Firefighters from Middlebury, Vergennes, Cornwall and New Haven responded to an early morning fire at Mister Up’s Restaurant on Bakery Lane in downtown Middlebury yesterday. The restaurant is adjacent to the Cross Street Bridge. According to a Middlebury Fire Department official, a fire broke out behind the wall of the salad bar area on the ground floor. The Middlebury official said there was extensive smoke and water damage to the front section of the structure. State fire officials are currently investing the cause of the blaze.
With a team of over 3,000 student experts at more than 200 colleges and universities across the country, Her Campus the #1 online community for college women, is proud to announce its totally traditional, yet 100% non-traditional 2012 College Rankings with our very own Middlebury College being recognized on two categories! These schools are the best of the best in higher education. Middlebury placed 3rd in the “Five Star Dining” category next to Cornell University and Bowdoin College. Middlebury College landed in the top 10 at number 8 in the “Study Abroad” category for schools that excel in programs outside of the United States. You can learn more right now, click HERE!
About 130 high school students from around the country have stayed at Otter Valley Union High School this week, working in 17 homes in Brandon and Rutland. The service trip is part of workcampNE, a weeklong Christian volunteer camp based out of Litchfield, NH. The group has been in Brandon for two weeks. Last week, the group was made up of 30 junior high school students. Between both groups, a total of 24 locations in the area were fixed up. Projects this week included demolishing a garage, painting the interior at the Boys & Girls Club of Brandon, building a handicap ramp, cleaning out houses and overall painting and maintenance. These projects are done at no cost to the property owner.
This weekend it’s “Defiance & Independence – The 1777 Capture of Fort Ticonderoga” re-enactment! Events are scheduled to take place on Saturday & Sunday. The Fort opens to visitors both days from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM. Bring the family for an exciting weekend of living history! Click HERE for details and a complete schedule!
The Essex County Fair email address is one of the most recent known cases of a cyber-hack, where hackers break into websites, email accounts and Facebook pages. The goal of the hacks is to send out requests for money, often stating that the victim of the hack went on an impromptu vacation, got in trouble and now needs cash in order to get back. Authorities said that those who called the fair office did the right thing, and that anyone who receives an email or Facebook post similar to this should be suspicious. The fair board had not yet decided if they would be changing the address.
After some confusion last year, Essex County lawmakers are trying again to inform residents about how much of their county tax bill goes to state mandates. The last county tax bills broke up the amounts and percentages of increase for mandates, such as the county share of Medicaid and Social Services. But Supervisor Daniel Connell of Westport said that only confused most taxpayers. Various formats for the information are being explored including a supplemental flier and the posting of detailed information on the County’s Website. It is scheduled to be discussed at the next Ways and Means session on July 30th. If passed, the County must hold a public hearing.
More than 600 local travel suggestions have been submitted to the Lakes to Locks Passage website just in time for the summer travel season. The site, which is co-branded with National Geographic, emphasizes travel and tourism opportunities that are submitted by local residents and locally owned business owners. A national advertising and marketing campaign is currently under way to promote the Lakes to Locks Passage, which stretches from Albany to Quebec, along the interconnected waterway of the Hudson River, Champlain Canal, Lake George and Lake Champlain. It also includes Essex County. Visitors and local residents can learn more about these travel and tourism opportunities, guided by locals, at www.lakestolocks.com.
Members of a Vermont legislative committee are blasting the state's parole system for paroling a convicted murderer to serve a separate federal sentence, and then using a fabricated arrest warrant to get him back into state custody when the federal sentence was done. Douglas Mason was serving a 15 to 30-year sentence for second-degree murder when state parole officials paroled him for purposes of serving a 3-year federal prison term for threatening the judge who presided over his murder trial. Vermont wanted to get the federal sentence out of the way so that Mason would be eligible to participate in treatment programs as he later finished his state sentence. But to get him back, state officials issued a fabricated probation violation and arrest warrant. Lawmakers are calling that reprehensible and possibly criminal.
The man in charge of Vermont's prison system says there's been an increase in violence behind bars in the state, and that much of it appears tied to gang activity. Andrew Pallito told lawmakers on Thursday that many of those engaged in violent gang activity are people who come from out of state and get misdemeanor drug convictions while in Vermont. He says many such people had been housed under contract with the Franklin County Jail and House of Detention in Massachusetts, but that contract recently expired. Pallito said he could not provide a solid number for the percentage of Vermont's 2,100 inmates who are gang members.
Vermont's federal prosecutor says officials are planning to update the public about the search for a missing Essex couple. Bill and Lorraine Currier were last seen when they left their Burlington jobs on June 8, 2011. Investigators later determined that their home had been entered forcibly, and there was evidence of a possible struggle. Their car was stolen and recovered two days later at an apartment complex about three-quarters of a mile away. Police now believe 50-year-old Bill Currier and his 55-year-old wife Lorraine were victims of foul play. Officials plan to update the public about the search today.
The U.S. Attorney's office in Vermont says Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center will pay more than $550,000 to settle allegations it improperly billed various federal health programs. Federal health programs such as Medicare and Medicaid recovered over $500,000. More than $21,000 will go to the state of Vermont and more than $8,000 will go to the state of New Hampshire. The U.S. Attorney's office says the government's investigation arose in 2009 following the Lebanon, NH Hospital's self-disclosure of improper billing practices by one physician in its neurology department. At that time, it was investigating another billing case brought on by a whistleblower physician. That one was settled for $2.2 million last year. The latest investigation showed improper billing practices from 2004 through 2008. Dartmouth Hitchcock denies any liability.
Former Governor Howard Dean is used to being front
and center, and that's just where he was Thursday, pledging his support for
Attorney General Bill Sorrell's bid for re-election. Sorrell is facing Chittenden County state's attorney T-J
Donovan in the Democratic primary.
The winner will go on to face Republican Jack McMullen. It was Dean who first appointed Sorrell
as his administration secretary, and then as attorney general. Another Democrat and former governor,
Madeleine Kunin, is also supporting Sorrell.
Governor Peter Shumlin is expected to sign an
emergency rule today banning the dangerous drugs known as "bath
salts." Police in Barre says officers have dealt with a number of cases
recently in which people are using the drugs.
A tractor-trailer carrying wind turbine equipment
for the Kingdom Community Wind project in Lowell has tipped over. The accident
happened last night on Interstate 91, north of Orleans. A Green Mountain Power
spokeswoman says the truck was traveling through an area that was being paved
when its tires went into the soft shoulder.
The Milton beach known as the Sand Bar is now
closed for swimming. People were
becoming sick with stomach illnesses, and beach officials don't know why. They say everyone stricken has fully
recovered, but for now, the water remains off limits while the Health
Department continues its tests.
Those with sailboats can still register today if
they want to race in The Regatta for Lake Champlain. The race is this weekend, and the hope is those sailors who
normally don't race will be drawn to this one for its more relaxed format. The other goal is raising money for
those organizations promoting health, sustainability and stewardship of Lake
Champlain. Organizers say they
hope to raise ten- to 15-thousand dollars.
Dry conditions in Northern New York prompted Gov. Andrew Cuomo to extend a burn ban statewide. It will be in place until October. Last week, officials warned of wildfire danger in the Adirondacks. Crews already battled two fires in the high peaks, where burning is already off limits.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a state of emergency for St. Lawrence County to enable state officials to mobilize cleanup and recovery help. Severe thunderstorms with winds over 60 miles per hour, hail and heavy rain knocked out power, downed trees and damaged homes and businesses in northern New York.
The Alpaca Farm & Fiber Mill Open House is coming up this weekend in Brandon at Maple View Farm Alpacas! The Vermont Fiber Mill & Studio will be open to visitors from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Join us for a fun weekend on the farm! You will be greeted by over 30 alpacas, including 7 babies born recently, who will entertain you as they romp and play. There will be demonstrations and activities for the children. Ed and Debbie Bratton have been raising alpacas for 10 years at their 100-acre farm in Brandon and recently opened a newly built fiber mill and studio on the farm. For more information, visit their website at www.mapleviewfarmalpacas.com.
It’s that time of year again! Cattails Restaurant is hosting its 4th Annual charity golf tournament at Neshobe Golf Course in Brandon on Monday. All proceeds will be going to H.O.P.E (Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects). The Mission of H.O.P.E is to reduce the effects of poverty by providing low-income residents with opportunities for becoming more self-reliant through emergency, basic and enrichment programs delivered in an environment of recognition and respect. Registration will take place at Noon and Tee Off is at 1:00 PM. You can sign up as a team or an individual. The cost is $280 for a team of 4 or $70 a person and this includes 18 hole greens fees, cart, BBQ and Prizes! Get details by visiting the area calendar page at our website.
The new Lake Champlain Bridge has become a tourism attraction in itself. Looking to capitalize on the popularity of the new span, local historians will offer programs that traverse the bridge on foot with a narrative of the region’s history. Elsa Gilbertson, manager of the Chimney Point Historic Site in Vermont, will join Tom Hughes, manager of the Crown Point State Historic Site, to lead an excursion Sunday, July 29th at 1PM. Interested people can meet at the Crown Point State Historic Site museum. The cost is $5 for adults. Children age 14 and younger will be free. Other tours are planned for August 25th starting at Chimney Point, and September 30th starting at Crown Point. For more information call the Crown Point State Historic Site at 597-3666 or the Chimney Point Historic Site at 802-759-2412.
From Fox 44 & ABC 22 News – Your Voice in Vermont & New York:
Vermont State Police promised to restore the trust of the people in Jericho Thursday. Their concern is for years they paid for a state trooper to patrol their town and that he might have not done it. Sergeant James Deeghan already faces charges for padding his time sheet with bogus overtime and stealing thousands of dollars from taxpayers. "This is a black eye to the department no question about it," says Captain Dan Troidl, Vermont State Police. Now investigators are going back years to see if more of Deeghan's timecards are made up, including hundreds of hours that he supposedly patrolled in Jericho. "We're going to do everything in our power to uncover every cent that is owed to you," says Major Walt Goodell, Vermont State Police "That was the first question and you have the right answer," says Tim Nulty, Jericho select board member. The Town of Jericho says it paid Deeghan $55,000 over the past three years for traffic duty. They say, during that time, Deeghan claimed to have worked 960 hours. Police say it could take weeks, if not months, to figure out how many of Deeghan's hours for patrolling were legitimate "20 plus investigators are looking at the last three-years initially," says Goodell. For proof that Deeghan might have not been working, the town staff says recently money from traffic tickets dropped and they noticed police weren't around as much. Select board member Kim Mercier says she was concerned there wouldn't be pay back for possible bogus work if Deeghan were found not guilty in court. "We will still see compensation based on what you find on your internal investigation?" asked Mercier. "We will restore your total confidence in us," says Goodell. Troopers say from now on they will be keeping a closer on the Jericho patrols and making sure the hours are right. Deeghan has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
People against bigger and more powerful fighter jets went straight to the people with the power yesterday. Close to a hundred crowded the Ethan Allen homestead in Burlington late this afternoon. That's where senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie sanders...including congressman Peter Welch were attending a democratic fundraiser. All 3 have said they support the f-35's coming to the area. At this protest, anti f-35 signs and banners were in big numbers. The protestors said they were going to hand each lawmaker a check for negative 700 million dollars for a loss of property value in Winooski.
