will be a drawing for $950. The mixer takes place from 5 – 7PM. For more information and to RSVP to Sue Hoxie just visit www.addisoncounty.com.

The Ticonderoga Area Chamber Of Commerce will hold their mixer on Wednesday April 25th from 5:30 – 7:00PM at Sugar and Spice Country Shoppe. The great networking opportunity will include door prizes from George Sperry Marine Survey, McDonald’s and Wagon Wheel Restaurant. For more information just visit www.ticonderogany.com.

Teachers and school boards in Tinmouth, Wells, Poultney and Middletown Springs have reached a “fair” agreement, according to head negotiator for the boards Clarence Haynes. A previously agreed upon salary raise of 10.5 percent for each teacher over the next four years was not touched during a 12.5-hour bargaining session Wednesday night. What has changed however, is language in the new, merged contract that defines work conditions like the length and structure of the workday and personal leave time. Officials said they could not specify what the exact conditions were until the contract is ratified by all parties April 23rd. A deal was reached at about 4:30 yesterday morning and classes have resumed.

Mayor Christopher Louras announced yesterday that the Rutland police commission would get two new members. Louras will nominate Castleton State College Professor Luther Brown and Berkshire Bank vice president and regional manager Michelle Fairbrother. The names will go before the Board of Aldermen for confirmation Monday.

The Vermont Department of Health is reporting widespread flu activity late this flu season. According to a press release, there have been confirmed cases and outbreaks in long-term care facilities in Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Lamoille, Rutland, Windsor and Chittenden Counties. Older people, young children, pregnant women, health care workers and anyone with a serious chronic illness are vulnerable to complications from the flu. The Health Department says vaccination is always the best protection against the flu. Even though it's late in the season, vaccines may still be available.

The Vermont Air National Guard will perform the flyover at the Boston Red Sox opening day ceremonies today. The Guard’s four F-16s will perform the flyover at the beginning of the game between the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. It’s the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park this year. The Vermont Air National Guard has made regular appearances performing flyovers for Opening Day at Fenway Park for the last several years.

The battle over what to do with $21 million owed to Central Vermont Public Service customers is heating up in the House. An amendment that would force the Public Service Board to require that payback directly to customers has made its way into the House Commerce Committee. They will hear testimony next week. The governor is strongly opposed to lawmakers getting involved in the GMP-CVPS merger, but House Speaker Shap Smith is letting the process play out. Proponents of the merger say forcing the return of $21 million could kill the deal.

Verizon Wireless, the country's largest cellphone company, says it will start charging $30 every time a subscriber wants to upgrade to a new phone. Other phone companies have introduced similar fees. Competitor AT&T Inc. raised its fee from $18 to $36 this year. Verizon says it will start charging the fee on April 22, and it will help fund customer support and online educational tools.

State and Essex police officers are excavating an area off Vermont Route 15 in a search for William and Lorraine Currier, the Essex Junction couple who disappeared last June. Police suspect foul play. The Burlington Free Press reports police are using a backhoe yesterday to excavate the area and a state police dog is examining the soil as it is being removed from the ground.

The couple accused of killing a Vermont prep school teacher have waived a court hearing that would have reviewed their bail status. The Burlington Free Press reports Allen and Patricia Prue have been ordered held without bail in the March 25th death of Melissa Jenkins.

The Vermont House is set to take up one of the most hotly debated issues of this year's legislative session: whether the state should continue to allow parents a "philosophical exemption" from the requirement that their children be immunized in order to attend school or child care. The Senate has already passed a version of the bill that would end the philosophical exemption.

The Vermont Senate has defeated an effort to bring up and pass a bill allowing what backers call death with dignity and opponents call physician-assisted suicide. Senators voted against a legislative rules suspension that would have allowed the measure to be considered. The bill had been bottled up in the Judiciary Committee. This week the Health and Welfare committee added it to a separate bill regulating tanning beds.

The town of Colchester is asking a judge to reconsider a ruling that struck down its new property tax methodology. During a town wide reappraisal last year, the town added a new assessment for the land and amenity value of camps on leased land along Lake Champlain. Forty-four camp owners appealed, saying the new assessment amounted to double taxation, since the landowners were also being taxed for the value of the land. The board has not yet decided if it will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.

While Bigfoot remains a popular legend, there's word some are seeing him now in Vermont. The most recent sightings of the creature some say is seven feet tall with red glowing eyes and resemblance to a gorilla are coming in across the state, from Bennington to Colchester. It's enough recently to bring the Animal Planet network to Rutland Saturday with its show "Finding Bigfoot," with producers selecting stories from local residents to air.

As many as two-thousand anti-nuclear demonstrators are expected this weekend in Brattleboro, the location of Entergy's corporate offices. Expected to attend the weekend rally are Governor Peter Shumlin, Attorney General Bill Sorrell and Senator Bernie Sanders. The state moved last year to shut the plant down when it's license expired, but a federal judge overruled the decision, saying the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's renewal of the license trumped the state's decision.

The family of a missing New York teenager is looking for volunteers to help search for their son. 18-year-old Colin Gillis disappeared a month ago after leaving a party in Tupper Lake. He was last seen walking along Route 3. Authorities found two personal items near the road but have no firm leads on what happened to college freshman. The police search has been scaled back, but Gillis' family is planning a search of their own this weekend, and they need volunteers.

Spring days can be perfect for taking a hike in the mountains. The NCSPCA's innovative fundraising program, Peaks for Pets, is a great way to support our local shelter while taking advantage of the beauty of budding foliage and enjoy the crisp mountain air. Peaks for Pets' website, www.peaksforpets.org, allows you to sign up for a hike and request that family and friends sponsor you by making a donation in your name.

Brandon Music on Country Club Road in Brandon will present blues artist Charlie Hilbert this Sunday at 7pm. The concert is a part of the year-round weekly “Sunday Jazz” series, hosted in the intimate Brandon Music Café. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $18 at the door. Doors open at 6:15. Blues artist Charlie Hilbert has played music for forty years. His performances have taken him to all parts of the United States, and overseas to Europe. Get more information and view the complete “Sunday Jazz” Series schedule at www.brandon-music.net.

Vermont Actors Repertory Theatre has taken Yvonne Daley's book and adapted it for the stage. ”Vermont Writers … in Play,” premieres tonight and Saturday at Rutland's Paramount Theatre. Performances are at 7:30 this evening, 2 and 7:30PM on Saturday. It will be performed with the audience on stage, limiting seating to 150 per performance. For more information just visit www.paramountvt.org.