WVTK Local & State News April 6, 2012

Vermont officials are warning residents of elevated wildfire danger due to the dry and breezy conditions over the past couple of weeks. A press release says, debris burning is the leading cause of wild land fires in Vermont. State officials and local fire departments remind Vermonters that the increased potential for wildfires requires precautions by all. Remember to obey all local and state laws or restrictions on open burning and avoid burning on dry, windy days or when the National Weather Service issues Fire Weather Watches or Red Flag Warnings.

The new Edward Jones office in downtown Vergennes held an open house and grand opening celebration last week. The event was attended by owner Aaron Robertson's new and prospective clients as well members of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce and Vergennes Chamber. Edward Jones was founded by Edward D. Jones in Missouri in 1922. Jones’ son Ted Jones was responsible for the business’s current individual branch network, which has spread across the U.S. and Canada.

Middlebury’s 5K Otter Creek Mud Run, sponsored by the Addison County Chamber of Commerce, will be held Saturday, April 14th starting at the Otter Creek Child Center on Weybridge Street. The event kicks off at 7:30AM when registration begins. The 5K starts at 8:30 with the Tot Trot beginning at 9:15. Fees and admission before tomorrow are discounted: Tot Trot, for ages 2-13, is $8; the Student 5K, ages 14-18, is $15, and the Adult 5K $25. After April 7th, the fees are $8 for the Tot Trot, $15 for the Student 5K, and $30 for the Adult 5K. The race will start and finish at Otter Creek Child Center. Get more information HERE.

Brandon Music’s new Sunday Jazz series is underway, directed by Jonathan Lorentz, creator and director of the prestigious New Hampshire Jazz Center. Due to the enormous success Lorentz has had in New Hampshire, Brandon Music initiate this collaboration, which will bring many distinguished jazz artists to the area. The series, entitled Sunday Jazz at Brandon Music, will feature different musicians weekly during the 7 PM Sunday performance slot. This week you can enjoy the sounds of acclaimed Boston Pianist John Funkhouser. For advance ticket reservations and to view the entire concert series schedule just visit www.brandon-music.net/sundayjazz!

Boards and teachers refused to meet again yesterday, the second day of a strike that put about 650 students out of school and 65 teachers out of work. The fight is over block scheduling, or what teachers do during their work hours, in the Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union. New details about the disagreement were revealed Thursday. According to Clarence Haynes, head of the negotiating team for the boards, the boards have agreed to back off an eight-hour-day request, instead opting to only make the work day seven and a half hours long. Neither side said they want the strike to continue.

Casella Waste Systems announced yesterday that it is in continuing discussions regarding the sale of Maine Energy Recovery Facility in Biddeford. Casella has been exploring a possible sale of the facility for some time. On Thursday, Casella confirmed reports that it has entered into a non-binding letter of understanding with Biddeford for the possible sale of the waste-to-energy plant to the city.

A Rutland man has been charged in connection with copper thefts in Castleton. Jason J. Bruno pleaded innocent Wednesday in Rutland criminal court to two felony burglary charges and two misdemeanor petty larceny charges. If convicted, he could face a total of 32 years in prison. Bruno was implicated in break-ins at Earth Waste Systems in July.

In its latest draft, Westport Central School's 2012-13 budget is close to complying with the state cap on tax-levy increases. The budget is now up .91 percent, with the tax-levy increase listed at 3.09 percent. The district is looking at a budget of $5,382,461, up $48,764 over the current school year. These figures are expected to change as school officials have been collaborating in keeping expenditures to a minimum.

Moriah Central School District is seeking candidates to fill three vacancies for three-year School Board terms. The vacancies, starting July 1st, are caused by the expiration of the terms now held by current members. Petitions are available in the District Office, Monday through Friday, and must be returned no later than 5PM April 16th to the District Clerk. The annual election and budget vote is slated for 1 to 8PM Tuesday, May 15th, in the Central Office Lobby. For more information, call the District Clerk Stacey Brassard at 546-3301, Ext. 603.

Farmer Bruce Crammond is expected to receive probation for not taking proper care of a horse he owned. Crammond was convicted in Ticonderoga Town Court of misdemeanor injuring animals and failure to provide proper sustenance for an animal, a violation of Section 353 of the State Agriculture and Markets Law. He was found guilty in February, following a bench trial late last year. On Wednesday, Town Justice James O'Bryan postponed Crammond's sentencing, but said he expects to sentence him to a term of probation.

Fort Ticonderoga’s new “Fort Fever Series” concludes for the season on Sunday, April 22nd at 2 p.m. with “Henry Knox: Beyond the Noble Train of Artillery” presented by Director of Education Rich Strum. The program takes place in the Deborah Clarke Mars Education Center. Doors open at 1:30 in the afternoon. The cost is $10 a person and will be collected at the door. It is free for members of the Friends of Fort Ticonderoga. You can learn more about upcoming education programs at Fort Ticonderoga by visiting the fort’s website at www.Fort-Ticonderoga.org.

There’s a new twist in the debate over immunizing Vermont's children. The House Health Care Committee voted to reverse the Senate's decision. The Senate passed a bill that requires all children be vaccinated against a range of illnesses. The bill prevented parents from claiming "philosophical exemptions," which would allow them to refuse to vaccinate their child before sending them to school. The House committee, however, passed a bill that allows for those philosophical exemptions.

Vermont House Speaker Shap Smith says he's going to forgo a run for Attorney General and will instead seek the post in the Legislature he has held since 2009. Smith, a Morristown Democrat, was first elected to the Legislature in 2002.

A Vermont high school was temporarily under lockdown yesterday after receiving a phone call from an unidentified person saying a student was coming to the school with a handgun. Police say the report concerning Montpelier High School turned out to be false.

Police have released the details of what they found while searching the property of Melissa Jenkins' accused killers. Some of the items like a bleach bottle and a stun gun box coincide with the disturbing condition police say 33-year-old Jenkins' body was found in. Allen and Patricia Prue were arrested last week.

A top Vermont utility regulator got sharp questioning from state senators as she tried to defend a plan for ratepayers to be paid back extra money they paid on electric bills a decade ago. Lawmakers object to a plan to repay CVPS ratepayers by investing $21 million in weatherization and other efficiency measures, which the utilities and the Department of Public Service say will save ratepayers more than $40 million over time. But senators yesterday questioned Public Service Commissioner Elizabeth Miller why ratepayers shouldn't be paid in cash.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says a new poll shows New York must increase its minimum wage. The Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found 78 percent of voters support raising the $7.25 minimum wage. Almost 53 percent of Republicans support the measure, which is opposed now by the Senate's Republican majority. The GOP fears raising the wage will force employers to eliminate jobs to afford the higher pay. The poll shows 52 percent of voters support increasing the minimum over $8.50 an hour.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is calling on the Department of Transportation to require all airlines to disclose all carry-on baggage fees. According to a press release, Schumer's call comes after Allegiant Air is now charging passengers carry-on baggage fees of up to $35 per bag stored in an overhead bin. When customers purchase airline tickets, carry-on baggage fees are not listed as part of the initial price quote.

The North Country SPCA is inviting you to check out their new Facebook page! You can share stories about your pets, find out the latest shelter news, and connect with other members of our local pet-loving community! Recent posts include a YouTube video detailing our Capital Campaign, "Gimme Shelter!" highlighting the NCSPCA's efforts toward establishing a newer, more modern shelter to house our animals who are awaiting their forever homes. The link to their site is www.facebook.com/NorthCountrySPCA.

Sales of 'I Am Vermont Strong' commemorative license plates have been brisk since they were introduced in February in response to Tropical Storm Irene. Gov. Peter Shumlin marked a milestone by buying the 25,000th one to be produced. Proceeds from sales of the $25 plates, which have been sold at supermarkets, ski areas and other businesses, are going to the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund.

Phish bassist Mike Gordon has a new album. And all of its proceeds will help flooded Vermonters. The album is called Steamroller Wheelies: A restoration convoy. It's a compilation of collaborations from projects he's worked on since 1999. Sales of the album will benefit Irene flood relief. The album features other Phish band mates, Page McConnell and Jon Fishman, along with some other musicians.