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Take One
Vol. 4 No. 9 • February 29, 2012
Community News, Sports, Arts, Entertainment and Food for Rutland and Southern Vermont
Salmon: Vt. school embezzling ‘alarming’ From Staff & News Reports newmarketpress@denpubs.com
MONTPELIER – Vermont State Auditor Thomas M. Salmon released a situation report Feb. 21 indicating that since the year 2000, approximately $415,000 has been reported missing from 16 supervisory unions or school districts. The report is the result of an investigation triggered by an incident of wire transfer fraud at the Washington South Supervisory Union last fall. The event prompted the auditor to question the fraud reporting requirements and the financial controls in the state’s education system. In December, Salmon sent each superintendent and business manager a letter requesting information on any and all thefts, embezzlements and/or fraud that had taken place in the past 11 years. The results were as follows: • 16 entities had experienced an incident of theft, embezzlement, or wire fraud. • 25 total incidents were reported. • 4 entities had more than one such incident. • 8 entities had incidents involving more than $10,000, of these: • 4 entities had incidents exceeding $40,000. • 2 entities had events exceeding $100,000. • 4 entities had incidents involving food service or student activity accounts. • 16 events were reported to law enforcement. • 7 events resulted in criminal cases. Salmon said Vermonters’ tax dollars are at unnecessary risk in many places. “For a small state, the frequency of incidents involving fraud, embezzlement or theft in our See EMBEZZLING, page 2
THIS WEEK Pets of the Week ..........2 Rusty Dewees ..............4
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride Skiing bridesmaids tackle Okemo’s slopes By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com LUDLOW — Having survived the torment of being as a gawky kid, I’ve been dogged by Valentine’s Day and its sappy overtones ever since. Even as a grown man, I fulminate against the schoolish popularity contest aspect of this ancient holiday, no doubt missing all the fun and romance. Oh, well. I can still hear the fading voices of the kids in the schoolyard— ”So, how many Valentines did you receive?” Love it or leave it, Valentine’s Day remains a big deal with the ladies, married and single. Funny that the sentiments of that old adage, “always a bridesmaid, never a See BRIDESMAID, page 9
It was all for fun at last week’s “Running of the Bridesmaids” at the Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow Photo by Bonnie MacPherson
Artist, pilot has bird’s eye view of Vermont By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com SPRINGFIELD – For Springfield resident Len Emery, there’s a fine line between engineering, aviation, and art. Emery crisscrosses the thresholds of all three realms, again and again, during both his work and leisure time.
through the website for specifics about his work. Emery’s website contains several insights into what motivates him to produce art from on high– “In late 2004 I started the Vermont from One Thousand Feet, or VT1K, project. Since I wanted to work toward my commercial pilot’s license, I figured I could get in some flying time and take See EMERY, page 8
NASCAR invests in Devil’s Bowl track improvements Awarded $10,000 grant From News Reports
newmarketpress@denpubs.com WEST HAVEN — Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven has been awarded a grant for capital improvements and facility upgrades worth $10,000 from NASCAR. The prize was awarded last week during a conference at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Under its new ownership for 2012, the asphalt half-mile Devil’s Bowl track will see installation of a new concrete retaining wall and paving of the pit garage area access roads. The NASCAR funds are part of a total $100,000 grant divided among ten
weekly local speedways in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program. “We were surprised and very honored to be selected to receive the capital improvement funding,” said Devil’s Bowl Speedway media and marketing director Justin St. Louis. “The fact that NASCAR has shown us this much support so early in our new program is encouraging. We’ll be putting the grant money to good use in the beginning of our long-term renovations.” Devil’s Bowl Speedway opens its 46th season of stock car racing on Sunday, May 6, with the Spring Green 112 for the American-Canadian Tour Late Models, along with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modifieds, Renegades, and Bombers.
The original wall at Devil's Bowl Speedway has been removed and new concrete will be poured in the coming weeks thanks to a grant from NASCAR. Devil's Bowl Speedway photo
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An engineer who is also a pilot and aerial photographer, Emery is best known as and a contributing photographer to Vermont Life magazine. The artist’s website – www.lenemeryphotography.com/– contains many examples of Vermont aerial and landscape photography. Art collectors interested in the work may contact Emery
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