The Ticonderoga Ferry across Lake Champlain will provide service through December; weather permitting, under an agreement reached by Vermont and New York transportation officials. The ferry from Shoreham to Ticonderoga, N.Y., has been a crucial link for many commuters since the abrupt closure of the Champlain Bridge a few weeks ago because of its deterioration. The deal announced Saturday keeps the ferry open and running seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. free of charge for passengers. The ferry service normally shuts down in the fall, but the company will install winterizing equipment so it can operate at least until the lake freezes. In the meantime, snow and ice conditions could cause the operator to cancel or curtail service on short notice for either safety or mechanical reasons. Ridership on the ferry fluctuates around 750 to 800 cars a day, and with carpooling it could easily be carrying more than 1,000 people daily, said a spokesman for the Vermont Agency of Transportation. The states also are finalizing plans for a charter bus service from the Ticonderoga area to take people across the lake on the ferry between Essex, N.Y., and Charlotte. The bus service will assure a reliable all-weather method of crossing the lake once winter weather sets in, the Agency of Transportation spokesman said.
Senate President Peter Shumlin says he'll vote against a 20-year license extension for Vermont Yankee. Shumlin tells Vermont Public Radio he'll oppose an extension because the nuclear plant's owners haven't reached a rate agreement with Vermont utilities. Vermont lawmakers have the power to accept or reject plans to extend the license of the plant for another 20 years.
Northern New England's landline phone users are familiar with FairPoint's record in the region. Now a similar story is being told about Fairpoint in Hawaii after it purchased Verizon Commuinications' wired phone network. The purchase was followed by computer troubles, erroneous billing of customers and long waits for service. Officials in New England are watching the Hawaii case closely.
Vermont sugarmakers say their industry's enjoying good times, but there are still some worries: Insects. About 20 maple sugar producers meeting at the Windham County Sugarmakers annual meeting say last year was 1 of the strongest sugarmaking years in recent history. But sugarmakers are concerned about the Asian Longhorned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer, that damage trees.
Ski areas are gearing up for the season ahead with new trails, new snowmaking machines and new trail groomers. Saddleback and Sugarloaf have expanded their snowmaking capabilities. There's also word that Mount Abram, Shawnee Peak, Sunday River and the Camden Snow Bowl ski areas will have new trails and expanded ski terrain for the upcoming season.
Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas is to join his fellow Republican governors at a conference in Austin, Texas this week, and the mood is expected to be upbeat. Douglas heads to Austin on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for a meeting of the Republican Governors' Association. That group just saw its ranks grow by two, when Republicans won off-year elections for governorships in New Jersey and Virginia.
Supplies of swine flu serum ran out during a vaccination clinic in Barre over the weekend. Dozens of people were turned away from Saturday's H1N1 clinic after health care workers quickly ran through the 500 doses they had on hand. Nurses were forced to close the doors an hour and a half before the clinic was scheduled to end.
Senator Charles Schumer announced Sunday that a top federal antitrust investigator will examine why farmers here are getting record low milk payments while consumers have seen so little savings. Schumer says he wants to see greater transparency in how the market works.
The Vermont Air National Guard is planning to train at night this week. The night flying exercises will take place tomorrow through Friday. Each night the Guard plans two scheduled takeoffs of multiple aircrafts from the South Burlington base in the early evening. Officials say all F-16s are expected to land by 9:30.
Vermont Auditor Tom Salmon faces a drunken driving charge after being stopped for failing to use a turn signal. Salmon apologized Saturday at a GOP event in Montpelier. Salmon said, "I made a mistake, I own up to it, I'm going to face it as every Vermonter should face whatever difficulties they have".
The rallying cry of "no new plates" has apparently reached the ears of New York's top elected officials. Governor David Paterson says that he would drop support of a plan to require vehicle owners to pay for new license plates if state legislators work with him to find other ways to generate revenue.
New England Officials are closely watching a situation with Hawaiian Telecomm. Hawaiians are dealing with the same issues that have plagued Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine since FairPoint moved in … computer troubles, erroneous billing of customers and long waits for service. Hawaiian Telecom is going though a similar bankruptcy.
The Burlington City Council tonight will vote on a resolution that would apologize to veterans for a Veterans Day speech by Jon Hausrath, a surrogate speaker for Mayor Bob Kiss. In his remarks, which he read to the 50 to 60 veterans and their families, Hausrath praised war resisters.
Vermont Senate President, Peter Shumlin will officially announce today that he is running for governor. Democrat Peter Shumlin of Windham County has served in the legislature for over a decade. He joins four other Democrats already in the race. Shumlin ran for Lieutenant Governor in 2002 and came in second in a three-way race.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
WVTK Local News November 13, 2009
The closest ferry to the Champlain Bridge may shut down this weekend. Many travelers have been using the Ticonderoga Ferry since the bridge closed. It's only about ten miles south of the bridge-- the most convenient alternative for many commuters. But the Ti Ferry normally closes for the winter and owners say they will shut down on Sunday unless the state of New York steps in to help supply personnel and pay for improvements to help the ferry operate in wintry weather. Transportation officials say they are in negotiations with the ferry owners and are optimistic a deal can be reached to keep the Ti Ferry operating until a new temporary ferry can begin operating near the bridge.
Vermont state officials are being told the economy may have bottomed out, but the recovery is going to be slow and painful. That was the word yesterday to the state Emergency Board, which is made up of legislative money committee chairs and Governor Jim Douglas. The board meets to get the revenue forecast.
The Plattsburgh Board of Education named a new principal for Plattsburgh High School last night. Glenn Hurlock, currently the assistant principal at PHS, will move over to the main office on January 1st. Parents and teachers said they're glad the whole process is over, and hope the dust will settle now.
A home in Essex Junction is destroyed after a fire last night. Firefighters were called to the two-story home on Cascade Court shortly after 7 and found flames shooting out of the building. Luckily no one was hurt, and no one was home at the time. No word yet on what might have caused the fire.
Two Republican Burlington city councilors are sponsoring a resolution that would offer a public apology to veterans in the wake of comments made by a representative of Progressive Mayor Bob Kiss at a Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday. The speaker, Jon Hausrath of Burlington, upset some members of the crowd at Battery Park with remarks that commemorated war resisters.
Vermont health officials say swine flu continues to spread throughout the state, though they don't have firm numbers. State Health Commissioner Dr. Wendy Davis says many of those developing H1N1 flu symptoms are recovering at home and don't need to get tested, so there's no way to confirm they have the illness.
A fundraising effort to help bring Vermont National Guard troops home for the holidays so far has raised $150,000 that will be used to charter buses. About 700 troops will be training in Indiana in December and will get a week off at the holidays, but must pay for their own trips home.
The Vermont Air National Guard will conduct night flying training next week from Tuesday through Friday. During these training periods, there will be two scheduled multi-aircraft takeoffs during the early evening hours, and all F-16s are expected to be on the ground no later than 9:30.
Vermont state officials are being told the economy may have bottomed out, but the recovery is going to be slow and painful. That was the word yesterday to the state Emergency Board, which is made up of legislative money committee chairs and Governor Jim Douglas. The board meets to get the revenue forecast.
The Plattsburgh Board of Education named a new principal for Plattsburgh High School last night. Glenn Hurlock, currently the assistant principal at PHS, will move over to the main office on January 1st. Parents and teachers said they're glad the whole process is over, and hope the dust will settle now.
A home in Essex Junction is destroyed after a fire last night. Firefighters were called to the two-story home on Cascade Court shortly after 7 and found flames shooting out of the building. Luckily no one was hurt, and no one was home at the time. No word yet on what might have caused the fire.
Two Republican Burlington city councilors are sponsoring a resolution that would offer a public apology to veterans in the wake of comments made by a representative of Progressive Mayor Bob Kiss at a Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday. The speaker, Jon Hausrath of Burlington, upset some members of the crowd at Battery Park with remarks that commemorated war resisters.
Vermont health officials say swine flu continues to spread throughout the state, though they don't have firm numbers. State Health Commissioner Dr. Wendy Davis says many of those developing H1N1 flu symptoms are recovering at home and don't need to get tested, so there's no way to confirm they have the illness.
A fundraising effort to help bring Vermont National Guard troops home for the holidays so far has raised $150,000 that will be used to charter buses. About 700 troops will be training in Indiana in December and will get a week off at the holidays, but must pay for their own trips home.
The Vermont Air National Guard will conduct night flying training next week from Tuesday through Friday. During these training periods, there will be two scheduled multi-aircraft takeoffs during the early evening hours, and all F-16s are expected to be on the ground no later than 9:30.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
WVTK Local News November 12, 2009
Replacing the Lake Champlain Bridge will cost more than $67 million and take at least 22 months, according to a safety assessment report released Wednesday by the New York Department of Transportation. The assessment by HNTB New York Engineering and Architecture P.C., concludes that replacing the bridge is safer, cheaper and quicker than rehabilitating the 80-year-old span. Transportation officials abruptly closed the bridge connecting Addison and Crown Point, N.Y., on Oct. 16 after determining deterioration of piers had made the structure unsafe. The bridge is considered a crucial conduit of commerce between the two states; as many as 3,500 cars and trucks use it daily. The safety assessment report lays out repair alternatives and risks. A short-term repair option extending the bridge’s life span four to five years is projected to take nine months and cost $22.9 million. The report calls it “no more than a stop-gap.”
A longer-term rehabilitation could restore the bridge to service for 50 years, the report says, while also retaining the historic nature of the existing structure. But the cost of long-term rehab soars to more than $84 million, and the repair time would extend to 30 months. “Given the long detour lengths, the importance of the bridge to the regional economy and the need for a safe, reliable crossing at this location for many years to come, both temporary and permanent rehabilitation strategies are inadequate,” the report states. Replacement is the best option, it concludes. “In order to avoid an unacceptable level of risk, we suggest that the existing bridge be demolished in a controlled manner, and replaced with a new bridge at the same alignment,” the report says. Depending on the design, replacement is estimated to cost between $67.2 million and $76.7 million and take 22 to 24 months. A new bridge could serve for 75 to 100 years, the report says. The report recommends demolition of the bridge to begin as soon as possible “to eliminate the risk of sudden, potentially catastrophic, failure.”
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Bondholders who are owed more than $550 million by FairPoint Communications, have withdrawn a motion asking to have an examiner investigate factors leading to FairPoint's Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month. FairPoint bought Verizon's landline and Internet assets in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont last year before filing for bankruptcy.
SANFORD, Maine (AP) - A 2-year-old Maine girl has been reunited with her mother after her father allegedly abducted her, triggering the state's first Amber Alert and a 30-hour manhunt that spanned three states. Hailey Traynham and her mother were reunited this week in Sanford, Maine after a deer hunter spotted the girl and her father in New Hampshire.
RANDOLPH, Vt. (AP) - The families of Vermonters killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are planning a memorial that will be built at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph. The memorial will be to both service men and women killed in the nation's current wars as well as those who have served in the conflicts.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Brandon McGowan held 2 of the NFL's top tight ends in check for the New England Patriots. On Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts, he'll face another. Controlling Dallas Clark, the AFC's leading receiver, seems to be a major challenge for a player who made the league as a rookie free agent in 2005 out of Maine.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Bondholders who are owed more than $550 million by FairPoint Communications, have withdrawn a motion asking to have an examiner investigate factors leading to FairPoint's Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month. FairPoint bought Verizon's landline and Internet assets in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont last year before filing for bankruptcy.
SANFORD, Maine (AP) - A 2-year-old Maine girl has been reunited with her mother after her father allegedly abducted her, triggering the state's first Amber Alert and a 30-hour manhunt that spanned three states. Hailey Traynham and her mother were reunited this week in Sanford, Maine after a deer hunter spotted the girl and her father in New Hampshire.
RANDOLPH, Vt. (AP) - The families of Vermonters killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are planning a memorial that will be built at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph. The memorial will be to both service men and women killed in the nation's current wars as well as those who have served in the conflicts.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Brandon McGowan held 2 of the NFL's top tight ends in check for the New England Patriots. On Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts, he'll face another. Controlling Dallas Clark, the AFC's leading receiver, seems to be a major challenge for a player who made the league as a rookie free agent in 2005 out of Maine.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
WVTK Local News November 11, 2009
There was a rally in Albany, New York yesterday, calling for immediate action on the state's crumbling roads and bridges. Lawmakers, residents and emergency responders say Monday's news that the Champlain Bridge will be torn down highlights a growing problem. They say more than 100 of the state's bridges have a worse safety rating than the Champlain Bridge. North Country Senator Betty Little and Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward are among those leading the rally at the capitol.
Police say a missing 2-year-old Maine girl who was allegedly taken by her father has been recovered and is OK. Police tell Foster's Daily Democrat that Hailey Traynham was found in a Milton, New Hampshire home. The girl was found with her father, 38-year-old Gary Traynham, who has been arrested and is due to appear in court later this week.
A group of local and state leaders are teaming up to help the soon-to-be unemployed from Pfizer. The pharmaceutical giant announced that it is closing their plants in Plattsburgh, Rouses Point and Chazy. About 600 people will lose their jobs. The Pfizer Transition Coordinating Council met yesterday morning and will meet again in December.
A St. Albans woman was found guilty last night of trying to hire someone in 2007 to murder her estranged husband. Jurors deliberated for less than 3 hours before convicting 43-year-old Rebecca Wetter. Authorities say Wetter and her daughter hatched the murder scheme to get the 1-million-dollars in Fay Pelletier’s life insurance policy.
Over 100 people showed up last night for a meeting in Milton about a proposed wind turbine project for the top of Georgia Mountain. If built, it would be the first commercial wind energy project in Chittenden County. About two dozen people spoke at the hearing, and opinion was about evenly divided between those for and against the proposal.
The worst of the recession may be over, but a new economic forecast points to a "slow and weak recovery" in the New England states, with job losses likely to continue until the 4th quarter of next year. The report, released by the New England Economic Partnership, says the region lost about 346-thousand jobs since the beginning of last year.
Vermont fire investigators say the fire that destroyed the Putney General Store last week was arson. A $15,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for setting the November 1 fire. Authorities say that accelerants were used and that the fire was obviously set.
The state of Vermont has over $48 million in unclaimed property and some of it could be yours. It’s all money from dormant bank accounts, never-cashed checks or a forgotten security deposits. To see if the state has some of your money, just check the State Treasurer’s website at VermontTreasurer.gov.
A two-car crash sent two people to the hospital in Colchester last night. It happened on Route 7 between the intersections of Rathe Road and Hercules Drive at around 9:15. Police say 18-year-old Jacob Burnham of Milton was driving north when his vehicle crossed the center line, hitting a car driven by 46-year-old Patricia Ward of Colchester.
After attempting to escape his local prison sentence, Scott Miller is now being held without bail. The 31-year-old Plattsburgh man was caught in Montreal last weekHis drug arrest came during the investigation into the death of Plattsburgh teen Julia DelSignore, who overdosed hours after Miller provided her with some of the medications.
A Vermont prisoner is back in custody after police said he tried to escape with a deputy's gun. Police said 29-year-old Robert Blaise passed out in court and was taken to Middlebury Hospital. When a deputy went to adjust Blaise's leg shackles, police said Blaise grabbed the deputy's gun and tried to take off, but he never made it out of the hospital.
Many of the spending cuts now being debated in Albany would have a direct impact on local governments here in the North Country. In many cases, county employees deliver the health and social service programs funded by New York State. Officials say everything from jobs to health care could see painful reductions in the next year.
Visitors to Clarendon Gorge will have to be careful where they park or risk being ticketed by law enforcement officials. The Clarendon Select Board has adopted an ordinance that prohibits parking on either side of a section of Gorge Road from the intersection of Route 7B Central to the intersection of East Street.
Police say a missing 2-year-old Maine girl who was allegedly taken by her father has been recovered and is OK. Police tell Foster's Daily Democrat that Hailey Traynham was found in a Milton, New Hampshire home. The girl was found with her father, 38-year-old Gary Traynham, who has been arrested and is due to appear in court later this week.
A group of local and state leaders are teaming up to help the soon-to-be unemployed from Pfizer. The pharmaceutical giant announced that it is closing their plants in Plattsburgh, Rouses Point and Chazy. About 600 people will lose their jobs. The Pfizer Transition Coordinating Council met yesterday morning and will meet again in December.
A St. Albans woman was found guilty last night of trying to hire someone in 2007 to murder her estranged husband. Jurors deliberated for less than 3 hours before convicting 43-year-old Rebecca Wetter. Authorities say Wetter and her daughter hatched the murder scheme to get the 1-million-dollars in Fay Pelletier’s life insurance policy.
Over 100 people showed up last night for a meeting in Milton about a proposed wind turbine project for the top of Georgia Mountain. If built, it would be the first commercial wind energy project in Chittenden County. About two dozen people spoke at the hearing, and opinion was about evenly divided between those for and against the proposal.
The worst of the recession may be over, but a new economic forecast points to a "slow and weak recovery" in the New England states, with job losses likely to continue until the 4th quarter of next year. The report, released by the New England Economic Partnership, says the region lost about 346-thousand jobs since the beginning of last year.
Vermont fire investigators say the fire that destroyed the Putney General Store last week was arson. A $15,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for setting the November 1 fire. Authorities say that accelerants were used and that the fire was obviously set.
The state of Vermont has over $48 million in unclaimed property and some of it could be yours. It’s all money from dormant bank accounts, never-cashed checks or a forgotten security deposits. To see if the state has some of your money, just check the State Treasurer’s website at VermontTreasurer.gov.
A two-car crash sent two people to the hospital in Colchester last night. It happened on Route 7 between the intersections of Rathe Road and Hercules Drive at around 9:15. Police say 18-year-old Jacob Burnham of Milton was driving north when his vehicle crossed the center line, hitting a car driven by 46-year-old Patricia Ward of Colchester.
After attempting to escape his local prison sentence, Scott Miller is now being held without bail. The 31-year-old Plattsburgh man was caught in Montreal last weekHis drug arrest came during the investigation into the death of Plattsburgh teen Julia DelSignore, who overdosed hours after Miller provided her with some of the medications.
A Vermont prisoner is back in custody after police said he tried to escape with a deputy's gun. Police said 29-year-old Robert Blaise passed out in court and was taken to Middlebury Hospital. When a deputy went to adjust Blaise's leg shackles, police said Blaise grabbed the deputy's gun and tried to take off, but he never made it out of the hospital.
Many of the spending cuts now being debated in Albany would have a direct impact on local governments here in the North Country. In many cases, county employees deliver the health and social service programs funded by New York State. Officials say everything from jobs to health care could see painful reductions in the next year.
Visitors to Clarendon Gorge will have to be careful where they park or risk being ticketed by law enforcement officials. The Clarendon Select Board has adopted an ordinance that prohibits parking on either side of a section of Gorge Road from the intersection of Route 7B Central to the intersection of East Street.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
WVTK Local News November 10, 2009
Both Governor’s Jim Douglas and David Patterson received reports yesterday that say the Champlain Bridge can not be repaired. Engineers have declared that the 80-year-old span is too unstable to be renovated, and recommend demolishing the bridge for the safety of motorists and boaters. Efforts for a ferry service to run next to the existing bridge are now being fast-tracked.
Pfizer will be closing its research and development operations in Rouses Point, Chazy and Plattsburgh. The move will result in the loss of nearly 600 jobs. Rouses Point and Plattsburgh operations will close sometime next year, while Chazy will be shut down sometime in 2011.
The Burlington City Council voted unanimously last night to make public the exchange between city attorneys and the administration of Mayor Bob Kiss about Burlington Telecom burrowing 17-Million-Dollars from the city and not repaying the city in 60 days, which is a violation of conditions of its state license.
Federal prosecutors say a judge has ordered a drug fugitive once featured on "America's Most Wanted" held for trial. 38-year-old Edward "Big Ed" Campbell, was arraigned yesterday in U.S. District Court in Burlington. He's charged with distribution of Oxycontin and violating federal supervised release.
Vermont Judge Christina Reiss ("Rice"), whom President Barack Obama has nominated to the federal bench, is up for a confirmation hearing tomorrow. Senator Patrick Leahy says the Senate Judiciary Committee, which he chairs, will review the nomination of the Essex Junction resident to the U.S. District Court for Vermont.
State Police say two Rutland police officers stopped a suspicious vehicle on Sunday night and noticed that one of the occupants, 22-year-old Tyshawn L. Plowden, of New York, appeared to have a handgun. Plowden fled and was arrested later at a residence in Rutland and has been charged with aggravated assault.
An Amber Alert was issued in Vermont, New Hampshire and New York last night for a missing 2-year-old girl who police said was taken by her father in Maine after a violent assault on the girl's mother. Maine State Police are looking for 38-year-old Gary Traynham and his daughter, Hailey, who was taken from her mother's apartment in Sanford at about 11:15 yesterday morning.
The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf is renewing its call to the community to help provide turkeys for over 2,700 families in Chittenden County. The food shelf has served more than a thousand new clients in the past year. Donors can drop off turkeys and other fixings to the food shelf on North Winooski Avenue in Burlington.
About 60 people attending a town meeting Tuesday at Essex High School voted to allow Essex officials to upgrade two stormwater systems. The upgrades will cost about $450,000 but federal stimulus dollars will cover half the costs through loan forgiveness. Only one resident voted against the proposal.
A big recall for parents, about one million Maclaren strollers are being pulled off the shelves. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says it has received a dozen reports of children having their fingertips amputated by a hinge. The strollers were sold at Target and Babies R Us. The company is offering free repair kits to fix the problem.
State Police say two Rutland police officers stopped a suspicious vehicle on Sunday night and noticed that 1 of the occupants, 22-year-old Tyshawn L. Plowden, of New York, appeared to have a handgun. Plowden fled and was arrested later at a residence in Rutland and has been charged with aggravated assault.
For More Local News Visit:
www.wcax.com
www.rutlandherald.com
www.fox44.net
www.wptz.com
www.burlingtonfreepress.com
www.addisonindependent.com
Pfizer will be closing its research and development operations in Rouses Point, Chazy and Plattsburgh. The move will result in the loss of nearly 600 jobs. Rouses Point and Plattsburgh operations will close sometime next year, while Chazy will be shut down sometime in 2011.
The Burlington City Council voted unanimously last night to make public the exchange between city attorneys and the administration of Mayor Bob Kiss about Burlington Telecom burrowing 17-Million-Dollars from the city and not repaying the city in 60 days, which is a violation of conditions of its state license.
Federal prosecutors say a judge has ordered a drug fugitive once featured on "America's Most Wanted" held for trial. 38-year-old Edward "Big Ed" Campbell, was arraigned yesterday in U.S. District Court in Burlington. He's charged with distribution of Oxycontin and violating federal supervised release.
Vermont Judge Christina Reiss ("Rice"), whom President Barack Obama has nominated to the federal bench, is up for a confirmation hearing tomorrow. Senator Patrick Leahy says the Senate Judiciary Committee, which he chairs, will review the nomination of the Essex Junction resident to the U.S. District Court for Vermont.
State Police say two Rutland police officers stopped a suspicious vehicle on Sunday night and noticed that one of the occupants, 22-year-old Tyshawn L. Plowden, of New York, appeared to have a handgun. Plowden fled and was arrested later at a residence in Rutland and has been charged with aggravated assault.
An Amber Alert was issued in Vermont, New Hampshire and New York last night for a missing 2-year-old girl who police said was taken by her father in Maine after a violent assault on the girl's mother. Maine State Police are looking for 38-year-old Gary Traynham and his daughter, Hailey, who was taken from her mother's apartment in Sanford at about 11:15 yesterday morning.
The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf is renewing its call to the community to help provide turkeys for over 2,700 families in Chittenden County. The food shelf has served more than a thousand new clients in the past year. Donors can drop off turkeys and other fixings to the food shelf on North Winooski Avenue in Burlington.
About 60 people attending a town meeting Tuesday at Essex High School voted to allow Essex officials to upgrade two stormwater systems. The upgrades will cost about $450,000 but federal stimulus dollars will cover half the costs through loan forgiveness. Only one resident voted against the proposal.
A big recall for parents, about one million Maclaren strollers are being pulled off the shelves. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says it has received a dozen reports of children having their fingertips amputated by a hinge. The strollers were sold at Target and Babies R Us. The company is offering free repair kits to fix the problem.
State Police say two Rutland police officers stopped a suspicious vehicle on Sunday night and noticed that 1 of the occupants, 22-year-old Tyshawn L. Plowden, of New York, appeared to have a handgun. Plowden fled and was arrested later at a residence in Rutland and has been charged with aggravated assault.
For More Local News Visit:
www.wcax.com
www.rutlandherald.com
www.fox44.net
www.wptz.com
www.burlingtonfreepress.com
www.addisonindependent.com
Monday, November 9, 2009
NEW YORK, VERMONT TO REPLACE CHAMPLAIN BRIDGE
Pier Analysis Completed, Rehabilitation Ruled Out As Viable Option
New York Governor David A. Paterson and Vermont Governor Jim Douglas have received a report from their states' respective transportation agencies which finds that it is not feasible to rehabilitate the Champlain Bridge. Engineers have declared that the 80-year-old span is too unstable to be renovated, and recommend demolishing the bridge for the safety of motorists and boaters. The states will accept these recommendations based on the overwhelming safety issues enumerated in the report and will begin planning the construction of a new bridge in its place. We expect the Federal Highway Administration to concur with this recommendation based on their preliminary review of the report.
An underwater inspection of the bridge's concrete piers and underlying foundations found cracks and significant deterioration in the unreinforced concrete substructures well below the water level that render these supports so fragile that a sudden collapse could occur.
"Safety was our primary concern when we closed the Lake Champlain Bridge last month and it is our chief interest now," Governor Paterson said. "We must make a decision that protects those who cross the bridge, as well as workers and engineers, and therefore we have no choice but to tear down the dangerously deteriorated bridge. Both states are committed to moving quickly to reestablish the critical link by building a new bridge in this corridor to serve commuters, farms and businesses."
"Reports indicate that the bridge is highly unstable and our harsh winter will only aggravate its condition. For everyone's safety, the bridge must be dismantled in a controlled fashion quickly so that a replacement bridge can be erected in its place," Governor Douglas said. "In the meantime, both states are working to install temporary ferry service as close to the bridge as possible so that motorists can once again begin crossing Lake Champlain between Addison and Crown Point."
The Governors also announced that ferry service will be established near the existing bridge. That effort has been fast-tracked, and the new service will be in place as quickly as possible.
Stanley Gee, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), said: "Now that the analysis is completed and the bridge has been found unstable, we can work quickly to demolish the existing bridge and accelerate the process for building a permanent replacement. We look forward to restoring vehicle and pedestrian traffic across the lake. In order to preserve and protect the historically and environmentally sensitive areas on both side of Lake Champlain, we plan to build the replacement bridge as close to the existing location as is possible."
David Dill, Vermont's Secretary of Transportation, said: "We will begin the process of working on a new bridge immediately. The bridge closure significantly disrupted communities on both sides of the lake, and
the fastest way to return families, businesses and farms back to normal is to quickly provide them a new bridge."
On October 16, inspectors in consultation with engineers determined that the bridge was unsafe for use and it was closed to protect the public. A detailed review and underwater inspection of the bridge's concrete substructure was ordered, and HNTB, NYSDOT's design consultant, is now finalizing a report based on the accelerated underwater inspection. The report outlines significant safety issues that would be associated with any potential bridge repair plan. The severity of deterioration to the piers would put contractors and engineers working in close proximity to the bridge in great danger. Cracks in the piers caused by repeated freeze-thaw cycles have made the structure too fragile to guarantee workers' safety. Oncoming winter weather conditions, including wind, freezing temperatures, snow and ice, only heighten concerns.
According to the report's Executive Summary, "If any major cracks were to develop diagonally in the pier or deterioration reduces the contact bearing area between concrete segments, the pier could fail without warning. The risk and safety for personnel working in close proximity to the existing, fragile bridge is too great to permit rehabilitation in any form. Moving forward, the existing bridge should be razed in a controlled manner eliminating the risk of sudden, potentially catastrophic, bridge failure."
Both Governors have emphasized that until a new bridge can be built, a temporary new ferry service should be established as quickly as possible. To that end, they noted that all of the required environmental documentation will be submitted to the appropriate federal agencies early this week, so that construction of new ferry docks can begin as soon as possible.
Last month, Governor Paterson and Governor Douglas announced transportation alternatives to assure that residents could cross Lake Champlain. Those alternatives include a free ferry service between Ticonderoga, New York and Shoreham, Vermont as well as free ferry service at Lake Champlain Transportation's ferry service at the Essex/Charlotte crossing. Additionally, a free express bus service now brings commuters to three major employers in Vermont, while a pedestrian ferry service was established north of the Lake Champlain Bridge between Westport, New York and Basin Harbor, Vermont.
A toll-free hotline number for information about the bridge closure - 1-888-769-7243 - which was established in October will remain open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those calling from the 518 area code may dial 518-485-1159. The New York State outreach center is located in the Lake Champlain Visitors Center at 814 Bridge Rd. in Crown Point.
Further, to assure that the public is continually informed, regular e-mail updates are being sent to residents of both states who have signed up to receive them. These updates can be accessed by visiting the respective state transportation agency websites at www.lcbclosure.org
New York Governor David A. Paterson and Vermont Governor Jim Douglas have received a report from their states' respective transportation agencies which finds that it is not feasible to rehabilitate the Champlain Bridge. Engineers have declared that the 80-year-old span is too unstable to be renovated, and recommend demolishing the bridge for the safety of motorists and boaters. The states will accept these recommendations based on the overwhelming safety issues enumerated in the report and will begin planning the construction of a new bridge in its place. We expect the Federal Highway Administration to concur with this recommendation based on their preliminary review of the report.
An underwater inspection of the bridge's concrete piers and underlying foundations found cracks and significant deterioration in the unreinforced concrete substructures well below the water level that render these supports so fragile that a sudden collapse could occur.
"Safety was our primary concern when we closed the Lake Champlain Bridge last month and it is our chief interest now," Governor Paterson said. "We must make a decision that protects those who cross the bridge, as well as workers and engineers, and therefore we have no choice but to tear down the dangerously deteriorated bridge. Both states are committed to moving quickly to reestablish the critical link by building a new bridge in this corridor to serve commuters, farms and businesses."
"Reports indicate that the bridge is highly unstable and our harsh winter will only aggravate its condition. For everyone's safety, the bridge must be dismantled in a controlled fashion quickly so that a replacement bridge can be erected in its place," Governor Douglas said. "In the meantime, both states are working to install temporary ferry service as close to the bridge as possible so that motorists can once again begin crossing Lake Champlain between Addison and Crown Point."
The Governors also announced that ferry service will be established near the existing bridge. That effort has been fast-tracked, and the new service will be in place as quickly as possible.
Stanley Gee, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), said: "Now that the analysis is completed and the bridge has been found unstable, we can work quickly to demolish the existing bridge and accelerate the process for building a permanent replacement. We look forward to restoring vehicle and pedestrian traffic across the lake. In order to preserve and protect the historically and environmentally sensitive areas on both side of Lake Champlain, we plan to build the replacement bridge as close to the existing location as is possible."
David Dill, Vermont's Secretary of Transportation, said: "We will begin the process of working on a new bridge immediately. The bridge closure significantly disrupted communities on both sides of the lake, and
the fastest way to return families, businesses and farms back to normal is to quickly provide them a new bridge."
On October 16, inspectors in consultation with engineers determined that the bridge was unsafe for use and it was closed to protect the public. A detailed review and underwater inspection of the bridge's concrete substructure was ordered, and HNTB, NYSDOT's design consultant, is now finalizing a report based on the accelerated underwater inspection. The report outlines significant safety issues that would be associated with any potential bridge repair plan. The severity of deterioration to the piers would put contractors and engineers working in close proximity to the bridge in great danger. Cracks in the piers caused by repeated freeze-thaw cycles have made the structure too fragile to guarantee workers' safety. Oncoming winter weather conditions, including wind, freezing temperatures, snow and ice, only heighten concerns.
According to the report's Executive Summary, "If any major cracks were to develop diagonally in the pier or deterioration reduces the contact bearing area between concrete segments, the pier could fail without warning. The risk and safety for personnel working in close proximity to the existing, fragile bridge is too great to permit rehabilitation in any form. Moving forward, the existing bridge should be razed in a controlled manner eliminating the risk of sudden, potentially catastrophic, bridge failure."
Both Governors have emphasized that until a new bridge can be built, a temporary new ferry service should be established as quickly as possible. To that end, they noted that all of the required environmental documentation will be submitted to the appropriate federal agencies early this week, so that construction of new ferry docks can begin as soon as possible.
Last month, Governor Paterson and Governor Douglas announced transportation alternatives to assure that residents could cross Lake Champlain. Those alternatives include a free ferry service between Ticonderoga, New York and Shoreham, Vermont as well as free ferry service at Lake Champlain Transportation's ferry service at the Essex/Charlotte crossing. Additionally, a free express bus service now brings commuters to three major employers in Vermont, while a pedestrian ferry service was established north of the Lake Champlain Bridge between Westport, New York and Basin Harbor, Vermont.
A toll-free hotline number for information about the bridge closure - 1-888-769-7243 - which was established in October will remain open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those calling from the 518 area code may dial 518-485-1159. The New York State outreach center is located in the Lake Champlain Visitors Center at 814 Bridge Rd. in Crown Point.
Further, to assure that the public is continually informed, regular e-mail updates are being sent to residents of both states who have signed up to receive them. These updates can be accessed by visiting the respective state transportation agency websites at www.lcbclosure.org
WVTK Local News November 9, 2009
Police cited Connie Landon, 33, of Weybridge with two counts of committing cruelty to animals, for allegedly abusing her dogs: Oreo, a "severely underweight" St. Bernard with deep cuts around its neck due to an embedded collar, and Digger, a malnourished German shepherd whom police found entangled in a chain and standing in garbage, Vermont State Police Trooper Andrew Leise said Landon is scheduled to appear in Vermont District Court in Middlebury on Dec. 7. Leise searched Landon's property Nov. 6 with members of the Addison County Humane Society and a representative from the Middlebury Animal Hospital. The Humane Society reported the alleged animal abuse Nov. 5.
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - The lawyer for a Vermont slaughterhouse shut down for allegedly mistreating baby calves says the person who secretly filmed footage that led to the closure provoked a plant worker to mistreat the animals. Officials shut down Bushway Packing after video was released showing young calves being shocked, kicked and dragged.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge has scheduled a hearing on a motion to appoint an examiner to investigate factors leading to FairPoint Communication's Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month. FairPoint's largest holdings are in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, where it bought Verizon Communications' landline and Internet assets last year.
RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) - A new program set up to develop new Vermont farm products has won a $469,000 federal grant. Sen. Patrick Leahy says the money will go to the Vermont Agricultural Innovation Demonstration Center. Housed at the state Agency of Agriculture, the center will try to help farmers and food businesses connect with untapped markets.
BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) - A new holiday exhibit at the Bennington Museum celebrates the work of former "Henry" cartoonist Don Trachte. "Season's Greetings: Holiday Cards by Don Trachte and Friends," featuring a collection owned by Don Trachte, Jr., of Bennington, opens Nov. 19 and runs through Dec. 31.
ALBANY, N.Y. -- A New York archaeological team began work Friday on a state-owned campground at an 18th-century military site where a temporary ferry service is being considered to replace the closed Lake Champlain Bridge. Experts from the New York State Museum in Albany were planning to excavate sections of the Crown Point campground, next to the bridge at the south end of Lake Champlain, across the lake from Addison, VT. New York transportation officials closed the bridge Oct. 16 after an inspection turned up severe erosion on some of the concrete piers supporting the 2,184-foot span. The bridge, which connects Crown Point and Addison, accommodated about 3,500 vehicles a day. A temporary ferry service would require construction on both shorelines at historically sensitive places that were the sites of British and French forts and settlements. At the New York end of the bridge, a state historic site that's home to 18th-century military ruins is directly across the road from the campground where other colonial remnants have been found. On the Vermont side, artifacts from French settlements dating back to the mid-1700s have been uncovered at a place known as Chimney Point. If the ferry project receives approval from regulatory agencies in both states; access roads would have to be built from the Vermont and New York bridge approach roads to the shorelines. The access roads would cross ground occupied by armies of Englishmen, Frenchmen and Americans for much of the 1700s. "It's one of the major French and British military concentrations in the country, and before that you would have had Native Americans," said archaeologist David Starbuck, who excavated Chimney Point 20 years ago but wasn't taking part in the current project. New York state archaeologist Christina Rieth said experts from the State Museum will examine an area of the campground for significant artifacts. Their analysis will be passed on to state Department of Transportation engineers who would design the new road to the shoreline. Similar work was being done on the other side of the bridge, said John Zicconi, spokesman for the Vermont Agency of Transportation. "We've not been made aware of any hurdles at all from an archaeological standpoint on our side," he said. The DOT, in charge of bridge maintenance, and the AOT are among an alphabet soup of government agencies working to get the required permits to start a ferry service. All are trying to find a quick solution -- whether it be a temporary bridge or a new ferry -- to a vexing situation that has resulted in an 80-mile detour for those who used the bridge regularly. At the same time, the agencies are aware of the historically sensitive nature of Crown Point and its place in the region's history. "A lot of things that happened at other places during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War really started here," said Charles Vandrei, historic preservation officer for New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, which operates the Crown Point campground. While never subjected to a direct assault, Crown Point was a key staging area and supply base for military operations, first by the French starting in the 1730s and later by the British and Colonial forces. Most of the notable military figures from the era were at Crown Point at various times, from Maj. Robert Rogers of Rogers' Rangers fame to Benedict Arnold. George Washington also stopped by for a visit during his tour of northern military sites at the end of the American Revolution.
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - The lawyer for a Vermont slaughterhouse shut down for allegedly mistreating baby calves says the person who secretly filmed footage that led to the closure provoked a plant worker to mistreat the animals. Officials shut down Bushway Packing after video was released showing young calves being shocked, kicked and dragged.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge has scheduled a hearing on a motion to appoint an examiner to investigate factors leading to FairPoint Communication's Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month. FairPoint's largest holdings are in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, where it bought Verizon Communications' landline and Internet assets last year.
RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) - A new program set up to develop new Vermont farm products has won a $469,000 federal grant. Sen. Patrick Leahy says the money will go to the Vermont Agricultural Innovation Demonstration Center. Housed at the state Agency of Agriculture, the center will try to help farmers and food businesses connect with untapped markets.
BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) - A new holiday exhibit at the Bennington Museum celebrates the work of former "Henry" cartoonist Don Trachte. "Season's Greetings: Holiday Cards by Don Trachte and Friends," featuring a collection owned by Don Trachte, Jr., of Bennington, opens Nov. 19 and runs through Dec. 31.
ALBANY, N.Y. -- A New York archaeological team began work Friday on a state-owned campground at an 18th-century military site where a temporary ferry service is being considered to replace the closed Lake Champlain Bridge. Experts from the New York State Museum in Albany were planning to excavate sections of the Crown Point campground, next to the bridge at the south end of Lake Champlain, across the lake from Addison, VT. New York transportation officials closed the bridge Oct. 16 after an inspection turned up severe erosion on some of the concrete piers supporting the 2,184-foot span. The bridge, which connects Crown Point and Addison, accommodated about 3,500 vehicles a day. A temporary ferry service would require construction on both shorelines at historically sensitive places that were the sites of British and French forts and settlements. At the New York end of the bridge, a state historic site that's home to 18th-century military ruins is directly across the road from the campground where other colonial remnants have been found. On the Vermont side, artifacts from French settlements dating back to the mid-1700s have been uncovered at a place known as Chimney Point. If the ferry project receives approval from regulatory agencies in both states; access roads would have to be built from the Vermont and New York bridge approach roads to the shorelines. The access roads would cross ground occupied by armies of Englishmen, Frenchmen and Americans for much of the 1700s. "It's one of the major French and British military concentrations in the country, and before that you would have had Native Americans," said archaeologist David Starbuck, who excavated Chimney Point 20 years ago but wasn't taking part in the current project. New York state archaeologist Christina Rieth said experts from the State Museum will examine an area of the campground for significant artifacts. Their analysis will be passed on to state Department of Transportation engineers who would design the new road to the shoreline. Similar work was being done on the other side of the bridge, said John Zicconi, spokesman for the Vermont Agency of Transportation. "We've not been made aware of any hurdles at all from an archaeological standpoint on our side," he said. The DOT, in charge of bridge maintenance, and the AOT are among an alphabet soup of government agencies working to get the required permits to start a ferry service. All are trying to find a quick solution -- whether it be a temporary bridge or a new ferry -- to a vexing situation that has resulted in an 80-mile detour for those who used the bridge regularly. At the same time, the agencies are aware of the historically sensitive nature of Crown Point and its place in the region's history. "A lot of things that happened at other places during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War really started here," said Charles Vandrei, historic preservation officer for New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, which operates the Crown Point campground. While never subjected to a direct assault, Crown Point was a key staging area and supply base for military operations, first by the French starting in the 1730s and later by the British and Colonial forces. Most of the notable military figures from the era were at Crown Point at various times, from Maj. Robert Rogers of Rogers' Rangers fame to Benedict Arnold. George Washington also stopped by for a visit during his tour of northern military sites at the end of the American Revolution.
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