Prison Health company pulling out of Vermont

The private company that provides medical services to Vermont's prisons is pulling out, and the head of the state Department of Corrections says he's looking forward to their departure. Prison Health Services announced earlier this month that after four years, it would not seek to renew its contract when it expires at the end of the year. Corrections Commissioner Andrew Pallito said it's probably no coincidence that the announcement comes just after the death of Vermont inmate Ashley Ellis. The Medical Examiner concluded her death was complicated by a denial of access to medication at the state jail in Swanton. Prison Health Services hasn't been implicated of any wrongdoing so far, but an investigation found a nurse ordered to give Ellis potassium for an eating disorder failed to do so.

FairPoint fights back

FairPoint Communications fought back against its critics this week and told state officials it's done nothing that would result in its license to operate being taken away. The Vermont Public Service Department this summer asked the Public Service Board, which regulates telecommunication companies, to open an investigation to determine why the company's authority to operate should not be revoked. Board members were surprised by FairPoint officials who said do not believe there is evidence to support that move. The PSD's James Porter said the Department's concerns have been clearly explained to FairPoint officials during informal monthly workshops. He called for the end of those workshops during the meeting Wednesday, saying future conversations with the company need to be formal and on-the-record.

Arrest in protection order violation

A Bellows Falls man denied in court that he repeatedly violated an abuse prevention order. 33-year-old
Christian Hansen was ordered not to have contact with his estranged wife, but was arrested by Bellows Falls police Monday night in the woman's apartment. His estranged wife told that Hansen had called, visited and text messaged her repeated every since the order was issued on September 23rd. If convicted, he could face three years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Scozzafava Leads Race

Who's ahead in the race for the 23rd Congressional seat from New York?


The Press Republican reports that the latest polling numbers in the district show that Diedre 'Dede' Scozzafava is leading her challengers.
She has a seven point lead over her closest rival. The poll was taken by Sena Research and shows that Scozzafava got 35 percent of the vote, while Democrat William Owens garnered 28 percent. Douglas Hoffman is the Conservative Party Candidate has numbers of only 16 percent. A little more than 600 likely voters in Vermont participated in the poll that was taken from Sunday through Tuesday and has a margin of error of about four percent.

Dubie Says He'll Run

Finally! An answer to the question will he or won't he?


And the answer is he will! Lieutenant Brian Dubie will run for Vermont governor. He made that announcement yesterday. He'll be vying for the seat that will have no incumbent since his boss, current governor Jim Douglas announced that he will not seek reelection. Dubie is a Republican and says he'll focus on the state's financial security, economic opportunities and jobs if he's elected to office.

Giant pepper theft solved

Police in Bennington say they've solved the giant chili caper. Four people have been sentenced for trying to steal a 300 pound metal chili pepper from the roof of Chili's Restaurant last month. Police say the four ran an electrical extension cord across four lanes of traffic to power an electric drill that they used to remove the pepper. They hadn't thought about the burglar alarm, which led police to the failed prank. Among the four were two Bennington College seniors, a recent graduate and an applicant to an Ivy League school. Under a plea agreement, the four were given two-year deferred sentences. They were ordered to do a car wash in the parking lot of the Chili's as part of their community service.

Woman plays dead to escape attacker

A woman escaped death at the hands of an attacker by playing dead, according to Rutland authorities.
Police say Ian Patureau walked into a police station and said he had killed a woman at his home. Officers found the woman lying on a couch in the apartment covered with red marks and scratches.
Police said after fighting the man unsuccssfully, she relaxed to convince him that she was dead. She told police she was holding an infant at the time of the attack. Patureau pleaded innocent to felony aggravated domestic assault and endangerment of a child.