Vt. credit union makes $120,000 pledge to foodbank

BARRE (AP) -- The Vermont State Employees’ Credit Union says it will chip in $120,000 during the next three years to help the Vermont Foodbank move food around the state.

Foodbank officials say that’s about enough money to operate a Foodbank truck that makes a daily trip between Rutland and Burlington. The Foodbank’s Judy Stermer says the budget for that truck route is about $40,000 a year.

Foodbank CEO John Sayles says the credit union’s contribution comes at a good time, because demand for the food that his organization delivers is growing significantly.

The Foodbank delivers charitable food to a network of about 280 food shelves, meal sites, shelters, senior centers and after-school programs.

The credit union has supported the Foodbank for nearly two decades, but this is its first multi-year pledge.

Leahy has role in ‘Batman’ movie, to show in Vt.

MONTPELIER (AP) -- Vermont U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy is renewing his fascination with the Caped Crusader by appearing in a scene in the next Batman movie, ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ which will get its first public showing in Vermont.

Leahy says he learned recently that he will appear in a scene with Christian Bale, who plays Batman, and Morgan Freeman.

The movie will be screened July 15 in Williston ahead of the movie’s July 20 U.S. premier.

Leahy says he will be joined for the Vermont showing by Director Christopher Nolan.

The Democratic senator has had a life-long fascination with Batman. In 2007 he appeared in "The Dark Knight."

The Vermont showing will benefit the children’s library at Montpelier’s Kellogg-Hubbard Library and the Echo at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain Burlington.

Vt. cops say Johnson fire caused by items on stove

JOHNSON (AP) -- Vermont fire investigators say a fire that damaged an apartment in Johnson was caused by items that had been left on a stove.

The tenants of the apartment were not home at the time. Other occupants of the five-apartment building got out safely..

Several cats and other animals died and two dogs were burned.

The building is located almost directly across from the fire department so firefighters were on scene within minutes of receiving the call at 6:50 on Tuesday.

Investigators estimated the fire caused about $30,000 damage to the building. None of the tenants will be allowed to return to their apartments until the damage is repaired.

The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental.