WVTK Local & State News February 19, 2014

Some homeowners in Monkton are continuing their fight against the Vermont Gas Plan to build a pipeline from Chittenden County to Addison County. The homeowners have not yet reached an agreement with Vermont Gas, and have received letters discussing the possibility the utility will resort to eminent domain. Vermont Gas says the pipeline has been approved by state utility regulators.

Middlebury has issued a parking ban tonight and tomorrow nights for snow removal. A press release says snow clearing operations will begin at approximately 10 p.m. Parking isn't allowed on public streets or parking lots from midnight until 6 a.m., except in designated lots. Cars parked on public streets or parking lots during the parking ban will be towed.

Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders says more needs to be done educate children at early ages and find ways to encourage children to think about going to college long before high school. Sanders is a member of the Senate Education Committee. He appeared at the Vermont Statehouse where he met with members of the Vermont Senate and House education committees. During his 45-minute appearance, Sanders said that many of the state’s schools are wonderful. But he says poverty is holding many children back. Sanders says that in the 21st Century a quality education is critical to success and the U.S. is falling behind.

The head of the Vermont State Fair has been removed from his post and the organization is conducting an internal audit. The Board of Trustees of the Rutland County Agricultural Society voted at a special meeting Feb. 8 to remove Richard Rivers from his posts as the organization’s president and as general manager of the fair. When asked about the change, the group’s attorney, Stacy Chapman, only would say an internal audit was underway and results would be presented to the society’s membership in the coming months. The board appointed Roger Pike as interim president.

The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife is reminding the public that Vermont State law requires ice fishing shanties to be removed before the ice becomes unsafe. A press release says shanties must be removed when the ice loses the ability to support the shanty out of the water or before the last Sunday in March, whichever comes first. The fine for leaving your ice fishing shanty on the ice can be as much as $1,000. The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife says shanties may not be left at state fishing access areas.