WVTK Local & State News May 17, 2013

A tractor trailer accident in Vergennes closed Main Street earlier today.  According to the Vergennes Deputy Fire Chief, the tractor trailer went off the road near an animal hospital and crashed into a small structure that contains the city's sewage pump system.  Crews worked to keep the sewer system functioning, while also working to contain a diesel spill.  The driver in the accident was not injured.  It is unknown what caused the accident.

Vergennes voters on Tuesday backed the city council’s proposed $1.45 million bond to fund a new 4,611-square-foot police station on a North Main Street site between the railroad crossing and Kennedy Brothers.  The small lot once was home to Vergennes Auto Sales.  City officials said they expect work to begin on the project in September, with a target completion date early next year. 

Voters in the Addison Northwest Supervisory Union approved the Vergennes Union High School board’s proposal to seek a five-year, $600,000 loan to fund new roofing on the school’s leaky classroom wing and auditorium.  Residents in all five ANwSU towns backed the proposal by wide margins. 

Residents of New Haven will meet at a special town meeting next Monday and then vote on Tuesday by Australian ballot on a nearly quarter-million-dollar supplement to the General Fund budget for this coming fiscal year due to a budgeting error. They will also discuss and vote on whether to switch back to voice voting on the town budget at future town meetings.  The Monday meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the town hall. Voting is Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. by Australian ballot, also at the town hall.

Vermont's unemployment rate continues to decline. The seasonally adjusted rate dropped a 10th of a percentage point in April to 4 percent.  That's the third lowest in the country. The national average was 7.5 percent, also down a 10th of a percentage point from March.  In the state's 17 local labor market areas, the non-seasonally adjusted rates for April ranged from 2.9 percent in the Hartford area to 7.3 percent in Newport.

The Ticonderoga Chamber of Commerce is inviting the public to its annual dinner and auction.  The 11th annual event will be Friday, June 14, at the Silver Bay YMCA’s Gullen Lounge.  Appetizers will be served at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. The silent auction, live auction and dancing will follow.  Reservations can be made by calling the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce office at 585-6619 or Emailing chamberinfo@ticonderogany.com.  Tickets are $50 a person and include appetizers, buffet, beer, wine, dessert and gratuity.