WVTK Local & State News January 22, 2014

The debate continues over the town offices in Middlebury.  The one thing both sides agree on is that something needs to be done.  The current structure has many issues and is in need of repair.  The town has come up with a plan that includes Middlebury College paying $5.5-million towards construction of a new town offices building and gym.  In return the college would get the land that the current offices and gymnasium sits on.  The Town plans to borrow $2 million to go ahead with the project.  But now some citizens say it would be more cost effective for Middlebury to just renovate the current facilities.  On Town Meeting Day voters can already expect a vote on the approval of the $2 million bond to complete the town office project.  But if a petition just handed to the town has the needed signatures, another warning would require voters to decide on keeping the town offices at the current property and keeping it publicly owned.

A man who worked as a sub-contractor at the General Electric plant in Rutland is going to prison.  55-year-old John Quinn pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to a charge of mail fraud.  Prosecutors say they learned he stole mostly high-speed carbide drill bits from the plant and sold them online, receiving more than 108-thousand dollars.  As part of his plea agreement, Quinn will forfeit the money and faces up to 20 years in prison along with a fine of up to a quarter of a million dollars.

The disappearance of a young man from Fair Haven remains a mystery, despite three days and an intensive search for him.  Yesterday, the cell phone of Jonathan Schaff was found in an abandoned vehicle at Loomis Trucking on Vermont 149 in West Pawlet.  That’s where Schaff was walking to when he was last seen early Saturday morning, leaving a pub in Granville, New York after a fight.  Yesterday, dozens of searchers were joined by a National Guard helicopter, but still was not found.  State police say the search will now continue on a limited basis, as leads are developed to give them some sort of direction.

The Brandon Town Office was closed today while they move to the new location.  The new office will be located at 2417 Franklin Street, in the former Vermont Made Furniture Building.  The vault was not available for the public today and also not be available tomorrow while they finish up te moving process. 

A former student from Middlebury College will be a part of Super Bowl 48 on February 2.  Steven Hauschka is the current football placekicker for the Seattle Seahawks.  Prior to his NFL career, he played college football at Middlebury College as well as North Carolina State University.  Hauschka graduated from Middlebury College in 2007 with a B.A. in neuroscience.  Before joining Seattle, Hauschka was a team member of the Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Locomotives, and Denver Broncos.  In his three seasons with the Middlebury Panthers, he was a two-time All-NESCAC selection as both a kicker and punter.  He also owns the school’s single-season and career records for field goals.