Officials Announce Launch of “DEC TV”

            The state Department of Environmental Conservation this week announced the launch of “DEC TV,” a video platform that offers a variety of outdoor-related content.

            The new multimedia web service features short clips detailing outdoor recreation opportunities, from hiking in the Adirondacks to fishing off the Long Island sound. It also provides wildlife information on plants, animals and environmental programs – like the tagging and tracking procedures.

            Many videos offer educational programming on environmental stewardship and the importance of protecting the state’s natural resources.

            So far, DEC TV is broadcasting over 60 short clips that were originally produced in a television show called “Empire State Outdoors.” That 30-minute program was viewed throughout New York for a limited time in 2005.

            Staff took the segment and re-edited it, breaking it up into short, three-to-seven-minute clips. Those clips can be viewed at www.dec.ny.gov

            DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis says the new web feature brings the department up to speed with the ever-evolving world of Internet technology.

“DEC TV gives schools, families and outdoor enthusiasts a dynamic access point for viewing compelling video about New York’s natural resources.”

The hope, Grannis says, is to encourage New Yorkers to get out of the computer room and into the outdoors.

“We’re releasing this new feature now, as we approach the holiday weekend and begin the heart of the summer season, to show the amazing array of outdoor experiences in the Empire State,” Grannis added.

-Chris Morris, 7-2-09

Body Found in Hudson Tentatively ID’d as Missing Sailor

A body recovered from the upper Hudson River has been tentatively identified as the remains of a U.S. Navy sailor who disappeared swimming in the treacherous, rain-swollen waters.

Warren County Sheriff Bud York says the body found Thursday morning is believed to be that of 20-year-old Jesse Lyon of Soda Springs, Idaho. He says an autopsy will officially determine the identity and cause of death.

The body was found under a bridge about 2 miles south of where Lyons disappeared Sunday afternoon while swimming across the river with a group of other sailors assigned to the Navy's nuclear power training site near Saratoga Springs.

Officials say the currents along that stretch of river 45 miles north of Albany have gotten stronger because of persistent rain in recent weeks.

DOT to Begin Repairs of Crown Point Bridge

The state Department of Transportation is starting work today on a series of repairs to the Lake Champlain Bridge.

During a bridge inspection completed last month, DOT says several areas of steel deterioration to the bridge’s truss system were discovered.

As a result, repair work to the bridge was ordered.  That work will begin today and DOT says motorists may encounter significant travel delays.

A temporary signal system will be used to control one-way, alternating traffic on the bridge, which spans Lake Champlain between Crown Point, New York and Chimney Point, Vermont. 

The weight posting on the bridge will also be reduced to 40 tons, the legal maximum load on a New York State bridge without a special permit.  Legally-loaded tractor trailers will be permitted to use the bridge; however, overweight vehicles will be prohibited.

Built in 1929, the bridge consists of 14 spans totaling 2,184 feet.  It accommodates approximately 3,400 vehicles per average day.

A project either to rehabilitate or replace the bridge is being developed by both the New York State DOT and the Vermont Agency of Transportation under an agreement between the states.  The current project schedule calls for construction to begin in 2013. 

Two Teens Arrested for Morrisonville Fires

            Two Plattsburgh-area teenagers were arrested on arson charges yesterday for allegedly igniting a string of wildland fires within the Morrisonville Fire District.

            The fires took place over the course of several weeks, beginning in April. An extensive investigation led Plattsburgh-based State Police to arrest 17-year-old Chad R. Smith and a 15-year-old male eligible for youthful offender status. The teens allegedly set at least 20 forest and wilderness fires.

            The teens have been charged with one count each of fifth-degree arson, a misdemeanor offense.

            State Police received assistance from Clinton County Emergency Services Coordinator Eric Day and Clinton County Sheriff’s Deputy Anthony Cordick.

            The 15-year-old was issued a Family Court appearance ticket and released to the custody of his mother. Chad Smith has been issued an appearance ticket for July 2 in Schuyler Falls Town Court.

            -Chris Morris, 6-30-09

Murphy Faces Tough Questions, Praise on Climate Change Bill

Congressman Scott Murphy was in Ticonderoga on Monday, where he faced some tough questions about his vote for the climate change-energy bill.

The bill, if approved in the Senate, would impose limits on air pollution and create a “cap and trade” program for air-pollution credits.  

Supporters say that approach will lead to the shift to cleaner, alternative energy sources and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants associated with global warming by 17 per cent by 2020 and 83 per cent by 2050.  But critics, including many Republicans, say the cap and trade program amounts to a costly tax on energy companies.

Murphy, a Democrat, voted in favor of the bill, saying it will create green jobs and break our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

At yesterday’s meeting, Dorothy Bast from the town of Hague said she worried that the cap and trade bill would cost American jobs and bring higher taxes.

“When this energy bill goes through, our taxes are going sky high, right?” she asked. “No,” Murphy responded.  “This is what we call pay-go compliant meaning this bill pays for itself without chasing you with taxes.”

According to the Congressional Budget Office, energy prices in New York and Vermont could actually decline under the new carbon-tax system approved by the House.

Murphy also drew praise for supporting a last-minute amendment that would give pollution credits to pulp and paper mills that generate power using wood waste.

Donna Wadsworth is with the International Paper mill in Ticonderoga.

“We really want to thank you for supporting our industry and this energy bill,” she told Murphy.  “I know it was a hard fight and we really appreciate it.  And we hope you continue to support the paper industry in New York, it’s a vital industry with 600 employees at the Ticonderoga mill."

The sweeping climate and energy bill passed in the House by a 219-212 vote.  Republican North Country Congressman John McHugh voted in favor of the measure. 

McHugh said the bill was far from perfect, but highlighted a provision that addresses acid rain.  The legislation provides an 18 month time frame for the Environmental Protection Agency to study the effects of different carbon reduction strategies on reducing emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury. 

“This legislation provided the best opportunity since I have been in Congress for significant legislative action to be taken in the fight to combat acid rain and mercury precipitation,” McHugh said.

The climate change bill still faces a tough battle in the US Senate.  

-Brian Mann, NCPR, with Chris Knight, 6-30-09 

 

Hannaford Issues Beef Recall

Hannaford Supermarkets is warning its customers in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont to check their freezers for recalled beef.

Spokesman Mike Norton says the supermarket chain learned on Sunday that its stores might have received beef subject to a voluntary recall by Colorado-based JBS Swift Beef Company.

Norton says customers should check their freezers for any ground beef or beef products with sell-by dates ranging from April 28 through June 6. Hannaford will provide a refund or replacement.

JBS Swift announced Sunday it’s voluntarily expanding its beef recall to include about 380,000 pounds of products because of possible E. coli contamination.

For more information visit Hannaford’s www.hannaford.com

-AP wire reports, 6-30-09

Police Release Name of Missing Sailor in NY River

Authorities have released the name of the U.S. Navy sailor who's missing and presumed drowned after he tried to swim across the upper Hudson River.

The Warren County Sheriff's Department says 20-year-old Jesse Lyon of Soda Springs, Idaho was with a group of other sailors swimming across the river Sunday afternoon when he went under and disappeared.

Police divers searched for him Sunday and again Monday in a section of the river in the southern Adirondacks that's known for treacherous currents. Police believe Lyon's body is trapped under the rock cliffs that line the river about 45 miles north of Albany.

The search was expected to resume today.

Lyon and the other sailors were assigned to the Navy's atomic power training site in neighboring Saratoga County.

-AP wire reports, 6-30-09

Filmmaker to Preview National Parks Series in Vermont

Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns plans to preview his six-part TV series about America's national parks Wednesday in Vermont.

Burns and Dayton Duncan will host the preview of "The National Parks: America's Best Idea," set for 7 p.m. at the Bellows Falls Opera House. Burns, whose previous epics include "The Civil War," "Jazz," and "Baseball," will take questions from the audience afterward, according to the Brattleboro Reformer.

The series' premiere is set for Sept. 27 on PBS.

Tickets for the screening are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and benefit the Student Conservation Association and the Walpole Historical Society.

-AP wire reports, 6-30-09

UVM Marks 100th Year of Summer School

The University of Vermont's summer school program marks its 100th anniversary this year, and it's come a long way since 1909.

The Burlington university now offers 500 courses, charging $4,692 for a full 12-credit load. When it started, the summer program charged $10 tuition and served mainly teachers, although it was open to college students looking to obtain credits.

Cynthia Belliveau, dean of continuing education, says teachers and other professionals and students making up courses they'd flunked once made up the bulk of the summer school students. Today, she tells the Burlington Free Press, the summer program serves to help people manage course loads and finish college in less than four years.

In this year's program, 46 percent of the students are undergraduates and 16 percent are UVM undergraduates.

-AP wire reports, 6-29-09

 Counties Get Federal Drug Trafficking Designation

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman John McHugh announced last week theyhave successfully secured more federal resources to combat drug smuggling networks across the North Country.

Schumer, Gillibrand and McHugh say they’ve been able to get three North Country counties included as part of the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

The approval of the application follows several actions taken by the Senators and Congressman in support of the application. At the time the application was filed, Schumer, McHugh, and then-Senator Clinton wrote the White House, stressing their strong support.

Schumer questioned Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director R. Gil Kerlikowske about the matter both in a private meeting, and publicly at Kerlikowske’s Senate confirmation hearing.  After Kerlikowske’s confirmation, Schumer, Gillibrand, and McHugh wrote him, again in support of the application, also sending a similar letter at that time to Attorney General Eric Holder.

The three also introduced legislation earlier this spring requiring that the counties be added.

On Friday, the legislators announced that, due in part to their efforts, three of the four counties - Clinton, Franklin and St. Lawrence – have been added to the HIDTA program. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Congressman McHugh said that they would continue their efforts to secure designation for the fourth applicant, Jefferson County.

Schumer says acquiring the high-density designation was a long, tough fight, but he’s thankful the application has been approved.

“I was proud to be a part of expanding HIDTA in 2007, and I’m proud to join Senator Gillibrand and Congressman McHugh in doing it again,” Schumer said. “We can already see the benefits of having this tough, effective, statewide crime fighting network in place.”

But Schumer isn’t finished yet. He says the goal is to acquire the same designation for Jefferson County, too.

Senator Gillibrand says the safety and security of New York’s communities is her top priority. One month ago, she met with local law enforcement groups to discuss the importance of acquiring HIDTA in northern New York.

“I’m proud that together with Senator Schumer and Congressman McHugh, we were able to provide the resources we need on the ground to keep Northern New York communities safe and drug-free,” Gillibrand said. “I will continue working to keep our families safe.”  

McHugh says cross-border drug trafficking poses a significant threat to the U.S. The additional federal funds will help to immediately and effectively meet that threat.

“Our local leaders and law enforcement are doing tremendous work but need the additional federal resources this designation will provide to fully address this situation,” McHugh said.

Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne also praised the government’s decision.

“The designation of Franklin, Clinton, and St. Lawrence counties will significantly enhance our ability to combat cross-border drug trafficking,” Champagne said. “Additionally, it will help us as we work to protect our nation from terrorism.”

The North Country's geographic attributes and transportation infrastructure create conditions conducive for drug smuggling. Clinton, Franklin, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties feature 16 points of entry to the United States, three of which are within the top ten most used points of entry on the United States northern border.

-AP wire reports, 6-26-09

Report of Lightning Strike Prompts Search

The Coast Guard says a search of Lake Champlain for a vessel that had reportedly been struck by lightning came up empty.

The Burlington Free Press says officials at the Burlington station said late Thursday evening a search came up empty after covering 250 square miles with the help of three aircraft.

The Coast Guard launched the search after receiving a radio call from an unknown source.

A storm was moving through the area, but authorities have received no reports of lightning.

Taking part in the search were rescue boats and aircraft from the Coast Guard station in Burlington, the Colchester Police Department, and Customs and Border Protection in Plattsburgh.

-AP wire reports, 6-26-09

Vermont Yankee Fixes Leak at Nuke Plant

The owner of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant says technicians have fixed a stubborn leak in a condenser and completed other emergency repairs.

Entergy Nuclear says the repairs mean the reactor is ready to return to full power on Friday.

On Monday, the plant reduced power to 26 percent so the leak of about 30 gallons of non-radioactive Connecticut River water an hour could be located and fixed.

Plant spokesman Larry Smith tells the Rutland Herald the leak occurred in one of the four water boxes that make up the condenser, which cools the radioactive steam from the reactor.

The condenser is made up of 24,000 tubes.

-AP wire reports, 6-26-09

Killington Condo Developer Plans Wind Turbine

A condominium development in Killington wants to offset some of its electricity costs by putting up a 100-kilowatt wind turbine.

Sunrise Mountain Village Manager Richard Kolb says the 150-foot turbine would go next to a water tower.

He says the turbine would provide most of the electricity for the sewer and water system of the 256-unit development.

The Rutland Herald says Sunrise Village has applied to the Public Service Board for a certificate of public good to erect a test tower.

Kolb says they'll monitor the wind for a year before deciding if the turbine is feasible.

-AP wire reports, 6-26-09

Vermont Cuts 10 Percent from Environmental Agency

The number of people working at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is down almost 10 percent over the last six months.

The administration of Gov. Jim Douglas has eliminated 58 positions within the agency.

Of those positions, 30 were vacant and then eliminated and 28 people left through layoffs, retirements or resignations. The number includes 11 people laid off this week.

The reductions include one third of the solid waste management staff, an assistant director of the Air Quality Division, two natural resources planners and a wetlands specialist, whose salary was mostly paid with a federal funds.

The agency released a list of the cuts to the Burlington Free Press.

-AP wire reports, 6-25-09

Sen. Little Comments on Senate Leadership Debacle

State Senator Betty Little says she’s been frustrated with the ongoing standoff in the Senate.

Little released a statement yesterday, not long after Gov. David Paterson threatened to withhold lawmakers pay and take them to court to get them back to work amid the chamber's ongoing power struggle.

“The stalemate is very frustrating,” Little said.  “The last thing I want is an impasse that holds hostage bills important to the communities I represent as well as those of others.”

The Senate has been deadlocked since all 30 Republicans and two dissident Democrats mounted a June 8 overthrow of the Democratic conference.

“When I voted for a leadership change two weeks ago, I was voting against a system in the Senate that wasn't working,” Little said. 

“Immediately following the leadership vote, I voted for rules changes that would empower all members, regardless of the party or the region they represent. For me that's what this struggle is about.  And it is not something I want to give up on.”

Little says both sides could go back and forth for days, weeks and even months arguing procedure, parliamentary rules and constitutional questions.

“But we are elected to consider and vote on legislation,” Little said.  “We need a resolution.”

The senator said she is supporting the use of binding arbitration to settle the issue.  “It is my hope that my Democrat colleagues will agree to arbitration and that at the end of this, we can get the work done that we are here to do and reach a compromise that includes long-overdue reforms to make the operation of the Senate more fair and open,” Little said.

Governor Paterson had threatened to take lawmakers to court, but now the state Senate plans to hold its first full session in nearly three weeks.

Late Wednesday night, Paterson issued a statement saying there was no need to seek a court order to get senators back to work in another special session today.

The governor's statement was released after the Senate's Democratic conference and the Republican-dominated coalition had agreed to meet jointly this afternoon in what would be the chamber's first full session in 20 days.

-Chris Knight with AP reports, 6-25-09