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FEMA to reimburse Vermont
From Staff & News Reports MONTPELIER — The State of Vermont, municipalities, and some nonprofit groups will be getting more federal money to reimburse them for costs incurred during Tropical Storm Irene and the subsequent clean up and repairs. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced May 17 that the U.S. Government has approved Gov. Peter Shumlin's (D) request for the federal government to reimburse applicants for 90 percent of the eligible costs to repair or restore infrastructure damaged by Irene instead of the standard 75 percent. "This announcement marks a major milestone in our recovery from Tropical Storm Irene," Governor Shumlin said. "It will mean significant savings for municipal budgets across the state, and for the state budget as well..." "We hope that this will help the state and its communities in their ongoing recovery," said Federal Coordinating Officer James N. Russo, the head of FEMA's mission in Vermont. "We know that Vermont and its towns and cities are working as hard as they can to repair damage, and we're working hard to get them their See FEMA, page 13
P.O. BOX 338 ELIZABETHTOWN, NY 12932 POSTAL CUSTOMER
Vol. 4 No. 21 • May 23, 2012
Community News, Sports, Arts, Entertainment and Food for Rutland and Southern Vermont
A collapsed portion of U.S. Route 7 near the Rutland Airport, August 2011. Now FEMA will reimburse Vermont 90 percent of Tropical Storm Irene repair costs.
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS
White River Junction mail facility to remain open From Staff & News Reports
The U.S. Postal Service mail-sorting center at White River Junction, Vt. will remain open, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced May 17. The Postal Service decision to continue operating the White River Junction plant once targeted for closure is part of a new national plan by Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. The latest plan was developed after sweeping service cuts he proposed ran into widespread opposition from postal customers, businesses and members of Congress. “This is great news for the 245 employees at the White River Junction plant and every Vermonter who relies on the Postal Service to deliver their mail on time, especially small See MAIL CENTER, page 12
Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) chats with WVTK 92.1 during a live broadcast during the celebration commemorating the new Lake Champlain Bridge May 19. Photo by Lou Varricchio
Central Vermont Public Service plans rate increase From Staff & News Reports
newmarketpress@denpubs.com RUTLAND — A bill credit and a temporary rate increase was called by Central Vermont Public Service for customers on July 1.
For a typical residential customer using 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month, bills will increase by $1.20, or 1.4 percent, on July 1. The increase is the net effect of a 2.2 percent surcharge to recover about $7.5 million of extraordinary costs of repairing and rebuilding
CVPS’s facilities in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene last year and a three-month bill credit that will be in effect starting in July to reflect the fact that power supply costs were slightly lower than expected in the first quarter of 2012. The Public Service Board must ap-
prove the changes. If approved, the 2.2 percent surcharge will go into effect starting July 1, 2012 and will last for one year. At the same time, the savings that will be credited to customer will also show up on the electric bill.
Historic academy getting a new brick walkway By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com
LUDLOW — Thanks to the help of volunteers and contract professionals in the Ludlow area, the historic Black River Academy Museum has seen a renaissance in the past two years. Recently, a new elevator wing was added to help upgrade the three-story 19th-century building to comply with several regulations. A new brick walkway to the elevator wing is being installed. "The walkway will provide easy access so that everyone may have easy access to its three floors of historic exhibits and programs," according to BRAM's Ralph Pace. "One of the key aspects of the walkway will be the inclusion of special memorial bricks purchased by donors in memory of a loved one." The spired academy, built in 1835, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. For information about the memorial brick project, call Pace at 228-5050. Pictured at left: Bricklayer Ralph Halloway and an assistant work on the new walkway at the historic Black River academy building in Ludlow.
THIS WEEK Pets of the Week ..........2 Ranger receives award ....3 Rusty Dewees ..............4 The Great Outdoors ......7-9 35152
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