RetailVision will be laying off 20 employees. The company in Middlebury currently employs 70 workers but by the end August that will be down to 50. Some of the functions being handled in Middlebury will be moved to the company’s headquarters in Florida. Company officials say the cuts are in response to loss of a major contract.
The Addison Central Supervisory Union board has agreed to hire a mediator to help resolve some of the problems at the school district’s central office. A consultant conducted a study of the working environment back in February and found a number of problems between employees. The decision to hire the mediator came after the ASCU went though the study.
Voters in Bridport will go to the polls today to try to pass a school budget for next year. The new proposed budget is more than $6,000 less then budget that was voted down on Town Meeting Day. Although Bridport was one of the few towns to not pass their school budget on Town Meeting Day, this is the second year in a row that the budget was defeated the first time out.
The Middlebury Area Community Garden is looking for a new home. Organizers of the community garden just learned that the land behind Otter Creek Brewing will not be available this year due to all the construction and renovations at the brewery on Exchange Street.
Vermont lawmakers and the governor have come to an agreement on how to shore up the state's unemployment fund. If ratified by the House and Senate, the max an unemployment check would be is $425 a week. Employers will also have to pay about 60-percent more for unemployment insurance by 2012.
The man charged with shooting his son in 2006 has been sentenced to 5 years in prison with credit for time served. 53-year-old Bruce Bonnville of Peru pled guilty to the charges last month. After being sentenced yesterday, Bonnville swore at the judge promoting the judge to add another 30 days on to his sentence along with 3 years probation.
The main road though the village of Adamant is closed today after a beaver damn burst causing a flood. The damn on Adamant Pond broke last night just before 8 o'clock. No injuries were reported but several homes were evacuated and the main road though the village has a big washout. At one point the water was 4 feet deep. Adamant is a village in the town of Calais.
Route 108, the Smugglers Notch Road is now open to all traffic. The Vermont Agency of Transportation says motorists can now travel the shortcut between Stowe and Jeffersonville. The road is closed in the fall each year once the snow makes the road impassable. Officials opened the road yesterday morning at 7:44 to all traffic.
A homeless man pled not guilty to attempted murder charges. 53-year-old William Craig was arrested Sunday Night after nearby neighbors called police reporting a woman screaming in the woods near Red Rocks Park. South Burlington Police arrived on the seen to find Craig beating his ex-girlfriend. If convicted, Craig faces 20-years in prison.
A group of Plattsburgh State students are under investigation for allegedly beating a local man. The incident occurred some time last week at a house on South Catherine Street, near the intersection with Broad Street. Officials say the victim was treated at CVPH before being transported to Fletcher Allen Health Care were he underwent hours of surgery.
The Vermont Wood Pellet Company in North Clarendon plans to double its output of wood pellets thanks to a loan from the Vermont Economic Development Association and the Rutland Economic Development Corporation. Local loggers say this is good news because all the wood comes from within a 30 mile radius.
A local woman has won a quarter of a million dollars in the Mega Millions Game. Jason Tallman of Chateaugay was at the New York Lottery Website the other day checking the lottery numbers for his mother when he realized she had won $250,000. According to the press release, she bought the Quick Pick ticket at the Halfway House the night of the drawing.
Police have identified the person found dead in Lake Champlain near South Hero. They say it was 47-year old Michael Martel of Burlington. A kayaker spotted his body Sunday near Sunset Beach Road. An autopsy did not reveal any evidence of trauma or foul play.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
WVTK Local & State News May 3, 2010
A jury weighing the case of a Goshen man charged with shooting his girlfriend's estranged husband in the feet was disbanded last week when the 12 members couldn't agree on a verdict. Jurors deliberated for eight hours before announcing that they were deadlocked in the felony aggravated assault case against Jeffrey H. Young. David Fenster, the state's attorney for Addison County, said last week he was weighing his options before deciding whether to pursue a new trial.
The U.S. Education Department will give Vermont $8.5-Million to turn around its persistently low achieving schools. 10 schools were identified by the state earlier this year for failing to meet the progress level of other schools for two years. Those schools must summit their plans for improvement when they apply for the grants later this Spring.
Next year's budget for the Moriah Central School District has a zero percent increase in the tax levy. In order to deal with cuts in state aid, the proposed budget calls for 9 cuts in staff and $453,000 in cuts to a number of programs. The budget is $6,000 less than the current year's budget. The school board will hold a public hearing about the budget tomorrow night at 6 PM.
Mount St. Joseph Academy submitted a budget to the state Roman Catholic Diocese's finance committee for next school year based on an enrollment of little more than 80 students. That enrollment figure falls short of Bishop Salvatore Matano's recent request for 93 students enrolled by Saturday, but the diocese has not said publicly what consequences, if any, MSJ will face for not meeting the target.
The body of a man was found in Lake Champlain. A kayaker discovered the body yesterday morning around 10 AM about 30 feet off South Beach Road in South Hero. The man was fully clothed and appeared to be in his 40's. Police have not released the man's name. They say the man appeared to be in the water for at least a month.
A woman charged with the murder of her ex-boyfriend says his death was an accident. Police say 34-year-old Kathryn Shoemaker, of Chateauguay, strangled Ravin Miller in his Churubusco home back in August. Shoemaker told investigators Miller died during rough sex. Prosecutors say she owed Miller $35,000 and he was about to go to police to report the theft.
A 14-year-old boy who police say shot his 10-year-old friend is facing criminal charges. Investigators say back in January, Corey Parker of Barre was joking with some friends when he pointed a shotgun at an unidentified 10-year-old. Parker then fired. The boy lost 2 fingers and suffered a number of facial injures. Parker faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
The state of Vermont will be selling over 100 surplus state vehicles at an auction this Saturday. The auction will include police cruisers, boats, snowmobiles, buses, dump trucks, plow trucks and front-end loaders. The auction is set for 10 AM May 8 at the state Agency of Transportation's garage, on U.S. Route 302 in Berlin.
A Vermont House committee is scheduled to consider legislation today to give schools more protection when they make negative recommendations about former teachers. The amendment follows the case of Shaun Bryer, who left the Morristown School District for Colchester last year and later was charged with abusing elementary school students in Morristown.
Former North Country Congressman John Sweeney has been released from jail early. Sweeney reported to jail three weeks ago, to begin serving a 30-day sentence, for his second drunk driving arrest. He has been released 10 days early for good behavior. Sweeney served on Capitol Hill for eight years, before losing his seat in 2006, to Kirsten Gillibrand.
Representative Peter Welch has introduced legislation that will help expand maple syrup production. The Maple Sugaring Access and Promotion Act will provide $20 million in grants to open up state lands to syrup production or to encourage private landowners to do so. Opponents say tapping too many trees could lower and hurt the price of maple syrup.
Hundreds of people turned out for a march and rally in Montpelier yesterday in support of a single-payer health care system. They celebrated the state Legislature's passage of bills that would design a system under which a government agency would administer and make all payments for health care.
Get ready for four days jam-packed with music. The All-State Music Festival is coming to Rutland. On Wednesday, the annual festival will start off with a parade. The All-State Parade will make its way through the streets of Rutland at 6 p.m. During the following three days, there will be concerts every night. These concerts will be hosted by Rutland City public schools showcasing the musical talents of students from all around Vermont.
Thousands gathered in Burlington for the annual COTS Walk to raise awareness and money. The 3-mile walk though the streets of Burlington yesterday, from one homeless shelter to the next, is largest fundraiser of the year for the Committee On Temporary Shelter or COTS. This year they had a goal of raising $175,000.
The U.S. Education Department will give Vermont $8.5-Million to turn around its persistently low achieving schools. 10 schools were identified by the state earlier this year for failing to meet the progress level of other schools for two years. Those schools must summit their plans for improvement when they apply for the grants later this Spring.
Next year's budget for the Moriah Central School District has a zero percent increase in the tax levy. In order to deal with cuts in state aid, the proposed budget calls for 9 cuts in staff and $453,000 in cuts to a number of programs. The budget is $6,000 less than the current year's budget. The school board will hold a public hearing about the budget tomorrow night at 6 PM.
Mount St. Joseph Academy submitted a budget to the state Roman Catholic Diocese's finance committee for next school year based on an enrollment of little more than 80 students. That enrollment figure falls short of Bishop Salvatore Matano's recent request for 93 students enrolled by Saturday, but the diocese has not said publicly what consequences, if any, MSJ will face for not meeting the target.
The body of a man was found in Lake Champlain. A kayaker discovered the body yesterday morning around 10 AM about 30 feet off South Beach Road in South Hero. The man was fully clothed and appeared to be in his 40's. Police have not released the man's name. They say the man appeared to be in the water for at least a month.
A woman charged with the murder of her ex-boyfriend says his death was an accident. Police say 34-year-old Kathryn Shoemaker, of Chateauguay, strangled Ravin Miller in his Churubusco home back in August. Shoemaker told investigators Miller died during rough sex. Prosecutors say she owed Miller $35,000 and he was about to go to police to report the theft.
A 14-year-old boy who police say shot his 10-year-old friend is facing criminal charges. Investigators say back in January, Corey Parker of Barre was joking with some friends when he pointed a shotgun at an unidentified 10-year-old. Parker then fired. The boy lost 2 fingers and suffered a number of facial injures. Parker faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
The state of Vermont will be selling over 100 surplus state vehicles at an auction this Saturday. The auction will include police cruisers, boats, snowmobiles, buses, dump trucks, plow trucks and front-end loaders. The auction is set for 10 AM May 8 at the state Agency of Transportation's garage, on U.S. Route 302 in Berlin.
A Vermont House committee is scheduled to consider legislation today to give schools more protection when they make negative recommendations about former teachers. The amendment follows the case of Shaun Bryer, who left the Morristown School District for Colchester last year and later was charged with abusing elementary school students in Morristown.
Former North Country Congressman John Sweeney has been released from jail early. Sweeney reported to jail three weeks ago, to begin serving a 30-day sentence, for his second drunk driving arrest. He has been released 10 days early for good behavior. Sweeney served on Capitol Hill for eight years, before losing his seat in 2006, to Kirsten Gillibrand.
Representative Peter Welch has introduced legislation that will help expand maple syrup production. The Maple Sugaring Access and Promotion Act will provide $20 million in grants to open up state lands to syrup production or to encourage private landowners to do so. Opponents say tapping too many trees could lower and hurt the price of maple syrup.
Hundreds of people turned out for a march and rally in Montpelier yesterday in support of a single-payer health care system. They celebrated the state Legislature's passage of bills that would design a system under which a government agency would administer and make all payments for health care.
Get ready for four days jam-packed with music. The All-State Music Festival is coming to Rutland. On Wednesday, the annual festival will start off with a parade. The All-State Parade will make its way through the streets of Rutland at 6 p.m. During the following three days, there will be concerts every night. These concerts will be hosted by Rutland City public schools showcasing the musical talents of students from all around Vermont.
Thousands gathered in Burlington for the annual COTS Walk to raise awareness and money. The 3-mile walk though the streets of Burlington yesterday, from one homeless shelter to the next, is largest fundraiser of the year for the Committee On Temporary Shelter or COTS. This year they had a goal of raising $175,000.
Friday, April 30, 2010
WVTK Local & State News April 30, 2010
The New York State Department of Transportation will be hosting a public informational meeting regarding the status of the Lake Champlain Bridge. Key topics will include an update on the design of the new bridge, current debris clean up, and commemoration of the old bridge. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 11th, at 6:30 PM at the Addison Central School.
Vergennes Union Elementary School officials are looking at spending up to $200,000 this summer to replace one of the school’s boilers and build a new roof on one section of the East Street building. The School has $125,000 set aside in a capital fund including $15,000 in its recently approved budget to help pay for the work.
Charlotte Residents will once again try to pass a school budget for next year on May 18. Until then, officials have some work to do on trimming the budget. Another work session is planned for Monday Night at 7 at which they expect to vote on the budget that will be presented. A public hearing on the new proposed budget will take place on May 13 at 7 PM.
The Vermont House voted unanimously to join 47 other states that use ignition interlocks to help stop drunken drivers. Lawmakers say they want to provide an alternative to the traditional 90-day license suspension for first-time offenders. A similar bill has already passed the Senate. Governor Jim Douglas hopes both the House and Senate can come to a compromise soon.
Dairy farmers across the region are facing a tough decision. Its spring time and time to start thinking about planting crops so that they will have enough feed for the winter. Cash strapped farmers are finding it hard to come up with the money for seeds and fertilizer. To help, the state is offering nearly a million dollars in low-interest loans to farmers for spring planting.
Vermont's cleanup plan for Lake Champlain may be in jeopardy. The EPA is withdrawing its approval of the plan-- suggesting the state may need to do more to clean up the lake. Officials will spend the next four months reviewing more recent scientific data to determine whether additional pollution controls are needed.
School and town officials in Starksboro are considering a plan to install a 150-kilowatt solar array in the town before the expiration of generous state and federal tax credits. The selectboard and the Robinson Elementary School board are jointly considering the possible solar array, which officials hope could supply town and school buildings with renewable energy while locking in electricity costs for both groups.
Middlebury College’s library will finally get a name but officials aren’t saying what that name will be. Since it opened in 2004, the library has been known as the “new” or “main” library. But at a ceremony next Thursday (May 6) evening, the college will introduce the longtime college alumnus and supporter for whom the library will be named.
A retired hospital vice president has been selected to take the reins of leadership of the Rutland Police Commission. Mayor Christopher Louras has chosen 66-year-old Larry Jensen to fill both an empty seat and the chairman's post on the five-member commission charged with overseeing the Police Department.
Rutland Town plans to pave 14 streets this summer, including McKinley Avenue and a portion of Town Line Road, where they'll use a cold mix instead of hot mix to save some money. Four contractors put in bids for the project and the job went to Fuller Sand & Gravel after a unanimous vote by the Select Board.
Some state lawmakers want to see restrictions put on how far Vermont's executive branch can go in monitoring state workers' Web usage. While one lawmaker calls such snooping an insult to state employees, the state's human resources chief says taxpayers have an interest in seeing that state workers use their time at work effectively.
A house in West Chezy is completely destroyed after catching on fire twice in 12 hours. The owner left the house on Wednesday because there was no power. Authorities suspect the first fire started once the power was restored. Fire fighter were called back to the house a few hours later to find it once again, engulfed in flames. The cause of both fires is still being investigated.
The U.S. Department of Labor's latest statistics reveal Burlington has the lowest unemployment rate in New England. The jobless rate for the city in March was 6 percent, down from 6.9-percent a year ago. It's not only the lowest unemployment rate in the 6-state region, but also the 20th-lowest rate among the 372 metropolitan markets measured by the Feds.
Vermont's Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is hoping to add 10,000-square feet of office space in Williston. On Monday the Williston Selectboard will consider a request to expand at the Marshall Avenue warehouse. In December, the company was authorized to receive almost $300,000 in job creation incentives from the state for expanding its facilities in Chittenden County.
This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of Green Up Day-- the annual effort to clean up Vermont. It started back in 1970. Communities across the state will be hosting drop-off locations for any trash you pick up as well as other activities. You can check with your Town Clerk to find out what's taking place in your community.
Vergennes Union Elementary School officials are looking at spending up to $200,000 this summer to replace one of the school’s boilers and build a new roof on one section of the East Street building. The School has $125,000 set aside in a capital fund including $15,000 in its recently approved budget to help pay for the work.
Charlotte Residents will once again try to pass a school budget for next year on May 18. Until then, officials have some work to do on trimming the budget. Another work session is planned for Monday Night at 7 at which they expect to vote on the budget that will be presented. A public hearing on the new proposed budget will take place on May 13 at 7 PM.
The Vermont House voted unanimously to join 47 other states that use ignition interlocks to help stop drunken drivers. Lawmakers say they want to provide an alternative to the traditional 90-day license suspension for first-time offenders. A similar bill has already passed the Senate. Governor Jim Douglas hopes both the House and Senate can come to a compromise soon.
Dairy farmers across the region are facing a tough decision. Its spring time and time to start thinking about planting crops so that they will have enough feed for the winter. Cash strapped farmers are finding it hard to come up with the money for seeds and fertilizer. To help, the state is offering nearly a million dollars in low-interest loans to farmers for spring planting.
Vermont's cleanup plan for Lake Champlain may be in jeopardy. The EPA is withdrawing its approval of the plan-- suggesting the state may need to do more to clean up the lake. Officials will spend the next four months reviewing more recent scientific data to determine whether additional pollution controls are needed.
School and town officials in Starksboro are considering a plan to install a 150-kilowatt solar array in the town before the expiration of generous state and federal tax credits. The selectboard and the Robinson Elementary School board are jointly considering the possible solar array, which officials hope could supply town and school buildings with renewable energy while locking in electricity costs for both groups.
Middlebury College’s library will finally get a name but officials aren’t saying what that name will be. Since it opened in 2004, the library has been known as the “new” or “main” library. But at a ceremony next Thursday (May 6) evening, the college will introduce the longtime college alumnus and supporter for whom the library will be named.
A retired hospital vice president has been selected to take the reins of leadership of the Rutland Police Commission. Mayor Christopher Louras has chosen 66-year-old Larry Jensen to fill both an empty seat and the chairman's post on the five-member commission charged with overseeing the Police Department.
Rutland Town plans to pave 14 streets this summer, including McKinley Avenue and a portion of Town Line Road, where they'll use a cold mix instead of hot mix to save some money. Four contractors put in bids for the project and the job went to Fuller Sand & Gravel after a unanimous vote by the Select Board.
Some state lawmakers want to see restrictions put on how far Vermont's executive branch can go in monitoring state workers' Web usage. While one lawmaker calls such snooping an insult to state employees, the state's human resources chief says taxpayers have an interest in seeing that state workers use their time at work effectively.
A house in West Chezy is completely destroyed after catching on fire twice in 12 hours. The owner left the house on Wednesday because there was no power. Authorities suspect the first fire started once the power was restored. Fire fighter were called back to the house a few hours later to find it once again, engulfed in flames. The cause of both fires is still being investigated.
The U.S. Department of Labor's latest statistics reveal Burlington has the lowest unemployment rate in New England. The jobless rate for the city in March was 6 percent, down from 6.9-percent a year ago. It's not only the lowest unemployment rate in the 6-state region, but also the 20th-lowest rate among the 372 metropolitan markets measured by the Feds.
Vermont's Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is hoping to add 10,000-square feet of office space in Williston. On Monday the Williston Selectboard will consider a request to expand at the Marshall Avenue warehouse. In December, the company was authorized to receive almost $300,000 in job creation incentives from the state for expanding its facilities in Chittenden County.
This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of Green Up Day-- the annual effort to clean up Vermont. It started back in 1970. Communities across the state will be hosting drop-off locations for any trash you pick up as well as other activities. You can check with your Town Clerk to find out what's taking place in your community.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
WVTK Local & State News April 29, 2010
The former police chief of Vergennes will be spending six months in prison. Mike Lowe was sentenced yesterday after pleading guilty earlier this month to DUI, prescription fraud and neglecting his duties. Probation will follow Lowe's six-month sentence. His attorney is asking for the sentence to be spent on a work camp.
Porter Hospital is getting some money from the state to cover losses during the Champlain Bridge closure. When the bridge closed, employees had to travel long distances to get to work. The hospital decided to reimburse employees that cost, which was about $10 a day for mileage. The state budget bill sets aside $40,000 for Porter, which is the total spent during the time the Champlain Bridge was closed.
Thousands of electric customers are still without power across northern New York and Vermont after a record setting snowstorm dropped two feet of snow in some areas. There are still over 4,000 customers in the dark. The majority of them are Vermont Electric Cooperative Customers. Officials say the power should be restored to just about everyone by tonight.
Killington Town officials faced some harsh opposition to a proposed $900,000 land purchase during a recent informational meeting on the former Fireside Lodge property. The public will vote on two questions at the polls Tuesday: whether to purchase the 37-acre property, located on Killington Road across from the Grist Mill Restaurant, and how to fund it. At a meeting Monday, some residents expressed their concern about what the land will be used for and if they will be asked for money out of their pockets in the future for further development on the property.
Rutland will sponsor an informational meeting at 6 p.m. on May 12 at Rutland Regional Medical Center's Leahy Conference Center to help educate the property owners around Moon Brook Watershed about how they may be affected by new state storm water rules and regulations. The changes in law with which the watershed and, eventually, the entire municipality will be expected to comply arise largely from Moon Brook's designation as a storm water impaired waterway.
Democrats and Gov. Jim Douglas may be close to reaching a deal on how to fix the state's unemployment insurance trust fund. The governor and House and Senate leaders met several times yesterday. Because of the recession, the state has to borrow $4 million a week from the federal government to pay benefits. Both sides are trying to figure out the right balance between having employers pay more or having laid off workers get less.
New York Gov. David Paterson is asking the Legislature to pass his spending proposal or start working a full, 5-day week to craft and pass a state budget, now nearly a month overdue. Paterson is also asking the Legislature to approve a 1-day furlough for 100,000 state workers every week as the state continues to function on two-week emergency spending appropriations.
A Plattsburgh State student has been charged with filing a false report after telling police she was attacked by 3 men on the path behind Wilson Hall. The student, whose name has not been released, is being charged with a misdemeanor for filing a false report. She also faces judicial charges from the University.
The Vermont Senate has OK'd a resolution asking Washington to drop its threat to penalize states that want to lower their drinking age. Supporters of the proposal to lower the drinking age to 18 say having the threat of loosing federal highway money removed would allow the state government to have a proper debate on the issue.
The Essex Town Post Office will stay open. The U.S. Postal Service had considered selling the post office on Essex Way and transfer the operations to the Essex Junction Post Office on Pearl Street. Selling the property would have generated some revenue for the Postal Service. The property is worth $2.5 million dollars.
A New York man has pled guilty to charges stemming from a plan to rob a bank in Jericho last year. 20-year-old Shane DiRisio of Weedsport pled guilty to having a stolen gun. In exchange for his plea, authorities dropped the charges of conspiring to commit armed bank robbery. Police say DiRisio and 24-year-old Daniel Shinosky of Jericho planned to rob the Merchants Bank.
Senate lawmakers approved a bill setting tough penalties for Vermont slaughterhouses that abuse or mistreat animals, a reaction to last year's scandal at a Grand Isle facility. Under the proposed new rules, slaughterhouses could face fines for mistreating animals and a facility would be permanently shut down by the state if they are found in violation more than two times.
Three Democrats running for governor of Vermont took their campaigns to a forum at Barre Town Middle and Elementary School. Matt Dunne, Peter Shumlin and Doug Racine answered questions posed by seventh- and eighth-grade students about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, the cost of higher education and other topics.
A Vermont hiker has been rescued in Jericho after becoming lost on the Long Trail in the snowstorm. State Police say 19-year-old Dylan Sunderland of Burlington started hiking from the Underhill State Park on Monday and planned to camp for two nights at two different camp locations along the trail. Searchers found him at 12 p.m. yesterday near the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho. Police say he is in good condition although he had become ill after falling into a brook.
The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant has dropped its effort to bar a documentary filmmaker from bringing his camera along on a tour of the plant with the state Public Service Board. The filmmaker has been working on a film about the debate over relicensing the plant.
Porter Hospital is getting some money from the state to cover losses during the Champlain Bridge closure. When the bridge closed, employees had to travel long distances to get to work. The hospital decided to reimburse employees that cost, which was about $10 a day for mileage. The state budget bill sets aside $40,000 for Porter, which is the total spent during the time the Champlain Bridge was closed.
Thousands of electric customers are still without power across northern New York and Vermont after a record setting snowstorm dropped two feet of snow in some areas. There are still over 4,000 customers in the dark. The majority of them are Vermont Electric Cooperative Customers. Officials say the power should be restored to just about everyone by tonight.
Killington Town officials faced some harsh opposition to a proposed $900,000 land purchase during a recent informational meeting on the former Fireside Lodge property. The public will vote on two questions at the polls Tuesday: whether to purchase the 37-acre property, located on Killington Road across from the Grist Mill Restaurant, and how to fund it. At a meeting Monday, some residents expressed their concern about what the land will be used for and if they will be asked for money out of their pockets in the future for further development on the property.
Rutland will sponsor an informational meeting at 6 p.m. on May 12 at Rutland Regional Medical Center's Leahy Conference Center to help educate the property owners around Moon Brook Watershed about how they may be affected by new state storm water rules and regulations. The changes in law with which the watershed and, eventually, the entire municipality will be expected to comply arise largely from Moon Brook's designation as a storm water impaired waterway.
Democrats and Gov. Jim Douglas may be close to reaching a deal on how to fix the state's unemployment insurance trust fund. The governor and House and Senate leaders met several times yesterday. Because of the recession, the state has to borrow $4 million a week from the federal government to pay benefits. Both sides are trying to figure out the right balance between having employers pay more or having laid off workers get less.
New York Gov. David Paterson is asking the Legislature to pass his spending proposal or start working a full, 5-day week to craft and pass a state budget, now nearly a month overdue. Paterson is also asking the Legislature to approve a 1-day furlough for 100,000 state workers every week as the state continues to function on two-week emergency spending appropriations.
A Plattsburgh State student has been charged with filing a false report after telling police she was attacked by 3 men on the path behind Wilson Hall. The student, whose name has not been released, is being charged with a misdemeanor for filing a false report. She also faces judicial charges from the University.
The Vermont Senate has OK'd a resolution asking Washington to drop its threat to penalize states that want to lower their drinking age. Supporters of the proposal to lower the drinking age to 18 say having the threat of loosing federal highway money removed would allow the state government to have a proper debate on the issue.
The Essex Town Post Office will stay open. The U.S. Postal Service had considered selling the post office on Essex Way and transfer the operations to the Essex Junction Post Office on Pearl Street. Selling the property would have generated some revenue for the Postal Service. The property is worth $2.5 million dollars.
A New York man has pled guilty to charges stemming from a plan to rob a bank in Jericho last year. 20-year-old Shane DiRisio of Weedsport pled guilty to having a stolen gun. In exchange for his plea, authorities dropped the charges of conspiring to commit armed bank robbery. Police say DiRisio and 24-year-old Daniel Shinosky of Jericho planned to rob the Merchants Bank.
Senate lawmakers approved a bill setting tough penalties for Vermont slaughterhouses that abuse or mistreat animals, a reaction to last year's scandal at a Grand Isle facility. Under the proposed new rules, slaughterhouses could face fines for mistreating animals and a facility would be permanently shut down by the state if they are found in violation more than two times.
Three Democrats running for governor of Vermont took their campaigns to a forum at Barre Town Middle and Elementary School. Matt Dunne, Peter Shumlin and Doug Racine answered questions posed by seventh- and eighth-grade students about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, the cost of higher education and other topics.
A Vermont hiker has been rescued in Jericho after becoming lost on the Long Trail in the snowstorm. State Police say 19-year-old Dylan Sunderland of Burlington started hiking from the Underhill State Park on Monday and planned to camp for two nights at two different camp locations along the trail. Searchers found him at 12 p.m. yesterday near the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho. Police say he is in good condition although he had become ill after falling into a brook.
The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant has dropped its effort to bar a documentary filmmaker from bringing his camera along on a tour of the plant with the state Public Service Board. The filmmaker has been working on a film about the debate over relicensing the plant.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
WVTK Local & State News April 28, 2010
The National Weather Service continues its WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY THROUGH 11 AM. Weather Channel Meteorologist Ray Stagich Says Snow Mixing with Rain Today – High 40.
A spring storm in northern New York and New England has dumped more than a foot of snow in some areas. Some of the heaviest-hit places are in Vermont. The National Weather Service says North Underhill received more than 13 inches of snow as of early this morning and Jericho had 12 inches.
The Ticonderoga Ferry opens for the season today. Starting today, the cable ferry will cross Lake Champlain between Ticonderoga and Shoreham. The Ti Ferry will run from 8 AM to 6 PM daily till July when the hours are extended to 7 PM.
The Marble Valley Regional Transit District (The Bus) announced that Winter Shuttle passes and coupons expire on Friday. The Summer Shuttle passes are now available for $150 and can be used on the Rutland Killington Commuter; Route 103 (Ludlow); Route 7 South (Manchester); Route 4 West (Fair Haven/Castleton/Poultney); and The Connector to Middlebury. Schedules are available at www.thebus.com.
The Vermont Senate has approved a $4.7-Billion budget for the next fiscal year, which begins in July. The budget includes over $3-Billion in federal funds funneled though state agencies. Lawmakers aren't done yet, they still need to find $38-Million in savings through the Challenges for Change Program. Lawmakers hope to decide on all the cuts before they go home for the season.
New York lawmakers say state budget talks are going "nowhere." The now-late budget was due on April 1, but with the state facing a $9.2 billion deficit lawmakers and Gov. David Paterson haven't been able to reach a compromise. Now there's a new hurdle. Assembly Democrats want to borrow up to $2 billion to cover the budget, but Senate Democrats are ruling out more borrowing. Paterson has indicated that he's also against more borrowing.
A coalition of lawmakers, medical specialists and the New York Organ Donor Network are pushing legislation to make it easier to be an organ donor in New York. The legislation would make New York the first state to automatically enroll all driver's license applicants as potential organ donors unless they indicate otherwise. Currently people have to actively choose to be a donor.
The vision for generating four-season tourism in Killington has expanded to include small grants for local businesses and an online one-stop-shop for information and reservations. A matching grant program and online booking on an updated DiscoverKillington.com are two of many new economic drivers being revealed over the next month.
Plattsburgh State University officials are warning student to be on alert after a female student was attacked by 3 men. According to University Police, the victim said one of them held her down while the others went through the contents of her backpack on the path behind Wilson Hall. The victim also said the attackers fled without taking anything.
After 8 hours of deliberations, a Burlington Jury has found a mom and her husband guilty of sexually abusing her daughter. This is the second trial for Stacy Parnitzke and Shane Casey. The first one ended in a hung jury. No word on when sentencing will be. Both each face up to life in prison. The defense attorney for Stacey Parnitzke said they will appeal.
Vermont State Police detectives resumed their search of a 78-year-old woman believed to have been killed and burned by her daughter in 2006 and then buried by her grandson. Authorities focused their search for the remain of Mary Wilcox in an area behind Westford Elementary School. Police found nothing, they plan to continue the search at a later date.
Instant runoff voting or IRV is now a thing of the past in Burlington. On Town Meeting Day, residents in Burlington decided to get rid of IRV. Since it's a city charter change, the repeal required legislative approval. Governor Jim Douglas signed the repeal of the controversial voting system on Monday.
Fire fighters in Plattsburgh saved an apartment building. Crews were called to a Sharron Avenue apartment around 12:45 PM after a fire broke out inside an upstairs bedroom. Everyone made it out safely. The blaze is still under investigation, but officials say it does not appear to be suspicious. Fast response from Plattsburgh fire fighters saved the rest of the building.
The Vermont Community Wind Farm is backing away from plans to build in Rutland County what could have been the state's largest wind farm. Community Wind had proposed building 45 wind turbines in Ira, Clarendon, West Rutland and Poultney. Officials say the permitting process is too uncertain to go forward; but added if circumstances change, the project could be revived.
Some Vermont companies are stepping up to make sure our solders deployed overseas have jobs when they return. Nine companies signed Statements of Support, saying they will keep jobs held by guard members open while they are away and helping them secure jobs now and in the future. Those companies include Green Mountain Coffee Roaster and Vermont Tire Company.
State Police and local law enforcement will be conducting DUI sobriety checkpoints in the Rutland area this week. Motorists are urged to use a designated driver when necessary and to wear seat belts.
A spring storm in northern New York and New England has dumped more than a foot of snow in some areas. Some of the heaviest-hit places are in Vermont. The National Weather Service says North Underhill received more than 13 inches of snow as of early this morning and Jericho had 12 inches.
The Ticonderoga Ferry opens for the season today. Starting today, the cable ferry will cross Lake Champlain between Ticonderoga and Shoreham. The Ti Ferry will run from 8 AM to 6 PM daily till July when the hours are extended to 7 PM.
The Marble Valley Regional Transit District (The Bus) announced that Winter Shuttle passes and coupons expire on Friday. The Summer Shuttle passes are now available for $150 and can be used on the Rutland Killington Commuter; Route 103 (Ludlow); Route 7 South (Manchester); Route 4 West (Fair Haven/Castleton/Poultney); and The Connector to Middlebury. Schedules are available at www.thebus.com.
The Vermont Senate has approved a $4.7-Billion budget for the next fiscal year, which begins in July. The budget includes over $3-Billion in federal funds funneled though state agencies. Lawmakers aren't done yet, they still need to find $38-Million in savings through the Challenges for Change Program. Lawmakers hope to decide on all the cuts before they go home for the season.
New York lawmakers say state budget talks are going "nowhere." The now-late budget was due on April 1, but with the state facing a $9.2 billion deficit lawmakers and Gov. David Paterson haven't been able to reach a compromise. Now there's a new hurdle. Assembly Democrats want to borrow up to $2 billion to cover the budget, but Senate Democrats are ruling out more borrowing. Paterson has indicated that he's also against more borrowing.
A coalition of lawmakers, medical specialists and the New York Organ Donor Network are pushing legislation to make it easier to be an organ donor in New York. The legislation would make New York the first state to automatically enroll all driver's license applicants as potential organ donors unless they indicate otherwise. Currently people have to actively choose to be a donor.
The vision for generating four-season tourism in Killington has expanded to include small grants for local businesses and an online one-stop-shop for information and reservations. A matching grant program and online booking on an updated DiscoverKillington.com are two of many new economic drivers being revealed over the next month.
Plattsburgh State University officials are warning student to be on alert after a female student was attacked by 3 men. According to University Police, the victim said one of them held her down while the others went through the contents of her backpack on the path behind Wilson Hall. The victim also said the attackers fled without taking anything.
After 8 hours of deliberations, a Burlington Jury has found a mom and her husband guilty of sexually abusing her daughter. This is the second trial for Stacy Parnitzke and Shane Casey. The first one ended in a hung jury. No word on when sentencing will be. Both each face up to life in prison. The defense attorney for Stacey Parnitzke said they will appeal.
Vermont State Police detectives resumed their search of a 78-year-old woman believed to have been killed and burned by her daughter in 2006 and then buried by her grandson. Authorities focused their search for the remain of Mary Wilcox in an area behind Westford Elementary School. Police found nothing, they plan to continue the search at a later date.
Instant runoff voting or IRV is now a thing of the past in Burlington. On Town Meeting Day, residents in Burlington decided to get rid of IRV. Since it's a city charter change, the repeal required legislative approval. Governor Jim Douglas signed the repeal of the controversial voting system on Monday.
Fire fighters in Plattsburgh saved an apartment building. Crews were called to a Sharron Avenue apartment around 12:45 PM after a fire broke out inside an upstairs bedroom. Everyone made it out safely. The blaze is still under investigation, but officials say it does not appear to be suspicious. Fast response from Plattsburgh fire fighters saved the rest of the building.
The Vermont Community Wind Farm is backing away from plans to build in Rutland County what could have been the state's largest wind farm. Community Wind had proposed building 45 wind turbines in Ira, Clarendon, West Rutland and Poultney. Officials say the permitting process is too uncertain to go forward; but added if circumstances change, the project could be revived.
Some Vermont companies are stepping up to make sure our solders deployed overseas have jobs when they return. Nine companies signed Statements of Support, saying they will keep jobs held by guard members open while they are away and helping them secure jobs now and in the future. Those companies include Green Mountain Coffee Roaster and Vermont Tire Company.
State Police and local law enforcement will be conducting DUI sobriety checkpoints in the Rutland area this week. Motorists are urged to use a designated driver when necessary and to wear seat belts.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
WVTK Local & State News April 27, 2010
The National Weather Service Has issued a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 5 THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH 11 AM TOMORROW. Weather Channel Meteorologist Ray Stagich Says Cloudy & Rainy Today with a High In The Mid 40’s.
Sentencing for the former Vergennes Police Chief has been delayed till tomorrow. Michael Lowe is facing 18 months to 4 years in jail. Lowe's lawyers are expected to ask a judge to spare him jail time. Lowe pled guilty to drug and other charges back in January. He has since undergone drug treatment.
The Rutland City Police Commission made very clear it has no intention of complying with a request by the Board of Alderman to fire police chief Tony Bossi. Commissioners say firing Bossi would equal punishment not accountability and insist keeping him on board is the best way to improve the department. The aldermen are not satisfied though. They plan to look at how they can strip power from the commission and are considering asking voters to do away with the commission altogether.
The driver of a stolen car Friday that lead police on a high-speed chase on Interstate 89 has been order to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. 19-year-old Brendan Houston was in court yesterday and pled not guilty to a number of charges. Authorities say Houston suffers from number of mental issues and that he has escaped mental health facilities in the past several weeks.
Due to cuts in state aid, the Tupper Lake Central School District is looking at cutting 30 teachers for next year. And that's not the only bad news, the school district will still face a 10-percent increase in the tax levy to make ends meet. Officials say 55-percent of the districts funds come from the state, next year, the district is project to receive about 48-percent.
The Vermont State Education Chief say Vermont's schools likely wouldn't have been a match for the program, that's why the state isn't applying for federal "Race to the Top" grant money. In order to receive the grants the state would have to do a number of policy and legislative changes.
After a month's delay, close to 6,500 disabled Vermont veterans or their surviving spouses are about to get letters verifying their disabilities. The letters are documentation for aid and property tax breaks. Officials say the letters should be delivered by Tomorrow.
The operator of New England's power grid says there should be no problem meeting the region's demands for electricity this summer, even in the event of an extended heat wave. ISO New England said the region could generate more than 32,000 megawatts this summer, enough to handle the demand during the highest electricity use months.
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer wants the Federal Trade Commission to crack down on how social networking websites use and share personal information. The Democrat has written a letter to the FTC in response to Facebook's launch of new features last week. Facebook says the new features will encourage social activity across the Web, but Schumer says new privacy policies limit user control over how much personal information is shared with sites that partner with Facebook. Schumer is calling on the FTC to set guidelines for how those sites use and share information.
State workers got a head start on this weekend's Green Up Day. About a dozen workers yesterday afternoon joined Governor Jim Douglas in picking up trash along Route 12 in Middlesex. They said last year on Green Up Day, Vermonters picked up 250 tons of garbage from roadsides. The most common litter was fast food wrappers, coffee cups and beer bottles.
Sentencing for the former Vergennes Police Chief has been delayed till tomorrow. Michael Lowe is facing 18 months to 4 years in jail. Lowe's lawyers are expected to ask a judge to spare him jail time. Lowe pled guilty to drug and other charges back in January. He has since undergone drug treatment.
The Rutland City Police Commission made very clear it has no intention of complying with a request by the Board of Alderman to fire police chief Tony Bossi. Commissioners say firing Bossi would equal punishment not accountability and insist keeping him on board is the best way to improve the department. The aldermen are not satisfied though. They plan to look at how they can strip power from the commission and are considering asking voters to do away with the commission altogether.
The driver of a stolen car Friday that lead police on a high-speed chase on Interstate 89 has been order to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. 19-year-old Brendan Houston was in court yesterday and pled not guilty to a number of charges. Authorities say Houston suffers from number of mental issues and that he has escaped mental health facilities in the past several weeks.
Due to cuts in state aid, the Tupper Lake Central School District is looking at cutting 30 teachers for next year. And that's not the only bad news, the school district will still face a 10-percent increase in the tax levy to make ends meet. Officials say 55-percent of the districts funds come from the state, next year, the district is project to receive about 48-percent.
The Vermont State Education Chief say Vermont's schools likely wouldn't have been a match for the program, that's why the state isn't applying for federal "Race to the Top" grant money. In order to receive the grants the state would have to do a number of policy and legislative changes.
After a month's delay, close to 6,500 disabled Vermont veterans or their surviving spouses are about to get letters verifying their disabilities. The letters are documentation for aid and property tax breaks. Officials say the letters should be delivered by Tomorrow.
The operator of New England's power grid says there should be no problem meeting the region's demands for electricity this summer, even in the event of an extended heat wave. ISO New England said the region could generate more than 32,000 megawatts this summer, enough to handle the demand during the highest electricity use months.
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer wants the Federal Trade Commission to crack down on how social networking websites use and share personal information. The Democrat has written a letter to the FTC in response to Facebook's launch of new features last week. Facebook says the new features will encourage social activity across the Web, but Schumer says new privacy policies limit user control over how much personal information is shared with sites that partner with Facebook. Schumer is calling on the FTC to set guidelines for how those sites use and share information.
State workers got a head start on this weekend's Green Up Day. About a dozen workers yesterday afternoon joined Governor Jim Douglas in picking up trash along Route 12 in Middlesex. They said last year on Green Up Day, Vermonters picked up 250 tons of garbage from roadsides. The most common litter was fast food wrappers, coffee cups and beer bottles.
Monday, April 26, 2010
WVTK Local & State News April 26, 2010
Commuters between Vermont and New York will soon have another way of crossing the lake. The Ticonderoga Ferry is getting ready to open for the season. After an almost total overhaul, this will be one of the earliest openings in history for the seasonal ferry. Starting Wednesday morning at 8:30 the Ti Ferry will start crossing the lake between Ticonderoga and Shoreham.
The Benson School Board is set to take a second shot at passing a budget on Tuesday. The board will hold an informational meeting at 7:30 p.m. today at the Benson Community Hall. Voting is scheduled to take place there by Australian ballot from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow.
Addison County organizers are hoping that the first state conference on migrant farm workers will seed new community organizations in other counties that will help a population many believe is vital to the future of Vermont’s dairy farms. About 150 people turned out Saturday at the McCardell Bicentennial Hall on the campus Middlebury College. The conference was organized to spread awareness of not only the issues that face immigrant workers but also the steps that can and have been taken in Addison County to deal with the problems.
Rutland City aldermen are poised to approve the Summer Farmers' Markets expansion into Evelyn Street at their next meeting, however they learned last week that not all in the city are in favor of the plan. Two businesses in the area of Depot Park recently contacted the mayor's office and the Downtown Rutland Partnership to say that the Saturday road closure was bad for their businesses.
A local man charged with holding a woman captive and abusing her for two days is in jail awaiting arraignment on a felony charge. Bruce Fuller allegedly barred a woman last week from leaving a Main Street apartment in Shoreham. Fuller was arrested days later when he visited the state Probation and Parole Office in Rutland. He will be arraigned in Middlebury District Court on the felony domestic assault charge May 24.
Hubbardton Forge, the Castleton company that makes hand-forged lighting products, is being honored by the state for its pollution prevention efforts. The company, 1 of the nation's oldest and largest commercial forges, will get a Vermont Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and Pollution Prevention.
Vermont's agriculture secretary has a grim outlook for Vermont's dairy farms. Roger Albee says in a worst case scenario 200 dairy farms might shut down by the end of the year. The state currently has just over 1,000 dairy farms. Albee says the collapse of milk prices last year might put 20-percent of those out of business.
Burlington based, Dealer.com, one of the fastest growing web companies is launching a $10-Million expansion. The company had recently considered a number of expansion options including moving to California, but officials announced on Friday that they will be staying in Burlington and hiring around 300 more employees.
A Vermont hospital is planning what it says is the first forum ever exploring the potential health impacts caused by industrial wind turbines. The forum, scheduled for May 6 at Rutland Medical Center, will feature two physicians: Dr. Michael Nissenbaum, of Northern Maine Medical Center, and Dr. Robert McCunney, of Massachusetts General Hospital. Hospital President Thomas Huebner will serve as moderator. People who live near industrial wind turbines have reported suffering from hypertension, nausea, depression and sleep deprivation, and the forum will examine the potential effects of wind turbines in relation to those ailments.
A 19-year-old from Montpelier is facing a number of charges after leading police on a high speed chase in a stolen vehicle. Police say Brendan Houston stolen a black Mercedes Friday afternoon in Montpelier and fled to St. Albans were he stole gas and liquor. Police spotted the car southbound on Interstate 89. The chase ended in Waterbury when he crossed the median and hit another car and fled on foot. Houston was caught in a nearby wooded area. Police say a woman and her two children involved in the collision are OK.
Senator Charles Schumer is fighting for more funding for Anti-Drug Trafficking programs along the border. The proposed federal budget would cut 15-percent from the programs. Schumer says the North Country is one of the greatest places to raise and family and doesn't want that to change. He says he wants to at least see the funding restored, if not increased.
A North Underhill man was involved with an armed stand-off with police for almost 2 hours yesterday. Vermont State Police arrived at the house just before noon. Traffic on Route 15 was re-routed during the incident. The man finally surrender to police and was taken to Fletcher-Allen for evaluation. No one was hurt during the stand-off. His name is not being released.
A man wanted in Vermont on attempted murder charges is now in custody in Ohio. 33-year-old Michael Kirkman is now awaiting extradition back to Vermont. Police say Kirkman stabbed 2 men outside of a restaurant in Barre 2 weeks ago. Both victims spent several days in the hospital with serious injuries but have since been released.
The Vermont Senate passed its version of the annual tax bill on Friday. It calls for a 1-percent increase in property taxes among a number of other differences from the House version. Senators also rejected a move to pass an increase in the federal domestic production tax credit on to local manufacturers.
Senator Patrick Leahy is encouraging Vermonters to create a "Postcard from Home" message, a video card, so to speak, for our more than 1,300 troops overseas. Once it's created, it can then be uploaded to YouTube, where soldiers can log on and view them. For information, go to the special Website here.
With the warmer weather, more and more people are taking their motorcycles out of storage. Police are now issuing a warning to motorcycle rider to be careful. Each year the number of motorcycle fatalities increases while the numbers decrease in every other vehicle class. The most obvious tips for motorcyclists are to drive defensively.
A Colonial-era boundary dispute between two Vermont towns is finally going to be settled. The dispute between St. George and neighboring Shelburne dates back to 1763, when both towns were established with overlapping land maps. It took a couple building a home on property in the disputed area to settle the matter. Both towns get some land under the deal.
The Benson School Board is set to take a second shot at passing a budget on Tuesday. The board will hold an informational meeting at 7:30 p.m. today at the Benson Community Hall. Voting is scheduled to take place there by Australian ballot from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow.
Addison County organizers are hoping that the first state conference on migrant farm workers will seed new community organizations in other counties that will help a population many believe is vital to the future of Vermont’s dairy farms. About 150 people turned out Saturday at the McCardell Bicentennial Hall on the campus Middlebury College. The conference was organized to spread awareness of not only the issues that face immigrant workers but also the steps that can and have been taken in Addison County to deal with the problems.
Rutland City aldermen are poised to approve the Summer Farmers' Markets expansion into Evelyn Street at their next meeting, however they learned last week that not all in the city are in favor of the plan. Two businesses in the area of Depot Park recently contacted the mayor's office and the Downtown Rutland Partnership to say that the Saturday road closure was bad for their businesses.
A local man charged with holding a woman captive and abusing her for two days is in jail awaiting arraignment on a felony charge. Bruce Fuller allegedly barred a woman last week from leaving a Main Street apartment in Shoreham. Fuller was arrested days later when he visited the state Probation and Parole Office in Rutland. He will be arraigned in Middlebury District Court on the felony domestic assault charge May 24.
Hubbardton Forge, the Castleton company that makes hand-forged lighting products, is being honored by the state for its pollution prevention efforts. The company, 1 of the nation's oldest and largest commercial forges, will get a Vermont Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and Pollution Prevention.
Vermont's agriculture secretary has a grim outlook for Vermont's dairy farms. Roger Albee says in a worst case scenario 200 dairy farms might shut down by the end of the year. The state currently has just over 1,000 dairy farms. Albee says the collapse of milk prices last year might put 20-percent of those out of business.
Burlington based, Dealer.com, one of the fastest growing web companies is launching a $10-Million expansion. The company had recently considered a number of expansion options including moving to California, but officials announced on Friday that they will be staying in Burlington and hiring around 300 more employees.
A Vermont hospital is planning what it says is the first forum ever exploring the potential health impacts caused by industrial wind turbines. The forum, scheduled for May 6 at Rutland Medical Center, will feature two physicians: Dr. Michael Nissenbaum, of Northern Maine Medical Center, and Dr. Robert McCunney, of Massachusetts General Hospital. Hospital President Thomas Huebner will serve as moderator. People who live near industrial wind turbines have reported suffering from hypertension, nausea, depression and sleep deprivation, and the forum will examine the potential effects of wind turbines in relation to those ailments.
A 19-year-old from Montpelier is facing a number of charges after leading police on a high speed chase in a stolen vehicle. Police say Brendan Houston stolen a black Mercedes Friday afternoon in Montpelier and fled to St. Albans were he stole gas and liquor. Police spotted the car southbound on Interstate 89. The chase ended in Waterbury when he crossed the median and hit another car and fled on foot. Houston was caught in a nearby wooded area. Police say a woman and her two children involved in the collision are OK.
Senator Charles Schumer is fighting for more funding for Anti-Drug Trafficking programs along the border. The proposed federal budget would cut 15-percent from the programs. Schumer says the North Country is one of the greatest places to raise and family and doesn't want that to change. He says he wants to at least see the funding restored, if not increased.
A North Underhill man was involved with an armed stand-off with police for almost 2 hours yesterday. Vermont State Police arrived at the house just before noon. Traffic on Route 15 was re-routed during the incident. The man finally surrender to police and was taken to Fletcher-Allen for evaluation. No one was hurt during the stand-off. His name is not being released.
A man wanted in Vermont on attempted murder charges is now in custody in Ohio. 33-year-old Michael Kirkman is now awaiting extradition back to Vermont. Police say Kirkman stabbed 2 men outside of a restaurant in Barre 2 weeks ago. Both victims spent several days in the hospital with serious injuries but have since been released.
The Vermont Senate passed its version of the annual tax bill on Friday. It calls for a 1-percent increase in property taxes among a number of other differences from the House version. Senators also rejected a move to pass an increase in the federal domestic production tax credit on to local manufacturers.
Senator Patrick Leahy is encouraging Vermonters to create a "Postcard from Home" message, a video card, so to speak, for our more than 1,300 troops overseas. Once it's created, it can then be uploaded to YouTube, where soldiers can log on and view them. For information, go to the special Website here.
With the warmer weather, more and more people are taking their motorcycles out of storage. Police are now issuing a warning to motorcycle rider to be careful. Each year the number of motorcycle fatalities increases while the numbers decrease in every other vehicle class. The most obvious tips for motorcyclists are to drive defensively.
A Colonial-era boundary dispute between two Vermont towns is finally going to be settled. The dispute between St. George and neighboring Shelburne dates back to 1763, when both towns were established with overlapping land maps. It took a couple building a home on property in the disputed area to settle the matter. Both towns get some land under the deal.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg){kind=small}
