262nd drives off into the sunrise

 
Albert J. Marro / Staff Photo
The last 13 members of 262nd Maine National Guard drive off toward the sunrise and home Friday morning after spening nearly a month helping repair roads and cleaning up after Tropical Storm Irene. Among the crowd saying goodbye in Mendon area were Alyssa Hoague (right) and Debbie Kelly.

Romney gets support from Vt. Republicans

MONTPELIER — Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney is picking up support from Republican leaders in Vermont.
Romney’s campaign on Thursday released a list of about 70 state office holders, legislators, state committee members, town and county chairs and others who he said have signed up to support his campaign for the 2012 Republican nomination.
Topping the list were state Auditor of Accounts Tom Salmon and Sen. Bill Doyle, minority leader in the Vermont Senate. Lt. Gov. Phil Scott so far isn’t on his list.
Scott aide Nancy Driscoll says the lieutenant governor hasn’t spoken with Romney or anyone in his campaign and has not decided yet which candidate he’ll support.

Bethel officials refuse to talk to media after evicting relief center from town hall

A reader sent email about this story and it does raise eyebrows.

Running from the media and refusing to answer questions is not the way to handle a controversy.

Select board orders relief center closed

After you watch or read this story, come back and let me know what you think.

Dover approves $100,000 for tourism

DOVER — The Select Board in the southern Vermont town of Dover has voted to spend $100,000 to promote tourism and help local businesses still feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Irene.
Town officials say they want to combat impressions that the area is shut down due to the devastating floods that swept through the region on Aug. 28. The Mount Snow resort is involved, where marketing director Vinnie Lewis says the recovery has been swift and the town is open for business.
The plan has already been put into motion so residents in southern New England and the greater New York metropolitan area will be seeing billboards, print and Internet ads promoting the message that the Mount Snow Valley is open for business.

Target said eyeing Williston for 1st Vt. store

WILLISTON — Officials in Williston say discussions are under way that could bring the first Target store to the state of Vermont.
Reports say target is considering a 26-acre plot in Williston just east of Taft Corners as the location for a 135,000-square-foot store.
Williston planner Ken Bellievau says he estimates it could be three to five years before Target could get through the town planning process. Then Target would have to get a state land-use permit.
Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder said she could provide no information, except to say that Target has long been interested in opening a store in Vermont, the only state without a Target.

Sanders rips federal heating aid cuts

BURLINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders is warning of a severe winter health emergency if federal spending for home heating assistance isn’t restored.
The Obama administration cut its request for heating assistance funding from $5.1 billion to $2.6 billion, based on projections last spring that energy prices would fall.
But Sanders says that hasn’t happened, and the result is that many people living in colder regions this winter may have to go without needed assistance in paying for heating.
He says that in Vermont, heating oil prices are projected to be about 25 percent higher this year than last winter and could soon top $4 a gallon.
The six New England governors, including Vermont’s Peter Shumlin, also recently warned the president about significant shortfalls in home heating assistance funds.

200-inning, 48-hour game an official record

BARRE TOWN – The final pitch was thrown at the Barre Town Recreation Area back in late-July, but the organizer of a baseball game that lasted a jaw-dropping 200 innings told the Select Board this week that he recently received verification of a world record that it took two teams from the Rutland Country Store 48 hours, 32 minutes and 45 seconds to set.

“It’s now an official world record,” Bobby DeAngelis said of the new record for the longest continuously played baseball game that was set in Barre Town during this summer’s Heritage Festival.

DeAngelis, who delivered a $1,200 check to compensate the town for tying up their field for just over two days, said he hopes the new record will last at least as long as the old one.

The old record – 48 hours, 9 minutes and 25 seconds – was set in St. Louis in 2009.

“Hopefully it stands up for another year or two,” DeAngelis said of the record, suggesting that if it falls two teams from the Rutland Country Store, who played to  a final score of 210-114 could be back in Barre Town to give it another go.

According to DeAngelis, the record was even more impressive because only 27 players participated – averaging 40 hours of game time apiece.

“We were allowed up to 40 players,” he said, noting 38 people had actually signed up to play but 11 bailed at the last minute.

DeAngelis said the certificate from Guinness arrived earlier this month and is now on display at the Rutland Country Store.

Route 9 bridge in Bennington limited to one lane

If you drive Route 9 in Bennington, your commute may have to change if you use the bridge that is just past Barney Road heading east.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation announced today that the bridge has been closed to one lane of traffic after bridge inspectors determined there was scouring of one of the supporting piers.

VTrans has been conducting additional rounds of bridge inspections after debris has been removed and some of these inspections are revealing additional damage to the bridges.

FEMA mobile disaster center stops in Windsor

WINDSOR COUNTY — A Federal Emergency Management Agency mobile disaster recovery vehicle will be visiting Windsor County communities affected by Tropical Storm Irene this weekend.

The vehicle is a remote disaster recovery center that provides information on federal recovery assistance.

The FEMA mobile disaster recovery vehicle will be making its first stop at Bethel Town Hall at 318 Main St. Hours are Friday are noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The second stop is the South Royalton Journey Church at 412 South Windsor St. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 6 and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 8.

Disaster officials encourage those affected by the storm to register with FEMA before visiting a disaster recovery center by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or via a web-enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov.

Multilingual registration assistance is available. To find the nearest disaster recovery center check online at www.fema.gov/drclocator.

Guard leaving now; step outside

Guard is leaving now. Step outside if you're on North Main Street or Woodstock Avenue in Rutland and say thanks with a friendly wave, cheer or whatever you have in you.