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August 30, 2014

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EEE turns up in Whiting

WOODCHUCK FEST

By Lou Varricchio lou@addison-eagle.com

Rare bat calls hydro plant home By Lou Varricchio lou@addison-eagle.com MIDDLEBURY Ñ Last week, Green Mountain Power officials revealed that tiny, winged guests have made their home in the companyÕ s Middlebury hydro facility; the plant produces 8.5 million kWh a year for 1,200 homes nearby. Unlike other guests we all know that seem to drop in and then never leave, these little critters are welcomedÑ heck, encouragedÑ to stay and invite more of their friends. GMP spokeswoman Kristin Carlson said the power company is sheltering a colony of endangered little brown bats. Carlson mentioned that Fish & Wildlife Bat Biologist Alyssa Bennett believes that the colony settled in the 100 year-old hydro building because of itÕ s warm and close to Otter Creek. According to Carlson, the bats come out at night. Otter Creek is the source for their meals. In addition to providing a cozy home for the little brown bats, Ò ItÕ s so great that in addition to generating clean energy, our hydro facility is home to the Little Brown bats, an endangered bats species,Ó said Carlson. Ò Whether itÕ s osprey, bears or loons, GMP has a strong commitment to VermontÕ s environment and wildlife and this is only the latest in our work to support VermontÕ s treasured natural CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

WHITING Ñ Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus has been detected in two batches of bird-biting mosquitoes collected from the town of Whiting on Aug. 19. This is the first detection of EEE virus in southern Addison County this year, and the first detection of this virus in Vermont since it was found in mosquitoes from Grand Isle in the middle of June. West Nile virus was detected for the first time this season in mosquito pools collected in St. Albans two weeks ago. Both viruses are spread to humans and some animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. No human or animal cases have been reported to date in 2014. “These detections confirm that both mosquito-borne viruses are circulating in Vermont again this year,Ó said Erica Berl, infectious disease epidemiologist for the Vermont Department of Health. Ò EEE can be a very serious disease and, although the risk of getting infected is low, itÕ s not zero. No matter where you live Ð enjoy the outdoors CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Woodchuck celebrated the grand opening of its state-of-the-art cider-making facility with a mini Woodstick-style festival attended by fans and tourists, Aug. 23. The event included entertainment as well as spectacular, concluding fireworks. Here popular singer Jaimie Lee Thurston performs on stage. “It couldn’t have been more perfect. The weather was stellar, the Woodchuck crew and the production crew made everything run as smooth as polished steel, and the people came by the thousands. What a day...,” Thurston Tweeted to fans. Photo courtesy of Jaimie Lee Thurston

170 employees lose jobs after Rutland fire By Elicia Mailhoit elicia@addison-eagle.com

The ruins of Rutland Plywood in Rutland Town were still smoldering Aug. 22 when this photograph was taken from West Street near the Rutland Town-Proctor town line. Photo by Lou Varricchio

RUTLAND TOWN Ñ A blaze at a local plywood facility has left 170 people unemployed as of Friday morning. Firefighters responded to a fire in a small facility on Ripley Road that belongs to Rutland Plywood Corp., a manufacturer of hardwood composites and specialty plywood for several nationwide companies, just after 5 p.m. on Aug. 20. The fire was under control within a half hour and no injuries were reported. Firefighters believed they had extinguished the blaze, but were called back to the scene shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday. The fire had re-ignited and this time, they found the 30,000 squarefoot main facility fully engulfed. The two buildings are separated by just 75 feet. Investigators were on scene Thursday and determined that the fires were not suspicious, ruling out the possibility of Arson. Instead, they believe the original inferno was caused by machinery. 170 individuals were laid off as a result of the fire and have gained the support of Gov. Peter Shumlin and the State of Vermont, who has identified a team to simplify the unemployment insurance process. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10


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