Tag Archives: Safety

cow
Our Natural World, US Headlines, Vermont, Volume '22, Issue 1, Wellness

Crash on Route 105 Leads to Concerns on Road Safety Regarding Animal Collisions

BY JACOB RUSSELL

According to NEWS10, on October 8th, 2022, 48 year old Jason St. Pierre crashed his Jaguar into a cow on Route 105 while going at a speed of over 100 miles per hour. Unfortunately, both Pierre and the unlucky cow were killed in the accident. Why the cow was on the open road in the first place, along with the identity of the cow’s owner, remains a mystery. Allowing a domesticated farm animal the ability to roam freely is considered a state crime.

This event raises significant questions and concerns about road safety in Vermont, especially animal crashes like this case.

According to the PEW research center, “An estimated 1 million to 2 million crashes between motor vehicles and large animals such as deer occur every year in the U.S., causing approximately 200 human deaths, 26,000 injuries, and at least $8 billion in property damage and other costs. In rural states such as Wyoming, wildlife-vehicle crashes represent almost 20% of reported collisions.” This shows how important wildlife road safety is, and how big the effect is in rural states like Vermont.

However, the PEW research center has also come up with a plan to combat this issue by asking Congress to update and revise America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015. They hope that these new revisions will “…provide competitive matching grants for states, municipalities, and tribes to undertake projects and strategies to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. Because new technology reliably shows hot spots where many animals cross highways and roads, these infrastructure investments could be very successful in reducing collisions, improving motorists’ safety, and enhancing habitat connectivity”.

In terms of actions that can be taken that can directly reduce wildlife and vehicle crashes(WVC), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) stated,“There are no simple solutions to reducing WVCs. In this study, the research team reviewed 34 mitigation techniques, a number of which are effective in reducing WVCs, show promise, or are considered good practice, including integrated planning efforts, wildlife fencing and wildlife crossing structures, animal detection systems and public information and education.”

By implementing both wildlife fencing, as well as specially designed animal highways and crossing bridges, we can better prevent the issue of wildlife collisions and save countless numbers of lives and property damage.

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An example of man-made structure allowing for safe animal crossing

If this event has taught Vermonters anything, it is that especially in these coming winter months to be very vigilant and aware of animals or potential collisions in order to protect both ourselves and our animal neighbors.

Uncategorized

Asbestos: Can CVU Breathe Safely? (yes!)

Mr. Bennett Townley

As reported in the Bennington Banner, a school in Shaftsbury, Vermont almost got a delayed start in August 2017 due to the discovery of asbestos in pipes during a renovation of the heating ventilation and air conditioning system or HVAC for short.

If a school in Shaftsbury, Vermont had asbestos, could there still be any asbestos remaining at the CVU High School in Hinesburg, Vermont?

According to Kurt Proulx, A Certified Asbestos Trainer from 1993-2000 and Property Service Manager for Champlain Valley School District, asbestos is a type of mineral that has a wide range of uses.  The most common usage of asbestos is in fire retardants and insulations. Asbestos was discovered thousands of years ago by the Romans. The Romans wove asbestos fibers into tablecloths, so they were easy to clean and would not burn. After a meal, the dinner host would simply set the tablecloth on fire to burn off crumbs!  It wasn’t until the late 1800s until asbestos was being used widely in buildings, ships, and other structures.

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“Pipes with Asbestos Joints” – Courtesy of Kurt Proulx.

Proulx has three massive four-inch thick three-ring binders titled, “Asbestos Management Procedures in Champlain Valley Union High School”.  

Proulx made a point that there are no current issues with asbestos in the CVU Building.  

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Volume 5, Issue 2

Recent tragedies on Lake Champlain highlight need for safety, awareness

Mr. Maxwell Akey

HINESBURG, Vermont– The drastic and unpredictable weather patterns in Vermont are no surprise for those living in the Green Mountain state. Vermonters embrace the many different seasons that make all sorts of varied activities prominent. Days go from temperatures in the 80’s during the summer to grounds wet and muddy in the fall, and then to freezing temperatures with snowstorms and slick ice in the winter. Fishing, hiking, skiing, and swimming are just some of the activities that Vermont’s weather provides.

Once temperatures start to drop below freezing and the cold rain begins turning into snow, a new surface for activities is created. While the freezing of many ponds and lakes, including the famous Lake Champlain, creates an area for activities, the safety hazards that come along with frozen bodies of water are very serious. Dave Trevethick is a natural resource teacher at Champlain Valley Union (CVU) High School. His thoughts on this topic are short and powerful: “Always understanding that ice is never safe is important, and keeping that in mind will keep you safe on the ice.”

Photo courtesy of Vermontbiz.com
Photo courtesy of Vermontbiz.com

Every year there is an incident of people falling through thin ice mistaken for ice that is solid and strong enough to hold. Last March of 2016, a Shelburne resident fell through the ice at Shelburne pond and was unable to be saved and drowned. A Vermont Fish and Wildlife game warden also experienced a near-death situation when he fell through the ice trying to save the victim. Jeff Bernicke, a well known father in Shelburne, was neighbors with the man who fell through the ice last year. He said that, “After this incident happened, I have definitely been more cautious with frozen water and our pond, especially for my three sons who love to skate in the winter.” People’s judgment when it comes to frozen water can be poor and often times inaccurate.

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Opinion & Review, Sports, Volume 4, Issue 2

To-daze Sports: Athletes Take Concussions Head On

Mr. Michael Regan

According to a study by journalists at PBS program Frontline, 96.2 percent of deceased pro footballers had the condition, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, before dying. “If you’re worried about concussions, you’re in the wrong business.” said Carolina Panthers fullback Brad Hoover. Concussions are a huge problem in the NFL, but are also just part of football by its violent nature. For this reason in the last 10 years the NFL has added more than 15 rules to the game’s official rule book, in order to protect players heads and general health. These rule additions range from penalties, to automatic medical timeouts to mandatory concussion tests. This is all part of a massive effort to protect pro athletes from brain injury, and CTE.   

Image courtesy of CNN
Image courtesy of CNN

CTE is a progressive degenerative disease that affects the brain of people who have suffered repeated concussions and traumatic brain injuries. The majority of the 5.3 million Americans who suffer from CTE were athletes who took part in contact sports. The symptoms of CTE are both debilitating and life-changing for both the individual, and for his or her family. According to Brain Injury Research Institute the symptoms of CTE are but not limited to; memory loss, difficulty controlling impulsive or erratic behavior, impaired judgment, behavioral disturbances including aggression and depression, difficulty with balance, and a gradual onset of dementia. The Brain Injury Research Institute also said that there have been “several notable cases” including the suicide deaths of NFL player Junior Seau, and professional wrestler Chris Benoit who committed suicide after murdering his wife and son.

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Volume 4, Issue 2

Half Day the Wrong Way: Dealing with Bomb Threats

Ms. Emily Pierson

A voice calls over the loudspeaker: Students please exit the building. Do not stop to grab your things. Exit immediately. Alarms begin to chime and the whole school is in chaos. Nobody knows what is going on. Out on the baseball fields there is non-stop chatter along with confusion. Police cars rush into the parking lot, sirens echoing. Another bomb threat. A few weeks earlier, families across the country stare at their TV screens, horrified at what they were seeing. It looked like a movie, but this was real. US forces moving in on two bombers who had just committed a terrorist attack. A month earlier a city (include which city at some point) known for peace and love went up in smoke as the sounds of bombs blared through the streets. A concert hall, cafes, and restaurants.

At Champlain Valley Union High School, bomb threats have become almost routine. This school year alone there have been two bomb threats, in addition to another one last year. Three bomb threats in two years is raising questions around the CVU community.

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Volume 4, Issue 1

We’re Number 38! Time to Examine CVU’s National Ranking

Ms. Taylor Murphy

It’s 8:00 AM,  and a light dew covers the green fields that surround Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, VT. The parking lot out front fills up quickly with students and teachers who walk inside the building. A bus full of students arrives, and they head into the school  finding their friends among the crowd of people in the main lobby. As the bell rings, it signals students to head to their first class. The crowd disperses, and the halls become silent.

This might seem like an average morning at any high school, but this school holds an impressive title. According to bestcolleges.com, Champlain Valley Union High School is ranked the 38th best high school in the United States. Home to the Redhawks, CVU takes pride in their strong academics, extensive extracurricular activities, superior athletics, high test scores, and well trained teachers. With a reading proficiency of 87% and average SAT score of 1810 according to niche.com, they exceed the US average.

Adam Bunting, CVU’s new principal, is not entirely new to the CVU community. He was a student at CVU and a former house director. He attributes CVU student’s academic success to the high standards set for students. “CVU has long been associated with a culture of excellence. The upside of this culture is that we have high expectations for all of our students. Students feel valued and rise to these expectations as a result.”

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