Some flu shot clinics canceled

Some flu shot clinics are being postponed or canceled because of delayed shipments of the seasonal flu vaccines. The top five manufacturers of the vaccines are rushing to produce both H1N1 vaccines and the seasonal flu shot. Officials say the additional production is delaying the shipment of the seasonal flu shots. The Rutland Visiting Nurse Association has canceled 50 private clinics so far on job sites and at senior-living homes.

Dead inmate's family hires lawyers

The family of a woman who died after two days at the state prison in Swanton has hired a legal team to review the case. A medical examiner's report said 23-year-old Ashley Ellis died in August from complications of anorexia and denial of access to medication. Ellis, who was serving a 30-day sentence at a state jail in Swanton, died two days after she arrived. She was denied access to potassium pills she took for an eating disorder once she arrived at the jail, state officials said this week. Jack Facey, a member of the legal firm hired by the family, said the family's lawyers would focus for now on gathering facts. A state police investigation into Ellis' death will be sent to the Franklin County prosecutor's office when it's complete.

Rutland City to join broadband project

Rutland City would be the fifth to join the Rutland Redevelopment Authority's efforts to bring fiber-optic broadband Internet, telephone and cable service to the county. The full board will vote today to sign a letter of intent to take part in Rutland Telecom. Castleton, Mendon and Pittsford agreed after a presentation from Executive Director Tom Macaulay, while Rutland Town signed the letter without a hearing. There is no financial liability connected to the city's involvement.

Middlebury Residents Fight Gravel Pit

A group who says a gravel pit would violate part of the local zoning ordinance says they'll fight the pit.


The Clinton Smith Schoolhouse Community Group, made up of some Middlebury residents say a proposed gravel and sand pit off Case Street and Route 116 would violate part of the zoning ordinance. The Rutland Herald reports that Ron Kohn, a member of the group, said at least one of the members is worried that vibrations from passing trucks might damage the school's stone foundation from where the group gets it name. The project would require an access road through a residential district, and the group quotes a portion of the regulations forbidding just that. The group has filed a motion to have the application dismissed.

Villages Get a Share of Essex Co Sales Tax

Essex County will soon share some of its sales tax revenues with villages in the county.

The villages of Port Henry, Keeseville, Lake Placid and Saranac Lake will get
one-quarter percent of its 3.75-percent sales tax the county collects, starting in 2010. The county will make the payments in installments during the year. County Treasurer Michael Diskin said the county has predicted sales-tax receipts of $22.8 million next year, when the sharing starts. He said the state remits the sales-tax money to the county in regular payments, and the county will use a formula to distribute the one-quarter percent to towns.

New gallery to open in Frog Hollow space

A local business that was an early casualty of the recession will be reopened soon as an art gallery.
Frog Hollow is a nonprofit organization that represents Vermont artisans. It closed its Middlebury location in January because of slow business. The space will be transformed into the Edgewater Gallery, featuring the work of about a dozen artists. It will be open six days a week.

Man killed in train crossing

Police in Plattsburgh report a man is dead after a train accident last night. A Canadian Pacific Railway train was southbound when it hit the man who was on the tracks. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The train blocked the railroad crossing for several hours while police investigated. An autopsy is scheduled for later today.