15-year-old Alexandra
“Alex” Papineau was found safe in Rutland on Wednesday around 4:30 in the
afternoon. According to Police in
the early morning hours of Tuesday she ran away from her home to the Rutland
area, leading the Vermont State Police to begin an investigation of Papineau as
a “missing person.” With the help
of the Rutland City Police, Papineau was found, unharmed, and hiding in the
basement of a home on Forrest Street on Wednesday. According to police, 17-year-old Cory J. Munger of Rutland
had been harboring her. Throughout the investigation, Munger made false and
misleading statements to investigators about what he knew of her whereabouts. Munger was arrested and taken to the
Rutland barracks of the Vermont State Police where he was cited for second-degree
unlawful restraint and providing false information to police. He will be arraigned on January 14th in
Rutland criminal court.
Our own "Bruce and
Hobbes" have had many historic firsts since coming to WVTK in 2009, and
tomorrow night, at the 2012 Vermont Association of Broadcasters Awards Dinner
at the Hilton Burlington, our two "Best Buddies" will make history
once again, when they are awarded the prestigious Alan H. Noyes Community
Service Award. Bruce and Hobbes
will be honored with the VAB's top Community Service Award for their tireless
work on behalf of animals in Vermont.
In three years, WVTK's morning show team has found homes for over 350
animals, raised over $30,000 for the Addison County Humane Society, and spoken
across the state on animal welfare issues. Hobbes is also a police canine in
Middlebury, Vergennes and Bristol, not to mention the New Haven Fire
Department's official "Fire
Dog." When Bruce and Hobbes
are presented with the award, it will mark the first time in the history of the
VAB, the award has been awarded to a canine.
This week the Middlebury
Select Board discussed proposed changes to the Town Plan, including a new
proposal introduced by Susan Shashok regarding the scale of industrial,
commercial office and commercial retail development in the Town of Middlebury.
The Board will continue its discussion at its next regular meeting on December
11th. If there are no major changes to the Town Plan after the discussion on
the 11th, the Board may adopt the Town Plan at that meeting. If there are any big
changes, another public hearing must be held on the Plan by the Select Board.
The proposed Town Plan and a summary of the modifications to the Plan proposed
by the Board are available on the Town's website.
The proposed NFIP / FEH regulations
have been separated into two parts for clarity and in order to track sections
and existing provisions already established in the Zoning and Subdivision
Regulations. The Middlebury Select Board will consider the adoption of the
re-drafted NFIP / FEH regulations at its meeting on December 11th. Copies of
the proposed regulations are available on the Town's website, at the Town
Offices and at the Sarah Partridge Library in East Middlebury.
The Middlebury Select Board
seeks letters of interest in appointment to the newly created Core Mitigation
Planning Team. The Planning Team will assist in the development of an
all-hazards mitigation plan, which requires the identification of and planning
for the Town's response to hazards and various emergencies. Development of the all-hazard
mitigation plan is a component of the grant-funded project for the engineering
analysis of the Middlebury River. Any interested resident is strongly
encouraged to apply and those with public transportation, public safety, public
health, construction or school-education knowledge and experience are
particularly encouraged to apply. Contact the Town Manager's Office for
additional information, 388-8100, ext. 201.
According to Town Manager
Kathleen Ramsay the Middlebury Business Development Fund Advisory Board has
raised $24,000 of the $36,000 target for the business contribution to the fund
and is optimistic about raising the remainder from the business community.
Kathleen also reported that the Board has received 16 applications for the
Business Development Director position so far and asked that the Select Board authorize
the Advisory Board to continue with the recruitment process. The Advisory Board
has been given the authorization to go forward with the interviews for the
position.
The week the Middlebury
Select Board reviewed the draft timeline and schedule for the preparation of
the FY14 Budget. The first presentation of the budget will be at a special
Select Board meeting on the 4th of December, with the budget finalized by the
end of January to be warned for consideration at Town Meeting on March 4, 2013. Meanwhile according to the Town Manager
the General Fund, Equipment Fund, Water Fund and Sewer Fund are performing on
target.
The Local Project Manager
for the Railroad Overpasses Project, Bill Finger, submitted a written report
this week outlining efforts to draft an agreement with the Vermont Agency of
Transportation to assign administration of the project to the Town of
Middlebury and to develop a request for qualifications for design engineering
for the project. Both the agreement with VTrans and the RFQ are in draft form
undergoing review at VTrans as of this week.
Vermont State Police are
investigating a theft of construction tools. On Wednesday morning State Police received a call form
Daniel Delancey who reported a theft of his and a friends construction tools,
which were taken from his property.
Through investigation it was learned about $7,500 worth of tools were
taken and the incident occurred during the night of Tuesday the 27th. Anyone with information concerning this
burglary please contact VSP at 802-773-9101 or online at www.vsp.vermont.gov/crime_prevention and click on "submit a tip".
Vermont State Police are
currently investigating the report of a gasoline-refueling drive off from the
Bristol Country Store on Route 116. An unknown individual drove off after pumping $51.20 in
gas without paying. Anyone with information is asked to contact Vermont State
Police in New Haven at 1-802-388-4919.
Information can also be submitted anonymously online at www.vtips.info or text CRIMES (274637) to keyword VTIPS.
Family and friends from
Rutland and Middlebury gathered to say farewell to 43-year-old Donna Arnado this
week. She worked at Rutland’s
Community Access Program and at the Specialized Community Care facility here in
Middlebury. Donna lost her life in
a car accident on Route 7 in Rutland Town on Monday. According to coworkers she
was a selfless person who was dedicated to helping disabled people lead
productive, healthy lives.
Multiple bridges in
Ticonderoga have been identified as needing repair or replacement. According to
Ti Supervisor Deb Malaney the Tower Avenue, Montcalm Street, Lord Howe Street
and Alexandria Avenue spans are all scheduled for work. The Tower Avenue Bridge, also known as
Elk Drive Bridge, across the LaChute River will be replaced in the spring of
2014 by the Essex County Highway Department. The project is expected to take
six months to complete and cost $1.7 million. The cost will be borne by the
Federal Highway Administration, the New York State Department of Transportation
and Essex County.
A food co-op store is
being investigated in Ticonderoga.
The town has received a Quality Communities Planning Grant from the New
York Department of State to study the feasibility of creating a food co-op in
the community. The town is working
with the PRIDE of Ticonderoga on the study. They’ve hired the firm that set up
the Middlebury co-op and others for the study.
The idea of luring Air
Force F-35A aircraft to Plattsburgh International Airport from across the lake
could be gaining some traction. The idea came up in July, when rumors swirled
that the Air Force might consider finding another location for the aircraft,
including Plattsburgh, instead of Burlington International Airport across Lake
Champlain in Vermont. Officials say
an Air National Guard operation could mean about 300 to 400 jobs and federal
funding for services at the airport.
Essex County lawmakers
moved the decimal point in the proposed county budget’s 26 percent tax hike yesterday. After 3 1/2 hours of wrangling, the
County Board of Supervisors reduced the tax-levy increase from 26.8 percent to
just 2.6 percent, which is under the state tax-cap formula for Essex County. The 2013 budget will now add just 9
cents to the existing county property-tax rate. Yesterday’s session was a
workshop only, and the board won’t vote on the cuts until its regular meeting
on Tuesday. The amended budget won’t be official until the board votes at a
special meeting after the last public hearing at 6:30 PM on Monday December 10th.
Vermont Health Department
officials have rewritten rules designed to implement a new law on childhood
immunizations, but some parents aren't satisfied with how those changes are
being made. An earlier draft of the rules said when parents want to exempt their
child from vaccinations they need to sign a form implying they agree with the
Health Department's assessment of the vaccines' risks and benefits. Parents who
have expressed skepticism about vaccines say that's compelled speech, and that
it violates the First Amendment.
Many Holiday Events
Kick-off This Weekend in Addison County!
There are more holiday events this weekend, and throughout the month,
than you can shake a peppermint stick at!
The Vergennes Holiday Stroll takes place on Saturday, Very Merry Middlebury
kicks-off, and Bristol Cool Yule will have a month full of events. There are
other events around the county so make sure you check the Chamber's community events calendar!
The Ticonderoga Area
Chamber of Commerce will host their 3rd Annual Ticonderoga Area North Country
Christmas Celebration from today through Sunday, December 9th. The celebration
will include a variety of events starting with the arrival of the Canadian
Pacific Holiday Train and ending with the Chamber’s Annual Santafest. As part
of the Ti Chamber’s North Country Christmas they will be sponsoring a Shopping
and Dining Night – Shop Local within the area on Friday, December 7th. Offering
specials and promotions, participating businesses will have a Shopping &
Dining Night Snowflake displayed.
Get all of the details right now at www.ticonderogany.com.
The Canadian Pacific
Holiday Train’s food-shelf contributions are needed more than ever this year. Ticonderoga Town Supervisor Debra
Malaney said the $1,000 community donations that the train brings are what
power many of their programs that supply food for the poor. The Canadian Pacific Railway train
makes a trip across the United States and Canada every Christmas season,
collecting donations for local food pantries while providing live entertainment
at every stop, including, today, Ticonderoga, Port Henry, Plattsburgh and
Rouses Point. The show schedule is Ticonderoga at 4 PM; Port Henry at 5:45 PM;
Plattsburgh at 8:15 PM; and then Rouses Point at 10 PM. Since it began in 1999,
the Holiday Train program has raised $2.4 million and generated about 2.6
million pounds of food donations for local food pantries.
With the holidays around
the corner, the Paramount Theatre is offering an opportunity to get a jump-start
on your gift shopping. With its
biggest benefit yet, the Rutland Theater is offering more than 200 auction
items as part of the 10th annual Festival of Trees holiday event Saturday night. This year’s list of donated auction
items range from $20 to $30 to upwards of $6,000 and include everything from
architectural services to several trips to Mexico and the Caribbean. Doors open
at 5 PM, with the silent auction running until 8 PM. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $15.
Teachers' health care
bills could hike property taxes or cause cuts to other school spending. Analysts say that the costs could rise
14 percent next year. In the last
five years, the average annual increase was only three percent. The Department of Education says that
the total increase is about 32-million dollars for the 2013-2014 year.
A second police officer
testifies that 22-year-old Michael Norrie of Sheffield confessed to the murder
of Pat O'Hagan. Federal agent
James Mostyn said that Norrie admitted to being involved in the death two years
ago. No one has yet been charged
in the case. Earlier, a Vermont
State Police officer testified to Norrie's confession.
State Attorney General
Eric Schneiderman is working to keep guns out of the hands of those who can't
pass background checks. He's
reached an agreement with two major gun show operators to implement new
procedures at their gun shows across New York State. Schneiderman says the move comes after an undercover
investigation revealed how the "off the books" sale of guns at shows
presented a great risk to public safety.
As up to several inches of
snow fell and covered Vermont, drivers and road crews got used to life again
with winter driving. Soon after
the snow started falling, a car went off the road and flipped in Williston
Thursday. "This is a fairly traditional area with the weather conditions,
French Hill on the interstate," says Lt. James Whitcomb, Vermont State
Police. Whitcomb says the driver
was taken to the hospital. He says
troopers will investigate to see what caused the crash. Overall it seemed that many of the
drivers on I-89 paid attention to the conditions and slowed down. And also VTrans seemed better prepared
for this snow. "We
pre-treated some of the more sensitive areas. We completely retreated the
interstate," says Art Danyow, VTrans District 5 general manager. Danyow says dozens of crews got to work
before the snow even started. That's
a change from Monday when VTrans says it was caught by surprise when flurries
turned heavy. Icy roads led to
crashes and big traffic problems.
Danyow says he blames a lack brine on the road. "There was virtually none and now
there is and it's a seasoned road, has a little brine on it and it will help
melt the snow as it is coming down now," says Danyow. Now with winter driving officially
here, troopers say people need to also make changes. "Slow down. Respect the roadways," says Whitcomb. In the Burlington area, a new road crew
will take over at 11:00pm and everyone will be out in force starting at 4:00am
to get things ready for the morning commute.
Since scientists developed
a vaccine in the 1950's, the number of whooping cough cases has dropped
dramatically. The shot helped curb
Pertussis that causes people to cough for a period of time and can kill you. While it's no longer at hundreds of
thousands of cases, Vermont health leaders are seeing a scary rise. In 2011 37 people came down with it
statewide. So far this year, that
number has jumped to 443, about 12 times higher. "Even though we're way below where we were
pre-immunization it still must be alarming to go from 37 to 443," said
FOX44/ABC22. "Yes, we clearly
have an ongoing outbreak we're very concerned about it," said Deputy State
Epidemiologist Susan Schoenfeld Over
the past six weeks, health leaders say only two counties haven't reported any
cases. But there have been 14 in
Lamoille, 21 in Caledonia and 39 in Rutland County. Schoenfeld says the biggest threat is to kids. "Immunize the people around them,
make sure that children are up to date on their immunizations, we do have now
an adult booster dose of vaccine that is given that is given to adults,"
said Schoenfeld. And while it's
growing in Vermont, Schoenfeld says it's a problem across the country that
health leaders want everyone to pay attention to. "Get the information we can to providers on the public
to decrease their own risk when possible," said Schoenfeld. Another reason why there might be more
cases health experts say is that they can test for it more easily.
