WVTK Local & State News October 8, 2013

An Addison man, Raymond Ritchie, could spend the rest of his life behind bars as a habitual offender, but that’s small comfort to the victims who are trying to find any small item among the things he was caught with.   Victims were invited to come to the New Haven State Police Barracks yesterday to see if they recognized any of the recovered items.  More than ten-thousand dollars in stolen goods were recovered from Ritchie’s home.  Half of that has been claimed by 54 victims.

Almost 450 National Guard troops were called back to duty yesterday after being furloughed for almost a week. Those who are returning are not sure when they’re going to get paid for their enforced time off, however.  And while the National Guard is back on duty, no training costs are covered.  Neither are spare parts, ammunition, or fuel.  A monthly training weekend that would have called up 3,000 troops this month was canceled.

Ticonderoga voters may have an opportunity to see supervisor candidates face off in a debate.  Incumbent Supervisor Deb Malaney has challenged Republican challenger Bill Grinnell and independent candidate Steve Whitford to a debate before the Nov. 5 general election.  Grinnell said he will welcome a debate, although he wants to know the dates, formats and details before formally agreeing.  Whitford is also willing to debate, but said his participation will depend on the dates.

A major development project in Killington has won an Act 250 permit.  SP Land wants to build hundreds of housing units, retail space and other amenities near the Killington Ski Resort.  The $100 million first phase of the project has been in the works for several years.  It ran into some opposition over traffic concerns, and one condition of the Act 250 permit is that a traffic study be conducted before future phases of the project.

A Vermont couple charged with killing a St. Johnsbury Academy science teacher last year entered not guilty pleas to new charges of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder.  Allen and Patricia Prue of Waterford were in Caledonia Superior Court Monday, where they were ordered by a judge to have no contact with one another.  The new charges came after police found a torn up letter in Patricia Prue’s cell describing the murder.  Prue wrote, “It was fun. It was like hunting, catching, and killing an animal.” The judge will decide on a trial date soon. 

The New $100 bills will be showing up at banks this week.  The Federal Reserve Board says the new currency will begin circulating today.  The new bill has several new features designed to make it easier for people to authenticate, but more difficult for counterfeiters to replicate.  Those measures include a blue, 3-D security ribbon, as well as a color-shifting ink that changes from copper to green when the note is tilted.