June 3, 2004 – News at a glance

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Chervil infestation
Central Vermonters have been battling a rugged invasive plant that has taken over fields and roadsides. The spread of wild chervil highlights the problems caused by some non-native plants in Vermont. (VPR)

Interview: Employee ownership conference
The second annual Vermont Employee Ownership Conference takes place Friday morning in Burlington, an event aimed at developing strategies for setting up and maintaining worker-owned businesses. Mitch Wertlieb talks with the keynote speaker, Dr. John Logue, who is a professor of political science at Kent State University and director of the Ohio Employee Ownership Center. (VPR)

Sanders supports Democrat in lt. governor’s race
The campaign of Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate Cheryl Rivers has received a big boost. Congressman Bernie Sanders says he’ll support Rivers and help her raise money in her effort to unseat Republican incumbent Brian Dubie. (VPR)

Sergeant Kevin Sheehan laid to rest
About 500 people turned out in St. Albans Wednesday to honor and remember National Guard Sergeant Kevin Sheehan. The Milton resident was killed in combat last week in Iraq. (VPR)

Murder confessed in case of missing woman
The husband of a Johnson woman missing since last week has confessed to killing her. Authorities found the body of a woman thought to be Jodie Whitney on Wednesday. The Lamoille County Sheriff’s office announced Wednesday evening that Edgar Whitney had confessed. (AP)

VELCO hearings resume
Public Service Board hearings resume next week on a request by the Vermont Electric Power Company to build major new power lines between West Rutland and South Burlington. VELCO spokesman David Mace says the hearings are expected to focus on the company’s plan to change the route of the power line away from the historic center of Vergennes to neighboring Ferrisburgh. (AP)

Sanders votes against terror amendment
Vermont Congressman Bernie Sanders voted with most of his House colleagues to defeat a proposed constitutional amendment laying out a plan to replace House members killed in a terrorist attack. The plan would have allowed for the temporary appointment of House members when more than half of the House is killed or incapacitated in an attack or other disaster. The House voted 353-to-63 against the idea. (AP)

Air Guard deployment
About 350 members of the Vermont Air National Guard will be sent to Iraq and other countries over the next two months. A deployment ceremony for 50 servicemen, including pilots and maintenance personnel, was held Wednesday afternoon. (AP)

Underage drinking prevention
The Health Department is getting over $356,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice to combat underage drinking in Vermont. The grant from the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Program provides law enforcement officials the resources to enforce laws prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks by minors. (AP)

Youth health survey
An annual report that ranks states says Vermont’s children are among the healthiest in the nation. Vermont came in sixth overall in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count report, which is being released Thursday. The state got a first-place ranking in the area of teen births. And the report said Vermont’s infant mortality rate improved 23 percent from 1996 to 2001, giving it a seventh-place ranking in the nation in that area. (AP)

Bradford community center
The town of Bradford has a new community center. The 10,000 square-foot center is designed to be a place where citizens of all ages can come to spend time. The town got a $300,000 state grant to build the project. Organizers say the center will fill a void in the community, particularly for local teenagers. (AP)

Methamphetamine charges
Two men from Arkansas have been arrested on charges of making methamphetamine in Vermont. Thirty-three-year-old Glen Fitzgerald of Omaha, Arkansas, pleaded innocent Wednesday to the felony charge. Forty-one-year-old Monty Barrows, also of Omaha, Arkansas, is expected to be arraigned Thursday. (AP)

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