The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • 13

press VERMON INSIDE Community 2B Deaths 4B Sports 5B SECTION www.burlingtonfreepress.com frft. Tuesday, January 29, 2008 Metro Editor Patrick Garrity 660-1897 or (800) 427-3124 Page IB looters' liouor license susoe nded JL State regulators cite violations during contest By Dan McLean Free Press Staff Writer Thanks to a springtime bikini contest which Hooters' general manager acknowledges got "a little crazy" the South Burlington wings restaurant will not be able to sell alcohol during the Super Bowl on Sunday. The Vermont Department of Liquor Control cited Hooters Restaurant with five violations. The penalty: a liquor license suspension from Jan. 20 to Feb.

7. Jeff Lockwood, manager of the South Burlington Hooters, downplayed the effect the suspension would have on business and declined to speak specifically about Super Bowl Sunday, when the New York Giants attempt to upset the un- pear to be intoxicated, allowing employees to consume alcoholic beverages while working, and allowing games or competitions that "encourage the rapid or excessive consumption of alcohol" or serve alcohol for free. Roughly 220 people attended the May 23 bikini contest at the restaurant, held to determine which waitress would be flown to Las Vegas to compete in Hooters' annual swimsuit pageant. The competition is "like a beauty pageant," Lockwood said. The Vermont Department of Liquor Control dispatched two undercover officers, who were working on "a special detail," to the Hooters bikini contest for four hours.

Lockwood characterized the state action as "a sting." "The contest did get a little crazy," Lockwood said, noting the restaurant's occupancy remained below the maximum of 240. At least 25 percent of the event's attendees "were of questionable age," the inves- tigation report said. "We had no underage drinking at any time and at no time was anyone in danger," Lockwood said. Some people were not carded at the bar, he said, because ages were checked at the door and many attendees were regular customers. The violation report includes a statement from a bikini contest judge who allegedly told a liquor control officer he was "hammered." See HOOTERS, 4B South Burlington beaten New England Patriots.

"We are still a restaurant. And we are still open for business. We're just a little slower right now," Lockr wood said, noting 60 percent of the establishment's revenue is from food and 40 percent is from alcohol sales. Hooters' violations include serving people of "questionable age," selling alcohol to patrons who ap Students know their rights 9 House to vote on budget bill Measure adjusts current-year spending tr 1 0 'v 1 1 Hi By Nancy Remsen Free Press Staff Writer MONTPELIER The House will vote this week on a bill that would allow state government to spend $17 million to operate through June. The pending budget bill repays the $6.5 million that had been borrowed to cover expenses in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program, adds $2.2 million because the cost of out-of-state prison beds increased, and provides an extra $2 million to support the growing caseload of struggling single parents and their young children.

The House Appropriations Committee voted 10-0 Monday to recommend the iv I LEGISLATURE package of adjustments to the current spending plan. Chairwoman Martha Heath, D-Westford, noted that the budget adjustment bill contains good news, which budget writers welcomed as they get ready to make difficult choices about spending for next year. For example, she said the Medicaid caseload had dropped resulting in $42 mil-See BUDGET, 3B 4 J. TOBY TALBOT, The Associated Press Students from Essex High School compete in the annual "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" state competition in Montpelier on Monday. Students demonstrated their knowledge of the U.S.

Constitution and the Bill of Rights before a panel of judges. The winning team competes in a national finals in Washington, D.C. From left, Susanna Battig, Chris Konczal and Hayley Schumacher. Colleges put focus on global warming State's attorney investigates traffic stop Burlington Colchester By Tim Johnson Free Press Staff Writer Scientists have spoken on global warming, but the window of opportunity for action is closing fast, and it will take a mass political movement something like the civil rights movement to avert catastrophe. So said author and environmental activist Bill McKibben in a talk at Cham-plain College on Monday afternoon.

The difference with the civil rights movement, he said, was that leaders of that knew they would eventually win. By contrast, there's no assurance that the movement to avert disastrous climate change will prevail. Only a few years remain to make a difference, he said. He pointed to some positive more cases Trombley investigated in the weeks leading up to his termination. The cases might not be sustainable if Trombley's credibility becomes an issue in legal proceedings.

Donovan has dismissed two drunken-driving cases Trombley investigated. He said he could reinstate those charges but regarded the prospect of that as unlikely. The Trombley case is an isolated incident and doesn't reflect on the rest of the Colchester Police Department or other area law enforcement agencies, Donovan said. Contact Matt Sutkoski at 660-1846 or was fired. The information is important to help him gauge the credibility of officers involved, Donovan said.

"We are going to review the evidence, and we will conduct some interviews on our own," Donovan said. Friday, Voegele expressed reluctance to turn over documents related to Trombley's employment, citing employee confidentiality guidelines. Donovan said that since Friday, he has had discussions with Colchester officials regarding the case, but he declined to characterize those discussions. The state's attorney is reviewing whether to dismiss By Matt Sutkoskl Free Press Staff Writer Chittenden County State's Attorney T.J. Donovan said Monday that he is following through with his pledge to investigate whether criminal charges are warranted in the case of a Colchester police officer who stopped an off-duty Burlington officer on suspicion of drunken driving, then let him go.

Donovan said he is seeking evidence from Colchester to help him decide whether a crime, such as driving while intoxicated or neglect of duty, occurred. Colchester Town Manager Al Voegele on Friday signs: The national awareness of the problem is rising, and the "Step it Up" campaign, which generated more than 1,000 demonstrations across the country last year, set a useful precedent. The necessary changes are huge, but they have to be made rapidly, he said. "We have to stop building coal-fired power plants. We have to phase out coal over the next 20 years, not develop oil from shale and tar sands," he said.

That's just for starters. When asked for one thing an individual could do, he replied: "Politically organize." McKibben's remarks were Champlain College's key- See WARMING, 3B fired Dale Trombley, the Colchester officer involved in the traffic stop. Trombley can appeal the firing to the Colchester Selectboard. Voegele declined to say Monday whether an appeal has been filed. The Burlington officer who was stopped by Trombley on Nov.

2, Sgt. Donald Lilja, resigned from the force in December. Donovan said he is seeking affidavits, reports, video and other evidence of the traffic stop. He said he would also like a finding or document describing the basis on which Trombley Judge to decide status of Rooney tapes if Shamy off Free Press columnist Ed Shamy is on vacation. His column will resume next week.

For past columns, go to www. burling tonfreepress and click "Columnists" in the menu. final decision to Judge Michael Kupersmith, who two weeks ago denied a public records request by the media outlets. The television station and the newspaper are seeking copies of recorded police interviews with Rooney, the man accused of abduct ing, raping and killing University of Vermont senior Michelle Gardner- Quinn in October 2006. The material covers interactions between Rooney, 37, of Richmond and law enforcement between the time Gardner-Quinn, 21, of Arlington, disappeared early Oct.

7, 2006, from downtown Burlington and when her body was discovered six days later at. See ROONEY, 4B By Adam Silverman Free Press Staff Writer A Chittenden County judge said Monday that he believes videotapes and audio recordings of murder suspect Brian Rooney are public records and should be released, but the decision was not his to make. "On the merits you make a very strong case," Burlington Geoffrey Crawford, the presiding judge at Vermont District Court in Burlington, told Bob Cain, an attorney for The Burlington Free Press and WCAX-TV. "In a limited way, I'll rule in your favor." Crawford deferred a Free Press tile photo A videotape of Brian Rooney is viewed Jan. 15 at his hearing in Vermont District Court in Burlington.

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