Interview: early 20th century Vermont in photographs
A new photography exhibits debuts on Tuesday at UVM’s Fleming Museum. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Fleming Museum curator Evelyn Hankins about the collection, which she says offers a window into early 20th century life in Vermont as well as an opportunity to see how the goals of photography were changing at that time in history.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
For the seventh year, Middlebury College celebrated the birth of Martin Luther King Junior with a prayer breakfast. Like many of the events around the region, it was filled with history, song and emotion. (VPR)
New ice rink in Rutland
Hockey players and recreational skaters have been making good use of Rutland’s new field house. The $3.5 million facility opened last month and organizers hope it will bring more than just skaters to the region.
Green Mountain National Forest regulations
The Bush administration has overhauled rules for managing the nation’s forest so that regional managers have more authority. But in Vermont, the changes will have little effect for now. The supervisor of the Green Mountain National Forest plans to follow the old regulations in its forest management plan.
Budget adjustment bill
Divisions of the Human Services Agency are seeking the biggest share of $33 million in additional spending midway through the current budget. The spending adjustment being sought by Governor Jim Douglas is the largest in six years and the biggest chunk – $19.1 million – would go toward paying for the struggling Medicaid program for subsidized health insurance program. (AP)
New State Police field commander
The director of the Vermont State Police has appointed a new field force commander, a post that oversees the operations of over 300 uniformed and civilian employees. Major James Baker of Arlington will be the ranking official for all twelve state police barracks, as well as for the Emergency Communications unit, the Traffic Safety Division and the Recreational Enforcement unit. Baker replaces Major James Dimmick, who retired last month. (AP)
USS Montpelier gets an overhaul
A submarine named for Vermont’s capital is taking a break for a $120 million tune-up. The USS Montpelier opened the current Iraq war by firing a Tomahawk cruise missile from the Persian Gulf. Last May, it came to its home port at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for a 12-month overhaul. (AP)
Train derailment
A nine-car train derailment damaged a railroad track severely enough that freight and passenger traffic in southern Vermont has been halted until repairs can be made. The cars operated by New England Central Railroad went off the track Sunday morning. Amtrak passengers will be taken by bus from Bellows Falls to Springfield, Massachusetts, where they will be able to board the train. (AP)
Winter weather
Remember when the thermometer hit 50 degrees last week? That little heat wave is over in Vermont, very much so. Temperatures were well into the double digits below zero in many parts of Vermont Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service has posted a wind-chill advisory through noon. (AP)
Ski resorts fair well on holiday weekend
Vermont’s ski resorts appear to have gained some ground this past weekend after a slow start to the season. The three-day Martin Luther King Jr. weekend has become an important one for the resorts, and industry officials say this year’s was good. (AP)
Out-of-bounds skiing
Skiers may want to think twice before going off-trail, or pay a steep price for their adventure. The Vermont State Police says it’s looking to crack down on skiers who go off resort trails and become lost, prompting full-scale searches. Last month four Pennsylvania men skied off the trail at Killington and spent a night outside in the bitter cold before they were rescued. (AP)
Coppenrath leads NCAA in scoring
University of Vermont senior forward Taylor Coppenrath is the top scorer among all NCAA Division One athletes in the nation. The 23-year-old Vermont native is averaging 25-point-six points per game through Monday night’s 69-58 Catamount win over Boston University. Coppenrath grew up in West Barnet and attended Saint Johnsbury Academy. (AP)
Burlington High School sports complex
Burlington residents are expected to vote on Town Meeting Day on a request for a $3.9 million bond issue to build a new high school sports facility. The proposal approved by the school board and pending before the City Council would include an artificial turf athletic field and eight-lane track. (AP)
Teen drinking party
Eight people were arrested and 11 juveniles were cited over the weekend when an underage drinking party was raided by police in Brattleboro. Police discovered the party when they saw juveniles carrying beer and coming and going from an address near downtown. They removed nearly 100 cans and bottles of beer from the home, as well as a keg. (AP)