Fri Noon News Script

Fri 17-MAY-2013 Noon News Script

1} TRACTOR12_VO

Good evening, I'm Roger Garrity. First responders are dealing with a big mess in Vergennes. It's not clear why -- but a tractor trailer went off of Route 22-A and smashed into a sewage pump station. Responders worked to contain two spills - fuel from the truck and sewage from the pump station. Power was cut to the pump station for safety reasons. Crews don't know when it will be turned back on.

2} TRAILER12_SOTVO

((20:15 Chief Matthew Fraley/City of Vergennes: totally destroyed, there's two pumps in there that send the sewage down to the sewage department. Both those pumps are destroyed, control panel destroyed, has to be completely repaired. 20:32)) In the meantime, the pump station is being drained every hour.

3} RESCUE12_MAP

Rescue crews brought a pair of stranded boaters to shore last night in the southern part of Lake Champlain. At about 10:45 last night, two men in a motor boat ran aground in shallow water just off shore in Benson Landing. The Benson Fire Department's water rescue team found the men and brought them to shore about two hours later. They boaters did not suffer any injuries.

4} EARTHQUAKE12_MAP

Some people in our region felt the earth shake this morning. According to the U-S Geological Survey a magnitude 4-point-4 earthquarke occured at about 9:45 this morning -- centered in Shawville, Ontario. An aftershock registered a magnitude 3-point-6. We received numerous reports from people in the northern part of our viewing area that they felt the shaking. There were no reports of any injuries or damage.

5} BENNINGTON11_VO

A lockdown at the Energizer battery plant in Bennington last night may have been prompted by concerns of a person with a gun in the building. Police say an employee sounded the alarm around 5:00 yesterday -- putting the plant into lockdown. Bennington police were not informed until about 30 minutes later -- and as they were responding they received a further call about a person with a gun on the third floor of the building. Police say they conducted a thorough sweep of the building but found nothing. The investigation into who triggered the lockdown and why -- is ongoing. The Energizer plant was the site of deadly workplace shooting back in 1991.

6} DRUG10X_VO

Two separate drug busts in the same building last night in Burlington's new northend. A sign left by federal drug enforcement agents on the door at 142-and-a-half Sandra Circle -- says a dangerous clandestine lab was inside. Federal and local officers cleared nearby homes Wednesday -- as a precaution. During that process -- police found a marijuana growing operation in the other side of the duplex -- and seized 249 plants.

7} LAB10X_SOTVO

((Marta Hammond: 1:15:49 there was all kinds of things being spread around -- you know about what could it be what could it be -- in such a quiet neighborhood it was very shocking, very shocking. 1:15;57)) 34 year old Anthony Wright was arraigned in state court this morning on marijuana cultivation charges charges. Federal officials confirmed today the clandestine lab in the apartment next door was used to make methamphetamine. So far -- no wordon any charges related to the lab found -- or whether the two cases are at all related.

8} ARSON12_MAPOC

Two Morrisville women are facing charges for allegedly trying to torch a home this week. Police say matches and gasoline were used to light the George Street home on fire early Tuesday morning. The blaze caused only minor damage. But police say four adults and two children were in the house at the time. The investigation led police to arrest Leola Bell and Tina Cole. Police say the suspects also called in a false fire report in an attempt to divert firefighters from the George Street home.

9} USEDCARS12_WHITE

A Vermont used car dealer is facing federal fraud charges by hiding malfunctions in the cars he sold. Prosecutors say 40-year-old Douglas Jordan of Wolcott bought high-mileage used cars at auction and sold them thru his business called Auto Credit Solutions. Prosecutors say Jordan would conceal mechanical problems with such things as the engine, brakes and airbags by disabling warning lights. Jordan is also accused of rolling back the odometer on one vehicle.

10} VTUNEMPLOY12_FONT

Vermont's unemployment dropped slighlty again last month. The statewide jobless rate for April was an even 4-percent -- down a tenth of a point from March. The national unemployment rate now stands at 7-point-5 percent -- also down a tenth from March. Vermont's mark remains the third lowest in the country.

11} NYUNEMPLOYMENTAM_FONT

New York's unemployment rate is at its lowest level since the end of the recession in 2009. Preliminary numbers from the Department of Labor show the April rate fell to 7-point-8 percent -- down from 8-point-2 percent from March and 8-point-6 percent a year earlier. The state says almost 24-thousand private-sector jobs were added in April.

12} UVMGRAD12_VO

UVM graduation is this Sunday. Jazz musician Wynton Marsalis will deliver the commencement address on the University green. The eight colleges and schools of the University of Vermont will hold individual ceremonies throughout the day. Several streets will be closed starting tonight to accommodate the festivities. For a full listing - you can find a link at the InfoCenter at wcax dot com.

13} COOR11_VO

A former longtime UVM President is being honored -- with a building. The administration building for the College of Arts and Sciences will now be known as the Lattie F. Coor House. Coor served as U-V-M's 21st president from 19-76 to 19-89 -- and is credited with improving infrastructure -- and the school's finances during that time. The building at 438 College Street -- was not owned by the University during Coor's presidency -- but has since been renovated to meet both historical and LEED standards.

14} HOUSE11_SOTVO

((Lattie Coor/Former UVM President: Great to be back on this campus. I spent a wonderful 14 years here, my children grew up here and in its own way I did too. I love being here and I love the honor of being affiliated with this magnificent house )) Coor went on to serve as the president of Arizona State University -- where there is a Lattie Coor Hall on that campus.

15} FORECAST

Today: North: Partly sunny South: Mostly sunny Highs: 62 to 68 Wind: NNW 10 to 15 mph Tonight: Clear skies Lows: 35 to 42 Wind: Light Saturday: Partly cloudy Highs: 65 to 72 Wind: NNW 5 to 10 mph Extended: Sunday: Partly sunny Lows: 40s Highs: 65 to 75 Monday: Mostly cloudy Chance for showers Lows: 45 to 55 Highs: 70s Tuesday: Mostly cloudy Showers Lows: 50s Highs: 70s Hyper-Extended: Wednesday: Mostly cloudy Showers Lows: 50s Highs: 70s Thursday: Mostly cloudy Showers Lows: 50s Highs: 70s

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