WVTK Local & State News April 4, 2012

Construction on the Addison County Humane Society’s new facility is progressing very well! According to the Executive Director Jackie Rose the outside construction is complete and once the interior drywall work is done the painting will begin. They anticipate being able to move the dogs into their new dog barn and temporarily move the other animals into the new construction by mid April while the existing building is renovated. Once the renovations are completed, they will permanently move the cats and pocket pets back into the existing building and put the final touches on the total project. The Society is hoping to have the entire project finished by the end of June and plan to hold a “Grand Opening” ceremony in July!! Rose is also happy to report that as of April 3, 2012, they have raised a little over $913,500 towards the total project goal of $1.12 million. That leaves approximately $206,500 to raise in order to meet their goal! Learn more and support their efforts by visiting www.addisonhumane.org.

The Town of Middlebury is in a good financial position compared with other Vermont municipalities. The Addison County seat has a $1.5 million budget surplus thanks to several 2011 construction projects that came in below budget. The Select Board approved an $8.4 million budget prior to Town Meeting. Earlier this year, former Middlebury Select Board Chairman John Tenny had stated that the budget surplus would mean no increase to the town tax rate.

Essex County lawmakers sought to create a tentative timeline Monday for the possible sale of Horace Nye Nursing Home. The county is opening another set of bids for the 100-bed public facility in a week. Although the revised bids aren't due until 5PM on April 9th, they've already been received. The Nursing Home Task Force Chairman said they wouldn’t be disclosed until the opening date.

The North Country will receive more than $45 million to repair 345 miles of roads and 11 bridges as part of the New York Works project. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the plan is not only to fix aging roads and bridges but also to stimulate the economy and create jobs. Slated for work this year is a number of projects in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties including $3.5 million for a 12-mile portion of Route 86 in Essex County. The New York Works program features $247 million in state funding, along with $917 million in federal funds, for a total of about $1.2 billion for road and bridge replacement and repairs.

A meeting in Killington today at noon at the Town Offices will discuss the warning for a public vote on changing the form of town government May 8th and the legality of a second petition to set the town manager's salary. On the 8th the public will decide whether or not to take the power away from the Select Board to decide what type of government the town should run by.

The Sirloin Saloon steakhouse on South Main Street in Rutland has closed after more than 40 years in business. The printed sign on the front door yesterday afternoon said: “Sorry we are closed indefinitely. Thank you so much for your patronage.” In an email statement announcing the closing, the owner said: “Economic pressures from the extended recession and increasing costs have made continued operations unsustainable.” The Rutland Sirloin Saloon employed 30 people. The Manchester Sirloin Saloon closed in December.

A Rutland teen has been charged with driving drunk after police say he hit one of their cruisers. It happened just before midnight Monday at the intersection of West and Pine streets. 18-year-old Ryan Clifford was not hurt. The patrolman was sent to the hospital but was later released. Both vehicles suffered moderate damage. Clifford was arrested on DUI charges.

Negotiations with a federal mediator between teachers and the boards for Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union failed last night. The teachers had said they would strike if an agreement wasn't reached by the start of classes Wednesday. They've have been working without a contract for nearly two years. Classes are cancelled until further notice.

School will be in session Wednesday for students in the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union. Around 10:30 last night, teachers and the school boards reached a tentative contract avoiding a teacher's strike planned for this morning. Teachers have been working without a contract since July. They wanted more money and secured arbitration rights. But details of the multi-year contract will not be released until it's ratified.

State Senator Randy Brock and other Vermont lawmakers are unhappy with Green Mountain Power's plan to put $21 million dollars owed to Central Vermont Public Service customers into efficiency programs. Brock wants the Shumlin administration to find a better way to get the money back to customers. Last week, a panel made up of business, political and local leaders met to discuss the merger between the two companies.

Ben & Jerry's had hundreds, maybe even thousands of customers at it's Church Street shop as it carried on a tradition. Tuesday was "Free Cone Day" when scoop shops around the world gave away free ice cream. It started back in 1979, and for Ben & Jerry's it's a way to say "thank you" to customers as the company celebrates its anniversary. This year, something new was added, and it's not just the new frozen Greek yogurt flavors, but an ice cream truck to deliver free cones to those who couldn't make it, such as fire stations and police departments.

Burlington police are warning residents of a phone scam after a caller tried to defraud an elderly woman telling her she had won a raffle but would have to wire money to Virginia to get her prize. Police say the caller identified himself as working for both the "Mega Millions Corporation" and for Wal-Mart.

Changes at Green Mountain coffee are impacting about 80 jobs in Vermont. The coffee company is shifting some of its order fulfillment work to an outside company called Kenco this summer. Kenco already manages Green Mountain coffee distribution centers in New Jersey - Tennessee - and California. Green Mountain Coffee says it expects about 80 employees in Williston and Waterbury to be impacted by the change. A company spokesperson says they will be able to take on new jobs at Green Mountain by either working with Kenco or in Green Mountain's production operation.

A regional airline that operates five flights out of the Burlington International Airport has filed for bankruptcy protection. Pinnacle Airlines flies for Delta, United, Continental and US Airways. Officials with the Tennessee-based airline say their current business model isn't sustainable. Pinnacle plans to wind down the United Express flights it operates for United Continental and US Airways. It will continue its Delta Connection flights for Delta Air Lines. About 7,800 people are expected to lose their jobs.

The state is moving forward with plans to build a new state hospital in Berlin. According to the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, the state has applied for permits for two locations in towns. One is on Paine Turnpike, the other on Fisher Road. The state doesn't own either property and officials tell the paper they will pursue whichever option pans out. Both applications include plans for a 30,000-square-foot, 25-bed facility.

A decade-old effort to streamline environmental reviews of developers' projects is coming to a head in the Vermont Legislature. A sharply divided committee of the Vermont Senate voted 3-2 yesterday to advance legislation to launch a pilot project to study which side in the debate is right.

A proposal to build a new Vermont State Police barracks may need a new location. The state has been interested in building a new barracks in Westminster, which would consolidate the Rockingham and Brattleboro barracks. The Brattleboro Reformer reports the real estate company entered into an agreement with the town to put a new recycling station near the police building, meaning the barracks would have to share a road with the center.

Gov. Peter Shumlin is promising to work with municipal officials and business owners to bring new jobs to the Bennington area. Shumlin spoke Monday at a luncheon sponsored by the Bennington County Regional Commission. He says long-term improvements in infrastructure, education and a renewed focus on agriculture will increase the number of jobs and lead to wage increases for employees who have suffered from stagnant earnings.

Vermont public health officials say where people live in the state can help determine how healthy they are. The comments come as the Health Department cites statistics that rank Vermont's healthiest counties. The statistics compiled by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that Chittenden County is Vermont's healthiest county while Essex County in the rural Northeast Kingdom is the least healthy.

The First Congregational Church of Crown Point will host its eighth annual Strawberry Festival this summer. Know as the “Brick Church in the Park,” the church has planned the 2012 festival for Sunday, June 24th beginning at 11AM. It will be held on the village green in front of the church at Veterans Park. The Strawberry Festival will include local music and talent, vendors and an open invitation to the community to share the park with a community-wide lawn sale.