WVTK Local & State News May 21, 2012

Vermont State Police in New Haven are investigating a report of a missing person.  26-year-old Octavian Graur was reported missing by his friend, 24-year-old Anca Dorneanu.  Anca told Troopers that they had driven to Ferrisburgh to drop her off and that Octavian was expected to drive from Ferrisburgh to his new summer employment in Massachusetts.  Anca stated that she had lost communication with him and that he had not reported to work today.  Octavian is described as a white male, 5'8" 180 lbs. last seen wearing a grey t-shirt and white shorts driving an older model green Mercedes C280.

Vermont State Police are warning everyone about a suspicious text message that Merchants Bank customers and even non-customers are receiving.  The text message lures victims to call a number regarding a Merchants Bank notice.  Once called, an automated system asks them to give their banking information.  The Vice President of Operations at Merchants Bank says this is a scam and not connected to Merchants Bank.  At this time all client information is safe.  VSP remind the public that banks do not operate in this way and that you should never give your account information to anyone.

Thousands came out over the weekend to celebrate the Grand Re-Opening of the Lake Champlain Bridge connecting Addison and Essex Counties.  Throughout the weekend there was activities on both sides of the lake.  Thousands marched across the bridge Saturday during the parade, while others floated in vessels down below.  The celebration was capped with a fireworks display last night.  Organizers say they may make this bash an annual event.  They add there's no need to wait for another 80 years or a new bridge for another party.

International Paper's Ticonderoga mill will soon be shut down for three weeks to install new equipment.  The outage will begin May 29 and continue for three weeks.  Officials say this year's project is a major one as they will be installing a new superheater unit on the recovery boiler.  The superheater allows the recovery boiler to operate at higher temperatures and pressures, making it more efficient.  Although the mill won't be making paper during that time, no one will be laid off.  Just as a warning, during the shutdown, residents around the mill may hear more noise than usual from steam venting and vehicle and equipment alarms.

There will be a public forum on Thursday night at 6 o’clock to discuss were to open a new opiate treatment center.  The forum will take place a the Rutland Free Library.  State health officials had hoped to rent a vacant building on Park Street owned by Rutland Plywood, but the deal fell through.  Several other sites are being looked at, but so far nothing has been proposed.

After a fire destroyed the Saputo Cheese Factory in Hinesburg four years ago, two new businesses are now calling the old lot, home, Vermont Smoke and Cure and Green Mountain Organic Creamery.  Over the weekend, hundreds of people toured the new facility after the ribbon cutting ceremony.  Before production could begin in Hinesburg, Vermont Smoke and Cure was operating at a small facility in South Barre, one employee described it as moving from a garage to a mansion.  So far the new facility has created about 40 new jobs.

Former Democratic Representative Christopher Bray of New Haven has confirmed that he will seek one of Addison County’s two state Senate seats this fall.  With Bray throwing his hat in the ring, that will set the stage for an August 28th primary with incumbent Democratic Senators Claire Ayer of Addison and Harold Giard of Bridport.  56-year-old Bray represented the Addison-5 House district of New Haven, Bridport and Weybridge, from 2006 to 2010.  He took a pass on re-election in 2010 in order to run for lieutenant governor, but was defeated by Rutland City’s Steve Howard in the Democratic primary.

The City Council in South Burlington is meeting to discuss basing military fight jets at Burlington International Airport.  The Air Force has proposed locating the new F-35 jet fighters at the airport, with Hill Air Force Base, near Ogden, Utah, also under consideration.  Tonight’s meeting comes a week after a public hearing was held on the proposal.  The Air Force is expected to make its decision by the end of the year.

A total of 524 mobile homes were damaged in Vermont during Tropical Storm Irene.  And many homeowners are still recovering.  A new fund has been set up to help mobile-home owners in Vermont who were victims of Irene or flooding last spring.  It was started with a gift of $50,000 from a Middlebury couple, David and Eleanor Ignat.  Organizers say $500 grants will be awarded to eligible applicants.  The deadline is July 16.

Police in Shelburne are cracking down on bicyclists who don’t follow the rules of the road.  Shelburne Police Chief James Warden says officers are writing tickets for "blatant" offenses such as running stop signs or red lights.  The tickets have led to a burst of comments on the website of the Green Mountain Bicycle Club. One rider posted about getting a $214 ticket and two points off their driver's license for rolling through a stop sign.  Warden says his department is not out to get bicyclists, they just want to make sure no one gets hurt.


Police will be out in force making sure you are wearing your seat belt.  Yesterday was the start of the annual “Click It or Ticket” Campaign.  Law enforcement officials say they really want to get the word out because, so far this year there has been 25 fatal traffic crashes in Vermont, with 30 fatalities.  That's nearly double the number from this time last year.  And of those 30, more than half of the people were not wearing their seat belts.  The fine for not wearing your seat belt is $25 and you can also be fined another $25 for each passenger in the car without a belt on too.