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February 20, 2016
Man succumbs after truck sinks into lake SWANTON Ñ A Swanton man was able to exit his truck before it fully sank through the ice into Lake Champlain on Saturday, Feb. 13, only to succumb to the elements about 150 yards away, police said. William Fournier, 23, had been ice fishing with friends that day in the area of CampbellÕ s Bay in Swanton. At around 7 p.m., Fournier and his acquaintances left the shanty they were occupying. According to police, FournierÕ s friends drove in a vehicle toward CampbellÕ s Bay Road, while Fournier drove by himself in his truck toward Alburgh. Swanton police were then notified at about 10:30 p.m. that Fournier had not returned home. Border Patrol officers in a helicopter were later able to locate FournierÕ s truck submerged in the water. The helicopter was equipped with heat detection technology but a heat source near the submerged truck was not found, police said, and the search was called off until morning due to safety concerns. When the search resumed, Vermont State Troopers assisted by Vermont Fish and Game officers, located Fournier deceased on the ice about 100-150 yards from his vehicle. An immediate cause of death was not available, pending an autopsy by the Vermont Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, police said. According to FournierÕ s Facebook page, he worked at Rene J. Fournier and SonÕ s Farm Inc. in Swanton and studied at Vermont Technical College. Swanton Police and members of the Swanton Fire Department were also involved in the search as well as Missisquoi Valley Rescue and the Grand Isle SheriffÕ s Department.
Published by New Market Press, Inc.
Paid Sick Days bill passes Vt Senate
MONTPELIER Ñ The Vermont State Senate gave preliminary approval to the Healthy Workplaces bill (H.187) on Tuesday, Feb. 2 and full approval the following day. The bill passed the House last year with a vote of 72-63. The senators are changing the bill, so it will go back to the House for review. House members can accept the changes, recommend further amendments, or ask for a Committee of Conference. That decision is expected within the next few weeks. Shap Smith (D-Morrisville), Speaker of the House, expressed his overall support for Paid Sick Days upon hearing about the billÕ s passage in the Senate. Smith stated, Ò IÕ m pleased that the Senate has advanced paid sick days. When Vermont workers are sick, they shouldnÕ t have to choose between supporting their family and taking care of themselves or their loved ones. IÕ m committed to working with the Senate to pass paid CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
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Middlebury’s Monroe Street Books, Vermont’s largest used book dealer, announced the first winners of its monthly book-buyer contest. The first winner was seven-year-old Clarin Gaucher of Middlebury. She received a $100 gift certificate for spending in the bookstore. Amanda Leite and Brandy Todt were runners-up and received $20 gift certificates. A new winner will be selected every month. Contact the shop for entry details.
Vermont A.G. drops probe against green activist By Bruce Parker
Vermont Watchdog Report
Annette Smith, founder of Vermonters for a Clean Environment, spoke freely to supporters after the attorney general’s office dropped its investigation into her advocacy work. Bruce Parker photo
EditorÕ s note: This is an update of the Vermont Watchdog story which appears in this weekÕ s Vermont Eagle newspaper edition. MONTPELIER Ñ Vermont Watchdog Report: A critic of Big Renewables in Vermont is free from the threat of criminal prosecution after the attorney general’s office dropped an investigation launched in response to complaints from an anonymous green-energy developer. Standing before a large crowd, Annette Smith, surrounded by her attorney and victims of green-energy development, thanked supporters and the anonymous developer whose complaints against her backfired when Vermonters rallied to her cause. Ò I want to thank the people who brought this complaint to the attorney general’s office,” Smith said to thunderous applause from dozens of people gathered at the Statehouse on
Monday. Ò I want to thank the attorney generalÕ s office, too, for following up on it and giving me this opportunity to speak to you all and to the people of Vermont to say we can work together to site renewable energy. We don’t have to fight over this, we don’t need lawyers to figure out how to build our energy future together.” Smith, an environmental activist who helps towns oppose poorly sited solar and wind plants, was the target of a criminal probe for allegedly representing individuals and filing pleadings in Public Service Board proceedings, and for receiving “attorney compensation” for her work. The complainant charged that Smith was guilty of practicing law without a license, an act punishable as criminal contempt of the Vermont State Supreme Court. A news release issued by the attorney general’s office on Monday said allegations against Smith didnÕ t apply. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7