WVTK Local & State News July 11, 2013

While Vermont leads the nation with enrollment of three and-four-year-olds in pre-kindergarten classes, it’s about to become easier for more to join the ranks.  Governor Peter Shumlin says thanks to grants, 12 Vermont communities will receive about 800-thousand dollars’ worth of student aid funds.  Right now, a year of pre-K can cost parents as much as eight-thousand to ten-thousand dollars.  Those qualifying for state subsidies and provider scholarships, however can save as much as six-thousand.

State health and agriculture officials are increasing their monitoring of the population and movement of mosquitoes in the Brandon area.  They hope to be more proactive against the spread of the mosquito-borne diseases Eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, and the West Nile virus.  State Health Commissioner Harry Chen was addressing a crowd last night at the Brandon Town Hall, where state officials unveiled an updated plan on how they will monitor mosquito movement and determine risk of exposure to humans and other mammals.  More information regarding EEE and the West Nile virus and the work being done to monitor mosquitoes can be found at www.healthvermont.gov.

The fight against domestic violence is getting a major financial boost in Rutland County. The community was selected to receive a 2-hundred thousand dollar grant from the Department of Justice. The money will be used to track domestic violence cases, with the ultimate goal of preventing homicides or severe assaults. Rutland's police chief says he sees some of the highest percentages of temporary restraining orders issued, but some of the lowest numbers of permanent orders.

The Winooski City Council is saying “No” to the F-35’s.  The Air Force wants to base the newer, faster and noisier jets at the Vermont Air National Guard base in South Burlington.  However, the council voted unanimously Thursday to send a letter to the Pentagon asking for the planes to be based somewhere else.  On Monday, the South Burlington City Council voted three to two to support basing the planes in Vermont, reversing its decision a year ago to oppose the F-35’s.

A Winooski police officer has been indicted by a grand jury for shooting a mentally ill man.  Police say Corporal Jason Nokes and another officer confronted Isaac Sage while investigating a trespassing call.  Nokes said Sage became combative. Sage was shot in the leg after officers tried to arrest him for assaulting them.  Sage was deemed insane at the time of the incident.  If convicted, Nokes could face up to 17 years in prison. Nokes is slated to be formally charged later this month.

The Rutland Police Department has a new sergeant.  Gregory Sheldon was promoted this week. He joined the Rutland Police Department 14 years ago.  He developed and manages the Police Cadet Program and worked to revitalize the department's Hostage Negotiation Team.  Sgt. Sheldon will be a commander on the night shift.

WVTK Local & State News July 10, 2013

It took 4 times, but voters in Brandon have passed a spending plan for the fiscal year that started on July 1^st.  The nearly $149,000 in cuts made by town officials to the budget got the approval of voters yesterday when they passed the over $3-million municipal spending budget, 516-399.  This was the fourth time that the budget was presented to voters.

Officials with Vermont’s health and agriculture agencies are planning to discuss a new plan to react to the threat of mosquito-borne viruses.  State officials plan to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services office to track and respond to cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile virus.  Officials will share the details of the plan with the public tonight in a meeting at the Brandon Town Hall from 5 to 7 PM.

Police in Monkton are investigating a break-in in which the burglar made off with thousands of dollars in cash and jewelry.  Authorities say someone broke into the home of a 71-year-old woman Tuesday afternoon and got away with more than 2,000 dollars in cash and close to 3,500 dollars in coins and jewelry.  If you you have any information you're asked to call police.

Someone picked the wrong senior to try to scam.  According to State Police, an elderly man living in Dummerston says he received a telephone call from someone trying to get money from him.  The caller said the man’s great-grandson was in jail, and the man needed to go to a Western Union location to wire bail money.  He didn’t fall for it, but promptly called State Police instead.  Vermont State Police are asking for anyone else getting a similar call to notify them.

Weybridge residents will be asked in September to weigh in on possible uses of a $475,000 in insurance reimbursement money the town has received after the embezzlement case involving former Town Clerk and Treasurer Karen Brisson.  Weybridge Selectwoman Gale Hurd said the money must be earmarked for municipal projects, and not for schools.  Residents could also recommend returning all or a portion of the funds to taxpayers by lowering the municipal property tax rate.

Senator Bernie Sanders is continuing to push for moving the interest rate on federal student loans back to 3.4 percent, reversing its doubling to 6.8 percent as of July 1st.  Speaking on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Sanders read excerpts from emails from Vermonters who were either still in school or out in the workforce and struggling to pay off their loans.

Vermont is joining 14 other states and cities in calling for the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt proposed new rules calling for big cuts in pollution from vehicles by 2017. The standards would cut smog-producing emissions from vehicles by 80 percent and soot by 70 percent. Attorney General William Sorrell said the so-called Tier 3 standards will cut air pollution emissions by an amount equivalent to taking 33 million of today’s vehicles off the road.

WVTK Local & State News July 9, 2013

Elm Street in Middlebury will be closed today between North Pleasant Street & Seymour Street to replace a sewer line.  The street must be closed to connect the new sewer line with the Town's sewer main which is under the paved section of Elm Street.  There will be traffic control personnel at each end of the closed section to assist with traffic.  You can expect the street to be closed between 7 this morning and 5 o’clock this afternoon. 

Police are looking for the man behind a stabbing in Benson.  Investigators say William Tyler showed up at the Castleton Family Health Center yesterday with a stab wound to his stomach.  The hospital notified police.  Investigators began questioning Tyler, who said he was stabbed at his Benson home during a fight with 40 year old Tia Maher of Castleton.  Police believe after the incident Maher got on a bus in Rutland City and skipped town.  If you know where he is you're urged to call State Police.

A Pittsford man stood in court yesterday and pled not guilty to charges that he murdered his long-time girlfriend.  Police were called to the home of Christopher Sharrow and Kristen Parker Friday after neighbors reported screaming.  Investigators say one of their 3 children, a 7-year-old witnessed the crime.  Sharrow is now being held on 750-thousand dollars bail.  The three children are staying with relatives. 

Supporters and opponents of the F-35 Fighter Jet coming to Burlington turned out in South Burlington and Winooski last night to try and sway city councilors their way.  In South Burlington, the City Council reversed its decision on the F-35s, voting 3-2 to support the jet being based at the Burlington International Airport.  Councilors in Winooski remained neutral on the issue.

The Middlebury selectboard today will hold an “open forum” on a $7.5 million plan to build new town offices and a new recreation center.  The forum will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in the Russ Sholes Senior Center in the lower level of the current municipal building at the intersection of College and South Main streets.  The regular selectboard meeting will follow, at 7 p.m., at the same location.

Fletcher Allen Health Care is now Vermont’s largest private employer.  The latest stats show the hospital employs 71-hundred people, a significantly larger work force than the I-B-M plant in Essex Junction which recently laid off possibly as many as several hundred workers.  Word is expected this week on the extent of the latest round of layoffs at I-B-M.

Those being let go by IBM are getting some more help from the Vermont Department of Labor.  There will be another rapid response session this Thursday followed by a job fair next week.  Both will be held at the Sheraton on Williston Road in South Burlington.  The rapid response session will include workshops for writing resumes, interviewing skills, and financial advice.  There will be two available times 9 to 10:30 and 10:30 to 12 p.m.  The job fair will be held on Monday, July 15^th, from 9:30 to 2:30 p.m.

After almost 14-years of service, Weybridge Selectwoman Gale Hurd has announced that she plans to retire from the board, effective October 10^th.  She joined the board in 1999 after having retired as victims’ advocate with the Addison County State’s Attorney’s Office.  Her civic résumé also includes a 13-year stint on the Weybridge Elementary School board.  Hurd, said, “I’m going to be 70 (later this year), and it’s time to make way for the young whippersnappers.”

WVTK Local & State News July 8, 2013

Officials with Vermont’s health and agriculture agencies are planning to discuss a new plan to react to the threat of mosquito-borne viruses.  State officials plan to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services office to track and respond to cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile virus.  Officials will share the details of the plan with the public on Wednesday in a meeting at the Brandon Town Hall from 5 to 7 PM.

A Bristol man drowned on Thursday.  A 26-year-old Bristol man was swept away while swimming in the New Haven River between the twin bridges on Route 116 north of Bristol village.  Members of Middlebury Technical went out into the water Thursday afternoon in an attempt to locate the victim, but according to a VSP statement, a violent rainstorm forced them to suspend operations due to dangerous conditions.  Officials recovered the body at 10:15 Friday morning.  The victim was identified as 26-year-old Steven Orvis of Bristol.

Two Vermont cities are holding public meetings to discuss potential noise problems from a proposal to base F-35 fighter planes at the Burlington International Airport with the Vermont Air National Guard.  The meetings are being held tonight in South Burlington and Winooski.  The South Burlington City Council voted last year to oppose the new fighter jets while Winooski has remained neutral.  The South Burlington Meeting starts at 6 o’clock at Chamberlain Elementary School.  The Winooski meeting will be at 6:30 at City Hall.

A man in Pittsford is in court today to answer to charges of second-degree murder.  Christopher Sharrow is accused of killing his girlfriend early Friday morning, with the couple’s three children home at the time.  Neighbors called 911 after hearing loud screams from what they thought was a family fight, and troopers forced their way in, finding the body of Kristen Parker.  The three children, all younger than eight, are now under the care of other relatives.

High water levels in Lake Champlain are causing some concern after days and days of rain in Vermont.  Water levels usually are highest in April and recede throughout the summer until the end of the year and then increase during March.  This year, Lake Champlain water levels have been steadily going up.  The National Weather Service says lake shore properties should keep an eye on the water levels over the next few weeks and watch out for any flood warnings.

More than 200 volunteers are going to be monitoring Lake Champlain this summer for signs of blue-green algae blooms.  Heat and low winds encourage growth of the toxic blooms. Peak season for them is in August.  Authorities say boaters, swimmers, water-skiers, waders and pet-owners should avoid contact with blue-green algae. Children are at higher risk because they are more likely to drink the water.  The volunteers have been trained by the Lake Champlain Committee which, along with the Department of Environmental Conservation, assists with surveillance and sample collections.  They also are working with the state Health Department.

WVTK Local & State News July 8, 2013

The record rainfall has caused near flood stage on waterways statewide; causing fast moving and dangerous swimming conditions.  Officials with the Vermont Department of Health, urge everyone who plans to swim in a river or stream to use extreme caution.  Officials say the dangerous waters also present safety issues for the rescue workers.  During the past few days, they have been called out more than five times.  And with more rain possibly on the way, officials say to be safe, just don't go swimming in the streams or rivers.

Rivers and streams are not the only concern right now; Lake Champlain is approaching flood stage too.  Water levels usually are highest in April and recede throughout the summer until the end of the year and then increase during March.  This year, Lake Champlain water levels have been steadily going up.  The National Weather Service says lake shore properties should keep an eye on the water levels over the next few weeks and watch out for any flood warnings.

Danilo Lopez was supposed to be deported from the United States on Friday, July 5.  He's still here.  Lopez was given the chance to apply to stay in the U.S. on the very day he was supposed to voluntarily deport to Mexico.  He's been in the U.S. for 6 years, and has a lot of supporters from Vermont senators to other undocumented workers.  He's well known after he fought to get legal driver's licenses for undocumented farm workers in Vermont.  His legal status was discovered after a traffic stop in 2011, and he's been fighting to stay in the country ever since.  It will take 10 to 14 days for Lopez to find out if he can stay in the U.S.

Vermont Gas is taking issue with a recent study that its proposed Addison County pipeline would increase greenhouse gases.  The company was responding to allegations raised by the Conservation Law Foundation that they failed to account for methane emissions leaked during the lifecycle of natural gas.  The Company, in a filing to the Public Service Board, said CLF's report failed to take into account the emissions of greenhouse gases from the production, refinement and transportation of oil.  Despite concerns from some activists, State officials continue to support the effort.  The Public Service Board is expected to begin hearings on the project in September.

A South Burlington man is jail after leading police on a high speed chase.  According to reports, 22-year-old Michael Brooks was not wearing a helmet and sped through several red lights and drove on sidewalks from Airport Drive to the roundabout in Winooski before he was captured when his bike stalled out.  Brooks now faces a slew of charges, including possession of a stolen motorcycle.

A Bristol man drowned on Thursday.  A 26-year-old Bristol man was swept away while swimming in the New Haven River between the twin bridges on Route 116 north of Bristol village.  Members of Middlebury Technical went out into the water Thursday afternoon in an attempt to locate the victim, but according to a VSP statement, a violent rainstorm forced them to suspend operations due to dangerous conditions.  Officials recovered the body at 10:15 Friday morning.  The victim was identified as 26-year-old Steven Orvis of Bristol.

Officials with Vermont’s health and agriculture agencies are planning to discuss a new plan to react to the threat of mosquito-borne viruses.  State officials plan to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services office to track and respond to cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile virus.  Officials will share the details of the plan with the public on Wednesday in a meeting at the Brandon Town Hall.

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be in Vermont this week to assess damage from recent flooding in various parts of the state.  The FEMA team will be making stops in Chittenden, Washington and Windsor counties tomorrow and may add Lamoille and other counties to the list, depending on what the weather does between now and then.  State and local road crews have been scrambling to repair numerous road wash-outs during the storms of recent weeks.

The Town of Plattsburgh plans to use a $690,000 bond to move two pending projects forward.  Town Supervisor Bernie Bassett said $290,000 would be used to purchase over 93 acres of property that includes the Cadyville Recreation Park and surrounding lands from Clinton County.  The remaining $400,000 would be used to acquire the street lights and associated equipment in the town from New York State Electric and Gas.

Winooski residents will have their say on the F-35 tonight.  The City Council is holding a public forum on the Air National Guard's bid for a new fleet at 6:30 p.m.  The meeting is in the Claire Burke Chamber at City Hall.

Rutland Regional Medical Center is cutting jobs to save money.  The hospital hopes to lose about 100 jobs through attrition. About 12 workers could be offered reassignment.  It blames $4 million in federal cuts to Medicare reimbursements.  Rutland Regional is also outsourcing its IT department.

A man in Pittsford will be in court today to answer to charges of second-degree murder.  Christopher Sharrow is accused of killing his girlfriend early Friday morning, with the couple’s three children home at the time.  Neighbors called 911 after hearing loud screams from what they thought was a family fight, and troopers forced their way in, finding the body of Kristen Parker.  The three children, all younger than eight, are now under the care of other relatives.

WVTK Local & State News July 2, 2013

An elite crew of wildland firefighters in Vermont is ready to answer the call to head west.  The U-S Forest Service puts out calls across the nation every summer to work wildfires, like the one in Arizona which Sunday killed 19 firefighters.  The 20-person crew in Vermont has been out West on similar fires before, and currently two Vermonters are out there.  They say they’ve been through the physical and mental training, and know that if something similar happened here, other national crews are ready to come and help.

New texting laws in New York state will crack down on new and young drivers.  People with a probationary or junior license will have it suspended for 60 days, if you're caught.  For subsequent convictions, you could get your license revoked for up to 6 months.  This goes into effect immediately. 

Lake Champlain has had enough, literally!  The lake is now just inches away from being at flood stage.  It’s currently at 99-point-2 feet, with flood stage at 100 feet.  Water is already pouring over the edge and slowly taking over the King Street Dock.  Meteorologists says the lake is currently about three feet over what it should be this time of year. The timing could not be worse, because it could impact the tourism season, the time when the lake is used the most.

A proposed increase to DMV fees in New York has been defeated by the Essex County Board of Supervisors.  The extra fees would have helped with the up-keep of the county's roads.  But now, the supervisors are back to the drawing board to find ways to increase revenues to offset property taxes.  The 2014 shortfall is estimated at between $6 to 8 million for Essex County.

Furloughs from federal cuts will mean less pay for Vermont National Guard members starting next week.  The Guard's 500 full-time members lose one day of work a week from July 8 to the end of September, effectively cutting their pay by 20 percent.  Vermont's adjutant general says the cuts won't effect the Guard's ability to respond to an emergency.

Rutland City Police are warning residents to keep a close eye on their vehicles after close to a dozen tires were slashed in the city’s southwest neighborhood Sunday night.  Police say that starting at about 9 p.m. Sunday and continuing into Monday, police received complaints from residents on Forest Street and Porter Place.  In the majority of cases, the vandalized vehicles were parked on the curb but a handful were parked in their owners’ driveways.  Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call city police department.

Vermont’s artisanal cheeses will be on display later this month at the 5th annual Vermont Cheesemakers’ Festival in Shelburne.  Over 40 cheesemakers plan to attend the festival, scheduled for July 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Shelburne Farms.  The event features three workshops and cooking and cheesemaker demonstrations. Organizers say over 200 cheeses, wines and specialty foods will be available for sampling and to buy.

WVTK Local & State News July 1, 2013

A coalition seeking to address drug abuse issues in Ticonderoga wants to extend its reach.  The group, which met for the first time in June, is asking concerned citizens to attend a meeting Tuesday, July 9, at 6 p.m. at the Community Building.  Ti-based Prevention Team, a non-profit agency that provides alcohol, tobacco and other drug education and prevention services for Essex County, is assisting the effort.  Officials say, communities across the nation have built Drug Free Community Coalitions and have made real progress in preventing substance abuse on the local level.  The coalition is open to all community members.

South Burlington Police are investigating a series of burglaries that took place early this morning.  Police say a male entered the Hana Japanese Steakhouse just after 1 a.m. and took an undisclosed amount of cash.  Police say the burglar also broke into Wing Over Burlington but took nothing.  Police are looking for a male approximately 5'7" to 5'10" who was wearing an oversized hooded sweatshirt with possibly a skull or face on the front.  Police say they believe these burglaries are related to a suspicious incident that took place at around 1:30 a.m. at Chipotle Mexican Grill.  The male matching the description above tried to enter the restaurant but was scared off by an employee.  Anyone with information is asked to contact the South Burlington Police Department.

It's July 1 and still no deal among lawmakers and that means interest rates for need-based or Stafford Loans have officially doubled.  Millions of American students rely on these Stafford Loans to help them hit the books.  The federal government pays the interest while the students are enrolled in school. When they graduate, they're on their own.  But now, because of delays by Congress, students will see interest rates double on their new student loans.  Rates will rise from 3.4% to 6.8%.

All the rainfall has set a record.  The National Weather Service says May and June been the wettest two-month consecutive stretch in Burlington on record, with a total of 18.6 inches of rain.  The weather service says 8.74 inches fell in May, and 9.86 inches fell in June.  May’s statistic lists the month as the wettest may on record.  The last two-month stretch with the most rain was in 1998, when it rained a combined 17.97 inches in July and August.  It rained a total of 16.55 inches for April and May of 2011.

Ferry service for bikes on the Colchester Causeway has finally re-opened.  Flood damage two years ago shut down the Colchester Causeway Bike Ferry along the Island Line Trail.  It took 545 donations and countless hours of work to put the ferry back in business, and already hundreds of people are using it each day.  The bicycle ferry connects a 200-foot water gap in the three-mile causeway crossing Lake Champlain between Colchester and South Hero.