20 Foot Storage Container Stolen
 by Mickey Smith

The Morristown Police Department is looking for information about whomever stole a 20 foot long storage unit from Rent-a-Center, located in the Northgate Plaza in Morristown.
The grey, 20 foot long by 10 foot wide and eight foot high container was located in the back parking lot behind the shopping plaza. A serial number, CAXU283621 is written on the side of the container.
According to Morristown Police Patrolman Jason Luneau's press release the only way the container could have been moved would have been with a large truck, such as a flatbed tow truck. It is believed to have been taken between April 26 and 28.
Anyone who might have seen suspicious activity in that area during that time period or has seen the storage container since then, is asked to call the Morristown Police Department at 888-4211 or Central Vermont Crime Stoppers anonymous tipline at 1-800-529-9998.

Bee’s Knees Blaze

by Amy Kolb Noyes

MORRISVILLE – The Bee’s Knees was evacuated for about an hour Saturday afternoon as firefighters made quick work of a fire on the roof of the shed into which the restaurant is expanding. Bee’s Knees owner Sharon Deitz said the fire was “very tiny” and was sparked by an unknown external source.

Deitz said she was impressed with the Morrisville Fire Department’s quick response. She credited the department and the neighbor who called in to report the fire with preventing a situation that might have been much worse.

“They came really quick,” Deitz said of the firefighters. “I was really impressed with them. They know what they’re doing.”

Deitz said the fire will not affect the Bee’s Knees construction schedule. She is currently planning on shutting down in June for a major portion of the renovation to take place. In the meantime, a new chef is starting next week to help put together the restaurant’s new menu. Deitz said she has also gotten town approval for outdoor seating. Deitz is still looking for investors willing to lend the restaurant $1,000 to $5,000 toward the “community supported restaurant” renovation project. She is hoping some patrons may be willing to invest their economic stimulus checks being issued by the federal government beginning this week.

Elmore Getting WiFi Hotspot

by Amy Kolb Noyes

Municipal officials and regional planners were surprised to learn of the $20,000 Broadband Grant recently awarded by the Vermont Telecommunications Authority for projects in Elmore and Hardwick. That’s because neither the towns nor the Lamoille County Planning Commission applied for the 2008 state grant. Joe Allen, president of Power Shift Online Services, in Stowe, applied for and received the grant to provide “WiFi hotspots” in downtown Elmore and Hardwick.

Allen explained the hotspots will allow people with laptop computers, PDAs and the new dual-mode cell phones (such as the iPhone) to access the internet. The service will be free for a half-hour each day. People wanting more time online can purchase subscriptions from Power Shift by the day, week or month.

Allen told the News & Citizen he originally applied for $35,000 to put hotspots in Hardwick, Elmore, Morrisville, Stowe, Waterbury Center and Waterbury. However, the state chose to approve $20,000 for just Elmore and Hardwick. Allen said Power Shift still plans to upgrade its WiFi offerings in Morrisville this summer. Plans for projects in Stowe and Waterbury will also proceed.

Allen said Power Shift will install three new hot spots in Elmore to cover the village, around the lake and the state park. Much of downtown Hardwick will also be covered by hotspots. Allen guessed funds were granted for Hardwick and Elmore because of unique situations in those towns. He speculated that towns in the Northeast Kingdom, such as Hardwick, are considered under served. As for Elmore, Allen believes the state was inclined to bring internet service to the Elmore State Park and its campground. Allen said that service will be coming soon.

“If you’re sleeping in your tent you should be able to go on the internet in your tent,” said Allen.

Other 2008 Broadband Grant winners were Canaan/Norton, $50,000; EC Fiber (planning for 25 towns in Central Vermont), $25,000; Global Net for Fletcher and the surrounding area, $50,000; Ripton Broadband Coop, $25,000 and SVBC, Stamford - $30,000.

The Vermont Legislature has funded the Broadband Grant Program for four years. Last year it was funded with a $200,000 allocation. The goal of the program is to create demonstration projects to test viable models for providing broadband to all Vermonters. The authority was looking for creative ways to extend affordable high-speed Internet access to the unserved and under served areas of the state and it found them.

Winners were selected on the basis of a detailed review and selection process. The selection committee includes several members of the Telecommunications Authority’s Board of Directors, and representatives from the Department of Economic Development and the Vermont Council on Rural Development.

Jerry Johnson, chair of the Broadband Grant Sub Committee of the VTA, said, “There were more and better applicants for the grants this year than in the past reflecting the growing demand by Vermonters for high speed Internet access. Access is essential to our state’s economic development, health services, educational programs and first responders. All these applicants will serve those Vermonters who are in need.”

The applications were judged using several criteria. Among them were: a strong public-private partnership, use of the grants as seed money to attract additional funds or contributions, availability to everyone in a covered area.

The Vermont Telecommunications Authority was established by law in June of 2007 to assure that every Vermonter has high-speed access to the Internet at affordable rates and that at least one mobile phone network will be available in every part of the state by the end of 2010.

Cochran Road Blasting Races Concerns
  by Mickey Smith

"Beware of falling rocks" is normally not a phrase used in someone's yard, and when it’s associated with blasting at a nearby gravel pit it can be cause for concern.
Sonny McFarlane, of Morristown, has such a concern as blasting, last Tuesday, April 22, by Maine Drilling and Blasting had caused debris to rain down into his yard.  
"We got showered with rocks," said McFarlane.
McFarlane told the News & Citizen his concerns center around the potential for injury. In the past, there was a situation where someone was struck by a rock from a blast and wound up going to Copley Hospital to be treated.
Questions have been raised regarding the process for such blasting, and if permits, blasting mats, or public notice should be required.
On Tuesday, April 29, Morristown Police Chief and acting Town Administrator Richard Keith said the Mine Safety and Health Administration was investigating the matter, and he speculated that group would answer any questions regarding what is needed to occur, and would make sure Maine Blasting complied with whatever laws pertain.
"Something needs to be done, somebody's going to be hurt," said McFarlane.

Lamoille County Green Up

by Amy Kolb Noyes

This Saturday, May 3, marks Vermont’s 38^th annual Green Up Day. Across Lamoille County, Green Up Coordinators and Conservation Commissions are gearing up to hand out green bags and direct citizens to the dirtiest roadsides and public places in town.

In many small towns, Green Up bags can be obtained at the Town Clerk’s Office and/or the local store. Some of the bigger towns hold Green Up events.

In Morristown, folks are asked to sign up for a stretch of road while picking up bags at the Town Clerk’s Office. Filled bags can be brought to the Lamoille Regional Solid Waste Management District Recycling Center, on Trombley Hill Road, on Saturday. Members of the Morristown Conservation Commission will be there with refreshments. For those who cannot bring bags into the recycling center, the Morristown road crew will pick up bags left by the side of the road Monday morning.

Green Up bags are available at various stores around Cambridge and at the Town Clerk’s office. Filled bags will be picked up from the roadsides by the town. See Kathy Johnson’s Cambridge Contacts column in this paper for further details.

In Elmore, bags are available at the Elmore Store. Citizens can meet at the school at 9 a.m. to take part in the community Green Up effort. There will be two town trucks in the village, one to collect full Green Up bags and another for items too big to fit in the bags.

Johnson’s Conservation Commission will man a collection area at the center of town, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday. They’ll have lemonade, hot dogs and prizes to give away. Bags are available in advance at the Town Clerk’s Office or from Coordinator Gail Longley.

In Eden, Coordinator Anita Willey-Gagner said she’s celebrating her tenth year as Green Up coordinator, and it will be a familiar routine for those who have participated in the past. She will be handing out bags as well as collecting them at a dumpster at her house on Wescom Road. They’ll also celebrate with a post-Green Up picnic. Gagner said she’s afraid participation might be down this year due to lingering winter weather.

“There’s still a lot of roads where there’s snow on the sides,” said Gagner.

Wolcott’s Glee Merritt Kelley Community Library will serve as Green Up Headquarters again this year. Coordinator Amy Kolb Noyes will be at the library starting at 9 a.m. to hand out bags and Green Up giveaways. At noon the library will sponsor its annual Green Up Day Flowerbox Planting. Register for that event in advance by calling Librarian Sally Gardner at 472-6551. Green Up bags are available in advance at the Town Clerk’s Office and the Wolcott Transfer Station. Co-coordinator Bob Bovat will be accepting Green Up trash free of charge at the transfer station 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Sunday. Those who cannot bring Green Up trash to the transfer station are asked to leave Green Up bags in a visible spot on the side of the road for the town road crew to pick up on Monday. Please call the town garage at 888-3353 and leave a message detailing where the bags are that need picking up.

This year is one of transition for the Green Up effort in Hyde Park. Longtime coordinator Dawn Archbold resigned last year. Duncan Nash, Amy Richards-Holibaugh and Ive LaMonda have teamed up to take charge this year. Nash said they will be at the Town Clerk’s Office from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday, and back again at 7:30 Saturday morning to hand out bags.

Stowe is also without a permanent Green Up Coordinator this year after the resignation of long-time coordinator Parker Diamond. However, the town’s Green Up routine will remain the same. Participants will meet at the Sunset Grille between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. There they’ll find coffee, donuts, maps and bags waiting for them. The Stowe Conservation Commission is in charge of the effort. For more information call Susan Moeck at the number below.

If you’re wondering how to get involved, start by contacting your town coordinator:

Belvidere – Thad Tallman 644-8236

Cambridge/Jeffersonville – Jill Richardson 644-6630

Eden – Anita Willey-Gagner 635-2735

Elmore – Warren & Kathy Miller 888-2296

Hyde Park – Ive LaMonda 888-0032

Johnson – Gail Longley 635-2917

Morristown – Steve Rea 253-4896

Stowe – Susan Moeck 253-7350

Waterville – Tom McGrail 644-2075

Wolcott – Amy Kolb Noyes 888-6983

HPES Hires New Principal

by Amy Kolb Noyes

HYDE PARK – Michelle Mathias, of Lyndon Center, will be the new principal at Hyde Park Elementary School, beginning this July. Mathias comes to Hyde Park from Lake Region Union High School, in Orleans, where she currently teaches marketing and accounting. Prior to teaching at Lake Region, Mathias served as the gifted and talented coordinator at Lyndon Town School. Mathias is also a doctoral candidate at the University of Vermont and pursuing her principal license endorsement from the state.

“The Hyde Park board is thrilled to have the knowledge from Michelle’s experience, which ranges from business management to gifted and talent education, coming to work for Hyde Park Elementary!” stated School Director Kalee Roberts.

Mathias visited the school with Roberts and said she found the visit to be encouraging and exciting. Mathias said she saw a lot of “happy faces” and noticed the warmth in the building and lots of creative work going on.

“I’m very, very excited about the prospect of working with the faculty and staff at Hyde Park,” Mathias told the News & Citizen.

Roberts reported the school board contracted with the Vermont School Boards Association to aid in the hiring process. Applications were first reviewed by a screening committee that included school staff and members of the public as well as a school board member. The committee narrowed a field of 15 candidates down to six interviewees. From there, three finalists were identified and Mathias was chosen.

“The board looks forward to working together with Ms. Mathias and the staff to continue many of the excellent programs Cassandra Thomas, interim principal, has initiated during her time in this position, including action planning, assessment work and professional development programs,” a board press release stated.

“Ms. Thomas has offered to work with Ms. Mathias to help make a smooth transition. At present, Ms. Thomas expects to return to teaching in the fall.

“The board wishes to express our profound appreciation for all the community members and HPES staff who helped select our new principal and especially Cassandra Thomas for her work as Principal this year.”

The school board reported it will host a welcome reception for Mathias in the near future.

12 and 13 Year Olds Behind the Wheel
 by Mickey Smith

According to a Vermont State Police press release, a 52 year old Elmore woman is alleged to have allowed her 13 year old daughter and 12 year old son drive a vehicle on Bliss Hill Road, which resulted in an accident at about 4:25 p.m. on Sunday, April 25.
According to VSP Trooper David Shaffer's press release, Jeanne Lokatys allegedly, told state police she was behind the wheel when her 2000 Jeep Cherokee Spirit was involved in a one car accident on Bliss Hill Road.
Her daughter was taken to Copley Hospital where she was treated for injuries, after having to be extricated from the front passenger seat. Lokatys was taken to the VSP's Lamoille County outpost at the Morristown Police Department, where she was processed for DUI and released on a citation.
Later that evening, during the course of their investigation, the Vermont State Police allege to have found out Lokatys was not the operator at the time of the accident, that she had allowed her daughter and an un-named 12 year old male to drive the Jeep. Other reports from the Vermont State Police have alleged she was not in the vehicle at the time, but was monitoring the kids’ activities from her home.
She was re-cited on two counts of reckless endangerment, obstructing justice, and giving false information to the police – along with several traffic tickets from the incident.
She is scheduled to appear in Lamoille County District Court in Hyde Park on Tuesday, May 27.